From there, the party made their way downslope toward the cornfields.
It was shiny day. The mist and fog had mysteriously vanished, and the Sun rays slipped through cracks of canopy and clouds.
The farmland stretched endlessly, though much of it lay in ruin—rows of broken stalks swayed under a dim sky, and the scent of decay hung heavy in the air. Between the scattered patches of withered corn, dark, twisted creatures slithered and prowled. The moment they noticed movement, their heads snapped toward the intruders.
From higher ground, Irina calmly sketched the terrain, marking danger zones across several dozen kilometers.
The Hollowfied creatures moved in coordinated packs, forming hordes so dense that advancing through them was nearly impossible.
Still, the group pressed on, slipping through the shadows to complete their mapping mission. But avoiding confrontation entirely was impossible—every so often, one of the beasts blocked their path, forcing them into swift, decisive battles before they could continue.
But of course, they gained a few levels in those fights.
Ryu also levelled up. He was not at level 19.
At noon, the party decided to rest.
They stopped beneath a towering oak tree whose sprawling canopy cast a deep, cool shade, shielding them from the relentless midday sun. The air beneath its branches carried a faint earthy scent, mixed with the sweet fragrance of crushed grass.
They unpacked their small supplies, and before anyone could decide what to do, Irina rolled up her sleeves with quiet confidence.
"Let me handle this," she said, kneeling near the campfire pit and arranging dry twigs. Her movements were precise, practiced—within moments, the fire crackled to life.
From the baskets and sacks they'd gathered earlier, she began pulling ingredients: plump yellow corn, wild green vegetables with curling leaves, a few earthy roots, and a pouch of coarse salt.
Ryuzen watched in silence as she worked, his sharp eyes following the rhythm of her hands. She stripped the corn kernels swiftly, letting them fall like golden rain into a clay pot. Then, with a small knife, she diced the roots and greens, the blade tapping in a steady rhythm against the wooden board.
She dropped the vegetables into the pot with the corn, pouring in water from a leather flask. Soon, the rich aroma of boiling broth began to drift through the air, mingling with the faint smoke of burning wood. Irina stirred gently, adding pinches of salt and a few fragrant herbs she had gathered earlier.
"You're not just cooking," Rudos said, leaning back with a grin, "you're making us a royal feast."
"It's nothing much," Irina replied softly, her ruby-like eyes catching the flicker of the fire. "I used to cook with my grandmother from my childhood. She was a very traditional woman… After she passed away in the recent Wave… well… this is all I have left of her." Her voice trembled faintly, the weight of memory hanging between each word.
There was a brief silence, broken only by the bubbling of the stew.
"No need to feel sad, Irina," Rudos said, trying to lighten the mood. "I'll take revenge for you."
"With what?" Felix teased. "Healing magic?"
A round of laughter followed, warm and light-hearted, though the heaviness still lingered in Irina's eyes.
Ryuzen stepped forward, his tone quiet but firm. "Your grandmother would be proud, Irina. Not just of your cooking, but of how you've carried her teachings with you. It's a strength… one most people would never understand."
Irina blushed faintly, her fingers still stirring the pot. "T-Thank you, Ryuzen."
Venus, sitting nearby, shot Ryuzen a sharp side glance. "Oh? And when exactly did you become the group's emotional counselor?"
Ryuzen blinked, slightly caught off guard. "I was just—"
Venus folded her arms, muttering under her breath, "Hmph… acting like you know her so well…"
Felix, noticing the tension, quickly clapped his hands together. "Alright, before we have a soap opera under this tree, is the food ready yet?"
The laughter returned, and Irina began serving the stew. Steam curled from the bowls, carrying the rich scent of sweet corn, tender vegetables, and fresh herbs. When everyone took their first spoonful, their faces lit up—it was warm, hearty, and carried a comfort that went deeper than hunger.
Even Ryuzen, who usually ate without expression, paused mid-bite to nod his approval. "It's good, Irina. Really good," he said, his voice low but sincere.
Irina's hands froze for a moment before she looked up.
"Th-thank you, Ryuzen… it means a lot."
A faint flush colored her cheeks, her ruby-like eyes catching the firelight as her brows arched, as though she wanted to say something more but held it back.
Venus, who had been sitting across the fire, felt an uncomfortable pang twist in her chest. She didn't know why the praise bothered her so much—but she knew she couldn't cook. She had never cared before, yet now, watching him smile at someone else's meal, it suddenly seemed important.
Trying to mask the flicker of jealousy in her eyes, she leaned forward and asked with forced casualness, "Ryu… would you like to try my cooking sometime?"
The fire popped, and for a moment the entire group paused, glancing at her with raised brows. The tough, sharp-tongued Venus, offering to cook? That was new.
Felix smirked knowingly. Rudos tried to hide his grin behind his hand. Irina looked momentarily surprised but said nothing.
Ryuzen, however, already knew the truth—Venus couldn't cook. But he wasn't about to crush her pride in front of the others.
So he gave a small smile and nodded. "Of course, Venus. If you can cook, I'll be a very grateful host."
Her lips quirked into a faint smirk, though the warmth in her eyes betrayed her relief.
Somewhere deep inside, the air between the three of them shifted ever so slightly.
Like that, the day slipped by, and at last the map was complete. It lacked fine detail, yet it was sufficient to pinpoint the dens of the Hollowfied Creatures.
With their task accomplished, the group agreed to depart the next morning.
But as the dead of night settled in, Ryu vanished once more. Where had he gone this time?