Chapter 118
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 118
Chapter Title: Trap (1)
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The yellow pole stuck at the cave entrance seemed to welcome us.
While we caught our breath, drinking in the fresh forest air and quenching our thirst, Makina and Max stacked five or six small stones at the cave mouth to build a cairn.
A scrap of red cloth was wedged between the stones, making it stand out.
"This marks no path here."
It was a signal from the mountain patrol guards.
"Each squad member regularly patrols the mountains, checking paths and restocking markers. They'll know not to enter the cave when they see this."
Makina dusted the dirt from her hands and turned to us.
"Alright, let's get moving once you've rested enough. The Fifth Post isn't far."
"That doesn't exactly fill me with confidence..."
Wedin muttered, his face weary. He didn't say it, but honestly, I quietly agreed.
It might be quick by Makina's standards, but for us, there was still a good chunk of grueling time ahead.
Makina just laughed and took the lead, urging us onward.
The scenery outside the cave had softened considerably.
A gentle forest with few rocks. Tall trees stood sparsely, casting soft shade.
Wildflowers bloomed in clusters amid the thick soil and weeds.
If Clemence were here, she'd know the name of every one. I gazed at them for a while, lost in that thought.
We passed another yellow pole.
The Fifth Post didn't appear right away, but at least this forest was easy to traverse, with clean air, so it wasn't too taxing.
By the time sunlight pierced sharply through the trees, we finally spotted the Fifth Post.
A yellow flag fluttered atop the cabin's steep roof, waving us in.
"Hugo! We're here!"
Makina shouted brightly and dashed down toward the cabin.
In the front yard, an older man tending a vegetable garden looked up.
"Oh, Makina. Back early, I see!"
The white-haired man beamed at us. He straightened his hunched back with effort and spread his arms wide.
"Welcome to the Fifth Guard Post, young knights. I'm Hugo, of the Fifth Squad."
The kindly Hugo chuckled as he introduced himself, and Silver Guard Knight, arriving first, shook his hand.
"It's been a while, Hugo."
"Hunter. Glad to see you safe. And with such fresh-faced knights in tow, no less."
Those "fresh-faced knights" included me and Wedin, looking haggard from exhaustion.
Silver Guard Knight introduced us to Hugo, and we shook hands one by one.
"Must've been tough. I figured you'd arrive by dinner tonight or tomorrow."
"We took an amazing shortcut. You'd be shocked if you knew!"
Makina conveniently skipped mentioning that the shortcut was gone now.
Hugo chuckled heartily and led us toward the cabin.
"Come inside first. I'll fix you some lunch."
The cabin, marked with a "Fifth Post" sign, was far larger and cozier than the huts we'd passed.
A two-story wooden building with a basement and an outbuilding for storage. A small garden in the front yard, and a livestock pen out back.
It was equipped for self-sufficiency in these depths.
As we climbed the stairs into the cabin, the rich aroma of cooking wafted strongly from the kitchen.
The high-ceilinged first floor felt spacious. A long dining table and chairs on one side, a sofa by the window, a rocking chair, and even a hearth.
The second floor was a row of sleeping quarters.
"You haven't eaten yet?"
"I held off since it'd be no fun alone."
"You were waiting? For us?"
Makina, Max, and Hugo headed to the kitchen, chatting.
We set our bags down near the stairs to the second floor.
As Silver Guard Knight and Shuren went to help in the kitchen, Wedin and I got caught up in the frames lined along the stairwell.
They depicted various magical beasts, animals, and plants from the Quint Mountains.
"Bartan. And Gatara has Paynax too."
Wedin said, peering intently at the pictures.
Each illustration vividly captured the beasts, with detailed notes below on their traits and precautions.
Bartan charges fiercely—don't stand in front. Paynax swoops from the sky to snatch people—always watch overhead...
"We saw all these on the way. Ugh."
Wedin shuddered and shook his head. I pointed to a large picture overhead.
"Never seen this one."
The long frame showed a ferocious beast.
A quadruped like a large cat or leopard.
Its slit eyes gleamed red, and its sleek, curved body was covered in blue fur.
The tail was longer than its body, tipped with blue fur.
Wedin squinted at the small text beneath.
"What is it? Shau..."
"Shaika. The Snowfield Shaika. It's incredibly fast and hurls deadly ice chunks."
A unfamiliar voice came from the stairs.
We both looked up toward the second floor.
A middle-aged man leaned on the railing. Even at a glance, he was badly injured.
His face was wrapped in bandages on the left side, and his left arm, shoulder, and leg were swathed in cloth and bandages. Blood still seeped through, staining them dark.
He limped down the stairs.
"Sir Gordon."
Silver Guard Knight spotted him from the kitchen and looked shocked.
The man nodded slightly to Silver Guard Knight, then sank onto the stairs at the bottom, breathing heavily.
"Wedin, can you take a look?"
"Y-yes!"
Wedin, frozen in surprise at the wounds, hurried over and began examining him.
He unwound the blood-soaked bandages and applied holy magic to staunch the bleeding.
The man grimaced in pain but didn't make a sound.
"Well, now we just need one more."
Hugo's sigh drew the man's attention. His injuries were gruesome on the left side, but his right eye gleamed with fierce vitality.
"That one's still not back?"
Hugo just shrugged instead of answering.
"A quick introduction. Sir Patrick Gordon of the Silver Moon Knight Order. Sir Gordon, this is Shuren, Liberic, Wedin, and Ash."
We exchanged light greetings around the lunch table.
Gordon paused briefly at Ash rolling under the table but resumed his stern expression.
"Sorry to meet like this, Silver Guard Knight. And in this state."
"Don't worry about it. More importantly, the other one..."
"Hmph. I don't even know if he listened to me."
The other one was the knight who had flustered Silver Guard Knight earlier.
Gordon awkwardly shifted his battered body and began eating.
The table groaned under an abundant spread, hard to believe came from deep in the mountains.
"He said he'd patrol after breakfast and hasn't returned. I told him to stay put so many times."
"Maybe he went to the northern spring."
Hugo heaped another serving of chicken vegetable stew. With all the big eaters, the food vanished at an alarming rate.
"Why the northern spring?"
Makina asked, and Hugo clicked his tongue.
"Saw a Bartan pack lurking there this morning when fetching water. We still have stored water, so I planned to chase them off when you got back."
"Or maybe toward the ruins."
Gordon sighed deeply and addressed Silver Guard Knight.
"I told him over and over to wait for you before investigating, but he just can't sit still."
Silver Guard Knight pondered gravely before speaking.
"Something might have happened, so we should look for him. Makina, Max—can you help?"
"Sure thing."
Makina agreed readily, Max nodded, and even Gordon tried to stand.
"Then I'll..."
"You can move, but not in that condition. Wedin, stay here and tend to Gordon."
"Got it."
After Wedin's reply, Silver Guard Knight glanced at us.
"Here's the plan. Shuren, Max, and I will head to the northern spring to drive off the Bartans. Makina, Liberic, and Ash take the ruins."
It was a solid proposal—no objections.
Max, Silver Guard Knight, and Shuren were experts at clearing Bartans. Makina and Ash sufficed for forest scouting. As for me... Ash's interpreter, I suppose.
We set out after lunch.
"How do we spot this guy?"
Shuren asked Silver Guard Knight midway through the meal.
"He stands out. Red hair."
Silver Guard Knight answered without hesitation.
"A Fire Arbat. Look for scorch marks if you find any."
Gordon added. Shuren's face twisted oddly at that.
"Fire Arbat? What's the name?"
"Ilenia. Ilenia Cortis."
Huh. Cortis?
I flinched at the familiar surname, but Shuren slammed his hand on the table and shot up.
His chair toppled backward with a thud.
Shuren's face went beyond surprise to outright shock.
"Shuren, what's wrong?"
"...N-nothing."
Silver Guard Knight asked puzzledly. Shuren finally inhaled, righted his chair, and slumped into it.
But his eyes shook with panic. The shock lingered.
"Bro, why? You know her?"
I asked, concerned.
He sighed deeply and rubbed his face.
"Cortis, Lib. Red Guard Knight Merian Cortis's one and only daughter."
"Ah."
Red Guard Knight Merian Cortis's daughter.
I'd known she had one for ages, but neither spent much time in Prion, so we'd never crossed paths.
Older than me, looks just like Merian—that's all I'd heard.
"Met her before, Shuren?"
Silver Guard Knight asked. Shuren hesitated with a hum before answering, his expression complicated.
"Once, during knight training. She's... a classmate."
"Right, same age."
My interest in Ilenia Cortis suddenly spiked.
Shuren looked mortified, and Silver Guard Knight clearly found her intimidating. Because she's "Red Guard Knight's daughter"?
As we finished eating and prepared to head out again, Gordon warned us about Shaika—they appeared often nearby.
We agreed to share ruin stories after finding Ilenia Cortis.
Leaving Hugo, Wedin, and Gordon behind, we set out on our afternoon mission from the cabin.