Mystic Overlord: Reading Gives Strength-Chapter 1260 - 254: The Goatmen

These species that resemble upright goats call themselves the Elsfir people.

For convenience, Ronald subsequently referred to them as the Sheepmen.

According to these Sheepmen, they originally lived in their homeland, leading a simple and stable life.

But then, two years ago, things changed.

In their low-magic world, where even Wizards can only manage simple tricks, suddenly a fiery eruption emerged from a volcano, engulfing everything around in flames.

Many kingdoms fought bravely against this, but being annihilated by the fire elementals was a fate they all shared.

Thus, two years have passed.

Half of the world is shrouded in the crimson shadow of flames.

These Sheepmen captured by the fire elementals are those who couldn't escape in time during migration.

"How did you come to the 'Sky of Four Directions'?" At this point, Riru, who had liberated all the Sheepmen, inquired, "After being caught by the fire elementals, did they take you and leap into that volcano?"

As soon as Riru asked this question, the Sheepman communicating with Ronald hunched over, starting to twitch and tremble.

He recalled the ordeal, taking a while to regain control over his emotions.

"We... after being caught, we were taken all the way to the volcano's mouth and passed through a red ring. Many couldn't keep up and were consumed by them, burned to ashes alive. Some couldn't endure, beaten to death along the way..."

As he spoke, this Sheepman showed Ronald their bodies, revealing hidden scabbed wounds under blackened scars, a fate almost inescapable for all Sheepmen.

Riru's high moral standards made it hard for her to withstand such scenes.

After asking a few more questions, the mermaid pulled Ronald aside, whispering:

"Ronald, what do you think is their purpose in bringing these people here?"

"Based on what the water elementals said earlier, aren't they just planning to rebuild their world's core?"

Hearing the Sheepman's experience under the fire elements, Ronald's expression wasn't much better.

Yet, responding to Riru's inquiry, he steadied himself and shared his conjecture:

"Rebuilding the world core, that is indeed likely without error."

"But Riru, think carefully, what does fire need when it burns?"

Riru responded without hesitation:

"Of course, it's fuel..."

The mermaid's voice abruptly stopped, her last trace of gentle expression turning into a shadow.

"Ronald, you must not be mistaken about this, right?"

Ronald didn't nod directly. Instead, he responded in a subtle tone:

"This is just a guess. To know the actual situation, we can only understand by moving forward."

The atmosphere between Ronald and Riru gradually sank.

And the Sheepman who had just spoken to them managed to control his sorrow and stepped forward to ask:

"What should we do next, sirs?" 𝙛𝒓𝓮𝒆𝔀𝒆𝙗𝓷𝒐𝙫𝒆𝙡.𝒄𝓸𝓶

What should these Sheepmen do?

Hearing this almost pleading inquiry, Ronald was momentarily conflicted.

The Sheepmen were rescued from the fire elementals by Ronald and Riru, yet asking them to escape the 'Sky of Four Directions' on their own was clearly a dangerous and almost hopeless path.

On the other hand, it wasn't possible for Ronald to escort them back!

After all, he was here not to save these innocent beings but to completely sever the connection between the 'Sky of Four Directions' and their world!

Ronald was torn internally, but Riru didn't have such worries. The mermaid stepped forward, speaking in a mature and calm tone:

"Listen, I'll tell you about your current situation."

"The world you're in now is a place called 'Sky of Four Directions,' and the things destroying your world are the fire elementals that brought you here..."

"..."

Riru relayed what she knew.

The leader among the Sheepmen underwent a series of expressions upon hearing her description. Until Riru finally stated their purpose, the Sheepman sat down hard on the ground.

Having survived to be brought into the 'Sky of Four Directions,' he possessed sufficient Wisdom to grasp the current circumstances.

Ronald and Riru, who had saved them, were unlikely to escort them back to their homeland later.

Thinking of this, the Sheepman's spirit collapsed further.

Go home?

Even if they could return, what difference would it make?

Their world had already been scorched nearly half by the fire elementals; even if they went back, they couldn't escape the brutal fate of being entirely burned two years later.

Seeing the Sheepman silently accept such a fate, almost unable to stand, Riru prepared to leave with Ronald.

Although this was her first time personally experiencing such scenes, she knew from the mermaid's adventure records what could happen if this continued. In short, it was better to choose to leave before everything fell apart.

However, at this moment, something unexpected happened to Riru.

Among those 'rescued,' a relatively young Sheepman rushed out, speaking to her and Ronald:

"Sirs, we're going to find a way to survive!"

"I... hope you succeed in achieving your goals and save your world!"

"..."

Riru's expression was one of surprise.

The extremely negative mood she felt was warmed slightly by the Sheepman youth's words.

Subsequently, as the two groups prepared to part ways.

Riru suddenly remembered something!

"Wait, stay for a moment!" The mermaid called out to the Sheepmen, pointing in another direction, "Go this way! If you are lucky enough before being discovered by the fire elementals, you might encounter some steel-built ships."

"Just explain your situation to them, and you'll certainly be rescued!"

"..."

Hurriedly advising the Sheepmen, Riru turned to Ronald, softly confirming:

"Ronald, the place where I inserted the communicator, it should be in this direction, right?"

— I see.

Ronald instantly understood the mermaid's arrangement.

Previously, Riru had inserted her communicator on the dry-land surface, notifying her clan using it as a coordinate, thereby coming into this 'Sky of Four Directions' world to act.

So if these Sheepmen were fortunate enough, they could indeed meet the mermaid's group in that direction, thereby finding a chance in their desperate situation.

Understanding everything, Ronald immediately confirmed.

To his surprise, even without the aid of a spell, Riru was able to pinpoint the most accurate direction using her memory!

"That's right, the direction you indicated is spot on!"

"It's just as precise as my spell confirmed!"

Ronald couldn't help but compliment Riru before turning, advising the Sheepmen before leaving:

"Remember, the dry-land regions are very dangerous."

"Don't lose your way while moving around here!"