Before we knew it, the preparations for camping out were complete.
It had been worth the trouble of carrying all that firewood on our backs.
The most important thing when spending a night outdoors in the North Sea was to maintain your body temperature.
One careless mistake could mean freezing to death.
We sat in a circle around a roaring campfire and filled our stomachs with hot soup.
Made by boiling dried meat and rice flour together, it was a fairly substantial meal.
“We'll rest here, then return to the North Sea Branch as soon as it gets light.”
Hunter Heuk Cheol spoke.
“Judging by the sky, the Snow Wind looks likely to arrive a day earlier than expected.”
“Then we'll have to hurry.”
If it had been up to my wishes alone, I would have headed back immediately. But the Branch Manager and his companions were utterly exhausted.
Geumryeong's saliva had healed all their external injuries, but it couldn't restore their physical stamina or their mental strength.
That was why we had decided to spend one night resting here before moving on.
We had burned the Child-Wail Bird, that evil, bloodstained Spirit Beast, but kept its feathers.
There was a belief that hides from demonic creatures—evil Spirit Beasts—brought calamity, so people burned all of those. Feathers were treated differently.
Feathers with value as merchandise could fetch quite a high price.
Perhaps that difference in how people saw them came from their aversion to the blood of evil Spirit Beasts.
Honestly, though, hides or feathers—it was all much the same to me.
In any case, these were beautiful feathers that looked like snow.
It would have been a shame to burn them.
So I plucked every feather from the bird, packed them into a sack, and gave the sack to Hunter Heuk Cheol as a gift.
“You're giving these to us?”
“Yes. Make them into clothing and wear it. From what I can see, they seem to offer a degree of protection. They should also help you avoid the eyes of other dangerous Spirit Beasts.”
“Thank you.”
I could have sold them for a high price, but maintaining good relations with the people we did business with was important as well.
Just then, the Junior Commander asked the Branch Manager a question.
“Branch Manager, what exactly happened to you?”
“You can probably guess. We heard a child crying on our way to the hunters' village. As you know, sometimes only the children survive when people flee to the North Sea.”
“…”
As the Branch Manager said, some of those who could no longer live in the empire fled to the North Sea, clinging to the faintest thread of hope.
They might have any number of reasons for coming, but most of them met the same end.
Either they froze to death and were eaten by demonic creatures, or the creatures ate them while they were still alive.
If they were lucky, the hunters' village might save their lives, or a member of the North Sea Ice Palace might rescue them.
Since such things did happen, the Branch Manager and his companions had gone toward the cries, thinking there might be a child there.
“We went over, but there was no child. A few of the people at the front went blank-faced and approached the cliff. The moment they did, the Child-Wail Bird showed itself. The Warriors farther back stepped forward to put a stop to it, and a battle broke out.”
“At least you weren't eaten by the Child-Wail Bird. Thank goodness for that.”
“Heaven really did help us.”
And so the night continued to deepen around us.
Dawn came.
We cleared up our campsite and set off for the North Sea Branch.
As we walked, however, we realized that something had gone wrong.
Enough time had passed that the North Sea Branch should have been well within sight, yet we still couldn't see it.
“Are you certain this is the right way? It shouldn't be taking us this long.”
“I'm afraid… we've lost our bearings in the snow.”
Snow disorientation meant losing your way because of the snow.
When snow or wind changed the terrain, even a highly experienced hunter could lose the path.
And everywhere you looked, the snow made the landscape white.
That could create optical illusions as well, leaving you unable to tell which direction you were facing.
“What should we do, then?”
“I suggest we rest here for a little while first. I'll see if I can find a way to get us back on the right path.”
“Then let's do that.”
We stopped where we were and rested, drinking water and chewing dried meat.
“It looks as though we've lost our way.”
“The Snow Wind will come soon… I'm worried.”
“Yes. We need to find the right way, and soon.”
They would probably be safe even in a Snow Wind as long as they stayed with me.
The Silver Mist Sword I carried could control the Snow Winds.
But we were growing more exhausted with each passing day, and our food supplies were beginning to run low.
We had to return to the North Sea Branch as quickly as we could.
I sighed. Wasn't there some good way to do that?
As I considered the problem, one particular item came to mind.
Ah! Right. I had the Path-Revealing Map.
I couldn't use it to find a target that was continually moving. But when it came to finding a route to a place that stayed in one location, the Path-Revealing Map was the best possible tool.
I took out the Path-Revealing Map immediately.
Then, beside it, I wrote the destination I wanted to reach with my finger.
It turned out that I didn't have to use a brush when writing the destination.
All I had to do was form the characters in a way the Path-Revealing Map could recognize.
A black map soon appeared on the red cloth, and a golden line extended across it, showing us the route we needed to follow.
The Path-Revealing Map really was the best!
Perhaps it had noticed that I was praising it. One corner of the Path-Revealing Map fluttered.
If we followed that route, we would be able to reach the North Sea Branch safely.
After memorizing the way, I stood up and approached the Junior Commander.
He was deep in thought, his expression worried.
“Junior Commander.”
“Ah, Deputy Merchant Lord. What is it?”
“Would it be all right if I showed everyone the way?”
“Pardon? What do you mean?”
“As you know, Junior Commander, I travel to and from the North Sea Ice Palace quite often. Looking at the terrain here, I think it may be somewhere I know.”
“Is that true?”
His face brightened, and he asked again.
“You really recognize this area?”
“Yes.”
Escort Guard Seo Wu added his agreement from beside me.
“I recognize the terrain as well. And as you know, our lord has an excellent sense of direction.”
With a brighter expression, the Junior Commander nodded.
“Then please do. I'll have everyone prepare to leave immediately.”
“Thank you for trusting me.”
Our rest over, we set off again.
“This way.”
This time, my companions and I took the lead.
From time to time, I checked the Path-Revealing Map as we traveled, making sure we were going the right way and that the route hadn't changed partway through.
“Oh! Th-There!”
“The North Sea Branch!”
Our companions shouted at the top of their voices.
Their voices carried the pleasure of seeing a familiar place again, along with joy and relief.
The Path-Revealing Map really was an Artifact worthy of the name.
We had wandered for more than eight hours without getting anywhere near the North Sea Branch. Following the route the Path-Revealing Map showed us, though, we arrived in only two hours.
What's more, we hadn't caught even a glimpse of a bloodstained Spirit Beast along the way. Everyone had reached our destination safely.
“Thank you so much.”
“You saved our lives.”
And so I received everyone's thanks.
“I'm just glad it was a route I knew.”
Then I approached Hunter Heuk Cheol and made a suggestion.
“Didn't you say the Snow Wind would start blowing soon? I understand you have reasons to return to your tribe, but it could be dangerous now. Why don't you stay at our branch for a little while before heading back?”
He nodded at my suggestion and answered.
“Then, if you'll forgive us for imposing, we'll stay for a little while.”
We went inside the branch, intending to rest. Just then, a Snow Wind began blowing toward us from far away.
It was so fierce that calling it a gale hardly seemed enough.
Everyone shuddered at the sight.
“If we'd been even a little later, we'd have been caught in that Snow Wind.”
“Ugh! Just thinking about it is terrifying.”
At their words, I smiled without saying anything.
Just then, the Deputy Branch Manager, who had heard we were back, came running.
“Branch Manager!”
“Ah! Deputy Branch Manager.”
“What on earth happened? And what's all that blood on your clothes?”
“It's a long story. Still, the Deputy Merchant Lord rescued us just in time, and that's why we're alive. Ha ha.”
“Good heavens, Branch Manager!”
Behind him, I saw Lady Seohyang and Palgap approaching. I smiled at them, happy to see their faces again.
.
.
.
That commotion eventually settled down.
I was drinking tea in the Branch Manager's office.
The Snow Wind was raging outside, but here inside the North Sea Branch, everything was snug and warm.
The branch building, constructed with advice from the hunters' tribe, was shaped a little differently from the usual buildings in the empire.
For one thing, its roof was high and steeply pitched.
They had also coated the roof liberally with beeswax, taking particular care to waterproof it. That, too, was because of the snow.
The steep slope allowed the snow to slide off easily, while the waterproofing kept melted snow from leaking through the roof.
The building formed a square with a courtyard in the middle. The purpose of that courtyard was to give the snow a place to accumulate.
They needed to melt that snow to provide water for everyday use and for drinking.
There was also a corridor running around the square building, which let you reach every part of the building without having to step outside.
The scene outside the narrow windows was rather frightening. The Snow Wind still hadn't stopped blowing.
“Once again, Deputy Merchant Lord, thank you.”
I smiled awkwardly at the Branch Manager's thanks.
“There's no need to keep thanking me like that. I only did what I ought to do.”
“No. Even so, I must make certain to express my gratitude properly.”
He set down his teacup as he spoke.
“I've read the documents you gave me. You're planning to take ice from the North Sea back with you and sell it?”
“That's right. As you know, it's summer now. Everyone is suffering in the heat, and it's been particularly bad this year.”
“If we can manage the transportation properly, it should certainly turn a profit.”
“The Eunhae Merchant Group has a North Sea Branch right here. It only makes sense to put it to use in a way that benefits us, doesn't it?”
“You're quite right.”
The Branch Manager nodded and continued.
“Then once we've collected the ice, will you be returning straightaway, Deputy Merchant Lord?”
“No.”
I shook my head.
“My companions and I need to visit the North Sea Ice Palace. I'd like you to collect the ice and prepare it for transport while we're there.”
“Understood. When will you be leaving for the North Sea Ice Palace, then?”
“I plan to set out in about two days.”
There was still something I needed to do here first.
The next day…
I left the North Sea Branch with my companions.
Once they had confirmed that the Snow Wind had stopped, Hunter Heuk Cheol and his party had gone straight back to their tribe.
The reason I hadn't left immediately for the North Sea Ice Palace was the Child-Wail Birds that remained in the area.
The Child-Wail Bird I had dealt with before had told me.
There were about three around here.
If I didn't take care of them, they could threaten not only the North Sea Branch but also the people collecting the ice.
Originally, I had meant to go alone.
But then…
“We are your Escort Guards, my lord. There's no telling what might happen. How could we leave your side?”
Their argument was perfectly sound, leaving me with nothing to say against it. That was why the Escort Guards had come with me.
Child-Wail Birds generally stayed hidden in one place, waiting for prey.
That was why I intended to use the Path-Revealing Map to find them.
I unfolded the Path-Revealing Map and wrote the characters.
[The location of the nearest Child-Wail Bird in this area]
The Path-Revealing Map soon drew a golden line, showing where I could find the nearest Child-Wail Bird.
I would take care of this one first.
I headed toward the place the Path-Revealing Map indicated and reached the destination in an hour.
Then I heard the Child-Wail Bird's cry.
“Waaaah!”
Escort Guard Jin Yu spoke at the sound.
“It seems the creature is nearby.”
“Please wait here for a little while, just in case.”
“Understood.”
Leaving my Escort Guards waiting there, I moved closer to the place the sound was coming from.
“Waaaah!”
The cry came again.
Let's see… There it was.
Its snow-colored feathers provided camouflage, making it difficult to find. But when I followed its sinister Qi, I could make out the creature itself.
As I drew closer…
Its sharp claws shot straight toward me in a thrust.
But they never reached me.
I had cut off its foot at the ankle before those claws could reach me.
“Kreeeeee!”
Screaming at the sudden pain, the Child-Wail Bird fluttered its wings as though it meant to flee.
I wasn't going to let it do that!
This time, I pushed off the ground and leaped into the air.
Then, adapting One-Point Black Ice, the eighth form of the True Snow Twelve Form Sword, I pierced its neck with a single strike.
Apparently killed on the spot, the creature beat its wings a few times, then fell to the ground with a heavy crash.
That took care of one of them.
Now, perhaps I should gather this one's feathers.
.
.
.
I hunted down four Child-Wail Birds.
The other bird had said there were three, but according to what the Path-Revealing Map showed me, there had been four in all.
That should keep the North Sea Branch safe for a while.
And I had collected quite a lot of Child-Wail Bird feathers as well.
When I returned to the North Sea Branch, it was nearly time for the evening meal.
“Thank you for your hard work today. Let's wash up, have a little rest, and then eat dinner.”
“Understood.”
When I returned to my quarters, Palgap greeted me.
“I've prepared hot water for your bath, sir.”
“How did you know I'd be coming back now?”
“Deputy Gwak told me, sir.”
“I see. I'll have to tell her thank you.”
I took off my clothes and sank into the warm water.
“Ahh…”
It felt as though all the tension was melting out of my body.
While fighting the Child-Wail Birds, I had felt a sense of duty.
It was my duty to rebuild Snow Wind Palace.
The Patriarch had asked me to undertake that task. I had also received a great deal of support to help me fulfill the request.
If Snow Wind Palace had remained strong, creatures like the Child-Wail Bird would never have dared even think of coming this way.
But with Snow Wind Palace gone, this area was no longer being looked after properly.
I still couldn't openly rebuild Snow Wind Palace. Yet I couldn't just keep standing by and leaving this place as it was, either…
It seemed I would have to think of some way to handle it.
.
.
.
After a full day's rest, it was time to head for the North Sea Ice Palace.
“Then please take care on your journey.”
“We will.”
With everyone seeing us off, we left the North Sea Branch.
What would the Ice Palace's Palace Lord say when she received the wedding invitation?
I was getting rather curious about that.
Come to think of it, the Palace Lord had promised me a gift before, to commemorate my becoming the Young Palace Lord of Snow Wind Palace.
Surely she hadn't forgotten, had she?
–TL Notes–
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