Chapter 132
Chapter 132
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 132
Chapter Title: West Gate of the Snow Ridge Great Wall
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The West Gate of the Snow Ridge Great Wall also featured the Clear Cascade Gate, but with the merchants' chamber above the sluice collecting the sacred waterfall waters, the tunnel passage lay wide open.
It was the path from this vast grayscale world into one bursting with color.
At the threshold of that path, the dark-red-haired young man leading the beastkin column, Kiran Wolf Blado, pulled us into a tight embrace.
“You made it safely... I was so worried.”
No need to explain how warmly those words resonated in my chest.
Kiran didn’t pry about what had happened beyond the barrier. Perhaps he was being considerate of our exhaustion instead of asking. Or maybe he’d already heard from the warriors who arrived first.
Instead, he glanced at Akirea, asleep atop my head, and offered a sad smile as if he understood everything. Then, to my surprise, he performed a formal noble bow.
“I see the avatar of Alakishi.”
After that, he spoke with Griffion, the leader of the warriors. With one wing severed, he could no longer fly.
“I heard you opened the barrier gate for us. I don’t know how to repay this debt.”
“Please don’t say that. Compared to what you’ve done for this world, it’s far too modest a gesture.”
Kiran extended his hand to Griffion.
“You’ve fulfilled your duty for a hundred years as the Angel Pack. Now, we’ll carry on your will.”
Griffion, watching Kiran’s demeanor with astonishment, finally clasped his hand.
At that moment, the wolves under Kiran’s command shook hands with Griffion’s warriors. It was a historic scene—no, the way things should have always been, twisted though they had become.
What in the world had that 5-star ice spirit possession been...? Just thinking about it made cold sweat break out. We had to return to imperial soil as soon as possible and investigate the full truth.
“I’d love to let you rest here, tend to the wounded, and recover from the forced march, but...”
Kiran let out a pained sigh, looking apologetic.
Instead, he raided the West Gate’s supply depot, loading our wagons with cold-weather gear, smoked ham, oats, and other expedition essentials in massive quantities.
The barrier was always stocked for large-scale expeditions or sieges, and sure enough, the provisions filled thirty four-wheeled wagons to the brim.
“Kiran, is this really okay?”
“From the moment I opened the barrier gate, I’m already a rebel who’s broken military law. Who’s going to complain if I bend it a little more?”
“But... just come with us!”
“No can do. Desertion’s a capital offense—no family protection, straight to the executioner’s block.”
Kiran patted Kasena’s shoulder as if to say not to worry, then approached me.
I was sitting by the roadside, catching my breath.
The wound in my side pierced by Shar’kas throbbed with every step, blood seeping out and leaving me gasping.
“Listen up, Rain. From here on, you’ll need to lead the beastkin through Trident Point.”
For a quick geographical note on Trident Point: it was named for its three prongs jutting out like a trident—First Finger from the left, Second Finger, and Third Finger.
The Third Finger, closest to the western Empire, hosted the port town of Farwest Branch, the base for adventurers exploring this cursed land.
To ferry the beastkin to imperial soil, we’d need to charter ships there.
“It’s not as brutal as Harbadonia, but it’s no picnic either. I dug through every book I could find to make you this map...”
Kiran handed over a scroll.
Bound with sturdy leather straps, it detailed the rough geography of Trident Point.
Touched once more by his thoughtfulness, I could just take it, but better to reassure him.
“Thanks, but we’ll be fine.”
“Hm?”
“Frisbia assigned us a guide. They should be catching up from behind.”
Frisbia... Kiran mulled the name, then chuckled in genuine surprise and exasperation, thumping my shoulder.
“For someone as notoriously picky as her to help out—you’ve got some serious luck with people. Means you’re just that good of a guy.”
“Me? No, I’m...”
“Even humble to a fault. See you later, Rain. I can buy you about two days.”
The White Wolf Pack was already decimated; they wouldn’t chase the beastkin. But hatred could drive anyone to madness—who knew what they might do.
I worried for Kiran’s fate too, but in this situation, scattering and fending for ourselves was best.
As I rose, gripping his hand, Kiran clamped my shoulder and smiled warmly.
“May the gods bless your path.”
“You too, Kiran. Let’s meet again for sure.”
Led by Kiran, his fifty-odd wolves saluted as the beastkin column departed the West Gate.
The journey was far from over.
We still had to cross Trident Point, where ancient labyrinths gaped open their maws. A lawless zone teeming with top-tier adventurers.
* * *
Madelia Page stared blankly into space before turning her head to the window.
Warm sunlight and the humid summer breeze poured through the arched windows filling all eight walls.
Time flowed mercilessly onward with no room for grief; <Delaiten> had held its opening ceremony, and after Marhena’s persuasion, Madelia had returned to her duties.
“......”
She’d returned, yes... but the phantom echo of her daughter’s laughter haunted her ears at every turn, leaving her unable to focus on anything.
Nothing at all.
So she came to the chancellor’s office, only to spend her days staring vacantly into the void.
- Just hold the funeral like the Ludwigs did. You can’t let go, and it’s destroying you.
Marhena had advised as much, but Madelia couldn’t bring herself to...
To bury her daughter.
To admit she was dead.
Fortunately, her husband Yuren agreed; Kasena remained officially missing. Rain’s funeral had been held, his death certified.
“Your Excellency! Your Excellency!”
Her secretary Kenis burst in clutching a letter. Madelia shot him an irritated glare.
“Enough. I told you to handle even urgent matters yourself.”
“You have to see this one!”
“I said enough.”
“It’s about Lady Kasena! It says she’s alive!”
Madelia’s dismissive wave froze midair, her thoughts grinding to a halt.
What?
What did he just say?
It took an eternity to process the signal from her ears to her brain. Meanwhile, Kenis approached and respectfully offered the letter.
“It’s from Kiran Wolf Blado. It says Lady Kasena passed through the barrier.”
Kiran? That boy was stationed at the arctic barrier—how could he send word about Kasena?
Kiran was the second son of House Blado Marquess, an exceptional young mage who’d enlisted in the White Wolf Pack the year he came of age.
But Kasena had vanished in the southeastern Blade Peninsula... Even as doubts swirled, Madelia read on.
To Chancellor Madelia Page.
I hope this finds you well. Kiran Wolf Blado, greeting you after ten years.
Forgive my rudeness in cutting to the chase. I send this hastily before imprisonment at Backbone.
First, a joyous truth you may struggle to believe.
Kasena Page lives. Her face is puffy from crying, but she passed through the West Gate today in perfect health.
The issue: she’s with some two hundred thousand beastkin. I opened the gate for them.
Unprecedented unrest looms in the west... Only you, leader of the Magic Alliance and a position rivaling the First Prince, can mediate.
Her vision blurred and shook wildly; the rest didn’t register.
Alive?
Kasena—her baby girl—alive?
How she got there, why she crossed the barrier, why with beastkin—it didn’t matter. Only this.
“Kasena’s alive...”
She came to standing from her chair without realizing. Steadying her breath, she kicked open the door and stormed out.
“We’re heading west immediately.”
Piles of work, post-opening academic duties—Kenis said none of it.
He simply bowed his head.
He knew what mattered most to Madelia, to House Page, right now.
“I’ll assemble the full Magic Guard.”
“Good. Bring all the guardian knights too. Elite forces only. You have one hour. We’ll procure supplies in passing cities—hurry the troops and funds.”
“Thirty minutes, Your Excellency.”
* * *
Adventurers chase the terror of the unknown.
To ordinary folk who wouldn’t dare approach, forgotten ancient labyrinths or ruined castles of old kings were mere home turf.
For these bizarre thrill-seekers who craved the shiver only adventure provided, Trident Point had long been a holy land.
And the reason was clear before we even set foot.
“It’s all swamps around here...”
The ground squelched underfoot, sodden.
We’d felt it constantly since entering Trident Point two days ago via the Snow Ridge Great Wall’s West Gate.
Not as frigid as Harbadonia, yet the unfrozen earth felt ominously off.
“No need to whine. This is the surface—vegetation and terrain are mild here.”
Eldvih, the boy in mechanical armor, snapped curtly at my muttering.
Frisbia’s gold-rank adventurer guide, expertly navigating the eerie swamps and silent jungles.
His appearance frozen in adolescence—a trait of his race—meant he could be in his twenties or thirties.
“There are worse places?”
“Trident Point is labyrinth country. Entrances lurk after every bridge. Like that one.”
Labyrinth entrances hid behind gloomy thickets or bizarre rock faces.
Staring too long sent chills down your spine—something sinister watching intently, an indescribable presence...
Kasena, beside me, clenched her fist tight, buzzing with excitement for adventure lands.
“Didn’t you know? They say all the labyrinths connect underground to one big network.”
“Really?”
“Yeah! They’re layered by depth: First Stratum, Second Stratum, Third... Adventurers have only reached the Fourth! This whole place is the dungeon!”
Her face flushed with thrill mid-ramble, but her smile faded, eyes clouding with gloom.
“Gah! Gaaah!”
Akirea, dangling from my head, flailed her arms in response to Kasena’s excitement—likely struck by grief over Alakishi.
“How deep have you gone, Frisbia?”
“The third layer. She could’ve gone deeper, but she didn’t care for this place.”
“Why?”
“Too many things to watch out for.”
Too many dangers? Even compared to Harbadonia, crawling with beastkin warriors, undead, and ancients?
Eldvih sighed primly at my puzzled look and gave the answer.
“Humans. You humans.”
I thought it a joke at first, but the voice from his optical helm held no humor.
“One thing to make clear: You swayed the beastkin and wolves because they’re bound by duty or code. Adventurers? No.”
“......!”
“Those scoundrels live by their whims. One day they kill, the next they steal, then they protect. All as they please. And the ones you’ll meet? Exactly that type.”
Perhaps idealizing adventurers, Kasena blinked in confusion at Eldvih’s blunt truths.
“Persuading one doesn’t cut it. If you can’t give them what they want... better steel yourself.”