Chapter 56
Chapter 56
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 56
Chapter Title: Remembering Bird
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I furrowed my brow.
Partly it was the headache bearing down on me, and partly it was the stinging gazes my companions had been shooting my way from earlier.
How many hours had it been like this already?
It would be better if they just spat out whatever they had to say instead of everyone clamping their mouths shut like this.
It had to be because of what happened yesterday.
Clunk.
Unable to bear the stifling tension any longer, I finally rose from my seat and walked over to the window.
The northern lands, deep in winter's grip, were blanketed in snow just like that day when the heroes scattered.
A sigh escaped my lips.
"Um..."
At that moment, Snow-Covered, who had been watching me cautiously, timidly raised her hand.
True to her curious nature, she couldn't hold back her questions any longer and broke the silence to get some answers.
"Who is she?"
Whenever I had time, I made a point of teaching Snow-Covered about the kingdom's history.
The girl was full of curiosity, and there was no harm in picking up such cultured knowledge.
But when it came to the scattered heroes, I avoided mentioning them as much as possible.
No matter how much time had passed, there were still things I couldn't discuss openly.
A year had slipped by in a haze like that, but I couldn't keep it secret forever.
Snow-Covered had grown into a full-fledged member of our group, and one day, she would become queen.
Red Iron stroked his beard and spoke up.
"It's about time we told her, don't you think? It's not like hiding it will make it go away."
I let out a breath.
Then, straightening up from where I'd been leaning against the window, I spoke on behalf of my companions.
"Remembering Bird. She was the Prime Minister of the Northern Kingdom."
Among the elves, there was a saying: If there had been two Remembering Birds, the Northern Kingdom would have become two.
She was an extraordinary figure who defied easy definition, a genius who had established every law, system, and administrative function of the Northern Kingdom.
On top of that, she had ruled with such benevolence that the entire kingdom adored her—even the arrogant elves acknowledged her perfection.
Yet even this magnificent bird couldn't escape the fate chosen by the other heroes.
Toward the end of the kingdom, when its collapse loomed on the horizon, she vanished from the royal palace without a trace.
"...And one of the scattered heroes."
I didn't know why she left.
I, who had defended the palace to the bitter end, never sought out her reasons for departing, and for the past eight years, I'd lived by erasing her from my memories.
But Remembering Bird was alive.
Unlike the tangled emotions I'd felt earlier, reason pointed to only one possibility.
Like Gray Wolf, who had chosen to join us, she might be helping rebuild the Northern Army.
Yet no one in the room brought it up first.
Gray Wolf sighed and voiced the reason why.
"...We have no right to choose. Not even Remembering Bird."
The scattered heroes bore an original sin.
The sin of abandoning the Knight King's dying wish of loyalty and fleeing.
Of course, the Knight King who might have condemned them, and the kingdom itself, were long gone. But I still existed.
It was just... complicated.
As I'd felt before, this knot of emotions couldn't be put into words or writing.
I wasn't even sure if I could face Remembering Bird with a smile.
Feeling eyes on me, I turned to see Snow-Covered gazing at me sadly.
I didn't ask if it was the harsh reality that upset her or if she'd read my feelings.
For now, I tried to lighten the mood.
It was too premature to speculate when we didn't know what she was thinking.
"...War is coming soon. If we meet her after that, we can decide then."
"I'll follow your choice."
"Me too."
The orc encampment's forces had all gathered.
They'd likely march north soon with a massive army to crush us.
I could deal with the headache-inducing worries after the decisive battle.
I waved my limp hand and opened the meeting room door, stepping outside.
The cold air was agonizing.
"Mama?"
"Ah..."
Remembering Bird, hurrying along, suddenly glanced back, drawn by some inexplicable breeze.
But there was nothing there—just endless white snow filling the void.
As the woman pulling her along stopped abruptly, Sunken-Eyes called out to her mother with an anxious face.
Snapping back to reality, Remembering Bird took her daughter's hand again as if nothing had happened.
Crunch, crunch, crunch.
Fall behind even a little, and you'd lose the procession.
Sticking close to the rear of the refugee column, Remembering Bird advanced step by step with her sightless daughter.
But the road ahead was still long, and the bone-chilling cold pierced through their fur garments.
Unable to endure the harsh weather, Sunken-Eyes finally let tears drip from her eyes.
"Mama, I'm cold."
"Just a little longer, okay? Mama will hold you."
The flames of war spread by Ogmar had engulfed far more than she anticipated—wide and deep.
The human hunts that started nearby had spread beyond slash-and-burn villages, now threatening the hut where mother and daughter lived.
Fortunately, her quick thinking had gotten them out of the conflict zone unscathed.
And by sheer luck, they'd joined a passing refugee column heading into the Northern Army's safe zone.
Rumor had it this procession was nearing its end.
Considering it a stroke of heaven's grace, Remembering Bird scooped up her whimpering daughter.
How powerless and pathetic she felt.
The title of Prime Minister, who once fed the entire kingdom, meant nothing against this ferocious cold—she couldn't even protect her own child.
Remembering Bird desperately held back her tears and hunched her shoulders.
She had hidden from the world within the world to escape it, but cruel fate whipped her relentlessly.
As if demanding she atone for the original sin she'd committed in the past.
She prayed fervently to Mother North that at least her daughter would survive.
Murmurs.
"...?"
But then the column halted.
The lead guide, an old man, had stopped, and those behind him followed suit.
The crowd buzzed in confusion.
Those who couldn't see ahead began clamoring, demanding to know what was happening.
"What's going on?!"
"Why have we stopped?"
Just a bit farther, and they'd reach the safe plains.
The able-bodied men responsible for their families couldn't wait any longer and pushed toward the front.
"— — — — — — — —!"
But they soon understood.
Why the guide had frozen in place, scanning all around.
The only path was blocked.
"The road...!"
"Honey! Honey, grab the kids quick!"
It wasn't a natural blockage.
Trees had clearly been felled entirely to seal the entrance.
The column scattered in an instant.
The men who'd gone ahead rushed back to their families to flee.
Something was nearby.
Startled, Remembering Bird instinctively backed away, scanning her surroundings.
Screeeeech— — —!
Thwuck!
But in that moment, a gruesome tearing sound rang out, and blood splattered her face.
The old woman standing right beside her had taken a sharp arrow to the throat.
Blood streamed down!
A woman screamed.
"Kyaaaaaaaah— — —!"
"Orc hunters! R-Run!!"
Arrows rained from the thick underbrush.
Screaming refugees scattered in all directions as red-faced orc hunters nocked arrows nonstop to slaughter them.
The narrow path turned into pandemonium. Remembering Bird clutched her daughter tight.
And bolted in the direction her instincts screamed at her to go.
"Hah, huff!"
If they got caught, not just her, but her daughter would die too.
The sole thought dominating her panicked mind was that she had to escape this place no matter what.
Veering off the road, Remembering Bird tried to dash down a slope toward the forest.
Swish—!
Thwuck!
But an orc hunter spotting her flight swiftly drew his bow, striking her shoulder with an arrow.
"Guh!"
Her quick decision undermined, Remembering Bird lost her balance, Sunken-Eyes bursting into tears.
Though pain flooded her vision with black, sheer willpower kept her going. She hugged her daughter close and tumbled down the slope.
Rrrumble!
She became one with the snow as she rolled down.
After tumbling far, Remembering Bird rose gasping raggedly.
She was out of the enemies' sight for the moment.
To save her daughter, she had to shake off the orc hunters who would soon track her trail.
Huff, huff!
With no choice, Remembering Bird staggered to her feet and ran toward the forest ahead.
A little farther, just a little more!
She bit her lip until it bled at the savage howls echoing from afar.
Screeeeech!
Twang! Zing!
An arrow whistled past her head.
Sharp twigs lashed her face.
Bleeding profusely, Remembering Bird desperately scanned everywhere.
"— — — — — —!!"
Then one spot caught her eye.
Beneath a massive tree, in heavy shadow, there was a root hollow perfect for little Sunken-Eyes to fit into.
"Mama..."
She placed her daughter in the hollow.
And for the last time, pressed their foreheads together, soothing her so she'd feel safe.
"What did I tell you to do if you're scared?"
"C-Cover your ears..."
Transparent tears mixed with regret and pain streamed from her eyes.
But it was fine. The child couldn't see.
"That's right, good girl. My sweet Sunken-Eyes."
There was no time left.
After their final farewell, Remembering Bird blocked the entrance with snow and vines.
Then, to lure the orc hunters as far away as possible, she ran and ran some more.
Crunch, crunch, crunch!
Blood filled her mouth.
She'd lost so much blood that the forest ahead blurred black like a spinning lantern.
Run and run, run and run.
How much farther had she gone?
Reaching her limit, Remembering Bird finally had to stop.
Red blood soaked her entire body.
It felt like Mother North's punishment for abandoning the kingdom and fleeing.
Thud!
She collapsed like that.
And the orc hunter who would decide her fate approached slowly, baring red eyes and sharp fangs.
If she'd known death would feel this hollow, she would have at least apologized sincerely.
With only regrets left, Remembering Bird closed her trembling eyes and lost consciousness.
"Grrr..."
The orc hunter was furious.
He'd gone through this hell because of orders not to let a single one escape.
Just lop off her head and go back.
Tossing aside his bow, he drew his axe to sever the white bird's neck.
Slash!
No, he tried to.
If only his vision hadn't spun wildly, dropping him with a spray of blood.
What...?
Did they cut my neck?
In the few seconds of fading consciousness and blurring sight, he glimpsed a human knight.
The orc hunter, his head severed, closed his eyes at the sight of Rough Oats charging in dramatically.
"Hah, huff."
Rough Oats gasped for breath urgently.
And upon seeing Remembering Bird still clinging to life, he let out a sigh of relief.
The dogged persistence of one man seeking to reunite the heroes had thus wrought a miracle.