Chapter 56
Chapter 56
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: 56
Chapter Title: The Tree Sea that Devours Nightmares (1)
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Hot water flowed down inside the training cave.
Jol jol jol jol jol...
Steam billowed out from the cave entrance like the chimney of a bathhouse.
Due to the frigid northern air, the moisture in the atmosphere turned into hard ice, only to melt back into water and steam, scattering away.
Federback opened his eyes.
His body was now nearly at the 4th Circle level.
And a faint aura of fire emanated from his entire form.
'The Fire Dragon's egg, huh. An unexpected harvest.'
Federback pushed through the misty steam and stepped out of the cave.
At that moment.
"...!"
Federback came face-to-face with an unexpected figure near the cave entrance.
Rorschach.
She was approaching with a basket containing bread and a water bottle.
"Oh? Have you already finished your training?"
"Why are you here? Where are the maids?"
"Well... They all seemed busy, so I volunteered to bring it instead. I was coming this way anyway."
Rorschach subtly hid the basket behind her back.
Federback furrowed his brow.
"You must be busy with merchant guild affairs too. No need to handle chores like this. Focus on your assigned duties."
"Why is taking care of Federback's meals a chore? It's important work."
"I'm saying it's not your concern. Everyone has their own role to fulfill. Don't waste time on unnecessary things—go review one more document instead."
"... "
"...?"
At Federback's words, Rorschach turned her head with a sullen expression.
"Hmph. Then at least read my reports on time."
Lately, Rorschach's complaints had increased quite a bit.
He couldn't pinpoint the exact issue, though.
Federback tilted his head.
"I told you to report to the Patriarch in my absence, didn't I?"
"I already did! I was planning to give you a separate report too!"
"If it's something the Patriarch has approved, you don't need to report it to me. Handle it at your discretion."
"Oh, really? Even matters regarding the mage?"
"!"
Federback's expression changed.
Rorschach nodded as if she'd expected that.
"You're heading to the Tree Sea that Devours Nightmares, right?"
"Yes."
"As you instructed, I've selected veteran knights and ten outstanding soldiers."
"Well done. Prepare to depart immediately."
"Provisions, drinking water, horses, guides—everything's already ready. You can just head out."
"Impressive. But from next time on..."
"Yes, yes—I understand. I'll leave it to the attendants. I'll use that time to review more documents."
"Quick on the uptake. Good. Off you go."
Federback passed by Rorschach and headed toward the inner castle.
Watching his back, Rorschach's lips pouted.
"...At this rate, there's no point in Lady Cardina going to the Beauvoir Mines."
Rorschach sighed, feeling an inexplicable sense of grievance and emptiness even she couldn't quite understand.
But she couldn't just keep grumbling about it.
To carry out Federback's orders without mistake, she'd have to pull several all-nighters as it was.
'I squeezed out time from my packed schedule, and he couldn't even offer a word of encouragement...'
Still, it was better that he showed up looking perfectly fine.
She hadn't been able to focus on work out of worry, wondering what he was doing holed up in that training cave, especially seeing the entrance freeze and thaw repeatedly in the cold.
Now that she'd seen him emerge unscathed, she figured she could work with peace of mind for a while, Rorschach thought.
Federback promptly resumed the expedition.
This time, unlike before, it was a top-secret operation with a small, select group.
The destination being the Tree Sea that Devours Nightmares made that a given.
Federback surveyed the knights and soldiers who had joined the expedition team.
"All familiar faces."
It was Sir Haundid, recently promoted to major, and the scouting soldiers who followed him.
Sir Haundid saluted crisply with impeccable discipline.
"Major Haundid and ten others—we volunteered for this expedition because we wanted to serve at your side, Young Master!"
"I'm glad to have a seasoned knight as escort, but who will defend the border region?"
"I've handed over command to a reliable deputy commander! He should be assisting Lady Cardina by now!"
Federback nodded at those words.
"Understood. First, you've all heard the briefing on this expedition, right? We're heading to the Tree Sea that Devours Nightmares. Anyone unsure can turn back now."
"It doesn't matter where you go, Young Master—we'll follow!"
The knights and soldiers alike stood at rigid attention.
Having served for ten years in the harsh borderlands without proper supplies, prepared to face death blocking Yate hordes, their loyalty and grit were beyond proven.
There was no doubt they'd have his back in a crisis.
"No one will die. Come back alive and collect your hazard pay and bonuses."
"Yes, sir!"
Federback nodded as he heard his subordinates' resounding response.
Federback spurred his horse toward the castle gates.
The roads were a muddy mess from last night's rain melting the snow.
Avoiding the crowded sidewalks teeming with merchants, Federback's group veered into the back alleys.
Sir Haundid addressed Federback, who wore a black robe pulled low over his head.
"Heading straight north, sir? We'll have to cross the swamps."
"The fastest route to the Tree Sea that Devours Nightmares. It'll take about a week."
"A week—no rest, then."
"Do you need it?"
"Not at all, sir. My men can sleep in the saddle."
Sir Haundid grinned, his face the epitome of a northern knight.
The soldiers, too, were rugged and carefree, born and bred in the polar extremes like true northerners.
Federback gave a faint smile.
"Don't fall behind."
"Pardon the boast, but my horsemanship yields to no one."
"Then pick up the pace. I want to camp on dry ground tonight."
"Understood! You heard the Young Master, you louts! He wants the one thing you're good at!"
"Yah!"
At Federback's command, Sir Haundid rallied his men.
The soldiers roared in unison and spurred their horses.
Sir Haundid pulled up tight beside Federback.
"If it's not too much trouble, may we provide close escort?"
"Do it."
"Yes, sir!"
At Federback's word, Haundid deployed his men to the flanks.
Soon, the soldiers drew crossbows and slings.
Thwip!
One soldier whirled a leather strap and hurled it.
The stone at the end flew out, striking the underbrush.
[Kyaang!]
A frost wolf that had been stalking them spat blood from the hit.
"Kahaha—direct hit!"
"Idiot, you should've killed it. How's that a hit if it's still alive?"
"As long as it doesn't hinder us while running. Better to scare them off than kill."
"Nah. What if it calls friends? Better to finish them clean. Arrows are a bit pricey, though."
The rough-hewn soldiers spread out, clearing nearby monsters.
Thanks to them, Federback could ride straight ahead in comfort.
...But.
As they traversed the tundra heading northeast, the caliber of monsters increased.
Sir Haundid spoke up.
"The dawn seems to be melting the snow. It's all muck up ahead."
The ground, blackened from thawed snow.
It felt like galloping over tidal flats.
Sir Haundid grunted.
"These places always draw 'those things'..."
"Perfect timing. Right there."
Federback pointed.
Haundid and the others cursed under their breath.
And rightly so.
Squelch squelch squelch...
Mud clumps gathered beneath the mire, suddenly morphing into humanoid shapes.
Mudmen.
Legend held that the first mud pit appeared on an ancient battlefield strewn with blood and flesh.
If a golem housed a pure spirit in mud, a mudman was possessed by a tainted wraith.
The mud monsters began crawling toward them.
Sir Haundid clicked his tongue.
"Those grab horse legs and hang on. Cold steel won't kill them easy—better to lop off arms and punch through?"
"No."
Federback drew his sword.
A plain iron blade grabbed haphazardly from the armory since Byakrin was gone.
Tsss...
Frigid blue chill bloomed along the sharp edge.
Crack!
Federback decapitated the lead mudman.
The head, which should have regenerated instantly,
Crack crack crack—
froze solid at the severed neck, unable to reattach.
Having absorbed Ice Dragon Adara's power, Federback's blade carried absolute zero chill.
"Follow my lead."
Federback charged his horse into the sea of mud.
...Splash! ...Splash! ...Splash! ...Splash! ...Splash!
Crimson mud sprayed as mudmen lunged from all sides.
Federback cleaved the heads off the ones ahead in rapid succession.
Crack—crack—crack—crack—crack—
The mudmen, shrouded in jagged ice spikes, collapsed limply.
Thus, Federback crossed the quagmire without slowing.
Haundid and his men followed suit.
"Unbelievable."
"Taking out those annoying mudmen this easily..."
"He seems even stronger than when he butchered the yetis and sasquatches."
"Out of all the northerners I've met, our Young Master's the most straightforward."
Federback pressed on without pause.
"I didn't kill them. The ice will melt eventually. We leave before they revive."
"No problem there!"
Sir Haundid bellowed back.
Soon, Federback reined in his horse.
Breaking through the dark mire path brought them face-to-face with a forest of pitch-black leaves.
The Tree Sea, undulating with purple mist.
The northerners' faces hardened at the sight.
Even Haundid, who had ridden boldly until now, spoke in a subdued tone.
"...This is the start of the Tree Sea that Devours Nightmares."
Everyone born and raised in the north had been taught from childhood by their grandmother or grandfather.
This was forbidden ground.
A taboo zone one must never enter.
But Federback advanced without a hint of concern.
"If you're scared, turn back now."
"... "
The soldiers' expressions shifted sharply at Federback's provocative words.
"Hah! Scared? I was just rubbing my eyes—it's dark!"
"I've never learned what this Tree Sea thing is since I was a dumb kid!"
"I already died fighting Yate! What's there to fear now?"
"Speaking for myself, I yanked my grandpa's beard as a toddler! I do all the stuff I'm told not to! Forbidden what?"
At that exact moment.
Rustle—
The dark foliage shuddered once.
The northerners promptly grabbed each other and screamed.
"Kyaaack!"
Regardless, Federback spurred his horse into the forest.
Toward the rendezvous point indicated when the mage's invitation burned away.