Mountain Cabin

The magnificent mountains separating the Kingdom of Turkey from the former Russian territories form the Caucasus Range, stretching far from east to west.

The range is dotted with mountains around 5,000 meters high, has severe terrain, is teeming with monsters, and is poorly suited for human habitation.

Because of the high altitude, it is cool and the air is thin. There are no forests, and the mountain scenery, covered in lush alpine plants, continues endlessly.

As we rode the tiger magic beast steadily northward through the Caucasus Range, we spotted a mountain cabin.

The giant balsam with vivid red flowers planted beside the eaves—a cannon balsam—made it clear that this was some kind of defensive outpost. However, the cannon balsam was visibly wilted, its seed-blasting turret drooping toward the ground.

It was nearly dead. It was stunted to begin with and quite short.

It was no wonder. Cannon balsams grow in lowlands. They could never grow properly at this altitude.

...Wait, could it have been caught in the Octameteorite's monster-repellent effect? Maybe it couldn't flee because it was rooted in place, so it weakened and withered. Hard to say. I have no idea.

"Should we take a short break?"

"Great idea. Let's have lunch while we're at it."...