Before dawn the next morning, the group gathered at the center of the camp.
Crowded around a massive campfire, they reviewed the day's march through the snow while tearing into roasted monster meat.
"The route to the fortress is the same one we discussed. Since we have to clear a path through this heavy snow, I expect it will take two to three days to arrive," Maydas said, speaking for the adventurers. "That means we’ll be spending the night inside the Baldur Mountains. Everyone, double-check your gear."
"No problems here."
"Yeah. We’re ready to move out whenever."
Maydas gave a firm nod at the adventurers' replies.
A Knight then spoke up.
"We need to organize the teams for hauling the supplies and the vanguard for clearing the snow. We also need to be ready for monster attacks. Maydas-dono, I’ll leave the adventurers in your hands."
"Understood. Leave them to me."
Eventually, the men stood up one by one and headed for their tents. Ren finished his breakfast and went to prepare as well.
Once inside his tent, he summoned his Wooden Magic Sword and concealed it beneath his coat. He was fully prepared to call upon his Nature Magic at a moment's notice.
"Time to go."
Ren stepped back outside and looked up at the Baldur Mountains, now bathed in the glow of the morning sun. The usual mountain paths were buried under a thick blanket of white; they would have to carve their way forward inch by inch.
The group began their arduous trek through the snow several dozen minutes later.
Ren had braced for it, but the path proved grueling. Any trace of the trail Kai and his team had blazed earlier had been erased by fresh snowfall. The route normally consisted of steep, difficult slopes, but the snow had transformed the landscape into a nightmare that stretched as far as the eye could see.
Monsters appeared occasionally, but they didn't pose much of a threat. With so many skilled fighters gathered together, the creatures that roamed the Baldur Mountains during normal times were no match for them.
"The sun’s going down soon! The ground levels out a bit just ahead, so let’s make camp there for the night!" Maydas called out from the lead, and the rest of the group voiced their agreement.
The Knight in charge nodded and checked on Ren. "How are you holding up, Ren-dono?"
"I'm still fine. This is nothing compared to when I was on the run with Lady Licia."
"...So it seems."
"As expected of Ren-dono. You're sturdier than any of us."
"Good grief... it’s enough to make us feel pathetic."
Ren exchanged lighthearted jests with the Knights.
Ten minutes later, they reached the level area Maydas had mentioned, and the group set about clearing the snow to pitch their tents. Even "level" was an overstatement; the ground was bumpy and sloped, making the task a struggle.
Still, Ren didn't mind. He had expected as much, and even a slightly flat spot was a luxury in these mountains.
As they had done that morning, they built a campfire and began roasting meat. Everyone focused on eating and talking to ease their exhaustion.
"I’ve got to earn enough for my little brother’s medical treatment," one man said.
"That's noble. I feel a bit awkward saying this after that, but I just really like money," another added.
"Hahahaha! Nothing wrong with that!"
"Better than me. I'm only an adventurer to pay off the debts I racked up at the casino."
Each adventurer had their own reason for taking on such dangerous work. Ren listened with interest, struck by how intense some of their life stories were.
"I’d rather hear a story from the Hero-san than from you lot," one of the two female adventurers remarked.
"Exactly. I’d much rather look at a cute boy than a bunch of musty men," the other added.
Many of the men laughed loudly in agreement. Ren was flustered by the attention, but the fact that they had the energy for such banter made the night in the Baldur Mountains feel manageable.
We should be able to reach the rescue target without any issues, he thought, feeling a wave of relief.
◇ ◇ ◇ ◇
The group set off with the rising sun the next morning. Just like the first day, they spent until late afternoon carving a path through the snow. They were making excellent time, and everyone felt confident they would reach the fortress soon.
Then came the morning of the third day.
With the fortress finally drawing near, the group arrived at a long, precarious suspension bridge spanning a massive canyon.
The floor of the canyon was lost to the depths. Visibility was poor as the blizzard lashed against their faces, and the sheer height made it impossible to see the bottom. Everyone knew exactly what awaited them if they slipped.
"I've heard this area is part of a Dormant Volcano. Apparently, lava used to flow through the bottom," a Knight mentioned to Ren as the bridge swayed beneath them.
Ren already knew that, but he nodded. "I see."
As he looked down into the canyon, he recalled specific details from the game.
If I remember right...
In the game, the canyon floor was warped by Asval’s Mana, resulting in lava flows everywhere. The areas without lava were infested with Undead, creating a dark abyss choked with Miasma. Miasma was a gas formed when the Mana leaking from dead monsters reached a high enough density. Since countless corpses lay at the bottom of the canyon, it had a sinister atmosphere befitting a Last Stage.
Just as these memories resurfaced, the bridge beneath Ren's feet bucked violently.
"Watch out! Everyone, grab the railings!"
At Maydas's command, the entire group lunged for the handrails.
A sudden, violent gust of wind slammed into Ren's face with enough force to nearly lift him off his feet.
"Ren-dono! Don’t let go!"
"I’ve got it!"
The blizzard was ferocious; if he let his guard down for even a second, he felt like he’d be swept away. The wooden planks of the bridge swung wildly from side to side. If he lost his grip, he’d be hurled into the canyon below. Ren tightened his hold, the rough texture of the railing biting into his palms through his gloves.
Wait, this suspension bridge is remarkably sturdy, Ren thought as he regained his composure while the wind began to die down. Considering where it was built, its durability was actually quite impressive.
Up ahead, Maydas shouted, "Is everyone alright!?"
"Yeah!"
Ren checked in with the Knights. Not a single person had been swept off the bridge. Relieved, he exchanged a smile with one of the Knights and continued across.
Once they were clear of the bridge, they took a short break to recover from the stress of the crossing. An hour later, they resumed their march toward the Old Fortress.
Just before noon, their destination finally came into view.
Smoke signals were still rising into the sky, signaling that those inside were desperately awaiting rescue.
"Alright, everyone! Let’s move!"
Following Maydas’s spirited command, the group picked up their pace. They forged ahead through snow that reached their knees, determined to reach the fortress as quickly as possible.
We’re almost there.
Ren wiped the sweat from his brow with the back of his hand.
Suddenly, the adventurers in the front halted. Maydas, at the very head of the line, raised a hand to signal for silence.
"—Monsters."
They weren't nearby, however. Maydas pointed toward the distance, his wolf ears twitching.
"I can hear the sounds of combat and monsters coming from the fortress. It sounds like a pack."
"So, what's the plan?" one of the women asked.
"Do you even have to ask?" Maydas replied with a fearless grin.
The other adventurers followed his lead, and they all broke into a sprint.
"The fortress might be under attack! Hurry!"
Ren exchanged a look with the Knights. We have to get there. They pushed themselves to the limit, running as fast as the treacherous terrain would allow.
It didn't take long for Ren to hear it, too. The cacophony of various monster types howling and the unmistakable sound of someone fighting back reached his ears.
The blizzard intensified once more, obscuring their vision, but by the time they lost sight of their surroundings, they had reached the walls of the fortress.
"Ren-dono! Don’t push yourself too hard!"
"I know! I’ll be careful!"
Ren scanned the monsters swarming the area. There were familiar faces he had seen many times since coming to this world, alongside creatures he was seeing for the first time. A massive horde was descending upon the fortress.
Ren felt a surge of relief, assuming the adventurers guarding the merchant had managed to hold out—but then his eyes widened.
W-Wait... why?
The people fighting for their lives against the monsters weren't veteran adventurers. They were a group of teenagers he didn't recognize.