Ending Maker Chapter 41
Ending Maker Chapter 41
Chapter 10 — Honeymoon #2
The next morning.
Having discovered Cordelia's letter in the guest room, the Count Hraesvelgr Household strove to respond as calmly as possible.
'We have to find them.'
Whether they had left of their own accord or not, if anything untoward happened to Yuder and Cordelia, the Count Hraesvelgr Household would inevitably bear the blame.
Either way, the two were minors, and since the Count Hraesvelgr Household had invited them as guests, they bore the responsibility of protecting them.
'No, what in the world were you people doing while the children ran away from home? Are the walls of the Count Hraesvelgr Household really that low?'
Of course, it was nearly impossible that Count Bayel or Count Chase would actually say such a thing themselves, but they would surely lay the blame with words to that effect.
Discord among the Twelve Northern Houses.
But that was not the only problem.
"What do we do? If the two of them were to be captured by the Devil's Hand......"
Lucas spoke to everyone with a face full of worry, and the knights of the Count Bayel Household and Count Chase Household all wore expressions of utter devastation.
"They can't have gotten that far. Let us search the surrounding area thoroughly, starting from here."
When a knight of the Count Hraesvelgr Household, unable to watch any longer, spoke with forced vigor, the other knights also rallied their spirits.
In any case, they had to find the two first.
But contrary to everyone's expectations, Yuder and Cordelia had already made it surprisingly far.
* * *
Five days since the lovers' elopement.
While the Count Hraesvelgr Household was still searching the villages near Vedrfolnir, Yuder and Cordelia had already reached the vicinity of the northwestern border region where Frost Anvil was located.
"Something smells good."
Morning.
Cordelia, wrapped in her sleeping bag, sniffed at the air in front of the campfire.
Having just woken up, her hair was tousled and she wore no makeup, but as befitted a peerless beauty, she was still pretty and adorable.
"You awake?"
"Yeah, I'm awake. What's for breakfast?"
Cordelia smiled softly and looked at Yuder, who was busily cooking in front of the campfire.
When they left Vedrfolnir, Yuder and Cordelia had only the single travel bag Fabian had packed for them, but over the past five days their travel gear had grown considerably.
'A magic stove, an expanded bag, and special insect-repelling incense.'
The magic stove, which could be called a portable burner, had been received as payment for helping Coblo escape, and the expanded bag, which could hold twice as much as it appeared, had been received as payment for finding the lost keepsake of Inssen's mother.
The special insect-repelling incense was something Yuder had whipped up from materials gathered during their travels.
And there were many other things besides.
Yuder and Cordelia's travel supplies had become so abundant that it was hard to believe they had left the Count Hraesvelgr Household empty-handed five days ago.
"A man with life skills is the best. Number one husband material."
"Yeah, sure. Anyway, breakfast is French toast, bacon, and cream soup."
Yuder answered without even glancing at Cordelia, but Cordelia was satisfied.
After all, Yuder's gaze was fixed on the frying pan.
"Where'd you learn to cook?"
"Here and there."
"Where exactly is 'here and there'?"
"France, Italy, England, China, the Czech Republic, Russia, Afghanistan, Iraq, Saudi Arabia...... and so on and so forth."
Cordelia's eyes sparkled at Yuder's answer, but by the end she was pouting.
The first one or two countries were plausible enough, but it didn't seem likely that he had actually been to that many countries.
'Honestly, he's so good at lying.'
But what mattered was that he was a good cook. Cordelia soon stopped pouting, sniffed the savory bacon again, and said,
"Did you learn how to make bacon abroad too?"
"Yeah, this one I learned from a friend living in America."
"They say cooking is all about the touch."
"Nah, precise measurements matter more."
"Measurements?"
"Cooking time changes with the heat. The amount of salt changes with the amount of ingredients. And of course, it varies with the diner's preferences too."
"Is that that molecular gastronomy thing or whatever?"
"Well, something like that."
After saying that, Yuder suddenly looked up at Cordelia, then shook his head.
"Why."
"No, I just remembered the first dish you made three days ago."
No, could that even be called cooking?
The grimmer Yuder's expression became, the redder Cordelia's face grew, and she pouted.
"Hmph, I have dishes I'm good at too, you know."
"Just because you're at a disadvantage doesn't mean you should start lying......"
"I'm not lying, okay? I'm really good at making ramyun."
"......So in the end, what you come up with is ramyun."
As Yuder's expression grew even more grim, Cordelia's face likewise flushed even redder.
"It's true. You just haven't tried it. If you ate the ramyun I make, you'd totally fall for me. You'd be begging me to make it every day."
"Yes, yes. If you say so, then I'm sure that's how it is."
"Tch, it's true though."
Cordelia pouted her lips again, but soon smiled brightly and spoke.
"Anyway, they say there's a right person for every job, so it'd be perfect if we kept dividing things like this. You're the cook, and I'm the taster."
"You're full of crap. I'll handle the cooking, and you'll handle the dishes."
"Hey, you said once your Nine Yin Meridian Blockage is cured, you wouldn't let a single drop of water touch my hands."
"When did I ever say that? I said I'd hold you, carry you on my back, climb over walls for you, and nurse you."
"Feels like something's missing."
"Anyway, we're about to eat, so at least go wash your face. And wash your hands too."
"Yes, Mom."
"Ugh, will she ever manage to get married at this rate?"
As Yuder shook his head from side to side, Cordelia giggled and rose from her spot.
"I'll be right back."
"Yeah, don't goof around and trip."
"Who do you think I am, a kid?"
Cordelia pinned up her long, lustrous hair with the hairpin Yuder had made for her, then walked lightly away.
She was heading toward a nearby stream.
'It really is cold. Well, it is winter.'
Moreover, they had reached the vicinity of the northernmost part of the Saelun Kingdom.
If the weather got just a little colder, the stream water itself might freeze over.
'I wonder if we'll be all right.'
Frost Anvil would be far colder than this place.
They had diligently packed cold-weather gear, but she couldn't help worrying.
'What a shame. If only we had a little more time, we could have gotten the Winter's Blessing.'
The 'Winter's Blessing' — a blessing that maintained body temperature and prevented one's mobility from deteriorating even in the cold.
It was a blessing that could only be obtained through a special event, and the problem was that the event occurred randomly.
'Judging by the circumstances, it should be somewhere around here.......'
Yuder looked up again and surveyed the area, but nowhere in particular stood out.
No matter how great the Yuder Wiki was, it couldn't uncover the parts that had been omitted from the game.
'Tch, it can't be helped.'
After all, encountering the person who revealed the event location was truly random.
If they had plenty of time, it might be different, but they couldn't wander around this area just to obtain a single Winter's Blessing.
And that was the very moment.
"Eek!"
"Cordelia?!"
Yuder reflexively shouted at the scream from a short distance away, and the instant he sprang to his feet, he used the Twenty-Four Gale Steps.
It was a footwork technique, but depending on its application, the Twenty-Four Gale Steps could also be used as a lightness skill.
"Cordelia!"
If she had been attacked, this shout would serve to divert the enemy's attention.
Yuder shouted loudly once more and ran toward the stream like the wind.
And then.
"Oh, uh. Hi?"
Cordelia, standing by the stream, blurted out the first thing that came to mind with an awkward expression. Looking past her, Yuder saw a large man collapsed face-first at the stream's edge.
"How?"
"No, well...... it was a reflex."
Cordelia made a small gesture, and it seemed she was saying that she had been startled and reflexively used an attack spell.
"I may be one thing, but you're not exactly normal either."
A girl who reflexively fired off attack spells.
"No, well...... he jumped out of the bushes and I was really startled......"
"Well, whatever. It's better than you getting hurt."
"Mm-hmm."
While Cordelia looked embarrassed, Yuder first dragged the person collapsed by the stream out and laid him flat on his back.
"He's fine, right? It wasn't a strong spell or anything. It was Paralyze."
"Good thing it wasn't a Fire Arrow."
Yuder answered casually, then checked the man's pulse and breathing. Just as Cordelia had said, he was simply paralyzed, though his low magic resistance seemed to have made the spell take hold quite firmly.
"How is he? He didn't hurt himself when he fell, did he?"
"He's fine. And on top of that, we're lucky."
"Huh?"
"I mean you."
After saying that, Yuder gave Cordelia, who was tilting her head in confusion, a meaningful look.
"Take a closer look. You know him too, right?"
The face of a man who appeared to be in his late twenties.
Aside from looking good-natured, there was nothing particularly distinctive about his face, but Cordelia recognized him right away.
"Bambino the woodcutter."
"Right. He's exactly the person we need."
* * *
Bambino was a woodcutter and an herbalist at the same time.
This place, the northernmost part of the Saelun Kingdom, had no lord who could particularly claim ownership of the forest, and thanks to that, whoever gathered the wood or herbs was the owner.
Of course, since no one managed the area, it was a dangerous place where wild beasts and occasionally even monsters appeared.
In any case, Bambino, who diligently roamed the mountains and forests, had a fantastical experience one day.
He had witnessed angels gathered together bathing.
"An angel?"
When Bambino opened his eyes with a dazed expression and looked at Cordelia, Yuder furrowed his brow. Cordelia, meanwhile, beamed and held out her hand before whispering,
"I won, right? Cordelia is the prettiest, isn't she?"
"Tch."
Yuder handed Cordelia a copper coin without another word, then spoke to Bambino, who was still dumbfounded.
"We are not angels, but scholars who have come from the central region to survey Frost Anvil."
"Scholars...... you say?"
"Well, to be precise, we're still students. We belong to the Royal Academy."
As Yuder put forward a false identity without batting an eye, as always, Cordelia quietly turned away and hid her expression.
Unlike Yuder, Cordelia was not skilled at lying.
In any case, Bambino soon nodded at Yuder's words.
Yuder and Cordelia simply did not look like ordinary people.
'They must really be nobles.'
In the Saelun Kingdom, the divide between nobles and commoners generally was not that deep unless a titled lord was involved. Still, a noble was a noble.
Bambino's attitude became a little more cautious.
"You don't need to be so nervous. What's your name? I'm Schute, and this is Felicia."
"Uh...... I'm Bambino."
"Yes, Bambino. Pleased to meet you."
"Um...... what happened? My memory is a bit......"
"Miss Felicia here found you collapsed in the forest. I don't mean to brag about it, but you could say she saved your life."
"Ah...... thank you so much."
"Oh, no. Hehe...... I'm just glad you're safe......."
Cordelia answered awkwardly and quickly averted her gaze again.
It was because of embarrassment.
'How can he be so shameless?'
While Cordelia harbored the same question as always, Yuder continued speaking.
"By the way...... are you perhaps the Bambino who lives in Harvers Village down below?"
"Oh, yes. I'm that Bambino."
"Well, this really is fortunate. I've been wanting to meet you, Bambino."
"Me?"
"Yes, I heard you witnessed the angels."
"Ah... yes. No one believes me, but... I really did see them. Little angels gathered together and, well... bathing."
Bambino's words were true.
As always, while roaming the mountains and forests, he had witnessed angels gathered together bathing.
Enchanted by the fantastical and beautiful sight, Bambino had returned to the same place several times, but each time he had come up empty-handed.
"Could you perhaps tell us where that place is?"
"Well...... I went back several times myself, but nothing happened."
"That's all right. There might be some traces left. And of course, I intend to compensate you."
When Yuder smiled brightly and lightly tapped a pouch full of silver coins, Bambino's face lit up.
"Please, Bambino."
"Follow me. It's not that far from here."
Bambino answered readily and began to lead the way, and Yuder looked at Cordelia and gave her a wink.
* * *
The place Bambino guided them to was a valley located at the foot of the mountain.
Judging by the half-frozen valley water, it looked like a place where you would freeze to death if you tried to bathe.
"This is it."
"I see. Thank you. If our investigation turns up anything, I'll let you know as well, Bambino. We have to pass through Harvers Village anyway."
"I'd really appreciate that. No one believes me at all......"
"Hahaha, here, this is your compensation."
Yuder cut Bambino off at a convenient point, pressed two silver coins into his hand, and sent him on his way.
And a few seconds later.
Once the two of them were alone again, Cordelia spoke in a resolute tone.
"I am absolutely not going to bathe."
"You don't have to. You know this event too."
What Bambino had witnessed was not angels.
What he had witnessed were forest fairies.
"Winter Fairies."
"Right, in the end, they're fairies."
The two smiled wryly, then unpacked their things near the valley and prepared to camp.
And that night.
Beneath a night sky glittering with countless stars.
"He's totally handsome. Wanna play with us?"
"She's super pretty too!"
The reason Bambino had been unable to meet the Winter Fairies despite returning to this place again and again.
And the reason Yuder and Cordelia could meet them in just one day.
'Fairies, huh.'
'Fairies, right.'
As the peerlessly handsome boy and beautiful girl exchanged glances, white-haired Winter Fairies gathered before them in twos and threes.