Extra Pages: The Author's Odyssey
Chapter 325: Hidden doungen [1]

"Huuuuamm…"

Yawning, a white mist escaped from my mouth. Although it was mid-winter, only now that I was awake early in the morning did I fully realize that winter was upon me.

Perhaps it was because I was less sensitive to the cold, it never truly hit me until now that it was already that time of the year.

6:30 A.M.

Checking my watch, I rubbed my hands together as I sat on a bench. Currently, I was at the Nova train station, patiently waiting for the air train to arrive.

Moreover, apart from waiting for the air train, I was also waiting for someone to come…

Adrian.

Three days ago, Adrian accepted my help to clear the hidden doungen with him.

I was quite shocked when he accepted, I was sure that he would want clear that doungen alone but it's seems that is not the case.

Anyway, It's work out for me, So I don't have any problems.

I already submitted my Leave Of Absence to the academy, so there won't be any problem late on.

Without Leave Of Absence no Cadet were allowed to take step outside of Acadmy City.

I also had to convince Yato, That I won't be able to train today.

It took quite lot of effort to convincing him...

He was very stubborn to his core.

Anyway, I was patiently waiting for Adrian.

I had already texted him beforehand that I was waiting for him today at the train station.

The only thing that I wanted to know was whether he received my message or not…

-tssss

"…It's snowing"

Snapping me out of my thoughts, extending my hand forward, I watched as an ice crystal gently landed on my jacket and melted straight after.

Glancing at the falling snow in the sky, I couldn't help but softly mumble to myself

"…six months huh?"

I've been in this world for six months…

Watching the ice crystals continuously fall from the sky and land on my jacket, I couldn't help but look back at what had happened these past few months.

"Time sure flies…"

Going from a reclused introvert to exploring dungeons, creating mercenary, replaceing comrades, meeting a new family…

"…Really, fate is truly strange in many ways."

Who could've ever guessed that my life would change so much in a matter of six months…I really couldn't explain how I felt at this moment.

Everything sort of felt like a blur…

-Voooooooom!

Snapping me out of my thoughts, the sound of an air train gently landing on the platform of the station resounded across the area I was in.

Frowning slightly, I glanced around me. However, noticing that I was the only person in the station, I couldn't help but be slightly disappointed.

"Mhhh…did I perhaps miscalculate?"

…I really thought that Adrian would've without a doubt shown up, but did I perhaps misjudge something?

Shaking my head, I discarded such a notion

'No…I created Adrian, how could I have judged wrongly?'

I brushed off the doubts and stood up from the bench, preparing to board the air train alone if needed. As I made my way towards the platform, I couldn't help but feel a twinge of disappointment at the thought of embarking on this adventure without Adrian by my side.

But just as I reached the edge of the platform, I heard a familiar voice calling out to me.

"Sorry I'm late!"

Turning around, I saw Adrian rushing towards me, his breath visible in the cold air. A smile spread across my face as I waved to him.

"No problem, Adrian! I'm just glad you made it."

As Adrian reached me, he grinned sheepishly, slightly out of breath from his hurried arrival.

"I got held up by something, but I'm ready to go now."

With that, we boarded the air train together, ready to face whatever challenges awaited us in the hidden dungeon. As the train took off, I couldn't help but feel a sense of excitement coursing through me.

***

Sitting on the opposite ends to each other in the air train, Adrian and I quietly looked at the ever-changing scenery outside of the train.

Neither one of us spoke a word.

Currently, the world outside was now dyed in white as the snow coated the rooftops of every building and house in the distance.

…It looked truly beautiful.

Glancing away from the window, I couldn't help but notice how empty the train was as apart from me and Adrian, no one was present. Perhaps because it was early in the morning or because the destination was far, the train was completely empty.

After a while, breaking the silence, Adrian looked at me for a couple of seconds before saying

"Thanks for waiting for me, I really appreciate it."

I smiled warmly at him. "Of course, Adrian. We're in this together, right?"

He nodded, a sense of determination flickering in his eyes. "Yeah, we are."

As the train continued to speed towards our destination, I couldn't help but feel grateful for Adrian's presence.

The Laxco Mountain, where the hidden doungen is near the Dwarves continent.

The Dwarves use Laxco Mountain for mining precious metals and gems, and it's also rumored to be a place of mystical significance.

Since the Laxco Mountain is near the Dwarves continent, they content a large portion of Laxco Mountain and only small numbers portion is left for humans to use.

...And humans and Elf are strictly prohibited to enter the are of the Laxco Mountain that Dwarves have.

But it's fine, We are not going to Dwarves sides anyway.

The hidden doungen is on the side of the human continent.

So we'll be fine.

Anyway, The Laxco Mountain was huge…and when I mean huge, I mean huge. We're talking like thousands of kilometers long.

About a five hours journey from the Nova, approximately 2100 km in terms of distance.

Laxco Mountain rises majestically from the earth, its towering peaks piercing the sky like jagged teeth. Stretching for thousands of kilometers, it commands a formidable presence on the horizon, its rugged slopes cloaked in a blanket of dense forests and misty valleys.

The mountain is a realm of untamed wilderness, where ancient trees reach towards the heavens and crystal-clear streams cascade down rocky cliffs. Its sheer cliffs and deep gorges are a testament to the immense power of nature, carved over millennia by the forces of wind and water.

...And this where we are heading.