Chapter 138
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 138
Chapter Title: To the West (6)
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“Machina!”
The Silver Guard Knight shouted urgently, snapping the frozen Machina out of her daze as she finally turned her head.
“Take the lead. Let’s get out of here. Minos is slow, so we can shake it off easily.”
“Ah, uh, yeah! Everyone, follow me!”
Machina bolted down the crumbling path, and we chased after her, barely holding our shocked nerves together.
Ashy and the Silver Guard Knight brought up the rear, narrowly dodging the roots of Minos as they climbed up to the trail.
For a long while, I just focused on Shuren’s back right in front of me as we ran.
We passed narrow paths, shaking boulders, and a small stream flowing between them.
Then, it suddenly hit me—the ground wasn’t shaking anymore, and the air had stopped trembling.
“D-did we lose it?”
Machina panted heavily as she slowed to a stop.
Our ragged breathing spoke for us, showing just how desperately we’d all run.
My chest burned so badly from the exertion that I had to lean on my knees for a good while to catch my breath.
Ashy, arriving late, wagged his tail as he looked up at me.
“Looks like we shook it off.”
The Silver Guard Knight arrived with a light exhale.
“Silver Guard Knight, couldn’t we have just taken it out? With Tureha, a wooden giant like that would’ve burned up in seconds.”
Once Ilenia had caught her breath, she asked. The Silver Guard Knight replied calmly, still scanning the surroundings warily.
“Your flames could’ve handled a wooden giant in no time. But if a burning Minos started thrashing around, this whole forest would’ve turned into a sea of fire.”
Ilenia nodded with a stiff expression, murmuring, “I see...”
Shuren waved a hand toward the crestfallen Ilenia.
“Well, your fire’s perfect for burning trees, but it’s too risky in a place like this.”
“If it came down to it, I would’ve used magic.”
I added quietly after Shuren’s words. Ilenia’s slightly downcast expression brightened a bit.
“Everyone, over here!”
Machina called to us from in front of a steep hillside path.
“This is actually good. Climb up here, and we’ll hit the summit soon.”
A path of rocks and dirt rose high above our heads.
“Peira!”
The moment we reached the summit, Wedin dropped his bag at the edge and stood there. His expression as he gazed below even looked awestruck.
I set my bag down under the yellow flagpole and stood beside Wedin.
Below the ridgeline stretched the beautiful city of springs, shimmering blue.
Peira. A city made up of countless lakes, springs, and rivers.
From above, you could see at a glance how pools of all sizes formed the city itself.
The lakes and springs ranged from pale blue to deep black depending on their depth and size. Spiderweb-like paths crisscrossed over them, dense with tightly packed buildings.
“Amazing. How did they even think to build a city in a place like that?”
Wedin muttered without taking his eyes off Peira’s sight.
“With all that water, the ground must be soft and soggy.”
“It’s the birthplace of the water Arbat. They must have some special building techniques.”
“I should’ve asked Teacher Grain all sorts of things. Didn’t know we’d end up in Peira.”
“You didn’t hear anything?”
“Just that the liquor’s good...”
That’s it, huh.
We finished our short chat and gazed entranced at Peira’s stunning landscape.
Peira’s outskirts were rugged rocky canyons.
Water flowing down from the Quint Mountains created countless springs in Peira before forming rivers that rushed south.
Thanks to that, lush trees grew thickly around the rivers, forming forests.
“Wah.”
With Shuren’s short word, our bodies lurched, shoved out beyond the rocks. Wedin and I went at the same time.
Peira, which had looked so distant, rushed up incredibly close in an instant.
“Aaaah!”
Wedin screamed at the top of his lungs, his face drained of color, but we didn’t fall.
Shuren had grabbed our arms.
My eardrums rang from the prank, and my startled heart pounded like it would burst.
“Y-you scared me.”
I steadied my racing breath and pressed a hand to my chest.
“B-bro!”
Wedin glared at Shuren with an extremely annoyed look.
Shuren chuckled as he pulled us back in.
“You lack guts? You should’ve expected something like this.”
“That’s so childish.”
Shuren just laughed off Wedin’s grumbling.
I let out a deep sigh of relief. For a split second, I’d been planning to use magic to land, but good thing I didn’t have to test it...
We took a short break near the yellow flagpole.
Atop the summit, we enjoyed the cool breeze and ate fruit that Machina passed around. No idea when she’d picked it.
“Ilenia, you said you came from Peira.”
The Silver Guard Knight suddenly asked as he quietly gazed down at the city.
“Ah, yes.”
Ilenia was letting her hair down, enjoying the wind pleasantly.
Her red hair fluttered freely in the breeze, like flames.
“I was there about a week. Mom sent me to support the holy mages at the Peira branch. Not much to do, though...”
“How was the situation in Peira?”
Ilenia thought for a moment before speaking again.
“Peaceful. Compared to other cities, it’s incredibly calm. Just a slight uptick in magical beasts or bandits nearby.”
“Hm. Is it beyond what Peira’s garrison can handle?”
“No, not that. But if they need help, the garrison requests us. I’ve gone out with the other knights sometimes.”
The Silver Guard Knight nodded as if he’d gotten the picture.
“I heard Peira has a ton of holy mages.”
Wedin chimed in from the side, eyes sparkling as he listened. Ilenia chuckled.
“Yeah, more than half the water Arbat are born with strong holy power. That’s why there are so many holy mages. They even have a dedicated school for teaching holy magic.”
“Fortunately, a lot of those talented holy mages are joining Prius. Peira’s one of our key strongholds, so we maintain friendly ties with the water Arbat.”
The Silver Guard Knight explained calmly.
Peira trains holy mages, and Prius has a branch there to support the garrison.
A true mutual aid relationship.
“Alright, rest’s over. Time to head down.”
Machina dusted off her hands after finishing the snacks and stood up.
We shouldered our bags left under the flagpole and prepared to resume our journey.
“Follow the path down, and you’ll hit the river and forest. The end of that river is Peira.”
Machina started down the path between the rocks.
It was so steep and narrow that we had to step carefully, one foot at a time.
As we all struggled, only Ashy leaped lightly between the rocks with effortless grace.
My stamina had finally improved enough to make downhill paths manageable, but it was hard to believe we’d already crossed the entire range.
Once we descended from the rocky peak, the air felt different.
Cooler, with a thick scent of water mixed in. Peira was that much closer.
“What’s that?”
Wedin, leading the way, pointed at something below the rocks. I only spotted it after a few more steps.
Tucked in the shadowy nook under the rocks was a wooden statue.
It depicted a woman draped in cloth.
Small, but incredibly detailed.
The outline of the cloth over her head was soft, and her pose with arms neatly clasped looked perfectly natural, like a real person.
Round rings hung from her arms and neck.
The statue was surrounded by branches, leaves, and dried fruits, resembling an altar.
“Amadelia goddess statue. Feels like we’re getting closer to the old empire now.”
Machina shrugged nonchalantly.
“Heh, this is...”
Curiosity piqued, I reached out toward the statue. Ilenia shook her head.
“Don’t touch it.”
“Why not?”
My obvious question left her flustered instead.
“W-well, it’s a sacred object? I heard you get cursed if you touch it carelessly.”
“C-curse...!?”
Wedin nearby got spooked for no reason.
I just laughed. Now I’m curious what kind of curse.
“Like Ilenia said, best not to touch it without reason. Not because of curses, but because the followers wouldn’t like it.”
I quickly accepted the Silver Guard Knight’s words and dropped the idea.
As we continued down the path, Ilenia briefly explained about the Amadelia faith.
“The old empire territories have those decorations all over the roads. Followers gather morning and evening to pray or offer tributes.”
“Never seen anything like it so far.”
“That’s how widespread the Amadelia faith is. You’ll see followers and priests commonly.”
“Best not to get involved with them, right?”
“That’ll be easiest.”
The Silver Guard Knight nodded.
“The Amadelia faith flourished mainly in areas beyond our reach. They drive off magical beasts and protect people too... just in ways we can’t trust.”
Paper talismans and wooden statues didn’t seem likely to fend off beasts or demons, in my opinion.
Plus, the Amadelia faith was a new religion that popped up suddenly toward the end of Demon Emperor rule, so it was even harder to buy into.
As if a goddess appeared out of nowhere.
“What’s wrong with that, though?”
Ilenia shrugged.
“The priests and followers help a lot of people in need. It was like that in Delatria too. They volunteered to aid refugees and the wounded without even being asked.”
“That’s something to be grateful for.”
Right, Ilenia agreed.
They’d set up refugee camps and medical stations on Delatria’s outskirts, providing rest, food, and clothes.
Something hard for mostly combat-focused Red Guard or mercenary groups to manage.
Might be to grow their followers, but still worthy of respect.
“Judge for yourselves, but remember Prius’s policy on the Amadelia faith is ‘observe with caution.’ We don’t trust their intentions or methods.”
“Well, some Red Guard knights are followers too.”
Ilenia said lightly, and the Silver Guard Knight gave a small nod.
“As I said, personal judgment is free.”
I didn’t know much about the faith myself, but my personal stance of ‘untrustworthy’ wasn’t changing.
As afternoon waned, the steep hill finally leveled out.
In the damp forest thick with the scent of water, a sunlit clearing wasn’t far off.
A small wooden cabin stood at one edge of the clearing, with a weathered yellow flagpole in front.
“Ah. We’re here.”
Machina said in a voice full of emotion.
“We’re here? In Peira?”
Wedin asked eagerly, and Machina burst out laughing, slinging an arm around his shoulders.
“No, I mean we’ve reached the end of my patrol section. Time to... part ways.”
Ah.
I let out a quiet sigh inwardly.