Could it be that his advancement in ‘power’ correlates to his ability to stir the power of this white space? Ulrich believed that it was likely.

  Through his assumptions, he'd established some rules regarding this white space. Firstly, this domain seemed to directly penetrate his future dream, which could breach the Shadow Realm. And secondly, his ‘control’ depends on his own accumulation of runes.

  There was another matter Ulrich wished to test, but recalling his traumatic experience in the dream realm, he shook his head.

  I will see if dream divination is effective in the white space after exploring Cadry Ruin… Since this dream was capable of cleansing the black mark off his astral body, it can be considered a form of protection in some sense.

  As his ‘control’ increases, so will this protection. With enough accumulation of runes, Ulrich believed he could fend off any affliction that may occur during a dream divination within this space.

  Thinking so, he had the urge to return to the shadow realm and explore Cadry Ruin. At the same time, search for traces of the so-called 42 in both the shadow realm and Belham.

  …

  Ulrich wasted no time and returned to the shadow realm. The weight of seeing his own headstone, as well as learning about the destruction of Belham, wore down his mind. He tried to shake it off and got out of bed.

  What time is it?

  He left and strolled down the narrow passage, eventually finding his way back to the exchange hall. Looking out the window, it was well past dawn.

  As he entered the exchange hall and looked at the corner, a familiar group noticed his entry.

  “Johan!” Snezana called out.

  Were they waiting for me? He smiled wryly, realizing that he’d woken up late.

  “I thought you weren’t going to show up,” Borik said. His nervousness wore on his face.

  “You could have come to me personally.”

  Immediately, Borik and Snezana looked at each other. “We don’t have your exact residential unit.”

  Right. I was too busy that I’d forgotten… He shook his head and changed the topic. “Forget it. I’m in a hurry, so why don’t we start right away?”

  Borik couldn’t understand his urgency, but believing that Ulrich must have his own circumstances, he nodded.

  They all stood up together and checked their belongings once more before heading outside Helgan’s Keep. From here, it was just wilderness.

  According to their map, Cadry ruin was northeast of Helgan’s Keep.

  However, Borik proposed that they move north first, before making their way east. This is because between Cadry Ruin and Helgan’s Keep is the Black Forest, one of the more gruesome regions filled with terrifying monsters.

  “I’ll just follow you,” Ulrich said.

  In this matter, it was best to leave it to the expert. If anything, his knowledge of the shadow realm was less than these mercenaries, who often perform expeditions and explore the wilderness to make a living. Surely, they know the way better.

  Traveling north, they’d encountered some wild beasts.

  In that moment, the brush rustled, and Borik raised his fist. The group froze. A rough snort echoed through the trees, followed by the scrape of hooves against stone.

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  Then it emerged—a massive boar-like creature, easily twice the size of any natural animal. Twisted tusks protrude from its snout like jagged blades, and its eyes gleam with feral hunger.

  "Beasts!" Borik barked.

  The creature pawed the ground once, then charged.

  Borik planted his feet and raised his shield, meeting the beast head-on. The impact sent a shudder through his arms, but he deflected the tusks to the side. "Now!"

  Immediately, Snezana darted left, her blade flashing.

  She slashed across the creature's flank, drawing first blood. The beast squealed and twisted, but she had already danced back out of range.

  In that same moment, an arrow whistled past, striking the boar's shoulder.

  Mason nocked another arrow with practiced speed. "Keep it turning, Borik!"

  The creature charged at Borik again, but he sidestepped and slammed the shield into its head, staggering it.

  A chance!

  Snezana seized the moment, driving her sword into its side with a clean thrust. The boar thrashed, trying to shake her off, but she'd already withdrawn her blade.

  Oh? A hit-and-run tactic? Ulrich praised, watching from the back-line with no intention on intervening.

  When Snezana backed away, two more arrows struck forth—one in the neck, another in its hindquarter.

  The beast's movements grew sluggish, its breathing labored.

  Borik closed in and brought his sword down across the creature's spine. It collapsed with a final grunt, twitching once before going still.

  The fight had lasted less than a minute.

  Borik rolled his shoulder, checking his shield for damage. At the same time, Snezana flicked blood from her blade and wiped it clean. Mason lowered his bow and nodded to himself, satisfied with his shots.

  From several paces back, Ulrich stood with his arms crossed, having observed the entire encounter without moving.

  "Not bad," He said simply.

  Borik grinned, pleased with Ulrich’s praises.

  Perhaps they were lucky, or blessed by some god, but they’d only encountered wild beasts along the path of north and east.

  Even during all their encounters, Ulrich only stood watch, showing no intention of participating. And surprisingly, the group of mercenaries was well coordinated, performing the hit and run perfectly.

  Ulrich reckoned that as long as they didn’t encounter the horde of skeletons in Margrave or a monster on the level of the Scarlet wolf, they ought to do fine.

  This group is better than I expected…

  Eventually, they stood in sight of a giant hill.

  The trees thinned, and through the skeletal branches, the ruined castle materialized like a corpse half-buried in time.

  Cadry Ruin was an old Castle that rose from the land in broken fragments. Its jagged ‘towers’ clawed the foggy sky, the peaks shattered as if cleaved by heavens. Or rather, it looked like a stoned giant reaching toward the sky.

  “We are finally here.” Borik sighed, nudging his glasses, and looked at Ulrich.

  “It’s bigger than I thought,” Ulrich remarked.

  Snezana grinned. “I’ve seen a bigger castle than this. But most of them are occupied by monsters and hideous things. I would not recommend exploring without a full team!”

  Borik nodded. “We were lucky and found this one by chance. It seems to be abandoned by other groups, probably because it looked too shabby.”

  People here are picky about their target?

  As though reading his thought, Borik explained. “Sometimes the reward from exploring a ruin is not worth the effort, so people tend to avoid it.”

  “So why this ruin?”

  Borik glanced at Snezana. She opened her mouth, but no word came. In the end, Borik sighed and spoke the truth.

  “There’s another reason. I’m sorry, but we cannot tell you. I hope you understand.”

  Ulrich noticed their glances, but didn’t point it out and instead warned them. “As long as it does not affect me directly, I do not mind. I believe you understand my concern.”

  Snezana, Borik, and Mason recalled the oppressive aura yesterday and assured him. “Actually, we plan on telling you after finding that certain item in the ruin.”

  Item? Is this the whole reason why they wanted to explore this ruin?

  “What item?”