Source of the Miasma

Elias, accompanied by Jemmy and Fren, set out from the fort to investigate the miasma. Their primary objective was to survey the surrounding area and determine whether the phenomenon posed any immediate threat.

As they trekked through the landscape, Fren surveyed the environment.

“No monsters have appeared… but the miasma isn’t dissipating either.”

Elias muttered, scanning the surroundings.

“It’s not lingering in high concentrations, but the fact that it’s still present is concerning.”

Fren agreed, keeping a wary eye on the terrain.

Their current location was a low-altitude mountainous region east of the fort, covered in sparse woodland. While technically classified as a mountain range, the elevation wasn’t particularly high, making the journey manageable.

“Could it be seeping in from somewhere?”

Fren speculated, prompting Elias to nod.

“That was a common occurrence back in the East.”

Jemmy raised an eyebrow.

“Explain.”

Elias turned to her and began recounting an old case from the eastern territories.

“There was a canyon where miasma constantly lingered. No matter how much we investigated, we couldn’t find any source within the canyon itself—there weren’t even that many monsters.”

“A canyon? It makes sense for miasma to sink to lower elevations, but was there an underlying cause?”

“Yeah. We eventually discovered that a cave far away from the canyon was connected underground. Miasma was leaking from there and being carried by the wind all the way to the canyon.”

Jemmy folded her arms thoughtfully.

“So the miasma wasn’t just accumulating—it was being transported.”

“Exactly. That’s the key takeaway. Since it never pooled in one spot, it didn’t create a dense miasma zone, and no monsters settled there either.”

“I see… so you’re saying this could also be coming from an underground source?”

“Possibly. But it’s not always that straightforward.”

Jemmy raised a curious eyebrow.

“What do you mean?”

“Not all underground spaces are monster dens by default. Let’s say there’s a cave near the capital, one that leads deep underground. If there’s no miasma source inside, then it’s just an ordinary cave.”

“But if there is a source…?”

“Then you get a nest, just like we saw back in Nanan Mountain.”

Jemmy considered this before posing another question.

“So what did you do about the canyon’s miasma problem?”

“The cave turned out to be an active monster den, so we sealed it off permanently.”

“Just sealed it off? Not wiped out?”

Elias nodded.

“Sometimes, sealing is the best option. Had we left it open, the monsters inside could have evolved into something far more dangerous. At worst, they might have eventually broken out on their own.”

Jemmy hummed in thought.

“So if the cave connects to a larger underground system, then sealing it doesn’t solve anything, because the monsters would just find another exit?”

“Exactly. That’s why methods vary. If the cave is self-contained, we can close it off. If it’s part of a massive underground labyrinth, we need to exterminate the threat instead.”

“Makes sense… I assume there are monsters that dig tunnels, though?”

“Very few. Most creatures wouldn’t go through the trouble of carving out a new escape route unless absolutely necessary.”

Jemmy smirked.

“Good to know. I never really studied terrain-related factors—I only focused on monster biology.”

“Well, you’re in the North now. Better get used to thinking in three dimensions.”

She let out a small chuckle and resumed scanning the environment.

“At any rate, if this miasma isn’t originating here, then it must be drifting in from somewhere else.”

“That’s what I suspect. But…” Elias narrowed his eyes. “Pinpointing the exact source won’t be easy.”

Jemmy, however, grinned.

“Maybe not. But I can try.”

Elias gave her a questioning look.

“Try what?”

“You mentioned wind currents earlier, right? If the miasma is being carried, I can analyze the wind flow and track its origin point.”

Elias’s expression shifted in surprise.

“You can do that?”

“Of course. Wind and miasma behave predictably—if we read the flow correctly, we should be able to trace it.”

Elias exchanged glances with Fren before nodding.

“Alright, give it a shot.”

Jemmy wasted no time. She closed her eyes, channeled her mana, and began to analyze the air currents.

Elias, watching her work, turned to Fren.

“If we can locate the source, this might turn into a monster extermination mission after all.”

Fren nodded.

“If it’s an underground source, though, dealing with it could prove difficult.”

“We’ll determine our course of action after we find the source.”

After only a few moments, Jemmy opened her eyes.

“Got it.”

Elias raised an eyebrow.

“Already?”

“The wind flow is carrying miasma from the north. That’s where we need to go.”

Elias took a moment to process her words.

“That fast? How can you be sure?”

“Because while I was analyzing the wind currents, I actually felt the miasma drifting in from that direction.”

Elias nodded.

“Good enough for me. Let’s move.”

Jemmy and Fren followed as Elias adjusted their course northward.

“We’re only three people,” he reminded them. “We came light because we expected a simple scouting mission. If we find the actual source, we won’t engage—we’ll mark the location and return.”

Both Jemmy and Fren nodded.

Thus, the team set forth toward the miasma’s true origin.