Obtaining information on the "Shrine of the Descending Mist" turned out to be relatively easy. When I asked old man Marcus—the proprietor of the tavern "Marcus's Garden" where I’d been eating lately—he told me it lay to the northeast of the provincial capital, Grandcaldeana.

Upon hearing my question, Marcus halted his food prep and began sketching something on a piece of paper behind the counter.

"Here! This is the map!"

The map Marcus handed over was stained brown, splattered with the tavern's signature Rabbit Stew. I gingerly accepted it, holding it by the corners with my fingertips.

"So I follow the highway for a bit, then head toward the forest once the road forks?"

"Yeah, exactly! It won’t even take two hours. But what business do you have in a place like that? The locals don't go near it; they say it’s an ominous place."

It was well within the range where a twelve-year-old like Lina could go to play with friends, so it couldn't be that far.

"I heard there are rare medicinal herbs near the shrine. I’m a 【Herbalist】 by trade, and I’m always on the lookout for new specimens."

"Ho, ho. So you're a 【Herbalist】, Walt? Got any medicine for hangovers? Something that works if you take it first thing in the morning?"

Marcus looked at me with a dead-serious expression. It seemed like a good opportunity to earn a favor.

I reached into my rucksack, retrieving a bottle of hangover Pills from my 【Storage Space】. The men in my old fishing village drank constantly, and they suffered the hangovers to match.

I had used 【Compounding Arts】 to create these specifically to alleviate those symptoms. I set the bottle on the counter in front of him.

"Take two of these."

"Ooh! Can I take 'em now? To be honest, my stomach is doing flips and my head is killing me."

"Take the whole bottle. My constitution is immune to hangovers, so I have no use for them."

"Heh. Much obliged."

Marcus grabbed the bottle and swallowed a Pill immediately.

"Oh! My stomach feels better already!"

"Take them sparingly. They’re a lot of work to make."

"Thanks a million, Walt! Dinner’s on the house today!"

"That helps."

I finished off my Rabbit Stew and left the shop with Marcus's map in hand.

Early the next morning, I performed 【Dispel Curse】 on Lina and set out from the capital toward the shrine in the mist.

As I walked north along the highway, I consulted the map. It still smelled faintly of Rabbit Stew. The image of Marcus looking like death warmed over flickered in my mind; he was probably reaching for those Pills right about now.

Eventually, the highway split into a fork, just as the map indicated.

"Is that the forest?"

A dense mass of green loomed in the distance. That had to be where the "Shrine of the Descending Mist" was located.

I stepped off the beaten path and into the tall grass. Unlike the hard-packed highway, the soil here was soft and uneven, riddled with holes. Rabbit burrows, perhaps?

Driven by curiosity, I used 【Earth Vein Detection】 to probe the ground beneath my feet. As expected, an endless network of hollows—likely rabbit dens—spread out underground.

"Maybe I'll bring back a souvenir for old man Marcus."

I pulled a short bow and a quiver from my 【Storage Space】 and began hunting my way toward the forest.

As I drew closer to the forest of the "Shrine of the Descending Mist," a vile sensation began to spread through my body. With every step, my stomach felt heavier. It definitely wasn't a hangover.

A skill from my days as a 【Curse-weaver】, 【Malice Sensing】, was ringing alarm bells in my head. There is a great malice ahead.

As the tree line drew nearer, my skin began to crawl.

There were so many of them—countless pulses of malice. The sheer intent to harm anyone who approached saturated the entire forest. It was no wonder the locals warned people away. Even without 【Malice Sensing】, anyone sensitive enough would have felt that skin-crawling wrongness.

If it weren't for the mission, I would have turned on my heel and headed straight back to the capital. I’d much rather be sipping Rabbit Stew at the counter of Marcus’s Garden.

But then Lina’s tearful face flashed in my mind. The purple mist clinging to her neck—the source was undoubtedly up ahead. If I followed the trail of malice to its source...

Just before I reached the edge of the woods, I picked up a presence that didn't belong to the malice. Several tents were pitched at the base of a small hill, as if trying to stay out of sight. Why would anyone be here if the locals avoided the place?

I kept my distance and observed. A man acting as a lookout spotted me and visibly tightened his grip on his weapon.

What now? I could ignore them and head into the forest, but they’d already seen me. It was only natural for them to find a man heading toward the "Shrine of the Descending Mist" suspicious. I couldn't afford any interference. Perhaps a quick greeting to feel them out was in order...

I walked slowly toward the tents, plastering on a fake smile to look like a harmless local.

The lookout didn't relax. He wore leather armor and a dagger hung from his belt. An 【Adventurer】, then. I was close enough now to see his face clearly.

"Hello there."

"You! Who are you? What are you doing out here?"

The man gripped the pommel of his dagger and barked the question at me. He seemed a bit on the savage side.

"I’m just a 【Herbalist】. I heard there were rare medicinal herbs in this forest and came to investigate."

I kept my voice flat and monotone, the smile still fixed in place.

"Suspicious. You sure you aren't a 【Bandit】?"

Give me a break. What kind of bandit wanders around all by himself? This guy isn't the listening type.

"Do I look like a 【Bandit】 to you?"

"That’s exactly what a 【Bandit】 would say!"

What did a bandit do to this guy? His eyes were bloodshot and terrifying. I really shouldn't have spoken to him. Now what?

I felt someone else emerging from the tent. They must have heard the shouting and come to investigate. Should I—

"Hey, what’s all the racket—wait, Walt?! What are you doing here?"

It was Balan, the wolf-type 【Beastman】. The lookout looked back and forth between us, looking utterly confused.

"I came looking for herbs, but your friend here started treating me like a 【Bandit】."

Balan turned a piercing glare on the lookout.

"This is Walt. He’s the 【Herbalist】 treating my sister. He’s the last person you should be calling a 【Bandit】. Apologize to him this instant!"

Rebuked by Balan, the lookout began bowing his head vigorously. I almost felt bad for him.

"Please, stop. It was my fault for approaching your camp without warning."

"If you say so, Walt... but still..."

The lookout looked thoroughly dejected, practically shrinking into himself.

"No sense standing around out here. Come inside the tent, Walt. I’ll introduce you to the rest of the 【Steel Fang】. We can have some tea."

I didn't want to linger, but I didn't have the heart to refuse him.

"Thanks. I'd appreciate that."

I followed Balan into the tent.