Chapter 104
Time passed slowly, but surely.
On a winter morning when the dawn moon hung low, Ian blew warm breath into the cold air as he inspected the line of carriages. The snow had fallen overnight, making the chill bite even deeper.
“Ah, of all days, it has to be this freezing one to leave,” someone muttered.
“They say it gets warmer the closer we get to the capital. That’s something, at least.”
“Wheels turning! Hey! There’s a stone stuck up front—get it out!”
“Good morning, Ian,” a familiar voice greeted.
“Ian! Ian! I want to bring this along too!”
“Beric, don’t bother with that. Leave it be!”
“Nooo, I don’t want to!”
Though fewer than ten people were actually leaving the estate, dozens had gathered to help prepare. Not only the household staff but also villagers who had come to see them off crowded the yard.
“Ian, please double-check that nothing’s missing. This is the last chance. The coachman says we’re leaving immediately after,” Hana said.
Ian went over the loaded carriage once more: chunks of Luron magic stones, the dripper machine Lien had given him, the alchemist’s necklace and ring in a jewelry box, his identification papers, and more. For someone who’d arrived empty-handed, he had quite a bit packed.
“I’m good. Beric?”
“Same here!” Beric held up a single sword. Aside from a few ragged clothes, that was all he was taking. Ian chuckled, impressed.
“Then the rest must be Romandro’s gear.”
“Eh, what can I do? I’ve got five subordinates coming with me! Ha ha ha!” Romandro laughed heartily. He looked genuinely happy to be heading home.
After checking the carriages, Ian sought out Nersarn.
“Nersarn, I’m about to leave.”
“Please take care of yourself. I wish you the best of luck.”
Though his words were measured, weighing the pros and cons of Ian’s new title and future role at the palace, Ian sensed a genuine warmth beneath them.
“Demosha.”
“Demosha.”
Under the blessing of the gods, they clasped hands and shook them firmly. Ian then slowly made his rounds to say goodbye to the household.
“You’ve all worked hard.”
“Nonsense, sir. It’s you who’s done the hard part.”
“Travel safely. Don’t worry about things here.”
“The palace, huh? Be sure to take it all in and tell us stories!”
“Without Beric around, the food budget will shrink for a while! Ha ha ha!”
The servants surrounded Ian, voicing their regrets. He patted each of their shoulders and gave a final request.
“Please take good care of the estate while I’m gone. Hana, as housekeeper, will lead you through the winter.”
Housekeeper Hana.
The servants all gasped as if they’d expected this, and Hana blushed, beaming brightly. It was a shy yet happy expression.
“Ian, I will protect the estate! You’ve entrusted it to me, so I’ll give it my all!”
“No need to overdo it. But I appreciate the spirit.”
Though not yet perfect as housekeeper, Hana had plenty of room to grow. With Nersarn and Romandro’s men helping, there was little to worry about.
“Alright then, let’s get going.”
Ian signaled the coachmen to prepare for departure. Filia, who had been hesitating nearby, cautiously approached and embraced her son. Ian hugged her back, whispering gently.
“Mother, take care. Whether here or anywhere else, live freely, as you wish.”
Filia bit her lip, tears streaming down her cheeks. This might be their last goodbye, but Ian wanted to leave her with a bright smile.
“Let’s go!”
“Let’s go!”
“Alright, let’s ride hard for the next two weeks!”
Clack!
Ian climbed into the carriage and waved out the window. Beric and Romandro did the same. Their carriage led the procession out of the estate.
“Goodbye!”
“Travel safely!”
“Ian!”
The shouts of the household followed them. Beric puckered his lips in mock offense.
“Everyone’s calling for Ian. What about me?”
“You? They just assume you’re coming along.”
“Hmph. They’ll miss me when I’m gone.”
Ian smiled softly and was about to close the window when he noticed the villagers lining the streets, all gathered to see them off.
“Congratulations, Ian!”
“Congratulations, Viscount Ian!”
“Bring back a new name for the estate!”
“Waaaah!”
Children ran alongside the carriage as the bright morning sun rose in the distance. It was truly a hopeful start. Ian waved back, offering his final farewell.
Clatter, clatter!
The carriage rattled along the unpaved road. Beric stared out the window with a bored expression. Day and night, all he could see were the bare branches covered in snow.
“This is so boring. I feel like I’m going to lose my mind.”
“If you’re bored, switch seats with the coachman. You won’t have a moment to be bored, and it’ll wake you right up.”
Ian smiled at Romandro’s suggestion.
It had already been four days since they left the estate. Except for the few hours they stopped to rest the horses and coachmen, they were trapped in the shaking carriage all day. It was no small discomfort. Given Beric’s energetic nature, Ian thought he was holding up surprisingly well.
“How much farther do we have to go? I’d put up with it if there was something to look at, but it’s just forest after forest. White on white!”
“We’ve been traveling four days now. About ten more to go, if all goes well.”
“Are you crazy? Seriously.”
Though the snow slowed their pace, the coachman’s skill kept them moving without pause. Their carriage led the way, followed by a line of wagons carrying supplies.
“At least tonight we’ll stay in a village. Warm baths, soft beds—you just have to hold on a little longer.”
“Really? Is it a big city?”
“Not quite what you’re imagining.”
“What do you mean?”
“Well, don’t expect multi-level taverns, gambling dens, luxury inns charging silver coins per night, or huge arenas.”
Beric’s jaw dropped in despair, as if he’d been hoping for all of that. Romandro pulled out a small map.
“We’ll soon reach Karenna…”
“Karenna? Never heard of it.”
“It’s a small town, nothing special. The real issue is the western plains around Karenna.”
Ian turned his head at Romandro’s words, puzzled at first. Then he noticed the ‘Hyman Bank’ seal on the map and understood.
“You mean Karenna, Longin, and Zailkuf?”
“Exactly. When I went to trade with Count Mereloff and deposit gold coins, the bank manager warned me about bandits in those three areas.”
Beric’s eyes lit up at the mention of bandits. His pupils sparkled with excitement.
“Bandits? Awesome! I’ve never seen any before.”
“Not yet.”
“You will soon. Those three towns are close together, so they’re always mentioned as a group.”
Beric scooted closer to Romandro, peering over his shoulder. At times like this, his keen instincts were uncanny. The three towns were indeed close enough to reach within a day’s ride.
“We’re heading this way, so to get to Karenna, we have to cross the triangle area. Perfect bandit territory.”
Ian wanted to argue but couldn’t deny the truth. The bandit threat was real, and tonight was especially dangerous.
“We have a lot of cargo for such a small escort. It’s best to move quietly and quickly.”
“Yeah, I agree.”
“Stop spitting and lying. At least keep a straight face.”
Ian was more worried about delays than physical harm from bandits. Even if they left early, no one could predict what might happen.
Clack.
Swoosh!
Beric opened a small window and stuck his head out. The cold wind whipped Romandro’s map wildly.
“Beric! Talk before you open that!”
“Coachman! When will we reach Karenna?”
“We should arrive before sunset!”
“Awesome! Go faster!”
“I’ll try. The horses are getting tired.”
The coachman smiled and pulled the reins firmly. As their speed picked up, Beric gave a thumbs-up in thanks.
Tap, tap, tap.
The horses’ hooves fell in steady rhythm. Beric pressed his cheek against the window and soon fell asleep. Romandro scribbled a message on a small piece of paper. Ian watched them both, passing the time.
Hiiing!
“Ian!”
“Hm? What is it?”
The coachman called out, and Ian opened the window.
“Is there another village between the forest where we left this morning and Karenna?”
“A village? Hold on a moment. Romandro, can I see the map?”
“Ah, yes. Let me get the big one.”
“…Hmph! What? Are we already there?”
Beric wiped his mouth with the back of his hand and stood up. Since the horse that had been galloping was now slowing to a walk, he didn’t hesitate to lean out the roof window.
“We’re almost there!”
Excited to have spotted the village, Beric tapped the carriage roof enthusiastically. But Ian and Romandro, who were studying the map, exchanged puzzled glances.
“…That’s strange. There shouldn’t be any village nearby.”
“When was this map made?”
“Last year. We used it coming down here, so it should be accurate.”
No matter how they checked, the location on the map was right in the middle of the forest. Beric waved his hand at the driver, urging him to hurry.
“As long as we can get a hot bath, whether it’s Karenna or here, it doesn’t matter! Let’s just go check it out!”
“No, Beric. Don’t act on your own.”
“Ah, why not?”
Beric climbed down from the roof and looked at Ian, silently asking for permission. But Ian was firm, and Romandro didn’t look any more pleased.
“Don’t you understand what it means when a village isn’t on the imperial maps? It’s definitely an unregistered community. And there are reports of bandits in the area.”
“The odds are high. Very high.”
It could be a bandit den. Better to avoid unnecessary trouble and turn back now. Ian pulled Beric back into the carriage and ordered the driver.
“Turn the horses around immediately. Start pulling out from the rear.”
“Y-yes, understood.”
“Hey! At the back! Start from the very last one!”
“We passed the fork in the road about thirty minutes ago, right? Let’s head back there. Looks like we should have taken the right, not the left.”
“Turn it around, slowly!”
Ian, Romandro, and Beric got off the carriage to help guide the procession out. The narrow mountain path made maneuvering the carriages one by one a real hassle.
Sigh. “Ah, it’s cold.”
Beric sniffled—or maybe he was just disappointed—glancing repeatedly toward the village as he stamped his feet.
“Cold, cold, cold!”
“Beric, enough already. Keep it down.”
“Ian, we should disconnect the horses and turn the carriage bodies separately. There’s not enough space.”
With ten carriages trying to move in order, it was chaos. Everyone was moving in perfect sync, but it was still a struggle. Beric crossed his arms and glanced around, then quietly slipped down the slope nearby. Since they were stopped anyway, he figured he might as well take care of some business.
Crunch.
Suddenly, the sound of dry leaves crunching came from behind. He looked around, wondering if it was a rabbit, but saw nothing. Surrounded by snow-covered white everywhere, Beric blinked against the brightness.
Then—
Bark!
A white dog suddenly popped out of the bushes. Beric looked at it calmly, and the dog stared back at him with dark eyes, a black nose, and a bright pink tongue.
No doubt about it—it was a dog. A mutt, at that.
“What the—?”
Bark!
“Wha—”
Could it be from that village? Beric hesitated for a moment, unsure what to do, but then decided to ignore it and turned away. Taking care of his business was more urgent right now.
“Hey there.”
“…??”
Beric scratched his ear and looked around in disbelief. The only living thing nearby was that damn dog…