Prelude to War (3)

"...Did I pass out again?"

I opened my eyes in the storehouse, a place that had now become more familiar to me than my own bedroom. As always, the Crown of Thorns lay rolling on the floor, and the morning sun, now a brilliant white, filtered through the cracks in the blackout curtains. With limp hands, I carefully picked up the crown and placed it back inside its wooden box.

I shook my head as I deftly untied the ropes.

"No. I'm not alright. Sleeping tied to a pillar makes my whole body incredibly stiff. I think I need to do some stretching today, and sleep in a proper position tonight."

I straightened my bent knees and twisted my torso side to side. My joints let out a chorus of loud pops and protests. Well, circulating my mana, strapping on the Holy Sword, and running a few laps around the training ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠ground would fix me right up. I was fortunate that the Holy Sword could restore my physical condition to some extent.

"...Yeah. Thanks."

After breathing some vitality back into my limbs, I glanced at the clock hanging on the storehouse wall. It was almost creepy how my body had woken up at exactly five o'clock, despite having passed out in such an uncomfortable position. I suppose that was the power of habit.

I tidied up the ropes, picked up the wooden box, and stepped out of the storehouse. Since it wasn't yet time for people to be up and about, the entirety of Evernode was bathed in absolute silence, save for those who started their work at the crack of dawn. To avoid being seen, I carried the wooden box and quietly made my way toward the annex where the Hero's party resided. I could hear the thudding footsteps of Georg, who woke up just as early as I did, running laps around the nearby training field. Diligent bastard.

Entering the annex, I found Marianne sitting quietly, seemingly lost in meditation. Sensing my presence, she opened her closed eyes and looked at me. Before her gaze could fully lock onto me, I set the wooden box down on a table and approached her.

"You're awake?"

"Yes. I woke up early. Since it was an awkward time to go back to sleep, I was meditating for a moment."

Marianne's expression was, as always, completely flat. Aside from the rare occasions when she was genuinely startled, she was perpetually expressionless. It wasn't that this didn't bother me, but since I had decided to take my time and observe her further, I chose not to bring it up.

"What brings you up so early, Hero?"

Even though I had told her to call me Elroy, Marianne still addressed me as "Hero." I wondered if this was her own brand of stubbornness.

"I usually wake up around this time. I was just out for a short walk. Georg is out there running up a storm. Did you see him?"

"Yes. He asked me where you had gone, and I told him I had not seen you either."

"...I see. I'll have to let Georg know later, ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠then."

I sat across from Marianne and stretched my limbs. Since there was still plenty of time before we had to set out on patrol, I figured I would lounge here for a bit before going to wash up.

"Shall I brew some tea?" Marianne asked, looking at me.

Tea is usually Daphne's job. I blinked, but wanting to shake off the chill that had seeped into my bones while I slept, I eventually nodded. Upon receiving my approval, Marianne briskly stood up and walked over to the small kitchenette.

The Holy Sword spoke to me in a sharp voice. I suffered all night, so give me a break. As I shared a brief mental banter with the Holy Sword, Marianne quickly returned carrying a steaming cup of hot tea and some biscuits.

"Thanks."

"It is my duty."

Marianne replied nonchalantly, returning to her seat and wrapping both hands around her cup. I quietly sipped my tea, then suddenly looked up at her and asked, "Are you nervous, or scared?"

Marianne tilted her head. Her expression seemed to ask what there was to be nervous or scared about.

"The war. The coming fourth Calamity."

"I am a believer of the Holy Church. I cannot fear an enemy of God whom I have never seen," Marianne said, shaking her head. "I will simply follow you, Hero, and defeat the enemy."

"...Do you trust me?"

"I simply obey orders," Marianne replied with a nod.

At her unhesitating response, I couldn't help but let out a bitter smile. Marianne stared at my smile with her usual blank face, quietly sipping her tea alongside me.

"We will be increasing the number of patrol units," Grand Duke Quenor declared before we set out on this patrol. His intention seemed to be to scour as wide an area as possible with the utmost thoroughness.

"We will expand from the existing three patrol units to five. We will narrow the distance between each unit and establish intermediate zones to closely monitor each other's safety. ...And," the Grand Duke turned his gaze toward our party, "this time, Elroy, I intend to disperse your party among the different patrol units rather than keeping you all together. Would that be acceptable?"

Rather than concentrating our forces in one place, he wanted to distribute us evenly among the patrols to prepare for any unforeseen circumstances. I turned to Georg to ask for his opinion.

"...Well, this is a surprise, asking for my opinion on such matters," Georg said, raising an eyebrow in amusement. "I agree. Now that we have accumulated enough patrol experience, there's no reason for us to stick together. It's better to assign one of us to each unit to boost their average combat capability."

Grand Duke Quenor nodded and distributed the assignments. The Grand Duke himself took the 1st patrol, ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠I was assigned to the 2nd, and Georg, Marianne, and Daphne were assigned to the 3rd, 4th, and 5th patrols respectively.

"This patrol is not merely to identify hazards in the area. It also serves to assess how the monsters will form their lines during the siege, and to identify our vulnerable sectors."

The weight behind Grand Duke Quenor's words seemed to possess a magical quality that rallied the morale of the knights and soldiers. Even though he was merely explaining the outline of the operation in a calm, matter-of-fact tone, the soldiers' focus and spirit rose visibly. Or perhaps it was the simple fact of his presence that inspired them. In truth, even I felt a quiet surge of excitement building within me at his words.

"Furthermore, as of today, Evernode enters a state of war. We will reinforce all ramparts with additional troops, and conduct inspections and maintenance on all equipment and supplies."

Grand Duke Quenor declared this and turned his gaze toward the outer wall, which he had been staring at frequently of late. The fortress gates rattled as they were hoisted open. For now, the spirit of the Evernode soldiers did not falter against the freezing cold sweeping in from the outside.

"Now, let us move out. Today's patrol is a reconnaissance mission, and the beginning of our intelligence warfare."

I watched the members of our party split up and head in different directions—a departure from our usual routine—before gripping my reins tightly and urging my horse forward. Today, I had to lead the soldiers of the 2nd patrol unit all on my own.

"If you notice anything even slightly out of the ordinary, do not hesitate to report it. We will proceed at a slower pace than usual."

"Do whatever you deem best, Hero!"

"No matter how incredible you've been lately, Hero, we can all keep up with your pace!"

The northern soldiers shouted back with confidence and vigor. I let out a soft chuckle at them and lightly nudged my horse's flanks. The patrol moved differently than usual. We carefully examined the terrain we had previously navigated only by instinct, recording anything noteworthy. The forest was not quiet as usual; it was bustling with noise. I had thought it was because so many patrol units had entered the woods at once, but it seemed we weren't the only guests here today.

"Raven spotted ahead. It's flying around frantically."

"Troll spotted forty paces out at two o'clock. I'll go take care of it quickly."

"Eleven o'clock. A pack of white wolves. There are quite a few of them, so let's alter our course and subjugate them entirely."

There were monsters. A lot of them. My enhanced senses were constantly picking up their presence. Since we couldn't afford to hunt down every single one, I merely noted their approximate locations and only eliminated those that crossed our patrol path as we pressed on toward the Eye of the North.

"...I don't recall seeing this many monsters lately. Why are there so many out today?" one of the knights asked me.

I frowned, looking down at the decapitated alpha of the white wolf pack lying at my feet.

"It could mean the Boundary Line has drawn very close, or perhaps those monsters have deployed their forces for a skirmish of their own, just as we have. Though we won't know for sure until we verify it."

At my words, the knight's face stiffened.

"...Either way, we must be on high alert. Perhaps the lake has already begun to freeze over. ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠What should we do?"

"We'll pick up the pace. If the Boundary Line has advanced closer than we anticipated, we might be in a far more dangerous position than we realize. If the other patrols have realized this, they will be rushing toward the lake just like us. We had better hurry."

I dug my heels into my horse's flanks once more. The horse snorted and looked around anxiously, but at my urging, it began to gallop forward.

Even the Holy Sword, who usually remained quiet while I was on duty, spoke up. I began to slowly draw mana from my heart, circulating it through my body in advance.

The edge of the forest was rapidly approaching. I hurried forward, practically carving my way through the beasts that blocked our path. The cold grew sharper. Even before the lake came into view, puffs of white breath began to escape my mouth.

"Hero..."

At the voice from beside me, I nodded and spurred my horse to go even faster. The dense trees blocking the light and our vision began to thin out. Passing the final line of trees, I arrived at the Eye of the North—and was instantly struck speechless.

"Damn it."

The blue lake had frozen over. It was a fact that required no closer inspection to confirm. Cracks ran web-like across the stark white, icy surface. I lifted my gaze from the lake to scan the mountain ridge on the far side.

"It's right in front of us," the knight's voice was rigid.

Just as he said, the Boundary Line had already crossed the mountain and was looming right before the lake. The sky was a hazy, dull gray. The entire mountain was blanketed in pure white snow. And I could feel it with absolute clarity—the dreadful entities lurking beyond that stark white veil, drawn as sharply as a national border. And beyond those dreadful entities, the terrifyingly colossal presence quietly watching us.

"...Once the patrols gather here, we must stick together instead of moving separately," I said, looking back at the forest.

The Boundary Line was advancing far faster than either the Grand Duke or I had anticipated. Please, let everyone reach this lake safely.

As I ground my teeth in anxiety, a rustling sound echoed from the bushes, and someone emerged.

"...Shit."

First of all, it was not a creature that looked human. Nor was it an ordinary monster. What pushed through the undergrowth was a damnably massive white wolf. Did they unleash so many monsters just to dull my senses?

"Poor humans, walking into the wolf's maw of your own accord."

The wolf growled, actually speaking the words.

"Before His Greatness takes His steps, we shall brew an aperitif with your blood."

The rustling behind the giant wolf grew louder. White wolves—dozens of them—began to reveal themselves one by one. I grit my teeth and drew the Holy Sword. The knights and soldiers behind me drew their weapons in unison.

"...Roy. The flare."

At my command, the knight, Roy, reached for his flare, only to freeze in his tracks. I followed his gaze up to the sky and let out a low groan.

Whistle. Bang! Bang! Bang!

Against the clear summer sky, multiple distress flares were being shot up simultaneously.

"Abandon hope. Lay down your blades," the wolf said, the bursting flares serving as its background music. "Quietly become our sacrifice."