NOVEL'S EXTRA: I Will Die at the Peak-Chapter 61: Toward the forest (1)

Ravien rested his hands on the edge of the table, tilting his head slightly to gaze up at the ceiling.

The small parasite nestled within his hair had become almost like a part of his body. He didn’t even feel its movements anymore—only the occasional subtle tension beneath his skin reminded him of its presence.

"What should be the next step?"

His voice was low but clear; speaking was a way for him to organize his thoughts.

He remained that way for a while, eyes fixed on the ceiling in silence.

The affairs in the castle... paperwork, trivial orders, repetitive daily routines—none of it distracted him anymore. All of it only served to deepen the hollowness gnawing inside him.

"Should I create a new entity? Or maybe do some training... I haven’t practiced Omicron martial arts even once since arriving in this world."

He raised a hand, brushing away a long strand of hair that had fallen over his forehead.

The strand, slippery and wet like blood, slid down from his fingertip, drifting into his line of sight.

"I can never seem to get rid of this damn hair. No matter how many times I cut it, it always grows back within minutes.

This ’reset’ effect... Did it come with my reincarnation? There are too many oddities... but I’m in no state to deal with them right now."

Stepping away from the table, he took a few slow strides.

Taking a deep breath, he listened to the echo of his own footsteps reverberating through the silent room.

(POV: Ravien)

There’s no point in dedicating time to martial arts anymore.

This body doesn’t change. No muscles get stronger, no endurance increases. Not even reflexes stick.

No matter what I do, the system resets all physical modifications instantly.

That’s why I had to find a different path.

And I did.

Almost all my time in the castle was spent behind these stone walls.

My only real contact with the outside world was during the rare moments I met face-to-face with the villagers. Other than that, I never crossed the boundaries of this place.

Now, it’s time to step beyond these stone borders.

I slowly straightened up and approached the window in silence.

The massive frame, nearly three meters tall, reflected the entire landscape with perfect clarity through its heavy glass.

When my fingers touched the cool surface, the world outside came into sharper focus.

In the distance, a dense forest stretched across the horizon.

Layer upon layer of trees in every shade of green.

Silent. Still. And yet, vividly alive.

It must have been too far to make out the details—but its sheer size still made it feel threatening, and reachable.

The villagers need about a week to prepare.

But I don’t have to wait.

I can head into that forest myself. Scout the area, gather materials.

I’ll take Asogi and Juuhra with me—we can fell the right trees and collect the organic components we’ll need.

I can’t imagine a better place to begin the next creation cycle: quiet, isolated, and far from interference.

This time, I’m not just aiming to produce a living organism—

I want to craft a durable being. Something capable of carrying loads, built for physical function.

I pulled my hand away from the glass. The cold lingered on my fingertips a moment longer.

My thoughts had finally crystallized.

This still, stagnant waiting—it ends now.

It’s time to take the first step beyond the castle walls.

-

Ravien stepped out of the room in silence.

He moved through the corridor, the cool air brushing against him as he walked.

A few minutes later, he reached the heavy wooden door of his chamber.

He extended a hand toward the knocker, paused briefly, then pushed the door open slowly.

When he stepped inside, not much had changed.

Asogi and Juuhra were still lying where they had been—side by side, completely still.

It was clear they hadn’t moved in hours; the utter lack of any shift in posture gave it away.

As Ravien entered, both of their gazes flicked toward the door.

They were silent, but alert. Their eyes scanned Ravien for a brief moment, then faded back into lifeless calm.

Without a word, Ravien walked over to the wardrobe.

As he opened its doors, he spoke over his shoulder:

"The fact that you’re still lying there like that... impressive. But that’s enough. Get up. We’ve got work to do."

Asogi shot up almost instantly. His eyes were gleaming; an eager excitement had taken over his face.

His voice pulsed with energy as he asked:

"Work? Wait... is it like last time? Are—are enemy humans coming again?"

Ravien opened the wardrobe door and silently scanned the inside.

Then, without a word, he began unbuttoning the dark shirt he was wearing.

As the fabric slid off his shoulders, his lean, defined muscles came into view, along with the distinct outline of his abs.

He set the shirt aside and pulled out a plain white one from the shelf—thick-textured but simple in design.

It was light yet durable, clinging slightly around the midsection, but flexible and comfortable enough not to restrict movement.

Without looking at Asogi, he spoke. His voice was calm and clear:

"No. There are no enemies. We’re just going out for a little walk."

As he said this, he slipped into the new shirt, adjusted the collar, and buttoned a few of the fasteners.

Then he closed the wardrobe door with quiet finality.

Asogi lit up immediately at his words.

He leapt out of bed, practically bouncing on his feet as he hurried toward the door.

He stood beside it like a child eager to go outside, eyes fixed on his father, face glowing with curious excitement.

Juuhra, on the other hand, rose slowly and without a word.

The moment he stood up, it was as if the entire room dimmed. 𝚏𝕣𝕖𝚎𝚠𝚎𝚋𝚗𝐨𝐯𝕖𝕝.𝕔𝐨𝕞

It wasn’t just a trick of the light.

It was as though the light itself was being absorbed and scattered before it could reach him.

Her presence seemed to suppress the brightness of the space.

The cracks along her skin shifted as she moved, rippling as if they were devouring the light.

He didn’t say a thing.

With slow, deliberate steps, he moved a little farther from Asogi.

His eyes remained locked ahead, and his expression never changed.

Ravien brushed his hair back.

Between his fingers, a faint, sticky, reddish fluid clung to his fingertips—the residue left behind by the leech nestled deep at his scalp.

He pulled his hand away and looked at it.

The sensation was familiar, yet still somehow alien.

He didn’t give it much thought. Reaching for the old shirt he’d left nearby, he wiped the fluid off.

"If you’re ready, let’s go. The journey will take a while," he said in a calm tone.

After folding the shirt neatly and setting it aside, he turned toward the door.

Asogi quickly followed, his short steps carrying him behind his father as he closed in with visible excitement.

Just then, he tilted his head slightly and cast a brief but watchful glance toward Juuhra.

Juuhra didn’t quite understand what his

brother was doing.

A thought flickered through her mind:

"What’s he up to now?"

But he didn’t dwell on it.

It seemed too trivial to bother with, so he stepped back a few paces.

him face was expressionless—but his eyes remained sharply observant.

Ravien reached for the doorknob.

After a short silence, he opened the door and stepped outside.

Behind him, Asogi and Juuhra followed in the same quiet stillness.

The corridor greeted them with its familiar chill—

A subtle signal that a new journey was about to begin

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A mysterious voice: There are 1 day and 29 hours left until the Goat of God reaches the castle.

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