Book 5 Chapter 21
Chapter 123
“This way!”
Arriving at Junghyebu (中暳部), we followed Kilan’s guidance and boarded a hoist that would take us up the wall.
As Kilan pulled the lever, *Kiggiging*… the hoist ascended with the sound of chains winding, and the buildings of Junghyebu gradually became smaller beneath our feet.
The wall, where twilight had already begun to fall, was glistening with a gloomy purple light.
“Let’s part ways here for now. We’re heading straight to Seogyumun.”
<The Snow Spirit Great Wall> had one headquarters and four branches.
Seogyumun in the west, Baekbon in the center, and Changdongmun (昌東門) in the east. Junghyebu was a branch located between Seogyumun and Baekbon, with Eungakman flowing right beside it.
Following the waterway of Eungakman upstream, one could reach Ravenfell, a city where beastfolk gathered, and crossing that waterway led to the battleship base.
“Kilan, can’t we open the gate here?”
“Probably not… there are too many members here, and if we open the gate, Baekbon would notice immediately.”
Kasena bit her lip as if disappointed.
There were two reasons why that was the case. One was that this was the closest gate to Ravenfell. And Seogyumun was…
“Isn’t that place practically abandoned? Even if we cross there, it’s not Imperial territory, but Trident Point.”
Indeed, it was. Beyond Seogyumun lay Trident Point, a barren land considered a sacred ground for adventurers.
This trident-shaped cape, almost split between the Northern Empire and Bukhae (北海), was a land of despair where countless abyssal labyrinths lurked.
The familiar faces of friends, Rem and Bart, who had suddenly been called to that place, flashed before my eyes… but I shook my head, chasing them away.
“Young lady, right now we should focus on the significance of opening the wall gate. Kilan must be doing her best to help.”
“I know that, but…”
As the hoist rattled and stopped its ascent, Kilan, who had skillfully crossed onto the wall, extended a hand and helped us up one by one.
Again, a decadent gust of wind blew from Harvadonia, making it feel as if my breath was being squeezed. In that cold wind, the frozen wall created a mysterious sight, dividing the world of light and the Empire of Darkness in a straight line.
It was an impressive experience, one I wished to keep in my heart, but there was no time for admiration.
“Ready?”
“All done.”
The wolves who had descended first had securely woven sturdy planks with chains, completing preparations to lower the two of us beyond the wall.
“Kilan.”
What caught my eye then were the trebuchet catapults regularly placed on the wall.
“Could you place the plank on top of that?”
“What?”
“I want to shorten the time as much as possible.”
The wolves looked at me with questioning eyes, but Kilan, who had been studying the catapult for a moment as if gauging it, seemed to realize my intention and widened her eyes.
“Aha, you’re going to use it that way?”
“Yes.”
“Indeed, Archduchess Madellia, as difficult as she is, would certainly mark you as a potential son-in-law. Bold and clever.”
Kasena, who had been nodding along, thinking Rain was being praised, suddenly shrieked and slapped Kilan’s back.
The plan was this: to fly through the air with the power of the catapult, then use wind magic to create a tailwind and a platform to fly as far as possible.
As the members placed the plank on the catapult’s launch platform and securely fastened the ponies we would ride, Kilan grabbed my arm.
“If Alakish-nim didn’t see illusions, and if you didn’t hear illusions… remember this, Rain. You must never fight that monster head-on, never.”
“Why not?”
“Shar’kas is one of the Five Archons (五本位), the five feudal lords who served the Spider Lord. That means he is a divine subordinate who received divinity from the king.”
Gonanggong (公黫公), Husin-gyeong (侯吲卿), Baekdoryeong (伯道令), Jaunyeo (子澐女), Namdongja (男童子)… among these, Baekdoryeong’s true name was Shar’kas.
Legend had it that he was sealed by the Black Sun Karenden in the last battle.
How he was released and awakened was unknown, however…
“Rain, understand? You must never fight, never. The opponent is a god.”
White mist broke from Kilan’s lips as she repeatedly urged me, as if asking for a promise.
“Kilan, I’ll keep that in mind.”
Kilan, who had patted my shoulder worriedly, flicked Kasena’s forehead and gave a wry smile, as if to say she was incorrigible.
“You won’t listen even if I tell you it’s dangerous. Nothing’s changed, then or now.”
Rain had also intended to leave Kasena on the wall, but there was nothing he could do as her will was too strong.
– I’m going to meet Alakish too. If you try to stop me, I won’t let you off!
If the hierarchy had been as clear as with Turayna, he would have given her a hard flick and left her behind… but the caste system had its own difficulties.
“Alright, it’s all done now.”
Kilan finally nodded, and we mounted our ponies’ saddles.
“Then, I wish you good fortune.”
The wolves saluted us, then cut the rope holding the counterweight with a single stroke.
As the catapult’s upright post slammed against the horizontal beam and its arm began to trace a large arc… Kasena’s hand, gripping my back from behind the saddle, tightened.
And the next moment, after feeling the acceleration that sent blood rushing to my head, Harvadonia, the Tomb of Eternity, unfolded vaguely beneath my feet.
‘I prevented my eardrums from rupturing due to pressure difference with wind magic… now I need to focus on creating a tailwind and updrafts.’
The launch angle was northwest, in other words, a direct line across Eungakman to the battleship base. Kasena, who had been looking around with a dazed voice, suddenly cried out.
“Rain, look!”
Perhaps because the dusk had begun to deepen, a long, winding procession of torches leading all the way to the battleship base immediately caught my eye.
Pipi succeeded…
It should have been a moment to breathe a sigh of relief, but when I looked at where Kasena pointed next, my mouth wouldn’t close in astonishment.
“It’s a blizzard…”
From the north and the east, a fierce blizzard, its contents unknown, was raging and chasing the line of torches.
Shar’kas’s undead smelled the living…
The north must be the great army of the dead, and the east must be Baekdoryeong himself. Had Alakish already joined the beastfolk? I could only pray that he had.
“Hold tight!”
The pure white snowfield slowly approached before my eyes. Larger, even larger.
The landing spot was precariously on the opposite bank just beyond Eungakman, a distance that would take roughly two or three hours to reach the battleship base according to Kilan’s explanation.
Finally, as the plank struck the ground violently and snowflakes scattered wildly, the startled pony bolted forward.
“Northwest from here! Keep running!”
These ponies, which the white wolves were said to have bred using special methods since childhood, could run on snowfields without any trouble.
‘But…’
No matter how good they were, they seemed to have their limits; while their feet didn’t sprain or slip on the snow, their speed was inevitably slow.
The moment I thought that, I felt intense heat, and a dragon’s flame brushed past my head, powerfully extending forward.
Alakish? For a moment, startled, I looked back, but it was Kasena, smiling proudly from behind.
“I’ll make a path! Rain, save your magic power! You’ll have to fight that bad guy!”
I couldn’t help but give a faint smile. It felt like just yesterday she was a complete novice magician, but after being taught by Alakish, she had become quite reliable.
She also seemed to have completely mastered the method of filtering the abyss with magic power to breathe…
As the snow melted from Kasena’s flames, a firm dirt ground appeared, and the horses’ hooves powerfully kicked off the surface, galloping west and further west.
“Rain!”
How long had we run through the thicket? By the time the starlight poured down brilliantly, the surrounding forest suddenly ended, and the view opened up wide.
In the distance, I could see a colossal shipwreck, indescribably huge, stuck in the snowfield, emitting a faint light like a lighthouse.
“Wow, that’s the battleship base (兵船基地; Battleship Base)…”
And in front of it, beastfolk were passing in a long line, when two young beastfolk warriors urgently blocked our path.
“Just a moment! Don’t attack! It’s us!”
“You are…?”
As I hastily replied, someone waved from further down the line and ran towards us, and the warriors respectfully stepped aside.
It was Beduwel, the chief of the Durankus Tribe, a beastfolk with a dark brown fox face.
As I pulled the reins to stop the horse in front of him, Beduwel extended a hand covered in bushy fox fur, and we each grasped it.
“You’re both safe, truly, truly fortunate. It’s the grace of the gods.”
It was a warm voice and a warm touch. My chest trembled with emotion, but there was no time to hesitate.
“And you, Chief? Where is Peach? And Griffion and Baruzen?”
“They’re at the back. The undead are still chasing us, so most of the warrior corps is guarding the rear. Your sun parrot is there with them too.”
So they knew the undead were chasing and had formed a solid line… it was a point where I could finally breathe a sigh of relief.
“What about Frisvia? Is her human adventurer party helping too?”
“No, they’re just keeping them from getting close to the battleship base, not helping… But where is Alakish-nim? I thought he was coming with you.”
“What? He hasn’t arrived yet?”
I thought he would have already joined the beastfolk… Cold sweat broke out on my back. Was he seriously injured and recuperating somewhere else in a hurry?
“It seems you split up. Then it’s natural I wouldn’t know. Given Alakish-nim’s temperament, he must have gone straight to the rear.”
Thanks to those words, I was able to push away the ominous thoughts filling my head and nod. Kasena pointed at the wall.
“We decided to open the wall gate! If you go to the west, towards Seogyumun, they’ll open the gate for you!”
Then, amidst the beastfolk who had gathered to listen, exclamations close to tears burst out.
Some beastfolk prayed to the gods, while others hugged each other; most were those who, with strong human traits remaining, couldn't become warriors, or were the old, the weak, or children.
Kasena seemed to be happy at having brought such joy, but then she bit her lip as if she was sorry and didn’t know what to do.
“I’m sorry… but beyond there isn’t such good land.”
“Hmm?”
“It’s a place called Trident Point… but Rain and I will definitely take you to Imperial territory…!”
Then Beduwel took Kasena’s small hands in both of his, holding them tightly, and gently shook his head.
“Don’t worry, and don’t be sorry. We are descendants of warriors who have fought in this Harvadonia. Such a place holds no fear for us.”
“…!”
“Rather, you deserve our thanks. Infinite gratitude to the gods who sent you to us, and may the grace of the gods be with you.”
After Kasena wiped away her tears and nodded, the beastfolk began to move again.
When I had seen them earlier, they were walking wearily, exhausted from a forced march, but now their footsteps gradually quickened, and soon they began to walk almost as if running.
After watching that sight with a certain pride for a while, I turned my horse towards the battleship base. Now, I had to lure the number one adventurer to the battlefield.
“Hmph, that kid miraculously returned alive. I thought the wolves would tear her throat out on the wall.”
On the deck of the battleship base, Frisvia, who witnessed Rain and Kasena approaching, raised an eyebrow as if amused.
“Hmm~.”
She stroked her chin as if contemplating something, then immediately gave orders to the adventurer party members who, equipped with optical equipment, were blocking the beastfolk’s approach at the battleship base’s entrance.
“Let those two into the base. I’ll slit their throats instead of the wolves.”