Chapter 218:Fog.
The next notification arrived.
[Special Relationship Reward]
{Shared Understanding
A relationship strengthened through honesty gains greater resistance to emotional instability.
Effect:
When the Host and Target act together under extreme stress, coordination efficiency is increased.
Minor reduction to hesitation caused by emotional conflict.}
Silver stared at the notification.
"...That’s useful."
A second reward appeared.
[Reward]
{Mental Resistance +2
Soul Synchronization +1}
Silver felt the changes almost immediately, just a subtle strengthening. His thoughts felt slightly clearer and awareness steadier.
Another notification appeared.
[Reward]
{Affection Points +500
Reason:
The Target’s trust was preserved despite the revelation of the Host’s hidden nature.}
Silver smiled faintly, then one final notification appeared.
[Relationship Milestone]
{Name: The Truth Between Us
Description:
The Host has chosen honesty over guaranteed acceptance.
The outcome remains unresolved.
Reward:
No immediate material reward.
Future relationship rewards increased.}
Silver stared at that final line for several seconds.
"...Fair enough."
The System wasn’t telling him what would happen, for once, he appreciated that. There was no guaranteed reward for getting Ravenna to accept him, quest objective or fixed outcome. Just a decision that belonged to two people.
He dismissed the notifications. When he looked up, Ravenna was watching him.
"You look kind of serious."
Silver smiled.
"Just thinking."
"About the System?"
He froze.
She immediately smiled faintly.
"I can’t see it. But I know with how you get this blank stare. I understand it now, I always thought it was just a phase but well... no one is perfect."
Silver laughed quietly.
"Was I that obvious?"
Ravenna looked down at the flower again.
"...I still don’t completely understand everything."
"You don’t have to."
"I know." She looked at him. "But eventually, I want you to explain more."
Silver nodded.
"Whenever you’re ready."
She smiled slightly.
"Good."
A horn sounded from the front of the convoy. Captain Harry was calling everyone together.
"Five minutes! Everyone in position!"
The camp quickly became a flurry of movement. Vehicles started one after another. Silver opened the driver’s door and Ravenna climbed into the passenger seat.
For several seconds, neither said anything, then she quietly placed the flower into a small holder near the dashboard.
Silver glanced at it.
"You could’ve kept it somewhere else."
"I like it there."
He smiled.
"Then it stays there."
The engine started and the convoy began moving. Silver followed the vehicle ahead.
For the first few kilometers, the road remained relatively open.
The sun climbed higher, the Yellow Zone stretched endlessly around them.
Ravenna watched the scenery as Silver concentrated on driving. Their conversation remained limited because there was simply a new awareness between them, something neither wanted to rush.
Eventually Ravenna spoke.
"Silver."
"Hm?"
"About last night..."
He glanced at her briefly. She looked out the window.
"I meant what I said."
"I know."
"I’m not leaving you or anything. You don’t have to look so worried."
Silver smiled.
"Thank you, that helps a lot."
"But I’m still thinking about anything."
"Take your time."
She nodded. A few minutes passed, then she added quietly,
"...And don’t start acting strange because I haven’t answered you yet. This morning was enough of a suprise, just don’t say anything more cringe for the day."
Silver laughed.
"I’ll try, I didn’t realize; they sound perfectly fine in my mind."
"It’s your mind. Sometimes we don’t really have to say everything that is inside it."
He smiled.
"Then I’ll work on it."
Ravenna returned her attention to the road. The conversation ended there but Silver felt better.
The convoy continued forward. After another hour, Captain Harry’s voice came over the radio.
"Everyone, pay attention."
Silver increased the radio volume.
"We’re approaching the final stretch, beyond this area is the first Yellow Zone checkpoint belonging to Delta Two."
Several voices immediately responded.
"Understood."
Harry continued.
"Once we enter that region, expect the terrain to change. Fog is common, visibility may become extremely poor. Stay close, no one leaves the convoy unless ordered."
Silver glanced at Ravenna. She was already reaching for her sniper rifle.
"So..."
Silver smiled.
"Fog."
Ravenna nodded.
"Sounds peaceful."
He laughed.
"That’s not what you said yesterday."
"I’ve changed my standards."
Silver shook his head. The road ahead slowly began disappearing beneath a thin layer of white mist.
At first, it looked harmless. A faint haze drifting between the rocks, then it became thicker and thicker. The distant vehicles gradually blurred.
Silver narrowed his eyes. The convoy had entered the fog.
The first thing Silver noticed was how quickly the world disappeared. One moment, the road ahead had been clearly visible beneath the afternoon sun, the next, everything beyond a few dozen meters had become a pale wall of mist.
The fog wasn’t simply drifting across the road, it covered everything; the tall grass, scattered rocks and distant hills.
Even the vehicles ahead gradually became little more than blurred silhouettes.
Silver immediately slowed the caras the vehicle in front of him did the same. One by one, the convoy reduced its speed until they were moving at barely half their previous pace.
Captain Harry’s voice came through the radio.
"Keep your distance."
"Do not overtake."
"Use your headlights, but don’t rely on them."
"Visibility is going to get worse."
Silver turned his headlights on. The beams illuminated only a short distance before disappearing into the fog.
"That’s not helping much."
Ravenna looked through the windshield.
"It makes it harder to see. This is the worst possible terrain."
Silver kept one hand on the steering wheel while the other rested near the gear shift.
The road beneath them had also changed; the relatively firm dirt path was becoming damp and small puddles had appeared between patches of grass, the tires occasionally splashing through them.
Silver glanced at the dashboard.
"Temperature’s dropping."
Ravenna looked at the windshield. A faint layer of condensation had begun forming along the edges.
"This fog isn’t normal."
Silver nodded.
"No."
It wasn’t simply moisture hanging in the air, there was something strange about it. The fog seemed to cling to the landscape, it remained dense even where the wind should have pushed it away.
Silver’s expression became serious. He activated his ability.
[Spatial Sense Lv2 Activated]
The familiar sensation spread outward and the world suddenly became different. He could no longer rely entirely on his eyes; instead, the surrounding space became something he could feel.
The convoy appeared around him as a collection of moving shapes. His perception extended farther than his vision but even Spatial Sense had limits.
Silver could feel the physical space around him, but something about the fog made long-range perception less precise.
He frowned.
"It’s affecting visibility even with my Spatial Sense."
Ravenna looked at him.
"Can you still detect things?"
"Yes."
"How far?"
"Not as far as usual."
She nodded.
"Then we’ll have to rely on each other."
Silver smiled slightly.
"Sounds familiar."
She gave him a small look.
"You know what I mean, don’t twist it."
"I do."
The convoy continued. The road narrowed with each distance covered. Large rocks appeared on either side, forming a natural corridor.
Silver immediately reduced his speed again. A mistake here could cause an accident, and if one vehicle stopped, the entire convoy would be forced to stop.
Captain Harry’s voice came through again.
"Everyone, pay attention. The fog region lasts approximately twenty kilometers. According to our previous scouts, the road remains relatively safe."
"Relatively."
Someone laughed nervously over the radio.
Harry ignored it.
"Most beasts here are adapted to low visibility. They rely heavily on smell, hearing, vibration and ambush tactics. Do not assume something is absent because you cannot see it."
Silver glanced toward Ravenna. She was already loading her sniper rifle.
"That’s comforting."
Ravenna gave him a faint smile.
"I thought you liked challenges."
"I like challenges I can see, not this."
She laughed quietly. The sound was brief, but it eased some of the tension inside the vehicle. For a while, nothing happened, the convoy crawled through the fog.
The silence became almost unnatural. Normally, the Yellow Zone was filled with sounds, now, everything seemed muffled.
The tires were almost the only thing Silver could hear, then Ravenna suddenly raised her head.
"Stop."
Silver immediately pressed the brakes. The vehicle slowed.
"What?"
She pointed toward the left.
"I heard something."
Silver activated Spatial Sense more intensely. At first... nothing, then, a faint vibration; something was moving through the grass.
Silver’s hand moved toward his pistol.
"Everyone stay inside."
He reached for the radio.
"Captain. We heard something on the left."
Harry responded immediately.
"Hold position."
The convoy stopped. Dozens of contractors raised their weapons, for several seconds, nothing happened, then a shape moved through the fog; low and fast.
It crossed the road nearly twenty meters ahead. Silver barely caught a glimpse. It had a long body, four legs and a narrow head.
Then it vanished.
"What was that?" Someone asked.
Nobody answered.
Silver kept Spatial Sense active, but the creature had moved beyond his immediate range.
Ravenna quietly lowered her rifle.
"Not attacking, it’s probably scouting."
Silver nodded.
"That’s what I think too."
Captain Harry gave the order.
"Continue."
The convoy began moving again but everyone was more alert now. Several contractors kept their guns aimed toward the grass.
Silver continued using Spatial Sense, his mind remaining remarkably clear.
He smiled faintly.
"This skill was worth it."
Ravenna looked at him.
"What?"
"Nothing."
She gave him a suspicious look.
"You’re doing that again."
"Doing what?"
"Talking to yourself, muttering under your breath."
Silver laughed.
"Maybe I’m getting old."
"You aren’t even old."
"I feel old, don’t you feel that way spmetimes."
She shook her head. Their quiet exchange helped break the tension, then... A scream erupted over the radio.
"CONTACT!"