Chapter 115
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 115
Chapter Title: Night of the Moon's Howl (6)
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At first, it was hard to make out the Bartans.
The surroundings were thick with densely grown trees and overgrown bushes, and there wasn't a hint of the magical beasts' presence.
Ash had hunkered down in the bushes atop the hill, concealing himself. Hiding in underbrush was one of his specialties.
How long had we stayed tense like that?
"Ah...!"
A massive Bartan head suddenly poked out from the roadside thicket, drawing a sigh from Wedin.
In that instant, Shuren swiftly clamped a hand over his mouth.
The Bartan was as enormous as the ones we'd seen in front of Kopet's barrier.
Its bulging red eyes glared fiercely, and black, thorn-like fur bristled sharply.
I worried it might have heard Wedin's sound, but fortunately, the Bartan lumbered slowly downward along the path below.
No sooner had one vanished from sight than two more of the same size rustled up from the tree shadows.
Three smaller Bartans followed in a tangled herd, scrambling after them.
We waited stock-still until every last Bartan had descended below the road.
Once they were gone, a few ordinary wild boars—three or four—trailed behind them.
Even after the small wild boars disappeared from view, Makina kept a finger to her lips, signaling silence.
She wanted us to wait until the Bartans were farther away.
"...All clear."
Makina exhaled a sigh and stood up. The signal that it was safe now.
I rose with a heavy breath. My legs were numb from crouching so tensely.
"They're completely gone now."
Makina brushed the dirt off her clothes and headed back to the path.
"Those wild boars looked like they were following the Bartans."
Shuren asked as he helped Wedin to his feet. Wedin let out a deep sigh and stood with effort.
"Exactly. And then they mutate into Bartans."
"It would've been dangerous to pick a fight recklessly."
Shuren nodded quietly at the Silver Guard Knight's words.
There had been three massive Bartans like the ones that flung people around at the barrier, mixed in with smaller ones and wild boars.
In these narrow, deep woods, a battle would've left even us with injuries we couldn't avoid.
"Back in the day, we'd have taken them out somehow, but now they're not easy to deal with. The lodge is that way."
Looking up where Makina pointed, a yellow flagpole rose atop a dizzyingly high hill.
Joy at finally finding a place to rest mingled with dread at the climb ahead.
Makina started up, stepping lightly onto the rocks.
"What do you mean, not easy to deal with?"
"Just what I said. Here, grab this tree and climb. The rocks are slippery."
We placed our feet on moss-covered rocks, gripping trees as we ascended.
Shuren pushed Wedin up from below, while Max supported me from behind.
Having Max behind me felt like a huge, steady rock shoving me along.
"We gather the corpses after killing magical beasts and burn them, right? Lately, that's not working well. The fires just won't catch. And if we leave them, more beasts slink in."
"Ah, that..."
Even those two words exhausted my breath. Makina climbed without pause, her breathing steady as ever.
"We... saw it... at Kopet."
"Really? Looked like it burned fine there."
Makina turned back, both feet planted on a rock, one hand on a tree.
"I..."
I'd say I helped out once I reached that flat rock up ahead.
Groaning, I gripped the tree and hauled myself up.
"Looked like Liberic was doing something."
Max said that as he shoved me—bag and all—onto the rock.
I sprawled there, arms braced, panting hard.
"Thanks, Max. Yeah. The fire wouldn't light, so I added some mana."
I took a deep breath and stood.
Lifting my head, I saw the lodge not far off.
"It's that 'contamination' Fren mentioned. That's why the corpses don't burn, and it draws even more beasts."
"Ahh, got it. Next time it happens, I'll have to ask for your help. Come on, just a bit more. Almost there."
Makina spoke with vigor and strode up another rock.
Wedin, gasping for breath, looked up at the lodge with a drained face.
"Feels like it's getting farther away..."
I groaned in agreement.
The grueling hike did end eventually. I tried not to dwell on it being just the first day's end.
My body ached like I'd been beaten all over, but the cool high-altitude wind washing away my sweat felt pretty good.
The view below the lodge showed we'd crossed a small peak and followed the ridge up.
On that narrow path, it had been hard to even guess where we were.
The first lodge we reached was marked "Camp 54."
The wooden and stone building was weathered but sturdy. Inside, on the second floor, simple wooden bunks and old blankets awaited.
The moment we stepped into the lodge yard, Makina and Max tossed their bags aside and sprang into action.
Where did they get that energy? I couldn't fathom it.
Even the Silver Guard Knight and Shuren dropped their bags and slumped on the stairs, motionless for a while. But the two mountain guards gathered firewood for a bonfire, fetched water, and started preparing dinner.
While Makina boiled a huge pot of stew with dried meat and potatoes, Max patrolled the area around the lodge.
The savory aroma wafting from the stew finally roused the Silver Guard Knight and Shuren; they grabbed their bags and headed in to sort out their spots for the night.
Ash wandered happily, enjoying the breeze atop the rocks.
I wanted to move too, but my legs wouldn't budge.
After a full day on mountain paths, it felt like they'd developed minds of their own.
"Wedin, can't holy magic fix this?"
I asked Wedin, who lay sprawled beside me on the rock.
He stared up at the sky, brown hair and sleeves fluttering in the wind.
"It could. But I can't. Feels like I'm about to die."
"Ah."
Holy magic consumed life force, right. Wedin's was probably hanging by a thread.
"By the time we cross this range, only one of us'll be left—you or me."
"Don't jinx it."
I chuckled, and Wedin muttered without enthusiasm.
By the time we shook off our daze and stood, everything at the lodge was done.
Makina's stew was surprisingly tasty despite its looks—and there was a ton of it.
Even after we ate our fill, half the pot remained. We decided to have it again for breakfast.
"All I can do is this much."
A blue Eckronium floated up beside the yellow flagpole. I stood before it and wove a defensive barrier around the lodge.
"That's plenty. Means no night watch needed. Huge help."
Makina giggled and slapped my back hard. I nearly pitched forward.
"So you all took turns on watch every time?"
"Yeah. Never know when beasts might show or moon-howling hits. It's fine—we're used to this life."
Makes sense. That stamina for strolling treacherous paths doesn't come easy.
After finishing the barrier, I returned with Makina to the front yard, where the bonfire crackled.
Max, the Silver Guard Knight, Shuren, and Wedin sat around it, chatting.
"You're all from the Royal Knights, right?"
Shuren eyed Max curiously.
Max looked a bit flustered.
"Not all."
"Over half are Royal Knights alumni. The rest are soldiers born in mountain villages."
Makina answered for him, perching on a stack of firewood.
I sat beside Ash, who warmed himself by the fire. Wedin dozed on the stairs, head nodding.
"Royal Knights serve in Elgrace, don't they? This place is too... rough."
"Remote? Exile? All true."
Makina's face, flickering across the fire, turned bittersweet for a moment.
"When Elgrace started discriminating against non-Denans, the non-human knights got pushed out one by one. All their rank and merits, gone."
"I heard from Knight Commander Jenard. Said the political shift drove many fine knights away from Elgrace."
The Silver Guard Knight added.
"Sir Jenard. Good man. Helped us no matter where we went after leaving.
Supported maintaining the Quint range roads and supplying goods. That's why we can cross so safely and comfortably."
"Used to be brutal. Few lodges or camps."
Max nodded in agreement with Makina.
"But you're Denan, Makina. You weren't discriminated against."
"Max was under my command back then. Plenty of Loran and Arbat knights too... But I figured even snobby nobles might listen if there's at least one Denan here."
"Makes sense..."
That reasoning checked out.
Folks who shun other races wouldn't heed mountain guard requests otherwise.
"Your turn now. What happened in Elgrace that even Sir Jenard couldn't help us?"
Makina asked, and the Silver Guard Knight sighed softly.
"It's a long story."
"No rush. Long road ahead yet."
The Silver Guard Knight shook his head resignedly and began recounting Elgrace events.
Shuren chimed in occasionally beside him.
I noted Wedin passed out against the railing. Felt a small victory being more awake than him.
But soon, at the thrilling part where the Prius knights raced to the dragon's annex, I blacked out into sleep.
The next morning, I woke inhaling the thick scent of aged wood. On a bunk in the lodge.
When did they move me here? Did I even walk?
No memory of last night.
Stepping down from the bed, I was in thin top, black pants, barefoot.
No recollection of undressing either. Embarrassing.
I grabbed my neatly folded shirt and shoes below, draped my robe over.
Lodge empty inside; noisy voices outside.
I pushed open the creaky wooden door.
Sunlight bathed the rocky lodge. Air crisp and clear.
Makina's dried meat and potato stew bubbled again. Shuren and the Silver Guard Knight, in light clothes, clung to Max.
What was I seeing?
"Shuren, twist the arm!"
The Silver Guard Knight, arm gripped in Max's huge hand and yanked down, shouted urgently.
Shuren tugged Max's other arm to pull it open, face red with effort—but no give.
"That ain't working!"
"The joint... Ngh!"
Max finally flung the Silver Guard Knight's arm outward.
He landed steadying himself, but couldn't stop Max grabbing Shuren's nape, hoisting him, and slamming him down.
"Urk!"
Shuren hit the dirt unceremoniously, covered in grime.
"Ugh, knights these days."
Makina tsked, approaching with an armload of dry wood.
"Wanna go again?"
Max asked quietly, having dirtied Prius's elite Silver Moon knights.
His usual brevity felt weighty, threatening.
"One more round."
Shuren's eyes gleamed with resolve.
Ah, that look.
The face after losing five straight berry games to me, challenging the sixth. He won his first that time.
"Fine. Last training bout."
Shuren replied, and the Silver Guard Knight rose, dusting off.
The two unarmed knights cautiously spaced out, pondering how to take Max.