Chapter 82: Chapter 82

It had already been two days since Ran took Rev, Sigurd, and Ragna to Aburota.

'Ran. What on earth are you doing?'

Tascar stood on the hillside, looking down at Aburota. His fists were clenched tightly.

'Only one day left now.'

Ran had said they should move the camp if there was no word from him in three days. Tascar hadn't paid much attention to that then. He'd thought Ran would be back soon.

'I don't think he would've made any mistake.'

Tascar admitted it honestly. Ran was not just some run-of-the-mill mercenary.

'He's the one who dared to defy divine power.'

It wasn't just a metaphor. The power of the gods influences the world in many forms. Among them, the traces of power left behind as curses are deeply imprinted in human instincts like terror itself.

Ran had broken that taboo.

Tascar turned his gaze away and decided to trust Ran, for now.

He headed back to camp. Since it was still early dawn, only the lookouts were awake.

"Tascar. Seems like you haven't slept a wink. Leave it to us and get some rest."

Tibo, self-proclaimed "Spear of Falstein," flashed a white grin. With his cheerful and buoyant nature, he served as the comic relief and atmosphere keeper among the safe zone's group.

After going through a series of events, he had opened up to Tascar.

"... Hmph. I don't expect anything from weaklings like you."

Tascar replied gruffly. It wasn't his true feelings, but he was too embarrassed to respond warmly.

Tibo seemed to know that and shrugged, stepping back.

Terrence approached. His eyes were deeply shadowed. He, too, hadn't slept after sending Sigurd off. Next to him, Iel was also awake.

Tascar just rolled his eyes and looked at the two.

"Don't worry too much, terrence. Aburota is a sanctuary of freedom. There might be trouble for Imperials, but even for Sigurd, there shouldn't be any real danger."

Iel, who had been silent, suddenly flared up.

"How can you say that! Are you saying it's fine if Ran is in danger?"

"Yes! Then I'll speak honestly too. I never understood why Ran was the one who had to go in there. Ran doesn't have to take responsibility for you all, does he? Right?"

Iel shot her words rapid-fire and turned to Terrence. Terrence visibly flinched.

"I appreciate that you healed me, terrence. But Ran has helped you all so much until now. Isn't that enough to repay any debt? And I've sincerely helped with all sorts of chores, too."

Iel finally said the words she had been bottling up. Recently, worries had been piling up in her mind day by day. Her already precarious heart had snapped when Ran disappeared.

She knew Ran had a purpose for helping her.

'But does he have to risk his life for it?'

She had never experienced anything before. No one had ever gone this far for her in her short life. It was frightening.

Growing up, even her parents had never truly given her the affection and attention she craved. To be precise, she had only been treated as nothing more than the "12th princess."

She only recognized this sense of deprivation after meeting Ran.

'You have to give back as much as you receive.'

This was the root of her recent worry and anxiety.

'Even if I return to my family, what if I become a hindrance to Ran instead...?'

Ran and Iel had never really talked honestly about their feelings. Both were shy and hesitant to speak about themselves.

Iel had tried several times to summon the courage, but every time, some incident or another got in the way.

"You're a bold little brat."

Tascar snorted. Iel shook off her thoughts and glared at him.

"What? Did I say something wrong?"

"Heh heh, no. I just wonder how someone the same age as Ragna can be so different."

Iel frowned. Tascar waved his hand dismissively.

"Sorry to interrupt your conversation, but..."

Tibo came over at some point, scratching his head.

The three looked at him.

"We're nearly out of drinking water, terrence."

Tibo shook a leather water pouch, and just a trickle seeped out.

The southern region of Northland is dry all year round. The group had traveled across barren plains this whole time, relying on reserves they brought from the safe zone.

Terrence's face darkened.

"I was just going to bring up the issue of water today."

"Why don't we just go, grab some water, and get out quickly?"

Tibo gestured toward Aburota with his chin.

All three turned to look at Iel. Tapping her lips with a forefinger, she continued.

"I saw Ran checking the water supply the night before he left. If nothing had gone wrong, he probably meant to solve that problem first. That's why he must have taken Rev."

She'd spent enough time with Ran by now. All she could do was quietly watch him and try to infer his plans and intentions.

Terrence spoke with difficulty.

"If there's been no word from them so far, it means something has happened in Aburota."

"Yes. Probably. That's why we need to be extra careful now. Things could get even bigger."

Tascar pursed his lips. He thought of his nephew, who was the same age as the sharp-tongued girl in front of him. Compared to Iel, ragna was still an innocent and sunny child—pure in many ways.

He shook his head, brushing away idle thoughts.

"If I remember right, there's a big lake nearby. We can get back before sunset. I'll go."

Securing drinking water was a matter of survival. Terrence agreed with Tascar.

"Hauling water is hard for one person. I'll go with you."

Iel said energetically. Tascar didn't object. He was growing curious about the plucky girl.

Tibo glanced around before speaking.

"Well, I'd better help, too. Sending just two is a little worrying."

"Just stay out of the way, tibo."

"Haha, come on. I can't send kids to work when I'm an adult. And in the Imperial army, two-man teams are standard, you know."

The three quickly prepared to leave.

They slung leather water pouches with ropes over their shoulders. Iel carried two small pouches in her hands.

Tascar took the lead, with Tibo and Iel following side by side.

After a short walk, Iel looked back.

Just a little distance was enough for the camp to disappear from view.

"Iel, what house are you from?"

Iel flinched, staring at Tibo. He had an unconcerned look.

"Oh, you don't have to tell me if you're uncomfortable."

"It's not that, but, how did you know I was a noble?"

"Well, it's obvious. I've seen your face long enough. You act like you don't show it, but everyone except maybe me probably knows."

Iel hadn't really tried to hide her status, figuring her ragged appearance was enough to keep it from mattering.

Her cheeks flushed. Tibo scratched the back of his head, embarrassed.

"S-sorry. I shouldn't have brought it up."

"Anyway, you've had it tough for someone so young."

He could see the hardships of a girl driven this far by war.

Iel pressed her lips tightly. Being comforted by others felt awkward.

"What if you two were actually enemies in the war?"

Tascar said, glancing back slyly, a strange smile on his lips.

"Haha, not likely. Iel's a demon too, after all."

Tibo glanced at silent Iel, then muttered to himself.

"... And even if not, what would it matter now?"

"Oh? Weren't you all living for vengeance? Now that Huven's gone, are you finally dropping the act?"

Tascar knew all too well the situation of the safe zone people, tangled up in civil war. His words could have sounded rude to Tibo.

But Tibo's expression didn't change. In fact, he looked even more relaxed, leaning back with his hands laced behind his head.

"Just living is enough. The rest doesn't matter much."

That was his honest feeling. Perhaps it was only in front of these outsiders that he could voice what was really in his heart.

The sun was rising. It dawned everywhere, without fail.

Tibo's eyes darkened with faint sorrow as memories resurfaced, memories not so long past.

'Life's got a funny way about it.'

Tibo had once served as part of the Falstein count's forces. He'd set out in a powerful reconnaissance unit to harass the Emperor's supply troops—only for the group to be ambushed by a band of young mercenaries, resulting in defeat.

He later learned that these mercenaries were Zima's clan's hunting dogs.

'The leader of that group was Ran.'

Zima's hounds had managed to find their hidden camp, which had never been discovered even by the regular army, and launched a surprise attack.

He could still recall the masked man who led from the center, vividly remembering the eyes visible through the hood. Even now, the memory made his legs tremble.

Then he saw Ran at the safe zone. The image overlapped exactly with the man from his memories.

When their eyes met by chance, he'd almost choked on his own breath; his body responded instinctively.

'What a strange fate.'

It seemed Ran hadn't recognized him. That wasn't surprising; at the time, tibo had barely fought and had only just escaped with a handful of survivors.

Afterwards, the remnants of the reconnaissance unit secretly tracked the boy mercenaries to avenge their dead, and managed to take a life.

'Was his name Renard?'

The boys had shouted that name. While his comrades were wiped out, tibo had managed to survive again.

He had met Ran again . They had once taken comrades from each other, but now could call each other allies.

'He still doesn't seem to really know me, though.'

Tibo smiled ruefully.

Ever since he had ended up fleeing to Astana Mountain, his thoughts had changed much over time.

Once the burning ambition that had led him to join the war faded, all that was left was emptiness.

He felt not a speck of vengeance toward Ran now. He'd found himself reflecting on the meaning of war.

"... Now I try to face forward. To live what life I have left."

He didn't care if someone called him a coward for turning away from avenging fallen comrades. Tibo had decided to cherish the life given to him, and wanted to live it to the fullest.

He believed that the gods had entwined his and Ran's fates with such intentions.

"You sure have it easy, tibo."

Tibo just smiled faintly, not bothering to retort.

The three walked in silence for a while.

"Oh, there's the lake."

In the midst of the barren plain, there was a large lake like an oasis in the desert.

Tibo scooped water in both hands and drank. His thirst was quenched at once.

Wiping the water from his chin, he gave Iel a thumbs-up. The two opened their water pouches to fill them.

Tascar set down his large water pouch between them.

"Fill up as much as you can. I'll go take a leak."

Tascar trudged off to a secluded spot. Tibo submerged his water pouches deep in the lake; they slowly ballooned as they filled.

"It's kind of spooky over there,"

Iel murmured, staring into the distance. Mist hung thick at the horizon.

"You're right. There's no fog on this side."

Tibo tilted his head.

Iel filled her two pouches and sealed them tight. Without resting, she helped finish filling one of Tibo's pouches.

Tibo gave Iel a curious look.

What kind of bond does Ran have with this noble demon girl?

As their eyes met, tibo sensed something approaching behind Iel.

'It's not Tascar. It's killing intent!'

He immediately grabbed his spear.

A small hand axe flew through the air and struck Tibo's spear shaft, falling to the ground. If he hadn't blocked it in time, Iel would have been in danger.

His wrist throbbed. Tibo grit his teeth.

Someone burst out of the bushes with a savage scream. It wasn't a black priest, but a typical Northman—muscular and nearly naked, with only his groin hastily covered.

Tibo tightened his grip on the spear and faced the charging Northman, who was even bigger than Tascar.

Calling himself the "Spear of Falstein" wasn't just empty boasting. Tibo's gaze sharpened, gleaming with the ferocity of someone who had survived countless battles.

He had the advantage of reach. As long as he didn't flinch and step away, he could win.

Exhaling, he thrust his arm out as far as it would go.

The spear pierced the Northman's chest. Blood splattered across Tibo's face, but his gaze never wavered.

But then, the Northman's eyes widened.

Even pierced by the spear, the Northman kept charging, showing the whites of his eyes, his only drive to kill the enemy.

Tibo quickly twisted his wrist, breaking the spear.

The two fell, tangled together. Tibo ended up on the bottom, holding the spear horizontally to block the Northman's descending axe.

The Northman's saliva and sweat dripped down onto Tibo's face.

Without even looking, tibo shouted. The axe blade inched closer to the center of his brow.

The Northman's head suddenly slumped. An axe was buried in the side of his head. Thɪs chapter is updatᴇd by Novᴇl_Fire(.)net

Only then did Tibo let out a wild gasp, turning his trembling head to the side.

In the distance, tascar approached, rubbing his wrist.

"See, this is why you can't be trusted with anything."

Tibo grasped Tascar's hand and got up. His whole body was shaking.

"Damn, I almost died."

Tascar snorted at Tibo's pale face.

His gaze drifted to the sprawled Northman. It had been a long time since he'd killed one of his own kind. He didn't even think of the black priests as fellow Northmen.

A strange displeasure crept up his fingers.

'Is this because I killed one of my own with my own hands?'

He had lost count of the northmen warriors he'd slain himself. Sometimes he'd massacred weaker tribes alone to prove himself a warrior and offered their blood to Dakir. Every time, he'd been swept up in the frenzy and ecstasy of battle.

Now, he felt none of that.

New Names/Locations/Skills/Techniques: