Several days had passed since we had begun our journey north.
We were attacked by monsters along the way, stuck in rain and mud, and slowed down for various reasons. Still, as of yesterday, we finally entered the region called the North.
Riding a horse was easier than I thought it would be. I didn’t have to pull on the reins, kick him in the flanks, or make a lot of demands, and he just did what I wanted him to do. Somehow, I can communicate better with him than with a human. Either that or the original Elroy was a master equestrian.
“The days are getting longer and longer.”
Georg said. Our rising altitude, combined with the approach of the summer solstice, made the night hours non-existent. We could probably see the sun at midnight in Evernode.
“What time is it now?”
“It’s six in the afternoon. The horses are tired, so we should set up camp nearby, rest, and prepare for the next day.”
I nodded. Looking back, I saw Daphne, Marianne, and the knights and soldiers assigned to escort us on this trip north. I was told this was a way to honor the Northern Archduke for protecting Evernode and reinforce our lack of troops.
“Let’s call it a day and see if we can find a place to camp.”
I said as I halted my horse. The soldiers quickly dismounted, their faces flushed with color. They were good soldiers who didn’t complain. Still, I laughed because I could relate to their excitement at setting up camp on taking a break after a long day of traveling.
“We should have rested sooner.”
I dismounted and stretched my stiff body. People say running is easy, but staying on a horse for hours is strenuous. I could hear my bones creaking with every movement. I tied my horse to a tree and helped set up camp. The knights and soldiers who told me I shouldn’t be doing menial like this now handed me a set of poles.
“Ah, Hero. You’re good at it now.”
“I know. I can do anything after a bit of practice.”
I said with a hint of smugness, and the soldiers put their hands on my shoulders and gestured to their tents.
“While you’re at it, why don’t you help us set up our tents?”
“Piss off, assholes.”
The soldiers chuckled and ran off, and I crouched in front of the completed tent. The bonfire I’d built began to burn bright red, eating up twigs. Early summer. It wasn’t the best weather for sitting in front of a fire, but the lower temperature called for the warmth of a campfire.
“It’s nice that it’s getting cooler the farther north we go.”
The wind was getting cooler as we neared Evernode. The wind carried a different smell. The smell of mossy, wet earth, stones, and cold bark. The scent of the river and resin is also present in the air. All of these things mixed together to create the complex atmosphere of the North.
“The beasts of the North are fierce.”
Georg said as he sat down next to me. I blinked and looked at him.
“Have you ever been to the North?”
“Yes. I’ve been on regular deployments like the knight with us now.”
Georg stared at the pot atop the campfire and poked it with a twig.
“Monsters are much more ferocious in the winter when there is no food to eat, and it was hard to fight them in knee-deep snow, with no peace of mind and no sleep. I am truly thankful that we left in the summer.”
I tried imagining fighting an Ashen Bear, more ferocious than usual. Not a good thing. Then I imagined fighting it without being able to move properly. Definitely not a situation you want to be in.
“We’re done setting up.”
Daphne and Marianne, who had finished setting up camp, came and sat down. We were in an awkward ‘get to know you’ phase. Daphne was slowly warming up to Marianne. Now she seemed to find Marianne’s blandness as amusing as I did.
“Is Elroy cooking today?”
Daphne said, sneaking a peek at the pot. Georg’s assessment was generous, saying, “It is something worth eating.” Marianne, however, couldn’t forget the taste from the last time, so she hid whenever I cooked.
“Yeah. At least it’ll be less adventurous than last time.”
Daphne nodded, glancing nervously at the pot again. Every time I tried something new, I would get mixed reactions. The computer in my head began to organize the big data, slowly working out how to create the optimal stew.
“I think I’ve got a winner here.”
“…You didn’t put anything peculiar in there this time, did you?”
Georg glanced at the stew in anticipation, secretly liking my wild cooking. Daphne didn’t even want to risk looking at it, afraid. The wafting smell isn’t too ominous, but not to my taste. I shook my head and pulled the pot from the fire. I poured a scoop for the three of us.
I shoveled a spoonful of it into my mouth. “Mmm, better than anything I’ve ever made.”
“Not bad.”
“… It’s edible.”
It was a subtle assessment. I’m glad they ate it. We chatted and ate for a while, and Marianne sat down with us at some point. The main topics were Daphne’s progress in training her Fifth Circle and Georg’s tales of his time in the North, which he refers to as “back in my time.”
“So we’re really going to fight the Fourth Disaster.”
Daphne said, staring blankly into the fire. A stack of empty bowls was lying in front of it.
“Do you know what the Seven Disasters are?”
Georg asked, glancing between Daphne and Marianne. Daphne shook her head, unsure, and to my surprise, Marianne spoke up.
“They are the enemy of God and humanity.”
“…Exactly. The Seven Disasters that will destroy the world, remnants of the Mythic Age.”
Georg pointed to his fingers.
“‘Serpent,’ ‘Locust,’ ‘Kraken,’ ‘Giant,’ ‘Mist,’ ‘Meteor,’ and ‘Origin.”
Even all of their names created an eerie aura. The flames of the campfire shook as he named each one.
“The first two, the Serpent and the Locust, were vanquished in the generation before us. The third, the Kraken, was, as you know, vanquished on our last expedition.”
I nodded.
“When we fought the Third Disaster… I realized why they were called world-ending.”
Georg seemed to recall the Kraken encounter.
“Every time it swung its foot, a few ships disappeared. We stood no chance in a battle at sea. However, we dragged it to the docks and fought there. The city was devastated, but we ultimately subjugated it.”
Georg glanced at me as he spoke.
“It was Phyrric victory, wasn’t it?”
“…Yes.”
I nodded, turning my head toward the campfire. It would be best to keep my mouth shut here, but Georg took my silence as a sign of self-pity.
“War requires sacrifice. It was not a war fought against men for greed but a noble fight to protect all of humanity. The people’s deaths that day would not be meaningless.”
‘Deaths I don’t know. Wars I’ve never seen.’ I could only shake my head, unable to answer Georg with words. I could feel Daphne fidgeting beside me. I didn’t have to turn to her to know her expression.
“Well, enough of the gloom and doom. Ask me something else.”
Georg tried to lighten the mood with a cheerful voice. I quickly opened my mouth, not wanting to kill the mood by remaining silent.
“How did you set up camp in the winter? It must have been hard to do anything when everything was covered in snow.”
“I gathered some moss and laid it out and slept on it. I had to keep my body heat from being stolen somehow….”
***
“…Elroy.”
I woke up, rubbing my eyes. It was pitch black around me. Today, I’d be the last to stand watch. I pushed myself to my feet, irritably pushing away Georg’s hand, which was tapping my shoulder. The air is chilly, and my sleeping bag is damp.
“I’m getting out, so stop it.”
I shooed Georg out of my tent, fumbled for my coat, and grabbed my Holy Sword. I pushed the tent’s flap to find Georg standing there, tired and bleary-eyed, holding a lantern.
“I’m here. Anything unusual?”
“Nothing. It’s summer, and the monsters seem to be resting tonight, but don’t sit around and doze off.”
Georg yawned open-mouthed and handed me the lantern. I circulated my mana, completely dispelling the sleepiness. I took the lantern from the bleary-eyed Georg, and he entered the tent. Aside from the occasional hooting of owls and ravens, the night was silent.
I set the lantern down and sat down by the campfire. A few soldiers and knights were standing guard; each lost in their thoughts. I glanced at them and drew my Holy Sword.
(Are you ready?)
“Of course.”
As we set out for Evernode, the Holy Sword gave me two tasks.
“Tasks?”
(The two tasks I will give you are required to unlock the second awakening.)
“Second awakening….”
I drew it and inhaled deeply, then exhaled again. Mana flowed through my body, and time began to slow down around me.
(I said I would train your mind, mana, and body.)
“Yeah. It was fucking hard to strengthen the body.”
(As far as I’m concerned, it’s still far off. Well, this time, it’s not about the body; It’s about your mind.)
The Holy Sword whistled through the air.
(For your first task, tame the crown you received from the Bishop this time so that you can pass the trials.)
“You are terrible.”
(The trials of the crown will be different each time. It will test your very being, so practice using it. The goal is to withstand the backlash of the second awakening.)
“What’s the other task?”
Swish
(Mental strength is not the only way you can train your mind. There is also awareness.)
Swish.
(What I’m asking you to do this time is to develop the skills to harness that power. It is not strength that subdues power, but gentleness.)
Swish.
(Second task. Swing me, and gather a dew on the tip of the blade.)
Swish.
The blade of grass that couldn’t withstand my sword was cut off. I looked at the Holy Sword in dissatisfaction and lowered my arm. I had practiced with the sword every night and whenever I could find the time, but I still didn’t understand its words and the true meaning of this training.
“I still don’t get why I’m doing this.”
(If you’ve realized it in five days, you have talent beyond that of a Grand Swordmaster. I don’t expect that much from you. It took even the most gifted man I’ve seen time to reach that level.)
I stroked its blade, which seemed poised to cut rather than gather dew. Its pure white blade glowed in the light of the campfire.
(You must control every factor, including its sharpness.)
“It’s hard.”
I gripped the sword again and assumed my stance. The night was falling, and I had plenty of time to try things out.
Swish.
I was in the middle of another swing. I heard the sound of blades crunching on grass and felt eyes watching me. I lowered my sword and turned to see an unexpected figure staring at me from across the campsite.
“Marianne.”
Marianne was leaning against the window, her eyes shining like a full moon.
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