Blackwater Swamp

To avoid passing through Lord Alvis's territory, Instructor Nora chose a roundabout and difficult route back to Padesto City.

Guide Majeri saw the direction of travel that Instructor Nora had drawn on the map, and his face was almost scrunched up, like a crumpled piece of draft paper...

"If we go this way, not only will we have to travel twice as far as we did on the original route, but it will also be very risky. Even without the caravans and Half-Elf holding us back, if we ride at full speed, it will probably take us at least three weeks to return to Padesto City."

"This road follows the Griffon Mountain Range westward until it reaches the edge of the Blackwater Swamp, then we'll turn north..."

"Although we won't enter the Blackwater Swamp, even Blackwater Swamp edge is teeming with countless poisonous insects and high-level magical beasts. Countless Adventure Group in Padesto City have tried to carve out a piece of the pie from the Blackwater Swamp, but unfortunately, more than 90% have failed. Therefore, the Blackwater Swamp is also known as the Death Swamp by the elves of Padesto City. Nora, are you really planning to take these three students on this route?"

Guide Majeri said to Instructor Nora.

His original intention was to pay a tax and then travel directly through Lord Alvis's territory back to the Padesto City.

This road is relatively safe and easy to walk on.

When the guide, Majeri, saw that Instructor Nora was unmoved, he said to her again, "How about we head east? It's a longer journey, but the route won't be as dangerous."

Instructor Nora shook her head again and said, "If we go that way, the distance will be more than three times the distance we've traveled so far. It's just too far. We have to get back to Castleton City before the start of the semester no matter what. And who can guarantee that the natives we drove deep into the Pagisto Plateau won't be active on the edge of the plateau? Encountering those single-minded natives is more troublesome than encountering any magical beasts, and they're a bunch of poor bastards!"

"I am more familiar with the swamp area, and I also agree to go through the Blackwater Swamp," Instructor Eleanor said.

Seeing that the other instructors in the Adventure Group had no objections, guide Majeri had no choice but to compromise.

"Alright, since you insist on going through the edge of the Blackwater Swamp, then we'll give it a try," Guide Majeri said through gritted teeth.

He was actually terrified of walking through the Blackwater Swamp; he didn't even want to recall that nightmarish path.

But now that the employer insisted on going to the edge of the Blackwater Swamp, guide Majeri had no choice but to agree.

But his face was etched with worry...

Thus, the Adventure Group stayed in the Bulwark Village for only one night, and then, led by guide Majeri, they headed west along the boundary Boundary Marker at the edge of the Stream Valley.

In order to avoid entering Lord Alvis's territory, Instructor Nora ordered the Adventure Group to travel westward almost along the Boundary Marker.

This time, the Adventure Group did not travel with the caravan; all members rode horses, so they walked a long way along the Boundary Marker each day before setting up camp to rest.

Throughout the journey, the Adventure Group never left the shadow cast by the Bulwark Mountain Range.

On the fifth day after leaving Bulwark Village, the Adventure Group was attacked by griffins again, and the two attacks occurred almost on the same day.

During these two griffin hunts, Instructor Nora, Instructor Eleanor, and Instructor Virgil displayed near-perfect teamwork.

The three instructors held the griffins back from the front, Instructor Gru, the Magician Scarlett, and Miss Christine unleashed their full firepower from behind, easily leaving behind the corpses of two adult male griffins.

Unfortunately, the pelts of this creature are so cheap that they have dampened many people's interest in hunting it.

The Adventure Group remained in the shadow of the Griffon Bulwark Mountain Range until the jungle ahead suddenly became less dense, revealing lush vegetation, countless interconnected puddles, and patches of bushes.

The mud among the weeds was a dark black color, so guide Majeri reined in the horses again, making everyone stop.

Looking out into the vast space beyond the jungle, countless puddles, weeds, silt, and shrubs form an endless swamp, with a few Ash Tree occasionally in sight.

There is no dry soil here, only dark silt.

Once you step into the mud, it's hard to pull the boot out, and the black mud also gives off a strange stench, mixed with a fishy smell. With each step forward, you feel that the boot might be left in the footprint.

Instructor Nora dismounted and took two steps forward alone.

Her step forward plunged into the mud, her entire thigh sinking into it. Even with Instructor Nora's agile movements, she almost sank in as well.

This swamp was eerily quiet; not even birds flew over it.

"This is the edge of the Blackwater Swamp," the guide Majeri, reminded them from the side.

Roy followed behind, and as he jumped off his horse, his shoes crunched in the tall grass...

Although there is no water here, if you leave a footprint on the grass, a puddle of water will form in the footprint within a few seconds.

Instructor Eleanor conducted a reconnaissance of this complex environment and then happily told everyone that, as expected, the Boundary Marker buried by Lord Alvis could no longer be found in the vicinity.

Without a doubt, they had unknowingly ventured beyond Lord Alvis's territory.

Instructor Nora seemed very excited, but she did not enter the Blackwater Swamp from here.

Instructor Nora instructed guide Majeri to lead the Adventure Group back until they found the Boundary Marker on the west side of the jungle, and then continue north along the route marked by the Boundary Marker.

The Adventure Group retreated along the same route until they could barely see the stinking pool in the swamp, with only wasteland and small patches of bushes remaining. Finally, they found a Boundary Marker in a secluded spot.

This is where the jungle meets the Blackwater Swamp, and beneath the wild grass lies a mass of rotten, soft silt.

Only in places where bushes grow can you find solid ground, but these places are often also where small animals and poisonous insects gather.

Roy discovered that the Elf Warrior who buried the Boundary Marker, for safety's sake, had indeed not buried Boundary Marker in the swamp.

At least the area where the Boundary Marker was buried was within the jungle. Nine horses, lined up in a row and led by Instructor Eleanor, carefully entered the desolate woodland.

Seeing that the Adventure Group hadn't actually entered the Blackwater Swamp, guide Majeri secretly wiped the sweat from his face.

He breathed a sigh of relief; at least this path was better than he had imagined.

"We will encounter many low-level magical beasts on the road ahead, but I believe everyone will approach the situation rationally and not blindly chase after them that have fled into the Blackwater Swamp..."

Guide Majeri solemnly instructed the instructors in the Adventure Group.

The instructors lowered their heads, frowned, and looked at their shoes, which had become soaked.

When people lift their feet, they will find several leeches crawling on the top of one boot.

Guide Majeri led the way at the head of the group, leading his horse.

After leaving the Griffon Bulwark Mountain Range, we finally escaped the territory inhabited by the griffins...

The edge of the Blackwater Swamp is rich in magical beast resources. Wind Fox and Magic Antelope are almost everywhere, and you can also see dire wolves following behind the Unicorn Wild Ox from time to time.

This area is a jungle and adjacent to the Blackwater Swamp, so it is home to a large number of low-level magical beasts.

Elves never set foot in the Blackwater Swamp, yet Magic Herbs Magic Herbs are everywhere here; digging for them is as easy as digging for wild vegetables! Of course, high-level Magic Herbs like Sun Grass and Blind Grass are still very rare.

The Adventure Group hunted many novice magical beasts along the way, including the cunning Wind Fox and the lightning-fast Magic Antelope...

If it weren't for Instructor Nora constantly urging everyone to keep moving, the Adventure Group might have gained even more.