Chapter 105: The Rockbruise Territory – The Great Marsh

Words : 1390 Updated : Sep 19th, 2025

Lyle descended the staircase, calmly adjusting the sofa that had been knocked askew during the earlier commotion. As he sat down, his gaze drifted to the pouch on Leinas' hip. A magic pouch, huh? He'd noticed before that Leinas had drawn her long spear from that very pouch—clearly a magical item designed for storage. A fairly rare and expensive one at that. Given her background as a noble, it wasn't surprising that she owned such a luxury. "I'm just offering practical solutions," Lyle said with a shrug. "Both of these methods will effectively lift the curse on you." "Do you have any other ideas?" Leinas raised her head, eyes fixed on him with a sharp, unblinking stare. "Take me to the place where you were first cursed." Lyle nodded, a faint smile playing at his lips. He met her gaze and added, "If we want to truly solve this curse, we need to find its source." "But I won't lie to you—it's not guaranteed." Leinas' fingers tightened around the black spear at her side. Her expression darkened, conflicted. Back then, she had fought to protect her family's land, proudly clearing out monsters that threatened their estate. And in the end—her family betrayed her. Now, going back to that place? There was only one thought on her mind: revenge. "...Fine," she muttered. A flicker of turmoil passed through her deep blue eyes. "Then let's head out now," Lyle said, already standing. "Huh?" Leinas blinked. Why did she suddenly feel like this had been his real goal all along? Off to the side, Imina, who had been quietly observing the exchange, was caught off guard. "Wait—what about the regeneration potion?" she asked. "You know how hot alchemy products are right now? If you leave now—ah, whatever. You're the client." She threw up her hands in defeat, then slung her bow over her shoulder. Lyle turned to her and added, "Leaving the capital wasn't part of your original contract." "You'll hold down the fort for now. If anyone asks, just say I'm working on a new alchemy formula. Three people just died here—it's unlikely anyone will barge in again for a while." "And have Lil' Black keep watch at the entrance. Just have him patrol now and then." His tone was brisk and to the point. "Awwooo..." came a pitiful whimper from the Barghest as the bone chains around it rattled. Leinas' eyelid twitched. Yup... this was his plan all along. But even realizing that, she couldn't refuse him. Mid-Firemonth, August 24 Lyle and Leinas quietly slipped out of the capital under the cover of darkness, setting off for the Leinas family's territory. The terrain of the Baharuth Empire was far more complicated than that of the Re-Estize Kingdom. Not only was the land barren and poor in resources, but it also lacked the expansive flatlands that Re-Estize enjoyed. The empire's landscape was dominated by rugged mountains and vast marshlands. Since his ascension, the Bloody Emperor—Jircniv—had somehow managed to raise the empire's power to rival that of the Re-Estize Kingdom. For that alone, he could be considered an exceptional ruler. Three days later. A vast, sprawling swamp appeared before them, stretching as far as the eye could see. Under the sun, its muddy waters shimmered faintly with a purplish hue, as though someone had embedded a massive stain into the earth. The air was thick with humidity and the scent of wet earth. A light breeze carried a faint but unmistakable stench of rot. Lyle stood at the edge of the marsh, surveying the landscape. The area was dotted with shallow pools, tall grasses, and twisted, low-lying shrubs. If Leinas hadn't warned him in advance, he might've mistaken this place for a grassland. Off in the distance, looming mountains and a misty swamp forest cast a shadow over the land, giving the entire area an eerie and oppressive aura. This was the territory of the Rockbruise family—Leinas' ancestral land—located in the eastern reaches of the Baharuth Empire. Though not far from the Azerlisia Mountain Range, it was completely cut off by this massive marsh and the smaller mountainous terrain beyond it. Leinas stood beside Lyle, her long golden hair swaying in the breeze, partially concealing her right cheek. Her expression was grim. Returning to this place of bitter memories—it would put anyone in a foul mood. "That creature... I'd never seen it before," she said quietly. "It didn't come from this marshland. It must've emerged from the forest or the mountains beyond." She inhaled deeply, catching a familiar scent of rot in the air. Lyle turned from his observations and smiled. "Then I guess we're heading into the deep marsh." "You're serious?" Leinas stared at him in shock. "Forget the dangers of the forest—we can't even safely cross this marsh. It's suicide." Even locals who grew up here never dared venture deep into the swamp. The marsh devoured all—it was no place for humans. Even in her days as a knight, Leinas had only ever cleared monsters near the border, never inside the swamp itself. "That power is strong," she said grimly. "But it's also a curse. You might regret it once you feel it up close." She bit her lip and offered a rare warning. In her eyes, Lyle had come here because he was obsessed with the curse festering inside her. "You know what matters most to an alchemist?" Lyle stretched lazily, then corrected himself, "Well, to a player who also dabbles in alchemy." He didn't wait for an answer. "It's mystery and the unknown." "As for power? Believe it or not, that's not what I'm after." Not anymore, he thought. He had already gained what he needed. "You can stay behind if you want," Lyle offered. "I don't do the whole 'protected damsel' thing," Leinas scoffed, pulling out her black spear. "What you should be thinking about is how to cross this swamp." "That's the easy part." From beneath the wide sleeves of his loose priest's robe, Lyle pulled out a pair of scrolls—one in each hand. He crushed them gently. Fwoosh! Fwoosh! Two brilliant flashes of white light erupted in the air, condensing into majestic forms—Flame Archangels, wings ablaze. Whoosh! One of the flame angels flapped its wings and soared behind Lyle, extending a free arm toward him. Lyle gave a light jump and landed gracefully on the angel's forearm like it was second nature. "See? Simple," he said with a grin. He can summon two angels at once? Leinas' eyes widened in surprise. Her view of Lyle shifted yet again. He's not just a genius alchemist... he's also a high-tier divine caster! As the second angel flew toward her, Leinas stomped off the ground and leapt onto its back, grabbing onto a groove in its armored shoulder. "I'm not a caster like you. That kind of seating is useless in a fight." Now effectively riding the angel like a mount, she steadied herself. Fwoosh! Fwoosh! Wings flared wide. The two Flame Archangel took off, gliding across the treacherous marshlands and into the deeper wilds beyond. Gurgle... A shadow moved swiftly beneath the soft surface of the swamp. A creature lurking below had taken notice of the fiery angels flying overhead. The moment they passed directly above it— BOOM! The swamp exploded in a spray of muck and sludge. A creature burst forth—a massive, shark-like monster with muddy brown skin and rows of jagged teeth, its jaws stretching wide as it launched itself toward the flying angels. "It's a Swamp Shark!" Leinas cried out. The flaming angel responded with practiced speed. Its fiery blade slashed downward in a blazing arc, meeting the beast's charge head-on. SPLASH! Blood and ash scattered across the air as the creature was cleaved clean in half. Gory chunks of meat and crimson ichor rained down into the swamp below. Almost instantly, the seemingly calm swamp writhed to life, a frenzy of movement beneath the surface devouring the remains. [EXP Gained: 172] [EXP Bar: 4123/10000] "So that's the kind of monsters living in this swamp?" Lyle remarked, his tone still calm. "Fascinating."

Chapter 105: The Rockbruise Territory – The Great Marsh

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