The Strongest Pack Mule (1)
Master had reached the pinnacle of mana control, a superhuman feat. I could merely sense the flow and accelerate or decelerate it. Tia, on the other hand? She could slow it down—not just that, but nearly halt it entirely, maintaining the state at all times. She could even slip free from the influence of inscribed marks, ignoring regional bindings whenever she wished. Right now, she held that state as naturally as breathing.
Of course, there were conditions. And a corresponding price.
"Aiya, this one is... a bit tired."
"Ah! Let's take a short break!"
The cost was utter powerlessness. Even these mountain paths were too much for Master now. Her frail stamina matched her delicate frame perfectly. She hadn't even climbed for two hours before sweat poured down her face.
"Huuu... Sorry about this. I really am nothing but dead weight."
"No, no! Just trust in me, Master!"
I'd boldly grabbed her hand and set out together, but my worries were mounting. Had I forced this unreasonable burden on her, making things uncomfortable? That gnawed at me.
Tia leaned against a rock to catch her breath. Seeing my troubled expression, she gently stroked my head.
"Dodo, aiya. This one came prepared, in her own way."
"I know. I know, but..."
"At first, I was so shocked... But now, it's rather enjoyable."
Master smiled faintly. Then she continued.
"This one never dreamed she could do something like this on her own. To have such an accomplished disciple protecting her—who wouldn't be delighted?"
A smile brimming with 100% sincerity. Seeing her grin so brightly... I never could have imagined it back at our first meeting.
Yeah, what more is filial piety than this? The way that makes Master happiest. That's the conclusion I've reached after all this time.
Time to believe in myself and become her protector. Get it together, Dodo!
With my resolve firm, I sprang into action.
"Master! Just let me carry you on my back!"
"Mm... How could I..."
She furrowed her brow, pondering briefly.
"No, that's the right call. Time to reap some disciple benefits."
Master beamed. The moment the words left her lips, she hopped onto my back.
Holy shit...! She was incredibly light. The day Master would let me piggyback her willingly—never thought I'd see it! I was overcome with emotion.
Even if her stamina had waned, her essence remained unchanged. Her perfect sense of balance clung to me without a hint of discomfort. The epitome of ideal luggage.
The warm heat against my back felt like it was healing my very soul.
"Reminds me of old times, aiya."
"Yeah... When you carried me, Master."
"Huhu, you've grown so tall in the blink of an eye... Time flies."
We chatted nostalgically about the past. Every memory with her was one of gratitude.
"Um... Master. Your disciple has a question."
"Ask away."
"What exactly are those marks of yours?"
"Ah. This one hasn't explained in detail, has she."
It was a highly sensitive topic, directly tied to death itself—a massive vulnerability if overheard. But with our bond thicker than family, she didn't hesitate.
Just then, she wrapped her arms around my neck, clinging like a cicada on a sweltering cliffside path.
"Watch your step."
As delicate as the subject was, she'd never broached curses first. Nor had I pried. But now was the time—I had to know, to stay vigilant against activations.
She whispered softly into my ear.
"Ansuz (ᚨ), Naudiz (ᚾ), Jera (ᛃ), reversed Laguz (ᛚ), Perthro (ᛈ). Understood?"
Ansuz (ᚨ) → Reverence
Naudiz (ᚾ) → Restraint
Jera (ᛃ) → Harvest
Laguz (reversed ᛚ) → Reverse Flow
Perthro (ᛈ) → Fate
"Oh..."
The status window kicked in with the translation.
"Reverence, restraint, harvest, reverse flow, fate... Right?"
"Impressive. I'll explain in order."
Still on my back, she stroked my head as she spoke.
"The first makes all living beings fear this one. You've witnessed it before."
"Huh? I'm fine, though."
"You're the first who didn't need suppression, Dodo."
Memories of the shadows surfaced—the non-human races trembling at the sight of Master, as if they'd seen a ghost. Probably because I'm from another world? Or thanks to the status window.
"The restraint and reverse flow marks confine her to one region and limit total mana."
"Ah..."
I knew that much from her prior explanations. What came next was uncharted territory.
"Jera (ᛃ), the harvest mark... binds this one in an immature form."
"Uh... Master? So you were taller before?"
"Naturally. Once, every limb stretched tall and proud... A figure that turned every head of ten passersby."
She reminisced wistfully, a hint of bitterness in her voice.
No way... She had a true form? I hadn't even imagined it! Holy crap!
"I like you just as you are now, Master."
"Aiya, flattery will get you nowhere."
Her gruff words belied the faint amusement in her tone.
"Finally, Perthro (ᛈ), the fate mark... ties to this one's lifespan."
"..."
The warm atmosphere chilled instantly. My lips went stiff.
Master continued matter-of-factly.
"Aiya, this one was originally immortal. When she received the name Hecatia, that fate was sealed."
Her hand softly caressed my head, as if to say it was no big deal—calm down.
"Plenty of time remains until journey's end... No need to worry, aiya."
"Yes, Master."
"With a deadline set, we can cherish it all the more—doesn't that make it even more precious?"
Tia's voice stayed as serene as ever, unlike my choked one.
"Enough of that. Topic closed. It's soured the mood. From this one's memory, settlements lie beyond that hill."
She wriggled up higher on my back to resettle. I cleared my mind and focused on the path ahead.
Wasn't this trip to erase those marks in the first place?
"Hold on tight, Master!"
"So sudden—Ngh...!"
I pumped mana into my thighs, circulating it to sprint up the incline. When the head's a mess, nothing beats a good workout.
The first village I'd visited after possession: Kerpen. More like a sprawling city-scale settlement, really.
"By this one's memory, it should have been a village..."
"Master, how long ago was that?"
"...About eighty years."
Learning her age hit me like a truck.
"Aiya, something wrong?"
She asked from my back at my flinch.
Crap. I scrambled for an excuse.
"Ah...! Just a sudden chill!"
"Oh dear, we must find lodging and warm you up."
Master finally hopped down. Even if she was light, sprinting those steep slopes left me drenched in sweat.
"Follow this one."
She took my hand and led the way. Though I'd outgrown her in size, she still treated me like a child. Didn't mind a bit.
With excited steps, we reached the gate. Two guards manned it—one fat slob with legs spread wide, the other skinny, both slouching without a shred of discipline. Their eyes locked on us.
"Whoa, young buck already whipped by his girl!"
"Hey... dude! Nobility... nobility!"
Fatso smirked, skinny tried reining him in. The tubby one startled, finally clocking Tia's pristine silk robes—clearly expensive.
Skinny bowed hastily.
"Uh-uh! Sorry...!"
"This one is holding the child's hand, but not 'tightly.' And this one is no 'miss.'"
Still clasping my hand, Master began a gentle scolding. The guards sweated bullets.
"Ignorance breeds rudeness. Mercy this once. May we pass?"
"Hehe, how about a little smooch then?"
Skinny paled at fatso's add-on, smacking his shoulder.
"You idiot...! Read the room! Hehe... Go right ahead!"
"Whaa? But we always do this?"
"Fuuuck...! Just drop it!"
Fatso had a point—of course, while getting dog-piled. Skinny half-assed the restraint, like with a buddy. Proof they got away with this crap unscathed.
Imagine dealing with that asshole. If he were your senior...? Hmm... No, if he were the junior? Head-splitting nightmare! You'd have to smack your own forehead.
But fatso's greed persisted, reeking of cheap booze as he pressed for bribes.
Tia nodded.
"You're right. Aiya. If it's custom, this one understands."
She rummaged in her pouch.
"Unsure of current rates—will this do?"
She tossed coin-like coppers.
The duo snatched them greedily, inspecting slowly with growing confusion.
Fatso piped up.
"Hehe, milady. Mind if I ask... what is this?"
"Passage toll, naturally?"
"Th-that... uh... mm...!"
Oh shit...! It hit me then. Decades—no, over a century—since Tia's active days. Medieval eras cycled currencies constantly; of course they'd changed!
Fatso scratched his head, skinny glared. We're fucked! Jailbait nightmare flashed—busted at the gate, tossed in a cell.
I scooped Master up princess-style in a flash, taking control.
"Whoops...! Having fun with the guards, Tia?"
"What—! Mmph!"
I clamped her mouth, steering the talk.
"Haha, my little sis here's obsessed with pretend play lately!"
"Mmph! Mmmph!"
She glared daggers, thrashing, eyes wide—what the hell?!
Skinny eyed us suspiciously.
"No offense, but... who might you be?"
"C'mon, doesn't the outfit scream it?"
"If I knew, I wouldn't ask! Hehe..."
"From the Eastern Empire. Here on market research."
"Ah! Ooh! That explains the class!"
Bold lie landed; skinny groveled again. I desperately spun a backstory on the fly.
"Phew. Nah, forget it—this antique silver's no good, right?"
"We got our own standards! This here's worthless!"
Fatso jumped in. No sense at all—that fucker ate his for breakfast.
"That's enough for a week's boozing. Exchange it later."
"Ooh! For real?!"
"Silver's easier, though..."
"Shut it!"
Fist to fatso's skull at last. Gate swung open naturally.
"Good work, boys."
"Yessir!"
I'd slipped my hand from Tia's mouth. She'd read the room midway, stopped struggling... sort of.
I set her down from my arms. But she was pissed!
"..."
Not even glancing my way. Calm before the storm. Silence was maddening.
Without looking back, Master strode into the city.