Please support the translation by reading the translation and commenting on otakutl official site.
Thank you.
Everyone from Otaku Translation
Chapter 62: Chablis
The late summer breeze carried a faint sweetness, its warmth inducing a gentle drowsiness under the golden sun. August had passed, and October loomed just beyond the horizon.
A young man stretched his hand toward the azure sky, his fingers blotting out the brilliance as sunlight streamed through the gaps, dancing in shifting patterns that were breathtakingly beautiful. He sighed, lowering his arm, and the verdant hills of Chablis came back into view. The air was dry and pleasant, the clear skies instilling a sense of ease and contentment.
Yet, the lush green of high summer had begun to fade in patches. Ginkgo, metasequoia, and plane trees were among the first to don a light yellow hue, while the fragrant trees of the forest took on a delicate blush of red. These colors mingled like spilled oil paints on a palette, blending naturally into a beauty that stirred the heart.
He sat astride his horse, one hand gripping the reins, his gaze fixed on a jagged cliff face ahead, its pale gray surface stark against the sunlit landscape. Below it, where two rivers converged, lay the town of Chablis, its terracotta rooftops glinting warmly. Chablis had never been renowned in the old games; Brandon knew only that it nestled in the central region of Jandel, home to the Eruin’s few remaining mountainfolk clans.
To the north of the town stretched a dense forest, beneath whose canopy lay the ruins of the Silver Elves—Balrogan-Saint Gerles. Once, this had been an expansive temple complex, its silver courtyards and rows of pristine white arches reflecting the mysterious grandeur cherished by the elven race. But long before the Year of the Shadow Dragon, the elves had abandoned this land for reasons unknown, leaving their temples to decay. Now, if Brandon recalled correctly, the ruins were said to be inhabited by a band of lizardfolk brigands. In the old games, players ventured here not for lofty ideals but to plunder the thieves’ hoard. Of course, the game designers provided a more noble pretext—something along the lines of ridding the land of vermin.
It all struck Brandon as laughable. Players rarely needed excuses, yet the creators labored tirelessly to craft a self-consistent world, even going so far as to concoct plausible-sounding justifications for these digital marauders. But aside from the story enthusiasts, such efforts were often thankless.
Now, however, his perspective had shifted. What he once dismissed as trivial lore now seemed shrouded in mystery.
Brandon had never set foot in Chablis before. Places like Balrogan-Saint Gerles were merely one of countless instances scattered across Goran-Elsun alone. Low-level players seldom ventured far from their starting provinces, and the designers encouraged this approach—only at higher levels did adventurers begin to roam freely between regions and nations.
Still, as a veteran player, Brandon had heard whispers of these lands: the Balrogan-Saint Gerles Temple Ruins teeming with lizardfolk brigands, the weathered tombs of Levistan crawling with undead automatons, and the floating city of Karasell, where battles against ephemeral foes raged endlessly.
Each location promised wealth and treasure, framed by tales of daring exploits and flashing blades.
When Brandon had first gathered this information, he scarcely imagined he would ever visit these places himself. Yet now, standing atop the hill and gazing down at Chablis, he felt a pang of nostalgia. Wisps of smoke rose lazily from the rooftops below, dissolving into the crisp air. He mused that his earlier reluctance to take shortcuts had served him well; otherwise, he might truly have been stumbling blind.
His thoughts drifted to Balrogan-Saint Gerles and the lizardfolk brigands rumored to dwell there.
But Chablis itself was as picturesque as the forums claimed—a tranquil haven that seemed to beckon one to linger forever, like a quiet harbor sheltered from stormy seas.
Roma emerged from the forest behind them, leading her beloved pony—a recent purchase from a traveling merchant who plied the route between Jandel and Braggs. She rarely rode it, cherishing it too much. Her dark eyes sparkled with excitement as she took in the rolling hills and winding rivers of Chablis.
“Is this it, Brandon?” she asked eagerly.
“Yes,” Brandon replied, nodding. “This is Chablis. The name comes from the ancient Silver Elves—it means ‘sweet mountains.’ It seems our luck holds; Madara’s undead haven’t passed through here. The place remains as peaceful as ever.”
Inwardly, though, he wasn’t surprised. Enstallone’s armies would surely favor richer territories.
The Stygian Lord likely bypassed the formidable stronghold of Braggs to raid Jandel instead. Why waste time in these remote, impoverished hills?
Besides, these events were already etched in history. Brandon felt confident in his understanding.
“Are there any local delicacies in Chablis?” Roma pressed.
“You could try the mountainfolk hotpot,” Brandon said, glancing back at her with an indulgent smile. “Though it seems you’ve developed quite the appetite since we left Magitan. Be careful, or you’ll start putting on weight.”
Roma’s brows shot up in protest. “I won’t gain weight! I only eat a little!” Her words sounded more like wishful thinking as she surreptitiously measured her waist with her hands, frowning slightly.
The eternal struggle between indulgence and vanity left her momentarily torn.
“Sir Brandon,” Antietta called from behind, riding a sleek black stallion whose coat gleamed like polished silk. Over the past weeks, the girl’s complexion had grown rosy, no longer bearing the pallor of illness she’d shown when they first met. Though travel wore on her, at least she no longer fretted daily over her next meal.
Strapped to her saddle was a long scroll case containing not only the fruits of her intellect but also what Brandon considered priceless treasures—pages upon pages of parchment covered in intricate diagrams.
She coughed softly, gazing up at the clear sky. “It’s nearly October already.”
“Don’t worry,” Brandon assured her. “No one should have beaten us to it.”
They had departed Braggs over a month ago, and news of the ceasefire between Eruin and Madara had reached every noble council hall in the south by the end of August. At that time, they had just arrived in Jandel, settling briefly in Magitan, the capital of this earldom known as the Forest City.
Brandon had hoped to find the Philosopher’s Tablet hidden within the Misty Forest west of Magitan, but as expected, it had already fallen into the hands of the local Church of Northwind. With no ties to the Knights of the Northwind in the service of the local earl, Brandon and his companions lingered briefly before moving on.
During their stay, however, Brandon introduced Roma to the town’s famed honeyed desserts, sparking her insatiable curiosity about regional delicacies.
Thinking back, Brandon couldn’t help but chuckle, though his mind soon turned to the December coup. Just two months remained. He knew he wouldn’t make it in time, but he trusted the future regent princess—and Freya, the girl from Buchi’s countryside—to handle matters.
By now, Freya must have reached the Royal Cavalry Academy within the princess’s private domain.
Still, the political situation outside remained uncertain. Human effort had its limits, and Brandon lacked the resources to play the lords’ game. For now, his priority was growth, and that reminded him that Retto’s group should have entered Anlek Province by now.
“Are we searching for the tablet here?” Antietta asked.
“Yes,” Brandon replied. “There’s an elven ruin to the north. Legend says the tablet lies within.” Privately, he pondered finding a guide. Though he knew the region’s lore, having never visited Chablis, he remained uncertain of Balrogan-Saint Gerles’ exact location.
The presence of lizardfolk brigands complicated matters. In the old games, Balrogan-Saint Gerles had been a level-23 dungeon—not as challenging as the Forbidden Orchard of the Golden Magic Tree, but still no easy feat without shortcuts.
After some thought, Brandon decided to enter the town first.
The trio descended the gentle slope, reaching Chablis in less than half an hour.
Chablis differed markedly from most southern Eruin towns. Built by the mountainfolk, the settlement was no simple feat. Drawing on ancestral wisdom, they had stacked stones to level the sloping terrain, creating layers upon layers of platforms that ascended along the riverside. Over time, the town resembled a fortress carved from stone.
If one word could describe Chablis, it would be “steps”—a labyrinth of intersecting stairways. Rows of buildings perched on ascending terraces, connected by narrow, elongated flights of stairs.
Here, the rugged charm of Eruin’s southern mountains endured. The mountainfolk rarely used magic, opting instead for carved stone lamp posts lining the steps. Hollowed-out spaces held braziers, serving as functional alternatives to oil lamps or enchanted streetlights.
Brandon remembered Chablis had only one tavern—the Lantern Grass Inn. Its name stuck in his memory because the local player forum bore the same title. The inn was legendary, serving as a hub for adventurers, mercenaries, and travelers alike. Shaped like a grand hall, its guest rooms lay beneath, while the upper floor buzzed with exchanges of news and gossip. Such a place was unique to southern Eruin.
As they entered the town, Antietta and Roma noticed nothing amiss, but Brandon immediately sensed something unusual.
From his vantage point on horseback, he scanned the streets cautiously. Groups of people dressed in attire distinct from the mountainfolk passed by, mostly young and strong. Some cast suspicious glances their way. Brandon recognized them instantly—travelers, adventurers, mercenaries, and monster hunters.
Such figures appeared anywhere in Vonder, but…
For a small town like Chablis, their numbers seemed excessive. After all, this was no longer the bustling Chablis of the old games.
If you would like to support this translation, you may choose any one of the options below.
How to find a list of chapters
Please find the chapter label next to your favorite translator's name, and click the label.
