Chapter 17
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 17
Chapter Title: Colman Bridge
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As soon as day broke, the party left the inn. Kyle, looking like death warmed over, pressed his thumbs into his temples, clearly hungover.
Amella glared at him.
“I told you to take it easy, didn’t I? Think you can even get on a horse like that?”
“…I’ll just go force it up and then get on.”
Watching Kyle stumble toward the back of the inn, Amella sighed.
“He didn’t even drink that much. I don’t know why he’s like this.”
Then, as if a thought suddenly occurred to her, she turned her head to look at Luon.
“Luon, are you okay? The innkeeper told me you were drinking all night.”
“As you can see.”
“Right. Not a single change in your complexion. You seem perfectly fine. Are people from this ‘Republic of Korea’ all good drinkers like you?”
*Well, what do you know? She remembered.*
Luon smirked and shook his head.
“Not particularly.”
“I guess you’re just special in many ways.”
With that, the two fell silent. A short while later, Kyle returned. The process of emptying his stomach must not have been easy, as it was quite a while before he came back, his face utterly haggard.
“Sh-shit. I’m sorry.”
“Looking at the state you’re in, it doesn't seem like we can pick up the pace right away. Can’t be helped. We'll walk slowly until Kyle's stomach settles.”
After packing their things, the group mounted their respective horses and set off. The horses, well-fed with hay and well-rested from the previous day, snorted eagerly, as if wanting to gallop right away, but their desire couldn't be granted because of Kyle, who couldn’t even think of riding properly due to his motion sickness.
As the party moved forward slowly amidst the chirping of birds, a group of men caught up to them at a brisk pace. Luon turned his head, wondering what was going on, and the oldest-looking man among them spoke to him.
“You’re the fella who was drinking nonstop until sunrise, right? We were at the next table yesterday and were stunned by your ridiculous tolerance. Looks like we’re heading the same way, so we came over to be your travel companions. Hope that’s not a bother?”
Luon felt no particular hostility from the man with the hearty laugh, so he shrugged. The man made eye contact with Kyle and Amella before speaking.
“I’m Colin. These two are my brothers, Dean and Van. They’re twins.”
The two bald men, identical save for a scar by one's eye, gave a slight nod. As Colin's eyes lit up, as if awaiting a response, Amella spoke.
“I’m Amella. That’s Luon, and this one here who’s about to die is Kyle.”
Colin chuckled, amused by Kyle’s weak wave.
“Looks like that fella overdid it last night. So, where are you all headed?”
When the group didn’t answer his question, his eyes widened and he waved his hands dismissively.
“Ah, my apologies. I asked without thinking... Well then, I suppose we should go first. We’re on our way to Briten. They’re gathering an army there now. It’s a bit shitty to have to enlist at this age, but well, what can you do.”
Amella sighed softly.
“So the war is finally starting. I wonder if the king knows how much blood will be shed for his own ambition.”
Colin stroked his bushy beard and replied.
“If he knew, he wouldn’t be pulling this shit. And well, war may be terrible, but for guys like me who live by the sword, it’s true there’s no better opportunity. I’m sick of living hand-to-mouth. It’s time for me to score big.”
He grinned and added.
“If my brothers and I skewer enough barbarian heads, our deeds might be recognized, and we could be granted a small manor, don’t you think?”
*He must not have considered that his own head could be the one getting skewered first.* In Luon’s eyes, Colin was nothing more than a gambler risking his life for a long-shot windfall. But since he had no particular interest in how other people's lives turned out, he gave a soulless nod.
“Do your best.”
“So, may I ask where you folks are heading now?”
“Dumfries.”
At Luon’s brief reply, Colin smacked his lips in disappointment. But since no one else offered more information, he scratched his beard and said.
“Dumfries... Well, we can travel together as far as Colman Bridge.”
“Colman Bridge? Where’s that?”
Kyle’s complexion was still pale as he asked, not looking well at all. Even so, it seemed his curiosity got the better of him.
Amella answered.
“Just as the name suggests, it’s a bridge built by an architect named Colman. It was designed so that one side could be raised, allowing ships to pass freely on the river below. It caused quite a stir back in the day. There’s even a story about how, during a war, they could raise and lower it at will, which confused the enemy.”
*So it’s a drawbridge.* Luon nodded as he watched Amella explain fluently.
“Amella, you’re really smart.”
Kyle said in admiration, and Colin chimed in.
“I see. I’ve passed by it a few times, but I never knew it had such a function.”
Amella shook her head.
“It’s natural that you don’t know. A long time ago, a major landslide filled the river under the bridge with earth, so there was no longer a reason to raise it. Naturally, its maintenance was neglected, and now it’s just an old structure with stories of what it used to be.”
Kyle’s mouth hung open.
“If it’s natural not to know, then how do you know, Amella?”
“Me? I know because I’ve read all sorts of books.”
“Ah…”
At a loss for words, Kyle scratched his chin and turned his head away.
The group continued on. Before long, Kyle’s complexion had recovered enough that he could ride without issue, but since Colin and his brothers were on foot, their pace remained the same.
Since they would part ways after the bridge anyway, Luon’s group didn’t bother to speed up, walking along and making small talk. Of course, the “conversation” mostly consisted of Colin starting topics, Kyle responding, and Amella occasionally chiming in.
After they had traveled like this for a while, Amella spoke.
“We’re almost there. Colman Bridge is just past this road.”
At her words, Luon, who had been riding with his arms crossed, looked up. He then tilted his head.
“Didn’t you say that bridge hasn’t been raised in a long time?”
“Yes. I did… What’s going on?”
Amella frowned, and Kyle shouted.
“The bridge is raised!”
It was just as he said. They were still quite a distance away, but the group could clearly see that the bridge was raised.
*What is this?*
Luon was the first to spot “it.” Something was standing motionless at the start of the bridge. At first, he thought it was a statue, but seeing it move slightly, it was clearly alive. Luon focused his vision on the being, which appeared large and distinct as if defying the laws of perspective, despite the distance.
*A monster.*
The monster, with long arms that reached its knees and hands the size of cauldron lids gripping a massive wooden club, was constantly sniffing the air with its large nose. The creature, drooling thick saliva, had a dull-witted appearance, but its fiendishly glowing red eyes were nothing short of menacing.
The others, who spotted the monster a moment later, each let out a remark.
“Shit, what is that?”
“A troll? No way.”
“Why is a troll there?”
Amella’s face crumpled into a deep frown as she responded.
“Trolls have a habit of liking bridges. They sometimes build their homes underneath them. Don’t tell me that thing raised the bridge?”
The horses, terrified by the sight of the massive troll that had to be at least three meters tall, dug in their hooves and refused to move. While everyone stood silent in the bewildering situation, Luon dismounted his horse with a soft thud and began to walk forward purposefully. Amella shouted.
“Luon? What are you doing?”
At her words, Luon glanced back with a sullen expression.
“Going to get rid of that thing.”
It was Colin’s twin brothers who were truly startled. The two bald men, who had been mostly silent until now, shouted one after the other.
“Hey! Stop. Can’t you see the size of it? That’s a full-grown troll!”
“Are you trying to provoke it and get us all involved? Get back here now!”
Colin agreed.
“My brothers are right. Luon, let’s not make things worse. We should all discuss this first.”
Luon sighed inwardly at their worried words. *With this little courage, they were talking about skewering barbarian heads?* As if their words weren't worth listening to anymore, he turned back around and replied curtly.
“Just stay out of my way.”