"Why are we heading back to the Branch?"

"Because our territory is currently there. It's been stagnant there before I was even born."

"...What?"

The land area of the Branch was colossal-- almost two whole countries that were elongated and put up in a line. He had not yet explored its entirety, but he explored enough to know that there wasn't any single area there that was owned by one single race.

Also, there was the fact that the race of the forest giants was also the minority in the Branch's population; the number of forest giants that have dined in Charlotte's Tavern since Van took care of it could be counted in two hands.

Ironically, the most he had seen them together was... when he massacred the members of the Sleipnir that were waiting for the Branch. But the King did mention that they were a nomadic race, so it somewhat makes sense that they would be staying in the Branch, where they could visit the other realms as much as possible.

But still, Van could not help but wonder where exactly they were staying there.

He and Queen Nori were currently on their way to the Branch, walking casually along with some other giants that also seemed to be heading there. But unlike the others that were either riding on a giant mount or in a colossal cart, the one that was in the royal family was just using her own two feet.

Van had already asked queen Nori why they were just walking instead of using one of the many available carriages that the castle had, but the queen only shrugged her shoulders, saying that it would be faster if they just walked-- that was obviously a lie as another carriage passed by them.

"We live beyond the Mist," Queen Nori then followed, "The border between Midgard and the Branch."

"The... Mist?" Van had been there before; it was even the first thing he explored as he got to Charlotte's Tavern, as it was only a thousand kilometers away. But when he tried to go through the Mist, it felt like he was being encased inside a dense wall the farther he traveled in. But if it was beyond the Mist…

"You live in Midgard?"

"No," Nori quickly shook her head, "I already said we live between it and the Branch. But yes, in Midgard's perspective, our territory would be beyond the highest mountain, unattainable and unclimbable, and ever moving as it is attached to the Branch."

"...I've been told the humans can't travel beyond Midgard-- what happens when they try to pass this… mountain?"

"They die."

"How?"

"They… just die," Nori shrugged her shoulders, "What do you think the mountain is made of?"

"Earth?"

"It's made by all the bodies of humans that tried to leave their Realm and enter the Branch. Over time, it had become Midgard's universal graveyard; they bury and leave their dead there if they could, in hopes that maybe in death, they will be able to leave their Realm."

"I… see."

Van wished to be surprised, but it would seem that no matter what country, world, or universe, people would always want what they could not have. The only difference was that this was on a bigger scale.

"Are you sure there's no need to cover yourself?"

As soon as they got near the Branch, Van immediately stopped Nori from walking further in. However, once again, Nori only shrugged her shoulders.

"Do you really think anyone would recognize me like this?" Nori then spun as she walked, presenting her clothes and gesturing to herself. Unlike the fully embroidered gown she was wearing back in the castle, her clothes now were just like any of the other giants that passed by them.

She also had a pair of daggers dangling around her waist, completely making her look like an adventurer instead of someone that held a prominent position in the kingdom. Van could only stare at Nori as she continued to spin in place; more and more she was looking more like…

"You really do resemble Artemis, Queen Nori."

"That…"

Nori stopped showcasing her clothes as she quickly straightened her walk. She still did not believe that Van could be the father of the first forest giants. How could he? He was too small.

Even though she had always been told by her elders that she held the same face as Artemis, she had never actually seen her once personally. But there were legends and rumours that Artemis was as tall as a mountain-- a giant amongst giants.

For her, it was impossible that Van and she could have children.

She needed to know the story behind Van and to finally prove to herself that he was indeed lying. Yes, this was the only reason why she came with Van-- to prove that he was lying. It wasn't because there was this sudden urgency within her, urging her to help Van in this senseless adventure.

"You know, if you tell the Elders the same thing you've been telling me, you will truly get their anger. I also do not believe you, I am just trying to be civil about it-- but the Elders? They will see this as a mockery of our existence. Even if you are a High Human, they will not overlook-- Are you listening!?"

Queen Nori could not help but hasten her steps as she saw Van walking way ahead of her, not even showing her any respect that one should expect as a queen. But no matter, if the Elders do indeed get angry, at least she was there to stop them.

Although it was brief, when her husband tried to challenge Van to a spar, the killing intent Van released truly was the heaviest pressure she had felt in her life; and seeing as the brave King Raufey, who fought toe-to-toe with an Aesir, backed out from the fight, he too knew that Van's strength was no joke.

She only wished that nothing drastic would happen in their stay there. And finally, after a few more moments of random thoughts circling her mind, they reached the Mist.

"...Where to now?"

Van stretched his hand inside the Mist, but instead of just cold air, it felt as if he dug his hand through thick mud, "Can we survive passing through this? The last time I tried to pass through here, I almost suffocated to--"

Before Van could finish his words, he saw Queen Nori nonchalantly stepping into the Mist. And after a few seconds, her hand emerged from the fog.

"..."

"What are you waiting for?" Nori's voice echoed from the thick fog, "Grab my finger. The Mist is a maze, you'd drown in its air if you took a wrong step. But I guess for your size, a certain leeway is given."

"..."

Van's eyebrows could not help but twitch as he heard Nori's words. For a queen, Nori's demeanor was truly unexpected. But alas, he chose her as her guide, there wasn't going back now.

And so, with a short but deep sigh, he could only use his [Air Step] to grab hold onto Nori's finger… quickly climbing onto her shoulder.

"H… hey! I didn't say you could go there!" If they were in any other place, then she would have definitely swatted Van away; but since they were inside the Mist, Van would be in danger if he gets separated from her.

"It's better this way," Van said as he relaxed. Since Nori's head was half the size of Van's body, there weren't any problems with him sitting on her shoulder. Of course, Nori would disagree, but the only thing she could do was sigh as she continued to navigate her way through the Mist.

A second.

A minute.

An hour.

Van had no idea how much time had passed since they entered the Mist, but he knew that Nori should have taken more than a thousand steps right now. From Charlotte's Tavern, Midgard already seemed near, but it would seem that he keeps on underestimating just how far it truly was.

He could feel himself dozing off--

"Don't you dare fall asleep on my shoulder, High Human Van!"

"...I'm wide awake."

"That is good," Nori then picked up Van from her shoulder, "Because we're here."

Van's eyes then fixated on the front as Nori dropped him on the ground and the view that welcomed him…

...was that of a massacre.

"W… what happened here?"

Nori's stuttered words echoed throughout the air, above the darkened blades of grass that cushioned the bodies of the several giants that scattered themselves in the field.

Van immediately readied himself for any upcoming attacks, but it would seem it was unnecessary, as the only living thing that could be seen for miles were the two of them.

"Nori, look over there."

Nori then quickly looked towards where Van was pointing to, only to see a much smaller corpse sprawled on the ground.

"That… is that a human?"

It was. And it was not the only corpse belonging to a human in the field-- there were thousands, probably more. As far as the eyes could see, there was a human corpse.

"War," Van muttered, "A war happened here."

"H… how!?" Nori's stuttered screams once again echoed through the empty air, "The humans are not capable of leaving their Realm!"

"..."

Nori is wrong. There was one human who was capable of leaving Midgard… and it just so happened that he also has the capability to teleport anyone with him-- Charles Gates.

And that could only mean one thing…

...his friends were involved in this.