After planning the journey via Astana Mountain and the Northland, one of the worries was the cold. If Iel couldn't withstand the chill, Ran was even considering changing the route.
"If Orvik is the coldest place in the Western Continent, then Igraine is the coldest in the East. I'm used to the cold."
Iel, following behind, spoke up. Ran adjusted his stride to help her keep pace.
'Now that I've actually co inside, it's not as cold as I thought.'
The origin of the biting wind in the northern regions is commonly known to be Astana Mountain.
From the entrance and nearby, it was as cold as expected. The frigid wind whipped from all directions. But after going a little deeper inside, the temperature felt surprisingly milder.
'The mystery of nature.'
People believe that Astana Mountain is a barrier created by the gods to divide the continent and Northland.
It is taboo for humans to recklessly explore the domain of the gods. Thus, there is almost no concrete information known about the mountain, only countless rumors and legends abound.
During his days as a Quersa priest, Ran had also pored over many books in search of knowledge about Astana Mountain. But in the end, he hadn't found anything useful.
Humanity is not only far from conquering Astana Mountain—they haven't even entertained the thought.
"The terrain on the Igraine side is so rough you can't even get in at all. So I've always wondered what the scenery inside the mountain is like."
Iel chatted away. Ran listened while carefully examining the terrain.
"How do you plan to get from Northland to Igraine?"
It's impossible to go directly to Igraine through Astana Mountain. Although the whole mountain range is generally steep, the eastern part bordering Igraine has the highest altitude. It's impossible for humans to climb.
"We'll have to cross the North Sea."
Northland is a peninsula connected to Astana Mountain. Ran planned to enter Igraine from Northland by boat.
He'd seen a record in the Quersa archive that the ancient Northland barbarians had invaded Igraine by way of the North Sea.
"Eek!"
Startled by the scream, Ran whirled around. Iel had stepped into a hollow and nearly fallen.
"Sorry! I was spacing out for a second?"
Iel quickly put on a brave face again.
Ran sighed with relief but also felt a twinge of guilt. As Camus had said, it might have been better for Iel to hide away in Rel.
Of course, iel hadn't wanted that.
Ran took a mont to catch his breath and unfolded the map.
"There's a village nearby, it says."
"Huh? There's a village out here?"
"Hmm, looks like a mountain village."
No matter how he thought about it, this didn't seem like an environnt fit for people to live.
"We're heading toward the coastal region anyway, so there's no harm in stopping by."
The map's records were fairly detailed up to this point. Ran chose the safest path possible. There were not only winding slopes but also wide, flat trails.
After a short walk, the two sat down and had a al.
"It doesn't feel like we're in the mountains."
Iel murmured as she looked around.
The thick bushes and dense trees blocked even the sight of the mountain ridge, making it feel almost like a quiet forest.
This alone was awe-inspiring enough, a testant to the deep and vast wonder of Astana Mountain.
"You said you were the twelfth princess?"
Ran chewed a piece of dried fruit as he spoke.
"Yes. Ah, and please speak comfortably. I'm relying on you for my life, after all."
It was sothing he hadn't even considered. Ran cleared his throat awkwardly.
"Igraine must be in chaos then. With the princess missing."
"? Maybe. Who knows."
Iel often grew somber when matters of the House of Igraine ca up. Ran even felt bad about asking further.
"I heard the story. You are an inquisitor, Ran."
"I used to be, but not anymore."
"That's a relief. Honestly, I was a little scared. You always hear that inquisitors kill people indiscriminately. Especially demons?"
This ti Ran's expression darkened. He himself had never killed anyone carelessly, but it was hard to deny.
"I never told you, but I'm a half-blood. My mother is a demon."
"Sorry. Actually, I already knew that."
"Did you."
"Are your other siblings all half-bloods too?"
"Oh, no, just ."
The details surrounding Igraine's lockdown of their domain are unknown.
Ran briefly thought it might have been in protest against the Emperor's use of demons, then let the notion go.
'I'll figure it out gradually.'
The two set off again.
On the map, the village of Tohore was close by. Ran stayed alert just in case sothing happened.
'Only one sword left now.'
His once full belt now felt light. Seven swords had broken along the way. Even though these weren't the very best, they were much better than standard army weapons.
'Never know when we'll run into the pursuit squad again.'
The pursuit squad is made up of the Emperor's elite guard. He couldn't keep responding with improvisation like he had with the Special Unit.
On top of that, rebel remnants who had fled from the battlefield were also hiding in the mountains. The fierce barbarians of Northland openly showed their hostility toward the Empire. They were a truly unpredictable threat.
He would have to fight all of them.
'I have to protect Iel too. This won't do. I need weapons.'
Ran gripped the hilt tightly. Even this one might break at any mont.
Sssst!
There was the sound of a large snake slipping quickly past. A bad premonition struck him.
Ran turned his head urgently. His gaze moved upward.
"Kyaa! Ran!"
Iel was caught in a net and being hoisted up as high as a nearby tall tree. The leaves covering the cord on the ground scattered like dust. Distracted by his thoughts, he had missed the concealed trap.
"Iel! Don't panic! I'll get you down right away!"
It was an artfully constructed trap. The ropes were rigged to act as pulleys all around.
If he cut the wrong rope, she would fall from a dangerous height. Ran surveyed the structure of the trap, searching for a key rope and grabbed it.
Kaang!
Ran instinctively drew his sword. Sothing targeted him and shot past like an arrow. The vibration traveled belatedly down the blade.
'? Behind—!'
Before he could even size up the situation, another strike followed.
Luckily, he blocked it in ti again.
Kaang!
The impact was heavier than before.
The force of the trailing wind pushed Ran's hair forward.
Ran slowly looked that way. He had nearly been caught by such a lowly ambush. His eyes glead with indignant fury.
As soon as he turned his head, Ran was startled.
'A k-kid?'
She was so short, she barely reached his waist and her fra was small. Her face was covered with a red bird mask.
"Hoh, I thought you were a beginner, but—"
Ran gaped in surprise. It was unmistakably an old woman's voice.
"What a sha."
The mysterious old woman bent her already small body even lower.
She raised the tip of the horizontally held sword case slowly upward. Her wrinkled hand rested on the hilt.
"Goodbye, handso young man."
She charged straight at Ran. The mass of leaves in her wake scattered in the air.
Whoosh—
It was as light as a feather. In the blink of an eye, the attack was over.
She stood a good distance past Ran with her back to him. An empty wind blew between them.
Tsk.
She sheathed her sword case. Her posture remained perfectly composed.
Thud.
Ran's sword snapped in two. His trembling eyes checked the cut. It was chillingly clean.
"You blocked Magnolia Sword Draw. You're no ordinary one, are you?"
"Who are you?"
The mont their swords touched, the glimpse he saw had nearly thrown off his stance.
A white flower had appeared and disappeared before his eyes.
She removed her red bird mask. As expected, she was a pleasantly round-faced grandmother.
"A few years ago, I had several nas. But these days, I'm just Umi."
"If you're going to keep fighting, co at . If not, then release that child."
Ran pointed at Iel. She was dangling mid-air, caught in the net.
Umi narrowed her eyes.
"Who are you two? I won't let you go until I know."
"You don't get to make that choice. That's up to ."
Ran threw away the remaining half of his sword and picked up the empty scabbard. It could serve as a club. If you lack teeth, use your gums.
Umi folded her short arms and scoffed.
"You've got spirit! I like you more and more. No need to bluff. Soone like you should know, shouldn't you? That you have no chance."
"Don't know about that. Anyway, co at again. When it cos to work, I don't differentiate between young or old—so keep that in mind."
Ran flicked the scabbard back and forth.
After going through the Zima family and the Special Unit, he'd learned to depersonalize himself for a mont. Though he still had no resistance to the aftereffects, by now he could bear it.
"Just answer this. What's your relationship with the child?"
"? rcenary, employer."
"Hahaha, good. Fine."
Umi toddled off sowhere. The trap holding Iel gradually descended.
Ran checked on Iel. Thankfully, she wasn't hurt. Iel's small nostrils flared as she tried to hold back tears.
"If you're all right, I'd like to invite you to our village."
Umi, who had been silently watching, finally spoke.
* * *
'So this is Tohore Village?'
There were remnants that showed it had once been a village. There were squat, oddly-shaped houses clustered together.
"Feels rather empty, doesn't it?"
Umi, leading the way, said. With her hands behind her back, she walked lightly on her short legs.
"I never thought there'd be a village in the mountains."
"Decades ago, we used to interact often with Orvik. Now, it's all just mories."
Even at a glance, the village was small. It was closer to a tiny, remote mountain hamlet than a proper village.
Sothing unusual quickly stood out.
In front of the door of each of about twenty hos, there was a sword stuck in its scabbard.
As he walked, Ran picked up a wooden tag hanging from the sword hilt. There was an inscription in ancient script.
'The master of the Plum Blossom Swordsmanship had, as I imagined, a delicious backside. Now he's a part of . May he rest peacefully within ??'
It didn't make any sense. He thought he must have misread it due to an error.
The empire's territory is vast, and its history long. Accordingly, each region has its own local languages that have been passed down or lost over ti. All the more so here, in the remote Astana mountains.
"Heh heh, you can read it? That's sort of a mortuary tablet. It's an old Tohore tradition. They stick the sword the deceased used in their lifeti in front of their house."
Ran inspected a few more swords on his own.
His approaching face was expressionless.
"Are you the only one in the village?"
"It ended up that way. A long ti ago."
"That must be lonely."
"I've grown used to it."
Umi led them to her house.
At least soone lived here, as the place felt warm inside.
"It's a little amazing. I can't believe we'd et soone here."
Iel smiled awkwardly. She couldn't even imagine living alone in a place like this, so there was much she wanted to ask, but it didn't seem wise to speak rashly.
Ran looked around the house indifferently. It was ordinary, nothing special.
"Is there any place in the mountains where other people live together?"
"I've only ever lived here, so I don't know, but I wouldn't be surprised if there was. What's the big deal? There's sunlight, wind, water, food."
Umi grumbled from the narrow kitchen connected to the single room.
"People from outside the mountains are so troubleso. They say strange things without understanding."
Iel nodded apologetically.
Ran, his eyes darting, asked.
"May I ask about the geography of this area?"
"Where are you trying to go? Orvik?"
Ran didn't answer. Hiding his purpose had beco habit. Since they were on the run, there was no advantage in revealing it.
"We can talk later. But since you're guests for the first ti in ages, I'll have to prepare a big al."
With that, Umi stepped outside.
Iel nervously whispered as soon as she was gone.
"Ran, I made a mistake earlier, didn't I?"
"Mistake?"
"Yes. I was worried my words sounded like people can't live in a place like this. Well, actually, that's not entirely untrue..."
In truth, she'd nearly died from the trap, but she was instead worrying about Umi.
The two, with their starkly different levels of empathy, briefly looked at each other.
"? Iel. Until we reach Igraine, you have to trust and follow no matter what. And don't stray from my side."
"Okay? O-okay."
Iel watched Ran closely.
Umi finally returned after so ti, carrying a bundle wrapped in cloth.
"Just a bit longer. I'll prepare you a hearty al."
Ran's brows furrowed as soon as he saw Umi. He felt a wave of nausea surge up.
-------------= Clacky's Corner -------------=
Umi is a cannibal???
【ദ്ദി(⩌ᴗ⩌)】
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