Chapter 114
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 114
Chapter Title: Moon Howling Night (5)
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“Magical beast!”
Shuren reflexively gripped his sword as Ash swiftly leaped onto the cabin roof.
“Ah, no, no! It’s fine, put the weapons away.”
Makina, startled, stretched her arm toward the bird and spoke.
Max, who had approached unnoticed, nudged me back a little.
The bird grew larger the closer it came. Each flap of its massive brown wings kicked up fierce gusts of dust-laden wind.
Its sharp talons snatched a branch of the signal pole like a fishhook, making the pole sway precariously.
So enormous that just perching there darkened the surroundings.
The giant bird glanced at us with its bulging eyes, then began pecking at the dry grains beneath its feet.
“This one’s a wind eagle that lives around here. Our mountain patrol uses them for messages—we tame them from chicks.”
Makina cautiously approached the wind eagle engrossed in its meal and pulled a note from the tube tied to its leg.
“For messages? Isn’t it a bit... big?”
Shuren sheathed his sword but remained on guard. Ash on the roof was still growling.
“This one’s on the small side. Wild wind eagles can snatch up a kid in one go.”
Max blocked my path as he spoke.
It felt like he was protecting me—as if someone my size could be snatched easily.
“And if it mutates into a magical beast, it becomes a giant avian magical beast called a fainax.”
The silver guard knight, who had been standing quietly, added his piece. Wedin, beside him, swallowed hard.
“I really don’t want to run into one...”
“You might encounter one during this trip. We spotted a flock of fainaxes on the way here.”
Makina casually prophesied a horrific event in a bright voice, then stroked the wind eagle’s nape.
The wind eagle rubbed its man-sized beak against Makina’s hand.
“Captain, what’s the note say?”
With the wind eagle still eating behind them, Makina and Max resumed walking. We followed.
Thanks to Ash glaring at the bird to the end, I trailed a step behind.
“Pretty much what we expected. There was a moon howling phenomenon northeast of Kopet at dawn, so report any damage.”
“Where’s the note from? How do they know something happened last night?”
To Shuren’s question, Makina vaguely pointed a finger overhead.
“There’s an eastern observatory on the northeast peak. They monitor the area and send wind eagles if anything unusual happens. Alright, head this way.”
Makina stepped onto the mountain path. It stretched on endlessly.
“It’s narrow, so single file. Max, bring up the rear.”
As instructed, Max paused by the pathside.
The silver guard knight and Shuren followed her first. I stepped after them with Ash.
Wedin behind me, and Max last.
We hadn’t gone far before the thick forest scent pierced my nose.
The smell of ancient trees, damp earth, and moss.
The trees were astonishingly massive and thick, soaring skyward and shattering sunlight to scatter it everywhere.
“These are quint pines. All the trees around here are over a century old, and deeper in, you’ll find even older ones.”
Makina said, tapping a thick trunk by the path.
Needle-leaved ancient trees stood here and there.
“Ah, I hear bellbirds crying. Must be a nest nearby.”
“I don’t hear anything.”
The silver guard knight replied flatly from where he stood quietly. Makina burst out laughing, saying he was hopeless.
She clearly loved this place.
She navigated the winding mountain paths with light steps, chattering animatedly about all sorts of things while glancing around.
“Follow this stream up, and you’ll hit a small waterfall. If we have time, we could rest there.”
“Too bad.”
The silver guard knight replied curtly, without much regret in his voice.
“Right? Too bad! There’s a flower field under the falls—great view. Oh, wild plums are ripe over there.”
Makina veered off the path and popped back with a fistful of red plums.
“Good for hydration,” she said, handing them out to the silver guard knight, Shuren, and Wedin in turn.
I was barely keeping up three or four steps behind with Ash.
Frustratingly, I couldn’t stop Wedin from passing me. I had to admit his stamina was better.
“Liberic, you okay?”
Makina smiled as she handed me a red plum. I caught my breath and took it.
“Still... fine.”
“If it’s tough, tell Max. You’d be lighter than the bag he’s carrying.”
“......No way.”
I muttered and glanced at Max.
Indeed, the bag Max carried was big enough for me to fit inside whole.
Still, no. Couldn’t do that.
“I’m good. We just started.”
I steadied my breathing, readjusted my bag, and kept going.
Makina gave the remaining plums to Max, then bounded to the front with lighter steps than anyone.
Hopping over trees and rocks like Ash. Astonishing that he could move like that with such a huge load.
“Watch the pits—they’re big.”
Max said quietly from behind right as I popped a plum into my mouth.
“Ah, y-yes.” I startled and replied.
Max warned me like that, then shoved a bunch into his mouth and crunched pits and all.
The crunching sounds echoed vividly from behind...
I bit into my plum carefully.
Aromatic, cool sweetness filled my mouth, but it didn’t lighten my bag or ease my leaden legs.
The mountain path dragged on.
Gentle inclines and steep slopes mixed irregularly. We clambered over rocks and trees, hopped small streams.
Makina seemed to know nearly every animal and plant here.
Not even winded, she chattered nonstop from the lead.
The silver guard knight and Shuren occasionally gave short replies amid her endless talk.
Wedin, better stamina than me but still struggling to keep up, had gone nearly silent.
His breathing stayed steady, though, and he didn’t fall far behind...
“Ugh.”
I finally stopped.
Just as Wedin’s shadow ahead vanished behind a tree.
Hands on knees, looking down—my legs trembled. Sweat dripped from my chin.
How long since we started? Half a day? No breaks or lunch yet...?
As I thought that, my body suddenly felt lighter.
Max had sneaked up and lifted my bag.
“Ah, I-I’m fine!”
“Falling behind is dangerous.”
No retort to that. He was lagging because of me.
Max silently took more than half my load.
Standing again, he showed no sweat, no heavy breathing—unlike me.
“Thanks...”
Max nodded silently and urged me ahead.
“Rest spot soon.”
Welcoming news.
I took deep breaths, shouldered my much lighter bag, and hurried on.
“This is a key landmark for hikes.”
Makina pointed to a yellow pole.
Like the one by the cabin entrance. Weathered, dye flaking, but still visible.
“See the number? Sector 543. Shows your position.”
According to Makina, yellow poles dotted the Quint Mountains with numbers—handy guides.
“And there’s always basic survival gear buried nearby.”
She opened a half-buried box at the base.
Water bottles, dried rations, bandages, blankets inside.
The lid had a simple map to the nearest cabin.
“Poles are always near streams or ponds—drinkable water. Remember for emergencies.”
I tried etching her words in my mind.
Exhausted, drowsy.
We rested briefly in a sunny clearing, snacked—but after last night’s poor sleep, lifting heavy eyelids was hard.
“Let’s head out. Nice sunlight!”
Makina called energetically and started down the path.
The silver guard knight and Wedin followed.
“Lib.”
I rubbed sleepy eyes and looked up. Shuren grinned down at me.
“Really feeling that stamina gap, huh?”
“Ugh... just didn’t sleep well last night.”
Shuren headed down; I trailed slowly.
Ash, basking lazily in the sun, followed at ease.
“Want me to carry some? Might help.”
“Nah, Max already has half.”
I sighed.
Thought I’d reclaim it once recovered—but no chance seemed coming.
Max shadowed us stoically, huge load light as air.
Shuren glanced back and chuckled.
“If the rest gets heavy, say so. You’ll get teased, but body’ll thank you.”
“......Absolutely not.”
Stubbornness woke me a bit.
I gripped my bag tight and stuck close to Shuren’s heels.
The path grew rougher.
Down along the stream a ways, then suddenly up a rocky incline.
Focused on each step, I stopped hearing Makina’s chatter ahead.
We reached a wooded clearing and ate a simple lunch.
Makina shared fruit and bread picked on the way.
Stuffing food in, I couldn’t believe it was just noon.
Felt like all day.
Short lunch over, we walked on.
Deeper in, judged by plants and animals.
Tree variety increased, growing aggressively intertwined.
Small birds and critters scarce; larger herbivores popped up near the path.
Max muttered “Plump one,” and they vanished instantly.
After endless trekking, we neared tonight’s cabin—sun still up.
Somehow, I was still walking.
No whining to Shuren; still carried half my bag.
But my legs felt detached from my will, despite attached.
“Ah, damn.”
Makina’s ominous sigh halted us all.
She waved us off the path into bushes; Max shoved me behind a tree cluelessly.
“What’s going on?”
Shuren whispered from beside the tree.
Steadying breath, I peered where Makina and the silver guard knight looked—only dense trees and bushes.
But noticed Wedin’s Melgram around his neck had turned pitch black.
“Barthan.”
Wedin nearly stopped breathing at the silver guard knight’s low voice. Shuren’s hand instinctively went to his sword hilt.
“Stay low and quiet. Let it pass.”
Makina warned softly.
Shuren silently sheathed his half-drawn sword.
Her words about avoiding fights echoed. We hunkered down, holding breath.