What's a Pilgrimage, You Imperial?
What's a Pilgrimage, You Imperial?
I walked between the tents, sharpening my senses.
As my perception heightened, even the sounds of people holding their breath inside the tents became clearly audible.
I don't know that bastard's name, but I remember his size.
Kung
I felt the vibrations as I stepped on the ground, sensing the builds of the children inside the tents.
Not this one, not that one either.
Kung kung
At the sound and vibration, I made eye contact with kids who carelessly opened their tents.
"Hick!"
The kids hastily closed their tents. Scaredy, who's dying?
Kung!
Suddenly, I sensed that bastard.
... He wasn't alone. Other smaller guys were gathered too. Their underlings?
Peolleok
I headed toward where I sensed him, swept aside the tent flap, and stepped inside.
The bastards were gathered near the campfire. The moment they looked at me, their faces turned white.
"W-Warrior recognized by Winter...!"
"... What is it? You look like you've seen a monster. Faces gone completely pale?"
I looked around at the frozen kids, then stared at the big bastard dripping with cold sweat.
I tilted my head and glared.
"Was it you? The one who harassed my little sister?"
"N-No! I didn't harass her! I just... wanted to talk to her...!!"
"Shut up."
The bastard's mouth clamped shut.
I walked slowly, circling around him.
"Nice muscles. Good build, huh?"
The bastard flinched.
"Your parents would be proud. Right?"
I grabbed his shoulders from behind and growled.
"So why the hell did you mess with my little sister?"
Peok!
"Ugh!"
I tapped the back of his knee, and with a groan he collapsed to his knees. I walked around in front, crouched down, and stared closely into his eyes.
"Listen carefully. You too."
I rolled my eyes to look at the others—all of them were trembling.
"If you ever touch my little sister again, you know what'll happen? Don't worry. I won't kill you."
I smirked and continued.
"But I'll make sure you live unable to die, with a broken body that just makes you a burden. Wonder how much your parents will resent you? Curious?"
The bastard shook his head frantically.
"Then act right. When I get back from hunting, if I see even a single sign that something happened to her, your knees are the first thing I'll break."
I watched him nod like crazy, let out a snicker, patted his shoulder a couple times, and stepped out of the tent.
Once outside, the cool wind cooled my head a bit.
"... Maybe I went too far."
I guess I've grown too attached to Serkai.
Not that it's a bad thing. If I'd had a little sister as an orphan, would reality have been less harsh?
I was walking, thinking like that to cool my head a bit more.
When I reached the Winter Gate, I saw an Imperial dressed in clothes I'd never seen in this village.
A young blonde woman wearing a gray-brown robe and a wide-brimmed hat.
She was standing quietly near the Winter Gate, as if waiting for someone.
"Lukar."
I turned around at the familiar voice from behind—Vargen was standing there.
"I heard you caught a bear. A big one. Well done."
"It was nothing. More importantly, who is that person?"
I pointed, and Vargen looked toward the Imperial.
"A pilgrim. They come by occasionally."
"Pilgrim?"
Pilgrim to what? Is there some holy place nearby worth going on a pilgrimage?
"Hmm... I see, you don't know. Follow me."
Vargen strode toward the woman.
Sudden, but that's just how Vargen is, so I calmly followed behind.
The woman came into view. A beauty, but her eyes stared into empty space and her blue irises were cloudy.
Could she be blind? Her lips were cracked, her cheeks sunken—she looked like she hadn't eaten in days.
Just then, she turned her head toward us.
"Oh, hello. Are you... the Elder?"
Her voice was thin and cracked too. As she looked, Vargen nodded.
"I'm Vargen. I hear you want to go on a pilgrimage."
"Yes, my name is Luna. Here..."
She pulled something from her bosom and held it out. It was a piece of paper labeled "Pilgrim's Document."
What's that?
"Hmm, come this way. It's getting late, so I'll arrange a place for you to stay tonight."
Vargen glanced at the paper, nodded, and gestured with his chin. Then he immediately turned and walked away.
Wait, is it okay to leave a blind person like this?
"Okay~"
But Luna followed after Vargen on her own.
She turned her head earlier too—maybe her other senses are developed since she can't see?
As I followed behind, the warriors in the forge district gathered their gazes on us.
"... A pilgrim."
"It's been a while. Though, the last one came... must've been over ten years."
"There was one?"
"Yeah. A girl they called the Saint."
"That little girl was a Saint? Hard to believe back then..."
They were exchanging stories... anyway, seems she really is here for a pilgrimage.
So there must be some holy site around here... but I've never heard of it.
No wait, it could be that since we barbarians don't talk unless we have to, I just never heard about it.
The place Vargen arrived at was my tent.
"...???"
What? Why'd he bring her to my tent? Don't tell me—
Vargen looked at her, confirming my suspicion, and gestured toward my tent with his chin.
"Stay here for today."
"W-Wait. Hold on. That's my house."
I quickly blocked the tent entrance.
Suddenly cohabitating with a woman? That makes no sense.
Vargen smirked and looked down at me.
"Just for today. And this is the only place available. Also, you'll be the one escorting this pilgrim."
"Hold on, what even is a pilgrim?"
Just then, I sensed someone quietly approaching from beside me.
"... A pilgrim is someone heading toward the holy site north of Herkan."
I turned my head—it was Kirna, holding Serkai's hand. Perfect timing.
"North of Herkan?"
"Yeah. And I heard Herkan accepts and helps pilgrims..."
"Food~"
I patted Serkai, who had naturally clung to my leg, and looked up at Vargen.
"So, you're telling me to be her escort?"
"Yes. It'll be a good experience for you."
I thought for a moment. Seeing a wider world sounds good... but no, I can't. If I disappear right now, Serkai would—
"I'll take care of Serkai. Don't worry."
"And we'll assign you a guide too. Just follow the trail straight."
The two of them spoke as if they'd rehearsed it, making me sigh.
"Haah... fine, I'll do it."
"Oh, thank you, young man. I'm Luna. Please take care of me."
She bowed her head in greeting. Hmm, this is my first time talking to a woman—what am I supposed to say?
Just talk normally. On the outside, I'm practically an adult anyway.
"... I'm Lukar. Come inside for now."
"Heehee, thank you."
I let out a faint sigh, led her into the tent, and looked up at Vargen.
"So, I really just need to follow the trail straight?"
"Yes. A guide will accompany you, and the Chieftain will assign two warriors as well. Now, rest."
Vargen said that and just walked away.
Damn it, that basically means I'm on my own, doesn't it?
"Lukar, want me to help?"
Kirna suddenly appeared in front of me.
"Ah, damn, don't just pop in like that."
"Oh... sorry. I thought I might be useful..."
Hmm, she's not like other warriors—she's more delicate, so that might be fine.
"Alright. Then you sleep here tonight too."
"... Yeah, okay."
I watched her nod quietly and went inside the tent.
Inside, Luna was lying near the campfire with her eyes closed.
"... This place is pretty nice, actually. Cozy... makes me sleepy..."
Seeing her like that made me feel strangely sorry for her.
Yeah, pilgrimages are usually tough. Coming all the way up here to the north must be exhausting.
"If you're tired, sleep."
"......"
She's already dead asleep.
Well, anyway. I started preparing dinner as usual.
"Come sit here too. Let's think about this together."
"Yeah."
She sat right next to me.
"You're too close."
"... Sorry."
She moved slightly farther away, and I silently started boiling porridge.
"So, tell me more clearly. Do you know what this holy site in the north actually is?"
"... I've only heard about it."
The campfire blazed, casting a red glow on our faces.
"They say there's a very vast, wide plain in the north."
"A plain?"
There's a plain in this rough terrain?
"Yeah. But they say it's not just any plain. The ground is black and shiny, and there's something tingly about it... Oh, and they said there's a huge pit in the center, with a fire that never goes out."
... What the hell is that? I can't even imagine.
"... So, I just need to take this person there?"
"Yeah. But not like this. She'll freeze to death."
"Oh, right."
We have high body temperature so we're fine, but she came from the Empire... maybe she came when the weather was relatively warmer?
But heading north means it'll get even colder. Looking at her clothes, I'm worried already.
"Then we need to prepare clothes first."
"Yeah. We can go to Uncle Truga."
"He's not going to ask for money, is he?"
"... That, I don't know."
Either way, the plan was roughly set.
We shared the porridge, and woke Luna from her dead sleep to feed her too.
After eating, her reaction was:
"Oh, this is delicious! Tastes just like home cooking!"
Well, this is my home...
Anyway, whether it was because of Luna's easygoing nature that accepted everything as it came, the night passed peacefully.
But why the hell was Kirna sleeping right next to me?
It's already hot enough with Serkai.
I ended up waking up drenched in sweat.
The water here is freezing cold and I hate that creepy feeling, but I'll have to wash up later.
After breakfast, Kirna said she'd go call Uncle Truga and left.
Not long after, Uncle Truga pushed open the tent flap and stepped inside.
"Are you the pilgrim?"
He gave Luna a quick glance, pursed his lips tight, then set down the bundle strapped to his shoulder on the ground.
Kung
"You'll need this heading north."
Then he just left.
... What was that reaction?
"Oh my... I should at least thank him..."
"Don't bother."
I stopped her from being unnecessarily polite. I could already feel his presence fading far away. Guess he's uncomfortable around women.
We all gathered together and opened the bundle.
Inside were thicker robes, fur-lined hoods, leather boots made from pelts, and various adjustable gear and rations.
We put the clothes on her right away. I asked Kirna, and she said it takes about half a day to reach Herkan walking.
"Hooah... it's warm..."
"Bear it. We'll be heading out soon."
After dressing her fully, I tied the remaining bundle of rations to my belt and picked up my spear.
"Alright, I'll be back. Take good care of Serkai in the meantime."
I patted Serkai, who stayed behind in the tent, and shook hands with Kirna, who would look after her.
Kirna seemed to avoid my eyes, but I ignored it and crouched down to Serkai's level.
"You can handle yourself, right, Serkai?"
The kid shook her head and muttered.
"... Food..."
"Ha, geez. I'll have to teach you how to talk properly when I get back."
I smirked, patted my little sister's head, and stood up.
"Alright, I'm off."
I pushed aside the tent flap and stepped outside into the cool wind.
As I came out, someone quietly walked toward me.
"Hey, are you the pilgrim's escort?"
"I'm Lukar. You're the guide?"
He really looked the part of a guide. Lean all over, with the exact impression of a local tribesman.
"Yeah. They call me Rehran. If you're ready, let's go."
I nodded, and we headed toward the northern forest with Luna.