Toward the Fog-Shrouded Mountain (2)
The strategy meeting room at the Wind-keeper headquarters in Windenstadt.
A large map of the mountain range unfurled across the massive table with a soft rustle.
“...This is where the device is located.”
Leonhardt pointed to the summit.
“To activate the main device at the peak, we must first operate the three smaller devices scattered throughout the area.”
His finger traced three separate spots on the map.
“Then we handle those three locations first and head up,” Brita said, arms crossed.
“As I mentioned, the entire mountain is shrouded in strange fog. Ordinary people cannot even approach it.”
“Looking at the terrain, monsters could easily set up ambushes.”
“Correct. We must account for that as well.”
There was a path leading to the summit, but the surrounding area was dense forest. A perfect hiding place for enemies. Rushing in carelessly could lead to disaster.
“I’ll take the lead. I need to clear the fog.”
I stepped forward as I spoke.
“If I drive the fog away with sword wind, the remaining monsters…”
“Leave that to me.”
Brita cut in, hand resting on her axe handle.
“We will assist as well,” Leonhardt added.
“Understood.”
After replying to them, I clenched and unclenched my left fist several times.
My condition was perfect.
Leonhardt, watching me, spoke again.
“...We have no intention of leaving everything to you, Miss Krimhild.”
He pointed once more to the locations of the smaller devices.
“Those devices are essentially amplifiers. If you can reach them and activate them, the rest should go smoothly.”
“How exactly do we turn them on?” Brita asked Leonhardt.
“By using this.”
Wind-attribute mana stone
Replaces depleted core to reactivate wind devices
It was a green mana stone infused with wind mana. So the devices ran on mana stones.
“From our observations, the devices themselves are undamaged. Replacing the mana stone should be enough.”
“I see. After activating one device, we can split our forces and have some guard it while the rest move on to the next.”
In short, the plan was this: once a smaller device activated, it would amplify the wind mana in that area and push back the surrounding fog. We would leave part of our troops there to hold position, then proceed with the remainder to activate the next device. Repeating this process would bring all three online.
“Then we should head here first.”
“I agree.”
They were both pointing to the same device. The route formed a Y-shape. The hiking trail connected to the base of the Y, with devices positioned at the three upper vertices. Securing the center would make the other two locations easier to reach.
“After recapturing all three locations, we advance to the summit. Our final objective is to activate the main device.”
“Including wiping out the enemy forces,” I added.
The mountain was a nest for those followers. Battle was unavoidable. And that was exactly what I wanted.
“When do we depart?” Brita asked.
“We will launch a surprise attack before the gates open tomorrow.”
A reasonable decision. We weren’t going to advertise our intentions in broad daylight. Moving at night, however, would only increase casualties.
“Then please prepare the troops. They’re probably expecting us to come knocking after that flashy display we put on.”
Anyone not completely deaf would have heard that explosion.
“Of course. We plan to set out with the three of us plus the personnel we’ve already prepared.”
At his words, the soldiers shifted slightly.
Hmm… they didn’t look particularly reliable. Still, better than nothing.
“Understood. This should be sufficient.”
“Once again, we thank you both for your dedication. We will see you at the gates around seven tomorrow.”
A short while after the strategy meeting ended…
“Phew… finally, a moment to breathe.”
Brita planted her hands on her hips.
“Tell me about it. We collapsed and slept the moment we got back yesterday.”
“...Still, ten hours seems a bit much, doesn’t it?”
“Was it that long?”
“Yeah.”
“I… see.”
Honestly, after rolling around for ages in that damp, humid place, passing out in a pool of blood, then falling asleep on a cold steel plate after barely moving, who wouldn’t be exhausted? A person needs to sleep sometime…
“You’re complaining about me in your head right now.”
“...No, I’m not.”
We were still trading banter when—
“Ah! Th-there you are!”
Someone called out from behind us.
“Hm?”
When I turned around, the children were standing there. They were the ones we had rescued from the underground prison yesterday.
“Oh? Little ones. What brings you here? Are your injuries alright?”
Brita ruffled their hair.
“We’re fine now! Thank you for saving us!”
The older brother bowed deeply in gratitude. He had been terrified and withdrawn when we first met, but he looked much more recovered now.
“Th-thank you!”
His younger sister followed suit. The girl still seemed somewhat downcast—perhaps that was simply her nature, or perhaps…
If not, the emotional wounds inflicted at that age tended to linger. I hoped she would find peace soon.
“Um… this…”
The girl pulled something from her pocket.
“What’s this?”
Brita accepted the object.
It was a small, crudely woven bracelet made of grass blades and wildflowers.
“We… we made it ourselves…”
As a product it had little value, but the children’s sincerity behind it was priceless.
“Oh! This is really well made. Is it for us?”
Brita’s face lit up with genuine emotion. Even if it didn’t fit our wrists, its meaning didn’t require us to wear it.
“Yes…!”
“Haha! Thank you. I’ll treasure it!”
“Here, this one’s for you too, miss!”
The boy handed me the second bracelet.
“Thank you. I’ll keep it safe.”
I held it gently to my chest and closed my eyes for a moment. Old memories flickered past. In my childhood, my brother and I had made these together in the fields back home. Could I ever return to those days…?
…I miss it so much.
“Hehe…”
The girl smiled shyly.
“Oh, right!”
The boy spoke as if suddenly remembering something.
“Mom told us to say… she’s sorry, and she’s grateful.”
Ah. That incident in the back alley. She had been extremely wary and suspicious of us then.
“Tell your mother we didn’t mind at all.”
“Yeah, we understand. I don’t hold it against her either.”
“Okay. I’ll tell her, sisters.”
After bowing once more, the two children vanished between the buildings.
I stared at the bracelet for a while before slipping it into my pocket.
“Honestly. Don’t the people here care about children like them at all?”
Brita wore a bitter expression.
“If they had stopped it before it happened, those kids wouldn’t have had to suffer.”
Strictly speaking, it was a consequentialist argument. There was little point in hypothesizing about events that had already passed. My head understood that, yet… it still left a sour taste.
“That’s one of the reasons we’re heading to the mountain. To prevent more tragedies like this.”
If the situation on the mountain improved, the city’s security forces could focus more on internal affairs. Leonhardt seemed determined to make that happen.
Early evening at a restaurant along the market street.
The server set our plates down with a clack.
“Here is your order!”
Crisply grilled pork, thick smoked sausage, perfectly rounded mashed potatoes, and golden-brown bread. The subtle aroma of spices from the meat mingled with the savory scent of fresh bread, stirring the appetite at once.
Before I could even take it all in, Brita had already shoved a piece of meat into her mouth.
“Krrruuu~ People really do need to live on meat!”
“You… must have been dying for this, huh?”
“We haven’t had a proper meal in days! This is the least we deserve!”
True enough. We had been so busy and exhausted that we had survived on nothing but bread and sausage.
…Though wasn’t sausage technically meat too?
I picked up a piece of pork and chewed. The warm juices sealed inside the perfectly cooked meat slowly spread across my tongue. The rich, salty fat and fragrant spices blended into a gentle warmth that slid pleasantly down my throat.
It was a little strong for my taste, but since she enjoyed it so much, I didn’t mind.
When I looked up, she was already humming cheerfully.
“Is it really that good?”
“Mhm! Ith rearry delishush!”
“…Swallow first, then talk.”
“Gulp. It’s delicious! Hurry and eat before it gets cold!”
I had never seen her this excited before. I would need to pay more attention to her meals from now on. We rarely ate this well.
Maybe I should find out which dishes were popular here…
Well, that could wait.
I took a bite of the bread—crisp and warm.
Late at night in our lodgings, beneath the risen moon.
I sat on the floor, steadily sharpening Gram’s edge.
Tomorrow on the mountain, I would be swinging this blade without rest. Not even for a single moment could I allow it to grow dull.
Srring—srring—
A strangely deflated sound made me turn my head.
Puuuuh—
She was fast asleep, sprawled out in a perfect star shape.
The clock showed it was just before ten.
…She had teased me about sleeping too much earlier.
Srring—srring—
My gaze drifted to the window. The moon hung pale and bright in the sky.
…
I recalled an old tale. In the age of myths, the year had been divided into twelve parts, each named after a god. Over time the names were forgotten, leaving only their meanings behind.
The Silent Moon.
It came from the god once called the God of Silence. He had also been known as the Avenger. After gathering power through long years of silence, he finally stepped forward when the time for vengeance arrived.
Thinking of that story, a thought occurred to me. If those dead gods were still alive, perhaps they were standing upon that very moon, looking down at the world below.
I no longer believed in gods, yet… if, somehow, it were true…
I would like to claim that god’s power.
To tear every last one of those followers apart.
Srring—srring—
Once more the silent moon shone bright.
Its white light approached a lone girl and brushed through her hair.
What wrapped around her was not a warm embrace,
but the chill touch of a blade pressed beneath her chin.
The moon spoke:
「If you seek revenge, do not forget your original heart.」
「Yet remember this.」
「If you cannot move forward from that end,」
「you will have to dig two graves.」
…
「…This time, I will not allow it.」
「I will definitely… bring you back.」
「My beloved… Lady Krimhild.」