EP.203 Ashes Land (3)
Naturally, the path to the Ashes Land is not smooth.
The Ashes Land is a place of death.
It means a land that can no longer give birth to life, and it’s a deadly area where you must be prepared for death if you get too close.
Because of this, another name for the Ashes Land is the Land of Death. Some also call it the Corrupted Land.
The Land of Death, or the Corrupted Land.
There’s no way a path leading to such a place could be normal. The roads are cut off, and no one wants to get close to the Ashes Land.
“Did you say you’re going to the Ashes Land?”
“Guest, are you out of your mind?”
The carriage will not even approach the area.
“The path to the Ashes Land?”
“Why does a young man with a bright future want to die already? Even has a pretty young lady with him, tsk tsk…”
If you ask for directions, you often get treated like a crazy person.
“Why is everyone treating me this way?”
“I told you, walking is the fastest way.”
It’s been four days since we set out for the Ashes Land, Arcadia.
After gathering information in the nearest village to our destination, Raniel returned to the inn with slumped shoulders. Kardy clicked his tongue at the sight.
“It was possible to take a carriage to the nearby village, but we’ll have to walk the wilderness leading to the Ashes Land.”
“It’ll take at least three days, I think.”
“If we walk fast, we can make it in two days.”
“Tsk…”
Raniel unconsciously licked her lips.
The wilderness that they must cross to reach the Ashes Land can be seen clearly through the inn’s window. The wilderness stretches to the horizon, reminiscent of a phantom territory.
‘…This reminds me of when I was marching nonstop.’
It wasn’t a pleasant memory.
Raniel sighed deeply. Seeing her visibly disappointed, Kardy looked at her as if she were foolish.
“…Didn’t you say you’ve been there before?”
“I did go on an expedition when I was to be the next Tower Master. And back then, we crossed the wilderness by carriage. Carriage drivers came rushing to take us…”
“You were happy getting conned, huh?”
People everywhere cling to money. And for someone like a future Tower Master with a certain prestige, it must have seemed like a valuable challenge.
“…Should we try bribing them?”
“Just walk. What’s two days compared to the rest of your life?”
“This is why elves…”
Raniel shook her head vigorously.
“Every day is precious for humans, you know? If it means shortening time by even a minute or second, then spending resources is worth it…”
And so, Raniel began a long monologue about the ‘value of time.’ Kardy’s gaze on her chilled immediately.
“Hah…”
Kardy chuckled and murmured.
“You, who says time is so important, nearly fought me for an hour over a robe?”
“………”
Raniel fell silent.
Looking at Raniel, who turned her gaze away, Kardy sighed deeply. The memories of when he tussled with Raniel swirled in his mind.
“Ah, I said I’d only wear it until we arrive! Seriously, just a little! Just a bit…!”
The image of Raniel stubbornly refusing to give up the robe flashed before him. Although he did succeed in taking it after an hour of struggle, he ended up enduring Raniel’s constant complaints for the entire day.
“Such a petty thing over a robe.”
“It’s too embarrassing to wear.”
“If you just wear it, it’ll be fine, right? I promise I’ll only wear it a little.”
It was reminiscent of Gleria’s playful charm.
And Kardy had learned something valuable from his travels with Gleria in the past. It was better to just give the person what they want than to suffer for days on end.
“…You want me to just wear it?”
“…Really?”
So he ended up giving it to her.
The result was a smooth journey, but now seeing Raniel wax poetic about the value of time made him only want to laugh.
“And, it’s better not to hire a carriage. There are some preparations to make right from the wilderness.”
“Huh? Is that what it was?”
“Yeah. So walking would be easier.”
As he said this, Kardy gestured to Raniel.
“Did you buy everything?”
“I got the Wind Herb, Night Sky Flower, Wyvern Claw, and… everything you asked for. I suppose we will use them for camping, but what are those strange materials for?”
“Alchemical materials. You’ll find out later.”
Receiving the bag filled with items, Kardy stood up. Since preparations were complete, it was a signal to start moving.
“Wait a moment.”
Just before departure, Raniel stood in front of a mirror.
A mirror placed in one corner of the inn. Raniel twisted her body this way and that, adjusting her clothes. Kardy watched her without thinking much of it, familiar with the behavior by now.
Spin.
After a turn, she adjusted her robe again and smiled happily. It seemed she really liked the robe she was wearing.
‘…I doubt I’ll get it back.’
Although the actual owner of the robe was Cardi, Kardy had half given up on its ownership at this point. Looking at her like this now, he felt returning it would be difficult.
“Honestly…”
Truly a strange girl.
Kardy shook his head as he thought this.
2.
The wilderness surrounding the Ashes Land is far too harsh for ordinary humans. The environment itself is not much different from a phantom territory, lacking only in magic.
There is a significant temperature difference between day and night.
Deserts and steep canyons coexist.
It looks as if various terrains have intertwined crazily. Kardy explained that “it actually got twisted. About a dozen nearby territories were caught up in it.” After that explanation, I simply nodded as if that made sense.
And so, Kardy and I crossed the wilderness.
Although it was a harsh environment for ordinary humans, both Kardy and I were quite a distance from being ‘ordinary.’
“You know, it’s kind of amazing.”
“What are you talking about?”
“I am, after all, a wise one, right?”
“I can’t believe that… but for now, that’s what they call you.”
“What the heck?”
I was a mage known as a wise one on the battlefield.
“Anyway, you’re a Grand Magus, right? Also, the Grand Magus who was with the first hero.”
“That was a phase I went through.”
Kardy was a mage known as the Grand Magus.
“So, aren’t we like a wise team? Wouldn’t just having two mages make us invincible?”
“That sounds awfully cheap.”
“But it’s true.”
“Yeah. You occasionally do seem cheap.”
“No, not that.”
Regardless of our conversation, it was hard to categorize a wise one and a Grand Magus as ordinary, so… we crossed the wilderness without much trouble.
“But you walk better than I expected.”
“I’ve lost my mana, but my physical abilities remain. I walked at Ganikalt’s pace when I was active. In fact, in the early stages of the journey, I carried Gleria on my back. She was heavier than she looked.”
“Oh…”
While walking wasn’t difficult, the wilderness was quite vast, and we had a long way to go to the Ashes Land. As a result, we walked on, exchanging idle chatter.
“By the way, you mentioned that you had an elf and a saint among your companions.”
Was it really accurate to call them ‘companions’?
I made a subtle expression as I opened my mouth.
“Well… they were there.”
“What were they like? From what you tell, they don’t seem like great companions.”
“Before being good companions, I doubted if they were companions at all…”
Sara and Remia.
With barely any good memories about those two, I pictured them in my mind. The moment I recalled Remia’s pink hair like a harlot and the yellow hair of the other, my fists clenched instinctively.
“It’s hard to explain… they were incredibly annoying.”
“Is it really that bad?”
“It really is.”
“Although I’m not saying this because I’m an elf, usually elves aren’t known to have that many personality issues.”
An elf without personality issues?
I let out a hollow laugh.
“You haven’t met Remia, that damn girl.”
“The one called Archery Master?”
“Yeah. Ninety percent of my elf hatred comes from that brat Remia. She’s all about hypocrisy, whiny complaints, selective love for nature, and more…”
“Alright, I got it. Calm down.”
Kardy stepped back a few steps, horrified.
Looking at Kardy’s startled expression, I wore a near-enlightened smile.
“It might not happen, but if you were to meet that Remia, you would think…?”
“What do you mean?”
Kardy asked, and I replied.
“Wow, how can a person be like that? Are those ear girls really not human?”
“That’s a rather racist comment.”
“When I call Remia ‘ear girl,’ I’m solely referring to Remia, not elves in general.”
Something that’s neither human nor elf.
Remia, as I remembered her, was much closer to being such a thing… a truly remarkable individual in terms of research value.
“Ugh, just thinking about it creeps me out.”
I shuddered.
“I really don’t want to meet her again. I don’t even want to see her face. Honestly, if I did, I might throw up.”
3.
“You said we have to go to the Ashes Land, right?”
Picking up the scattered garments on the floor, Remia spoke up. Her platinum blonde hair flowed over her pale skin.
“Couldn’t you just say you heard it and take a month off to enjoy the night city? I want to see a parade.”
Her voice was dripping with annoyance.
Even though they were supposed to be heading to the Ashes Land, Remia looked like she wanted to turn back right away.
“Do we really have to go? Kyle?”
To that question, Kyle, who was brushing Sara’s sleeping hair aside, quietly responded.
“It’s a request from the Knights Order Leader.”
“There are other heroes, you know.”
“I heard all of them failed.”
“The cowardly losers aside, what about Galahal? Isn’t he hopeless then?”
“Galahal lacks starlight.”
Kyle exhaled sharply.
It wasn’t a topic he wanted to explain in detail. Kyle never shared serious concerns or issues with Remia or Sara; it was because they weren’t of much help.
“Regardless, it’s our job.”
“Isn’t it dangerous?”
“With blessings, crossing it shouldn’t be difficult. Sara seemed to like it. She said the first church must be filled with all sorts of holy artifacts.”
Kyle changed the subject.
Remia narrowed her eyes at that subject. She, who was brushing her hair in front of the vanity, turned to Kyle with intrigued eyes.
“…If they’re holy artifacts, they must be treasures, right?”
“That’s likely.”
“Is it okay if we take some?”
“It’s a place where only we can hear the whispers.”
Remia stood up.
She approached Kyle. The shadow of the elf flickered in the candlelight.
“If it’s an ancient treasure, that’s pretty tempting.”
The skin of the elf, illuminated by the dim light, was both red and white. Though her body was close to a work of art, there was no change in Kyle’s expression.
“The forgotten and the lost shall meet.”
Only the starlight whispers lingered in Kyle’s mind.
Two meetings await there, the stars whisper. Kyle couldn’t tell who the stars were pointing to. He could only trust them.
The whispers of the stars are always correct.
Therefore, the stars are flawless.
Being flawless, there is no room for doubt.
If Raniel were here, she would advise to be a bit more cautious, but that girl is no longer here. Kyle closed his eyes.
“…It’s getting late.”
“You won’t be sleeping anyway, right?”
The night was deep, but the elf and the hero did not fall asleep.
Just as their shadows entwined haphazardly in the tent, the starlight turned elsewhere.
“Achoo.”
In the middle of the deep night wilderness.
Crouched down fiddling with kindling, Raniel sneezed. Sniffling, she murmured.
“Wow, doing this reminds me of old times.”
That was when she would throw a fireball.
Her voice echoed through the wilderness.
