Back at the fortress, Ren and Fiona stood atop the roof.
Had Ren failed to cling to the suspension bridge with Nature Magic, the lava flow churning at the bottom of the canyon would have claimed them both. Saving Fiona had been his only priority. Even knowing it meant a forced return to the fortress, he couldn't trade her life for a shortcut.
"I am so sorry. This is my fault."
"No, Miss Ignat. You aren't to blame for what happened."
Ren tried to comfort her, but her shoulders trembled with frustration. Despite his words, she was consumed by self-reproach, convinced she had dragged him into danger.
Ren noted the nobility of her spirit even as he turned his attention to their next move.
We made it back, but the real trouble starts now.
Immediately after escaping the bridge, Ren had searched for a way down the mountain from the nearby slopes. However, the encroaching lava flows had made it clear that such a descent was impossible. That was why they had ultimately retreated to the fortress.
The others who crossed the bridge should be safe. I just hope the people clinging to it made it across too.
He believed the path taken by the knights, adventurers, and examinees was secure. If the lava followed the topography Ren remembered from the game, the primary climbing routes should remain untouched.
However, the options for Ren and Fiona’s descent had dwindled. They were left with only the most circuitous routes. There was also the question of whether staying put was the wiser choice.
If we just stay here, this place will be swallowed by the lava, too.
From the rooftop, they could see the mountain range changing by the minute. There was no sign that the lava's momentum was slowing. Eventually, the very ground beneath the fortress might erupt with fire and molten rock.
"Mr. Adventurer. We..."
Fiona had also realized that staying still offered no hope of rescue.
"I think our only choice is to find a different path down, away from the suspension bridge."
"I feel the same way."
There were several other routes down the Baldur Mountains. Ren pointed toward a specific horizon.
"The closest way is in that direction."
He was pointing toward the lands that once belonged to Viscount Given. However, compared to the path toward Clausel, it would take considerably more time.
If this doesn't work out, we'll be forced to take an incredibly difficult route.
They could technically use the path the examinees had used to climb up, but Ren wanted to avoid that. It would take far too long, and they couldn't afford to linger in the mountains while this anomaly persisted.
Ren let out a heavy sigh. "Too many strange things are happening at once. Do you think someone is doing this on purpose?"
Fiona tilted her head curiously, prompting Ren to continue.
"For instance, as part of a factional struggle."
"Ah, I see." She nodded, considering the possibility before shaking her head. "It might not be a simple struggle between factions. Mr. Adventurer, do you remember the boy the adults were being so careful around before we reached the bridge? He is the heir to a high-ranking noble house in the Hero Faction."
Ren immediately grasped her meaning.
"So, they wouldn't start a conflict like this while you’re here, Miss Ignat—at least, not something this reckless."
"Exactly. It's not a certainty, of course, but there is almost no benefit for either side to do this."
There might be outliers like Viscount Given, but even the Hero Faction usually observed certain boundaries. He doubted the Imperial Faction would risk such a stunt with Fiona present, either.
Then who was behind it?
Is this an accident caused by the Academy Director's absence? No, it feels more like this chaos was timed specifically for when she was away.
Moreover, with Marquis Ignat around, most people wouldn't dare trigger such an upheaval. The possibility that a power equal to or greater than the Marquis was involved couldn't be ruled out, but then there was another option.
The third force?
Perhaps those plotting the Demon King’s revival were making a move here.
Ren cut the thought short. Speculating about the culprit wouldn't get them off the mountain. Their priority was survival.
"Let’s leave the mountains as soon as possible. We need to prepare and head out immediately."
"Right! I'll go check our supplies!"
It was still early afternoon, so they could move while it was light. Even after sunset, the glow from the lava flows would likely provide enough light to travel by. They needed to cover as much ground as they could while the way was still open.
As they turned to head back into the fortress, Fiona suddenly stopped. She pressed a hand to her chest. Her heart had given a single, inexplicably violent throb.
"Miss Ignat?"
"N-No! It’s nothing!"
The sensation passed in an instant. She feared for a moment that her body was reverting to its state before the medicine, but there were no other signs of a relapse. Fiona slapped her cheeks and forced a bright, lovely smile—one so beautiful it brought an angel to mind.
They picked a path through the terrain that had not yet been consumed by the disaster. The geography of the Baldur Mountains was being steadily eroded as lava spilled over the jagged ridges, staining the world crimson.
Two days had passed since they left the fortress. Ren had woken at dawn to prepare breakfast when Fiona emerged from her tent.
"Good morning, Mr. Adventurer."
"Ah, good morning." Ren turned to her. "Breakfast is almost—"
"I'm sorry. I overslept again—"
Both of them stopped mid-sentence. Ren didn't know why Fiona had gone quiet, but his own reason was simple.
A cowlick.
It was a rare glimpse of vulnerability from the usually poised girl. Right at the crown of her head, a single, adorable strand of hair stood straight up.
Should he mention it? He decided against it, not wanting to embarrass her. Ren put on a polite smile and pretended not to notice.
"It’s a simple meal, but please, help yourself."
"Not at all! This is a feast!"
Fiona regained her composure and sat by the campfire, accepting the cup of soup with both hands.
There it goes again.
Every time she took a sip, the cowlick wobbled. Ren quickly averted his gaze, feeling it was impolite to stare.
Instead, Fiona began eyeing the top of Ren's head. She peered at him repeatedly, though she looked away the moment he met her eyes. She huddled slightly, making herself small as she sipped her soup in silence.
"I’ll start packing up the camp. We aren't in a desperate rush, so please take your time, Miss Ignat."
Fiona started to reach out as he stood to leave, but she hesitantly lowered her hand.
"Ah—thank you very much!" she replied, her voice sounding a bit startled.
A few minutes later, while Ren was gathering their few belongings inside the tent, he paused.
"I see."
He nodded solemnly and tucked the dishes into his bag. He reached up and touched his own hair, feeling a stubborn strand that had sprung up from sleep—a cowlick of his own. It stood tall, as if refusing to be outdone by Fiona’s.
"Let’s call it a draw."
It wasn't a contest, but he felt a strange sense of pride as he tried to smooth it down. From outside the tent, he heard Fiona’s voice cry out in surprise.
"W-Was I like that too!?"
It seemed she had caught her reflection in something and finally noticed.
"Crap..."
Under a night sky filled with stars, Ren snapped awake beside the campfire. He thought back to the evening. They had decided to camp, and he had spent his time packing down the snow and pitching their tents. After dinner, he had told the exhausted Fiona to rest. He was supposed to be on watch, but it seemed fatigue had finally claimed him.
"It’s all right, Mr. Adventurer."
Fiona’s voice came from beside him. She was sitting by the fire.
"Nothing attacked us while you were asleep."
"I’m sorry. I'm supposed to be your guard, and yet I fell asleep."
Fiona shook her head. "I should be the one apologizing. You were on watch all last night, weren't you? I thought you looked tired today."
"Don't worry about that. It’s my job."
"No. In a situation like this, please let me help too."
Fiona gave a brave smile. She was bundled in cold-weather gear but huddled with her knees to her chest, clearly still feeling the mountain chill. In her hands was a wooden cup, steam rising from it with the faint scent of tea.
On a whim, she handed a cup to Ren and poured more from a small pot on the fire.
"Some of the servants at House Ignat used to serve at the Imperial Castle," she said.
"Ooh... as expected of your family."
"But even those servants... they would always give me a wry smile after drinking the tea I brewed."
Ren didn't quite know how to respond to that. However, he couldn't very well refuse a drink she had made. Fiona told him shyly that he could throw it away if it was bad, but Ren took a sip with a calm expression.
...Well.
He was certainly wide awake now. The tea was incredibly astringent—bitter enough to shock the senses.
"It’s good."
"You’re lying, aren't you? Your eyebrow just twitched."
"That’s just a habit. Don't worry about it. Truly, it’s good."
"I... I’m happy to hear that, but please don't force yourself. I'd hate for you to get an upset stomach!"
In truth, he didn't think it was "bad." As Ren took another sip and swallowed, Fiona felt a mix of guilt and happiness at his stoicism.
"Do we have about two days left until we’re down?" she asked after a long silence.
"I believe so. We should reach the Given territory by then. Actually... is it wrong to call it that now?"
He asked because Viscount Given was dead. Ren knew he would have been stripped of his title regardless, but the man had taken his own life before that could happen.
"Since it’s under Imperial Custody now, perhaps...? But for the sake of clarity, let's keep calling it the Given territory."
Ren scratched his cheek, and Fiona chuckled. She didn't seem despairing, despite their circumstances. She looked up at the starlit sky, her breath huffing white in the air as the firelight danced across her face.
"You’re very strong, Miss Ignat."
"Eh? Where did that come from?"
"Maybe I’m wrong, but even during the incident at the bridge, you didn't seem afraid."
"Hehe. It’s for the same reason I told you before."
Her brave smile and steady voice confirmed that Ren’s impression of her strength was no mistake.
"I mentioned that the people at the fortress had symptoms like Vessel Cracking, right?"
Ren nodded. The topic hadn't changed; the stories were connected.
"I suffered from Vessel Cracking myself. It was so severe that healers, pharmacists, and even magic tool artisans said it was incurable. It was apparently an unprecedented case."
So that’s why she was wearing the necklace.
The Necklace of Warding had been crafted by one of the Seven Heroes to hide their presence by suppressing their immense magical power. Fiona’s family must have used it to suppress her own mana and alleviate her condition.
"My father provided me with medical magic tools and potions. I had a shelf of books I could only read on days I felt well, and a chair I couldn't even sit in without help. My entire world was that room and the tiny patch of sky I could see from the window."
She had been unable to move without assistance. On her best days, she could barely push herself up in bed to eat. She had never seen more of the sky than what the window frame allowed. If someone had shown her this view a year ago, she would have called it a dream.
"But one day, the way my father and the servants acted changed."
"Changed?"
"Yes. Suddenly, they were... distant. There was a day when no one would look me in the eye."
Fiona had feared the worst—that she had been given a terminal diagnosis. That night, she was secretly given a certain medicine. Her father hadn't wanted to give her false hope, so he kept it a secret. The staff had only been distant because they were praying with all their might that the medicine would work.
The medicine made from the Thief Wolfen materials, Ren realized.
"When I woke up, I was just relieved to be alive. I prayed for small things, like being able to stand with help, or sitting up on my own. But I noticed immediately that something was different."
She had felt light. Everything she saw was vivid and dazzling.
"Nothing hurt. It was so strange that I tried to stand up by myself and fell right out of bed. I hit my head and got a bump; I bruised my cheek. But that was all. I just lay there on the carpet, crawling pathetically... and for the first time in my life, I cried because I was happy."
Fiona turned to look at Ren. Her eyes held a mystical brilliance that made the stars above look like mere pebbles.
In the original timeline, Fiona would have died. Seeing her living so desperately in the present felt sacred to Ren. He understood perfectly why she wasn't afraid.
"So, I’m not scared of anything now. Compared to those days, this is easy." She repeated herself firmly. "Besides, I can keep going as long as I think about what comes after we get down from here."
She spoke the last part softly, keeping her true motivations to herself. She had a strong will to see this through.
"We will definitely make it down. I promise I will get you out of the Baldur Mountains safely."
Ren's words were firm, and his steady gaze pierced through her.
"Truly... you’re exactly as they said. A very kind person," Fiona whispered to herself, laughing softly.
Suddenly, she reached out and pressed her hand to her chest. She took a long, slow breath. Ren noticed the slight shift in her demeanor.
"Are you all right? You don't look well."
"I-I’m fine! Truly!"
She spoke quickly, but the color in her cheeks was enough to make her claim believable. She feigned composure so well that Ren began to wonder if he had imagined the flicker of pain.
"You should sleep a bit more. I'll be fine."
"I'm sorry. I'll take you up on that and rest first."
Fiona stood, apologized again, and left the fireside. She returned to her tent and closed the flap. The moment she was alone, her knees buckled. She collapsed onto her side, clutching her chest.
She endured the white-hot pain racing through her body, her eyes squeezed shut.
Why... why so suddenly...?
She held her breath, desperate to ensure Ren heard nothing. She clamped her hands over her mouth to stifle the cries she could not suppress.
They left the campsite as soon as the sun rose. The snow was thinner than it had been a few days ago. While the remnants of the blizzard were still visible, the heat from the lava flows had melted much of the accumulation.
The descent seemed to be going well until they reached a dead end.
"Worst case scenario..."
The path leading to the Given territory had vanished before their eyes. The steep slope ahead had been consumed by a lava flow that churned and hissed with molten spray.
Even when Marquis Ignat tried to awaken Asval in the game, it wasn't this extreme.
He knew he shouldn't compare reality to the game, but the situation was becoming increasingly dire. Along the way, Ren had tried to use the Nature Magic of the Wooden Magic Sword to bridge gaps, and Fiona had tried to freeze the lava with ice. But the roots and vines were incinerated instantly.
"The mana in the lava is too concentrated," Fiona noted.
Just as she said, the lava was saturated with magic. Even when she froze it, the ice shattered within seconds as the molten rock reclaimed its fury. It was as if the lava itself were a living thing, fighting back against her spells.
"Then this isn't a natural disaster."
"I agree. It feels as if we are being cornered."
Between this and the suspension bridge, it was impossible to see it as an accident. Turning back was a poor option; the way to the fortress was likely gone or would be soon.
Is there any other way out? Wait... there is one.
They couldn't afford to be picky anymore. In fact, they never could.
"I know one more path."
"Another path? Can we get down from there?"
"Yes. I’m certain of it."
He was thinking of a "hidden map" from his game knowledge. The question was whether it existed in this world. He had avoided it until now because it was a dangerous area known for Steel-Eating Gargoyles and harsh environmental conditions.
"It’s a D-rank monster habitat. It’s a dangerous road. If we can't make it through, it might have been better to stay at the fortress."
"No." Fiona gave a sad, thin smile. "You know as well as I do, Mr. Adventurer. We can't expect help from the outside anymore."
Even if the others had survived the bridge, they would have finished their descent by now. Even if they sent for help, or if the knights tried to come back for them, it was impossible. Without the bridge, the only way back to this side was through the deep canyon, which was currently becoming a river of fire.
No one can get to us.
If there were a way for rescuers to reach them, Ren and Fiona would have been able to use that same path to escape. If they stayed put, the lava would eventually claim them.
"Let’s go. Even if it's dangerous, your path is the only way we're getting out of this alive."
If they were going to be swallowed by fire anyway, they might as well go down fighting.