30 Years After Reincarnating, It Turns Out This World Was A Rofan?! novel Chapter 40

Mount Vulcan, the Spiritual Mountain.

After the volcanic activity ceased, this rugged yet beautiful mountain became known as the kingdom’s most treacherous climb. Few attempt the ascent. The climb is too arduous, with no proper paths and frequent encounters with wild boars. There are even rumors among herb gatherers of bear sightings.

If that weren’t challenging enough, what makes Vulcan truly terrifying is its erratic weather, which ignores the seasons. By day, temperatures soar to 40°C, while by night, they plummet to –30°C, bringing frost.

It’s a mysterious phenomenon, and all plants and animals that survive in such conditions have unique medicinal properties, making them highly sought after. It’s truly a spiritual mountain.

But one misstep on the climb could mean death, and if one were stranded, they could die of dehydration or freeze to death. Hence, it's wise to avoid the mountain altogether.

Only those chasing quick wealth through rare herbs dare to make the climb, people who live day to day, seeking a one-time fortune.

Therefore,

“Haa! This is crazy... This is madness...!”

Climbing it as part of ‘training’ is, in itself, a foolish act.

...So they were fools and lunatics.

“Ughhhh!”

“I’m going to die...”

“W-water...! P-please, water...”

The fallen, or rather the fainted, are numerous.

The ascent, a sheer cliff disguised as a slope, was not made for climbing. It was merely a precipice.

The cadets were not walking on two feet; they were crawling on all fours, like beasts, resembling turtles. One misstep backward and they would tumble to their deaths. If turtles biologically cannot walk backward, they were equally forced not to, for survival.

In such a situation,

“Ah, the air is so fresh. As expected, this mountain truly is spiritual. It’s refreshing.”

“The air is genuinely nice, Instructor.”

“Well, it’ll be unbearably hot come afternoon. Wasn’t it supposed to be sweltering until 6 p.m.?”

“This place is insane.”

“Haha, just realizing that now?”

Ihan, who carried almost twenty times the load of others, was at ease as if he were on a leisurely stroll. Though he was climbing the same steep slope, he seemed to exist under different gravity.

It was impressive that he was standing on two feet, not crawling on all fours. Was it balance, or something else?

“Instructor, your toes are incredibly strong.”

“I’ve trained them well.”

“...I’m not sure if that’s something one can train.”

“Turns out you can.”

“......”

He was climbing barefoot, as if shoes were a hindrance, gripping the ground with his toes as he ascended.

The way he walked, leaving prints with each step, brought to mind a wild beast.

“Don’t just talk to me. Help that one over there.”

“Yes, sir.”

A gentle hum.

Irene’s magic fluctuated, grabbing hold of someone.

She used telekinesis to lift those who had fainted or were suffering from dehydration.

“Haa, even this is getting tiring.”

“If you don’t want to do it, that’s fine. But you’ll have to walk from now on.”

“...I’ll keep rescuing them.”

At present, Irene wasn’t walking like the others. She was hovering slightly, almost as if floating.

It was also telekinesis. While it could be seen as cheating, Ihan allowed it.

After all, he had come to see telekinesis for wizards as muscles are for warriors. Besides, with Irene Windler’s stamina, marching would be impossible from the start. With strength that barely surpassed that of a kitten, marching was out of the question.

It was simply more efficient to put her to work in rescue efforts like this.

‘Quite useful.’

Originally, Ihan had planned to carry the fallen on a cart, but now he didn’t need to. He still found magic inconvenient, but he couldn’t deny its usefulness.

“Ah, another one fainted.”

With a gentle flick,

She was managing not only herself but also transporting over ten cadets. All were unconscious or had collapsed, including Levi Folt, who had fainted at the base of the climb.

Yet Ihan had no intention of scolding her. The fact that she made it this far on such a fragile frame was a miracle. That was endurance, not physical but mental strength.

“In terms of mental strength, she’s better than the saplings.”

“Levi is tough. She says she has to work harder to revive her family’s name, or something like that.”

“You seem to have grown close with Cadet No. 1.”

“Well, we have tea and meals together. Not quite friends, but acquaintances.”

“That’s usually what people call friends, isn’t it?”

“...I haven’t had many friends, so I’m not sure.”

“Hmm, my apologies.”

“...It’s even more pathetic to receive an apology.”

[Irene, stop saying such unnecessary things. You’re embarrassing me.]

The unconventional survival march seemed to be off to a smooth start.

Well.

“Help... please...”

For the cadets, it wasn’t smooth at all.

They didn’t conquer Vulcan.

In other words, they didn’t reach the summit.

But this was Ihan’s intention. He never said their goal was the summit; he simply told them they were climbing this mountain.

Their destination was not the peak but rather,

“Unload your gear.”

The midpoint of Vulcan.

Thud!

After a grueling three-hour climb, they finally dropped their gear, and the ground shook. It was a testament to the massive load they’d hauled up here.

“I-I survived...”

“I thought I’d die before reaching Avalon at my age...”

However, they were more thankful to be alive than for the quantity of supplies they’d brought. It was brutal and relentless, a living hell...

“You all are pathetic. The maid, who is far more petite than you, made it here just fine. What are you all doing?”

-......

“Pitiful wretches.”

-......Ugh.

They wanted to retort, but they couldn’t. After all, while they had fainted or collapsed from exhaustion, the only one who successfully completed the climb with more gear than them was the ‘maid.’

“Hehe, the air here is great. Should I set up the tents here, Knight?”

...She’s full of energy.

Not even out of breath?

Leyra Winter.

The royal maid, despite enduring the same march, appeared unfazed. What was she, exactly?