STM 130

Following behind, I soon realized why he walked without hesitation. A moment later, a path appeared, wooden pillars driven into the ground, planks laid across them, stretching out endlessly. Like a bridge over a stream.

But it was perilously narrow and twisted in such a haphazard way that I doubted it could truly be called a bridge. Why build it like that?

Looking closer, I saw the pillars were embedded between the mesh holes. The black net writhed as if it were alive, but it didn’t seem to affect the gaps between the mesh.

Whatever curse it was, it was clear you shouldn’t touch that black net.

Creak

The bridge creaked as Tairok stepped onto it. I paused, and he smirked.

“It’s sturdier than it looks.”

“Yes, it seems built to withstand even a monster’s jump.”

“Of course. I built it.”

I paused, my foot hovering over the bridge. I remembered the tools I saw in the cabin. He built this long bridge by hand, alone?

Well, no one would want to work in a place saturated with black magic. The light from the grave lantern didn’t cover much ground, making it hard for multiple people to work.

“Pretty impressive, right?”

He replied playfully and moved forward again. Yeah, it was kind of impressive. I admitted it silently and followed him onto the creaking bridge.

Even though it was only knee-high, the thought of falling and touching the magic, risking a curse, made me tense up a bit. What kind of curse could it be?

The mystery wasn’t long in solving itself. The land, covered in a black net, was desolate, and large boulders were visible here and there.

Most were sprawled out on the ground, their shapes somehow different from ordinary rocks. But it was dark, and they were scattered far apart, so I couldn’t see them clearly. Then, not long after, I passed a boulder right beside the bridge.

Squeak

As my foot, which had been moving forward, pulled back, the wooden bridge groaned in protest. But even if the bridge had cursed at me, my ears wouldn’t have heard it. The rock I had simply thought of as a stone had a distinct shape when seen up close.

‘Th-that shape…’

[It appears to be a broken human-shaped sculpture.]

Hearing this in any other situation wouldn’t have sent chills down my spine. But on a land shrouded in black magic? I turned my eyes forward. Tairok was half-turned, watching me.

“They were the ones who worked at the castle. Some who came in trying to save those cursed were mixed in too.”

But they all turned to stone. They couldn’t see the black net, so they must have stepped on it without knowing and suddenly turned to stone. Tairok glanced around and added indifferently.

“By the time I got the lantern to check, it was already too late.”

“Too late for what?”

Tairok pointed his chin at the stones.

“Those outside all fell and shattered.”

Ah… I sighed. So even if the curse is lifted, they won’t come back to life.

“What about inside the castle?”

What about your family? I barely managed not to ask that question.

“It’s better than this.”

He muttered indifferently and walked ahead again. It took quite some time to cross the wooden bridge and reach the castle gates.

And the closer we got to the castle, the more humans turned to stone we saw. The bridge ended right before the open castle gate.

He couldn’t drive wooden pillars into the stone. Fortunately, the gate was half-broken, so people could pass through the gap.

Before Tairok entered, he raised the lantern high and looked back at me. The moment our eyes met, I immediately assured him confidently.

“I’ll carefully avoid stepping on them.”

After reassuring him, I followed. But he walked slowly, seemingly cautious because of me.

Finding the wooden bridge and narrow gaps, moving step by step, required subtle concentration. But more than the black magic, the countless figures standing like statues around us were more unsettling.

Their final expressions were carved so vividly into the stone. Their presence was oppressive, like a horror movie.

Even fearless me felt intimidated, yet Tairok, who must have been here many times, walked as calmly as if on level ground. Passing countless figures, he stopped before the central staircase at the end of the hall.

Tairok couldn’t proceed further. Only then did I see the stairs and inwardly curse.

The staircase was narrow, so even without a dense black net, the area where you could safely step was small.

Tairok looked up the stairs and pointed to a statue, petrified mid-descent from the second floor. A woman who appeared middle-aged stood with a grave expression, her hand stretched forward.

But as if some accident had occurred, the statue’s wrist was broken, lying separately on the stairs. So even if the curse is lifted, she’ll remain with her hand severed…

“Pay your respects. This is the former head of the Kun family.”

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In the end, I hadn’t slept a wink. Though it took less than an hour to visit the main castle, my mind couldn’t escape that place until dawn broke.

No, I hadn’t even noticed the sun had risen. Only when a servant entered with a knock and inquired about breakfast did I belatedly realize it was the hour when the living roamed.

Only then did I force the thoughts away. Because Tairok had said this:

‘The clue to breaking the curse lies in Sarne. We just need to get our hands on those ancient texts.’

So there was nothing I could do now. Besides, according to him, there was only one chance to attempt breaking the curse.

I couldn’t risk botching things by rashly offering to help. Knowing my power was insufficient, I still threw myself out of bed and sought out Tairok immediately.

“The Grand Duke is out.”

Rick relayed the message for Tairok, but his expression was strangely grim.

“Are those monster spawning at Crystal Lake again?”

“M-monster spawn?”

“The monsters themselves, I mean.”

“Yes, well… it’s not a monster problem, anyway.”

“Then are those bastards from the other divine beast families causing trouble again over the Borhumi Castle occupation?”

Rick flinched when I sweared, proving his timid nature.

“Hmm, that’s not the issue either. Well, I have urgent business to attend to, so I’ll take my leave… Ugh! Why, why are you dragging me again?!”

Well, you look like you’re hiding something, so I’m just going to corner you and get it out of you. I kept him pinned in the corner and spoke in a low voice.

“Club.”

In an instant, a long club appeared in my hand. Rick’s eyes widened in horror.

“Is that… the ultimate weapon Haas mentioned… No, why are you bringing that out?”

“To show you.”

I replied casually, tapping the club against my other palm.

“I smashed every wall with this. Now, tell me. Where’s the Grand Duke?”

Rick flinched, but only after I demonstrated the club’s prowess several more times did I get an answer.

“Haa… The Grand Duke went to track down Sarne Bayan.”

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Shrrr.

With each step, fallen leaves and tree debris announced the intruder’s presence to the forest. I was finally roaming the Acorn Forest I’d longed for, yet I wasn’t as carefree as before.

It had been three days since I’d wandered here, meaning Tairok hadn’t returned for three days either. Hearing Rick’s account of Tairok’s situation had left me dumbfounded, but now I had no choice but to take it seriously.

How could so many obstacles pile up all at once?

According to Rick’s report, after the White Branch meeting ended, Hoiga came in the early morning, yelling and cursing at Tairok.

Rick didn’t go into detail, but it seemed Tairok was thoroughly humiliated then. So now, Hoiga must be clinging to Montaine, hell-bent on bringing Tairok down.

Well, that’s not scary. In fact, it was what I’d hoped for. But what about the shortage of troops caused by occupying Borhumi Castle?

Doctor Kim sent mercenaries, so the immediate crisis is averted. But if Montaine and Sarne attack in earnest, they won’t be much help. They’re mercenaries, after all.

But now, to find a way to lift the castle’s curse, we have to attack Sarne too. So the one Tairok went to track down is none other than Sarne’s Sword Master.

I was stunned. Rick only worried about him getting seriously hurt, but what if he died? Besides, there was a bigger problem.

‘Well, it’ll take over ten days. The places you can reach via portal are limited.’

Damn. That means I’ll have to lie back and take it? A sudden sense of crisis hit me.

[3 o’clock direction, rock suspected to be destination detected.]

Mo’s alert snapped me out of my thoughts and I looked up. A large rock jutted out between the tall trees.

Only then did I remember why I came to Tubain. To find the chili… no, to save Tairok, Earth’s hope, first.

That’s why I wanted to meet Black Bear quickly. Then I could contact Doctor Kim.

If push came to shove, preventing Tairok from meeting Bayan, the Sarne Sword Master, wouldn’t be so bad. Make him give up and come back.

I wasn’t sure if Tairok could win, but if that led to war with Sarne, Montaine would reap the benefits without lifting a finger.

I absolutely couldn’t give Hoiga anything to laugh about. But to break the curse, I had to strike at Sarne…

Was there no better way? Should I ask Doctor Kim if she knew any weaknesses she could use to blackmail Sarne?

My mind was completely occupied with thoughts of Sarne as I walked, until I reached my destination. Seeing it up close, the larger rock felt strangely familiar, but I just passed it by.

Because there was a small, cozy-looking hut beside the rock. Was Black Bear inside? I was about to rush inside, trying to catch my breath, when…

“Adeye Lu, you’re earlier than expected.”

Hearing the voice from the left, I quickly turned my head.

“Hi… h…”

My voice, which had started to greet, trailed off as I saw Black Bear slowly walking out from between the trees.

A middle-aged woman with half-gray hair. It was definitely Black Bear, whom I had seen at Crystal Lake. But the moment I saw her, I froze, unable to move.

“Why are you acting like that?”

Why indeed? Because you’re not alone. That’s right, there was something behind Black Bear. More precisely, a real bear.

And a huge one at that, easily over 2 meters tall. It was black too, but the problem was its proportions.

It was a chibi bear.