Chapter 606: The Mysterious Mage and the Ash Forest Mission

The frequent passage of adventurers brought excitement to border towns like Wild Horse Town, which were connected to the Kingdom of Ifu in various ways. Especially the adventurers’ spending and purchases allowed the local residents to make substantial profits!

In the forests about ten miles away from Wild Horse Town, a gray-clad figure dragged a wild goat toward a raised pile of stones. Below the pile was a flat area, where a small wooden shed had been built using the stones—likely constructed by nearby hunters as a resting place.

The gray-clad figure dragged the wild goat under the shed and pierced it from head to tail with a tough, barkless branch, then hung it over a simple stone stove inside the shed, with dried pine branches beneath. Pointing at the prey, the figure skinned the goat completely, leaving only its bare, clean body—without a single drop of blood. The entire skin, as if carefully tanned by a master leatherworker, was dry and soft. The figure laid it on a wooden post as a seat and sat comfortably on it.

With a snap of his fingers, the firewood caught fire on its own, emitting a dark red flame that quickly grew strong yet remained even, with little smoke or impurities. To a cooking expert, this would be the perfect fire for grilling!

The gray-clad figure turned the goat while patiently waiting, occasionally sprinkling spices on it. The heat from the barbecue wafted toward them, carrying a pleasant scent of pine mixed with the unique aroma of the spices.

Just as the whole wild goat was about to be cooked, footsteps were heard in the distance.

“That’s the resting place ahead. Let’s rest there for a while. After eating, we’ll head to the mission site!” said a tall man in half-plate armor, leading the group, to his companions behind him. The man wore a long sword at his waist, looking like both a knight and a swordsman.

Hearing this, the others showed signs of joy.

After an hour of walking along the mountain path, though they were strong, they were also tired—a disadvantage for this mission.

“Captain! Let’s hunt some game to satisfy our hunger!” said a thin young man.

From his black, form-fitting clothes, short sword at his waist, and crossbow on his back, it was clear he was an agile warrior, likely a thief or assassin.

The man at the head glared at him and replied, “It’s just you who’s greedy. We’ll talk about it when we get there!”
The short young man retracted his head and stuck out his tongue, clearly showing respect—or fear—for this strong man. The others couldn’t help but laugh at his silly behavior.
Soon, the group arrived near the pile of stones and saw the light coming from within. The team leader, that burly man, frowned.
“There’s someone there!”
A man with a fierce appearance and a scar on his face gestured toward their leader.
“Leader, shall we go in?”
The burly man shook his head.
“We’re outside. It’s better to be polite. We can just rest briefly outside. Besides, it doesn’t look like it’s going to rain.”
With that, he led the way toward the pile of stones.
Upon approaching, the team saw a figure covered in a gray cloak sitting inside a wooden shed, grilling food in front of them.
The gray-cloaked man seemed completely unaware of the arrival of this elite-looking group of adventurers, focusing instead on the grilled lamb.
“Sorry! We’re adventurers from Wild Horse Town. May we rest here?”
The gray-cloaked man didn’t look up when he heard the burly man’s words but simply waved his hand, signaling them to proceed as they pleased.
Seeing that the other party didn’t like to talk, the adventurers didn’t say much. Most solo adventurers were like this—cautious and reluctant to interact with others.
The group then began unloading their packs and bringing out cooking utensils to prepare lunch.
The short young man, upon receiving orders from the leader, quickly left the group and ran into the nearby woods. Before long, he returned with two plump small animals.
He handed the prey to the only woman in the group to handle. The short young man sat outside the shed, sniffing from time to time, his eyes fixed on the increasingly fragrant grilled lamb, filled with longing as he waited for his team’s lunch.
Soon, the only woman in the group prepared the food. Seeing the simple pieces of flatbread and meat stewed in water in the pot, along with the grilled lamb on the other side, the short young man complained, “Why is there only stewed meat? No grilled meat?”
The woman dressed as a hunter, carrying a long bow, replied coldly, “We don’t have enough money to spend on useless spices. If you want grilled meat, go grill it yourself!”

Although the young men were somewhat indignant about the attitude toward women, they said nothing, clearly accustomed to it. They could only watch greedily as the seemingly delicious roasted lamb was prepared, swallowing their saliva. At that moment, the man in gray stopped turning the lamb slowly and lifted the steaming roast. With a wave of his hand, a tarpaulin that appeared out of nowhere was spread on the ground. Thanks to the even heat, not a single part of the wild goat was burnt; its golden-brown color with hints of dark red could only increase the appetite of anyone hungry! The man in gray placed the roast on the tarpaulin and then suddenly said to the group of adventurers before him, “Delicious food should be shared. I can’t eat all of this by myself. You should join me!” With that, he took out a shiny silver dagger and skillfully cut off a lamb leg and a rib, then plucked pieces of roasted meat and ate them with a large green leaf. Seeing the man’s proficient skill in cutting meat, the burly man’s eyes sparkled as he thanked him with a smile, “Then we won’t be polite!” In his eyes, an expert in swordsmanship, the other man’s knife skills were clearly masterful, even containing certain principles he couldn’t comprehend, as smooth as if it were natural. There wasn’t a single bone stuck, which clearly wasn’t something an ordinary adventurer could do. The other members of the group didn’t notice these details and were surprised by their leader’s actions, as their usual leader would never so easily accept the kindness of a strange stranger. Only the short young man grinned and was the first to step forward, taking out his own dagger to cut off a piece of tender meat from the back leg. He stuffed it into his mouth, swallowing while muttering, “Delicious! Mm! Really delicious…” The others also gathered around the stove under their leader’s guidance, cutting meat from the still-large portion of the roasted lamb to eat. Not only the short young man but everyone else was captivated by its fragrant yet not greasy taste, its tender and delicious flavor. It was probably the most delicious food they had ever eaten in their lives! So, even though they were in front of strangers, aside from the cold-faced woman who remained restrained, the other men indulged in the food with great relish. By the end, their stomachs were full, yet they still felt as if they wanted more. The stew pot cooked by the adventurers themselves was now ignored by everyone.

After a meal, the entire sheep was left with nothing but a clean skeleton. The short young man lay on the ground, holding his stomach with a satisfied expression. Clearly, he was very curious about the gray-robed man who could prepare such delicious food, constantly stealing glances at him. However, since the hood of the cloak covered the gray-robed man’s face, they couldn’t see his features hidden in the shadows. The burly man thanked the gray-robed man on behalf of the group: “Thank you for your delicious food. This is probably the best I’ve ever eaten!” The gray-robed man nodded gently and waved his hand, causing all the remains of the sheep bones to disappear. Seeing this, the adventurers were all astonished. The burly man hesitantly asked, “May I ask, are you a mage?” The gray-robed man replied, “Indeed!” His voice didn’t sound old, but he exuded a mysterious aura, as if an invisible mist surrounded him—a mysterious and possibly young mage, was the impression the adventurers formed immediately. The gray-robed man spoke again. “Are you adventurers here on a mission?” “Yes, we’re part of a group planning to go to the Ash Forest in the west!” Hearing this, the gray-robed man raised his head slightly. “The Ash Forest?” “We’ve heard it’s a gathering place for undead creatures. It’s dangerous for the living, but there are several rare materials growing there. I was wondering if I could join you on the way.” The burly man instinctively agreed. “Of course! We’d be happy to have you!” But after he said that, the expressions of the other adventurers became strange. Their group was skilled, but their reputation in the area came not only from their strength but also from their cautious approach. Yet somehow, without thinking, they agreed to his request. In fact, the leader of the adventurers was himself very surprised. As a team leader and mission planner, his mind was much more meticulous than his rough appearance suggested. But today, for some reason, he felt an overwhelming trust in this man and agreed right away. Could this be the mysterious magical power of a mage, capable of influencing others’ minds? The burly man felt both frightened and curious at the same time.

Fortunately, the mage didn’t come specifically for them; they must have met by chance, and he didn’t seem malicious either. He simply wanted to stop by there on his way. If this mage really had ill intentions, his strength and cunning would make it easy for him to deal with them, so there was no need to go to such lengths. With these thoughts, the burly man felt much more at ease. The other adventurers also trusted the captain’s decision fully, so they didn’t object. Although the mage who joined the party temporarily seemed very mysterious, weren’t mages usually mysterious by nature? As long as this guy had the powerful skills of a mage and no malicious intent, that was enough!