Chapter 10 Landing
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
How many hours had he been carried by the river’s flow? Since one bank was close, he swam ashore.
His uniform clung to his skin, soaked and heavy, but he had nothing else to change into. He muttered, “No dry wood… nothing for kindling…” —his breath a mist in the chill air.
Even if he could start a fire, it might draw attention. The last thing he needed was to be found by one of the otherworldly creatures—or worse, scouts from the demon king’s army.
”Gotta keep moving. Can’t risk a cold right now,” he said under his breath, rubbing his arms briskly for warmth.
His first goal: find an outpost settlement.
”I’ll follow the river downstream,” he decided aloud, pushing forward through the underbrush.
There was logic behind the decision. Since ancient times, humans have built settlements near rivers. Water is vital—not just for drinking, but for washing, cooking, and especially for cultivating crops.
More importantly, rivers were the veins of civilization, feeding cities and villages alike, enabling trade and communication. Even capitals needed nearby rivers or seas to manage waste and runoff. For regions lacking their own food sources, rivers became lifelines.
”If there’s a settlement around here, it’ll be downstream,” he reasoned, his eyes scanning the flowing current beside him.
Hours passed beneath a gray, unchanging sky. The squelch of his boots in the mud was rhythmic—squelch, squelch—the only sound besides the river’s gurgling.
Eventually, the forest thinned, and something caught his eye. A trail—faint, beaten by carts and perhaps travelers.
”A road… maybe,” he whispered, crouching to examine the deep grooves.
He followed it. For half a day, he trudged along that rural path, the sky slowly warming into the soft amber of early evening.
Then, just over a low ridge, he saw it—smoke trails, thatched roofs, a scattering of humble homes nestled beside the water.
A settlement.
His legs nearly buckled in relief.
”I made it…” he exhaled, shoulders sagging.
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
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