Since the rain cleared that day, the weather had remained fine for several days in a row. But it did not help Ryman and the others at all. From that day onward, Harry had not even fully recovered from his injuries before rising early and returning late every day, following Old Mor, Ryman, and the others out to search for a route.
Day after day passed, and reality gradually wore away Harry and the others' enthusiasm and confidence. In just a few days, they went from brimming with confidence to barely speaking. Ryman did not mind much. Failing to find it did not matter much to him, though he felt somewhat guilty toward Nord and Old Mor.
But the blow to Old Mor was rather severe. He had gone from despair to finding hope, then from hope back to despair. Already a man of few words, he grew even quieter. The furrows of wrinkles on his face seemed to deepen as well, and Ryman did not know how to comfort him.
At first, Harry had not been so disheartened. For one thing, he was gradually becoming familiar with this place. He had always been curious about the world outside, and after overcoming the panic he had felt upon first arriving, he began asking about the outside world. He was no longer as anxious as before to find a way back.
But the situation over the past few days gradually affected his mood. Harry had originally pestered Ryman, Marco, and the others every day, asking them to tell him about the outside world. He envied their sharp One-Handed Swords. When he saw Nord's Heraldic Armor in particular, he was stunned. The splendid crest and immaculate craftsmanship struck Harry with overwhelming visual force. He had never seen such beautiful armor in his life. Forget Nord's Heraldic Armor—even the standard Leather Armor and linen clothes worn by Marco and the others made Harry deeply envious. Looking at the animal hide he wore, Harry experienced inferiority and loneliness for the first time in his life.
If they could not find the way back, then Uncle Mor before him would be himself more than a decade later. This could not continue. Harry now longed more than ever to find the road home, even more desperately than he had a few days ago. He wanted to return to Distant Mountain Stronghold and tell his friends of what he had seen outside—tell them about Lord Nord's magnificent Heraldic Armor, and about meeting Uncle Mor, who had been missing for twenty years.
But now, none of that mattered. Over the past few days, they had found the place where Ryman had rescued Benny, but Ryman did not know which direction Benny had taken when he returned back then. They could only search slowly around that spot, hoping Harry and Old Mor might find something or uncover a clue. Yet after several days, they had found nothing. Old Mor had covered every mountain in the area. The furthest he and the others had gone was a full day and night's journey, and they had nearly gotten lost. But all that met their eyes were endless mountains and boundless, lush forests, without the slightest trace of Distant Mountain Stronghold.
When everyone returned to Wild Boar Cave, they were exhausted in both body and mind. That search had filled them with despair. Nord felt that they could not keep searching blindly like headless flies. They had to make a plan and prepare for a long campaign. No matter how long it took, they had to find Distant Mountain Stronghold.
Nord had not gone searching with them before. First, he needed to deal with the yam planting. Second, there was little he could do even if he went; Harry and Old Mor were still the main force in finding the way.
But given the current situation, Nord had no choice but to think of something. So he had to bring out the skill his engineering classmates kept tucked away: drawing. Though Nord had never drawn a map before, with the system's precise display, he was fairly confident that he could copy it onto animal hide.
He first copied the already revealed terrain around Tami Village and Wild Boar Cave onto the hide at a one-to-one scale, leaving the unknown areas shrouded in fog blank for now. After finishing, Nord felt rather pleased with himself. His skills had not declined; his drawing was still so precise and elegant.
Nord brought the hide map to Wild Boar Cave. The atmosphere inside was somewhat oppressive. They had not gone out to search for a route today. The hunters were training outside, and only Ryman, Old Mor, and Harry were in the cave. All three had their heads lowered in silence until Nord arrived.
The same four people were in the cave as last time. Last time, everyone had been full of confidence, but now they had become silent. When Ryman saw Nord enter, a guilty smile appeared on his face.
"Lord Nord, I... we haven't been able to find Distant Mountain Stronghold these past few days. We've disappointed you."
"Do not worry, Ryman. I came this time to help you."
Hearing Nord's words, Harry and Old Mor gradually regained some light in their eyes and watched Nord quietly.
"This is the map I drew over the past two days. Take a look. From now on, I will search with you, one direction at a time. Every mountain we pass, we'll draw it down. If one day is not enough, then ten days. If ten days are not enough, then a month. Once we have searched all the mountains around us, we will definitely find traces of Distant Mountain Stronghold. It cannot run away!"
Old Mor excitedly stroked the map with both hands. Though he could not really understand it, this was his last hope. Before he died, he had to return to Distant Mountain Stronghold for one look. Even if he no longer had family there, just as Lord Nord had said, even if it took another year, even if it cost him his old life, he had to find the road back to Distant Mountain Stronghold.
Nord pointed to the north of Wild Boar Cave on the map and explained his plan to the three of them while gesturing.
"I plan to start north of Wild Boar Cave. First, we will mark the places where we encountered Benny and Harry, then slowly expand our search around those two points. That way, we will not get lost. It will take more time, but it is safer. In the end, we will definitely find Distant Mountain Stronghold."
Nord's eyes were full of confidence. He hoped that confidence would reach Harry and Old Mor.
"Lord Nord, we are not afraid of hardship. But you will have it rough, following us over mountains and across rivers every day, sleeping out in the wind and eating wherever we can."
"It is nothing. As long as we can find Distant Mountain Stronghold, what does a little hardship matter? Take me to the places where you encountered Benny and Harry first, so I can make a detailed search plan."
Seeing how seriously Nord took this, Old Mor suppressed his gratitude and said no more. He nodded to Ryman and Harry, then led Nord toward the two locations.
Nord walked somewhat slowly, stopping and starting along the way. Especially whenever they reached a mountaintop, Nord would stand at the summit and look back, carefully observing the terrain. He memorized every route and landform they had passed, then drew them onto the animal hide in his hand.
That night, Nord stayed in Wild Boar Cave. Ryman and the others also remained to protect him. Wild Boar Cave was spacious enough to house more than a dozen people with room to spare.
By the dim firelight, Nord carefully examined the map he had drawn that day. The place where they had encountered Benny was six or seven kilometers directly north of Wild Boar Cave, while the place where they had encountered Harry was roughly thirteen kilometers northwest of it.
He studied the two locations closely. They had nothing in common. The first thing they could determine was that Distant Mountain Stronghold had to be north of Tami Village. Its exact direction and distance remained unknown. But based on those two locations, he could make a bold guess: could Distant Mountain Stronghold be northwest of Wild Boar Cave?
The more Nord thought about it, the more likely it seemed. Benny's situation aside, Harry had wandered here while injured and dazed. That meant the direction he had come from was very likely the direction where Distant Mountain Stronghold lay. This would reduce their workload. They only needed to explore north and northwest of those two locations; they could set aside the other directions for now.
This deduction invigorated Nord and made him even more confident. Looking at the others, already fast asleep, a smile appeared at the corner of his lips.
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