Episode 356: Left eye won’t open (4)
Just like last time, the Suzaku carrying us on its back flapped its large wings and split the sky. The three locals who unexpectedly moved with us were enjoying the thrill, screaming every time.
“Brother tongue, I’m scared…!”
“Calm down, Gainir.”
“Isn’t it floating? This is really…!”
“Pamir, this is really crazy—”
But no matter how fast you regret, it is always one step too late.
Those who had been pleading with them not to leave them behind have now been reduced to blaming their past selves. Since I was self-employed, I couldn’t even blame others, so it was a truly pitiful situation.
“Adventurer, are you okay?”
“…okay.”
For your information, the reason I know this is because of Suzaku’s consideration.
Unfortunately, Suzaku remembered that there was a person who could not climb on his back, so he even prepared an item for him. It is also a basket with a fixing ring attached to the bottom.
“It looks narrow….”
“It’s worth holding on to.”
“Is that so?”
Of course, it wasn’t that big. I would say it’s just the right level for someone of my size.
It’s good for a short time, but it’s the perfect width to cause cramps if you use it for a long time. I didn’t refuse it because even this was a good deal compared to the swaddling clothes.
“That’s better….”
“Me too, I’m a basket….”
“Shh, Gainir.”
Well… Cowardly people – three locals – even envied me like this. From what I’ve heard, the wind is so strong that I feel anxious that I might fall down if I stay there.
It would have been nice if we had been able to receive at least rings and ropes for fastening like horses, but we did not receive those due to a lack of numbers. It is said that in the end, they survived with their lives.
“As long as you don’t stand up or run unnecessarily, you’ll never fall.”
“Still, scary things are scary…!”
“I can ride a horse well, so why are I having trouble?”
“But it seems like you had an unusual time when you first got on board…”
“City interrogator Na-ri, please leave out.”
However, it doesn’t mean that I don’t understand their commotion. After all, isn’t it too harsh for the average person to ‘hold on for N hours while only holding on to hair hundreds of meters in the air’?
This is the same even if the back is very wide and the flight of the master is very stable. Human psychology doesn’t work that rationally. This is especially true for feelings of fear and anxiety.
“Okay, look at that person. You sleep well. “There’s no need to worry.”
“…I just think that person is unusual.”
“It’s not wrong.”
…Of course, this was Meister’s second time, and he had a good night’s sleep. Even though he was tired, he couldn’t have been a very courageous person.
“That erutalc. “Isn’t there some way?”
Anyway, the Inquisitor, who felt sorry for those people, asked Erutalc.
“does not exist.”
However, that was all that Erutalc, a wizard who cared more about his words than my past concepts, told me. For some reason, it seems as if you can feel pathetic in his tone of categorical denial.
“I see…”
In the end, the Inquisitor, unable to ignore the three locals stamping their feet, used a divine power shield to reduce the wind. Their expressions improved slightly.
“Oh, that’s right. “Sir, is the situation on the front line okay?”
[Not very good.]
“…is it very serious?”
[Those who are faithful and upright bought time for Go. However, victory or defeat on the battlefield is not determined by the strength or weakness of will. I can’t even imagine how much blood would have been shed when Ko returned to his place.]
“That…”
[Don’t worry too much. There is no war in the world without damage, and a holy war that risks the world brings even more damage. [This is not a problem for you to handle alone.]
However, while the Inquisitor gifted them peace by mobilizing actual power, Suzaku used the power of words to soothe the Inquisitor.
[However, what you and Ko have to do is not to waste the time they have earned. God’s representative, keep your expressions blank and think only of your mission.]
“…Yes!”
Fortunately, Suzaku was quite worthy of his age. It’s not that I don’t like the mountains or the six ghosts, but I felt very reassured because there were so few people who supported me with such solemn support.
“So, are you going to be with us until the end this time?”
[Unless an irresistible tragedy occurs, this is what will happen.]
In addition, I was also glad to hear that I could now go to the end of the world comfortably. Even if you are a body that is not limited by cold or food, it is not comfortable to even walk on a snow-filled road. It’s true that my situation is better than other people’s.
“ah.”
Now that I think about it, the cold and food came to mind… If this happens, will even the locals be taken to the end of the world…?
“Suzaku.”
[Is there some problem?]
“Do you know what the environment is like at the end of the world?”
[I know because I have been there myself. However, it seems that what Ko has just come up with does not match what you really want to know. So, my dear, what do you want to ask?]
“When we head straight to that place, can those three ordinary people survive for a long time without your help?”
[…My thoughts were short. I should have strongly stopped him.]
After hesitating for a moment, Suzaku gave that answer. It was a euphemistic expression of denial.
“Huh, then what should I do….”
[Hmm. How about dropping them off for a while at a village before crossing the mountain range? Go clearly saw that there was a village on the path.]
Fortunately, there was no solution. It is doubtful whether the people of this land, who are crying out for food shortages, will accept them even temporarily.
[Since this has already been done, it would be better to leave these horses as well. Cold is not the only threat that exists in the land adjacent to the end.]
“Ah…”
But the words that followed made it impossible not to stop by. Unlike the three people who seemed to survive as long as they were given food, the horses needed human care.
“Everyone is complaining that there is no food right now, but aren’t they just eating all the horses that were entrusted to them?”
“…I hope so.”
But as Deathbringer has just pointed out, it is doubtful whether they will take good care of their words. No matter how authoritative the Suzaku is, it only has meaning if you have the ability to pay attention to it.
Will people who are about to starve to death protect our horses?
“Or how about just going back now…?”
[That is not possible. Even now, if people are dying on the front lines, how can we turn our attention to the sake of four horses?]
Surely… That’s right. I think I’ve been here for about an hour now, but when I return from here, it’s an hour to go down and an hour to come back up. In total, you’re wasting two hours.
And in those two hours… it’s impossible to even estimate how many people will die on the battlefield. Even as someone who cares about Frederick, I can’t bring myself to go back.
[If you treat your horse like family, you will apologize in advance. However, just as horses can be family to you, all humans on the front lines are like your beloved children. Suffering will never turn its head for them.]
Therefore, in the end, this anxiety has no choice but to accept it. If you think about it, this was also our fault.
“I’m sorry, adventurer. “I didn’t expect this…”
“Don’t apologize. “I also brought the horse carelessly without knowing that this would happen.”
But my bones hurt a little. It was my mistake, but Frederick’s life was at stake. Even when Frederick kicks me with his back foot, I have nothing to say. If it was going to be like this, I should have just not brought it.
“Well… instead of doing that, how about sending us down to the ruins or some suitable open field?”
At that time, the local leader who was quietly listening spoke.
“If you leave a horse in the village, it will inevitably be slaughtered. So it would be better… the three of us taking care of the horses.”
“Are you going to be okay?”
“If only you could provide some food for the horses and food for us…”
“Hmm, are you okay? “You’re not going to be at the end of the world for a few days anyway, right?”
“Hmm. “This certainly seems like the best option.”
Is this… like this? I was a little taken aback as I watched the three people rolling around like a snowball. This is really how it goes. It was an embarrassment in a very positive way.
[Has it been decided? Then, when we reach the mountain range, I will briefly land in a deserted but good place to stay and drop you off.]
“Yep.”
Anyway, with this, I can go to the end of the world without any worries. If no variables arise, I think Frederick will also be guaranteed safety.
[Oh, there’s one more thing to retrieve. I will descend for a moment.]
“Yes.”
“Are you finished?”
“Is this the end? “I’m just going down to pick up something.”
With relief, I turned my attention to the wings that were gradually starting to tilt. I really liked the scarlet fireworks that split the night sky because they had a dreamlike charm.
Regardless of the situation, it was truly a fantastic scenery.
* * *
“uh…? “It seems a little different from the place we entered earlier… Could it be an illusion?”
“no. “You saw it correctly.”
Berserk shook his head in agreement with the young piper’s words. Every time, the black dust thrown up by the shadows fell down. It was dust that dissolved into the air instead of falling to the floor.
“The ordeal of a glacier does not come out at the location where the crack was created. “The location from which he emerges will be determined depending on where he was standing.”
“Really?”
“If you are unlucky, you may fall into the frozen ground beyond Yeonggwan. This is the second reason why the glacial ordeal becomes a graveyard for warriors.”
Of course, through multiple experiences, she learned how to bring luck down to the realm of hard work. It’s a bit of a trick, and she hasn’t mastered it perfectly.
“If that’s the principle… if I had escaped alone, I would have ended up in a different place than the former Great Warrior.”
“okay. But it would have had a higher chance of survival than what it would have done to the night sky.”
“…is that so.”
“…Young piper, if you ever have to go through the glacier ordeal again, find the brightest star and run in the opposite direction.”
“The brightest star…?”
“okay. “If you run with that star as your guide, you will never fall beyond the horizon.”
Is it possible to find the brightest star among thousands of stars? Before that, will the girl be able to slay the monster flowing from between the stars?
Berserk denied each of the two questions, but still informed them. When I realized that the only bad thing in life was the pain of loss.
“…I didn’t know that glacial trials were like this.”
“Because there is no reason to know. “When there is a justification for having that knowledge, you will know it automatically.”
Berserk said dryly and held the hatchet to his thigh. Whirring. The spinning hatchet smashed the skull of the hiding wolf and crushed its brain.
“There’s something to eat.”
We were already anxious because we had run out of food, but we were quite lucky. She strode forward and retrieved the ax from the wolf’s head. All you have to do is wipe away the blood that is heavily stained on the ax blade using the loose snow.
“I will do the slaughter.”
“okay.”
The young piper held a hand knife and cut open the wolf’s stomach. The blood pooling in the area where the internal organs were taken out is so hot that steam rises. The blood would soon lose its warmth and freeze.
“Eat first.”
Also, because of this situation, the first thing the Nordeans do when they successfully hunt is to drink blood. I had no choice but to both quench my thirst and warm my body.
Following the tradition and way of survival, the piper handed over the blood he had hurriedly scooped up.
“You drink too.”
“yes.”
“It’s a shame it’s not a reindeer.”
“Because looking at reindeer has become more difficult than looking at the hem of God’s clothes.”
Not only is it important to consider the amount and taste of meat, but even considering health, reindeer are better than wolves. The reason is unknown, but this is why people who only eat meat from carnivores bleed from the gums and, in severe cases, die.
“But where is this?”
“okay.”
As the girl Hana said, even wolf meat is a luxury in the current situation.
They drank as much blood as they could, and after it froze, they cut the meat into thin pieces and put it into their mouths. There was no firewood to make a fire. They were a people who ate raw meat more often than grilled meat, so there was no hesitation.
“…Are you going to keep looking for the body?”
“of course.”
“Are you going right away?”
When the stomach was somewhat full, the girl sliced off the remaining flesh and tied it around her waist. Since the meat was going to be frozen anyway, there was no need to worry about it going bad.
“…well.”
However, when all the work was completed, fatigue began to form around the girl’s eyes. Berserk spotted him and blurted out his words.
“Since we stayed up all night during the ordeal, it would be more efficient to get some rest rather than immediately resume the search. Alright, piper. Prove to me that you did not spend your time under the hunter in vain.”
“…! yes!”
If you look at the sky, the sun has just risen, and it wouldn’t be a bad idea to be considerate of the young girl’s physical strength. Just like her older sister did for her.
That’s how Berserk decided to take a break. Meanwhile, the girl is wiggling her fingers with her bright cheeks to prove her abilities.
“Looking at the shape of the peak, it seems like it’s between war and the sky. And there was a tribe that lived between War and Sky until a few years ago. “There will be no more people, but you will still be able to rest much more comfortably.”
“okay. “Guide the way, young piper.”
“yes!”
The girl who had been tracing the location by drawing on the snow brightened her eyes at the opportunity given to her. The brightness was unbelievable for Ira, who had been in the glacial ordeal just an hour ago.
“The tribe is below. “Let’s go down!”
I’m a warrior. I’m a hundred times, a thousand times better than those kids who brag and then get upset as soon as they experience the real ordeal. Berserk followed the girl, soaked in the drowsiness born of fatigue and fullness.
“As expected! I can see the village over there— Wow.”
And she encountered some traces there.
“Why did the ice melt…”
“Hide nearby.”
It was the trace that an experienced hunter had previously mistaken for a glacier ordeal.
Berserk’s eyes sparkled.