Chapter 266: Disappointment

"Come out!"

Merlin's calm voice rang out as his sharp gaze fixed on a large rock on the beach. He had already sensed the presence of people hiding behind it.

Behind the rock, the two mages exchanged glances. Resigned, the man sighed and said in a low voice, "We've been spotted. No use hiding anymore. Let's go."

The woman nodded, took a deep breath, and followed him as they stepped out from behind the rock.

"Honored mage, we owe you our thanks," the man began sincerely. "We were being targeted by the Two-Headed Infant earlier. Without your intervention driving it away, I fear we wouldn't have survived."

The man's tone was steady and respectful, showing his experience in handling delicate situations. He knew the importance of avoiding any misunderstandings with someone as powerful as Merlin.

"Oh? That creature was called a Two-Headed Infant? Quite an apt name," Merlin murmured. He had never seen such a bizarre monster before, let alone heard of it. It was only now that he learned its name. Judging by the expressions of the two mages, it seemed to be a truly terrifying creature.

The male mage's sharp ears caught Merlin's murmur, and his eyes lit up with a mix of excitement and curiosity. "Might I ask your name, honored mage?"

After a brief pause, Merlin replied plainly, "Merlin."

"Ah, so it's Mage Merlin. It seems you're not from the Cordomansila Archipelago, as you don't seem familiar with the Two-Headed Infant. Might I ask where you hail from?"

Merlin raised an eyebrow at the question but remained composed. "Are you mages from the Cordomansila Archipelago?"

"That's correct. We're from Udunfort, one of the three major factions of the archipelago. I am Mage Jerison, and this is Mage Della."

Merlin nodded silently. His arduous journey had finally brought him to his destination. Meeting these two would make finding the archipelago much easier.

"Jerison, Della, I come from a distant land. My goal was to find the Cordomansila Archipelago," Merlin explained briefly, omitting his true origins. Jerison and Della, however, didn't press for details. Instead, Jerison offered warmly, "That's perfect, Mage Merlin. We'd be happy to escort you to the archipelago. Udunfort, in particular, always welcomes powerful mages from afar. Should you wish to join us, I'd be delighted to make the introductions."

"I'll consider it," Merlin replied. His gaze shifted to the boundless sea ahead, his tone growing somber. "For now, we should leave quickly. The Two-Headed Infant might return, and if it brings more powerful sea beasts, I cannot guarantee our safety."

Jerison nodded vigorously, his face betraying lingering fear. "Yes, let's leave at once. This place is far too dangerous."

The trio wasted no time, swiftly departing from the perilous beach.

---

As they traveled, Jerison kept the conversation going, offering insights into the Cordomansila Archipelago. "Mage Merlin, are you considering joining one of the factions here? It's almost a necessity in the archipelago. Even the strongest mages align themselves with a faction for safety. Without the protection of a faction, surviving the relentless sea beast attacks is nearly impossible."

Merlin listened thoughtfully. While he hadn't made any commitments, he understood the logic. His priority was finding *Lava Soil*, the rare material needed for his magic training. If it could be sourced on the archipelago, he could avoid venturing into the treacherous volcanoes.

"Aside from Udunfort, what other factions exist here?" Merlin asked, recalling Jerison's earlier mention of three major powers.

Jerison was forthcoming. "The archipelago has countless small factions, but only three are true giants: Udunfort, the Gray Feather Alliance, and the Mage's Tower."

Merlin made a mental note of these names. If he had to stay longer on the archipelago, he could evaluate his options for aligning with one of them.

As they traveled, the islands came into view—a vast cluster of land masses connected by narrow passages of water. From afar, it looked as though the islands formed a single entity. The scale was staggering, with thousands of islands stretching as far as the eye could see.

"This is the Cordomansila Archipelago," Jerison said with a hint of pride. "We'll head to the main island first. That's where most factions, large and small, have their headquarters."

Merlin observed the layout closely. The main island's central position, surrounded by smaller islands, made it an ideal defensive stronghold. It was no wonder the major factions chose to establish themselves there.

Upon arriving at the main island, Merlin was greeted by bustling activity. Mages moved about in droves, many greeting Jerison warmly. It was clear he had a good reputation here.

"Welcome to Udunfort, Mage Merlin," Jerison said with a smile. "Have you decided which faction to join?"

"Not yet," Merlin replied. "For now, I'm looking for a place that sells alchemical materials."

Jerison raised an eyebrow. "There is such a place, but Udunfort prioritizes its members. Non-members must pay a premium."

"That's fine. I just want to look," Merlin replied calmly.

Accepting this, Jerison led him to a large shop bustling with mages. A young female mage greeted them at the door, her face bright and welcoming.

"Welcome, esteemed mage. How may I assist you today?"

"I'm looking for *Lava Soil*. Do you have any in stock?" Merlin asked directly.

The woman's smile faltered slightly as she shook her head. "Lava Soil is incredibly rare, even in the archipelago. It's mostly found in dangerous volcanic regions, and few mages risk gathering it anymore. We don't have any here, nor do I believe any other shop on the islands does. However, if you're looking to craft something, I could recommend alternatives—"

Merlin cut her off, his tone firm. "You're saying there's no Lava Soil anywhere?"

The woman nodded. "Correct. It's highly unlikely to find it in any shop. You'd need to gather it yourself."

Disappointment washed over Merlin. After all his efforts to reach the archipelago, to hear that Lava Soil wasn't available was a heavy blow. Was he truly destined to risk venturing into the dangerous volcanic regions?

Sensing Merlin's frustration, Jerison spoke up. "If Lava Soil is what you need, Mage Merlin, joining Udunfort could make acquiring it much easier." His confident smile hinted at resources and connections that could make even rare materials attainable.