By Zephyria 
“Why don’t we just use teleport?”
“They said we’d get lost. Listen to the Captain.”
“I think we’re already lost. And just because he’s the Captain doesn’t mean he’s always right.”
“Are you rebelling?”
Leonardo shifted his gaze from his feet and glared at Nero, who was grumbling.
Feeling the sting of the look, Nero muttered under his breath while glancing sideways.
“Rebelling? I’m just offering an opinion. He only listens so well when it’s something like this.”
“I can hear nothing but your voice, so how could I not hear you?”
It had felt like two hours since they began crossing the swamp. After snapping back with a sharp gaze, Leonardo lowered his eyes once more to the shallow waters.
In this silent marshland, where not a single human or beast was in sight, he was busily searching for a marker that could serve as a guide. He hoped that perhaps there might be a stone tablet engraved with the Ancient Language here as well. However, even after scouring the moss-covered ruins of old dwellings, there were no significant letters or traces that could be inferred as someone’s love letter.
‘Is the structure different from the Castle of Romance?’
The sunless sky and the thick fog. The eerie atmosphere, as if space-time were warped, was similar to that place, leading him to wonder if the meaning or function was also alike. After all, the person who had given directions to both locations was the same.
However, from what he had observed so far, he wasn’t sure if the two were greatly related. Neither the fork in the road mentioned in the note nor the aquatic plants presumed to be ash trees were visible. In short, it meant they were lost.
“Let’s try this way.”
Pulling down his hat, Leonardo did not give up and changed direction yet again. Watching him, Nero let out a silent sigh.
“…He’s really become energetic while I wasn’t looking.”
It was because the sight of the Captain’s back, tirelessly roaming here and there, was almost exhausting to watch. When they left Solia, he had been so frail, looking like someone who had barely cheated death, that Nero’s primary concern had been for him. Now, it seemed he should be worrying about himself. To think the man would become this spirited. He was glad, of course, but… As Nero took a step forward with a complaint, mud splattered and clung to his shoe again.
“Ugh—”
Reeds and mangrove roots tangled around his ankles, pulling at his legs. Nero frowned, thinking it felt as if gravity had doubled.
‘I’m gonna die.’
He had expected the swamp to be cool, but that was a huge miscalculation. Instead, the temperature was boiling, as if they were in the middle of a desert. He wanted to plunge his head into the water at his feet, but Taylor’s words echoed in his mind: that since the place was full of rotting organic matter, he should refrain unless he wanted to spray it everywhere while walking.
And for good reason; while no living beasts were in sight, bleached white bones of unknown origin lay scattered frequently. Large and small bone fragments were woven into plant roots that were knit together like spiderwebs. It was as if they had rotted away and been absorbed as nutrients by the swamp, becoming one with nature.
Not wanting to end up in the same state, Nero wiped away his streaming sweat and looked up. The yellow sky, which had made him feel seasick, had changed in the meantime.
Whether the day was ending or not, purple clouds were now drifting by. However, the curved mountain range in the distance still shimmered like a mirage. Despite walking for several hours, he felt as though they were circling the same spot; it was certainly a maddening space.
‘Is it true that it’s warped?’
Looking around to see how the other seniors were faring, it seemed only he was struggling, as everyone else looked fine on the surface. But it was clear that their pace had slowed significantly compared to the beginning. Even the youngest had his pride, and though he had endured steadfastly, he had reached his limit. Stopping in his tracks, Nero took the lead and spoke up.
“Captain, let’s take a break.”
Leonardo, who had been clearing a path at the front to make it easier for his comrades to follow, paused. As he looked back, Taylor and Finder also gradually came to a halt following Nero’s words. Though they didn’t speak, they seemed to agree with the youngest’s suggestion.
Checking his comrades’ complexions, Leonardo asked Taylor, who was closest to him.
“How many hours have we been moving?”
She shook the watch on her wrist and curled one corner of her mouth upward.
“Who knows? The hands stopped a while ago.”
Her voice, which usually sounded like a tomboy’s, was hoarse. Leonardo replied without much thought.
“Let’s rest.”
In an unknown land where not even a single insect could be heard chirping, the four of them found a relatively dry rock and settled in amidst a dense thicket of reeds. Meanwhile, the sky grew deeper in shade of purple. Leonardo, who had intended to arrive before nightfall, looked at his exhausted comrades and pulled a pack of cigarettes from his back pocket.
“Are you tired?”
When he asked softly with a cigarette between his lips, Nero, who was pouring water from a canteen over his head, readily agreed.
“Of course I’m tired. We’ve been marching for hours under the blazing sun.”
“You used to be fine with this much.”
At that, no one answered. It was because they recalled the Captain’s old self, who would urge them to build their stamina if they were tired.
However, regardless of his comrades’ trauma, Leonardo’s intention in asking was pure consideration. He had suddenly recalled Signe’s appearance when they headed toward the Castle of Romance. Hadn’t she repeatedly stopped, started, and collapsed, claiming her body felt exceptionally heavy there? Wondering if they were experiencing similar symptoms, Leonardo asked his comrades again.
“Does your body feel heavy too?”
“Yeah, you too, Captain? Wow, you were walking so well I thought it was just me.”
Taylor chimed in as if she had been waiting for the chance. As she spoke, she sat on the rock and kicked off her damp combat boots. Having followed him claiming she would protect the Captain, her pride had kept her quiet even while she wanted to complain.
“I don’t know if it’s the high pressure because of the altitude, but I’m out of breath.”
Now that the floodgates were open, Nero, who had been reading the room, added his part.
“Exactly. This place is definitely weird. My feet sink in, and while it looks peaceful, it’s the most unpleasant swamp I’ve ever been to. It feels like it’s pulling from below and pressing down from above.”
“If I’d worn my pretty babies, I would’ve thrown them all away.”
Soon, complaining that her tight clothes were uncomfortable, Taylor unbuckled her belt and slid her pants down. The three men reflexively closed their eyes and turned their heads. Leonardo, who had inhaled some smoke, let out a small cough.
“Taylor, please.”
“What does it matter? We’re like family. Nero, pull a pair of pants out of that bag.”
“Pants? Ah, I see now. Senior’s ‘babies’ were weighing down my shoulders.”
Nero, answering without malice, rummaged through the bag he had been carrying.
“Can’t you help carry some since your junior is struggling so much? If they don’t fit in the Artifact, just throw them away.”
“If a single grain of mud gets on them, you’re getting buried here.”
While the friendly chatter continued and Taylor changed her clothes, Leonardo let out a short laugh, inhaling through the filter.
‘He said he was dying, but he’s still energetic.’
However, synthesizing his comrades’ testimonies, it seemed true that gravity was strong here. Even if he couldn’t feel it himself.
If so, they might not reach their destination if they continued to wander like they did when they entered the Castle of Romance. While Leonardo pondered their next move, Finder approached quietly and naturally took a cigarette from the Captain’s pack.
Tilting his head slightly, he brought the tips together and lit it with familiarity. Leonardo, staring blankly at his actions right in front of him, turned his gaze toward the direction they had walked and asked.
“Are they still following?”
“No. There’s been no sign of them since we left the fog.”
“That’s a relief. It was about to get annoying. Some weirdos have been tailing me since my release.”
Pale smoke drifted languidly from between red lips. Finder, who had been fixing his gaze on him, let out a similar stream of smoke.
“Did you know? That you were being tailed, Captain.”
“Hey, no matter how out of touch I am, it’s not to that extent. There’s no way I wouldn’t know.”
“Who do you think it is? Doesn’t seem like the military. Is the Council still scouting these days?”
He referred to the Council’s persistent demands for attendance or their attempts to keep him from being released by dragging out the trial as ‘scouting.’ Leonardo glared playfully and gave Finder a light punch to the abdomen.
“Don’t get cocky.”
“Just kidding. I was worried it might get dangerous.”
“It’s not the Council. I made a promise. That they wouldn’t chase me anymore.”
“Is that man really that trustworthy? He’s the head of the Imperial Faction.”
Leonardo was inwardly surprised by Finder’s words, which immediately pinpointed the subject of the promise. However, he soon hid his reaction and turned his head, pretending to enjoy the breeze. Amidst the swaying reed fields, Gold Eyes enveloped in smoke shone dreamily. Finder, flicking cigarette ash into the dark water, added one more thing to the man who was carefully choosing his words.
“If the Captain thinks he’s alright, then I’m alright with it too. Even if that’s not the case, I think the Captain’s situation is better now than before. Because of ‘him’.”
“…What do you mean?”
“At least you don’t have to live while running away. You’ve even participated in the leagues.”
“Ah.”
Leonardo, letting out a snort as if embarrassed, gave a short answer and fell silent.
“You once said, Captain. That sometimes, acting nonchalant in a visible place is safer than trying hard to hide.”
“What about it?”
“Honestly, rather than wandering alone and being tailed, acting as Ryan in the arena like you are now is safer—”
Finder, who had been continuing in a calm voice, suddenly trailed off. His relaxed pupils dilated slightly. Leonardo, who had been quietly listening to his comrade’s interference, followed his gaze.
“What is it? Is something there?”
“What is that?”
It was Taylor who asked in a suddenly tense voice. She bolted upright from the rock she had been sitting on. Black shapes, which had been unseen until now, were wriggling like earthworms beneath the water. They were clinging to Leonardo’s reflection on the water’s surface, entwining his entire body. As if trying to drag him down into the swamp.