After a four-hour rest, Caron's group immediately moved southward. With their destination clearly marked near the southern Great Forest, finding the exact location wasn't difficult.0

"To think my great self would be used as a mere guide dog… You're the first one to treat me like this, owner," Guillotine grumbled.0

"Was there anyone else who could claim that role besides me and the first ancestor?" Caron retorted.0

"No, which makes you the first," Guillotine replied.0

Thanks to Guillotine's sharp guidance, Caron and his group were able to push forward without wasting any time or effort. The closer they got to the southern Great Forest, the taller the trees became, stretching high and dark against the sky.0

Pshhhh.0

"...Why are the trees like this?" Leo muttered, grimacing as he looked down at a tree root he had just stepped on, which crumbled into dust. The trees here were supposed to be vibrant and green, but their bark was charred and lifeless.0

Caron replied with grim certainty, "It's mana disease, a sign of dark mana. It also means that we're getting closer to the source."0

It wasn't just the trees, either. The air reeked of rot, like decaying bodies mingling with the stench of death.0

"Caron, why don't we rule out the possibility that the elves had no idea at all?" Leon asked,...0