Chapter 113
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 113
Chapter Title: Night of the Crying Moon (4)
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"Ah."
He reluctantly opened his mouth at Shuren's question. It seemed like he'd been trying to put off the conversation.
"She's not officially part of the Silver Moon Knight Order yet. At least, I haven't approved it. So it threw me when she showed up at the outpost."
"What do you mean? You didn't order her to come to the outpost? And she's not even affiliated with the Silver Moon Knight Order?"
Shuren asked in confusion.
Even after the explanation, it didn't make any sense. The Silver Guard Knight looked just as puzzled.
"It's a complicated situation. You'll have to meet her yourself to get the full story. In any case, since she's made it to the outpost, she'll be joining us on this mission."
"...Understood. We'll be ready, including for her."
"She won't get in the way of the mission, at least. I can vouch for her skills."
The Silver Guard Knight guaranteeing her skills carried a lot of weight. Whoever she was, if she could help with this tough mission, that was fine.
After the discussion wrapped up, Shuren and Wedin rubbed their tired faces and headed back to their room.
As I stroked Ash's back, replaying what we'd just heard, I suddenly felt the Silver Guard Knight's gaze on me.
He was perched on the edge of the bed, looking my way.
"I haven't asked what you think about all this."
I shrugged with a smile.
"There's still a ton I don't know. But one thing's for sure."
"What's that?"
The Silver Guard Knight asked, intrigued.
I quietly lifted my head and gazed out the window.
A bluish moonlight bathed the endless mountain range in serene silence.
"There's definitely something for me to do at those ruins."
Something even Phren couldn't manage... That was my hunch. I couldn't explain why.
"That alone is reason enough for me to go. No matter how dangerous it gets."
"...Yeah. That's good enough."
With that, the Silver Guard Knight stood up. He was probably going to wash up before bed.
Left alone in the room with the unusually docile Ash, I pondered what lay ahead while waiting for the Silver Guard Knight—and ended up falling asleep.
Liberic.
Ash's voice woke me.
When I opened my eyes, Ash, nestled in my arms, was swelling up lushly with silver mana.
"Ash? What's...?"
Half-asleep, I sat up and stroked him, trying to calm him down.
But in the next instant, a massive humming vibration filled both my ears.
"Ugh. W-what is it?"
Woooong.
The vibration was so intense it made my vision blur.
The air shook as if there was an earthquake.
Yet the bed I was lying on and the furniture in the room didn't budge an inch. Only the mana vibrations rattled my mind.
And this heavy sinking feeling in my body.
I stumbled off the bed. The Silver Guard Knight was asleep on the opposite bed.
What was happening outside?
Gripping the window frame to steady myself, I peered out—and froze on the spot.
An unbelievable sight unfolded beyond the glass.
The bustling nighttime streets of Kopet, teeming with people, had vanished. In their place was a deep, dark forest swirling with white snowflakes.
Tall, jagged trees stood densely packed, blanketing the snow-covered ground.
A primordial forest that had never known a village or a single human footprint.
The chill seeping through the window etched frost on the panes, turning even my ragged breaths white.
"W-what the hell...?"
I couldn't believe the scene before me.
A hallucination? Like what Agnes had shown me before?
Wooo...
The vibration churned through my head again.
"Ugh!"
I clutched my head in pain. That's when I realized where the vibration was coming from.
A vast white moon hung alone in the pale blue sky.
The enormous moon trembled faintly, shaking the heavens and the forest.
It sounded like a sobbing wail, or a scream—maybe even a chilling laugh.
Though confused, I couldn't tear my eyes from the quivering moon.
In that moment, a hand rushed up from behind and roughly yanked the curtain across the window.
With the forest view blocked, the mind-shaking vibration began to subside.
Turning around, I saw the Silver Guard Knight, pale-faced, gripping the curtain's edge.
"Don't look. You'll get entranced."
"Silver Guard Knight..."
He winced in pain, taking deep breaths.
Only after fully covering and securing the thick curtain did he grab my shoulders and sit me on the bed.
"Is Ash okay?"
Ash lay limply on the bed, his mana settling.
I stroked his back.
I'd thought he was just tired or bored... So this was why.
"Ash."
My body feels heavy. I don't feel good.
Ash's uncharacteristically weak words tugged at my heart.
Knowing it was pointless, I still wanted to give him some warmth, so I pulled his head into my embrace.
Ash's breathing gradually steadied in my arms.
"Silver Guard Knight, what was that just now?"
He poured water from the small table into a glass and drank.
"Moon Cry phenomenon."
"What's that? First I've heard of it."
"A rare mana vibration that occurs in the Quint Mountains. It's so infrequent and localized that it's barely been studied."
Something like that existed?
Even digging through my old memories, I'd never experienced or heard of it.
"What do you mean 'entranced'?"
"Exactly what it sounds like. The crying moon induces hallucinations. It's one of the warnings we heard when crossing the Quint Mountains before. 'If the moon starts crying, crouch in place, close your eyes, and cover your ears.'"
So that's why pulling the curtain stopped the vibration. As long as you don't look directly at the moon, it seems fine.
Still, I eyed the curtain the Silver Guard Knight had drawn, curiosity and suspicion lingering about the view beyond.
I fought the urge to jump up and fling it open.
"You and Ash are both highly sensitive to mana, so you need to be extra careful. I can sense mana too, but not that acutely."
"...Good thing we're in the same room."
"If I were next door, I'd have come running. Anyway, from what I know, the Moon Cry lasts less than an hour. Ash should recover soon too."
"I hope so."
I kept stroking Ash, who still seemed drained.
"This is highly concerning."
The Silver Guard Knight stared at the window, now pitch-black behind the curtain, not a sliver of light escaping.
"Moon Cry only happens in the central Quint Mountains—an extremely localized event. This is way out on the periphery."
"And it's a village with people living here."
The Silver Guard Knight and I exchanged worried glances.
"Is this the 'strange thing' Squad Leader Makina mentioned?"
He said in a grim voice.
In the end, we barely slept that night.
The Moon Cry lasted about an hour and a half. Another hour passed before Ash finally came around.
Just as faint light began filtering through the curtain cracks.
Having stayed up with me, the Silver Guard Knight grabbed his sword and headed out, saying he needed to stretch his legs.
He told me breakfast was still a ways off, so I should catch a bit more sleep.
Ash, regaining his energy, followed him out. I gazed down at Kopet's dawn-lit streets, then returned to bed for a brief nap.
"Moon Cry?! You're serious?"
As I descended to the second floor for breakfast, Makina's voice boomed across the terrace.
It jolted me fully awake.
"Yes. It lasted nearly two hours."
The Silver Guard Knight sat across from her, sipping hot tea. Shuren and Wedin were at the same table, listening intently.
"This is insane. Totally insane."
Makina scowled, ruffling her short, messy hair wildly.
Even for a seasoned mountain guard like her, last night's event was shocking.
"Could you explain that in more detail...?"
I asked, pulling out an empty chair at the table.
Makina, head bowed over the table, let out a deep sigh.
"Remember when I said something weird happened yesterday? That's it. The Moon Cry."
Makina began explaining to the baffled Shuren and Wedin.
"Just what it sounds like. The moon shakes like it's crying, causing hallucinations and auditory illusions in people and animals. They say it's due to unknown causes vibrating the mana in the air."
"That happened last night?"
Shuren asked, and the Silver Guard Knight and I nodded in unison.
"It was around dawn. Ash and Liberic noticed first."
I recounted the event for Shuren and Wedin.
"The air felt like it was trembling. When I looked out the window, Kopet's streets were gone—replaced by a deep forest swirling with snow. And the moon was shaking..."
Shuren and Wedin stared in disbelief, eyes wide.
"Exactly. It hits mana-sensitive people harder with hallucinations and sounds."
Makina said gravely, looking at me.
"Up till now, it wasn't a big issue. It only happened deep in the mountains, at midnight, for short bursts in narrow areas—no real casualties.
A few travelers without guides getting lost, or a careless squad member tumbling downhill."
"Never in Kopet, though."
"Kopet's nothing—it's barely happened in my patrol zone. Records say it's observed maybe once every three or four months, tops. But..."
Makina's voice dropped.
"Lately, it's happening three or four times a week. Anywhere, lasting hours. And the crying moon's drawing in dangerous variant beasts."
"If beasts show up during a Moon Cry, that sounds pretty risky."
"Only one way to handle it: 'When the moon cries, crouch in place, close your eyes, cover your ears.'"
"But with beasts around."
Wedin frowned, and Makina just shrugged.
"What a fantastic trip this'll be."
Shuren sighed deeply.
As worries piled up, Max finally came down after packing.
We finished breakfast amid the heavy mood, shouldered our packs securely, and left the inn.
Now it was all on foot.
With the horses' loads shifted to our backs, our steps felt heavier than usual.
Shuren offered to share the burden, but I declined.
His pack was already bigger than mine, split with the Silver Guard Knight for the communal camping gear.
Still, Shuren and the Silver Guard Knight carried it all without complaint, effortlessly.
Makina and Max led us deep into Kopet village.
The villagers we passed seemed utterly peaceful, as if nothing had happened last night. Few seemed to have noticed.
At the trailhead up the mountain stood an old building—a small log cabin.
A sign read 'Quint Mountain Guard Contact Point.'
"Hold up."
Makina stopped in front of the cabin and approached a tall yellow pole by the entrance.
The bright yellow pole, visible from afar, had a round base and several short rods attached.
Makina poured dry grain onto the base.
What was she doing?
As I moved closer, a ferocious screech echoed from above.
Kyaaaak!
An enormous bird dove toward us at breakneck speed.