Witch, Fireball and the Evil God of Steam
Chapter 70: Are You Lost?

Chapter 70: Chapter 70: Are You Lost?

Three days later, the Expeditionary Army led by the Imperial Knight Commander arrived at Riverside Town. At the break of dawn, these elites of the Kingdom Army methodically began setting up defensive lines.

Every person was shrouded in a faint sadness. These battle-hardened imperial elites, after hearing about Ethan’s deeds, all paid their respects to this young man from the small town. They also understood that this journey was fraught with danger, and the young man might never return.

Ave and Hagrid stayed in the town square, accompanying Ethan for his "last breakfast."

Upon hearing the news, Hagrid brought the Guard Corps under Baron Gledin to lend support. As the first rays of the morning sun touched Riverside Town, the once empty town was already filled with the smell of gunpowder. He couldn’t forgive the Evil God’s Followers for turning this familiar town of his into a ghost town through their sacrifices.

"Here, brother Ethan, take this. It’s my family’s ancestral longsword; it has been to battle before."

He handed the longsword, sealed for decades, into Ethan’s hands.

Then, this burly man didn’t know what else to say and could only pat Ethan on the shoulder.

Ave watched the scene with even more complex emotions.

Her feelings had never been as conflicted as they were now. Rationally, she knew that Ethan’s proposal was the best solution, and setting aside personal emotions, she would have devised almost the same battle plan. However, this could very well be the last time they met, and for investigators, delving into the pollution zone and never returning was the most common outcome.

Ever since spending time with Ethan, she felt like she had become strange.

If it were her former self, she would have agreed with Ethan’s plan without any emotional fluctuation, praised him, and then prepared a compensation payment.

Noble sacrifice was nothing to be saddened by; it was an excellent tradition passed down since the first king’s time.

Further on, she suddenly thought of every investigator like Ethan.

They had also enjoyed a last breakfast before entering the pollution zone, and after bidding farewell to friends, disappeared into that anomalous space and never returned.

For the first time, she saw the "human" existence. They were no longer just numbers tied to compensation amounts; each had left their mark on this world.

Then, a splitting headache interrupted Ave’s thoughts. She staggered and covered her forehead with her hand.

A voice from nowhere reminded her to abandon this dangerous thought. As a decision-maker, this was unnecessary and hazardous "noise" that could cause her to lose calm judgment and make the wrong decisions.

Ethan was a brave person, and the Empire had many like him.

Their self-sacrifice would prolong the glory of the Empire.

Ave wanted to speak several times but didn’t know what to say. After a long silence, she could only manage to say "Eat more."

Ethan’s "last breakfast" looked quite shabby—hard bread with cold meat soup. She suddenly thought that perhaps Ethan, who had always lived in Ximu Town, had never tasted anything genuinely good. In such a frontier city, having some meat soup was already considered luxurious.

While speaking, the sound of running footsteps came from afar.

Cheerfully, Ethan waved at Miss Keroy. In "Light Messenger Yakwell," it was mentioned that finding the anchor point of entry was key to entering the pollution zone. Although the werewolf collar had been transferred to the Gear City branch, Miss Keroy shared some subtle connection with the anchor point of the pollution zone.

She quickly found the entrance to the pollution zone. Ethan, carrying a noticeably overburdened backpack, left with the words "I’m off" and followed the little hen’s footsteps.

Ave and Hagrid followed.

Miss Keroy stopped by the canal. The screw wheel had long ceased operation, and the channel’s water had become a filthy color. It was in this canal that the witch cast a spell, poisoning all the residents of Riverside Town.

Ethan recalled the summary of entering the pollution zone from the novel. When the anchor point is found, one should clear one’s mind; closing one’s eyes would be a good option. For now, his primary task was to control the excitement in his heart.

Almost the moment he closed his eyes, he experienced a strange feeling. It was as if an obscure power was guiding him forward. He followed the voice’s guidance, taking a step back when he heard Hagrid’s exclamation. But soon, the exclamation was isolated, and the whole world quieted down.

Theoretically, he should have fallen into the canal according to his path. However, the road ahead was still flat. A burning smell pervaded the air. When Ethan halted and opened his eyes, Ave and Hagrid had vanished without a trace, and his orientation had reversed.

The canal was behind him, transformed into a viscous black liquid bubbling with frothy residue, with faintly visible dismembered limbs floating within. The pungent smell of burning emanated from the incessantly roiling liquid.

It was still Riverside Town, yet much more dilapidated than before.

The buildings were riddled with holes, the ground overgrown with weeds, and the sky was shrouded in overcast clouds.

According to "Light Messenger Yakwell," the pollution zone was considered a mirror of the real world. In the level 1 depth, investigators could still recognize the original outlines of the area, with the geographical layout basically consistent. If unable to exit the pollution zone, investigators could find refuge in this level’s buildings. Deadly cursed items usually only appeared after dark.

Ethan was welcomed as soon as he entered the pollution zone.

A little girl, with chestnut brown hair tied in a single ponytail and wearing a thick indigo-blue magician’s robe, watched him from afar. The girl looked familiar, and the attire almost immediately reminded Ethan of Mr. Luoxang.

"Are you lost?"

The little girl pointed to the distant buildings and helpfully warned, "Don’t go into the houses; it’s not safe there."

"What’s your name?"

"Isean."

The girl replied. It was a unique flower found in the outskirts of Ximu Town, always growing near mountain forest sources. Only those hunters who ventured deep into the area would see these white flowers. She paused and asked, "And you?"

"Ethan, an adventurer."

Ethan realized that his current appearance greatly matched that of an adventurer, holding a longsword in his hand, with a flintlock slung at his waist, and a backpack filled with stimulants, ammunition, and a small amount of food and water.

Upon hearing he was an adventurer, a glimmer of light appeared in Isean’s eyes.

"Can you take me out of here? I want to go home. My father must be very worried about me."

"Of course,"

Ethan replied. "I can help you find the exit."

"I can be of assistance too. I... I learned some magic!"

Isean softly chanted some spells, and a faint blue glow ignited in her palm, illuminating the path ahead and her own body.

The light shone through.

Semi-transparent, floating gently.

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