Extra's Perfect Ending-Chapter 245: Mountain range

Reeva sat atop the horse as he always did. It had been about three hours since they set the forest fire trap, and it had proven invaluable—no deer had caught up to them since.

Reeva’s [Experiment] ran out, and his body reverted to normal.

The absence of deer left Reeva feeling both relieved and uneasy. On one hand, no deer meant there was nothing to attack the group immediately. On the other, it felt like they were walking into another trap, as if whatever was controlling the deer had something planned.

Looking back at the path they came from, there were no signs of deer anymore. Ahead, the thickly covered forest rushed past as they rode. They had decided to retrace their route back through the village, knowing it was the fastest way back to the capital.

"The forest is too silent," Quin muttered. After hours on horseback, he felt that all life had vanished from these woods—no distant bird calls, no sounds other than their own. The silence was more unsettling than the relentless deer pursuit had been.

Reeva glanced back again, confirming that they were alone, then issued his command.

"Let’s rest!"

Breaking through the deer horde had drained their energy, and as soon as Reeva gave the order, one of the knights slumped against a nearby tree. The others followed suit, relaxing at last. Quin and Max slowed their horses and dismounted, grateful for the respite.

"Quin, what are your thoughts?" Reeva asked, sensing the forest’s unnatural stillness. There wasn’t even a bird to break the silence. Either they were incredibly unlucky, or something was very wrong here.

"This place feels lifeless... Only the deer horde was nearby, as far as I could see," Quin replied. "The area ahead could be another trap set by those creatures—or whatever controls them."

"Then should we change our route?" Reeva asked.

"If we do, we need to consider the extra time. Right now, reaching the capital would take about two and a half days with some rest. Changing the route would make the journey longer, but it might be safer," Quin reasoned.

Quin gestured for the map keeper to bring the map, then pointed out their options. The village was surrounded by mountains to the east and south. The path through the West Mountain would lead them to another trade route back to the capital, where they could report these events to the church.

"Then we need to scout first. If the way ahead is clear, we continue as planned; if not, we’ll take the detour." Reeva pointed to the mountain in the west. "If you climb here, you should be able to scout the area from a distance."

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"That works," Quin agreed, as their group was too small to push through endless waves of deer. If Reeva had a mounted machine gun, it might be different—but all he had was the flintlock pistol the church hadn’t yet pried from his hands.

After resting briefly, they set off toward the West Mountain. The terrain grew steeper, but the horses managed to climb the slope. Eventually, though, the path became too difficult, and the horses struggled.

"Do you know where we could look at the village without being seen?" Quin turned and asked the village chief. Miraculously, the old man was still alive and alert, though he looked tense talking to a high-ranking priest.

"Yes, I know this mountain like the back of my hand," he replied. He’d spent his whole life here; if he couldn’t navigate these paths, he might as well die here. "The village is that way, sir."

The village chief pointed toward the dense forest, though the village was hidden from view.

"Is there a vantage point where we can see the village without getting too close?" Reeva asked.

They were now at a crossroads. To the west lay another potential path, while the mountain loomed to the south, towering over them with intimidating height.

Then you’d have to go up there, sir," the village chief pointed toward a cliff higher up the mountain.

"You could check it out while we rest a bit longer," Max suggested, glancing back at the group. Despite the brief break, it was clear the civilians were still worn out, many of them visibly drained from the constant terror.

Reeva noted the fatigue in their faces, especially in the elderly and the children.

"Guide me," Quin said, gesturing for the village chief to lead the way.

The chief sighed but nodded, understanding the urgency. Though he would have preferred another break, he knew he couldn’t deny the high priest’s request. With a firm grip on the reins, he led them up the winding path, snow crunching beneath their horses’ hooves as they made their way higher.

After about twenty minutes of climbing, they reached the vantage point. From there, the village looked like a miniature set nestled in the valley below—but something about it was deeply unsettling.

The chief’s eyes narrowed.

"Wait... why are there trees...?" he muttered, a chill creeping up his spine. He had seen this exact scene when they first encountered the horde of deer. There were far more trees now than the village had ever had, and they seemed to crowd together unnaturally, looming over the village.

Quin’s expression hardened. "We’re heading back. This route isn’t safe anymore," he said without hesitation, turning his horse back around.

The chief nodded quickly, eager to put as much distance as possible between them and the eerie sight below. They trotted back down the mountain and arrived back where the group rested.

"So which route to take?"

"The longer ones, the village is covered in the weird tree we saw. I don’t know it abilities nad not willing to find out"

Monsters of the mystic kind were not easy to deal with. No matter how weak they look, even one of them could ruin your life in the right condition. And they would like to avoid being in that position.

Reeva nods his head agreeing with the high priest.

"Rest is over! we are heading west!"

He hoped they would make it down the mountain before it got dark.