“Don’t worry. Let’s walk while feeling like we’re on a trip. Think of it as a stroll, you know.”
Myrrh Mine was quite far, so it would take at least twenty days to walk there. He thought it was a good deal, saving energy and spending time with the wolf.
Just as the forest trail ended, the village came into view. It was usually quiet even in the midday unless it was market day, but strangely, there were many people outside.
“Leon!”
The village chief, who was at the front, lightly tapped Leon’s shoulder, burdened with heavy baggage.
“I heard from the old lady. Take this for the long journey.”
“Oh, you don’t have to.”
“It’s not much.”
Without any hesitation, a pouch with coins was stuffed into Leon’s backpack. There wasn’t even room for one more pebble, but somehow, it fit.
“Leon, this too. Chew on it along the way.”
Demis handed over a hefty bundle.
“It’s things like jerky. You have to eat well on the road, or no one will help if you collapse on the way.”
“No, it’s okay…”
“Take this too.”
He could tell who gave him the boiled egg that was wrapped in a handkerchief without even looking.
“Aunt Gemini…”
“Don’t worry about Grandma. Everyone will occasionally check in and take a look during your absence.”
Gemini skillfully tucked the eggs into Demis’s bundle.
In this way, one by one, as he received, the luggage increased. Passing through the Mirakiki village and entering the forest path, the load had easily doubled by then. It was a situation where holding even the leash was difficult due to the fullness of items in both his hands.
“…”
Eventually, he put the baggage down on the ground.
“It won’t work. I might have to warp after all.”
Feeling embarrassed by the wolf’s intense gaze, Leon spoke for no reason.
“No, I was planning to walk with you like I was traveling… But carrying all this and walking around is impossible, right?”
Keeng.
“Such a waste. Come on, get closer here.”
We’re sorry for MTLers or people who like using reading mode, but our translations keep getting stolen by aggregators so we’re going to bring back the copy protection. If you need to MTL please retype the gibberish parts.
The wolf grumbled something, but its body clung tightly to Leon’s leg. In no time, a black sword floated in the air.
“Adnaid, I’ve been seeing you a lot these days.”
The sword swayed from side to side. It wasn’t comparable to the old days of seeing it every day. Leon chuckled a little at the sight of it that seemed to be speaking.
“Please guide me to Myrrh Mine.”
***
His foot landed on the hard ground. His ears opened before his eyes. It was because of the pouring sound of a waterfall, echoing loudly.
Leon opened his eyes and looked up at the unfolding landscape.
“Wow.”
It was a mine that extended along the cliff. The majestic rock face, as if carved, formed layers like giant stairs.
On the first floor, there was an entrance to the mine, and Leon could see steep stairs leading up to the second floor. On the second floor, there were stairs leading back to the third floor, and on the third floor, more stairs leading to the fourth floor… The mine continued endlessly in this manner.
“Is this all a diamond mine? It’s worth taking out a loan and investing in it.”
Beyond the waterfall pouring from the left side of the mine, white birds flew with fluttering wings. Leon momentarily put down his luggage and knelt at the water’s edge, formed by the waterfall. He cupped his hands, and clear water filled them.
“Wow, it’s incredibly refreshing. You should drink too.”
However, instead of approaching Leon, the wolf looked elsewhere. Leon, wiping his water-drenched hands, followed the wolf’s gaze.
At the top of the mine, far and high where it was barely visible, there was a silver something.
“Hey.”
Did their eyes meet?
As soon as he felt that way, the unidentified something took a step back, hiding its form. Leon’s gaze slowly descended, scanning the stairs.
“…Do I have to climb all these stairs to meet that person?”
Even if he took as few steps as possible, it would probably be a thousand. Already, the muscles in his thighs seemed to be screaming. Leon sat down on the spot, dragging his backpack.
“Let’s eat some eggs and jerky. I can’t possibly go up there with all this luggage.”
And so, an untimely lunch party unfolded. Leon, who took out the wild strawberries that Grandma had packed, placed them in front of the wolf, then chewed the beef jerky and searched through Demise’s bag.
“There are sandwiches.”
A sandwich generously spread with jam and even with cheese suited Leon’s taste perfectly. Thanks to it, he could momentarily set aside the anxiety of climbing over a thousand stairs and satisfy his hunger.
After eating and drinking a bit, the load became somewhat lighter. Now, he had no bundles in his hands.
Leon shook off the bread crumbs from his hands.
“I’ve been thinking, there’s really no need to climb the stairs. I should call Adnaid.”
Lack of exercise. The wolf glanced at Leon with eyes that clearly conveyed that. Anyway, Leon, who was about to call Adnaid, hesitated.
Did something rustle in the bushes just now… Was it an illusion?
Because of the waterfall sound, the silence felt even more pronounced. Leon stared at the bushes for a while, but nothing came out.
Perhaps there were contaminated creatures in the black smoke. If he were to casually use Adnaid’s power and collapse when it was really important, that would be a disaster.
Leon sighed and adjusted his backpack.
“Should I climb the stairs and die?”
The wolf wagged its tail and placed its front paw on the first step.
One hour later.
A lifeless hand suddenly protruded from below the cliff. The upper body of a youth, on the verge of death, hung over the edge of the cliff.
“Dying… Grandma… I’m dying on the stairs…”
In just an hour, Leon, who had become as limp as wilted leaves, collapsed on all fours, crawling, and tumbled down. Meanwhile, the lively wolf wagged its tail, licking Leon’s cheek.
“Water… thirsty…”
Leon dropped his backpack as if discarding it and took out water. He had drunk too much on the way up, so there wasn’t much left.
Leon, with his lips pressed against the water bottle, glanced back and shivered. It felt like he had climbed not a thousand but ten thousand stairs. His thighs, calves, and even the soles of his feet were screaming.
“Oh, I really feel like I’m going to die.”
Looking around in tatters, Leon saw nothing. There was nothing extraordinary about the mountainous surroundings and the silvery life form that he had briefly made eye contact with earlier was nowhere to be seen.
Could it be that climbing up here was not in vain? At this point, he hoped some monster contaminated by the black smoke would show up.
Rustle.
Perhaps it read Leon’s wish in the wind. A presence emerged from the nearby bushes. At that moment, the wolf, lowly growling, bristled the fur on its neck.
“There’s an intruder.”
Parting the bushes, a wolf with glistening fur emerged.
“I smelled the stench of a dirty human.”
The appearing wolf, standing on its hind legs, would undoubtedly surpass Leon’s height. In fact, it seemed like it could carry Leon on its back. Moreover, speaking like a human, it was clearly no ordinary beast.
Leon blinked at the front paws that looked more like soft cushions than claws.
“There really was one. A wolf that speaks human language.”
“Shut up, human. If you hadn’t brought our kin, your neck would already be pierced by my fangs.”
Feeling bewildered, Leon faced the other with an expression of confusion as soon as he was seen as a threat. The speaking wolf’s eyes were yellow, making them resemble a snake.
“Hand over our kin. I’ll let you go safely.”
“No, is it necessary to be so abrupt like this?”
“If you won’t hand it over, then I’ll take it myself.”
A massive paw moved forward. As soon as it did, Leon’s wolf, swelling its tail and revealing its fangs, protected Leon, and its dilated pupils expanded threateningly as if shielding Leon.
The approaching wolf narrowed its eyes.
“Do you not recognize your own kin growing up under the hands of humans? How foolish, not even realizing the shameful act of putting on a leash like an animal.”
Grrr…..
“You still don’t know how to speak. It’s embarrassing.”
Creak
“As an elder of the tribe, I must teach you a lesson firmly!”
Keong keong!
“Keep your mouth shut!”
Leon observed with a pitying look as the wolf, presumed to be fighting with a grandfatherly figure, who seemed like a child unable to communicate. Just as he was about to call Adnaid when the threatening approach began, suddenly another wolf appeared.
“Stop it. Both kin and human guests are startled.”
It was a calm and gentle female voice. Unlike the grandfatherly wolf, this one seemed to give a somewhat friendly impression, and above all, its eye color was similar to Leon’s wolf.
Dim blue eyes turned towards Leon.
“Excuse us. Garbage here doesn’t know manners.”
…?
“Trash, step back. This isn’t a place for a young one like you to interfere.”
…?
“Just a moment. Wait, please.”
Raising both hands, Leon alternately looked at the two wolves. Pointing to the grandfatherly wolf with yellow eyes mixed with white fur, he asked.
“Garbage?”
A dignified nod came as a response. While recovering from the disorienting state of mind, Leon pointed to the wolf with blue eyes with a female voice.
“Trash?”
“Nice to meet you.”
Garbage and Trash stood side by side, looking at Leon. Using the hand that pointed at them, Leon rubbed his dry face.
Even if we part, I must definitely name my wolf.
Jeje…. thanks very much for the chapter