The Blizzard's Omen
Before leaving the village, Dante spoke briefly with Leon. It was Leon who approached first rather than the other way around.
“Excuse me… do you have a moment?”
“Speak freely.”
“…I feel I showed you a shameful side of myself. I wanted to apologize.”
Leon’s attitude was respectful. Dante didn’t particularly need an apology, but he nodded anyway.
Leon continued in a quiet voice. “Looking back, I got caught up in something foolish. I thought the reason northerners suffer is because of the Empire.”
It was a complaint, or perhaps a lament. Dante listened quietly.
After hearing the story, he could understand why Leon had fallen into such strange ideas.
“There aren’t many jobs in the north. No industry, and farming isn’t possible. The only work is becoming a soldier at the Ice Wall to stop monster waves.”
“It’s simply a difference in environment.”
“Even though we’re bound under the same Empire… seeing such disparity made me resentful. That resentment turned me into a separatist.”
Dante understood the situation well enough. The northern issue was a problem the Empire would eventually have to solve. And the one who would solve it was likely Esilia.
Dante spoke gently. “This might sound like nonsense, but I happen to be acquainted with the Imperial Princess.”
“It doesn’t sound like nonsense at all!”
“Yes. Thank you. Everything I’ve seen and felt here today, I intend to report to Her Highness.”
At those words, Leon smiled faintly.
“The northern problem is one the Empire should have solved long ago. I believe Her Highness will understand the situation and do her best for the suffering people.”
“Hearing you say that, Sir Dante, gives me real confidence! Hahaha!”
Dante added one last thing. “The Empire is going through difficult times. His Majesty the Emperor is unwell, and the Chancellor has been ruling in his stead for a long time.”
“…He doesn’t seem to care much about the north.”
“Not just the north. Many problems are arising across the Empire, yet the Chancellor shows no initiative.”
“Is that so…”
“Yes. This is a time when everyone must learn to look after themselves. Opportunities to choose come to everyone, but the responsibility falls on each person alone.”
Leon quickly understood what Dante meant. Many people were working hard—the Duke and Duchess, Dante, and Princess Esilia. If he believed in them, he ought to lend his strength.
“Please take good care of my daughter, Sir Dante.”
“She’s a wise girl. I’ll trust her and leave it at that.”
Leon waved at Dante. If it was this man, he believed he could bring a new wind of change to the cold north.
“…Ah.”
A pure white beetle cut through the cold air and flew past. It was a Snowstorm Beetle.
Leon smiled. “It seems Aurora is lighting the way for you, Sir Dante.”
The Snowstorm Beetle was a symbol of good fortune in the north. If divine protection was with him, Dante Aision would surely obtain what he desired.
Leon lit a candle and offered a prayer, wishing for a safe journey for Dante and his daughter.
The sparsely populated forest was buried in snow. Dante, Rivera, and the new guide walked along the snow-covered path.
Rivera stopped mid-step and looked up at the sky.
“Young Master!”
“What?”
“Look! A Snowstorm Beetle!”
Dante shook his head. Northerners really did treat spotting Snowstorm Beetles like some kind of group challenge. The moment one appeared, they would drop everything and shout, “Look over there!”
The Duchess had been the same, and Rivera was no different.
“Yeah. That’s the third one today, isn’t it?”
“The third?! Wow! We must be really lucky today!”
“…”
Having once been a modern person, Dante understood the sentiment behind her words. It was just like finding a four-leaf clover. Even if it was just roadside weeds, people would stop and yell, “Look here!”
For northerners, finding a Snowstorm Beetle felt the same as discovering a four-leaf clover.
“Um…”
The new guide, Norik, muttered in a shrinking voice. “Seeing so many Snowstorm Beetles… doesn’t that mean a blizzard is coming soon?”
“Rivera, what do you think?”
“Huh? Well, he’s not wrong.”
In truth, the reason Snowstorm Beetles became symbols of good fortune was different. They were strange insects that laid eggs in cold snow. When blizzards raged, their natural predators struggled to move, so they dug burrows to lay eggs during that window. Ancient northerners observed this behavior and gained wisdom for survival.
When Snowstorm Beetles became active, a blizzard would soon follow—so they could build nests and lay eggs while taking advantage of the storm. That was why they were called Snowstorm Beetles.
The north was a land of bitter cold, and being stranded in a blizzard was a terrible disaster. But if Snowstorm Beetles were out and about? Ah, a blizzard must be coming—better hurry home! Thank you, Snowstorm Beetles, for warning us in advance!
That was the meaning behind their status as omens of good fortune.
“We’ve seen three already. A blizzard might be coming.”
“Young Master! There should be a shelter nearby! Let’s rest there for a bit before continuing!”
Watching his servants efficiently guide the way, Dante nodded. Local guides were incredibly useful. Hiring them had been the right choice. If he had wandered these snowy paths alone, who knew what would have happened.
Dante followed the northerners toward the shelter.
“Is this it?”
“Yes! There are quite a lot of people here!”
Roughly forty to fifty people sat with bundles of luggage. They looked slightly startled at Dante’s unfamiliar face, but relaxed once they spotted Rivera and Norik—both had typical northern appearances.
“Norik. Go gather some information.”
“Yes, sir!”
Norik dashed off and spoke with the northerners. He soon returned with various pieces of information.
“They say they’re refugees!”
“Refugees…”
“Monsters have already appeared in their original village. They’re taking shelter until the monster wave settles!”
Since the question came from a fellow northerner, they had readily shared the information.
“While traveling down the evacuation route, they saw so many Snowstorm Beetles that they stopped at this shelter.”
“Just like us!”
Not only Rivera and Norik, but the other northerners had also predicted the blizzard. In that case, Dante found a suitable spot and prepared to pass the time. It seemed certain that a blizzard would strike soon.
“Is it really okay to just set up a tent like that?”
“Yes! There’s a spirit stone here, so it’s safe even if a blizzard hits!”
This really was a fantasy world. Dante accepted it and made his bedding.
Just then, a commotion erupted outside. Rivera came running to report.
“Young Master! More people are coming!”
“Who?”
“Um… the Liberation Army…? I think?”
Dante stopped organizing his belongings and stepped outside. Norik quickly added from beside him.
“It’s the Liberation Army! I’m certain! That man is the famous warrior, Sir Dan!”
“…”
Who? Dante frowned and looked toward the approaching group. He had half-expected it, but Sir Dan was truly heading this way. There was no way Dante wouldn’t recognize him—they had fought at close range.
“What should we do, Young Master?”
Rivera spoke anxiously. With a blizzard about to hit, leaving the spirit stone barrier would be madness. Dante had no choice.
“Just stay put, Rivera.”
“Will it be okay…?”
“They won’t start a fight in such a cramped place full of people. If it comes to it, I’ll release the bugs and cause chaos.”
Dante decided to simply endure. With so many civilian refugees present, would they really pick a fight? If they did, he planned to release every bug he had, create pandemonium, and escape.
…Of course, if the opponent was Sir Dan, escaping wouldn’t be easy.
‘No reason to run first.’
Dante resolved to be shamelessly bold.
Moments later, as expected, the Liberation Army warriors spotted Dante.
“???”
“?!”
Dante was casually building a campfire. Someone approached him. Though not at all welcome, Dante greeted them anyway.
“We meet again.”
The man known as the warrior—Sir Dan—scrunched his face like a monster and asked, “What are you doing here?”
Dante shrugged. “Traveling.”
“…”
“I heard a blizzard was coming, so I found a place to take shelter.”
Dante quickly assessed Sir Dan. As expected, Sir Dan hadn’t drawn his sword. He was gathering mana, but only as a precaution—worried Dante might attack, not intending to attack himself.
Dante spoke first. “I heard places with spirit stones like this are called spirit barriers. Northerners don’t fight inside spirit barriers, right?”
“…”
“I have no intention of fighting. Let’s just wait until the blizzard passes and go our separate ways.”
Sir Dan didn’t move from in front of Dante. Sensing something ominous, the refugees whispered among themselves with worried glances. Sir Dan noticed their expressions and clicked his tongue.
“Tch.”
Irritated, he said to Dante, “You. Are you the princess’s servant?”
“Princess? Ah, you mean Duchess Karmilton?”
“Watch your mouth, Imperial. She is the princess who will one day lead the northern kingdom!”
Dante replied mockingly, “That ‘princess’ doesn’t seem interested in becoming queen.”
“A king isn’t something you become. It’s something you’re chosen for. She has been chosen.”
“Chosen by whom? You separatists?”
“Explaining to an outsider would only tire my mouth. If you withdraw right now, I’ll send you safely back to the Empire. This is a promise on my name.”
“I’m not the Duchess Karmilton’s servant.”
“…?”
“I’m just a mage traveling through. I only helped the Duchess by chance.”
“…You call that an explanation…!”
Sir Dan raised his voice but never drew his sword. Dante found that attitude somewhat agreeable. It was far better than a madman who drew his blade at every opportunity.
Just then—
“Captain! Report!”
“What is it?”
“A group of monsters is approaching from the front! They’ll reach the shelter soon!”
“We can’t let monsters set foot in the shelter. Prepare to intercept.”
“Yes!”
Sir Dan glanced at Dante before disappearing into the forest first.
“Young Master, monsters are coming this way…”
“Nothing to worry about. I’ll protect this place.”
“Young Master…! Thank you!”
Dante had no intention of actively hunting monsters like Sir Dan. Since he was alone, he couldn’t afford to waste his strength recklessly.
Once Sir Dan left to fight the monsters, the remaining Liberation Army warriors approached Dante.
“We’ll be watching, Imperial!”
“Do as you like.”
Dante looked outside the spirit barrier. As everyone had predicted, the blizzard began to rage. Yet inside the barrier, it was as quiet and still as the eye of a storm.
‘The performance is reliable.’
—Ooooooo—!
A howling sound echoed from afar. The Liberation Army warriors tensed and raised their weapons.
In that moment—
Red eyes flashed through the blizzard!
Long snouts, thick fur coats, crude axes gripped in both hands.
“Werewolves…!”
Their weapons were poor, but their superior physical abilities compensated for it. The werewolf pack charged toward the spirit barrier through the blizzard.
“Awooooo—!”
“You bastards!”
A Liberation Army warrior swung his weapon fiercely. The werewolf’s axe tangled with the northern warrior’s in midair. At the same time, another axe flew toward the warrior’s abdomen. The werewolf was dual-wielding axes!
“…!”
Just as bewilderment rose on the warrior’s face—
BOOM—!
The werewolf was kicked away and vanished into the blizzard. The warrior stammered, “Y-you are…”
The Imperial noble, wrapped in mana and assuming a combat stance—Dante Aision.
Dante glared at the werewolves and spoke to the warriors. “Stay sharp. If you fall, those refugees will become monster food too.”
“…!”
“They’re coming again. You take the left.”
The warriors nearly answered “Yes!” Dante had given the order so naturally. He was a noble accustomed to commanding others.
“Awooooo—!”
A werewolf howled and swung its axe, but Dante slammed his mana-infused kick down onto its head.
“Shut up, beast.”
The werewolf’s eyes rolled back as it collapsed. Red bugs appeared around Dante as if guarding him—the Noon Fairies. They stung every werewolf that approached. A single sting rendered them unable to fight.
“What is that…!”
The Liberation Army warriors forgot they were in battle and watched Dante fight. The noble from the Empire was truly strong. Perhaps even stronger than their captain, Sir Dan.