Chapter 105
Chapter 105
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 105
Chapter Title: Traces of Annihilation
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-Excuse me, but are you busy right now?
“……??”
Berik just kept blinking. That mutt panting and grinning wide up at him. Had the dog just spoken?
“Ha, no way. This is nuts. I must be bored out of my mind. Man, seriously. My head’s gonna explode.”
Berik chuckled and ruffled his own hair. But at the voice coming again, he snapped to attention and whipped around.
-I’m talking to you. If it’s alright, could you spare me a moment? Hm. You’re quite the distinctive-looking fellow.
The dog was still sitting obediently, gazing up at Berik.
‘This bastard just called me ugly, didn’t he?’
Berik rolled his eyes around, trying to pinpoint where the voice was coming from. But it was all snowdrifts everywhere, with plenty of terrain to hide in—not easy at all.
Tap!
The friendly pup caught the odd shift in Berik’s gaze. It started backing away slyly, then bolted off in a flash. Berik chased after it on reflex.
Woof! Woof woof!
“Well, well, it even barks. What the hell are you?”
Woof!
Ian, pulling the carriage back, frowned at the commotion. He couldn’t help even if he wanted to—what mess was that idiot causing now? Way off in the distance, wild red hair caught his eye especially.
“Berik!”
“Ian! Grab this mutt!”
“Why the dog?!”
“This bastard’s a talking dog. And it’s got a real attitude!”
Chasing it around like that, he looked even more like a dog than the dog itself. Ian scowled at Romandro and the men, signaling to ignore it.
“I have no idea what’s gotten into him.”
“Let him be. Kid’s got energy to burn.”
Romandro backed Ian up with a laugh. While Berik played tag with the dog, the men turned the carriages around and finished prepping to leave.
“Ian, sir. Since we’ve stopped anyway, mind if we check the wheels one more time? The snow’s slipperier than I thought.”
“The horses could use a bit more rest too.”
Ian checked his watch and readily agreed. Even factoring in winter sunset, they had plenty of time. A little backtracking, and they’d reach Karenna by evening.
“Sure. We’re not far anyway.”
“By the way, you think that’s really a bandit den? For bandits, it’s awfully close to Karenna. Out in the open like that—no way the guards would let it slide.”
The coachman, lighting a mana cigarette, glanced toward the village and asked. He had a point. But avoiding the worst-case scenario came first, so Ian didn’t change his mind.
“We’ll figure that out in Karenna.”
“Got it! You little shit!”
Screech.
Just then, Berik yelled, holding a white fluffball in one hand.
“Ian. Look at this! It’s a talking dog!”
The resting group paid no mind, and neither did Ian—at least until Berik shoved it right in his face.
The dog stared up at Ian with frightened eyes.
“Berik. Talk sense.”
“Why? Magic or whatever makes sense, but a talking dog doesn’t? I’m telling you, it’s real! Asked if I had time like it owned the place.”
Whine. He sounded so sure—it probably wasn’t a joke. Either he’d seen a ghost, or it was real….
“Speak.”
Screech.
Ian locked eyes with the dog seriously and muttered. Romandro, watching from the side, couldn’t hold back and burst out laughing. Berik was one thing, but Ian too? What a sight.
“Sorry. Ahem. Hey, you there. Hm hm. Give me a smoke too.”
Ian glanced over, and Romandro pretended nothing happened, fleeing to the men. The dog just wagged its tail and panted.
“Don’t waste energy on nonsense. Let it go.”
“Come on, it’s real. What a riot this one is. Maybe I should just eat it.”
Berik muttered curiously, and the dog’s face twisted in shock. The moment Ian caught it, the dog bit Berik’s hand hard.
Yow!
“Ow!”
Dash dash dash!
Then it fled up the hill with all its might. While Berik crouched, swallowing the pain, Ian calmly tracked the dog’s retreating tail.
-What rude folk! You’ve misjudged me! You seemed like decent, godly people! Eh, ptoo! Ptoo!
“See?! It talks!”
Even Ian’s mouth fell open in surprise. That tiny body yelling so boldly—it was downright cute. Romandro and the men glanced over at the noise, but by then the dog was gone.
“What was that? A real talking dog?”
“Hahaha! Sir Romandro, such a joker.”
“Alright, let’s get going?”
“Yep! Can’t wait to crash hard.”
As everyone bustled with departure prep, Ian and Berik just stared at each other, heads tilted blankly.
“What the hell just happened?”
“You don’t know, how should I? Damn, it really bit me.”
“Unbelievable.”
A non-human? Divine beast?
But too pathetic for a divine beast.
Or maybe a magic beast—but spotting one inland in Bariel these days? Rare.
“No clue.”
As Ian moved to board the carriage, a presence from behind made him look up the hill again. Berik shook his hand and followed Ian’s gaze.
“What?”
“Feels like someone’s there. You don’t sense it?”
“That mutt still lurking?!”
“Never mind. Hop on. Wind’s picking up.”
Ian shoved Berik’s back and boarded. As the turned caravan retraced its path, Ian stayed on edge. Romandro, sensing it, asked worriedly.
“What’s wrong? You okay?”
“No. Just tense—bandits are supposed to roam here.”
Neigh!
Clop clop!
The long caravan faded into the distance. Black shadows in the woods trailed the carriages’ shadows.
* * *
As the coachman said, around sunset, Ian arrived in Karenna. A quiet little town of no note. Residents wrapping up their day stopped to gawk at Ian’s caravan.
“Bratz would’ve been chaos—‘Who’s invading now?’ But here? Dead quiet.”
“Close to the interior—no worries about outsiders. Bandits won’t drag carriages in.”
Romandro glanced at Berik’s hand and clicked his tongue.
“Speaking of, that alright?”
“My hand? It’s nothing.”
“That’s why you don’t grab random stray dogs.”
“That a random stray? It talked!”
Berik had a point. No matter how you sliced it, absurd. First talking beast he’d seen—and that soft, fluffy look clashed hard with the voice and attitude.
“Some kind of shamanism maybe?”
“Dunno. Possible, but a shaman in a backwater like this…?”
No. Could be.
He’d had mana users even on the front lines against border tribes—shamans? Why not.
Creak!
“We’ve arrived, Ian, sir.”
“Good work. Unload and rest up.”
“Phew, everyone hang in there.”
“Gasp! Staying at the inn tonight?”
“You the owner? We’ve got lots of carriages and gear.”
“Welcome! One sec!”
The woman sweeping the inn front dashed inside and dragged out staff.
“Horses are skittish—keep ’em separate.”
“Perfect timing—no other guests. We can manage. This way.”
While the men stabled horses and stored carriages, Ian entered and filled the registry. Clean paper—blank for days, probably.
“Winter keeping guests away?”
“Yessir. Even good weather, business is slow. No sights or food to draw crowds. Passersby like you were rare, but bandit rumors killed that too. One night?”
“Yes.”
The owner checked the registry with a hollow laugh. Twenty horses, ten carriages, nearly fifteen men, tons of gear…
“Dinner and baths included: one gold coin.”
Not cheap, but no other spot for the whole group. Scattering would be a hassle—better pay up.
And since staying, might as well get top treatment.
Clink.
Ian pulled two gold coins without hesitation. The owner beamed, bowing deeply in thanks.
“Thank you! We’ll do our best!”
“Cold out—plenty of firewood.”
“Of course! Heat bathwater now?”
“Please.”
“Food! Food! Hungry!”
“Yessir. Right away. This way. Oh, only two rooms with attached toilets. How’ll we do it?”
Midway up the stairs, Ian nodded back at Romandro.
“I’ll share with Berik. Rest easy, Sir Romandro.”
“Thanks, really.”
“Don’t I get a say? I want my own.”
“Oh? Stable’s empty.”
“……”
“This way! Mind the stairs!”
Creak.
Worn but neat room. Dry firewood and cheap soap scents filled the dim space—half-burnt lamp. Cozy, warm, and beds? Heaven. After nights on cold snow, pure bliss.
“Woo!”
Berik dove onto a bed, rolling around. They unpacked roughly, and the owner quickly brought snacks.
“If you’d like, something light before the meal.”
“Thanks.”
“No, thank you. We were about to starve this month.”
Ian took the tray and asked.
“Haiman shut down?”
“The bank?”
“Yes. Heard they closed in Karenna, Longin, Zailkup. Not sure now.”
“Fully closed, now Longin open shortened hours. Folks here and Zailkup go there—close, and bandits not cleared yet.”
“Still?”
What were the guards doing? Three towns hit—not small. Should’ve wiped them out yesterday.
“On the way, saw a village not on the map. Thought it was the bandit base.”
The owner paused at Ian’s words—like recalling long ago.
“Ah, Danil.”
“Danil?”
“Yes. Not on recent maps. Few years back, whole village died off. Abandoned. Demolition’s work—no one bothered.”
Traveler maps skipped ruins. Ian frowned with a sigh.
“Whole village dead? How?”
“Don’t know exactly. All laid out like asleep. Huge uproar. Locals hauled bodies. Palace investigators came—hm. Said mass food poisoning?”
Berik, sprawled flat, lifted his head at that.
“…Makes sense?”
“If the palace says so. Magic Department—investigation was solid.”