I Have a Task Log

A giant triangular net was stretched between the three Pegasi, its three corners attached to each of their saddles.

The reins of the foremost Pegasus were held by a Wood Elf rider.

"These little ones are quite willful. Because of all your different races, this is the only way," said the Wood Elf who had led them over. "My apologies."

"It’s fine."

Colin had considered asking if he and Ale could ride the Pegasi, but he thought better of it and went and sat down on the net. ’Guess I’m roughing it with the rest of them,’ he mused.

The rest of the group also sat down on the net one by one.

Dorn and Kase muttered something under their breath; it was obvious they weren’t saying anything nice.

Once they were ready, the WHOOSH of beating wings immediately filled the air. Gusts of wind blasted them from all directions, making it almost impossible for Colin to keep his eyes open.

He simply put on his Helmet and lowered the visor, which helped a little.

The three Pegasi were very strong. The triangular net pulled taut and slowly began to lift them into the air.

"We’re really flying!" Orelia’s excited voice sounded from beside him.

The words had barely left her mouth when the group was lifted completely into the air.

As they rapidly gained altitude, Colin peered down from the net.

All around them were verdant green leaves and branches, rippling in the wind like an emerald sea.

Colin then looked up and around him.

He could vaguely make out distant mountain ranges and a wide river rushing through the forest. Trees of all heights clustered between the mountains and the river, making it nearly impossible to see the ground.

"This forest below is huge," Dorn said. "Look at those massive trees. They’ve soaked up all the light. I bet the forest floor is as dark as The Underdark."

"But surely not as dangerous," Colin remarked.

Since they were about to head out on a mission, no one in the group was in the mood for much conversation.

After a little more small talk, Colin simply started staring into the distance, lost in thought.

The sheer size of the Supreme Forest was staggering.

To the west, it reached the outskirts of Holy Tear City, and its southern border stretched to Dragon’s Fang Castle.

Meanwhile, there was a gap between the northern edge of the Supreme Forest and the World’s Roof. The Weston Clan’s territory began at Thousand Masts City and extended along the forest’s edge all the way to that gap.

The towns and villages there were mostly built around the North River, the same river that flowed from the foot of the World’s Roof, through Mokevic, and into the Endless Sea.

Finally, the eastern border of the Supreme Forest was marked by the Sunset Mountain Range.

This long, narrow mountain range connected to the World’s Roof in the North. Beyond the mountains lay the Kasus Desert, ruled by a Legendary Blue Dragon.

That Legendary Blue Dragon was, in a sense, the greatest backer of the Dragon Worship Cult. Meanwhile, numerous Devil Cultists collaborating with the cult were active in the southern Supreme Forest. They had once even infiltrated as far as the vicinity of Moss Stone Village.

The wastelands and glaciers north of the Kasus Desert were completely untamed.

Hordes of Orcs, Centaurs, and various Barbarians lived there. The Orcs who constantly raided the Weston Clan’s territory came from that region.

Gazing at the towering trees below and the great mountains in the distance, Colin’s mind traced the borders of these factions. He sighed to himself at how small he was in the grand scheme of things.

It was also worth noting that the eastern parts of this world were mostly untamed lands. There were even a great number of nations founded by the Undead, Cults, and criminal organizations.

This made trade between the western cities and the Far Eastern nations somewhat difficult, which was why the prices for goods like silk and porcelain remained consistently high.

Considering what he’d heard from the Gray Squad, Colin thought, ’Those evil nations are probably plotting something.’

At that thought, Colin couldn’t be bothered to think about it any further.

’These are matters best left to figures like the Master of the Black Tower.’

FWWEEE—

He wasn’t sure how long they had been flying. Just as Colin was lying on the net, about to take a short nap, an orange-red point of light rose slowly into the sky not far away, accompanied by a piercing shriek.

’That must be a Signal Flare,’ Colin thought.

The surrounding Pegasi immediately changed direction, accelerating toward the point of light.

As they drew closer, strange screams echoed up from the forest below. Just from the sound alone, it was clear a major battle was raging among the trees.

The three Pegasi, with perfect coordination, brought the group to a hover directly above the source of the sounds.

"I will cast Feather Fall on all of you. Your descent speed won’t exceed three meters per second, so you’ll land safely. Please help the ambushed caravan and drive back those damned bandits!"

After speaking, the Wood Elf rider in the lead took out a feather and began chanting a Spell.

Judging by the way he chanted the Spell, Colin figured the guy was probably some kind of Wandering Poet.

Immediately after, dancing feathers appeared beside each of them. Colin could see the gray Spiritual Light shimmering on the feathers, indicating that this Magic belonged to the school of Transmutation.

The two Pegasi at the rear tilted their heads at the same time and bit down on small rods on their saddles, then gave a sharp tug.

The rear of the triangular net abruptly detached from the saddles, leaving only the front end still attached.

Pulled by gravity, the group immediately began to fall.

Although Colin still felt that lurch of losing his balance, he could also feel his descent speed stabilize after a certain point, as if he were hanging from a parachute unaffected by the wind.

The dozens of meters passed in an instant.

The group fell quickly into the branches, snapping smaller twigs on their way down with a series of CRACKS and SNAPS.

Colin flipped up his visor and looked down.

He could vaguely make out a winding path between the tree roots below, and in the middle of the path was a circular defensive position.

The perimeter of this position was formed by wagons laden with goods, with restless horses corralled in the center. A few weapon-wielding figures were fighting against bandits swarming in from all directions.

And the bandits were indeed numerous; at a glance, they looked like ants swarming around a sugar cube.

’This situation definitely calls for a lot of area-of-effect spells...’

Colin’s eyes widened as he quickly surveyed the battlefield below.

The others around him also began to prepare.

Kase tossed down his Capture Net and Javelins, then took out his Longbow and methodically began picking off enemies from mid-air.

Due to the range limitations of their Magic, the others could only wait for the right moment.

"Give me a Spider Silk Gland, Kase!"

The Half-Orc passed the item over, fired two more arrows, and then took out another Spider Silk Gland for himself—the glands were bulging and swollen, and it was anyone’s guess what the Dwarves had done to them.

Once they were close enough, the two of them threw the glands one after the other.