Chapter 40
Chapter 40
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 40
Chapter Title: The Parrot Who Waited
-----------------------------------------------------------------
After finishing the written exam on the last day of testing and returning to the dorm, the three suns were still high in the midday sky.
I'd heard scores would be graded over the weekend and announced on Monday, so from now until then, it was a perfect holiday.
If the exams had gone according to the original schedule, we'd have hit the late-month break right away, but since they were moved up a week, no such luck.
"Oh, nice. It went up, it went up."
The moment I got back, I checked Lin's diary. My pleasant hypothesis was solidly confirmed.
Socrafres.
- Inherit progress on 'unique magic' research from the surrounding environment.
- Progress: 40.0% => 40.8%.
Yeah, fighting strong enemies boosts the progress, just like I thought. A very satisfying result. Though it does feel weird that a little scuffle could advance my unique magic.
'Grab this too...'
I packed the diary with a few changes of clothes into a bundle. I was planning a quick 2-night, 3-day trip somewhere. Call it a power-up vacation.
- Lin, once the expedition's over, want to come to our shrine in the Crimson Mountains?
That was 300 years ago.
After chugging nearly 50 mana potions and battling for almost four straight days, Fride had said that.
- There's this amazing elixir called Dragon's Breath. Super efficacious. I'll give it to you. Your mana will skyrocket.
- Can you just give that away like it's nothing?
- What do you take me for? I'm Fride, shrine maiden of the Fire Dragon Bell'Dakidun. I'll give you the full Crimson Mountains tour—just show up.
That's why I was heading to the Fire Dragon's shrine now, abandoned by all the red dragons.
Tch, of course, the fact that she'd entered suspended animation with Juyeo Soge Daeban for 300 years was a sticking point.
Still, she might've prepared the elixir, certain I'd return. If not, I'd just chalk it up to physical training.
'Going to the black market in this state feels kinda iffy...'
Without my ace in the hole, the mental barrier, or being able to use Bell Quirius freely, I felt uneasy.
"Alright, that's everything."
I slung the bundle over my back and gave the room a final once-over. Nothing forgotten.
"Time to go check."
Fride, did you really prepare that gift you promised?
* * *
The Crimson Mountains were the defining range of the south, a divine range that marked the border between the Holy Human Empire and the Dragonkin Republic.
Since the Fire Dragon Bell'Dakidun and her legion had lingered there for nearly a millennium, the entire range was infused with sacred mana, revered to this day as a holy site by countless faithful, mages, and witches.
After the legion departed, the central-north and northern sectors where [Golden Rose] lay became Imperial territory, while the central-south to south, home to the main shrines, fell to the Republic.
The Republic's signature peak was the Divine Flame Peak, former abode of the Fire Dragon. Shrine maidens still resided there with their witch attendants, presiding over rites and spreading the dragon's teachings.
'But that's not where I'm headed...'
No, it was Snowfire Peak, where the shrine maiden had dwelt and prepared sacrifices before the legion's exodus to the south pole. In simple terms, Fride's old haunt.
"Hey, young fella."
I'd been sweating buckets climbing the Thousand Steps—carved right into the cliffside, linking the foothills straight to the Divine Flame Peak shrine—when a voice called from behind.
"...Hm?"
Wiping sweat, I turned to see a middle-aged man sitting by the steps, unrolled cloth spread out, munching on oatmeal biscuits.
"Out here at dawn, in such a hurry—where to?"
He was dressed like a traveler, but the muscles rippling under his clothes screamed anything but ordinary pilgrim.
"You don't strike me as headed to Divine Flame Peak for worship. Raiding some other shrine, maybe?"
"...?"
"No need to get defensive. A young guy like you raiding the Crimson Mountains? Sounds like tough times. I'll let you in on something."
He was spinning his own tale without a word from me—kinda fascinating—so I listened quietly.
"Anywhere else, sure, but stay away from Snowfire Peak. Abandoned for nearly 300 years, but no raider's ever come back alive."
"...Why? You said it was abandoned."
"Who knows. They say the shrine maiden's pet demon guards it."
"Shrine maiden's? A demon? That make sense?"
"That's what they call it. I once steeled myself and peeked at the entrance—nearly died. Any farther, and I would've."
Were all of Fride's successor shrine maidens psychopaths?
It was so absurd I chuckled.
Tureina got accused of black magic, and now the current one's raising a demon? Nah, Fride was the unhinged one from the start.
Seeing my genuine laugh, he mistook it for recklessness and sighed like the earth itself groaned.
"Guess my warning just fueled your get-rich-quick dreams. I get it—youth's fire drowns out us old folks. But think it over again."
Summoned beast? Monster?
Whatever it was, best stay cautious. Shrine maidens were the Republic's elite, position and power both.
"Thanks for the heads-up. No ambushes for me now."
A smirk for thanks, and I resumed climbing.
Just as cramps hit my calves, the steps veered into a winding mountain path beside them. The road to Snowfire Peak.
I snatched a lantern lighting the Thousand Steps, shone it at my feet, and plunged into the path.
The night mountain was silent yet buzzing. Grasshoppers chirped endlessly; eerie cries echoed—wild beasts or monsters, who knew.
...
No getting lost in memories.
These adventure-like jaunts always dredged up echoes unbidden. The night I'd first met Fride was like this.
- This little squirt's our party mage?
- Yup. Cute, right?
- Nah? Our Pipi here's cuter.
Reliving the past, chuckling alone then sinking into gloom, repeat—hours passed like that.
The gentle uphill ended; vision cleared to reveal a temple of red volcanic rock, ancient and majestic.
Even dragon-built, time took its toll: flagstones cracked, weeds overran the garden, stained glass shattered and dull.
'Came this far without a plan... feels like zero prep.'
Where to now?
Enter the temple first? Maybe find something in the shrine maiden's chambers.
Nah, cast RudiyËn to scout.
- The shrine maiden's pet demon guards it.
Just rumors? No sign of anything, no presence.
Still wary, I scanned repeatedly, finally vaulting the vine-choked main gate long after.
An eerie silence filled the old holy site, fragile as if it might shatter—chilling.
Crunch...
Stepped on a twig.
Atop the temple's graceful three-story pagoda, a sudden glint flashed.
...?!
Raw hostility.
Before my spine could stiffen, something atop unfurled wings with a whoosh.
Flames swirled into massive wings and beak... then scattered embers skyward.
"No way that's..."
Dizzying thrill shook my mind that instant. Blinding hope surged... reason crushed it flat.
Roooarrr───!
Flames dove like arrows. Without rolling forward, I'd have burned whole. That's what it was.
'No way. How could...'
Flames grazed Rain's head, banked into a glide, soared high again.
- Lin, say hi. This is Fride. And this is Pipi. Fride's baby.
Rain bolted along the mossy temple colonnade.
Then light blazed off shrine stained glass... before heat hit, Rain flattened again.
Quuuuaaa────!
Scorching blast roared overhead. Singed hairs reeked.
That smell?
First meeting, it perched overhead, spat fire sudden—hair burned, same stench.
- Ahahahahaha! Pipi gotcha good! I'm Pipi, your party mascot!
Fride laughed so hard... that prank bonded us fast.
'But... no, impossible. 300 years since then.'
Charging the front gate blindly, my feet halted. No eyes, no ears around.
What if...
Really what if...
Even if, just maybe...
Throat burned to croak it. Voice cracked high and weak.
"Pipi...? Is that you?!"
Flames circled, hunting to slay the intruder.
"Pipi, it's me! Lin!"
Wings flapped; fiery afterimages scattered like stars... trailed light into dive.
"Lin───!"
The boy wailed like sobbing.
A cry unspoken since reincarnation... to no one left... laced with grief, doubt, joy.
...?
Blazing dive halted inches away. Flames tilted its slender beak.
"Lin? Lin? Lin?"
Awkward echo, mimicking long-forgotten voice, but it chanted the name.
"Yeah, it's me... we even competed mascot duties..."
Pipi was the sun parrot Fride brought to the party.
Rarest across the continent—worth fortunes, unobtainable. Intelligence rivaled human kids, famed for it.
Not just smarts: beast wielding flames freely, some sects deified it legend.
"Not Lin. Looks different. Pipi knows friends."
Furious at the impostor, it spewed flames fiercer than before.
Might've burned alive.
But that instant, water magic wove a hemispheric shield... steam billowed as elements clashed.
'Real Pipi...?'
This whirlwind in my chest—confusion? No... joy?
"Pipi, looks different but it's me. Really me!"
Screamed at Pipi ravaging the water barrier in rage.
No shared memories? Proof to convince instant...
Lightning struck my mind. All party grinning innocently.
"See this? Remember?"
Magic circle shattered in Rain's palm; water veil burst to countless droplets, dancing like snowflakes.
Pippi's favorite spell.
Pippi'd dance gaily to it. Pippi loved it, so Fride did, Rista did, Kies did, Lin did.
Unwritten in any tome—our era's trivial yet radiant fragment.
...
Spotting the same memory, Pipi halted circles warily, landed, stared blankly at droplets.
"Lin? Lin? Lin?"
"Yeah, me... Lin, told ya."
Instant, flames swelling Pipi eagle-sized fizzled away.
Flame-free, just golden-furred cute parrot. Sunflower crest fanning up-down-left-right, head blooming flower-like center.
Pipi flew to Rain's shoulder. Thrilled, bobbed head fore-back nonstop.
"Lin, scaredy mage Lin, Pipi's friend."
Vision blurred milky.
Feathers once glossy now ragged ugly; beak, talons chipped weathered pathetic—but Pipi.
Pipi who'd trek world's end through snow, rain.
"How... you... all this time..."
Legs buckled; I crumpled. Throat leaked sobs or laughs, endless.
No mere reunion.
Pipi turned unreachable echoes into fond memory. Link grasping ungraspable past.
"Lin come back, said. Lin came."
Pipi ecstatic, hopped Rain's head-shoulder, wiggling head-butt wildly.
"You idiot... why... 300 years..."
Boy's eyes streamed endless tears, lips curved joy-born smile.
"Lin wait, Fride said. Pipi waited. Till friend come. Always. Friends."