Chapter 109
Chapter 109
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 109
Chapter Title: Silver Mountains (4)
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Twenty years ago, the Sherpas had climbed the Silver Mountains in search of Tundra, only to lose many of their own. The old man's child, who was also Aquila's parent, had passed away then as well. Most of those who lost family in the tragedy fled the village in fear of the Silver Mountains, leaving only a handful of elders and Aquila to guard it.
They had been desperately waiting for Tundra to return, so it could roam the Silver Mountains freely once more. But the Tundra, who was supposed to be gone only "briefly," had not come back even after all this time, leading to the present day.
The Sherpas said they would discuss it among themselves and sent me away. I told them I would climb the Silver Mountains tomorrow and needed an answer by morning, then returned to the village.
“Theodore.”
Khalid was standing in front of the inn. He leaned against the wall, puffing on a long pipe he'd procured from Niram, enjoying his smoke. I waved away the thick clouds of smoke he exhaled and gave a slight nod.
“You're back earlier than I expected.”
“That sounds like a complaint.”
“No way.”
“What are those goats?”
Khalid nodded toward the goats gathered in the inn's yard.
“Dinner ingredients.”
“Twelve of them?”
“Not for me.”
“Then?”
“They're for Lady Tundra.”
“Ha!”
Khalid let out a deflating laugh, as if he'd heard the funniest joke. I shrugged.
“You said it would wake up in a ferocious state. I was just following your advice.”
“You think twelve goats will calm a dragon's rage?”
“Won't know until we try.”
“Theodore, you're a really strange guy.”
“Didn't expect to hear that from you, Khalid.”
I opened the inn door and asked him,
“Have you eaten?”
“Not yet.”
“Then come on in.”
“I'll finish my smoke first.”
“Sure.”
Inside the inn, the brazier provided a welcome warmth. I warmed my hands for a bit, then explained the situation to Lloyd and El.
“We'll probably get help from the Sherpas.”
I felt fairly certain. Was it the longing in Aquila's eyes to climb the Silver Mountains? Of course, she wasn't a perfect Sherpa...
“Anyway, we should eat a hearty meal today. Once we start climbing, we won't have time to cook.”
This place felt more like a guesthouse than a proper inn. It was basically just renting out a house. There was no resident owner, and no ordering food. So we'd have to cook ourselves. I started prepping the ingredients I'd bought at the market during the day. El skillfully washed and chopped vegetables beside me.
“Mr. Lloyd, could you mince the meat?”
“...Sure.”
Better to leave the knife work to the expert. I handed him a chunk each of beef and pork, then got to work on the fish—scaling, gutting. Before coming here, the only fish I ate were microwaved mackerel, tuna cans, or the occasional saury or Im Yeon-soo from a cheap eatery. Now I was handling all sorts of fish myself. Quite the progress.
‘At least cooking is fun.’
I put the prepped fish in a pot generously coated with olive oil, then mixed the finely minced pork and beef Lloyd had prepared into a dough. Pork alone was too greasy, beef alone too tough—half and half made perfect meatballs. I had El take the bones with scraps of meat to Aila, who was watching the goats. Soon, the sound of Aila crunching bones outside started up. I used it as background music while forming the meatballs—not ping-pong ball sized, but baseball sized, bigger than an adult fist.
-Sizzle...
-Hiss!
As the meat hit the hot oil, a savory aroma filled the air. I boiled the pasta I'd brought while simmering the tomatoes and veggies El had prepped in a pot. A dash of pepper and herbs, and it smelled just right.
‘Haven't had pasta in ages.’
I used to love the cheese oven spaghetti that came with pizza orders. I rolled the golden meatballs in the hot oil, reminiscing about my old life. There was a cheap pizza joint near my place—I ordered so often, they sometimes threw in cheese oven spaghetti. Or buffalo wings... Perfect with beer.
I mixed the well-cooked meatballs with the whole wheat pasta and smothered it in rich tomato sauce. Would've been great with cheese, but sadly none. I settled for topping it with frost moss.
For the grilled fish, a fresh, sweet lemon cream sauce. I preferred wasabi and soy, but couldn't get that here, so this would do.
Finally, bread: olive-stuffed ciabatta with dill-and-salt butter. A feast fit for the word "banquet" was ready.
I portioned out plates of giant meatball pasta onto the table and nodded to El. She went out and called Khalid. Once I saw him put away his pipe and come in, I sat at the table.
“Master, your cooking skills seem to improve every day!”
“Haha. Maybe I should open an inn someday?”
“Then we'd be rich!”
“Piece of cake.”
“Cake?”
“Er, piece of cold soup. Means it's that easy.”
I chuckled and picked up fork and knife. Slicing the massive meatball in half released juices. Oh man, killer. Can't forget drinks. Apple cider today. I poured glasses of my homemade cider.
“The Sherpas?”
Khalid asked, picking at his grilled fish. I swallowed a mouthful of meatball and replied.
“They said they'd help.”
“How?”
“Not sure yet.”
“Not sure?”
“Yeah. We'll find out tomorrow.”
“Hmm.”
“They might just share their wisdom about the Silver Mountains...”
“...”
“If we're lucky, one might guide us.”
“The Sherpas around here are all rickety old grannies who can't walk without canes.”
What a way to put it. I shot Khalid a glance and shook my head.
“Not necessarily. Sure, most young Sherpa descendants left the village.”
“Then which Sherpa's helping us?”
“One remains. Technically not a Sherpa, though. Knows the Silver Mountains like the back of her hand, but has never actually climbed them.”
“...”
“Still, it'll help us plenty. If she comes, that is.”
“A young Sherpa...”
Khalid muttered softly, sipping his cider.
“Did you talk about Tundra?”
“You knew?”
“About what?”
“That Tundra left a message for the Sherpas.”
“I knew.”
But you didn't say anything. Man, I couldn't even smack him...
“That's why I figured no Sherpa would help us.”
“...”
“Dragons' sense of time is way different from ours. Tundra understands humans better than most...”
“...So Tundra didn't plan on this long 'nap'?”
“Could be.”
Khalid shrugged.
Maybe Tundra wasn't just taking a 'nap'?
Maybe it planned to return before the Sherpas died of old age?
But some reason kept it sleeping?
‘All just speculation.’
Until I meet Tundra myself, the truth remains unknown. I cleared my empty plate and stood.
* * *
The next day, before dawn.
I woke before the sun rose. Nerves? Well, since I was up, I got out of bed, changed, and stepped outside. The goats huddled together, leaning on each other in sleep. One, two, three, four... nine, ten, eleven, twelve. All accounted for.
“Good work through the night, Aila.”
I petted Aila's head in praise, then pulled a hind leg from a round-horned buffalo out of my subspace ring for her. Gotta feed her well before the climb.
While Aila ate, I laid out hay for the goats and mules. By then, dawn was breaking over the distant horizon. Warm light spread across the deep blue sky. I watched it for a moment.
“...”
Beyond the light, something was bounding toward me. At first a speck, then growing larger. Curly hair fluttering in the sunlight, a beautiful orange. I realized it was Aquila.
Which means...!
“Hey!”
When close enough to make out her face, Aquila shouted. She held a long scroll in one hand and wore an old-looking bag on her back.
“Aquila!”
“Huff, huff, huff.”
“Good morning.”
Up close, she caught her breath and nodded. Then she handed me the scroll.
“Haa... Here!”
“What's this?”
I asked, and she squinted at me with one eye, as if wondering if I was serious. I unrolled it without protest. Dawn breeze fluttered it, but I read it clearly.
“A map of the Silver Mountains.”
“Yeah.”
“Totally different from the ones for sale.”
“Sherpas made this one themselves.”
“You came all this way just to deliver it?”
“...”
Aquila grinned and pulled a canteen from her pack, taking a swig. I waited silently. Hoping for the answer I wanted.
“Only Sherpas can read that map properly.”
“...I see.”
She set down the canteen and spoke confidently.
“I'm going to meet Tundra too.”