Chapter 248
Chapter 248
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 248
Chapter Title: Omen of Disaster? (8)
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It took a full day to exit the Sequoia Forest. Even though our group was among the fastest travelers out there.
The road to Quarjan stretched across vast plains. Endless golden fields that seemed to reach the horizon no matter how far we traveled.
“The scenery’s nice.”
The thick miscanthus grass swaying in the wind was breathtaking. I rested my chin on the carriage window and gazed outside. Ayla and Argos raced joyfully across the open plains, tumbling and playing with each other. They looked so free. The pair darted around the carriage, snatching the jerky I tossed them, before charging up a gentle hill against the wind.
Atop the hill stood a massive tree that gleamed faintly golden. Oh, a ginkgo tree. Back in my old world, they were everywhere, but in this pseudo-medieval land, they were quite rare. Not only rare, but their leaves turning gold in autumn made them symbols of good fortune.
As the sun began to set, the cloudless sky filled with crimson sunset hues. Bathed in that light, the ginkgo’s colors felt especially vivid. Golden leaves soaking up the sunset... Ah, I want some ginkgo skewers... No, wait.
“...Time for dinner soon?”
Hmm. Eating under that ginkgo tree on the hill sounds perfect. We have packed lunches too, so it’d feel like a picnic... Not kimbap, though.
‘It’d make a great camping spot too.’
Decision made. The hill’s elevation would give us a good view of the surroundings if anything happened. Of course, it’d also make us more visible...
With Calisto here, no need to worry about ambushes.
-Whiiiiistle!
I let out a long whistle. Ayla and Argos came bounding back from their play behind the carriage. I pointed to the huge ginkgo, and they barked excitedly before racing toward it like arrows. Soon after, Ayla let out a big bark signaling it was ‘safe.’
I stuck my head out the carriage window and called to the group.
“How about dinner on that hill, then camp for the night?”
“Good idea.”
Calisto, what’s with agreeing without even listening properly... I looked to El and Lloyd. El, who’d been driving the carriage, and Lloyd, who’d paused his horse, both nodded in approval.
We set up camp under the massive ginkgo. El built the campfire, Lloyd pitched the tents with practiced ease, and Calisto headed off to scout the area. Down the hill, not far off, was a small thicket. Probably wild berries there. Ah, maybe I should’ve volunteered to scout for fruits. But Calisto was already gone.
So, I focused on my task. Craving something hot and soupy, I set a pot over the campfire to make stew. I filled it with clean spring water from the Dimensional Garden, added turnips, cabbage, carrots, and whole plump sausages—no slicing needed. Boil it plain without cream or tomatoes, and you get a clear pot-au-feu-like stew. Simple, clean flavors. The salted sausages handle the seasoning, just sprinkle white pepper before eating. Perfect easy soup.
Trimming the plump turnips made me crave fish cake soup. Just good radish and fish cakes make a refreshing broth—ideal for this chilly wind. Only issue? No fish cakes here.
‘Maybe I should try making some...’
What are fish cakes anyway? Ground fish, fried. I’ve only ever bought them, but it might not be that hard to make.
Once in Quarjan, I might get a chance. I’ve got plenty of radishes harvested, so I’ll definitely make fish cake soup later. Hot and refreshing—it’d pair great with Lloyd’s strong liquor. Ah, mouth’s watering.
Anyway, shelve the fish cake dreams. I stepped away from the simmering stew and pulled out the remaining packed lunches from my subspatial ring. Today’s were simple sandwiches: hearty rye bread stuffed with fresh romaine, cheese, egg, tomato, and crispy bacon. Huge bites—hard to fit in one mouth. But better than tiny ones.
As dinner neared completion, Calisto returned. He carried a few items and showed them to me right away.
“All rotten.”
The wild berries in his hand were shriveled and dried up. Some hadn’t even ripened fully. The branches he’d snapped were wilted, leaves yellowed and scorched in spots. This...
“Not rotten.”
I carefully examined the berries, branches, and leaves. Dry powder flaked off.
“All dried out. Drought?”
“Could just that thicket be drought-stricken?”
“Hmm... Unlikely.”
But what would dry out only that thicket? Pests? No, then there’d be pest damage, not just drying.
“Nothing else?”
“No. Not even a rabbit.”
“Strange. We’ll check it out tomorrow before leaving.”
“Yes, Lord Theodore.”
With Calisto back, we gathered for dinner. Calisto stuck to sandwiches; El, Lloyd, and I shared stew too. The sun set, darkness fell. Stars densely filled the night sky, bright. Far off, miscanthus rustled in the wind...
‘No insect chirps.’
Right. I’d been listening, but no bugs. Thicket dried, so bugs left? Or...
“Master!”
Lost in thought, El called me.
“What?”
“That person we met yesterday—what were they? Didn’t seem like an ordinary priest.”
“Hmm... Yeah, not ordinary. No idea what, honestly.”
“Maybe the Saintess?”
El shared my suspicions. I smiled instead of answering.
“I’ve seen Watchers before. Long, long ago. Really cool dogs.”
Ayla glanced over then. El shouted noticeably loud.
“Ah, of course! The coolest in the world is Ayla! She’s a Shadow Wolf!”
“Yeah, yeah.”
I nodded satisfied, and Ayla turned back to gnaw her bone.
“Anyway, never seen a priest with Watchers.”
“Definitely weird.”
“And they said from the Grand Temple!”
El’s voice brimmed with excitement. That encounter really impressed her, huh?
“From the Grand Temple doesn’t make them the Saintess, El.”
“But it’s possible! Three Holy Knights too!”
“True...”
“And maybe the Saintess came to Corin because she knows about the Crows?”
“...”
“Traveling in a group might alert the Crows, so she came discreetly!”
“...Maybe.”
I shrugged. El’s theory sounded plausible at first. But...
‘If she really is the Saintess, that’s its own problem.’
A Saintess’s status, power, and symbolism on the continent were beyond imagination. Priests enacted gods’ wills as proxies; the Saintess...
She was like the gods’ ‘daughter,’ not just serving but ‘communicating’ with them. Huge deal. Not mere reception—she could convey intentions too. So, in a way...
‘...Proxy for humanity.’
Pleading for foolish, flawed humans.
Gods cherished Saintesses. Ansgar’s fall wouldn’t have happened without that love.
My take, but the Crows...
Crows weren’t mere cultists. Past ones chased power, wealth. Crows had clear purpose. Maybe threatening even gods...
‘Chasing the Fragment of the Origin God for that reason.’
Temple investigations aside, a Saintess directly communing with gods involved...
‘...Good? Or bad?’
No telling now. Just keep doing my job, as always.
“If the Saintess helps us, everything’ll get way better.”
“...Hope so.”
Didn’t want to dampen El’s hopeful spirit, so I kept it short. After all dangers, wanting a strong ally made sense. If she’s right, great.
“Anyway, we left Corin. Forget the past; focus on what’s ahead, El.”
“...Yes!”
Luckily, El smiled and nodded.
-Crackle, pop.
Lulled by the campfire, the group prepared to sleep. Calisto offered first watch, but I refused—took it myself. Lots to think about; perfect chance.
-Crackle, pop. Crackle.
I sat by the fire all night, stroking the sleeping Legion’s back.
-Crash...
-Crunched...
From afar, borne on the wind, came an eerie sound.