EP.204 Land of Ashes (4)
I’ve never really had much of a desire for clothes.
Maybe it’s because I grew up in a small town, running a tiny library with my parents. My desire always limited itself to knowledge.
Even during my time as the Ashen Master, and as the Sage of the Hero Party, I didn’t care much about clothing. I thought, as long as it performs well, that’s all that matters.
So maybe that’s why.
“Did you buy more clothes again?”
“Are you guys insane? Refund them before I tear them to shreds. I’m serious, I’ll rip them apart. I said I would.”
I just couldn’t understand Sara and Remia. It wasn’t the first time I raised my voice seeing them waste money on clothes.
‘…But that was definitely how it was.’
I lowered my gaze silently.
I looked at my slightly lifted arm.
Flap!
The sleeves fluttered. The movement of the sleeves, swaying in graceful curves, was quite beautiful. Star constellations, embroidered on a white background, adorned the edges of the sleeves.
Spin!
It’s the same when I turn around.
My robe flutters in the wind blowing across the wasteland. When the robe sways in the breeze, the platinum embroidery on it sparkles like starlight reflected on water.
‘This really doesn’t make sense.’
The design is outrageous.
It wasn’t just a plain robe with basic functions; it wasn’t displayed in a treasure trove for nothing. It looked beautiful even through the glass window…
‘But wearing it makes it even more nonsensical.’
The comfort of wearing it was beyond my expectations.
Just the flapping of the sleeves made me smile uncontrollably. Though I never had a desire for clothes, I thought I might start to feel one for this.
“Raniel.”
While I was dazedly staring at the robe, Cardi called out to me. I turned my head, and Cardi was pointing at a pile of stones.
“Clear this up. It seems to be this way.”
“Break it?”
“Don’t break it, just remove it. We can’t blow up the statue inside.”
I nodded.
It was the second day since we entered the wasteland, and we were proceeding like this continuously.
‘We need to find the statue.’
According to Cardi, to enter the Land of Ashes “properly”, we need to activate the statue. The statues were buried all over the wasteland, and Cardi quickly found their locations even without a map.
“…So it was also up north?”
I murmured while looking at the statue.
I remember the statue placed at Grace’s holy site looked somewhat similar.
“North? Oh, you mean the place where Ganikalt’s sword was stuck. Have you been there?”
“One of the students I teach is a descendant of the Grace family.”
“Grace, that was the name.”
Chuckle, Cardi smiled as he traced the circuits of the statue buried in the stone.
“So, did the statue placed there function well? I had prepared it as a trial for the one who would draw that sword.”
“Yeah, uh-huh?”
“I asked if it worked well. I’m a bit worried because it’s been quite a while since it was made.”
It worked well.
It did work, but…
‘But I ended up breaking it down because it was blocking our way.’
I shot a sidelong glance at Cardi.
Cardi, fiddling with the statue, wasn’t looking at me. I felt a bit of guilt and answered Cardi’s question.
“Um… it worked…”
“Well then, that’s a relief.”
“But, did you make this?”
“To be precise, Gleria developed it. I just inserted specific circuits into the statue.”
Gleria.
‘Gleria Bel Armias.’
The first saint who has now become a heretic.
‘And Cardi’s old colleague.’
As we got closer to the Land of Ashes, Cardi started mentioning “Gleria” more often. It seemed he enjoyed talking about her.
“…The first saint must have had many talents, huh?”
“She had a lot of them. She possessed not only holy magic but also alchemy and was talented as a summoner and a pure wizard.”
Every time Cardi talked about her, he became more talkative. Maybe it was joyful to reminisce about old memories or perhaps it was nice to have someone who could understand tales about Gleria.
Probably both.
Thinking that made me laugh slightly.
“She’s on a different level from the saints I know.”
“Gleria was special.”
That was it. After murmuring so, Cardi withdrew his hand from the statue. The statue’s eyes began to glow, and the tip of the spear it held pointed in a certain direction.
“Next, it seems to be over there.”
Cardi walked ahead.
I followed behind.
2.
It was the second night after crossing the wasteland.
Cardi, unlike Raniel who had fallen asleep in the tent, was poking the campfire alone. It was late at night, but Cardi still hadn’t slept.
The blowing wind felt quite chilly.
Looking up toward the direction the wind was blowing from, the Land of Ashes came into sight from afar. That was the place where Cardi’s homeland was located. Though it wasn’t his birthplace, that was where Cardi’s life began.
He lived like a human.
He mingled with humans.
Like those living in brief moments, he busily lived each day. If his current life resembled the ashes that remain, then his past life was like a brightly burning flame.
‘How nostalgic.’
The nostalgia of memories resurrected.
The brilliantly shining past kept swirling in Cardi’s mind. As I drew closer to the Land of Ashes, Gleria kept coming to mind.
“Please, Armiel.”
Before the eternal elf, the image of the woman who carved an unforgettable moment appeared vividly before him.
“…”
Recalling her, Cardi gazed at the Land of Ashes. There were no solid castle walls like in the old days, nor soaring spires that pierced the sky.
All that remained were the remnants of history.
It merely left traces of how the most flourishing kingdom fell into decay. And Cardi wished.
“I hope I can understand.”
Raniel van Trias, the Ashen Mage.
He sincerely hoped she would grasp fragments of truth left in the kingdom that turned to ashes. He wished she would grasp those fragments and gain the right to hear the second truth.
*
No matter how filthy a place might be, people find their dwelling. Behind the kingdom, in shadowy slums, there are no restrictions.
The darker, the better.
The less light, the better.
Those who want to break the law and resist the rules find dark places. Thus, as time goes on, more and more of them begin to gather, creating a dwelling place. They live parasitically on what someone has created.
The Land of Ashes.
It was no different there. On the outskirts of the Land of Ashes, there were remains of crumbled ruins. Those living there would find ways to survive.
To call it, the dirtiest place.
A paradise for lawbreakers.
The magical territory existing in the land.
From well-known criminals in various countries to deserters fleeing from the frontlines, all disgusting and cowardly beings gathered, forming a lawless zone in the gray wasteland on the outskirts of the Land of Ashes.
“Recently, there have been frequent visitors.”
A mercenary guarding the entrance to that place grumbled with his chin resting on his hand. These days, there have been many visitors. Especially, it seems notable humans have been frequently arriving.
‘At least two heroes already.’
There’s nothing good about crossing paths with superhumans. Every time such visitors come, the mercenary would slyly move to the side. Though guarding the entrance is his role, stopping superhumans was not possible.
Fortunately, their goal isn’t the Gray Wasteland.
Their destination was the Land of Ashes beyond this place. Though the reason for heading there filled with various beasts was uncertain, it was not for the mercenary to worry about.
“Phew…”
The mercenary killed time by burning his herbs.
It’s not like special guests arrive every day. Nowadays, even those intending to ‘use’ this place tend to be cautious.
As he pondered how to pass the time today, footsteps reverberated from afar. The mercenary squinted his eyes and focused on the approaching sound. A young couple was approaching him.
‘…They don’t seem to be special visitors.’
Though their attire looked quite luxurious, their faces were not those of heroes or special beings. Their faces were unfamiliar.
“Whew.”
The mercenary whistled at the girl. Despite being hidden under a robe, her features were quite attractive, and the curves visible beyond the robe were also rather charming.
Gentle limbs, a weak impression.
At a glance, she looked like someone who wouldn’t fit in this place at all. While the mercenary unconsciously scrutinized the girl’s entire body, he soon recognized the uniqueness of the robe she wore.
‘A wizard’s robe.’
From the unique silhouette of the robe, the mercenary realized that the two guests had come from the ‘Tower’. Wizards from the Tower occasionally visit the Gray Wasteland to obtain items that cannot be acquired through normal means.
Are they the same type of guests again this time?
Thinking that, the mercenary opened his mouth.
“Welcome, guests.”
He posed the question.
The girl tilted her head in response.
“Guests?”
“We deal with all sorts of ‘items’ here that cannot be obtained in ordinary places in the Gray Wasteland. If you’re here to trade items, you’ll need the password you received in advance.”
“Password, huh.”
One of the guests.
The man wearing the robe interrupted the mercenary.
“I didn’t think I’d need a password to step into my hometown.”
With an unpleasant, high-handed tone.
He strode toward the mercenary. Seeing this, the mercenary snickered.
‘Those Tower wizards…’
They just can’t comprehend polite expressions.
Perhaps because they have a tendency to behave as if they’re superior.
“It doesn’t work like that here, guest.”
But this is the Gray Wasteland.
That’s why it’s called a lawless region. Once a mercenary with a bit of fame drew his sword, he shrugged his shoulders.
“If you don’t provide the password, I’ll have a hard time letting you in.”
I don’t know where these wizards are from, but it seems they need a little etiquette training before stepping into a lawless area. The mercenary adjusted his grip on his sword, smirking insidiously.
“Whoa…”
The girl only gave a brief admiring sound at that sight.
She didn’t seem to feel any tension at all.
