【 Chapter 58 】
As we arrived at the entrance of the territory, the ground shook with the sound of hooves, and soon after, the main gate opened.
“Ah…..!”
It wasn’t necessary to explain who it was. The common color horned helmet was the symbol of the Karinen family. Two people were in the front wearing it and speaking, so it was clear that it was my mother and Sister Elga.
“It’s just the right time.”
My mother got off the horse, there was a faint smile on her face as she took off her helmet.
“I’m embarrassed to look like this.”
The cape and armor were all black, so I didn’t know from afar, but when I looked closely, it was a mess with bloodstains. But my father hugged my mother without caring.
“You are getting dirty, Hosiel.”
“You came back safely, is that a big deal? Thank you for your hard work.”
After that… I will skip for the privacy of my parents.
It seemed like their affectionate behavior wasn’t just a one or two-day thing, as the servants and knights were all moving around without paying any attention to it.
Ramande was already headed towards the knights, saying he wanted to see the injured person, and my older sister Elga and I smiled at each other and went inside.
“Thank you for your hard work too, Sis.”
“It was nothing. The monster extermination is almost finished. Especially the path you had to take was very well cleaned up.”
Mother’s remark of “just the right time.” meant this.
There was also good news.
As if to prove the words of the Apostle who promised to spare support, guardians sent in advance from the Flendena Temple or from the Sumander arrived, following the paladin, even though we had not yet made a request.
‘It feels like things will work out well this time for some reason.’
Breathing in the chilly air deeply into my lungs, I confidently smiled to myself. As everything fell into place like gears meshing together, I felt both reassured and a good premonition.
💧
The preparations went smoothly, so the departure date was set quickly. It was the day after we arrived at the main castle.
Winter is a dangerous season, and you never know when an avalanche, heavy snowfall, or a monster attack might occur. It’s common sense to leave quickly when the time comes, so I moved without any complaints.
The problem was Elle.
“Myaaaa.”
Elle, who was hugged by the knight threw a fit and protested against being left behind. The maids kept missing him, so they asked the knight, but he also looked reluctant.
“Be a good boy, Elle. I’ll be right back, okay?”
“Let’s go, Minuelle. It’s better not to see it in front of you.”
“Is—is that so?”
It was when I turned as if running away following Ramande’s advice.
“Meow!”
Like proving the liquid characteristics of cats, Elle slipped out of the knight’s arms and ran towards me. I reflexively opened my arms to catch him as he jumped towards me, but it was a mistake as I overlooked his explosive energy.
Thud!
“Ugh!”
A rocket in the shape of a cat flew into the ship and hit the stomach.
“Ugh. Anyway.”
While Ramande was relieving the shock, Elle kept pacing back and forth near my calves without a break.
“Meow. Myaa…”
I sensed a regretful expression from the sound of the weakened voice compared to before. However, even if that’s the case, I had a feeling that the guy wouldn’t stay calm in the castle.
“…I don’t know you would be this anxious.” Leaving it to the servants felt like he would run off somewhere in the blink of an eye. However, he could not be entrusted to my busy parents. Although I was worried about taking care of him myself, leaving him alone was also pitiful since he disliked being alone.
‘I can’t help it……’
Perhaps I didn’t anticipate what would happen when I picked up Elle. They say traveling with a pet is not easy. I secretly sighed and hugged Elle. Surprisingly, as soon as he came into my arms, I heard him purring happily, which made all my worries disappear.
‘Well, I planned on going in alone during the important moment anyway.’
I’ll leave both my sister and Ramande. I could just leave Elle with them at that time. Elle understands commands well, so I thought it would be fine to leave him with them.
💧
We stayed overnight in a village that was the northernmost point, even in the north.
Our group had rented out the entire inn, so I went down to the restaurant without hesitation as soon as I woke up. Amidst the few people who had yet to come down, I noticed a familiar face.
“You woke up early. The Little Duchess is training outside.”
My mother thought Sister Elga was not enough, so she again attached the Deputy to me.
“It’s been a while, sir. You should be helping Mother, but it seems like I keep getting in the way.”
“Don’t mention it. Following the lord’s will is what a knight does.”
I smiled at the conventional answer and turned my gaze out the window. Sister Elga cleared the snow piled up to her knees and wielded her sword.
“I heard that the monsters came down early due to the snowstorm, so we had to leave the road earlier than expected.”
“The subjugation ended quickly this time because the Grand Duchess was with us.”
“Weren’t you supposed to go together in the first place?”
“Since Miss Elga was recognized as a sub-lieutenant, the Grand Duchess rarely goes on expeditions. Some people think someone should guard the castle just in case.”
However, even without hearing it, I felt like I knew the reason why my mother was with us this time. ‘
For me……’
Irrespective of whether I am in Sumander or Roquette, the true home where our roots began is in Karinen. I felt as if I could grasp the desire to protect the place where I would return. It is a love that has become familiar, like breathing, but sometimes it strikes me unexpectedly in places like this. I tickled Elle’s forehead and took a deep breath to relieve the weight on my chest.
“But I participated in this mission because I personally requested it from my lord.”
“Why? You came out and even brought the knights with you…”
The probability of that happening is low, but if another monster wave were to start while we’re out, then my mother or this deputy would have to command the troops.
“Because…”
The deputy hesitated for a moment, fiddling with his cup before speaking again.
“I was there too, ten years ago.”
There? ‘Ah.’ Without further questioning, I could understand just by looking into his eyes.
‘My mother’s deputy was also one of the knights who guarded the spirit stone.’
But what about it? The deputy told me a long story, sensing my confusion.
“The spirit stone… was briefly stolen about 10 years ago. That’s why it was in our house.”
“So that’s why it was there.”
“Yes. We were in the process of retrieving it and transferring it to a new seal.”
At that time, an unprecedented cold wave swept through the southern region.
Thanks to the quick decision-making of the Emperor, my mother and our knights were able to move quickly, and the surrounding lords also did their best to help, so we quickly returned.
However, even during that short period, an enormous number of people lost their lives.
‘You must have had a hard time.’
I felt like he must have been exhausted and could have missed a small child in that state.
But this kind knight didn’t let it pass. He blamed himself, thinking that if he had opened his eyes a little more or regained consciousness a little earlier, the lord’s child would not have had to suffer for a lifetime. His gaze was fixed on my gloves.
“I hope you feel more comfortable now.”
“Definitely. So, please also make sure that you are at ease now.”
I patted the deputy on the back of his hand with the glove.
“There’s a saying that disasters can turn into blessings. I’ve lived well so far, and I’ll continue to do so in the future.”
“Yes, my lady.”
The deputy smiled as if he were looking at a well-grown child.
Meanwhile, Ramande came down from upstairs, and sister Elga came inside, shaking off her snow-covered boots.
“Minuelle, you woke up early.”
On the other side, a good knight still feels sorry for the child’s pain 10 years ago, and there is a warm Elle in her arms.
This world was beautiful. I made up my mind again.
‘Let’s find a way to restore the power of the spirit and come back.’ I will live well. In this beautiful world.
💧
Even though the snow piled up until the last village, surprisingly, after half a day’s journey from there, the snow disappeared.
The ground, filled with low grass, was only filled with cold winds.
As the wind entered the highlands covered with moss that had been there for hundreds of years, where the grass disappeared and rocks were exposed, it became sharp like ice pellets.
“Are you okay, Minuelle?”
“It’s all right.”
Still, Sister Elga was worried about me in the carriage.
‘I wish I could deliver the heat inside me to the people who are riding outside.’
It was a pity.
The only fortunate thing was that the wind had somewhat calmed down as we crossed the mossy highlands.
“This is…..”
However, all we could see on the ground was red dirt, and the air was a bit humid. As I opened the window and looked outside, the ground rumbled and an enormous column of water shot up in front of us.
“It’s a geyser.”
“It’s wonderful…..”
It was like watching a dragon made of water ascend. At the same time, it dawned on me that we were getting closer and closer to the spirit.
However, the wasteland was not the end of our journey.
Although there were some ice patches here and there on the ground, massive icebergs, bigger than our carriage, appeared, and the road became narrow and slippery.
We could no longer ride the carriage.
Ramande and I got off the carriage after putting on boots with pointed spikes on the soles, and several knights remained behind to guard the carriage.
“Are you okay, Minuelle?”
“I’m all right.”
Like Sister Elga, Ramande also looked the same.
As soon as we came out, her skin turned red, and her eyelashes were covered in ice, but she was the first to express her concern for me.
Fortunately, we didn’t have to walk for long before sister Elga stopped.
“It’s here.”
The entrance of the cave was located as if hidden among huge glaciers.
“I heard that the stone that seals the spirit is placed inside the cave.”
“Well, I… since it’s a fire spirit, I thought it would be in a volcano.”
After climbing up through the cold region for a long time, sister Elga smiled a little at the belated comment.
“There’s always a hottest thing in the coldest thing.”
That was a line in old witchcraft, she said.
After giving me a brief explanation, sister Elga immediately instructed the knights.
“From here on, Minuelle and I will go down, just the two of us. Priest Ramande remains with the knights to prepare for emergencies…..”
“No, sister, wait a minute.”
I quickly grabbed Sister Elga’s arm, looked at everyone, and said.
💧
Thank you for reading!
