104. When in Trouble, Friends Will Help You Out, Isn’t It?

I leave the campsite at full speed.

However, as soon as I start running, I realize that the area is covered in fog.

It’s a big difference from the previous weather.

But there’s no time to hesitate.

Without hesitation, I plunge into the fog.

But… it feels like a prison of fog.

The fog is so thick, it’s as if someone spilled milk everywhere.

While carrying Myrna, I quickly get lost in the dense fog.

Even though I’m a former adventurer and can usually find my way by looking at the sun or stars,

the thick, heavy fog just makes everything look vaguely blurry.

The fog scatters the sunlight, making it look like 180 degrees around me is faintly white.

Remember that wetlands can be roughly divided into three types.

There are the shallows and grassy areas that make up the wide outer perimeter.

Next, there’s the middle area where you can see mangroves and banyan trees.

Finally, there’s the dangerous central part where vegetation is dense and submerged in water, resembling a forest.

Our campsite, centered around Kyle, is set up near the boundary between the middle and central areas.

It’s not a clear boundary, but we set up camp in a relatively open area.

Then, the Eight-Headed Hydra scattered us all, and a thick fog rolled in just in time.

The world turned white.

I ran aimlessly around the wetlands and somehow managed to reach a place where I couldn’t hear any fighting.

“Haa… haa…”

I was exhausted from running beyond my limit, even though I had drunk a stamina potion.

Fortunately, Myrna, who I was carrying, was very light.

I looked around.

I thought I was running towards the edge of the wetlands, but judging by the vegetation around me, it seemed I had ventured slightly into the central area.

The trees around me were larger and denser, resembling a forest.

I didn’t realize my sense of direction was this messed up…

Thanks to the stamina potion, I didn’t feel too fatigued, but my mind was worn out from feeling like I had entered a maze-like forest.

I looked back but sensed no sign of the Eight-Headed Hydra chasing us.

I could still manage, but Myrna needed a rest soon.

“Myrna, hang in there a bit longer. I’ll find a place for us to rest.”

“…Okay.”

Myrna gripped my sleeve tightly.

Feeling her grip gave me strength, and I began searching the area. I found a giant banyan tree with roots large enough for several people to hide.

“Myrna, let’s rest over there.”

“…Okay?”

Since we were in a wetland, most of the roots were naturally submerged in water.

Myrna’s puzzled expression was understandable.

But don’t worry!

I took sandbags from my spatial storage and threw them at the base of the tree.

In no time, I made a makeshift shelter!

First, I put Myrna inside and used magic to dry her clothes.

Even though I had carried her, she was soaked from running around the wetlands.

I also dried my clothes and climbed onto the dry sandbags. The mental strain made me feel even more exhausted.

The sandbag and tree root shelter was surprisingly comfortable.

“Myrna, are you alright?”

“…Yes.”

Myrna’s expression was dark.

Just not crying was already commendable.

Facing a terrifying monster like that would be overwhelmingly scary for anyone.

“…I’m cold…”

Myrna whispered in a fading voice.

“Alright, hold on a second.”

I took out a bundle of firewood from my spatial storage and lit it with fire magic.

A big fire quickly started, illuminating the inside of the roots.

The crackling sound and the heat from the fire warmed our bodies and eased the tension.

The smoke was controlled with wind magic to prevent it from escaping outside.

The controlled smoke was dissolved in the surrounding water, so there was no worry about it getting outside or causing a lack of oxygen.

I was worried about Myrna, but I was glad she communicated her needs to me.

Maybe Myrna was stronger than I thought.

“Myrna, I’m going to contact Raidoc now. Please eat this.”

I handed Myrna water and preserved food and activated the communication magic tool.

“Raidoc, are you in the middle of a fight? If you can, please respond mentally.”

The reason I didn’t contact Kyle was simple. If he was still running, it would cause unnecessary worry.

Raidoc would handle it.

He likely already joined up with Kyle.

[Craft! I’ve been worried! Are you safe!?]

Hearing his voice, I sighed in relief. If Raidoc was safe, everything would be fine.

“I can’t say I’m completely safe. I got separated from Kyle and the main group. The Eight-Headed Hydra charged right into the middle of our camp and split us up.”

[Are you injured!? Is Myrna okay too?]

“Yeah. Myrna is fine. She still has her appetite.”

[I see.]

I could sense Raidoc’s relief.

“Jitaro and the Casper sisters acted as decoys and helped Myrna and me escape. Are they alright?”

[You can rest easy. They joined up with us.]

“As expected of Raidoc. Have you reunited with Kyle too?”

[No, my group and I could barely keep the Hydra’s attention. But Kyle managed to withdraw during that time.]

Good. Kyle didn’t make any reckless decisions, refusing to abandon Raidoc and the others. He’s truly amazing.

[By the way, we also rescued Zaid-sama. He’s safe for now.]

I saw Zaid, acting all aristocratic, eating through Raidoc’s viewpoint.

Well, it’s better for Kyle’s sake that he’s not dead.

But Zaid doesn’t matter. Kyle is the main concern.

“So, Kyle’s group is safe, right?”

[Yes, I confirmed it. Your mentor, Jabeel, contacted me through a communication tool.]

What!?

Why didn’t I get contacted!?

Why only Raidoc?

[It seems difficult to contact multiple people at once due to magical constraints. Jabeel said you would probably reach out eventually.]

Raidoc, reading my thoughts, told me with a wry smile.

Makes sense. It’s efficient.

[Oh, Jabeel also asked me to tell you to contact him instead of Kyle if you needed to communicate.]

Of course. Kyle must be busy. As expected of Jabeel.

“How is Kyle’s group?”

As I asked, Myrna, who was nibbling on her preserved food, looked up.

[Everyone is safe. Although there were many injuries, they are currently regrouping at a distance.]

“Good.”

I smiled at Myrna.

“Everyone is safe. Even Zaid.”

“…Okay.”

Myrna finally showed a faint smile.

She’s indeed a strong girl.

[But there’s a problem.]

“What is it?”

[Kyle’s group has completely lost their sense of direction due to the fog.]

Just like us.

“We’re in the same situation. I thought we were heading to the outer perimeter, but we ended up deeper in the central area.”

[What? That’s bad…]

“Why is it bad?”

[The Hydras in the central area are significantly stronger and more numerous. With just you and Myrna, it’s dangerous to move in this terrain and fog.]

While running around, I occasionally encountered Hydras, and indeed, there were many with more heads.

It seems we were lucky not to run into a large group.

“Do you know your current position, Raidoc?”

[Yes. We’re barely close enough to keep an eye on the Eight-Headed Hydra.]

“That’s impressive. How is the Hydra doing?”

As expected of Raidoc.

[I’m about to go scouting with Solar. Connect with me again in thirty minutes. You should see it for yourself.]

“Got it. Be careful.”

[Leave it to me.]

So, the adventurers and lizardmen must be positioned thirty minutes away from the Hydra.

I cut off the mental link with Raidoc and contacted Jabil-sensei.