Dark Fantasy Guide for the Summoner - Chapter 51

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Episode 51.
Abandoned Cemetery Ⅰ
The Train hurtles along the rails.
Black smoke billowing in its wake, moving with a certain bluntness.
Clack, clack…….
Though perhaps only I find it blunt. After all, the trains of this world are closer to steam locomotives than anything else.
For someone accustomed to high-speed rail, the constant vibration and noise grates throughout the journey, and despite that, the speed itself is painfully slow.
‘Still.’
It has its charm.
Beyond the window, harvested farmland stretches to the horizon—this is the Royal Capital Agricultural District.
A vast fertile plain occupying the expansive eastern lands, where more than seventy percent of the kingdom’s grain is harvested, or so the records claim.
‘I suppose that’s why the scenery never changes.’
Even accounting for the train’s glacial pace, the sheer breadth of it is staggering.
Clack, clack…….
Late winter outside means the air is crisp, but inside the train, warmth settles comfortably.
Lulled by the rhythmic clatter of wheels and sunlight filtering through the windows, my grip on reality slips away again.
As though I were some fortunate soul taking a leisurely train journey.
“You don’t think something like last time could happen again, do you?”
It’s as if I’ve been doused with cold water mid-sleep.
Suddenly alert, I turn to Kazen and ask.
“Something like last time?”
“You know, when the train…….”
“Derailed?”
“Yes.”
I look at Kazen’s face and speak.
“I don’t know. But regardless, it’d be wise to stay reasonably vigilant.”
“That’s…true, sir.”
I’m not sure if I’m speaking to Kazen or reminding myself; either way, I turn my gaze back to the window.
‘From what I recall, the only incident on a train was in the opening sequence.’
But who knows what might happen now. This train will be running for over two nights and three days.
Spending two entire nights aboard, there’s no reason to expect trouble won’t find us.
‘In the game, we arrived in the blink of an eye.’
Right after that text appeared: “The train heads toward the Forest of Eternity…….”
“……It might get a little tedious.”
“Shall we play cards?”
Seems my thought leaked out as a murmur.
“You have cards?”
“I brought them just in case.”
“What good is a card game with just two of us.”
“Well, then…….”
Kazen glances at the seat beside him, then closes his mouth with an awkward expression. His eyes dart toward me—a silent plea for help.
Unable to resist that look, I turn my gaze in that direction…….
“…….”
There’s Seigerna with crossed arms, broadcasting to everyone that her mood is decidedly foul—
And Laurent, utterly indifferent, lost in meditation with eyes shut.
‘Good grief.’
They’ve been sitting like that for hours without exchanging a word.
Though the seating arrangement wasn’t intentional, I’d hoped this journey might encourage some conversation, lighten the mood between them.
‘Backfired, apparently.’
This isn’t a good situation.
If this tension deepens, the entire party could fall under a Discord debuff.
‘Increased Stress, stat drops, and in severe cases, even betrayal.’
Of course, neither of them are the type to turn coat easily, but leaving them to fester isn’t wise either.
In the end, I stand up and speak.
“Seigerna. Switch seats with me.”
At that, Seigerna glances at me and says.
“Why should I.”
“You’re uncomfortable.”
“What? I’m perfectly fine.”
“…….”
Taking pride in stubbornness.
I sighed and spoke.
“Laurent. Switch places with me.”
Laurent nodded silently and rose from his seat.
Kazen spoke as Laurent took the opposite spot.
“Care to play cards with me?”
“No.”
“Yes.”
Only after Laurent left did Seigerna finally relax the tension in her brow.
Then she rested her chin against the window frame and opened her mouth.
“How much longer?”
“Two more days at least. You’ve been here before—why are you asking?”
“Last time I barely slept the whole way, so I lost track of how long it took.”
“You slept?”
“What’s so surprising about that?”
“The seat’s uncomfortable and the whole car rocks constantly. You seem sensitive, so I figured you couldn’t sleep properly.”
“Well, the seats are one thing, but I slept fine in the bed.”
“The bed?”
“You didn’t know? Cars one and two have beds in them.”
Really?
“That’s what I’m telling you.”
Now that I think about it, I do recall seeing beds rolling around when we were sifting through the wreckage of that overturned train.
Not that knowing this changes anything, of course.
‘Cars one and two cost over two hundred thousand just for a ticket.’
Meanwhile, car three and below went for a mere five thousand Seed.
The price difference alone was more than twentyfold.
Jolt…
I turned my gaze back out the window, and the sun was slowly sinking. Night would be here before long.
A train tearing through the midnight hours—
As I pictured that scene in my mind, my very first moment of opening my eyes in this world came rushing back, along with the tension I’d felt then.
…
Of course, things were much better now. I had a job, weapons, and even a party to my name.
Still.
‘I can’t afford to let my guard down.’
There was no time for sentimental musings. The moment I stepped off this train, I’d be setting foot back into a forest teeming with threats.
I tightened my loosening resolve with firm resolve.
* * *
Two days later.
Contrary to my worries, we arrived at the forest without incident.
…
Unlike the place where the train had overturned before, this station had an actual platform built for it. Not that the facilities looked particularly impressive.
As I was surveying the surroundings, Kazen spoke.
“Huh? There are quite a few people not getting off and continuing on?”
“We got off a bit early. Those people probably plan to get off at a few more stops down the line.”
“Ah. So there are other stations?”
Of course there were.
Though at our current level, entering them would mean walking straight into the afterlife. They were options worth considering only after we’d built up our specs further.
“Let’s go.”
The starting point was different, but the surrounding terrain felt familiar.
That was because this place was also the Woodman Breeding Ground.
The moment I led the party into the forest.
[You are entering the Changing Land.]
[Currently the Woodman Breeding Ground is undergoing transformation.]
My brow furrowed as I read the consecutive messages, and Kria turned back.
“Kaindel? What’s wrong?”
“…Nothing. Let’s keep moving.”
The breeding ground was undergoing transformation?
Come to think of it, I’d seen a similar message when I’d eliminated the Black Tree last time.
I checked the status message next.
[You who have driven this change may become the Forest Keeper of this territory through fair procedure.]
What’s a Forest Keeper?
I tapped it with my finger to investigate.
Forest Keeper
A being that maintains the order of the forest. It possesses the authority to shape the environment of its designated territory.
Authority to shape the environment…….
Just from the words alone, I couldn’t quite grasp what it meant.
[Exploration Rate: 57.1%…….]
I stared at the message for a moment, then closed the notification window. I decided it wasn’t something I needed to worry about right now.
‘Something’s happening somewhere I don’t know, in a way I don’t understand.’
For now, that much understanding seemed sufficient.
Judging by the exploration rate, the next time I come back here, I should be able to learn more about what’s going on.
Screech!
Perhaps because the ecosystem was shifting, Woodmen no longer appeared in the Old Woodman Breeding Ground.
The creatures that occasionally showed up were only goblins, fungal monsters, and wild beasts—the same ones we’d encountered before entering the shelter last time.
Naturally, they posed no threat whatsoever to our party’s current strength.
“It’s surprisingly peaceful today, isn’t it……?”
“…….”
If even Kazen was saying that, there was nothing more to be said.
Normally I would’ve reminded him to stay alert anyway, but this time I kept quiet as well.
Pushing it would only be wearing away at our focus unnecessarily.
“Kazen. Not that way—this direction.”
“Ah, right.”
Thanks to the forest map we’d received as compensation from the Pashu tribe, we had no danger of losing our way.
Though it would take roughly a day’s travel to reach our destination.
‘If Woodmen aren’t appearing at all anymore…….’
I’d need to adjust the plan slightly.
I had deliberately set a leisurely pace.
Instead of heading straight for our destination, I wandered through the breeding ground, gathering things that could only be found in the forest.
‘Fresh water, medicinal herbs, forest fruits, Blue Leaves…….’
While I was at it, I also raised the Exploration Rate a bit.
If everything went as planned, we wouldn’t be coming back to the breeding ground again.
[You have registered the discovery in the Survey Crystal.]
⁝

[Current Exploration Rate: 1.5%]
Even when registering rare discoveries, the Exploration Rate barely inched upward. It was a matter of capacity.
What I’d purchased this time wasn’t a Lowest Grade Survey Crystal.
Lower Grade Survey Crystal
A tool capable of recording the Exploration Rate of the Forest of Eternity.
Current Exploration Rate: 1.5%
Time remaining: 58 days 16 hours
A full tier higher than the Lowest Grade—the Lower Grade Survey Crystal.
Its capacity was roughly twice that of the lowest grade, and its operating time was similar.
It was sturdy enough that rolling it around wouldn’t break it easily, and though I’d rarely need it, the Sound Recording enchantment was even applied to it.
‘Even though it cost five hundred thousand Seeds…….’
Hideously expensive, but it was worth the cost, all things considered.
“We’ll make camp here today. Get ready.”
“What? The sun’s still high in the sky though?”
“Sleep anyway. I mentioned it on the Train.”
“Hmm……. All right.”
Normally, sleeping sprawled out in the breeding ground in broad daylight would have been extraordinarily dangerous, but with the Woodmen gone, it wasn’t particularly risky anymore.
We set up camp in a shaded area where sunlight was sparse, and after we woke, we pressed forward diligently.
Crunch.
As we drew closer to our destination, the forest’s atmosphere gradually grew fainter.
Trees disappeared, grass became hard to find, and the verdant earth slowly began to show its bare skin. A gloomy mood came with it.
When mist began to creep into that landscape…….
[You have discovered a new area.]
[Entering the Abandoned Cemetery.]
We had arrived at a new place. It was the middle of the night.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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