Chapter 417
Chapter 417
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 417
Chapter Title: Fugitive (4)
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The drizzle had stopped long ago.
Every time I breathed in, white steam poured out.
Towering rock mountains rose densely on both sides of the road.
I murmured while fixing my gaze on the sheer cliffs.
"What a nostalgic sight... I wonder if that dwarf is still alive."
It felt like a distant dream now.
The Romaira mountain road connecting the western continent to the Empire.
I had passed through here in the past with Asel on our way to Phileon.
Schlieffen, walking beside me, raised an eyebrow.
"A dwarf?"
"Yeah, a friend of mine. Never heard the name Asel?"
"First time hearing it. Doesn't sound like a famous mage."
"Sigh, I figured as much. What a loss to the world."
I pulled out my pipe and put it in my mouth.
As expected, Asel hadn't awakened his talents.
I wondered what he might be up to if he was still alive.
My guess was he was either captured by some shady bastards and having his abilities exploited, or out in some rural dump shoveling cow shit.
"As long as he hasn't been snatched by some weird perverts... Sigh. He needs to toughen up a bit."
"A lady?"
"Nah, a guy. You'd get why I'm worried if you saw his face once."
His looks had a very specific appeal, making him all the more vulnerable.
I looked ahead again.
The winding road stretched to the horizon.
We seemed to be more than halfway there.
After taking out the Imperial Guard, we were heading to Nimberton where my sister was.
"Let's take a short breather while we walk. Legs still got some juice?"
"Obviously."
"Good. I thought you had arthritis or something, struggling against those worthless fucks."
"Kuh..."
Schlieffen gritted his teeth.
He felt ashamed for not finishing off the Imperial Guard.
Truth be told, there was no reason for him to feel embarrassed.
"Just kidding, man. And you not catching them was just a matchup issue, so relax. Pure skill-wise, your pinky toe is stronger than those bastards."
"Matchup...? Just what the hell are you? What's your goal?"
"Beats me. Can't remember. Might come back to me when we reach Nimberton."
"Kuh..."
Schlieffen trembled with anger.
He was fun to tease.
He didn't fully trust me yet, but he was following without complaint.
In a way, it was similar to Orse from the previous world.
Wouldn't anyone be curious after I one-shot his rival who had him on the ropes?
Whoosh!
A sudden gust blew away the pipe smoke.
"Damn, it's cold."
The bone-chilling cold made me pull my collar up.
The relatively mild weather turned to winter the moment we entered the mountains.
Winter... winter.
Suddenly, someone's face flashed through my mind.
"Right. When did you catch the Winter Witch?"
"About four years ago. Before Barca became regent."
"And that's when Stormblade awakened too?"
"Yeah. I couldn't beat her without taking it one step further."
Schlieffen answered calmly.
There was frostbite scarring on the back of his neck from that fight.
Remnants of unmelting ice still scarred the mountain road, glistening here and there.
The Winter Witch had descended in this world too.
The completely frozen Romaira mountain road only thawed with the help of the Fire Dragon Clan.
I counted on my fingers.
Based on events like the Winter Witch incident and Barca's rise that Schlieffen mentioned, I could roughly figure out the current timeline.
'About three years until the Baldies descend.'
If no variables changed things.
It had been seven years since I regressed, back when I was still a kid.
No wonder Schlieffen seemed more worn; he was actually older than me now.
'No, it might come sooner. Without Adeshan.'
A bitter smile formed.
I couldn't meet the woman who was supposed to be my wife this time either.
It was to be expected.
These parallel worlds, including this one, were leftovers after Adeshan died and I regressed.
After a pause, I spoke up.
"Ever heard the name Adeshan?"
"You mean the former Grand General from Acalusia?"
"Yeah. So she went to Acalusia around this time?"
"Of course I know her. She was the best soldier I ever saw. Looking back now, the Empire started falling apart after she died."
Schlieffen explained that Adeshan met a mysterious death during an expedition.
He added that conditions were so bad they couldn't even recover her body.
"Beyond her abilities, she gave off this strange impression. She achieved terrifying feats but was never satisfied, always looking further ahead. If the Grand General had lived, scum like Barca never would've become regent."
"...I see."
My nose stung like I'd eaten wasabi.
I might not have seen the Baldies' descent, but the process wasn't meaningless.
A voice squeezed from deep in my throat emerged.
"You worked hard here too."
I bit my lip and rubbed my dry face.
Hearing about my lover's death was no good, no matter the world.
The sky was brightening; the weather would clear soon.
"Huuu... Alright. Time to get moving."
I took a deep breath and turned to Schlieffen.
To arrive by mealtime, we needed to pick up the pace now.
With no clue where Akasha was, focusing on my sister was best.
"Ready."
Schlieffen nodded.
Blue mana rippled over his thighs.
"Good. Here we go."
Eye contact was the signal.
Boom!
We kicked off the ground simultaneously, shooting forward like a gale.
The aged mountain path, steeped in nostalgia with every step, blurred past on both sides.
"...We're here."
My footsteps halted.
Surprisingly, it hadn't taken long to reach our destination.
A faint after-rain haze shimmered under the now-clear sky.
"Nimberton."
A small village spread out below the hill.
Cypress trees lining the path were beautiful.
Even as the Empire crumbled, the river winding through the village flowed steadily.
"Nothing's changed here."
It was nothing like the gloomy capital.
Villagers in simple clothes wandered the rain-cleared village.
The intact hometown scenery, no different from the original world, eased my heart.
I was lost in sentiment when...
Schlieffen caught up and stopped beside me.
"Hah... Hack!"
He immediately heaved rough breaths.
Propping his hands on his knees like a commoner, panting hard—he looked exhausted.
I turned to Schlieffen and clicked my tongue.
"Quit whining. A fugitive for treason can't run that little?"
"Hah... Huuu... Shut up...!"
Schlieffen glared murderously.
His marble-pale face was flushed beet red.
I got it, though.
We'd covered what should've taken three days in three hours.
"Wash up in the river before seeing sis. Shave that shitty beard while you're at it."
"This... Huu, is the symbol of my struggles... No plans to shave for a while."
"God, so stubborn. Don't you care about your face? You look like a bandit from a cave."
Sweat beads on his beard were gross.
I thumped my chest in frustration, but Schlieffen was resolute.
How did this iron-willed prick who seemed like he'd iron seaweed end up such a tough guy?
"By the way, where's the hyacinth?"
"Huu... Forgot it."
"Are you insane? I told you back in Phileon."
"No reason I should bring flowers your sister likes. If it's formal, shouldn't you?"
Schlieffen replied curtly.
He'd caught his breath and regained composure.
"Hopeless. I was giving you a chance to score points... Don't blame me if you regret it."
"Grancia doesn't regret such things. I'll head to the river."
"Yeah. Don't get lost."
No helping it if he didn't want to.
Splitting from Schlieffen, I headed straight to the house where my sister and I used to live.
Some villagers whispered at my face but, thankfully, didn't approach.
'Wait. What happened to me in this world? Am I still alive?'
A sudden question hit me.
It felt like the key to some great idea, but no time to dwell now.
I'm meeting my sister.
The sister seven years after sending off her brother.
Soon, a small cabin appeared ahead along the path.
Smoke rose from the chimney—she was home.
Stopping at the door, I took a deep breath.
"Huuu... More tense than when the Bald King awakens..."
I had no clue what to say first.
Strictly speaking, I wasn't this world's sister's brother.
But second time around, I felt braver than the first.
"Yeah. It'll be fine."
I slapped my face and grabbed the doorknob.
The wooden door creaked open on rusty hinges.
A nostalgic smell flooded in.
Scanning the dim interior quickly, I furrowed my brow.
"Huh?"
No one was inside the dark house.
Only nearly burned logs remained in the fireplace, casting faint light.
My heart sank.
Memories from the original world surfaced.
My sister had been kidnapped by Abel to be made a saintess of Nebula Klazie.
"No."
Blood raced double-time through my veins.
As I rushed in without shaking off the dirt from my shoes...
A tinkling voice rang out from behind.
"Wh-who are you?!"
"...!!"
"Th-that's my and my brother's house. You're not from the village... Do you have business with us siblings?"
Her frightened voice was heartbreaking.
My fists clenched tight.
Steeling myself, I turned and spoke.
"...It's me, sis."
"Huh?"
There stood the most beautiful woman in the world.
Silver-white hair sparkled in the sunlight.
She wore a shabby apron, hands full of potatoes, but such props couldn't hide her beauty.
Her sunset eyes, just like mine, widened in shock.
"...Ronan?"
"Yeah."
"Don't joke... Is it really Ronan?"
Plop.
A potato dropped to the floor.
But she just stared at me, not picking it up.
Panting raggedly, she slowly approached.
"If this is a dream, don't wake up... Please."
Tears welled in her big eyes.
My vision blurred too.
Ah, damn it.
I hadn't planned to cry.
A single tear escaped as I smiled brightly.
"It's me, sis."
"...Hic."
Tears finally spilled from her eyes too.
Dropping the potatoes, she ran and hugged me.
"Eung... Hueeuk... Hwaaaang!"
"Sorry I kept you waiting."
I tried to stem more tears, but it was futile.
I gently wrapped my arms around her trembling body.
My sister, sobbing her heart out, continued in a choked voice.
"Wh-where have you been all this time... I thought... Hic. I thought something happened to you...!"
"I'm sorry."
"No. Yeah, you don't need to apologize at all. Come on in... Ung?"
Her sobbing paused.
Her gaze fixed on something—she'd noticed.
Still hugging her, I turned my head.
Schlieffen stood there dumbfounded, holding a single hyacinth.
"Uh, um. Here."
"Sniff... Hack! Who're you? Can't see..."
Sis rubbed her eyes.
Tears had blurred her vision.
In that moment, Schlieffen's sword hilt flicked out and back repeatedly.
Razor-sharp wind licked across his face.
Pop!
The beard covering his jaw exploded away.
What an idiot.
Struggles my ass?
Sis wiped her tears and looked up.
"Ung... A stranger after all. But I'm sure there was a beard..."
"Illusion. Must be, lady."
His stiff, clipped accent sounded ridiculous.
Schlieffen's frozen mouth slowly opened.
"I've never grown such a thing."