The Monster King's Legacy - Chapter 178

Chapter 178: Lost in the Wilderness
Lance began walking back out of the mountain ranges towards the south, using the sun as reference. As he walked further into the unfamiliar terrain, his confidence began to wane. The rocky mountains and endless valleys all looked the same, and the distant landmarks offered no clues as to where his kingdom lay… everything was either dry or rocks.

“Great,” he muttered under his breath.

He glanced around, hoping for some sign of civilization or a familiar path. Instead, he was greeted by more rocky terrain and an expanse of wilderness that seemed to stretch endlessly with little greeneries.

“Just where did they bring me?” he grumbled, running a hand through his hair.

Lance tried climbing to a higher vantage point to get a better view of his surroundings, but the landscape didn’t change for several distance more. That aside, there was hope, as he could see where the forests started several kilometres ahead.

“Wonderful,” he muttered, brushing the dust off his clothes.

By the time he reached, the sun was hanging almost directly over his head, and after wondering around for a while, he couldn’t find anything but trees and vegetation. At one point, he tried following a stream, reasoning that it might lead to a village or a familiar landmark. Instead, it led him deeper into a dense forest teeming with strange noises and rustling bushes.

“Fantastic,” he said, his tone dripping with sarcasm. “Just what I needed, a detour through unknown territory to get me even more lost.”

Hours passed, and the sun began to set, painting the sky in hues of orange and gold. Lance paused on a ridge, surveying the landscape. In the distance, he spotted a faint plume of smoke rising just above the tree tops before dissipating over into the atmosphere… perhaps, a sign of civilization?

“Finally,” he said with relief. “Now, let’s hope it’s not a bandit camp… Then again, if it is…” He said to himself, a sarcastic grin spreading across his face.

Swiftly, his long strides turned into a quiet sprint, careful not to disturb the stillness around him as he made his way through the trees, maintaining a high ground just in case of any eventuality.

He came before a clearing, scanning the entire place to see that there was only one person there, a young man.

Lance then broke through the last line of trees and stepped into a clearing, his feet making distinct noises against the forest floor, drawing attention to himself and immediately locking eyes with the young man that looked to be around maybe twenty, with dark hair, and a sword that was now halfway out of its sheath.

“Who—?! Don’t move!” the young man barked, holding the blade steady despite the visible tension in his arms. “Step away from the cart, now!” He called.

Lance raised both hands slowly, his expressions calm. “I’m not here to steal. I saw the fire and followed the smoke. I’m… lost.”

“Lost?” the young man’s grip didn’t falter. “Of course you are? Like and from which village nearby did you come from to be lost out here? Damn bandit… say the truth, you were scouting us out.” He said, his tone and words deliberate, as though he actually wanted to anger Lance if he was a bandit.

“Does a bandit usually walk out of the trees alone, wearing no cloak and calmly introducing himself?” Lance asked evenly, a hint of amusement playing at the edge of his voice… though, it soon disappeared, as he answered his own question in his head.

The youngman looked at him as though trying to understand what he was saying, his expression growing more annoyed and irritated, but definitely more of the former.

Suddenly, while both of them held out the stare-down, the crack of leaves and twigs behind the young man broke the tension as a voice rang out. “Eran, stand down,” came a deeper voice.

An older man slowly passing his mid-ages stepped out from the treeline, weathered and strong despite the gray at his temples. His eyes widened as he stepped into full view of Lance, and his expression shifted from suspicion to reverence immediately.

“You… I wasn’t sure… you’re, Lord Lance, aren’t you?”

Lance tilted his head. “YES. Finally, someone who recognizes me.” He said, a smile on his face, as he wasn’t actually expecting it. But then, the thought struck him. “Have we met?”

“We have, once,” the man said, nodding with a smile, surprising Lance. “A year ago, during a trade negotiation to make specific delivery. Hard to forget someone like you, Lord Lance.”

“I see.” Lance gave a small smile. “I didn’t expect anyone to recognize me out here.”

The old man turned to his son. “Eran, this is the ruler of the Monster Kingdom. Show some respect.”

Eran’s eyes widened in disbelief as he lowered his blade. “You’re—? But you look… I wouldn’t have ever expected it, even though I have heard a lot about you, uhm, Lord Lance.”

“That’s not unusual,” Lance said, chuckling dryly almost.

As if summoned by the sound of voices, others from the merchant group began arriving. A dozen in total, men, women, even a few teens, drawn by the commotion. Their eyes widened at the sight of Lance, and whispers rippled through them like wind over tall grass as those who recognized him told the others who he was.

“He looks like a statue…” “That’s the King?” “He’s huge…”

Lance cleared his throat. “I’m on my way back to the Monster Kingdom, but after a small matter out here in nowhere, I’ve lost my sense of direction. I’d appreciate a guide.”

The merchant leader gave a hearty laugh. “What luck! We’re headed there ourselves. You’re more than welcome to travel with us, Lord Lance. Besides, the road is safer with you around.”

Lance nodded with appreciation. “Thank you.”

Later, seated by the fire, Lance shared a simple meal with the caravan. It was humble food, roasted roots, dried meat, and thick bread, but Lance accepted it graciously. They felt a bit inadequate, but Lance waved off their concerns. He too once used to eat these sorts of meals not as travelling or camping food, but as main meals, he hadn’t forgotten yet.

“Earlier,” he said between bites, “when I arrived, your son was alone with the cart. Why?”

The old man’s face darkened slightly. “Well, it’s quite easy, Lord Lance, bandits. This region’s been teeming with them lately. We set traps and take turns patrolling, especially when spending the night in such portions of the forest. It’s a bit difficult to defend out here because of the dense covering in all directions. We had gone to set some traps while Eran was on watch here.”