Episode 358: My left eye won’t open (6)
Would I have dropped off the four people and the four birds in the middle and flown for another full day, looking down at the land where lava flowed like a river?
We met the sea. It was a sea full of drift ice and reefs, so ships would not be allowed to enter.
“Is that the end of the world?”
[no. The end of the world is in the land beyond the sea.]
But our destination was farther than that. The environment continued for three more days, with even the slightest carelessness causing the water in the bucket to freeze, the wind making it difficult to make a fire, and even sleeping without a wizard or inquisitor to step forward.
[Now we’re almost there.]
And when the half-ice, half-water sea came to an end, we finally faced the end of the world.
It was a much different ending than I imagined.
“That’s the end of the world…”
“It doesn’t feel like the end…?”
[It may seem that way.]
“Isn’t there more land behind there?”
[No, that’s not land.]
To be honest, if I were to describe what it looked like, it was just a new continent. A continent of snow with no curves at all, but black water flowing on the surface.
It’s breaking, bleaching, or breaking. There was not even the slightest effect of that kind. If it weren’t for Suzaku’s words, we wouldn’t have even known that this was the end of the world. Think of it as just a new land.
“If it’s not land…?”
[Hehe, when you go down, see for yourself. Even if you add a thousand words, you won’t be able to get just one experience.]
Suzaku chuckled at our question. Since they didn’t even give me a simple hint, my curiosity deepened, but there was no way to solve it. I have no choice but to promise to get off.
“Separately… it took longer than I thought.”
[There is nothing I can do about it since I am not flying alone. Wouldn’t it be a reversal of truth to have you fall behind in exchange for hastening your pace?]
“That’s right.”
[Okay, I’m going down.]
Huh. Is that really the end of the world? On what basis are you saying this is the end?
While all kinds of guesses were going on in my head, Suzaku slowly began to descend. It was a flight that went down in a spiral, rather than going straight down.
[Tsk. In that short period of time, bugs have multiplied again.]
“Bugs?”
[The explanation takes time. So, is it okay to give priority to handling them?]
“If it is something that needs to be dealt with as quickly as possible, it should be so. Don’t worry. On the contrary, there is nothing we can do to help—?”
The Inquisitor’s question did not last until the end. This is because the lower the altitude, the more detailed the snow field becomes visible.
Black things running across the snow field. We felt like we knew what bugs were without having to hear an explanation.
“What is that…?”
It’s not a draugr, what is it? It looks like a bunch of dust… no, it looks like black fog.
“Is that a devil too?”
“…It’s a little different from the devil. But it doesn’t look like a creature from this world.”
[What you said is correct. Those are not life on this earth, but beings who wandered between dimensions.]
Flap!
The wind pressure from the flapping wings blew away the snow that had accumulated, and Suzaku prepared to land on the ground. Ugh. The amorphous monsters roaming the snowy field paid attention to us.
“They’re not gross, but there’s something about them that makes me uncomfortable.”
“Because they were born in a way that is different from the order of this world.”
[Physical attacks do not work, so attack using divine power or magical power.]
It is a creature made of black powder without eyes, nose, mouth, or a clear shape. After thinking about it for a while, I lightly summoned the magic spear.
Phew!
The magic spear pierced the monster’s body and left a round hole in its place. Even that was a hole that was soon filled.
“This type of attack doesn’t seem to be effective.”
“Iknow, right.”
Seeing as the airflow throughout the body shook the moment it was penetrated, it does not seem as if there was no blow at all. However, it doesn’t seem efficient. I removed the magic spear from my attack methods.
“Let’s go first.”
“oh!”
Now, let’s cut or hit him. I jumped out of the basket and landed on the ground. My body was extremely sore after spending nearly a day in the same position, but I managed to maintain my balance. I relaxed my stiff muscles inside my cloak.
[I will come back and kill things that are far away. I ask for this area.]
“Please leave it to me!”
Hmm.
In the meantime, the group came down from Suzaku’s back one by one, and what I couldn’t tell whether it was the sound of the wind or the sound of the monster tickling my ears.
“It’s perfect for a warm-up.”
Ah, the horror surround sound is a bit over the line.
My hand tightly gripped the one-handed sword-shaped Ratel.
* * *
“Oh, well. Why am I here…?”
“Oh Bauti, you are awake.”
Berserk reflexively lifted his eyelids at the sound of a whisper. Outside the window I peeked out, the position of the sun had changed quite a bit.
“What, why am I here?”
“We fell. Don’t you remember Bautiya?”
I guess I slept soundly for about five hours. Berserk calculated the time based on the tilt of the sun and checked whether the piper girl was awake. The girl is still trapped in dreamland, probably because she is very tired.
“Pamir found us unconscious after being hit by a snowball and came to pick it up.”
“eye…? It’s not. “That last thing isn’t an eye…”
Should I wake him up or not? Berserk listened to the girl’s breathing. Judging by the intensity of his snoring, it seemed unlikely that he would wake up any time soon. Berserk decided to let the young piper sleep longer.
“Are you awake?”
“okay.”
“I’ve got all the weapons ready, so check it out.”
“That’s fast.”
Coincidentally, she also had something to check.
Berserk retrieved the ax that the great master had polished for destroying the magic tower. The only thing that changed compared to before I went to sleep was the handle.
“I didn’t touch the part where the magic was engraved because I didn’t have the tools.”
“okay.”
However, the feeling you get when holding it is clearly different than if you were to say, ‘It’s just a handle?’ Berserk swung the ax, which was much easier to hold than before. Clearly, an expert was an expert.
“It’s pretty good.”
“It’s obvious who did it.”
Berserk recognized the meister’s skills and hung the ax on his belt. The changed location of the hook eliminates obstruction and makes storage easier. I was wondering why the magic tower that created this didn’t do this.
“Are you going?”
“no. “I’ll just take a quick look around and come back.”
“okay.”
Regardless, if there is a change in the weapon, you have to test it out. It’s really a waste to wait for the girl to wake up.
“Are you going too?”
“Yes yes?”
“Aren’t you taking care of the horses?”
“Ah yep!!”
Berserk prepared to leave without paying any attention to whether the Meister was looking for others or manipulating something that looked like a brick. Since you won’t be going far, there isn’t much need for solid preparation. She took only a couple of weapons and a cloak canteen.
“Wow, I thought my heart was pounding…”
However, the moment she left the house coincided with the moment those who had been attacked ran out the door. Berserk’s eyes turned to them.
“Sky boar? Blue aspiration? Which of the two is it?”
Judging by his accent and appearance, it is clear that he is from Norda. If they had officially formed a party with a demon knight, they would have been eating well, but judging from the fact that all three of them are skinny, it seems like it hasn’t been long since they started hanging out together.
Then why do they go around with demon knights? Why didn’t the Meister go to the end of the world?
“Uh… I thought it was impossible, but are you also a Nordine?”
I don’t really like things like complicated politics, insidious schemes, or the act of persistently digging into hidden backgrounds. However, just because you don’t prefer something doesn’t mean you can’t do it.
“okay.”
Do it if necessary. Berserk started a conversation with them to resolve the discomfort he had been feeling right after talking with Meister.
“Oh… sorry. “It was an accent I’d never heard before, so it was very annoying.”
“I understand.”
“Gaynir and Pamir are from the Blue Eager, and I am from the Sky Boar.”
“All of the Blue Aspiration Sky Boars are ruined. That’s why we’re together.”
“Where are you?”
“Moon shadow. “It’s insulated now.”
“Oh… okay.”
Berserk followed them into the stable. I saw about three horses, including one I knew well and one I had never seen before.
Heeeeeeee.
“Why are you doing this all of a sudden?”
“Pamir! “We are here.”
“Ah, I finally woke up… What about you behind me?”
Berserk intentionally reduced his presence out of consideration for anxious horses. Perhaps because they were more sensitive than normal horses, all four of them trembled their lips a few more times, but quickly calmed down as they maintained a harmless stance.
A human who had been having a hard time with the horse’s taunt finally approached her.
“Berserk.”
“…of the moon shadow?”
“I did my duty there. “I hope you’ll be more careful from now on.”
“Oh, I’m sorry. “It’s an unexpected identity… This is Pamir of the Blue Desire.”
They exchanged greetings in a unified northern style, which varied from tribe to tribe, and then settled down in earnest. Even though all the furniture was thrown away, the garden still remained, so it was possible.
“Why are you with them?”
“It gets a little long if I talk about it…”
It would have been better if there had been something to drink and eat, but Berserk listened to their stories in a relaxed manner while recalling items that were excellent at opening people’s mouths.
I judged that if I urged them without hiding my impatience, they might be wary.
Now that Meister has kept his mouth shut, they are the only ones who can resolve his doubts. We should never be cautious.
“…That’s why I joined. “If we go south, at least we’ll have something to eat.”
“Hmm. Was that the reason?”
“Yes yes.”
“So are you taking care of the horses now?”
“Oh, I was asked to do so. If you leave it to the tribe… you know, right? “You’re going to get eaten.”
“That’s right.”
Fortunately, the name Berserk was effective in Norda, if not in other places. She took full advantage of it and asked what she wanted to ask.
“However… as far as I know, horses are not animals that can be taken care of by beginners. Especially if it is not for a short period of time, but on a monthly basis. I don’t know why they made that choice, even though they couldn’t have known that. “If you want to get to the end of the world, one or two days won’t be enough…?”
“That’s it…”
She put aside the question she had as soon as she heard that the Demon Knight was headed to the end of the world. Pamir’s expression instantly became embarrassed. Should I say this or not? The meaning of the expression was clear.
Berserk took his gaze away from the worried Pamir and looked at the others. He seemed a bit cautious, so the idea was to pick out someone who was more likely to speak his mind.
“moon? Does it take that long? weird. Pamir: Didn’t they say they would come within ten days?”
“…Gainir!”
“oh my.”
Oh, it’s him. Berserk stared dryly at the person who was clearly going to blow at the slightest touch. Of course, her eyebrows and facial muscles are scrunched up to avoid being noticed.
“It makes no sense. “It is true that they are strong, but… it would take more than five days just to cross the territory, right?”
“Is it true, Daejeonsa?”
“okay. It was like that when I went there. Even though I only checked the beginning of the frozen ground and came back, more than a month had passed.”
“Pamir! “What happened?!”
“…Calm down, Gainir. “They didn’t go alone.”
Separately, what kind of measures are they really going to use to say that they are able to visit in just 10 days? Berserk tilted his crooked sitting posture even more carelessly.
“Physical distance does not decrease just because there are a lot of people.”
Bautiya, who had been comforting Gaynir, sighed weakly and Pamir swallowed his sleep. These are the faces that recognize the unspoken pressure that if they keep quiet, it won’t be fun.
In the end, Pamir raised both hands.
“…Not that, ha. “It’s because the beast of God stepped forward.”
“God’s beast.”
However, what he was referring to was something she had covered up out of ignorance.
Divine beast or ancient beast. Phoenix.
“Phoenix?”
“yes.”
“I know that entity roams around the front lines.”
“I don’t know the details. “I just heard that they must go to the end of the world.”
Phoenix Phoenix. If this happens, the reason they are confident that they will visit within 10 days and the traces out there will also be explained. Exactly just those.
I still don’t understand why it left the front lines and came here.
“Is it really Phoenix?”
“The priest approved it, so maybe it is?”
“…I saw the same traces in other places… similar to the traces in front of this village earlier. “A lot of them didn’t just happen this time, they happened over a month ago.”
Moreover, why are they wandering around Norda at intervals?
Berserk lowered his voice over the part that most aroused her anxiety. You need to hear this. The instinct that had helped her so many times gave way to a scream.
“That… I don’t know. “We just followed you because you said you would take us with you when we went south?”
“Is there anything you can expect?”
“well. For me, there’s nothing in particular…”
A quick-witted bastard. Berserk didn’t want to be reprimanded by the demon knights, so he clenched his fists, keeping his mouth shut in important areas.
Should I force myself to listen to this? If you’re not careful, you may end up fighting a demon knight, but will the answer you get from doing so be really worth it? The uncertainty that comes from ignorance was her only leash.
“ah! I think I know Gainir!”
“…!”
“Wait a minute…!”
“That’s for picking up corpses!”
“…you!”
“…dead body?”
And then a rope given to her by an idiot came down to her.
“They said it was an absolute secret…!”
dead body. dead body. Of what?
“Say it.”
Berserk’s intuition whispered in my ear. This is it, this is it.
“What do you mean, trying to pick up a body?”
Ah, was it really because she couldn’t find her sister’s remains, which she couldn’t find no matter how many times she searched for them?