The truck was modest, stocked to the brim with all sorts of supplies—crates of rations, medical kits, and an arsenal of weapons. Space was tight, but I squeezed myself beside Leora. The hum of the engine was constant, accompanied by the occasional bump as the vehicle navigated the rough terrain.
Leora sat with her eyes half-closed, but I knew she wasn’t relaxing. Her voice broke the silence. “Three goblins to our five o’clock,” she said, her tone casual. A moment later, she added, “Ah, they dealt with it.”
I didn’t even turn to look. “No need to overthink it. The Steel Mountain clan knows what they’re doing.”
She nodded but didn’t relax. “My bad. Just feeling tense. It’s been too long since I’ve been in the field. I’ve learned a lot since my last excursion three years ago, but… My fight with the Oval Mercenary Group was closer than I’d like to admit.”
“We can’t always be infallible,” I said.
Leora glanced at me, her lips curving into a faint smile. “Wise words. Will you tell me how you became a hunter?”
I hesitated, staring at the horizon. “I don’t know. I don’t think I’m ready to talk about it yet. After this, though…” I paused, then said firmly, “I want to quit being a hunter. That much I’m certain of.”
She reached over, her hand brushing against mine. “I’ll wait until you’re ready. No need to rush it.”
Her understanding always amazed me. I gave her a small nod, appreciating her patience.
The hours passed with little incident. Rough travel took its toll, but the Steel Mountain clan proved reliable. As the sun dipped lower, we reached a suitable spot and began setting up camp. Traveling at night beyond the World Wall was asking for trouble. It was necessary for us to always be alert.
Selena took charge, as always, setting up a tent for the three of us to share. Her preparedness was something I’d come to admire over the years.
Once the tent was up, she turned to us, arms crossed. “Here are my rules: I let you two idiots sleep in my tent if—and only if—there’s no lovemaking, flirting, or anything at all. Do you understand?”
I raised a hand in mock solemnity. “Yes, ma’am.”
Leora smirked. “Sucks to be a third wheel, huh? That’s payback for all the pranks you pulled on me.”
“Shut up,” Selena grumbled, already retreating into the tent.
Inside, Selena made sure to place her sleeping bag squarely between mine and Leora’s, clearly determined to enforce her rules. Her scowl was miserable, but I couldn’t help but chuckle. Leora, thankfully, behaved—for Selena’s sanity, if nothing else.
The Steel Mountain clan took care of security, setting up their own watch rotations. They didn’t seem to mind us keeping to ourselves, though I didn’t leave anything to chance. I conjured imperceptible Soul Strings, spreading them out around our tent like invisible tripwires. If anything tried to approach us, I’d know.
Lying in my sleeping bag, I reflected on how much had changed in three years. My abilities had grown dramatically, my Soul-based Techniques becoming sharper, more versatile. I now had four active attribute slots and a vast pool of stolen attributes to draw from. My current loadout—Connection, Homing, Perception, and Confusion—was tailored for survival in the unpredictable wilds beyond the Wall.
As exhaustion took over, I let my eyes close. Sleep came easily, and I welcomed it. This was only the first day, and the world beyond the Wall was a far tougher place than anything we’d faced so far. I knew that all too well. After all, I wrote this world.
The rest of the ride to Mornlit Village was surprisingly uneventful. The occasional goblin or hobgoblin would dart out from the underbrush, but the Steel Mountain clan handled them effortlessly. Their leader, Bastian, was particularly reliable—a powerhouse of a Fighter who made quick work of anything that dared cross our path.
During the quieter moments, I caught snippets of conversation among the clan. Bastian, in particular, seemed fixated on me—or rather, my company.
“Man, surrounded by beautiful girls, huh?” he said, just loud enough for me to overhear. “What are you, some bigshot from the capital? Don’t tell me you’re one of those untouchable noble types who moonlights as a hunter for kicks.”
I smirked but let him talk. It was all in good jest, even if his tone carried a hint of prickliness.
Leora, sitting beside me, didn’t miss a beat. “Jealousy doesn’t suit you, Bastian,” she called out, her voice teasing.
Selena, on the other hand, was less forgiving. “Don’t lump us in with him,” she quipped. “I’m just here because someone has to babysit this guy.”
“Sure, sure,” Bastian chuckled. “Keep telling yourself that.”
The banter helped pass the time, though the rough terrain and the constant jostling of the truck made it hard to relax. By the time the second night rolled around, I was ready for another break.
We made camp as usual, following the same routine as the night before. I set up my Soul Strings again, just in case, while the Steel Mountain crew rotated their watch shifts. Selena seemed slightly less irritable this time, though she still made sure to keep Leora and me in line.
“Remember the rules,” she warned as we settled in for the night.If you encounter this story on Amazon, note that it''s taken without permission from the author. Report it.
Leora gave her a mock salute. “Yes, ma’am.”
The night passed without incident, and we resumed our journey at dawn. By the time we finally reached Mornlit Village, it was just around lunchtime.
The village was nestled in a valley, its wooden buildings sturdy but weathered. Smoke curled from chimneys, and the air carried the scent of freshly baked bread and roasting meat. After two days of nothing but MREs, my stomach growled at the promise of real food.
I hopped off the truck, stretching out my stiff limbs. “Finally,” I muttered. “I’m so tired of eating packaged sludge. I could eat something that actually tastes good.”
Leora stepped down beside me, adjusting her katana at her hip. “Let’s hope the local cuisine lives up to your standards.”
Selena was already ahead, talking to one of the villagers who had come out to greet us. The Steel Mountain clan began unloading their supplies, their members fanning out to secure lodging and gather information.
I glanced around, taking in the sight of the village. It seemed peaceful enough, but there was an undercurrent of tension in the way the villagers moved—furtive glances, hurried steps. Something wasn’t right here, and I could feel it in my gut.
“Let’s grab something to eat,” I said to Leora. “We’ll need our strength for whatever comes next.”
She nodded, her expression thoughtful. “Agreed. But stay sharp. I don’t like the vibe here.”
Mornlit Village stood out starkly from the scenery we’d seen on our travels. Gone were the lush green vegetation and sprawling trees that dominated the landscape beyond the wall. Instead, towering walls, roughly two hundred feet high, enclosed the settlement like a fortress. The gates were heavily fortified, and we were subjected to a series of meticulous verifications before being allowed entry.
Once inside, the village’s aesthetic reminded me of frontier towns from Earth’s 17th or 19th centuries, with wooden structures and cobblestone streets. Of course, no one here would get the reference. This world followed a vastly different historical trajectory.
Leora glanced around, her sharp eyes scanning the area. “That looks like an inn,” she said, pointing to a two-story building with a hanging sign that depicted a crescent moon and a steaming mug. “Should we wait for Selena?”
I smirked. “No need. I attached a Soul Link to her. I’ll just tell her to come here.”
She raised an eyebrow, impressed. “You can talk through your Soul Links now?”
“Yep,” I replied. “I used the same principles I applied for telepathic communication on the tarot cards. Took some trial and error, but it works.”
Leora’s lips curved into a faint smile. “Impressive. You’ve been busy.”
“Had to be,” I said with a shrug. “Staying stagnant isn’t an option, not with the kind of life we live.”
She nodded, her expression turning serious for a moment. Then, she gestured toward the inn. “Let’s head inside. It looks cozy enough.”
I reached out with the Soul Link to Selena, sending a simple message: We’re heading to the inn with the crescent moon sign. Meet us there when you’re done.
A few seconds later, her voice echoed faintly in my mind. Got it. Don’t start without me.
Leora and I stepped into the inn, and the warmth of the interior was a welcome contrast to the brisk air outside. The place was modest but well-kept, with wooden tables and chairs scattered across a small dining area. A bar lined one wall, and a middle-aged woman behind the counter greeted us with a nod.
“Welcome,” she said. “Looking for a room or just a meal?”
“Both,” I replied. “Three rooms if you have them.”
The woman’s gaze flicked between us, then to the door as if expecting someone else. “Three, huh? Let me check what we’ve got available.”
“Separate rooms?” Leora raised an eyebrow.
“Sorry, sweetie,” I shrugged, feeling a tad guilty. “Focus on the mission… ha ha ha~!” My laugh was so fake and Leora knew it.
Leora and I settled at a corner table while we waited. “I wonder if Selena managed to dig up anything useful already,” Leora said, leaning back in her chair.
“She’s thorough,” I said. “If there’s something to find, she’ll find it.”
The door creaked open a moment later, and Selena strode in, her dark leather armor making her stand out among the more plainly dressed villagers. She spotted us immediately and made her way over, her expression unreadable.
“Well?” Leora asked as Selena slid into the seat beside her.
Selena sighed, leaning her elbows on the table. “I’ve got some good news and bad news. Which do you want first?”
I exchanged a glance with Leora before answering. “Good news.”
Selena smirked faintly. “The good news is, I’ve confirmed our target was here. Not just a rumor—they were definitely in Mornlit Village.”
Okay, that was a lucky break, right?
“And the bad news?” Leora pressed.
“They left two days ago,” Selena said grimly. “And they weren’t alone. A group of armed mercenaries went with them. Guess where they were headed?”
I felt a knot tighten in my stomach. “Deeper into the forbidden regions?”
Selena nodded. “Bingo. Looks like our hunt’s about to get a lot more complicated.”
The aroma of freshly prepared food filled the air as our meals were served. I wasted no time digging into my curry and rice, savoring the warm, spiced flavors that were a welcome change from the bland MREs we’d been eating for the past two days. Leora, on the other hand, happily munched on her burger and fries, dipping each fry in ketchup with the precision of someone who missed junk food.
Selena, however, stole the show. She tore into her roasted pheasant like a starved predator, the glint in her eyes making me wonder if she hadn’t eaten in days. She licked her fingers clean with zero shame, earning a few curious glances from nearby patrons.
Leora reached into her pouch and pulled out a few gold coins to settle the bill. Currency outside the World Wall was an odd mix of practicality and history—gold coins were king. Government-issued Credits, whether in physical or digital form, held little sway in these regions, where the influence of the mundane government was virtually nonexistent.
As we finished our meals, Selena leaned back in her chair and wiped her hands on a napkin. “Alright, let’s get to it. What do we know about the Saint? Combat style? Techniques? Anything?”
Both she and Leora turned their eyes to me expectantly. Of course, they’d look to me—I always seemed to know things.
I sighed, setting my spoon down. “He’s a Maker-type, probably with a conjuration Gift. Might have Dealer-type as his secondary aura state.”
Leora frowned, trying to piece it together. Selena raised an eyebrow, urging me to continue.
“As for his abilities,” I said, pausing for dramatic effect, “he can summon some kind of eldritch god. In the shape of a truck.”
Leora blinked, utterly speechless. Her fries hovered in midair, forgotten.
Selena’s expression twisted into sheer bewilderment. “A truck?”
I nodded solemnly. “Capable of partial transformations and all sorts of spatial manipulation.”
Selena’s mouth opened and closed a few times, as though searching for words to process what I’d just said. Finally, she leaned forward, resting her elbows on the table. “So you’re telling me we’re going up against some kind of… eldritch Optimus Prime?”
I couldn’t help but laugh. “That’s one way to put it.”
Leora groaned, rubbing her temples. “Of all the things to be dealing with…”
“Welcome to life beyond the Wall,” I said with a shrug. “It’s never boring.”
Selena shook her head, a smirk tugging at the corner of her lips. “Well, at least it’ll be a hell of a story to tell—if we survive.”
Leora sighed, her gaze distant. “What kind of person even comes up with summoning a godly truck? And why?”
I shrugged again, leaning back in my chair. “Guess we’ll find out soon enough. But one thing’s for sure—this Saint is going to be anything but ordinary.”