Chapter 194: Explore the Road
Three pairs of eyes widened, all turning toward the only pure-blood human among them.
They all knew what the Mist Monsters were—creatures of terror that had ravaged the world, spreading across almost the entire continent and forcing the remaining living beings to survive within small areas.
"Gara, maybe your Talent isn’t just a dimensional space," Madha said gravely. "It could be a dimensional transportation portal—a gateway leading straight into the Mist."
"That might explain why the house uses glass windows," Ares added thoughtfully. "Glass is rare nowadays since all the mines for its base materials were swallowed by the mist."
"And it could also be why we’re experiencing all four seasons here," Madha continued.
Gara wanted to nod in agreement. It all made sense.
But truthfully... he wasn’t sure either.
All he knew was that entire area not covered by mist was his—his domain, his dimensional space.
Where exactly this space existed in the real world, however, was a mystery even to him.
"We should check that road," Gara said, pointing toward the long path that stretched deep into the mist, its end nowhere in sight.
The three men nodded.
Earlier, they had purchased three warhorses—something that had made Yuvika frown in confusion. Why buy warhorses just to stroll around city?
Thankfully, Gara had held back from buying hybrid horses; otherwise, Yuvika’s suspicion might’ve turned into full-blown interrogation.
They told her the horses would be kept at an inn and cared for by hired stablehands. In reality, once they reached the inn, the horses were quietly stored inside Gara’s dimensional pocket.
Since the stable hadn’t been built yet, the horses were placed in an empty room at the back part of the house.
Gara, still in his early pregnancy and unfamiliar with riding, wouldn’t be joining the exploration.
Soon, Madha and Fian emerged, each mounted on their saddled steeds, reins in hand. Ares followed behind them without a horse.
"You’re not coming with them, Ares?" Gara asked gently, not intending to force him to join.
"I am," Ares replied casually.
Before Gara could ask further, a pair of massive, sturdy wings unfurled from Ares’s shoulders.
Gara blinked in surprise. Right—he’d forgotten again. Ares, with his silver hair streaked in crimson, wasn’t human.
"Everyone," Gara called out, his tone firm yet warm, "your safety comes first. If you encounter Mist Monsters, wild beasts, or anything dangerous, contact me through the crystal right away. I’ll pull you out of the dimensional space immediately."
The three men nodded seriously.
Thankfully, the same rules that governed the house also applied to the road—Gara still had full control here.
"Hiyah!"
Madha spurred his horse forward, Fian following close behind. Ares soared above them, wings slicing through the air as he flew low along the path.
"Be careful!" Gara waved after them, watching as if sending them off to war.
The three figures grew smaller... and smaller... until they disappeared.
Gara turned back toward the yard and locked the now-taller gate behind him.
While waiting for their return, he decided to inspect what else had changed within the dimensional space.
Aside from the house itself and the entire area expanding in size, several other changes stood out—the newly built watchtower, the taller and sturdier walls, and the soil that no longer looked as barren as before. But what caught Gara’s attention most was the change in the water source.
As a water-based Liner, Gara was sensitive to water. He could sense the differences in its nature, even if he couldn’t quite explain what caused them.
The water here... it felt closer to the quality of his own water, though his remained far superior. Still, using this water for daily life would definitely bring good effects to everyone living here.
"Could this be related to the ambient energy?" Gara wondered aloud. "But I also feel... spending time inside this dimensional space clears my mind."
He’d noticed it earlier, right after returning from buying the horses. Something about the air here felt... different.
He didn’t know the reason, but one thing was certain—it was a good sign.
Another major change was the small pond beside the house. Yesterday, it had been nothing more than a little water basin, like those found in ordinary backyards.
Now, its size had grown nearly fivefold, turning it into a small lake that stretched across the entire left side of the house.
What amazed him even more was the water quality. It was the same as the one inside the well.
Standing at the edge, Gara looked around, already imagining the next addition. "I’ll add a few benches here... and there... maybe some flowers along that side."
Plop!
A sudden splash interrupted his thoughts. Gara blinked, turning toward the water.
"Fish!"
It wasn’t something falling in—it was a fish jumping out of the water, shimmering under the light before splashing back down.
"Wait, are those the fry Hilda gave me before we left?" Gara’s hazel eyes sparkled in surprise.
It had only been two weeks since they left Falopo Town. There was no way those tiny fry should’ve grown this big already.
"Could it be because of the water?" Gara guessed, grinning wide. "At this rate, I won’t have to worry about protein before winter comes!"
After spending quite a while outside, the chill began to seep into his body. Gara shivered. He still wasn’t used to the cold.
He hurried back inside, where the cozy warmth of the house welcomed him.
In the living room, the triplets were lying on their tummies, giggling softly as they wiggled around.
"Mom has prepared some warm tea." Wina went to the kitchen to fetch the Niskara tea.
Since his hands were still cold, Gara didn’t touch the babies right away.
Only after holding the warm cup for a while, letting the heat soak into his palms, did he dare to gently poke their chubby cheeks.
"You three are so adorable," Gara chuckled.
Wina set the teapot down, her face soft but lined with worry. "Gara... is it truly safe outside?"
Her sudden question wiped the smile off his face.
"I don’t know yet, Mom," Gara admitted honestly. "But everything inside this dimension is under my control. If anything happens, I’ll pull everyone out immediately."
Wina pressed her lips together, still uneasy. This dimensional space was everything—their refuge, their secret. It was the safest place to raise the triplets.
If anything ever threatened it... they would have to change everything.
...