In his past life, Ihan had often envied people who traveled abroad without hesitation.

He couldn’t help but admire their “freedom” to venture into countries with different languages and cultures.

For someone like him, who barely had time or money for domestic travel, foreign lands felt like another world entirely.

In his early twenties, he felt envious—and perhaps a little bitter—toward such people.

It was immature of him, proof that he was still young.

But as he grew older, even if he hadn’t been able to travel abroad, he had at least managed some domestic trips.

And that taught him something:

‘Ah, so traveling isn’t just about having fun. It’s a form of education that broadens your perspective and mindset.’

With that realization, he made a goal.

Once he was discharged from the military, he would take a plane and travel the world.

He wanted to gain experience, to witness the cultures and environments of foreign lands.

Was it a spirit of adventure? Or perhaps evidence that he, too, had a curious nature?

In that moment, he had started crafting a bucket list for his life.

…It was a fleeting moment, though.

“…If I’d known things would turn out this way, I would’ve quit earlier and gone on a backpacking trip across Europe. Damn it, what was I saving all that money for? I can’t take it with me when I die…”
“…”
“Don’t you guys agree?”
“S-Sir Knight, I’m not sure what you’re talking about…”
“Why?”
“?”
“Why don’t you get it?”
“….”
“Why don’t you get it, you damn bandits?!”

Thud!

“Argh!”
“P-Please forgive us!”
“M-Mother….”

Ihan mercilessly pummeled the bandits.

They had been caught pillaging a village, and Ihan had disabled them one by one—breaking arms, shoulders, and legs.

These bandits wouldn’t be able to steal anything anymore.

In fact, they’d be too crippled to even worry about surviving day-to-day life.

“You bastards. I was being nice, and you couldn’t even understand what I was saying.”
“…Who would? You suddenly started ranting and expected them to agree with you.”
“Not my problem.”
“…You’re insane.”
“Ha! Who’s calling who insane?”

At least Ihan had only left them crippled.

But the other guy…

“You turned them into minced meat.”
“….”
“If I’m insane, then you’re a damn butcher.”
“…That’s discriminatory toward my profession.”
“Oh, come on.”

Hearing such words from him felt oddly out of place.

Maybe arguing so much had improved his speaking skills.

Just then—

“Sir Knights, thank you so much. I don’t know how we’ll ever repay you…”

The village chief approached them, expressing his gratitude.

He looked to be in his early forties—a relatively young man who seemed like a retired mercenary.

Though his muscles had sagged slightly, he still seemed competent enough.

“No need for thanks. Honestly, you probably could’ve handled it yourself.”
“I might have, but the villagers would’ve suffered heavy losses. I’d likely have been severely injured as well.”

The chief had witnessed how the knights had dealt with over a hundred bandits in an instant.

He knew one thing for sure—they were strong.

In all his years as a mercenary, he had never seen knights of this caliber.

Their aura alone rivaled that of generals he had seen on the battlefield.

While grateful for their help, he couldn’t help but wonder—why had such powerful individuals come to this remote mountain village?

“Do whatever you want with the rest. Use them for labor or kill them—I don’t care.”

“Thank you. But won’t you at least stay the night? Leaving so suddenly…”

“We’re in a hurry.”
“Thanks for the offer.”

The two knights shook their heads and took off, leaving only a brief farewell.

They ran so fast that they kicked up gusts of wind, their speed rivaling that of horses.

“…Hah. It’s like seeing fairies.”

They had run toward the mountains, but their figures had already disappeared.

Even wild animals couldn’t scale the slopes that quickly.

…But still.

“Why are they climbing that mountain?”

The chief tilted his head in confusion.

The Red Mountain Range.

The largest mountain range separating the South and the Central regions.

It was also known as the [Mountain Range of Despair], filled with nothing but jagged peaks.

The knights were heading toward that ominous place, and the chief couldn’t fathom why.

“Beyond there… it’s just cliffs. Don’t tell me they’re planning to cross into the Central Continent?”

…No way.

“Haha. That’s ridiculous. Who in their right mind would try to cross the Red Mountains to reach the Central Continent? Hahaha!”

Even he found the idea absurd.

The Red Mountains were so dangerous that even those attempting suicide avoided them.

Crossing that range to reach the Central Continent? It was—

“Such a stupid idea.”

“-So if we cross this range, we’ll get to the Central Continent quickly, right?”
“Well, the terrain is treacherous, filled with cliffs, poisonous creatures, monsters, and labyrinthine natural formations. But if you want to get there in four days, this is the shortcut.”
“…Hmm. That description is a bit concerning, but hey, a shortcut’s a shortcut.”

Cliffs, poisonous creatures, and monsters?
Sure, that could happen.

Natural [wonders] forming labyrinths?
Sounds like Vulcan.

In other words—

“It’s definitely a shortcut.”

Ihan accepted it without hesitation.

*****

“Do you really have to go?”

That was what Isis had said to him at dawn the day before, when he told her he was handing over the mage and heading out immediately.

He could still picture her expression—the sheer disbelief on her face.

“The Empire? Do you even realize how far the Central Continent is?”
“More precisely, I’m heading to the Magic Tower.”
“Same difference. Even if someone walks diligently, it’ll take over a month to get there.”
“Then I’ll just run instead.”
“…When did you start barking nonsense like a dog?”
“Harsh words, Your Highness.”

She had looked displeased.

And who could blame her?

Who would react positively upon hearing someone planned to cross continents?

But for Ihan, there was no other choice.

“There’s a mage there, so I have to go. Whether to kill him or, well, crush him.”
“…Aren’t killing and crushing basically the same thing?”
“Enough. I’m leaving now. You handle the Sultan. I’m counting on you.”
“And who do you think you’re talking to?”
“Anyway, I’m off.”
“Hah…”

She couldn’t bring herself to tell him to come back safely.

Instead, she brushed her hair back and said—

“…Make it quick.”
“I know. I’ve only got an 8-day leave, so I’ll be back before then.”
“You and your pointless sense of responsibility…”

With those parting words—half encouragement, half grumbling—Isis had seen him off.

He quickly left the capital and found his guide waiting for him.

“…Why are you here?”
“By Her Highness’s command.”
“Tch. Seems like a poor choice of personnel—”
“Ungrateful bastard!”

Whether Galahad was genuinely trying to help or just knew the Magic Tower was after the cursed sword, he’d assigned Ihan a spear-wielding escort.

They might have the relationship of cats and dogs, but Ihan at least acknowledged his companion’s skills.

“If you can’t keep up, I’ll leave you behind.”
“…Friendly guide, aren’t you.”

Despite some bickering, they took off running.

Shed of heavy armor, Ihan carried only his sword and axe, while his guide wielded a single spear.

They raced without exchanging another word.

And true to his word, the guide didn’t slow down even slightly.

Through fields, forests, and cliffs—they sprinted.

The guide proved his arrogance was justified, running along cliffs as though they were flat ground. Ihan matched him step for step.

And how did they defy the laws of physics?

“You just run before you fall.”
“It’s all in the toes.”
“??”
“?”

Their explanations differed, but the important thing was that it worked.

After half a day of nonstop running, leaping across mountains and cliffs, they finally entered the Red Mountain Range.

The direct route to the Central Continent was across these peaks.

Normally, travelers would take long detours and cross vast rivers by boat, but the Red Mountains offered the only straight path.

Yet no one dared cross them.

Three hundred years ago, an Imperial army of 100,000 had tried—and all of them perished.

And now, Ihan and his guide were voluntarily entering the range that had devoured an entire army, carving a path where none existed.

But—

‘It’s a shortcut, so who cares!’

Speed was what mattered.

They ran and ran.

“……”
“……”

Once they entered the Red Mountains, their words faded.

Or rather, they were forced to fall silent.

[Krr!]
[Kaaa!!]
[Kieee!!]

Monsters poured out endlessly—creatures that called the Red Mountains home.

Goblins and gnolls were just the start.

There were also plant-like monsters known as Wood Ghosts (목귀).

Common in forests, these monsters were scattered throughout the Red Mountains.

Crack! Slash!

But it didn’t matter.

They cut them down, tore them apart, and pressed forward.

The monsters were easier to handle here.

All they had to do was kill them.

What was harder—

Rumble!

“Another earthquake?”
“No. It’s a windstorm. …And it looks like a rockslide is starting.”

—was the mountain itself.

The Red Mountains weren’t just a natural barrier; they were an enigma, akin to Vulcan.

Not divine, but wild and unpredictable—

Rumble!

The ground shook, rocks fell, and fierce winds howled.

Whoosh!

Rain poured down, blinding them. Fog thickened, obscuring the path.

And then—

Crack!

Hail rained down.

Fist-sized chunks of ice hammered the earth.

Yet—

Thud!

“Are we still on the right path?”
“If you don’t trust me, go your own way.”
“Why so touchy? It was just a question.”
“Don’t distract me.”
“Geez, you’re sensitive.”
“!!?”
“Eyes forward.”

They kept running.

Two nights passed without rest, yet neither showed signs of exhaustion.

When hungry, they chewed dried meat and fruit.

They drank water on the move.

Always moving forward.

Cliffs? They jumped.

Rivers? They swam across.

No obstacle could stop them.

Earthquakes, winds, rockslides—mere nuisances.

Fog, torrential rain—slight inconveniences.

And then—

Whoosh!

The temperature rose sharply.

A wave of heat swept through the area.

And then—

Fwoosh!

“…Looks like this mountain doesn’t like us.”
“No, it hates humans.”
“Same difference.”

A wildfire erupted.

It spread rapidly, as if determined to consume them.

A sudden, irrational disaster.

To cross this fire was suicidal.

But—

“We’re going through.”
“……”

To them, it wasn’t even an obstacle.

Crack!

Ihan grabbed a massive tree—nearly 5,000 kilograms.

Once, he would’ve needed a mage’s help to pull this off.

But now? He did it alone.

“Piercing Lance.”

Boom!

The tree shot forward like a cannon shell.

“…That actually worked?”
“Idiot. If this was possible, you should’ve done it earlier.”
“I didn’t think it would work, okay?”

Ihan defended himself, but inwardly—

‘I can’t believe that actually worked…’

He’d copied something he’d seen in an old manga, and it worked.

With the right strength, technique, and timing, it was possible.

Soaring through the air like they were on a plane—

Crash!

And slamming into a cliff.

“…Flight time was too short.”
“……”

One minute in the air.

Still—

‘Wasn’t that longer than the Wright brothers’ first flight?’

As they were swept downriver, Ihan felt strangely proud.

Two and a half more days later—

“We’re half a day behind schedule.”
“…I can’t believe we made it.”
“…You weren’t sure either?”
“……”
“Hey!”

Four and a half days.

And they had crossed to the Central Continent.