198. North Road (4)
#198
Accompanying Caravel Sangdan was a better decision than expected. The upper level, which had grown significantly over the past two years, provided mercenaries with better bedding and meals than most inns.
Even Rundalian. In other words, safety was guaranteed as long as the road connected by the system continued, so each day was comfortable enough to be considered a sightseeing trip.
It was the afternoon of the fourth day since the journey began. Even though it was summer, the air was getting cooler. Ronan frowned at her at the sight of the meat skewers cooking in front of the bonfire.
“Hey, who cut the meat into such large pieces? “Am I a lion?”
“It’s okay as long as it tastes good. And instead of slicing it, it was torn by hand and put together.”
“Anyway, if I only like strength…”
Ronan shook his head. The meat dumplings, which were the size of an adult’s fist, seemed like a dish made for beasts like Varen and Jaipa rather than humans.
When Marya was on duty, this kind of dish was always served. Handling the muscular boar meat like it was clay with her bare hands was something only she could do among these. Marja picked up one of her skewers and held it out to Ronan.
“Be loud and open your mouth. Oh~”
“anyway.”
Ronan grumbled, but eventually opened his mouth and took a bite of the meat. It was physically impossible for him to take it in one bite, so he had to take small bites like an apple. Ronan, who had been muttering quietly, nodded his head.
“···It’s delicious.”
“Hehe, right?”
It was unexpectedly soft and the seasoning was excellent. Marya, grinning, slapped Ronan on the shoulder. Her behavior was so natural that I thought she was already dating. As she sat still and watched, her Adeshan bit her lower lip.
“Uuuh…”
Adeshan had been painfully aware of his childhood friend’s strategic advantage that Eri had explained to him over the past few days. Even though the psychological distance was close, it was too close. Sometimes I wonder if they’re doing it on purpose. Suddenly her eyes met hers and Marya opened her mouth.
“That’s right, you eat it too.”
“I-I’m fine. “I’m not really hungry right now.”
Adeshan waved his hand. Maybe it was because my stomach was sore, but I couldn’t think about food much. Then her Ronan pulled out one of her skewers that was in front of her and held it out to her.
“Don’t do that, just eat it. “This is quite delicious.”
“Ro, Ronan?”
Adeshan’s eyes widened. A piece of meat the size of an apple remained in front of his eyes. It was an action whose meaning was self-evident.
“Well, then… just one bite.”
She closed her eyes tightly and bit into the meat. Ronan held her stick until she removed her mouth. It tasted better than she expected. Adeshan covered her mouth and she was amazed. Ronan giggled at her childlike reaction.
“It’s delicious, right?”
“huh. delicious.”
Adeshan laughed bitterly. It seemed as if the pain accumulated over the nine days was melting away. Because events like this sometimes occur, I was able to avoid having a nervous breakdown or going crazy. Suddenly, Ronan’s shiny mouth caught her eye.
“Oh, there’s oil on it. “Wait a moment.”
“What?”
Adeshan suddenly approached him and wiped his mouth with a handkerchief. Ronan paused for a moment as his face got closer. The eyes between the dark eyelashes were a beautiful gray color.
‘Oh sir. ‘Why am I like this?’
Ronan, feeling strange, avoided his gaze. It was a symptom that developed recently. Ade Shan removed her face only after thoroughly wiping away her grease.
She was used to being taken care of, so she didn’t realize that this was as drastic an action as putting food in her mouth. Marya, who was looking at the two people in turn, smiled meaningfully.
“Oh my…”
Anyway, the journey continued. Every time the carriage wheels rolled north, the surrounding landscape became more and more desolate. Ronan and Adeshan were sitting facing each other, admiring the slowly moving scenery outside. Ronan stretched out his arm and pointed to the snowy mountain rising in the distance.
“Going beyond that is the Tukan Plateau. It’s very, very close to the home of the damn wild werewolves. “You have to be careful because they will eat it regardless of whether it is a person or an animal.”
It was also where Rundalian, the destination at the top, was located. Adeshan tilted his head.
“Yes. thank you. “But how did you know that?”
“I’ve been rolling there for almost a year. “At the command of someone who looks just like my senior.”
“···huh?”
“just joke.”
Ronan laughed as he reflected on his past life. The place where I first received orders from Adeshan, who was a colonel at the time, and where I first met Marya, who was Count Armalen, was the Tucan Plateau.
Looking back, the mission was a truly miserable experience for mining development and imperial expansion. I came here covered in werewolf blood, but there was no water to wash, so I ended up rolling around in the snow. It was a place where many of the comrades of the punitive forces died.
‘I hope I can get through it without a hitch this time.’
I just hoped it wouldn’t be as intense as it was then. Since this was a long time in the past, the power of those furry creatures would not be as strong as before.
On the night of the next three days, the Caravel ship crossed Astan, the starting point of winter. The land where the snow had not yet melted greeted them. The howl of the wolf, heard every night when the moon rose, told them they were heading in the right direction.
***
The sun has set. No stars or moon could be found in the cloud-filled night sky. The procession at the top stopped with the sound of a bell at the head. Duon’s voice rang out loud.
“We’ll camp here today!”
A plain covered with snow stretched out towards my son-in-law. In the distance, the Rundalian lights shimmered like stars floating on the ground. This was the Tukan Plateau that we entered five days after leaving Astan.
The drivers tugged on the reins as if they were waiting for those words. Twelve wagons formed a circle and prepared to camp. When the carriage came to a complete stop, the merchants and mercenaries stretched and got off the carriage.
“Ahaaaam… will it arrive tomorrow?”
“As long as the ice dragon doesn’t suddenly come and freeze the entire top. “I wish things would just go on like they are now.”
“Damn, they sell beer at least in Rundalian, right? “Even furries drink alcohol.”
All of them had fatigue on their faces. Even though there was nothing to do and the welfare was good, guarding the top was arduous in many ways. Not only did I have to be on guard as I took turns, but there was a very high chance that the enemy I would face would not be human.
“What?”
Ronan, who had been wary of his surroundings until the very end, jumped off the roof of the carriage. As she took a deep breath, a cold wind filled with snow swept through her lungs. He said, looking back at Adeshan.
“It’s finally tomorrow.”
“Yes… you had a hard time.”
Dark shadows were cast over the faces of the two people. They knew better than anyone else how dangerous beasts that harbor hostility toward humans were.
The biggest thing that happened over the next five days was that a golden eagle mistook the bald mercenary’s head for a rock and dropped a rabbit on it, but Ronan and Adeshan did not let go of their tension. Marya wiped her eyes and hugged the two people.
“It’s a good thing I brought you two. “Thank you so much.”
“Let go. “It’s suffocating.”
“Ahaha… we are actually indebted to you.”
Despite their resistance, Marya did not let them go. I didn’t expect him to work this hard. She spoke in a somewhat watery voice.
“I will definitely repay this favor. This is my promise as the next leader of Caravel Sangdan. Yes, I will pay all the costs of going to the blacksmith shop this time.”
“What favor are you returning? “It was something we did for the best.”
“It’s loud and you just get what you give.”
Marya slightly strengthened her right arm. Ronan squeaked, his head strangled. The Caravel ship was scheduled to arrive in Rundalian by tomorrow day. He was the turning point where we all went our separate ways. Marya said.
“You two, get some sleep now. “Today, I will be on watch for our carriage from start to finish.”
“It’s okay, Marya. “Wake me up as much as you want.”
“He said he would suffer, so leave it alone. “Okay, let’s suck some honey too.”
Ronan chuckled and headed into the carriage. Adeshan, who hesitated, also followed him. Looking back, he hadn’t slept properly since he went abroad.
The two sat against the wall, facing each other. The moment my butt touched the floor, I felt tired. The two people made eye contact and smiled at each other.
“thank you for your effort. senior.”
“Ronan…you too.”
Adeshan couldn’t help but doze off. The half-opened eyes were quite cute. No, it’s cute. I guess I’m quite sleepy too. Ronan brushed away her bangs and opened her mouth.
“I’m going to Heiran tomorrow. Is that okay? “I won’t be able to live comfortably like I do now.”
“Of course… that’s what I heard in the first place.”
“Then I’m glad. Let’s do well together again.”
“Hehe…yeah. “I’m still happy, but it was more…”
Adeshan, unable to finish speaking, lowered his head. Soon, the sound of grunting breathing began to spread throughout the carriage. Ronan’s eyelids, which had been getting heavier, finally closed.
“······.”
Silence fell. It was a moonless night, so the inside of the wagon was covered in complete darkness. The only sound coming from beyond the wooden wall was the howling of the wind.
In the dream world that sporadically unfolded before his eyes, Ronan saw his father’s face covered in shadows and Adeshan wiping his mouth.
I punched my father in the face, and I don’t remember how I reacted to Adeshan. I felt time passing like sand. Ronan suddenly opened his eyes and opened his mouth.
“senior.”
“huh. “Forty-three people.”
Adeshan was already awake. She answered without a moment of hesitation. She shook her head as if Ronan was tired of the specific numbers.
“Damn… so many people came.”
“What, aren’t you still sleeping?”
Marya heard the voice and put her face into the carriage. Unlike the other two, she could not sense anything. Ronan silently placed her hand on the hilt of her sword.
“It’s an attack. They are also quite skilled. It’s not easy to kill someone like this. “Is there even a wizard?”
“···what?”
Marya’s face hardened. Suddenly, Ronan thrust his sword into the ceiling of the wagon. Sigh! As the tip of the sword gently pierced the tree, a tearing scream rang out.
“Kuhuhuhhh!”
It wasn’t a human voice. The La Mancha that was pulled out immediately was stained a deep red. Dark red blood poured out of the hole in the ceiling. Marya took a step back as the bloodshed unfolded without any warning.
“What on earth is this…!”
“It’s a surprise attack! Everyone wake up!!”
Instead of answering the question, Ronan shouted loudly. Before long, the entire top began to become bustling.
bang! He kicked the door apart and leapt onto the roof. A werewolf dressed in leather collapsed, clutching its chest. It looked like he was still breathing as he was struggling and making phlegm boiling noises. The werewolf glared at Ronan with bloodshot eyes.
“Crrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr! human···!”
“Ah, fuck.”
Somehow, I wondered if things would work out well. Ronan wordlessly tugged at the hilt of his sword. Suddenly! As soon as a clean line was drawn, the werewolf’s head was separated from the body. His head, which had been rolling around, fell out of the carriage. He turned his sword around and looked around. Fortunately, there were no other werewolves in sight.
‘I guess he was a scout. No matter how much you pick the most nimble guy…’
It was incredible hiding skills. Ronan soon found what he was looking for on the western side of the plateau. Dozens of pairs of eye lights were shining in the darkness. I counted them roughly and, as Adeshan said, it seemed like there were really about forty of them. Marya, who followed him up to the roof, asked in surprise.
“Well, what is all that?”
“A bunch of thieves.”
Forty pairs of eye lights were running toward the top, dragging their long tails. Dang-! Dang-! Dang-! A belated bell rang. The mercenaries woke up and ran out in confusion.
Crash. The sound of Adeshan loading his crossbow could be heard from below the roof. Ronan, who was staring into the middle of the darkness, grabbed the hilt of her sword.
Grumble! A bright scarlet color dyed the sword body. In a dark plain where not a single point of light could be found, the rays of La Mancha stood out like a lighthouse. As the son-in-law became brighter, beastmen wearing clothes made of bone and leather appeared.
“Kaaaa!”
“Keuung!”
When exposed to the light, they growled in disgust as if they were vampires. Most of them were werewolves, but there were also one or two wearfoxes and werebears. Looking at the patterns on the clothes, it seemed like a tribe I had never met in my previous life. Ronan said.
“long time no see.”
“Crrrrrrr!”
The beastmen’s attention was focused on Ronan. The teeth that caught the light were flashing eerily. He probably knew how to talk, but seeing as he didn’t, it seemed like there was no room for conversation this time either. He raised one corner of his mouth and muttered softly.
“Good. “Before I sharpen the sword, I need to give it some blood.”
“Kuhuhuh-!!”
A roar filled with murderous intent rang out under the night sky. Forty wild beasts rushed at me like a roar. Ronan, who was calmly measuring the gap, pulled the hilt of the sword.
