Chapter 57: The Townsfolk Play So Delicately
The handwriting in the diary became scrawled and messy.
[May 11, how could it possibly be May 11?]
[I frantically confirmed the date with the residents of Frozen Water Town over and over again.]
[But the answer I received was invariably the time point two months ago, on the third day after the arrival of the thick fog.]
[Perhaps because I revealed my identity as a Guardian, after learning that the food and fresh water in the lighthouse had run out, the Mr. Mayor enthusiastically invited me to stay at their home, but I was simply not in the mood for that.]
[Ignoring the astonished looks from the townsfolk, I recklessly ran back to the lighthouse, repeatedly checking the scratches I made on the wall to record time, as well as the number of broken wine bottles and discarded cans. Thankfully, I wrote a log to deal with the requirements!]
[Regardless of how I confirmed it, the time I spent in the lighthouse was indeed July 23.]
…
[Catastrophic Era Year 94, July 24]
[Last night, I finished the last bottle of wine in the lighthouse and clarified many things.]
When I reached this point, Rast noticed that the previously messy handwriting in the diary had returned to being neat and orderly.
Sharp angles, a fierce stroke.
[There’s no doubt that something abnormal has occurred in Frozen Water Town, perhaps related to that thick fog… It reminds me of the pollutants I once heard about.]
[In addition to sending their familiars to directly annihilate cities and nations, Evil Gods sometimes also cast their gaze upon certain specific locations, creating coincidences that allow pollution to descend silently… It is said that the fall of Deep Blue Harbor and the outbreak of the Iron Cross Plague were such events.]
[And now, perhaps some form of pollution has occurred in Frozen Water Town, with that thick fog being their cover; I don’t know what will happen if I leave Frozen Water Town unattended, but if it leads to an outcome similar to Deep Blue Harbor… ]
[The lighthouse, thousands of meters away from Frozen Water Town, should be safe, without being within the range of that abnormal change and pollution.]
[Theoretically speaking, staying in the lighthouse, relying on the nearby stream and fruits, and hunting wild animals to survive while waiting for headquarters’ rescue might be the most rational choice.]
[My ability and sequence are not combat specialized types; otherwise, I should be standing at the forefront resisting the Dusk Tide, not being an inconsequential lighthouse keeper here.]
[But even so—]
[I am still a “Guardian.”]
By the time Rast read this, he could feel that the owner of the diary’s handwriting was no longer as anxious and tense as before.
Instead, they had regained their calm, as if having made a certain resolution.
[I will return to Frozen Water Town, investigate the potential uncontrollable pollution event, and do everything possible to prevent the situation from spreading.]
[I left the diary in the lighthouse, trying to fill in as many details as I remembered.]
[I don’t know if I will have the chance to write this diary again; if not, I hope this diary can provide some help to those who come after.]
The handwriting in the diary stopped here.
After turning this page, a Silver Wing Emblem that had been tucked inside the diary fell onto the table.
Compared to the badge of Rast and Hiltina, this Guardian Wing Emblem was obviously much older, showing signs of corrosion from the sea breeze everywhere.
Rast picked up the old emblem and saw etched handwriting on the back with a kn*fe.
[No. 63301, Foden]
This was the name of the diary’s owner and his number among the Guardians.
Rast put away the old emblem and turned to Hiltina, who had finished reading the diary and was now scanning the old cans and broken wine bottles inside the lighthouse, as well as the scratches on the wall with a kn*fe, seeming to estimate whether they matched the content of the diary.
After a moment, Hiltina gently nodded, “The contents of the diary should be trustworthy.”
“It seems that this lighthouse outside Frozen Water Town, as the birthplace of this Calamity Echo, should also be a safety zone in a sense.”
Rast said, “So? Should we wait in the safety zone for a while to see what changes will happen?”
“The content of the diary has already mentioned it; there may be some pollution or abnormal change happening in Frozen Water Town. If we stay in the safety zone waiting, it may worsen the situation further.”
“I think the previous scout team’s annihilation was likely due to holding such a thought.”
“Besides—do you think it aligns with my character to hesitate just because there’s danger?”
Hiltina rummaged through the pile of old items in the lighthouse, finding a rope, wrapping it around her slender waist, tying a knot, and then handing the other end of the rope to Rast.
Rast looked at the rope handed over by Hiltina, his expression becoming somewhat subtle, “Miss Hiltina, it seems our relationship hasn’t developed to the step of Ais Affection yet.”
“Huh? What do you mean?”
Hiltina paused for a moment, “The thick fog around Frozen Water Town likely has issues. According to the cases provided by the Tower of Secrets, it is very possible to get lost in the fog… even encountering a situation where, after reuniting from getting lost, one finds that their companion has been replaced by another kind of creature.”
“Therefore, using a rope to connect us is a necessary measure.”
“Actually, theoretically, the most secure connection would be a chain; there’s still a risk of the rope breaking, but since there isn’t any in the lighthouse, we just have to make do with this.”
“It’s nothing; I just didn’t expect you townsfolk to play around more delicately than I imagined.”
Rast calmly took the other end of the rope, wrapping it around his hand.
“Let’s set off.”
The two descended the lighthouse, heading toward Frozen Water Town engulfed in thick fog.
…
As a Third Tier of the “Chariot” sequence, Hiltina’s physical fitness goes without saying.
And ever since Rast awakened Night Blade, with the card “Chariot·Hiltina” equipped in the Library of Fools, he felt that his physical fitness had also received some improvement.
Though Rast himself was merely a First Tier, this enhancement was minuscule compared to Hiltina, who had reached the Third Tier limit and was qualified for the Fourth Tier.
But for Rast, whose physical fitness was previously on par with an ordinary person, it had already been a considerable improvement.
They proceeded along the winding path shrouded in thick fog.
In just a few minutes, they arrived at Frozen Water Town within the mist.
…
PS: The second update still needs some modifications, so I’ll post it later. Everyone can read it tomorrow.
(End of Chapter)
