Qiansitelin looked at the massive crater before her, then turned with a light laugh toward Muxuan, who was panting slightly beside her.
This was already the twenty-some goblin hideout they had destroyed.
Although none of them were significant strongholds, they had cleared out tens of thousands of goblins in total.
“Mmh… let’s head back.”
Muxuan nodded.
Even after killing so many goblins, his expression remained indifferent.
The only trace of solemnity between his brows was a sense of wariness toward the depths of the Kostershka Mountains.
They truly couldn’t go any deeper.
Hidden within the heart of the Kostershka Mountains was a great horror beyond his imagination…
He stole a glance back at the thick Black Mist that even light could not pierce.
Before a certain chilling malice could reach him, Muxuan quickly turned to leave.
If it hadn’t been for Qiansitelin, Muxuan wouldn’t have even noticed there was a mountain range here.
Furthermore, the scale of the goblins… was much larger than he had imagined…
“Your Highness, loosen up a bit~”
Along the way, Muxuan remained silent, not saying a single word.
This eventually became too much for Qiansitelin to bear.
Aside from dealing with those blind instances of The Strange and identifying the direction of their outposts, Muxuan had hardly made a sound.
With his brow furrowed, he looked as if he were in a very low mood.
“Where could I possibly find happiness?”
He had thought this would be a relatively easy task, but it had turned into another frustrating situation.
In a world of The Strange like this, one really couldn’t feel at ease.
“I can continue helping Your Highness with a massage~ I guarantee the pressure will be just right!”
Hearing Qiansitelin’s teasing voice, Muxuan suddenly shivered and immediately issued a triple denial: “Don’t! No! Forget it!”
Recalling his last experience, Muxuan’s face darkened slightly.
It had been too terrifying; he truly did not want to go through it again.
“Alright, alright~ I was just joking. Does Your Highness feel any better now?”
Seeing Muxuan’s reaction, Qiansitelin let out a crisp laugh.
Muxuan was momentarily stunned, then he nodded.
Truth be told, having his attention diverted by Qiansitelin’s antics did make him feel a lot better, and the weight on his heart felt less heavy.
Even though the Church didn’t require him to worry, Muxuan always felt as if it were a heavy burden resting on his shoulders.
He was always subconsciously trying to eliminate threats to the Church from the Outsider world, while also wanting to save those still struggling to survive within the Black Mist.
If the Church wanted to develop, the most important factor was population.
Shaking his head, Muxuan didn’t dwell on it further.
Since he had finally managed to lighten his mood, he didn’t want to go looking for trouble again.
He estimated that by now, that magician had probably recovered somewhat.
After two days, combined with the care of the new Bishop Beikeze had arranged, the magician should have regained some level of consciousness.
With that thought, Muxuan subconsciously picked up his pace.
—
However, after a long time had passed, Muxuan looked at the still-endless Black Mist before him and clicked his tongue in annoyance.
What kind of nonsense is this!?
He realized belatedly — he had traveled all this way just to clear out goblins in the Kostershka Mountains!?
‘Am I crazy?’
“Your Highness, I did try to stop you back then~”
Seeing Muxuan suddenly turn his gaze toward her, Qiansitelin reacted instantly and spread her hands innocently.
Muxuan’s lips twitched, but in the end, he let out a helpless sigh.
At the end of the day, he was the one who had dragged Qiansitelin along.
Since it was his own choice, there was nothing to regret.
Besides, firing that Beam Cannon had indeed been quite satisfying.
“How much longer…”
After running for a while longer, Muxuan stopped, panting heavily.
He really didn’t want to run anymore.
“Your Highness, isn’t the task of sensing the outposts left to you? If you don’t know, how could I~”
Qiansitelin followed behind Muxuan, a smile blooming on her face as she heard his complaint.
‘Who was asking you? Couldn’t you tell I was just venting!’
After grumbling a few words of dissatisfaction in his heart, Muxuan let out another long sigh.
“Your Highness, if you don’t want to walk, I can carry you~”
Seeing Muxuan in this state, Qiansitelin spoke playfully.
Her body slowly approached Muxuan, her slender arms loosely circling him as a soft sensation pressed against his neck.
Muxuan instinctively took two steps forward, his face flushing slightly.
One had to remember that his current appearance was just an empty shell!
His actual perception was still that of Muxuan!
It seemed like she was leaning against his back, but —
He suddenly froze.
Turning back to glare at Qiansitelin, Muxuan was about to say something when he stiffened — the thick, ink-like Black Mist ahead suddenly churned as if turning into a crashing wave, instantly locking onto him.
“Watch out!”
The playfulness on Qiansitelin’s face vanished instantly.
She pulled out Lyrasel and shielded Muxuan behind her.
Muxuan also immediately focused his mind and tightly gripped the Crosier.
Holy golden light pulsed at the tip of the crosier, dispersing the Black Mist that felt as if it were about to turn solid.
He followed Qiansitelin’s gaze, and his heart tightened.
Within the churning Black Mist, a massive, writhing silhouette was slowly coalescing.
It looked like a “Flesh Mountain” forced together from countless pieces of rotting meat, rusted metal, twisted bone, and unnamable viscous substances.
Its surface was covered in mouths of various sizes that constantly opened and closed, oozing dark green pus.
Every time it writhed, it made a bone-chilling squelching sound.
In the core of this massive Flesh Mountain, nine metal blocks shimmering with a dark luster were vaguely embedded — they looked almost identical to the metal block that had been in the magician’s forehead.
“Goblins…”
Muxuan’s voice carried a cold fury.
“Your Highness, it seems we were already targeted back at the Kostershka Mountains~”
Qiansitelin’s voice wasn’t heavy, but a hint of gloominess lay beneath it.
These goblins… were truly quite annoying…
“Qiansitelin, finish it quickly.”
This Flesh Mountain wasn’t particularly powerful; Qiansitelin could resolve it quickly using Lyrasel.
It was just that these goblins kept popping up in front of them, which was truly irritating.
Muxuan sensed the distance to the outpost in his mind.
A moment later, Qiansitelin finished off the Flesh Mountain.
Lightforce surged out, perfectly blocking all the viscous material produced when the Flesh Mountain exploded.
“Let’s go. We need to get back as soon as possible.”
Although there was still some distance to cover, Muxuan no longer had any thoughts of stopping.
Since they had to go back sooner or later, it was better to do it now to avoid further trouble on the road.
Moreover, he still had many things to do…