As the rattling wagon completely left the Roudken Castle, Rensley lifted the curtain and came out, sitting next to the coachman’s seat.
In the pitch-dark night, where one could barely see a step ahead, only the lamplight by the carriage illuminated the field, flickering like a ghost. Although everything around looked uniformly dark, if you looked into the distance, you could vaguely distinguish the silhouette of mountains and the boundary between the sky, soothing the anxiety of being in a completely different world.
The cold air, as if frozen, made one’s nose tingle. But now, the cold was a trivial issue. The merchant, also negotiating deals outside, would be equally affected by the cold, so there was no room for sudden extravagance from the standpoint of someone who had just fallen into a difficult situation.
“What happened?”
Curious about the story, the merchant asked Rensley cautiously. The merchant, who traveled even in cold regions, raised the small bundle and a crumpled cup placed next to him, offering something. When he smelled it, it was a spiced, warmed liquor. After a few sips, it felt as if his stiff body was loosening. Rensley chuckled.
“I made a mistake in front of His Grace. Because of that, I can’t live there anymore. Thank you for bringing me out. I was wondering how to escape.”
“Isn’t the Knight still an apprentice? Is there anything an apprentice could have done wrong in front of His Grace?”
“Well… If I’m lucky, he might forgive me. But it’s uncomfortable for me. People are better off with physical hardships anywhere, but the mind should be at ease, shouldn’t it? He treated me so kindly from afar, but instead of repaying the favor, I caused trouble. Leaving quickly was beneficial for me and for His Grace.”
“Not a big problem, right? Is there something worth chasing us up to the upper echelons?”
“Oh, no. Would the Knights go so far for a mistake made by an apprentice?”
He clapped his hands and took a few more sips of the liquor. Tongue against the lips, Rensley brought up the story he had been curious about.
“What… What did Daria say?”
“He said his brother went to Aldrant in his place. His father tried to sell him, so he ran away but later found out that his brother had been given in his place. He couldn’t tell me the details, but he asked me to check on his well-being, and if he’s still in Aldrant, bring him back if possible. But when I questioned you, you said you became a Knight, so I was surprised. It’s usually obvious what happens to people sold in exchange for debt. They either roll like slaves, die after a while, or are sold somewhere else, and their whereabouts become unknown… Most people end up like that. Honestly, I didn’t expect to find you.”
Rensley nodded. Although the words “sold in exchange for debts” were a euphemism, the essence was no different.
Even if the baggage handed over was immediately disposed of by the Duke’s hands with an implicit message that there would be no noise even if it were to be eliminated, looking back now, it might have been better for the swift stabilization of the Aldrant Duke’s residence.
“Well, I’ve been wandering around this area a few times for trade, and Aldrant people aren’t as indecent as they say outside. Although they may seem a bit rough, they’re not meticulous about trivial matters, so they have a bold and refreshing side. They don’t bother with small calculations, so there’s no one better for a merchant to deal with.”
“Daria is doing well?”
“Of course. You know him well since he’s your brother. At first, he joined the guards of the upper echelons because he was good with a sword. Thanks to his skills, he has negotiated several deals recently. He’s a rising star in our upper echelons.”
“As expected. I believed Daria would do well anywhere. That’s why I wasn’t too worried, although I was curious about how he was doing.”
Upon hearing Ivet’s praise, the dimmed heart rekindled. Even though they had come without dignity to those who had left behind, the thought of meeting his sister after a long time still brought subtle excitement.
“Can I meet Daria where we are going now?”
“Hmm? No. If the plan was to come this way, wouldn’t Daria have come personally and asked me? Daria has another deal now, so he went there. But if you go back to the upper headquarters with me, you can naturally meet him.”
“Oh, I see.”
Rensley lowered the cup and stared at the seemingly black liquor glass. The banquet was probably in full swing, and the people in the castle likely hadn’t noticed Rensley’s absence.
The merchant’s casual question was gradually bothering him like prickly thorns in his mind. Despite brushing off the concerns of being chased up to the upper echelons, there was always a chance.
If he had quietly slipped away without being noticed by anyone, the worry would be less, but there were witnesses. Anton Sorel, the head of the Knight Order, always understood Rensley’s position, but if the Duke wanted to find Rensley Maelrosen through Anton, he would naturally follow the Duke’s will. Just like with Duke Gezell, there was always a feeling of wandering somewhere between sentiment and duty when dealing with Anton.
“I can’t go all the way there with you.”
Rensley quickly made up his mind, and the merchant widened his eyes.
“Why not? It won’t take long. If you go a bit further and stay overnight at the inn, you can take a boat and use the river to head straight south. Some people will gather there, and you can quickly meet Daria.”
“I don’t think His Grace would do that, but listening to you, I can’t be sure. If I were to go there and be traced…”
“No, seriously, what did you do? Did you plot treason?”
As he gloomily confessed, the merchant’s eyes darkened. Staring at his face, which instantly became stiff, Rensley couldn’t bear it and burst into laughter.
“It’s a joke! It’s nothing, but I don’t know if His Grace will be angry or forgive me.”
“What on earth, why make such a creepy joke? I thought my heart was going to stop.”
“Maybe you won’t think so, but I don’t want to cause any harm to the upper echelons, even a little. So, it’s better for us to part ways here.”
“No, still… If you don’t have a specific destination, wouldn’t it be better to go together? Daria will be waiting, too.”
The desire not to cause harm to the upper echelons was greater on the merchant’s side. Nonetheless, perhaps feeling a bit uneasy about Rensley’s words, his tone suggesting going together was somewhat diminished.
“Sir Knight, let’s just go together to the inn. If we part there, will there be a problem?”
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.
“Rb, P’ii ufa boo tfgf.”
“Qtja? Rb, sbe mjc’a. Gb sbe xcbk ktfgf atlr lr ab ufa boo rb mbcolvfcais? Tbe’ii ogffhf ab vfjat kjcvfglcu jgbecv lc atf cbgatfgc qijlcr.”
“Pcrafjv, qifjrf rfii wf rbwf atlcur. Vlcmf la kbc’a ajxf ibcu ab atf cfza lcc, lo sbe ulnf wf bcf bo atf vbcxfsr qeiilcu atf mjggljuf, la kbeiv yf ugfja. Mbbv, mibatfr, abbir ab wjxf j olgf… Tbe qgbyjyis xcbk yfaafg atjc wf ktja sbe cffv obg j pbegcfs.”
Rensley rummaged through the bag he brought and took out a small piece of gold. Indeed, gold was gold, and even in the dark night, it showed a special brilliance.
The merchant’s gaze also changed. Alternating between Rensley and the gold, he accepted it and bit it slightly.
“Will this be enough for the cost of the items?”
“It’s more than enough as compensation for helping with travel preparations.”
“Thanks to you, I was able to easily escape the castle. Please consider this as a repayment for that.”
The merchant didn’t try to stop Rensley anymore. He paused the wagon for a moment, bustling back and forth, preparing new belongings for Rensley.
The donkey was sturdy and docile. Even when the rope tied to the carriage was untied, it just looked around a few times and didn’t kick or fuss.
“Winter in the northern plains is not a place for a night journey novice to wander around casually. Be careful, very careful.”
“Yes.”
“All right, first, put on this cloak. Wear gloves and change your shoes. The enchantment on them isn’t permanent, but it should help maintain your body temperature outside for a few days. Put on this headband over the hat. It’s what herbalists and miners use when entering caves. It won’t go out in the wind like a candle, so there’s nothing better for night travel. It won’t last forever, but it should hold until sunrise. And if you encounter beasts or monsters, throw these.”
The merchant explained each item carefully, assisting Rensley in gearing up. Although he grumbled about reckless actions here and there, it seemed he wasn’t entirely disapproving. Rensley, on the contrary, felt relieved.
“With these, you should be fine going out for a while. But wait a moment. Whether it’s an inn or a village, find one quickly, thaw your body, and decide on your next destination.”
“Thank you.”
Rensley rummaged through the bag once more. This time, he took out a necklace made of copper. It looked like an item with little monetary value, more like a souvenir or a child’s toy.
“Please give this to Daria. He’ll recognize it as mine. Tell him I’m doing well. Also, let him know not to worry; there’s no fault on his part.”
“…Will you really not accompany me? Even if you’re leaving, at least meeting and exchanging greetings for now would be…”
“There will be another chance.”
Rensley now shifted his gaze towards the direction of the Roudken Ducal Castle, which was no longer visible. A few strands of blonde hair that had escaped from his hat fluttered against his cheek in the sharp wind. Despite the freezing weather, a warm smile, unsuitable for such a chilly day, was drawn on Rensley’s face.
“Now that I’ve heard the news, the thought that we can meet anytime has come to mind. If I want to meet you later, where should I go?”
“Sir Knight, our organization is called Kyros. Our headquarters are on the outskirts of the city of Molbessa in Pheraira, a considerable place. It shouldn’t be difficult to find us if you ask around.”
“I’ll remember. Thank you.”
Rensley mounted the donkey. He shook hands with the merchant, turned around, and though a somewhat lamenting voice followed, muttering something like, ‘Oh, well…,’ Rensley didn’t look back.
The merchant also seemed to be setting off, as the sound of the wagon wheels rolling on the hard ground was heard. The sounds gradually faded away, and finally disappeared.
The resonating sound of the wind, mingled with the rustling of dry grass, seemed to threaten Rensley, echoing around him. Although tears welled up reflexively due to the biting wind, Rensley blinked them away. Pulling up the new scarf over his nose, he hummed a tune, inappropriate for such a cold day.
The wind had always been Rensley’s friend. Just because it got a little colder and sharper, a long-standing friendship wouldn’t break.
“Sorry for suddenly dragging you into this journey. I’ll be counting on you.”
As Rensley greeted the donkey by lowering his head close to its face, the donkey snorted as if to acknowledge.
Where to go? He had to decide on a definite destination after looking at a map in the daylight. For now, escaping from possible pursuit was the priority.
If they were to trace him, they would probably first follow the upper levels. Even if he secretly left the castle, the maximum distance he could cover would be guessed. Maybe it would be better to hide nearby in a place? Rensley stared at the dark forest that looked like a black sea in the distance.
They said the forest at night was dangerous, but he had weapons and defensive magical tools. Staying briefly at the edge shouldn’t be a problem, especially considering how he remembered the fields, where the cold and wind were milder.
“Now, let’s go.”
Pulling the reins, the donkey walked steadily without protest. Raising his head, Rensley looked up at the sky. The scattered stars above sparkled as if welcoming the frost. A beautiful night sky appeared, and thoughts that had been postponed rushed in.
‘What would he do if he found out I disappeared?’
Though he had parted ways with the merchant to prepare for any unforeseen circumstances, he didn’t actually think the Duke would move to find him. However, it was a sudden situation, and a reaction would be expected. Rensley cautiously pictured his figure.
‘Will you be very upset? Perhaps you’ll be angry? Will you think I deceived you? Maybe I shouldn’t have said words like ‘I love you.’ But it was the last time. …Will you really try to find me?’ In the end, only a bitter smile emerged.
‘I don’t understand why the human heart is so cunning. Being by your side became increasingly burdensome, and repeating the request to let me go was so futile.’ Thinking that the Duke might want to find the subject that left his side like fleeing, Rensley strangely felt better.
‘Well, whatever. It’s just imagination anyway.’
While advancing through the silent darkness, petty fantasies became his good companion. As the night gradually turned into a dim dawn, Rensley reached the edge of the forest. The forest, which had been dimly lit by the starlight from the sky, now became a completely dark zone where even the light was concealed.
“It’s a bit scary….”
Rensley murmured to himself, trying to soothe his fears. Although the outside of the forest was gradually approaching dawn, the inside was still the deepest part of the night. He got off the donkey and firmly held the reins. Guided by the light of the lamp given by the merchant, he walked slowly, illuminating the ground in front of him and under his feet.
He had no intention of going deep into the forest. He planned to spend some time near the outskirts, examining the map when the day was completely bright to decide on his destination. He had been bitten by wild animals in the forest before and, considering the danger, people wouldn’t expect Rensley to take refuge in the forest.
How far should he go in? His cautious gestures to survey the surroundings were careful. With the dagger at his waist, Rensley moved stealthily, not letting go of his hand from the weapon. The inside of the forest was covered with snow here and there, making him even more cautious.
In the meantime, the dawn light, like silver, began to seep through the dense deciduous forest. Rensley looked back. Although he thought he moved slowly, it seemed he had walked quite a distance, as the entrance of the forest was already not visible, shrouded in hazy fog.
Crunch! Shortly after looking back, he heard footsteps that were not his own from the front. Quickly turning his head, he stepped back a few steps.
“Oops.”
A short breath was released. In the dark fog, something like the eyes of a beast flashed like lanterns.
Rensley clenched his teeth and immediately drew his sword. He couldn’t afford to be confused. If it was just one, he might be able to avoid fighting without the need to escape.
Grrrr. Following the footsteps, a growl came next. Judging from the sound, it seemed more like a beast than a monster. Moreover, it was not yet an adult.
If it was a young one, that was somewhat fortunate. Rensley didn’t attack first but prepared for defense, observing the opponent’s movements. Among wild animals, many would show their teeth but eventually retreat without attacking humans. Rensley was good at soothing animals.
The donkey began to show signs of anxiousness. Rensley gently shook the reins, comforting the donkey.
“It’s okay. Don’t be surprised. I’ll take care of it.”
However, the gleaming eyes betrayed expectations and approached closer and closer. Rensley’s hand holding the sword became more and more tense.
Thunk! With a loud bark, the owner of the eyes finally rushed at Rensley with its whole body. Rensley, trying not to panic, twisted his body backward, but his buttocks were stabbed backward, and he ended up tumbling.
“Huh?”
Between Rensley’s lips, a dumbfounded voice escaped. The figure revealed was completely different from what he had imagined.
Woof! With cheerful barking, Rensley burst into laughter. The wolf-like creature that jumped into his arms wagged its tail and licked his cheek. Rensley embraced the furry bundle of tongue and fur that licked his face with his tongue and smiled.
“It’s you from back then, right?!”
The fluffy grey wolf had grown a bit more since then, but it was unmistakably the one who had bitten Rensley on the first forest exploration. The wolf that attacked Rensley that day was a small cub, and it seemed to be injured, scared by the sudden appearance of monsters. Rensley realized it might have stepped on a trap somewhere; its leg was injured.
Feeling pain and fear, it became aggressive. Recognizing this, Rensley calmly soothed and calmed the cub, treating its injured leg with the herbs and bandages he had. After feeding it some dried meat he had as an emergency ration, he let it go. Actually, he wanted to take it back to the castle, but it seemed to have a mother, so he couldn’t go that far.
“Is your leg fully healed now? Hmm, looks fine. But why are you here?”
Having separated from the reunited pup as if parting with a family member, Rensley, who was petting it warmly, tilted his head a moment later.
The place where he first encountered the wolf was in the forest right next to Roudken Castle. Since he had traveled quite a distance by carriage from the castle, it was far from there. Even if the forest was connected as one, it seemed unnatural for a young wolf to have come this far.
“Did you get lost? Or did the whole pack move here together?”
Woof, woof, woof. Whether the dog understood or not, it continued to bark as if wanting to say something. Rensley stood up with the dog still in his arms. However, the pup, far from sitting quietly, twisted its body.
“Do you want to go down?”
Carefully letting it down, the dog wagged its tail satisfactorily, whimpering. It looked at Rensley as if inviting him to follow, then turned and walked a few steps. When Rensley took a few steps and stopped, the dog turned around, barked again, and wagged its tail. It was a clear message to follow.
Rensley chuckled. Thanks to the sudden companion, his fear had completely disappeared. If the pack had moved together, they would know the forest paths much better than him, and following them around without worry meant that the likelihood of dangerous beasts or monsters appearing in this area was low.
Of course, it couldn’t be blindly trusted. On the first day they met, it was clear that the appearance of the one who met a monster while playing alone, separated from the pack, was distinctive. Anyway, judging that it would be much safer than wandering alone, Rensley did not hesitate and followed the wolf without further delay.
Lowering his guard, the scenery of the forest, which had been frightening until a while ago, now revealed its majestic beauty. Although it was still dark, the complete darkness, like when he first entered the forest, had somewhat dissipated.
Unlike the forests of Cornia, there was no golden sunlight or the sounds of birds chirping, but the sound of snow falling from the tree branches, the footsteps of small animals living in the cold regions walking on the ground and on the trees occasionally tickled the ears. Just as the rumored desolate land of Aldrant turned out to be an ordinary country where people lived, this forest was not just a terrifying space.
How far had they walked? The sound of flowing water began to get closer. Rensley, following the dog without stopping, continued to move forward.
“Wow….”
Rensley involuntarily exclaimed at the scenery that appeared soon after. Deep inside the forest flowed a quite large river.
He didn’t know if it was part of the Silver River that Duke Gezell had mentioned. It was still not bright enough to see the water clearly, but the scale was discernible even with blurred vision. Judging by the sound of the flow, the current was quite fast.
Hearing the sound of water, Rensley’s heart settled more calmly. However… Rensley smiled as he looked down at the wolf standing next to him.
“We can’t cross here, can we?”
The river flowed under a cliff that seemed to have been carved. There was neither a bridge nor a ferry where the eyes could reach. If it were a proper sunny day, he might try to find a way to descend the cliff, but now it was still dark, and judging from the sound of the water, there was no suitable place to swim across.
‘If I had wandered here alone, I might not have seen the path properly and could have fallen by stepping in vain….’
As the thought reached that far, a shiver ran down his spine.
Woof! The wolf barked once again. The wolf that had been wagging its tail continued to bark and suddenly jumped down below the cliff. Surprised, Rensley reached out to grab the wolf.
“Hey, buddy!”
But he was a step too late. With a futile attempt and a twist of his body, he narrowly avoided falling off the cliff. For a brief moment, the terror of death drenched Rensley’s entire body. Huff, huff. Rensley breathed in deeply, blinking his eyes.
But before the fear could fully grasp him, this time an unreal sight was thrust before his eyes.
Certainly, the pup that jumped off the cliff did not fall below. It definitely jumped off the cliff, but.
“…Are you, by any chance, a monster?”
Rensley mumbled in a daze. The pup was standing in the air beyond the cliff. No matter how many times he blinked and rubbed his eyes, the unbelievable dream-like scene did not disappear.
No matter how you looked at it, the pup was just a pup, not a bird or a monster. It was a wingless wolf floating nonchalantly in the air between cliffs, as if on solid ground.
‘Could it be that I fell off the cliff and have already died? Am I now seeing something absurd under the influence of a forest monster?’
It seemed strange that he had coincidentally encountered the wolf from that day here. What if it wasn’t a pup, but a monster trying to take him to another world?
Rensley suddenly became uneasy and took a step back. At that moment, the wolf barked more fervently, running back and forth in place.
“Are you asking me to follow? Are you telling me to jump off the cliff?”
After hesitating for a while, Rensley released the reins he held like a lifeline.
“Stay here. Let me go first.”
Determined, Rensley mounted his donkey and stood in front of the cliff with a deeply furrowed brow. Even if he walked confidently, he might hear praise for his courage, but there were no spectators to cheer now, and it was still scary.
Rensley sat on the edge of the cliff, sticking his buttocks to it. He extended his leg from the cliff and kicked into the air.
“Huh…?”
A wave of puzzlement spread across Rensley’s face, and his furrowed brow twitched. Slowly rising, he stood up and extended his left foot.
Although he could see the open space, he felt the ground under his foot. Rensley’s eyes widened. It felt like there was transparent glass laid under the cliff.
Ugh. But the fear still didn’t completely disappear. With groaning sounds, Rensley dragged his right foot almost desperately and managed to lift it from the cliff. Finally, with both legs in the air, the furrow disappeared from Rensley’s forehead.
Like the pup a while ago, he tried to take a step in place. Rensley was definitely floating in the air, but under his feet, it was stable without any shaking. Even in the current situation where he might be dead or seeing something absurd, curiosity and wonder overcame anxiety and fear.
Pulling the reins, the donkey, seeing that the wolf and the person were ahead, fortunately followed Rensley without much resistance. Convinced that the wolf was following him, the canine increased its speed and ran ahead.
How long had they walked? Suddenly, a bright sunlight bathed Rensley’s face as he followed the pup. The purple eyes, which had been dyed blue, regained their original color, and they trembled transparently at the newly revealed landscape.
“What’s going on…?”
Had he really come to another world? Rensley couldn’t close his mouth and slowly looked around. Everything surrounding him had changed completely.
The dark and cold winter forest disappeared, replaced by a blue sky with light clouds and warm sunlight, welcoming Rensley. Leaves that had swollen with a blue tint and fragrant flowers of various colors, not plants from Aldrant, hung lushly between the soft and thin grassy fields, and small animals like rabbits and squirrels roamed peacefully.
A gentle and thin breeze caressed his face like a veil. The cheerful sounds of birds chirping rolled around like jingling bells. Rensley took off his thick hat and loosened his scarf. The cold that seemed to have evaporated completely disappeared, and only warm air enveloped his body.
A bird that had been chirping flew to Rensley’s shoulder. It didn’t seem to be wary of humans at all. Temporarily forgetting his confusion, Rensley reached out quietly. The bird with beautiful iridescent feathers hopped onto Rensley’s hand and poked his fingers with its small beak. The tickling sensation of the tip of the beak that barely opened made Rensley laugh.
[You are the human who helped my child.]
A unique resonance of a voice echoed at that moment.
[I welcome you to my forest.]
Without being able to reply, a shadow as large as a passing cloud’s passed over Rensley’s face. It was enormous. The only way to express it was that it was gigantic. A white wolf, several tens of times larger than the pup, stuck out like a pop-up book, looking down at Rensley.
😮
What 😶
Thank you for the translation as always 🙂
ur welcomeeee<333
Nice!
My first through: is this Gezel familiar or the beast similar to a familiar?
Thank you!
ur welcomee~💛
Mommy what’s happening. Where am I ? (≧▽≦)
Tysm for Translating. Rensley is safe thank God 💕
😁💛💛
Wow confused but excited, what if he becomes a magician🤪🤩