The sun hung high overhead. Rein was currently trekking through a vast mountain range.
"I should be entering the Land of Chaos around now." Even Rein himself wasn't sure how far he'd traveled. For over ten days of continuous travel, he'd generally stuck to desolate, uninhabited areas. Even when he spotted large cities in the distance, he'd avoid them.
The mountain Rein had entered was enormous, spanning an immense area.
After walking for a long while, Rein reached one of the mountain's higher points and gazed around — only to discover that nestled within a valley in the heart of this mountain was a peaceful little village. He licked his dry lips, grabbed hold of some vines, and made his way down into the small mountain village hidden in the valley.
The villagers, upon seeing Rein arrive, all looked at him with curious eyes.
Clearly… outsiders were a rare sight here.
The village had a fair number of households. By Rein's estimate, there were at least several thousand people. There was also an open-air tavern in the village, nothing more than a simple canopy thrown up over a frame. Rein walked straight over, sat down, and called out, "Bring me two pots of water, a few dishes, and a bottle of good wine."
But the moment he sat down, Rein noticed something—
"What's going on here?" His heart skipped a beat.
He realized that every single person here radiated the aura of a powerful expert. With Rein's trained eye, he could tell there were plenty of sixth- and seventh-level warriors, even eighth-level warriors… and some formidable mages as well. They were all warriors or mages, and every one of them was extraordinarily strong.
"Brother, how'd you end up over here?" A bald man approached with a bottle of wine and two bowls. "Here, have a drink."
Rein sensed that this mountain village was no ordinary place, so he answered immediately, "I came from the Luo'ao Empire, heading toward the Land of Chaos. I didn't take any main roads — just crossed mountains and ranges, heading due north. I swam across rivers when I encountered them, climbed over mountains when they blocked my path… I never expected that while crossing this particular mountain, I'd stumble upon a village."
The bald man nodded and smiled. "So that's how it is."
"No wonder. There aren't any roads leading to our village. This mountain is completely desolate. In a normal decade, you'd be lucky to see even a single outsider." Another man walked over as well, grinning.
Rein felt a chill run through him.
Both men standing before him were immensely powerful. Probably seventh- or eighth-level, at the very least.
"What kind of place is this? Why is everyone an expert?" he wondered silently.
After drinking and chatting with the two men, Rein discovered that the people of this mysterious village were not cut off from the outside world — they actually knew quite a lot about it.
"Princess Monica has arrived," the bald man said suddenly. At that, many people nearby turned to look in the same direction, and Rein turned as well—
He saw a beautiful woman with long emerald-green hair approaching, accompanied by a servant girl, greeting the villagers warmly as she went. The moment Rein laid eyes on this beautiful woman, he was struck dumb. Her exquisite features, her warm and gentle smile…
Even Rein, who had spent years frequenting the company of beautiful women, felt his heart tremble with wonder.
"I think I've found where I belong."
Rein had courted and dallied with more than his share of noble ladies. But none had ever truly moved his heart… which was why he'd remained single all this time. Yet this girl he'd encountered in this mysterious mountain village, with her unique and captivating presence, set his heart racing.
The girl called "Monica" turned her gaze toward Rein. Only then did he notice that her clear, luminous eyes held a faint hint of emerald light, reminiscent of the legendary elves — utterly enchanting. Monica smiled and said, "Hello, outsider."
Rein immediately stood and replied with a courteous bow, "Beautiful Princess Monica, my name is Rein."
Monica suddenly glanced at Rein's left hand. Her eyes widened in surprise, and she looked up at him. "What happened to your hand?"
"I was injured," Rein said casually.
Monica stepped forward at once. "Hold out your hand." Rein didn't hesitate — he extended his left hand. The wound where iron pincers had once sheared off his fingers was a grim, startling sight. Monica's lips moved faintly, and after only a moment—
Countless white motes of light, like a dreamlike nebula, flowed into Rein's left hand. At the wound, two fingers grew back at a speed visible to the naked eye. In the blink of an eye, Rein's left hand was restored to exactly as it had been before the injury.
"This… this…" Rein was utterly astonished, staring at the girl called "Monica" before him.
He'd never imagined that this "Monica" was a Light System mage — and a supremely high-ranking one at that. Her strength was no less than his own.
When Rein saw Monica's expression of focused concentration, something stirred deep in his chest.
That evening, as the setting sun dipped below the horizon, a vast expanse of blazing sunset clouds filled the sky.
On the grassy meadow to the west of the village, Rein and Monica walked side by side. Rein gazed at Monica's lovely profile beside him, and a quiet sense of contentment settled over his heart. He had already been staying in this mysterious mountain village for over a month.
In that time, no one had asked him to leave.
During his month and a half in the village, Rein learned that the vast majority of the villagers had never left. Only a very small number occasionally ventured outside. When they returned, they would share news of the outside world with the rest of the village.
Monica was only twenty years old, yet she was already a seventh-level Light System mage. In terms of talent, she surpassed even Rein.
"I can't keep this up. I have to let my parents know I'm alive, let the third brother know," Rein thought. He wanted to see his family sooner rather than later, but Monica's pull on him was simply too strong. As for Monica, Rein — with his wealth of outside knowledge — was endlessly fascinating to talk to, and through their conversations she could learn ever more about the world beyond the mountains.
Above all, Rein was an exceptional conversationalist, and Monica found herself happiest when she was by his side.