NOVEL WEB Chapter 14: A Small Journey East
Elon ordered a horse and rode toward the gates with the five men. He had decided to visit the deserted Stone Forest after obtaining knowledge from the Guide Agent, but he chose not to share this information with anyone just yet.
He would have asked Aiden to accompany him, but at this moment, the lad needed ample rest to recover. Elon judged that the real work hadn't even begun yet, so it was best to let the main character rest as long as necessary to be fully prepared for the future.
There would be a lot of work ahead…
Even Elon knew that himself.
And that was precisely why he needed Aiden more than anyone else in this world.
As they reached the gates, another horse suddenly approached at full speed. It was a black horse, unlike Elon's, which was white.
Elon turned to see Vorden, the man who had accompanied him from Fogmount Village to Salvador.
"Where are you going, my king?" Vorden asked with a curious expression.
"I'm heading east of Salvador, Ser Vorden. And you?" Elon replied.
"I'm following you," Vorden stated boldly, riding closer. "Your mother has asked me to stay by your side and protect you… She fears that many people here are against you, especially the nobles. You need to ensure your safety—at least until you know who to trust and who you shouldn't," he added.
"Safety?" Elon chuckled. "I don't think I'm under any threat. If anything, it's the corrupt and evil nobles who should be alarmed. My rule will be a threat to them."
"Still, you can come with us, Ser Vorden. I'd like to show you something," Elon added.
Vorden Acot nodded in agreement at once and rode alongside Elon and the other men as they passed through Salvador's gates, heading east.
Although these walls were only made of wood, they didn't encompass the entire lands of Salvador. The walls covered only the west and some parts of the south where the nobles resided. Elon wasn't entirely sure why the walls weren't completed, but his best guess was that the people lacked the financial resources to gather enough wood.
In this world, resources like wood were highly valued. While wealthier kingdoms built their walls from stone and clay, Salvador, like many poorer kingdoms, had to settle for wooden defenses.
Even most of their homes were made of wood, except for the Royal Palace, the Courthouse, and the nobles' residences, which were built with white clay bricks. Red clay served as cement, as no one had yet discovered limestone or even iron ore.
Elon couldn't help but feel disheartened by the harsh reality of the medieval era he now found himself in. Whether he took action or not, the choice was his.
But if he was going to live in this world, he knew he had to make a difference.
...
"Ser Vorden, have you considered returning to Fogmount Village? You are the leader of the Male Mercenary Team, and they'll need you for the upcoming raid," Seven asked.
"Well, the Village Head ordered that we should never return once we left. I ceased being a citizen of that village the moment I joined you and your mother on this journey," Vorden said with a slight grin.
"I'm sorry about that, Ser Vorden. You were a highly respected man there. I know leaving at this time wasn't part of your plans," Elon sympathized.
"Phew… You don't have to be sorry, Elon. That bastard doesn't deserve someone like me. He never appreciated my efforts for the village. Had your mother and I not been there, the village would have crumbled long ago," Vorden stated.
Elon nodded with a shrug. He already had a good sense of the kind of man Vorden was. Hearing this from him didn't feel like boasting—it sounded like the truth.
"I'd like to stay in Salvador, my king. If you would have me," Vorden added, looking Elon in the eye.
"Of course, Ser Vorden. Of course," Elon smiled.
He was pleased that Ser Vorden wanted to stay—not only because he would be useful in the upcoming wars but also for the projects Elon planned to create. Ser Vorden was a powerful man, and having him in the kingdom would only benefit Elon's ambitions.
Traveling fifteen kilometers east was no short journey, but Elon was determined. After all, he was guided by the Guide Agent, which displayed a map on the green screen.
A screen only Elon could see.
[—Tov Farm > Glein Village, which has the road to Thera passing through it > Then down the Cold Stream to the Stone Forest in the extreme east.—]
Elon ensured he followed the map as displayed, with the Guide Agent occasionally directing him on which path to take. Fortunately, Elon could see his own position moving on the map as they traveled, making navigation much easier.
When they finally arrived at the Stone Forest, Elon saw nothing resembling limestone. After a careful survey, all he could see were brown and blue gravel covering the ground.
The stones were so abundant that the trees here were malnourished and struggled to grow. Shrubs outnumbered trees, and the only dominant feature of the landscape was...
Stones.
Stones
Rocks.
A stone forest indeed.
"But I can't find any limestone… Where are they?" Elon muttered to the Guide Agent, ensuring no one else could hear him.
[—You will find them. But first, you have to deal with this.—]
"Deal with what?" Elon flinched, confused.
Before the Guide Agent could respond, a sudden sound echoed from behind. Elon quickly turned in that direction.
GRRRRR…
His eyes widened as he spotted seven fully grown wolves emerging from the other side of the stone forest, growling at him and his men.
Ser Vorden and the others reacted immediately, drawing their swords from their belts.
"Direwolves, my king! We have to get you out of here!" one of the men shouted.
"Your safety is our priority, my king! Direwolves are no friends of ours!" another warned.
But Elon remained calm and composed—just like Ser Vorden. Unlike the others, Elon carried his AK-47, and that changed the odds significantly.
"Are they truly Direwolves?" Elon asked the Guide Agent.
[—Yes, host. The four black-furred Direwolves are Wolf Soldiers, ranked E. The two with black and white fur are Wolf Guardians, ranked D. And the entirely white-furred one is the Wolf King, ranked B.—]
[—You won't need more than five bullets to take down the Wolf King. Enjoy.—]
A pleased smile crept onto Elon's face as he studied the slowly approaching Direwolves. They were only waiting for the right moment to strike.
"Leave them to me. I'll handle this myself!" Elon commanded.
Ser Vorden and the others widened their eyes in shock.
"Maybe he hasn't heard the tales of Direwolves feeding the d**k of the kings they killed to their Wolf Queen," one of the men muttered under his breath.