Chapter 572 The Road Through Marrowford

Four days after the royal commission appeared on the Adventurer Guild’s Mission Board, a party of five Adventurers arrived at the eastern outskirts of Marrowford.

The mission had been accepted by the Ironwood Party, an experienced group whose members had completed numerous reconnaissance and monster suppression assignments throughout Westmark.

Their leader, Darius, was a Silver-Rank Adventurer before he became an Adventurer he had spent more than a decade exploring dangerous wilderness regions.

Accompanying him were Helena, a skilled archer and tracker; Conrad, a heavily built swordsman; Felix, a mage specializing in detection and defensive magic; and Tomas, a scout familiar with forest terrain.

Their assignment was straightforward in principle. Investigate the monster attacks, identify the creatures responsible, assess the danger to surrounding settlements, and submit their findings to the Guild.

However, the situation awaiting them was considerably worse than the official reports had suggested.

"Well, this is a welcoming sight," Conrad remarked sarcastically as their carriage passed an abandoned roadside inn. "I was hoping we’d find somewhere decent to eat before reaching Marrowford."

The building stood beside the road with its windows boarded shut. A broken wooden sign hung above the entrance, while weeds had begun growing between the stones of its courtyard. Several overturned barrels lay near the stable, suggesting that its owners had departed in considerable haste.

Helena examined the building from her seat beside the carriage driver. "That establishment was probably doing good business before the attacks. This road used to carry plenty of merchant traffic."

Darius glanced toward the empty highway stretching ahead. "Which makes the silence rather concerning. We’ve barely encountered any travelers since leaving the last checkpoint."

Ordinarily, the eastern trade route would have been crowded with merchant wagons transporting agricultural produce toward Kingsford. Now, the party had traveled for nearly an hour without encountering another carriage heading toward Marrowford.

The few travelers they had passed were moving in the opposite direction.

As they continued, the Adventurers discovered further evidence of the crisis. A damaged merchant wagon had been abandoned beside a shallow ditch, its rear wheels shattered and several deep scratches carved into its wooden frame.

Darius instructed the driver to stop.

"Helena, examine those marks," Darius ordered as he climbed down from the carriage. "Tomas, check the surrounding ground. Everyone else, keep watch."

Helena approached the wagon and inspected the damaged boards. The scratches were unusually deep, extending through several layers of reinforced timber.

"Whatever attacked this wagon possessed considerable strength," Helena observed, running her fingers beside one of the marks. "These weren’t made by an ordinary wolf."

Tomas crouched near the roadside and examined the hardened earth. "There were tracks here, but they’re old. Too much traffic has passed over them since the attack."

Felix studied the scattered debris before looking toward Darius. "Should we record the location?"

Darius nodded. "Absolutely. The Guild wants evidence, not guesses. Mark the wagon’s position and note the damage. We’ll compare it with the other attack sites."

After documenting their observations, the party continued toward Marrowford.

They reached the settlement shortly before noon.

Marrowford was larger than the Adventurers had expected, possessing a substantial marketplace, several warehouses, and numerous buildings catering to traveling merchants. Unfortunately, much of the commercial district appeared unusually quiet.

Several shops remained closed, while the marketplace contained only a fraction of the stalls its broad stone square could accommodate.

A merchant standing beside a wagon loaded with sacks of grain watched the Adventurers disembark near the town’s central inn.

"You’re not planning to take the eastern road, are you?" the merchant asked, noticing their equipment. "Because if you are, I’d strongly recommend turning around."

Darius approached him with a polite expression. "We’re Adventurers from the Guild in Kingsford. We’ve accepted a commission to investigate the attacks. Have you been traveling through this area recently?"

The merchant’s expression changed immediately.

"The Adventurer Guild?" he repeated, looking between the party members. "You’re the people who control those dungeons near the capital?"

Conrad grinned as he adjusted the sword hanging from his waist. "That’s the organization. Although we’re here to investigate monsters, not sell Dungeon Passes."

The merchant gave a nervous chuckle before introducing himself as Edwin Mercer, a grain trader who had operated along the eastern route for several years.

Edwin gestured toward his wagon with obvious frustration. "I’ve been stuck here for six days. Normally, I’d have delivered this grain and returned with manufactured goods by now. But nobody wants to travel through Old Harrow Bridge, and the southern detour costs more than I can afford."

Darius listened carefully before asking, "Have you personally witnessed any attacks?"

Edwin shook his head. "Not directly, thankfully. But one of my regular guards survived an attack two weeks ago. He said the creatures came out of the trees without warning. They killed two horses before anyone understood what was happening."

Helena opened her notebook. "Did he describe the monsters?"

Edwin rubbed his chin thoughtfully. "Large, dark creatures resembling wolves. He claimed their eyes were yellow and their bodies were covered with patches of hard growths. I thought he was exaggerating until I saw the damage to his wagon."

The Adventurers exchanged glances.

That description was consistent with several witness statements included in the Guild’s documents.

After recording Edwin’s account, the party visited the local administrative office to announce their arrival.

They were received by a middle-aged official named Magistrate Corbin Hale, who appeared relieved when Darius presented the royal commission.

"Thank goodness someone has finally arrived to investigate this properly," Corbin exclaimed as he examined the authorization. "We’ve been sending requests for assistance for weeks, and every response seems to involve another argument over whose responsibility the road happens to be."

Darius placed the Guild’s identification documents upon the desk. "Our commission authorizes reconnaissance and threat assessment. We’d appreciate access to the latest incident reports and any witnesses willing to speak with us."

Corbin nodded eagerly. "Of course. I’ll have my clerks prepare everything. Although I should warn you that representatives from Baron Fenwick’s territory arrived this morning, and they may object to your involvement."

As though summoned by the warning, the office door opened.

A stern-looking official wearing an embroidered brown coat entered with two guards.

"Magistrate Hale, I’ve been informed that armed outsiders are requesting access to territorial records," the newcomer declared before noticing the Adventurers. "I assume these are the individuals in question?"

Corbin rose from his chair. "Administrator Pritchard, these Adventurers possess authorization issued through the Crown Prince’s office. They’re investigating the monster attacks."

Pritchard frowned as he examined the documents Darius presented.

"Royal authorization doesn’t automatically permit an independent organization to conduct operations wherever it pleases," Pritchard replied stiffly. "Certain areas fall under Baron Fenwick’s jurisdiction."

Darius maintained a calm expression. "We’re aware of the territorial boundaries, Administrator. Our assignment doesn’t grant us governing authority, and we have no intention of interfering with local administration."

Pritchard looked unconvinced. "Then any investigation conducted within the Baron’s territory must be reported to his office."

"That won’t be a problem," Darius answered. "We’re required to document our findings anyway. However, our official mission report will be submitted to the Adventurer Guild, which will forward the relevant information to the commissioning authority."

Corbin intervened before the discussion could deteriorate.

"Administrator Pritchard, surely we can agree that identifying the monsters benefits both territories," Corbin remarked with visible impatience. "People are dying while our offices exchange letters."

Pritchard’s expression tightened, but he eventually stepped aside.

"Very well. I expect proper notification before your party crosses into our jurisdiction," Pritchard stated before departing with his guards.

Conrad watched him leave and released a quiet sigh.

"Wonderful fellow," Conrad muttered, shaking his head. "I can see why the monsters have had such an easy time."

Darius gave him a warning glance. "Conrad, we’re here to investigate the attacks, not become involved in territorial arguments."

With the administrative formalities completed, the Adventurers spent the next several hours interviewing survivors and examining records.

Their investigation revealed a troubling pattern.

Most attacks had occurred during the early morning or late evening, when visibility along the woodland road was poor. The creatures appeared to target horses first, immobilizing wagons before attacking guards and passengers.

Several witnesses reported hearing unusual howling from deeper within the forest shortly before the attacks began.

Others claimed that smaller monsters retreated whenever a much larger creature appeared.

By late afternoon, Darius decided they had gathered enough preliminary information to examine the woodland itself.

The party departed Marrowford and followed the eastern road toward Old Harrow Bridge.

As they approached the forest, the surrounding landscape changed considerably. Tall trees crowded the roadside, their branches forming a dense canopy that restricted sunlight even during the afternoon.

Sections of the old stone road had deteriorated, with roots breaking through the paving and thick vegetation encroaching upon both sides.

Helena studied the ground carefully as they advanced.

"Fresh tracks," Helena announced, crouching beside a patch of damp soil. "Several creatures passed through here recently."

Tomas joined her and examined the impressions.

"At least six," Tomas estimated, tracing the edges of a particularly large print. "Possibly more. Some of these tracks overlap."

Felix raised his staff and released a faint pulse of detection magic.

After several moments, he frowned.

"There’s residual mana nearby," Felix reported quietly. "Not particularly strong, but concentrated enough that I doubt it came from ordinary wildlife."

Darius drew his sword and surveyed the surrounding trees.

"Stay alert. We’re not here to engage an entire pack unless necessary," Darius instructed. "Helena, follow the tracks. Tomas, watch our rear."

The party advanced cautiously, leaving the main road where the tracks disappeared into the undergrowth.

After nearly half an hour, they discovered a narrow clearing surrounded by thick vegetation.

The ground was littered with broken branches, scattered animal bones, and pieces of torn leather. Several large depressions marked the soil, while an unpleasant smell lingered beneath the trees.

Helena stopped abruptly.

"Darius, come look at this," Helena called, pointing toward a partially concealed opening beneath an enormous fallen tree.

Darius approached and examined the surrounding ground.

Numerous tracks converged upon the opening, including several belonging to creatures considerably larger than those encountered along the road.

Tomas moved toward the nearby bushes and uncovered a rusted merchant’s chest, its wooden lid shattered and its contents scattered across the ground.

"There’s more over here," Tomas reported grimly. "Broken wagon fittings, harness straps, and what looks like a guard’s helmet."

Felix examined the dark opening beneath the fallen tree before turning toward their leader.

"Darius, I think we’ve found something important," Felix whispered. "There’s a substantial concentration of mana coming from beneath that opening."

Darius studied the tracks, the scattered remains, and the disturbed earth surrounding the clearing.

Whatever occupied the underground passage had been returning to this location repeatedly.

And judging by the number of tracks, there were far more creatures involved than the previous reports had suggested.

Darius slowly raised his hand, signaling the others to remain silent.

"Nobody goes inside," Darius ordered in a low voice. "Record everything from a safe distance. I believe we’ve just discovered the entrance to one of their nesting grounds."

Deep beneath the fallen tree, something enormous shifted in the darkness.