Except for a couple of hours of taking turns sleeping in the middle, the group barely rested at all. Kassel would sleep as if nearly dead, then start moving again without a single complaint when it was time.
Worried about Kassel, Tanya asked him,
“Are you okay? You haven’t been able to properly rest since the battle at White Gate.”
“Ah, so that’s why I felt tired…”
Kassel smiled and waved his hand.
“This much is fine compared to when I was dragged around by my father during the busy farming season! And you’ve been moving just as much as me, Tanya.”
What Tanya was worried about was not physical fatigue, but mental exhaustion. How much had he gone through in the past few days that an ordinary person might experience once in a lifetime, if at all? There was a limit to what one could endure, even if there was no time to rest while taking care of each thing one by one. But Lofin did not slow his pace, and Tanya did not say more.
As dawn was almost approaching, Rai said,
“I don’t know the way.”
“Hey, you! Aren’t you the only one we’re relying on to get this far? Huh? Do you know what you’re saying?”
Lofin shouted. He also seemed on edge.
“To the ground, don’t know. Then, from the sky, saw.”
Rai pointed to the trees above with his finger and said,
“From the sky, will find.”
“An open sky is dangerous… But…”
Lofin also muttered while looking up at the sky together. Rai waited for Lofin’s judgment.
Kassel said with tired eyes,
“It doesn’t seem like we have a choice.”
Lofin smiled with bloodshot eyes and ruffled Kassel’s hair.
“Let’s consider it a time to rest. Rai, try finding it from the sky.”
“Soon, will return.”
Rai spoke to Kassel, even though it was Lofin who gave the order. It was a place where the branches were so thick that they almost covered the sky, so I wondered how he would be able to spread his wings and go up, but he went through almost like jumping. It was only after he had completely gone above the trees that he spread his wings. The number of times the white wings flapped was not even a few, but his figure had completely disappeared from sight.
Lofin turned to Kassel and said,
“We had no choice but to trust that guy. If he wanted to run away, he could have left like that anytime.”
“I see.”
Kassel’s response was so bland that Lofin, who had spoken hoping for agreement, felt embarrassed. Then Kassel sat down, leaning against a tree.
“I’m really sorry, but can I close my eyes for a bit?”
“Go ahead and close them. I need to rest a bit too.”
Lofin also sat on a tree root and gulped down water from his leather pouch. Kassel fell asleep right away.
Looking down at the sleeping Kassel, Tanya said,
“From what I’ve seen, he’s been active for days, almost staying up all night. No matter how good his physical strength is, he must have hit his limit by now.”
“It’s impressive enough that he’s been keeping up with my pace in the forest. Aren’t you tired?”
“Because I’m a sorceress.”
“Even though Tailed was a sorceror, he was frail. Irine had to carry him on her back sometimes.”
Recalling that time, Lofin laughed like a child.
“It was only natural.”
Tanya also tried to smile, but could not make a gentle smile with her stiff face.
The facial skin created with magic tightened hard whenever she tried to smile even a little. At such times, she would unconsciously hide her emotions, and her voice would naturally change to being cold. It had always been like that, and it was the same now. People around her were always cautious with her due to the coldness she intended. But Lofin was always honest with his emotions rather than the surrounding situation. And he saw through Tanya’s hidden smile.
“Irine and Tailed, those two were really well-suited for each other. Sometimes the way they discussed everything together was annoying. I was also upset that the younger one got a lover before me… Hahaha.”
“Master also talked a lot about Irine. He described her in such detail in his letters that even when I met Irine for the first time, it felt like meeting someone I hadn’t seen in a long time.”
Lofin carefully examined Tanya’s face. He didn’t seem to be straining his eyes to overcome the darkness. Tanya asked warily,
“Why are you looking at me like that?”
“Wait a moment.”
Lofin tapped his forehead, then nodded to himself and said,
“I just remembered. Tailed said this. That he has an extremely pretty disciple. When he said that, I agreed, saying I also have an extremely cheeky and cute disciple.”
Tanya unconsciously looked at Kassel. Fortunately, he was sleeping.
“Why are you suddenly saying that?”
Tanya deliberately made a stern face. But, as expected, it didn’t work on Lofin.
“That guy even drew a picture with his poor skills to show me.”
Lofin continued in a tone like a gossipy aunt talking about someone else’s private life.
“So that face isn’t actually real? I thought it felt disharmonious since I met you, so I was suspicious.”
“It’s not polite to comment on and criticize a woman’s face, Lofin.”
“Hmph, then is it polite to face others while hiding your face, Tanya?”
Lofin, in a posture as relaxed as possible, brought his hand to the sword at his waist. As always, everything about him was too natural to be called one-armed.
“The magic that hides your face like a different face is different from the magic that turns you into a wolf. That’s a kind of seal. A seal that suppresses magic! Usually it’s a curse, but in your case, you’ve put that seal on yourself. How much stronger do you become when you break that seal yourself? You’re already threatening enough. For example, like that black-robed sorcerer using magic comparable to a dragon! That was the same as Tailed, but a completely different type of magic. If there could be another such sorcerer in the world besides Tailed, wouldn’t it be his best disciple?”
Lofin still spoke in a joking tone, but his eyes were serious. When Tanya didn’t respond, Lofin asked again.
“So how much is it? When you release your seal.”
“I don’t know. I’ve never released it.”
“Why are you suppressing it?”
“Because it’s a double-edged sword that eats away at my life, Master put a seal on it so that I can’t use it until I can control the magic myself.”
“There’s no need to change your face, is there?”
“I didn’t intend to change it. It’s just an aftereffect of the seal.”
“That’s strange. You spoke as if you chose that face.”
“I never did that.”
Lofin took his hand off the sword and asked,
“Then why don’t you release the seal now? Can you still not control the magic?”
“How could that be? It’s because my real face will be revealed if I release the seal.”
“Then is that not allowed?”
“The Aranthian Queen prophesied that a man who sees my real face will face a great ‘disaster’.”
“No way, that can’t be! Her Majesty doesn’t foresee disasters.”
“That’s what she told me. And I vowed to myself not to release this seal until I see Master again.”
“Can I ask what Her Majesty’s prophecy was?”
“She said a man who sees my real face will be covered in covered in disgusting evil blood.”
“Isn’t it just a play on words?”
Tanya stopped talking.
‘I accidentally revealed a secret while being dragged into the conversation.’
Looking back, Kassel was still sleeping. Fortunately.
Lofin also looked at Kassel and tilted his head.
“But somehow that guy seems familiar too. That face. It’s a face I’ve seen before.”
“Do you always do that when you see people’s faces?”
“I’m only doing it to you two!”
“Let’s stop talking about this now.”
“I didn’t bring up the face thing to talk about that. I wanted to say that you need to be about as strong as when you release your seal to fight a dragon.”
“I feel like you’re painting me as a traitor of Lutia.”
“That’s what I’ve been thinking all along. To betray Lutia, one needs to have the strength of Master Tailed. Then there’s no one but his best disciple, right?”
“Don’t underestimate Lutia’s power. Above me, there are many masters…”
“Are you talking about that old man, Ruskin?”
“Although he is nearly a hundred years old, he is still more powerful than any sorcerer active in the field…”
Tanya paused.
“Oh-ho, so there are only three people on the entire continent who can use that level of magic? And one of them is a traitor of Lutia…”
“Don’t make wild guesses. The Grand Master has no reason to betray Lutia.”
“It’s a little early to look for a reason. Finding ‘why’ is something to do after finding ‘who’.”
Scratching the back of his neck, Lofin continued.
“If you safely return to Lutia after finishing this, try probing Ruskin. Don’t mind etiquette, don’t beat around the bush, and ask ‘why’ right away. Don’t ask, ‘Are you the traitor?’ but ‘Why did you betray us?’ You might unexpectedly strike the core easily.”
Tanya still thought it was nonsense, but a part of her wondered if it could be true.
“Aah, talking about disciples makes me miss my own disciple. I wonder if she’s doing well?”
“You have a disciple you raised separately?”
“I do. If it goes according to my plan, she should have become a White Wolf by now, and my plans always fall into place so neatly that even I find it hateful.”
“Then why don’t you ask Kassel?”
Lofin looked at the sleeping Kassel with renewed interest.
“Why should I hear about my disciple from someone else? I need to meet her directly.”
Tanya recalled one of the names of the White Wolf Knights that Kassel had mentioned.
“Azwin?”
“You know her?”
“Just the name.”
“Even if you know, don’t tell anyone.”
Lofin continued with a look of satisfaction.
“I bragged about Azwin so much that the other guys said they’d also try raising disciples. So I made a bet. On who can raise a cooler disciple. Of course, it’s a bet I’m bound to win no matter what. Why did I make a bet with my beloved friends that I’m sure to win? How unlucky. If I meet a guy like me, I’ll cut off my remaining arm too.”
Tanya also muttered in a small voice that couldn’t be heard.
“I think I know too.”
The day was getting brighter and the sound of flapping wings approached from afar.
“Remember this in advance, Master Tanya. A truly cool man doesn’t know he’s cool. At times like that, the woman who fishes first is the one. Don’t let him get away.”
Lofin finished speaking like a chatty neighborhood lady again. In the meantime, Rai came down from the tree and lightly landed on the ground.
“Found it. Southeast, half a day at a quick pace.”
“Yeah?”
Lofin only answered and didn’t get up. Tanya also didn’t particularly urge him or move. Rai asked in puzzlement,
“Not going?”
“Wait a bit. You rest a little too. Don’t your wings hurt? You look like you flew to death and back.”
Lofin asked, waving his hand.
Rai greatly flapped his wings then let them droop. It looked like he shrugged his shoulders in human terms.
“It’s fine.”
“Still, just wait.”
“Why?”
“Our captain needs to rest.”
Lofin spoke, and Rai wordlessly sat on a protruding tree root. Lofin also sat with his eyes closed.
“You rest too, Tanya. I think once we start moving, we won’t have time to sit for days.”
‘You’re right. But I don’t want to look like I’m following orders.’
Tanya also sat down and closed her eyes. Surprisingly, sleep came quickly.
☆ ☆ ☆
For the first time since the group started moving, Rai stood at the very front.
‘It’s so strange that everyone’s moving as if it’s natural. He’s a vicious criminal that the Lemifs were so scared of that they locked him up in prison and even wrapped him in chains. And now that guy has joined the party and is even voluntarily leading everyone!’
The tired Kassel didn’t notice, and Lofin, busy guarding the surroundings, didn’t notice either. Rai himself probably didn’t find it strange that he was taking the lead.
“This is ‘Hup’.”
Lofin stopped for a moment and said.
“Hup?” Kassel asked.
“It’s a Lemif word meaning ‘borderline’. If you go down a little south from here, there’s a wide valley that splits the mountains.”
Shaking his head, Lofin changed his words.
“No, no. The expression ‘valley’ isn’t right. From what I remember seeing about a year ago, it was more of a crack running through the ground than a valley. A deep crevice at the bottom. Roughly, with Hup as the center, the Fvoe tribe’s territory is to the east, the Zvi tribe to the west, and the Sky Mountains to the north.”
Through the trees, a huge mountain with a white snowcap could be seen. The mountains of the Sky Mountains were very high, but one mountain stood out exceptionally tall.
Kassel, also looking in the same direction as Tanya, asked,
“What about that?”
“What was it called? I can’t remember the name.”
“You haven’t climbed it?”
“It’s too high of a mountain to challenge.”
Lofin said, and Rai added in a deep voice,
“Lemifs, dislike it. I too, haven’t been. There, permission, not granted mountain.”
“But you can fly,”
Kassel said as if complaining.
“When I get close, I feel uncomfortable. So, I don’t go.”
‘What a strange conversation.’
Tanya looked at Lofin as if asking for an interpretation. Snapping his fingers, Lofin said,
“I remembered. It’s Mount ‘Epnuvmadut’. It’s a place all Lemifs are reluctant to go. Especially the Zvi tribe. Anyway, because of that mountain, both tribes avoid coming to this area, so it’s suitable for a neutral High Lord to live here. Rai, how much further?”
Lofin asked.
“More.”
Rai didn’t specify the distance.
Only the sound of footsteps treading a long path with no visible end continued in the silence. As always, Lofin made almost no footsteps. Lofin didn’t ask how much more “more” was and asked something else instead.
“Rai, I followed your words and came, but a dragon with the title of ‘Sa’ doesn’t carelessly reveal its entrance like other dragons. How did you find out?”
“It wasn’t me. The dragon, that one, found me.”
Rai added in Lemif,
“Don’t make me repeat the same thing.”
“You need to explain it in more detail.”
“I was, flying. So…”
As if frustrated, Lofin spoke in Lemif.
“If it’s hard to explain, speak in Lemif. I’ll relay it to Kassel.”
Rai’s explanation in Lemif, not human language, was fast and articulate.
“When I was flying, the dragon appeared in front of me first and asked. How I could still fly even as an adult. I said I didn’t know, and he introduced himself. And he said he lives around here.”
Lofin also continued asking in Lemif.
“So you don’t know the exact entrance?”
“I only know it’s at the top of the mountain. I don’t know the exact location. But if I see it, I’ll know.”
“Ah, ah, ah! So you mean we just need to find the mountain, climb to the top, and find the entrance whose location we don’t know? Sounds simple.”
Lofin spoke as if in disbelief, then asked something pointless.
“By the way, how do you know how to speak human language?”
“I met an Ugeh before. I traveled with him for several years.”
“In the Sky Mountains?”
“In Acrand. He promised me to wait there and that he would come back, but he never returned. Instead, other Ugehs came to try to capture me. I ran away and wandered around Acrand for years, unable to even find my direction, before I finally made it back to the Sky Mountains. He was a good Ugeh, but Ugehs lie. So I don’t trust Ugehs.”
“So that’s why you said that when talking to Kassel. Will you trust your promise with Kassel?”
When his name came up in the conversation continuing in Lemif, Kassel looked at Tanya, meaning for her to translate. But Tanya didn’t translate either. Lofin, walking ahead, turned back and smiled for no reason.
Rai opened his mouth again.
“Kassel resembles the only Ugeh I know.”
Lofin asked jokingly,
“Don’t all Ugehs look the same to you?”
“Well, that’s true.”
“How many years ago was this?”
“About 50 years ago.”
“How old are you?”
“Seventy-five.”
Lofin stopped the conversation and clenched his fist as he halted.
“Anyway, it seems your words are true. I’ve been hearing the breathing of the Fvoe tribe all around us for a while now.”
Lofin immediately switched from Lemif to human language.
“And who is this? Lord Kagua has arrived.”
A black-furred Venon crouched like a statue in the darkness raised its head. And the knight in black robes riding on top also lifted his head. The knight raised the spear he had been hiding behind him. Perfectly concealed in the bushes, not only Kassel but also Tanya noticed late and was surprised. If it weren’t for Lofin, they might have passed right by without noticing.
Kagua’s deep voice echoing inside his helmet sounded eerie.
“Another strange group with a human and a Lemif traveling together. Do you have business here?”
At times like this, Lofin’s easygoing personality showed its power.
“You’re asking the question I was going to ask first, you dog bastard? Don’t you want to answer first, you brat?”
Kassel clung closely to Tanya’s side and muttered,
“So that’s where Azwin’s personality came from.”
Tanya laughed and then tilted her head.
“Did you hear that Lofin’s disciple is Azwin?”
It was a conversation that took place while he was sleeping.
“I heard it while I was half-asleep,”
Kassel answered honestly.
“What about the words before that?”
“Was it something I shouldn’t have heard?”
Tanya bit her lip slightly.
‘Did he even hear about my secrets?’
She didn’t want to know.
“Let’s talk later.”
Dangling his one arm, Lofin took another step closer to the knight in the black cloak and said,
“Nontil is dead. Was it your doing?”
“It was the work of the other ‘team’. My task is greater than that.”
“Oh, is that so? What is this great task you speak of?”
“Think about your current situation. You are surrounded. I ask the questions. You answer. I may spare your lives.”
“Do I look even more disadvantaged to you now, you unlucky bastard? I always wanted to catch just one of you dragon hunters and mess them up, and you got caught nicely. If you feel wronged, try calling out a name. I’ll make a list as I kill your cronies one by one!”
The black knight laughed heartily.
“My name is Redward. And there are nine of us. Go ahead and make a list.”
“My name is Lofin. And there are four of us. But don’t even dream of making a list, Kagua!”
Lofin drew his sword.
“There’s one thing I want to point out.”
Redward continued, tapping his neck with the spear he was holding.
“I roughly guess why you call us Kagua. But the Kagua is different. We’re just the Excelon Knights.”
“…Is that so? Then I’m just a White Wolf too.”
“White Wolf?”
They were both surprised by each other’s words, but the conversation didn’t continue further. Tanya wanted to draw out more information, but it was admirable that Lofin had such a long conversation, given his personality.
Lofin charged at Redward first, and Redward also drove the Venon and swung his spear at Lofin. The two weapons clashed, and a red light shot out from Lofin’s sword. The startled Venon raised its front legs and shook its body. Redward, riding on top, struggled to maintain his balance.
As the two men clashed, shouts were heard from all directions. Black-faced Lemifs, barely visible in the darkness, filled the forest and rushed in.
Tanya raised an orb. A blue energy penetrated the trees like steam and filled the dark forest. As the startled Fvoe warriors hesitated, Tanya spread one hand.
Several trees snapped off entirely, and all the Lemifs in the direction her hand pointed were blown away. Dirt piles rose up, burying nearby Lemifs as well. She aimed her palm first to the north, then to the west, then to the south, pouring out magic in all directions except where Lofin and Redward were fighting.
Then the magic she scattered to the south bounced back. As the thick layer of fallen leaves on the ground was stripped away, a huge pressure flew in. Tanya blocked it with one hand. A shock that felt like it would dislocate her shoulder joint was transmitted. She gritted her teeth and immediately prepared another magic spell in front of her hand. But a faster and stronger force rushed in from the south. Trees bent, space warped, and the straight space between Tanya and the opposing sorceror was punched out in a round shape.
‘If it’s a Lemif sorceror capable of entering battle, they would be equal to or greater than a Lutian Master.’
In the direction the magic came from, Tanya spotted a black-skinned sorceror adorned with ornaments all over his body. Each ornament emitted a strong light, making them look like large beads at a glance.
‘If we clash head-on, it will affect Kassel.’
Tanya abandoned the attack magic she had been preparing and switched to a defensive spell. However, as the protective magic shattered, she was flung into the air and thrown ten paces away.
With Tanya’s barrier gone, the next magic naturally headed towards Kassel and Rai.
“Watch out!”
Tanya shouted. She hoped Rai would protect Kassel or at least carry him and fly up. But instead of dodging, Rai threw the sword he was holding. The sword spun like a boomerang and flew to the Lemif sorceror, who was too far away to be seen, and pierced his shoulder.
The Lemif sorceror, who had been preparing the next spell, was knocked back as if hit by a log.
In an instant, both sorcerors were incapacitated. Not missing that gap, the Fvoe Lemifs rushed in en masse. Tanya hurried to get up, but the impact from the Lemif sorceror didn’t recover easily. Lofin was still fighting Redward. And Rai was empty-handed.
“Fight with this.”
Kassel drew his own sword and threw it to Rai. Sitting down, Tanya noticed a mysterious rapport flashing in the gaze the two men exchanged. Kassel naturally threw his precious sword, and Rai grasped the sword as if he had been waiting for it.
The Aranthian sword, which was a large blade in Kassel’s hand, looked like a small knife in Rai’s hand. Spreading his wings and gliding away in an instant, Rai blocked the Lemifs who had focused their charge on Tanya.
Kassel also ran over and supported the fallen Tanya.
“Can you stand?”
“No problem.”
Tanya stood up again and took a position behind Rai.
“Rai, I’ll leave that side to you.”
Tanya threw away the backpack she was carrying and grasped orbs in both hands. Light spread from the orbs. For some reason, the Lemifs couldn’t enter the area of that light.
‘Why aren’t they coming? The spell I used shouldn’t have been that strong.’
Tanya took advantage of the momentary lull in the attack to stroke her still-throbbing chest and stomach. There were no visible external injuries for now, but the aftereffects would come later. Before the fight got worse, she had to end it now.
“Whoa…”
Kassel, standing behind Tanya, made a sound that could be either admiration or a groan. Tanya also turned to look and was surprised like Kassel. Despite the short time, there were so many Lemifs who had fallen dead in front of Rai that they could be described as “piled up”.
The enemies had descended, prepared to die to some extent. They calculated that if they pushed with numbers using the steep slope, even if a few at the very front died, the enormous number of people following behind could break through.
It wasn’t a flawed strategy. One out of the three was an injured sorceror, and another out of the three could hardly be considered a force. So the Fvoe Lemifs were only wary of Tanya’s magic that could push away the enemy all at once, and they had pushed in, taking advantage of the gap when Tanya couldn’t use magic. However, Rai was there in front of them. Rai blocked the wave of Lemifs with just a few sword strokes.
It wasn’t that they couldn’t approach out of fear of Tanya’s magic.
Rai had blocked them.
“This sword, is excessively good. I dislike it.”
That’s what he said afterwards.
Rai returned the sword to Kassel, then picked up two swords dropped by the Fvoes, one in each hand. Tanya wanted to ask Kassel if he still thought of including this guy in the Wolf Knights.
Lofin’s fight also dragged on. Redward eventually ran out of strength and retreated, and Lofin didn’t bother to chase his opponent, who was riding on Venon.
“This is strange. Not long ago, another human bastard appeared who didn’t lose against me… What the hell is a White Wolf?”
“Huh? You, seems like you’ve met a White Wolf besides me?”
“That woman said she was a White Wolf.”
“Woman?”
Lofin blurted out. But Redward didn’t answer and blew the horn trumpet at his waist for a long time.
“I brought it just in case, and it’s proving useful.”
In response to the horn sound, something boomed on the ground. The sound got closer and closer, now shaking the trees and the earth.
It felt like a sound and energy similar to when Guanil walked.
“Damn it, is that the real ‘Kagua’?”
Redward leisurely even took off his helmet. Under the chain mail covering his forehead, red hair stuck out here and there.
“I’ll have to apologize to the captain later. For leaving ‘One-Armed Lofin’ to be killed by the Kagua.”
Lofin tapped his head with the back of his sword and stepped back.
“Of course. If it’s your damn captain, I knew it would definitely be him! If there’s the Excelon 1st Knights, it’s obvious that ‘Victor’ would lead them.”
The corner of Redward’s mouth lifted slightly.
“If you survive the Kagua, I hope to meet you again. Because facing me rather than Captain Victor will give you a slightly higher chance of living.”
“Don’t talk about chances. Tell Victor this. If he wants to piss with his remaining arm, pray that he doesn’t meet me.”
Lofin ran to where Kassel’s group was.
“Retreat! Rai, clear the way.”
Redward didn’t chase, and the Fvoes didn’t bother to block their path. The huge footsteps following from behind rapidly sped up.
“What is it?”
“It’s the Kagua.”
“Kagua is that knight named Redward…”
“I was fooled too.”
Lofin explained briefly while running.
“Didn’t I say? Kagua is originally Ka-Guanil’s subordinate. Obviously a dragon.”
Kassel, lacking the courage to look back at the huge footsteps following behind, just ran forward, but Tanya couldn’t resist her curiosity and looked back.
‘That kind of thing is a dragon?’
A huge head covered in charcoal-like black scales was pushing through the bushes. The moment the red eyes without separate pupils and sclera met Tanya’s, the bastard opened its mouth wide. It was full of knife-like sharp teeth.
‘This isn’t a dragon. No matter how brutal and evil Guanil is, he’s a dragon with reason, but this thing is just a carnivorous animal.’
The huge monster was running with its neck lowered as much as possible. The guy stood up its upper body and ran only on its sturdy hind legs. Looking closely, it had no wings either.
The distance from the thing was getting closer and closer.
The ‘real’ Kagua broke trees when it hit them and kicked rocks when its feet got caught, as it ran. Lofin instructed Rai, who was trying to run in the direction of the thick trees.
“Turn left! We need to make that thing run downhill.”
Kassel started to lag a little. Tanya slowed her pace behind Kassel and threw a fireball back. It was a huge fireball the size of a human head, but when it actually hit the Kagua’s face and exploded, it looked like just a spark flying from a bonfire.
The Kagua turned its head for a moment, stinging from the fireball, but soon roared and chased faster.
‘I just provoked it for nothing.’
Tanya aimed at the Kagua’s knees again. A force that distorted space pounded the Kagua’s knees, but it couldn’t greatly shake the legs as thick as logs.
Lastly, Tanya cast magic on the ground she was running on. The ground caved in, and the Kagua tripped and fell over it. It seemed to roll around, stirring up dust, but soon got up. It only bought a few seconds.
Kassel ran while painfully panting for breath.
Lofin also knew that and couldn’t go ahead alone, speaking regretfully,
“I wish Guanil had shown up instead.”
Lofin said Vena Esarck, which he possessed, was a dragon slayer made solely to kill Ka-Guanil. Was it because it only applied to dragons, or because it could only be used once? Anyway, Lofin couldn’t stop the Kagua with that sword.
Even Rai, who had blocked the Lemif soldiers, couldn’t do anything against the Kagua. Stronger magic was needed. With magic that even the Lemif sorceror couldn’t properly block, that huge monster couldn’t be harmed. It was difficult to even slow down its running speed.
‘Should I have released the seal?’
The seal couldn’t be released while running. Although uncertain, there would be a big shock the moment the seal was released, and she would have to stay in one place for a long time.
‘Now’s not the time for regrets.’
Tanya changed her mind and transformed into a wolf while running. The moment her body changed, her speed dropped drastically, and the Kagua’s huge mouth chasing from behind lunged to bite the wolf’s head. Tanya lowered her body almost touching the ground to avoid the mouth. There was a clicking sound of teeth clashing above her head.
Once transformed into a wolf, there was nothing to fear in the speed competition with the Kagua. Tanya leaped, stepped on a tree, and stuck right next to Kassel.
“Jump when I signal.”
Tanya told him in advance and stuck right behind Kassel’s back. Matching Kassel’s running speed, the Kagua’s mouth approached again. Wood fragments shattered by the Kagua’s shoulders flew here and there, and a breath as hot as fire touched her back.
“Now!”
Jumping while running was too much for Kassel’s stamina. Kassel barely jumped up about a span. But just him shifting his center of gravity upward was enough. She pushed her head between Kassel’s legs and forcibly lifted him up.
Kassel was pushed back and grabbed Tanya’s ears and fur. But lacking grip strength, his body slid off her back and rolled down behind.
Kassel fell right in front of the Kagua.
Tanya put strength into her front legs and stood up. Her hind legs slid back, raising dust. The Kagua jumped and opened its mouth towards the fallen Kassel, and Tanya leaped towards that mouth.
Tanya bit Kassel’s fallen backpack and flung her body. The Kagua’s teeth grazed her back.
‘It hurts. Seems like it tore a lot.’
Tanya put more strength into the jaw biting Kassel’s backpack. The Kagua’s footsteps slightly receded. Tanya put Kassel down on the ground again and said,
“Get on again.”
Kassel staggered, then grabbed the fur on Tanya’s neck and climbed on. The moment his body touched the wound on her back torn by teeth, intense pain was transmitted. Tanya gritted her teeth and endured.
‘Where did Lofin go? Rai?’
The Kagua kept running towards Tanya and Kassel. The ground shook, and the sound of trees the Kagua broke rubbing against each other got closer.
Tanya ran again but not as fast as before. She tasted blood in her mouth.
‘Did I bite Kassel? No way. I bit the backpack. Yeah, this is my blood.’
It was hard. Kassel had never felt this heavy before. Her eyes didn’t open well, and her back was damp. Looking down, the white fur on her ankles was dyed red.
The Kagua got even closer, and Tanya got slower and slower.
‘No. I’ll get caught!’
Not far away, Lofin’s voice was heard. It was like he was speaking right next to her ear.
“Tanya, don’t go that way!”
But with the Kagua right behind her, she couldn’t stop. The Kagua had already opened its mouth and was stretching its neck long towards Tanya.
Tanya had no choice but to keep running, and suddenly her body dropped down. Right behind, the sound of teeth clashing together was heard once more.
Tanya thought she would roll down the slope or crash to the ground with Kassel. But the two didn’t fall to the ground. Her body wasn’t controlled either. There were no trees in the scenery visible. A space of about twenty paces was void, and the forest started again only beyond that.
Tanya’s gaze turned to the ground. There was only darkness dyed pitch black, and nothing could be seen.
It was a cliff. Hup, the borderline dividing the three territories, was right here. Tanya and Kassel were falling to a bottom whose distance couldn’t be measured.
‘So this is why he said not to go?’
The wolf’s fur fluttered upward, and Kassel’s body also fell off her back and rose up. The view moved slowly as if everything had stopped, but the hearing was filled with the terrifying sound of the wind rushing by, and the friction of the air was so great that it felt like all the fur on her body would be pulled out.
Tanya’s body changed from a wolf back into human form. She reached out her hand and grabbed Kassel’s hand. She couldn’t feel any warmth from the hand of Kassel, who had fainted from the dizziness of falling.
The blue light of the orb that had risen above Tanya’s head illuminated the edge of the cliff. Hoping not to hit any protruding rocks, she pulled Kassel towards her.
The two fell into the pitch-dark darkness at a terrifying speed.
‘Is it too late?’
Tanya concentrated her mind.
‘Didn’t he say the point at which you can think it’s too late is not yet too late?’
As the light of the orb brightened, the bodies of the two gradually slowed down. However, the falling speed didn’t completely slow down. No matter how much strength she put in, it wasn’t enough to withstand the weight of two people.
‘I should have released the seal…’
The unconscious Kassel, pulled by Tanya’s hand, slowly approached. Tanya was barely able to embrace him. And she inwardly shouted,
‘If it’s too late to slow down the speed, please let my body fall first.’
She closed her eyes tightly while holding Kassel. As she wished, her back fell first. The orb’s light disappeared, and only darkness remained. It was fortunate that her body didn’t shatter the moment she fell. Although she wasn’t aware of it, she must have reduced the falling speed by quite a bit. But Tanya couldn’t see anything and couldn’t hear any sound.
A silence that felt like the beginning of death came. Tanya reached out her hand one last time and stroked the hair of Kassel, whom she held to her chest. Feeling her touch, Kassel slowly raised his head.
“Tanya?”
He said.
‘You’re alive. Thank goodness.’
With that last thought, Tanya fainted.
–TL Notes–
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