HDXD: Omni Harem System-Chapter 38: Following The Map

Adam unfolded the map he took from his pockets, his fingers running along the coarse material as he examined the mark zones and routes. It was an old but large thing, parchment-like, with faded ink and symbols scribbled in a language that most wouldn’t be able to decipher if they dont talk the Monster Language, which took him a while to master since most of the words were written Elderian, the universal language of the Monster World, which was now his mother tongue in this new life.

Fortunately, he could read it just fine, after all, Priscilla and Rakasha taught him how to read and write, and he mastered this world language in a week.

But that aside, his eyes went to the spot, he presumed to be his current location more or less.

"It’s just a close estimate, but I think I am here if I had to guess, which would mean the correct direction that would lead me to Clan Ultima would be across this river, and after you cross it, take a turn right about here, and it will take you to one of the old dirt roads, that is supposed to lead me directly to the clan village gates."

Adam said to himself as he looked at the map Minerva gave him.

And looking at it he could see a rough sketch of the Paffora Forest sprawled before him, its borders stretching far beyond the inked lines. The jagged symbols indicated its hazards, some he already knew firsthand, like the miasma-drenched atmosphere that could outright kill weaker monsters or the abnormally large creatures that lurked beneath its dense foliage. Others, however, were unfamiliar.

One such marking stood out to him, a series of claw-like engravings encircling a particular section of the forest, not too far from where he landed.

The thing is however he has no idea what this was indicating.

"Hmm...

He mumbled to himself as he tapped that very spot lightly with his finger...saying.

"What the hell does this mean?"

Adam said to himself, given that his own instincts were telling him it was a place to avoid, but at the same time... ƒreewebɳovel.com

"Well, knowing my luck, I’ll probably end up there anyway... well let’s just hope I am being paranoid here for some reason."

He sighed before shifting his gaze to the Ultima Clan’s location. The destination was at least a hundred kilometers northeast, deep into the Monster World’s vast, shifting landscapes of the Paffora forest. If he were flying, he could reach it by tonight, no questions asked...but that was out of the question now.

Not with those Aderyns still out there.

Adam grimaced at the thought of those flying monstrosities. He had barely survived their attacks earlier, and while he had healed himself, he wasn’t interested in round two just yet.

"I could try and move along the forest floor...

He muttered, eyes scanning the terrain markings on the map.

"But that comes with its own risks."

Unlike the skies, where the many flying monstrosities reside, the land belonged to many equal horrors. And the deeper he went, the more the map indicated his many possible encounters with some really dangerous Superficials.

This made Adam, hold his head in worry, as he said out aloud.

"The Monster World really doesn’t know the meaning of a safe, huh?"

He rolled up the map, tucking it into his cloak. Regardless of the dangers, staying put wasn’t an option. He needed to move, and he needed to move as quickly as possible.

His eyes darted back toward the shadows between the trees, as a result of so many twisted branches and countless leaves. The eerie, crimson glow of the foliage above cast long, flickering silhouettes over the ground, which kind of freaked him out, to say the least.

Taking a deep breath, he adjusted his stance.

His wings remain out since they can now be weaponized in various ways.

"Alright... Time to go."

Adam said as he began his walk towards the River.

...

...

...

...

...

...

...

...

...

...

...

...

Adam moved through the dense forest with steady steps, his boots pressing against the damp soil, each step muffled by the thick layers of fallen leaves. The Paffora Forest was eerily silent, save for the occasional rustling of branches in the distance.

Meanwhile, the creepy look glowing leaves bathed everything in a deep red glow, making the world around him feel almost otherworldly, he was truly getting that prime isekai experience the only problem was, this felt like he walked into a fucked seinen instead.

But Jokes aside though.

He glanced at the map again, flicking it open with a casual motion. The inked lines and strange symbols were now etched into his memory, but he kept checking anyway, more out of habit than a necessity to be honest, like going to the refrigerator for no reason at all knowing damn well nothing of interest is in there.

Three hours had passed since he started his trek.

And so far? Nothing had attacked him.

That alone was suspicious.

He had expected something to lunge at him by now. A wild beast, some cursed creature lurking in the underbrush, maybe even a stray Aderyn trying to pick off an easy meal. But no, nothing came.

And the silence stretched on, unnatural and tense.

Then came the System’s voice.

『You are being followed』

"And like that, I jinxed it, good job Adam."

He said to himself, given he was just thinking about the unnatural silence.

The system, however, replied to him by saying.

『Hmmm, and it seems to be more than one too, 3... no 8 of them now... yeah this is dangerous』

"Just my luck I guess."

Adam said as if accepting his fate at this moment, on that note, however, he didn’t stop walking, it would just make him easy pickings, more than he already is.

However, Adam soon said, in his mind this time.

’Hmm... alright, System.’

Said Adam inwardly, then he continued.

’I’ll keep walking and act clueless for now. I don’t know what’s following me, but just in case things go south, I’ll set up an air barrier underground so they won’t see it coming if the need arrives when I have to fend for myself. Just keep me updated on their movements, I need to know the moment they make a move. Better safe than sorry after all.’

Upon hearing this, the System then began to respond graciously, as she said.

『Understood』