Hello, is this a letter addressed to Demon Fortress?

Suddenly, the train jolted slightly and came to a stop.

Betty rolled over groggily in her bunk, rubbing her sleepy eyes as she sat up.

She yawned widely and sleepily pushed open the iron window.

Outside the window was a pitch-black rock wall, its rough surface faintly visible in the dim light.

"what?"

Betty tilted her head in confusion, struggled to push open the heavy car door, and nimbly jumped out.

She looked around and found herself standing in a spacious cave.

Slender stalactites hang from the cave ceiling, and the occasional dripping water droplets echo crisply in the silence.

The rock face was covered with moss, and the air was filled with the damp smell of earth.

The train rested quietly deep inside the cave, like a sleeping giant.

Betty suddenly realized something and quickly ran towards the cave entrance.

The moment she burst out of the cave, the sight before her made her involuntarily hold her breath.

On the distant horizon, a deep blue hue appears and disappears.

That was the sea, and although it was far away, it was still clearly visible in the sunset.

Golden ripples appeared where the sea met the sky, as if gilding the distant sea with a thin layer of gold.

A few wisps of clouds floated above the sea, tinged pink and purple by the sunset.

"Wasn't I just at Outpost 21 when I fell asleep?!"

Betty screamed incoherently, her voice echoing across the empty coastline.

"How come I woke up and I can almost see Black Sea Bay?!"

A hand gently patted Betty on the back of the head.

Freya stood behind her, shaking her head helplessly:

"Be quiet, don't wake them."

She pointed to the top of the train, her eyes revealing undisguised amazement.

It's no wonder Betty was so flustered; even Freya, who witnessed the whole thing, found it unbelievable in retrospect.

As the sun rose and the view opened up, Lin Gui seemed to be freed from all constraints.

Without the scholar and Shea to guide him, and with two priests taking turns replenishing his magic power behind him.

Lin Gui was completely unleashed.

Freya still remembers that scene.

Lin Gui poured all his magical power into the levitation spell, and the train sped off like an arrow.

The speed was breathtaking, and even the scenery on both sides was blurred into bands of color.

This speed is almost on par with when they escaped the demons' encirclement.

With such terrifying speed, the journey that would normally take Betty half a month was completed.

Lin Gui arrived in just one day.

"Once he wakes up, it shouldn't be long before we actually reach the coast."

Freya said softly, her tone filled with genuine admiration.

Betty followed her gaze and her eyes widened in surprise.

Lin Gui lay casually on the platform at the top of the train.

The dark blue robe was quite worn, with frayed edges at the cuffs.

A sea breeze blew by, lifting a corner of the robe to reveal the faded lining underneath.

His head rested on the oak staff, and his sleeping profile looked exceptionally peaceful in the setting sun.

Beside him, Eve was sitting cross-legged.

Her short, ginkgo-colored hair was gently stirred by the sea breeze, gleaming with a warm glow in the sunset.

She tilted her head slightly, her eyes gazing at the distant, faintly visible deep blue.

A gentle smile played on her lips, and she seemed to be immersed in this tranquility.

Her slender fingers gently rested on the edge of Lin Gui's tattered robe, as if guarding his peaceful slumber.

The afterglow of the setting sun cast a golden outline on the scene.

The distant horizon was faintly visible behind them.

A worn-out robe, a peaceful sleeping face, a tranquil vigil.

It forms a moving picture.

Betty stared blankly, momentarily speechless.

She didn't come to her senses until Freya gently tugged at her sleeve.

"How...how did they do that...?"

She murmured to herself, her gaze still fixed on the tattered robe.

It was as if I could see the traces of countless days and nights of hard work on it.

Not only Betty, but the other team members who woke up one after another were speechless for a long time when they saw the coastline in the distance.

On the contrary, Shia didn't feel anything special about it.

Having traversed the wilderness with Lin Gui many times, she had long since become accustomed to this pace.

However, this time, Lin Gui seemed to be faster than ever before.

It's highly likely that the train's weight caused it to move faster due to inertia.

On the roof of the train, Lin Gui was fast asleep.

The sobering spell could keep him awake, but it couldn't relieve the fatigue from running around all night.

For some reason, he, who is usually a light sleeper, slept exceptionally soundly this time.

When Lin Gui slowly opened his eyes, the first thing he saw was a gentle shadow.

He found himself resting on something soft, and looking up, he met Eve's downcast gaze.

Her short, ginkgo-colored hair shimmered softly in the morning light.

A faint smile played in his deep brown eyes.

Lin Gui then realized that he was resting his head on Eve's lap.

"???"

Shouldn't I lean against the oak staff myself?

Moreover, if you really moved yourself, wouldn't you have noticed?

He looked at Eve's fingertips and immediately understood.

Why am I sleeping so comfortably?

That is... a mid-level light magic spell—Sleep.

"you……"

Just as Lin Gui was about to speak, his stomach rumbled at an inopportune moment.

Just then, Shia came over with a grin, her silver hair swaying gently in the morning breeze.

"Lin Gui, are you hungry...?"

She was holding a wooden tray with neatly arranged thawed and cut pieces of meat on it.

"I've prepared all the meat, now I'm just waiting for you to wake up so I can cook."

She blinked, her tone slightly coquettish:

"Hurry up, Eve and I are starving."

Eve gently withdrew her hand, and the last glimmer of the soothing spell dissipated from her fingertips.

She looked down at Lin Gui and smiled slightly, without explaining anything.

Lin Gui sat up and rubbed his still somewhat heavy forehead.

Looking at the ingredients that Shia had prepared, and then glancing at Eve's nonchalant expression.

In the end, he just sighed softly.

"Alright, I'll start cooking now."

Before this.

The North Wind caravan members quickly gathered together to prepare food.

With Freya, a legendary mage specializing in both wind and ice magic, dealing with the cooking smoke problem is a piece of cake.

She casually set up a still wind barrier, perfectly concealing the traces of cooking.

They warmly invited Shea and Eve to dine together.

Shea leaned close to the pot that the priest Silas was cooking in and took a sniff.

He then shook his head and refused without hesitation.

"No need, thank you."

The members of the North Wind Caravan looked puzzled.

But they soon understood why.

Upon waking, Lin Gui began preparing the meal.

The levitation technique allowed him to precisely control various kitchen utensils as they flew through the air.

He took out his homemade spices and seasonings and sprinkled them on the pre-treated pieces of meat.

In an instant, an enticing fragrance filled the barrier.

The aroma is rich and layered, with both the mellowness of spices and the freshness of meat.

Inside the North Wind caravan, the towering orc Grom unconsciously swallowed hard.

Betty was the first to be unable to contain herself and pulled scholar Eli over.

"Um... could you share some with us?"

She stared longingly at the sizzling meat in the pot.

Immediately afterward, the barbarian warrior Barton also walked over, rubbing his belly.

Even Lysa, the forest elf who had previously clashed with Shia.

They also moved a few steps closer without saying a word.

"Please sit down."

Lin Gui didn't even look up, continuing to stir the ingredients in the pot.

"The portion is sufficient."

The initially slightly awkward atmosphere immediately became lively.

Everyone sat in a circle, sharing this unexpected breakfast.

"This tastes... amazing!"

Betty squinted her eyes contentedly.

The beastman Grom wolfed down his food, nodding repeatedly.

Even the usually aloof Lysa...

She took small sips, a hint of amazement flashing in her eyes.

In this warm and cozy atmosphere.

Unbeknownst to the members of the North Wind Caravan,

They fully accepted these three temporary companions.