Chapter 158 - <1>
This marks the beginning of Volume 12, Wings of Murderous Intent Dance on the Wind. This volume will proceed in three parts, so some chapters will be extremely short, while others will be very long, with varying lengths.
Therefore, there will be a total of 18 chapters (^^;)
Furthermore, since this volume is a mix of super sweet and serious moments, I would be happy if you could enjoy the contrast while reading.
Also, my current update schedule is three times a week, but I've been told that's too fast, so from now on, I will be updating twice a week, on Tuesdays and Fridays m(__)m
And now, let the 12th volume begin, begin~.
Following a narrow path that was more of a forest trail than a highway, they ascended the gentle hills into the highlands, where the changing scenery revealed the transition of the seasons toward winter.
The beautiful contrast of yellow and red that had been so vibrant at the foot of the mountains was now exposed to the cold highland winds, its colors shifting from red to brown. Soon, the leaves fell to the earth, accumulating softly like a carpet that gently received the horses’ hooves.
“It’s already like winter on the mountain top...”
Anna murmured as she readjusted her scarf on horseback. Here, at a much higher altitude than her hometown, the seasons seemed to progress a little faster.
To avoid the approaching winter journey, they had thoroughly researched the shortest route to the Tashkur Special Autonomous Region in the Sarnia Federation in Motiana, the city closest to the fire country of Roshozu, including secret merchant routes, and had continued their journey based on that.
Taking the official route through Fornu and into Sarnia would have taken over two months by Ritz’s calculations. But by rushing through at a pace far from their usual leisurely one, they reached the city in the highland region where Tashkur was located in just a month and a half after leaving Motiana.
At this rate, they should be able to descend from Tashkur without being buried in snow. If they were to be trapped by heavy snow in Tashkur, they wouldn't be able to leave until spring.
The journey had been so rushed that she hadn't had the leisure to look around, but the mountain path to Tashkur could only be taken at a slow pace, and she finally had the chance to enjoy the scenery.
Still, Anna looked around.
Just a few months ago it had been summer, and now it was this cold. How quickly time passes. She was simply amazed at how fast time flew by. Back in her hometown, the seasons didn't fly by like this. She had thought the seasons changed slowly and leisurely.
She let out a small sigh and slowly rubbed her gloved hands together.
“Are you cold?”
At the sound of Ritz's voice, who was riding his horse right behind her, she turned her head slightly and shook it. There was Ritz’s concerned, guardian-like face.
“No. I’m bundled up pretty well.”
“I see. Let me know if you get cold.”
“Okay.”
She nodded with a smile at Ritz's somewhat overprotective words, feeling a ticklish yet impatient sensation inside. Lately, being treated like a child by Ritz more than ever before had started to make her feel a strange sense of impatience. It was a happy feeling, yet she couldn't honestly feel happy, a confusing sensation even to herself.
Shifting her gaze forward, she saw someone who looked even colder than she did, riding a horse in what could only be described as full winter gear. Naturally, it was Franz, who was sensitive to changes in temperature.
The only thing not covered by his winter gear was his golden hair, and from Anna’s perspective, he looked incredibly stuffy. Especially when compared to the lightly dressed Edward riding in front of him, it looked like they were in different seasons, half a month apart, which was nothing short of pathetic.
In front of the leading Edward, a single man was riding a horse. With his brown skin and silver hair, he was Anil, a Birdfolk from the Tashkur Special Autonomous Region, who worked as a guide from the town at the foot of the mountain to Tashkur.
The beautiful city of Tashkur was renowned even in legends, and in the Sarnia Federation, it was said that there were many who wished to see it at least once, even if it meant overcoming a difficult journey. And Tashkur, under certain conditions, accepted such tourists.
When she heard that, Anna, who had thought it was normal for places like the Fire Clan's country to be closed off, was very surprised. The fact that there were friendly clans among the demi-human nations was very unexpected. Until now, just entering a clan’s country had been a struggle, so she was happy just to be able to enter normally.
The path to Tashkur was not difficult, but it was complex and so intricate that you couldn't reach it without a guide. Even Ritz had honestly confessed midway that he wasn't confident he could remember it in one go. Edward had nodded with a solemn face at those words, so there was no way Franz and Anna could remember the path. If Anil were to abandon them now, Anna had not a shred of confidence she could find her way back.
After following such a complex path through the forest, over a gentle ridge, and along a forest road for about five days, a massive, gray, ancient castle-like structure appeared in the distance beyond the forest.
“There’s a castle!”
At Anna’s involuntary cry of admiration, their guide, Anil, turned around.
“It’s not a castle. It looks small now because it’s far away, but that is Tashkur.”
At his proud words, Anna nodded and looked up at Ritz, who was riding his horse beside her. Ritz was staring intently at Tashkur, but eventually, with a sigh, he asked Anil.
“How much longer will it take?”
“Let’s see... about half a day, I suppose.”
“Half a day...”
As she stared up at the speechless Ritz, he turned to face her.
“It’s huge.”
“How huge?”
“At the very least, it’s bigger than the high ground where the royal castle of Sears is, isn’t it? Right, Ed?”
“That’s right. It’s about that size.”
Since the two experienced travelers were saying so, Tashkur must be incredibly large. Since it also accepted tourists, it was natural for it to be more developed than other demi-human cities. It was surely a lively, fun city with lots of people.
Thinking about it blew away all her fatigue until now.
“Let’s go quickly!”
When she urged everyone on with a smile, having regained her energy in an instant, Ritz and Edward gave a wry smile, but Franz, who had been silently buried up to his mouth in his scarf until now, muttered in a rare small voice.
“I agree. I want to sleep in a bed soon.”
As usual, Franz’s fatigue was at its peak. Although he had gotten quite used to the journey, this time it had been a forced march, so even Anna was tired. There was no way Franz wouldn’t be at his limit.
“Then I shall guide you.”
Anil said this refreshingly, flashing his white teeth from beneath his brown skin.
Half a day later, the group had passed through the forest and was standing in the middle of a vast pasture where sheep, goats, cattle, and yaks were grazing here and there.
“Wow...”
Before the group stood a small, gently sloping mountain. Along its side, regular stone structures were built, and amidst scattered trees, houses were densely packed, spiraling upwards toward the center, forming a massive stone city.
The sight of an entire massive mountain transformed into a huge cityscape was nothing short of breathtaking. Slowly looking up at the summit of the mountain, she saw two towers with distinctively sharp roofs standing like twins, and a building with three connected triangular roofs.
“Incredible.”
“Yeah. People would come to see this...”
“They would, wouldn’t they~”
“It’s like a giant snail...”
“No, more like a river snail.”
With no other words, Anna and Ritz exchanged a meaningless conversation, staring up at the city in a daze.
“The history of this city must be far longer than that of my royal castle.”
Even Edward let out a sigh of admiration, and as for Franz, he could only stare with wide eyes. This city was that magnificent.
The stone pavement and stone structures were so precise they didn't seem to be man-made, and although they appeared gray overall, each stone had a slightly different color. The exquisite arrangement gave warmth to a color scheme that could have been gloomy.
The houses in the dense cityscape were varied, some being stone structures, others coated with something like plaster mixed with the soft color of earth, yet they all created a strange sense of harmony. Though different, this city with its subtle sense of unity possessed a beauty that was both chaotic and integrated.
“Living in a place like this, I feel like my heart would become artistic and beautiful too~. I bet there aren't any bad people here.”
As she murmured this dreamily, Ritz sighed in an exasperated tone.
“What kind of leap in logic is that?”
“Eeeh? You don’t think so?”
“People are the same no matter where you go, you know?”
At Ritz's words, who had shrugged his shoulders, Anna was suddenly reminded of the Clan of Light in Ciedena and gave a small nod. Indeed, living in a beautiful place might not be a guarantee of a beautiful heart. Feeling a little dejected, Ritz’s large hand landed on Anna’s head.
“Don’t get down. Maybe it’s just like you said, a city full of good people.”
She knew he was trying to comfort her, so she nodded cheerfully.
“You’re right! It’s so beautiful, after all!”
But Anna did not yet know that she would later become a little dejected, thinking that Ritz’s words might have been correct.
Early November, 1573, by the Yuresla Kingdom Calendar.
The group had reached the land of the fourth race in their journey to visit the demi-humans, the Wind Clan, the Birdfolk, in the Tashkur Special Autonomous Region of the Sarnia Federation.