Episode 113
Although Harbadonia is nominally treated as a single landform, considering the biological and geographical diversity and size of the land, it was easier to think of it as just a continent.
After traveling for a month and a half, we arrived at Frostflake Canyon and hurriedly unpacked our bags.
It is said that Frostfowl was originally the home of the Germia tribe, but now the canyon was lonely and empty, as they had also moved south to join Grypion.
As the night grew dark, the tribe quickly set up tents and lit bonfires everywhere. This is because the dead who attack the village, attracted by the scent of life, are afraid of fire.
“This is where we are now, Frostflake Canyon.”
Because it was an extremely cold land with no means to make paper, the map that Chief Bethuel unfolded in front of the campfire was a large stone slab.
The geographical characteristics of Harbadonia were recorded in detail by digging into the rock surface with a blade. I was amazed because there was no such detailed map anywhere in the empire.
“You have to turn to the right like this and go down the Roborun tributary to LavenFell (Winter Port).”
Ravenfell was a port city built on the east side of Silver Horn Bay at the southernmost tip of Harbadonia, and was the only city built in the North Pole.
It is said that until the 8th century, before the Baekrangdae and the Suin were eradicated, the city prospered greatly as people from various classes passed through the North Sea.
Merchants do it to obtain high-quality oil and skin from walruses and seals, adventurers do it for fame, and wizards and witches do research.
“You’re really close to the wall.”
“It’s not just close, it’s about three days away from the wall. “If you hurry, you can reach it in one day.”
It can be said to be a geographical attraction that is suitable for gathering all tribes. That’s why I felt a bit of anxiety.
“Can we arrive in time?”
Perhaps because it was a tribal movement, the southward movement was several times slower than Lane expected.
The terrain of Harvard was never kind to the elderly and young children. And if there was a blizzard or the sun was setting, we couldn’t move any further because of the threat of the dead.
If it’s too late… … It was clear to anyone that if the war had already started, everything would be in vain.
“Can’t we just go straight across here and here?”
Kasena, who was dozing off next to me, pointed her finger at the map.
To be exact, I used my index finger to trace the straight line from Frostfang Canyon through central Harbadonia and south to Ravenfell.
Immediately after that, Barlzen shook his head.
“You can’t go here.”
“why?”
“It’s Shen Plateau.”
“Shen Plateau?”
“Haven’t you heard? This is why they are hairless. “This is the land of nightmares.”
The Shen Plateau was a plateau formed by the Madness Mountain Range extending south, gradually widening and lowering.
This also means that the ancient beings living in the Mountains of Madness can climb down the mountains, so the Shen Plateau has long been considered a taboo land by the beast people.
It was a topic that I thought would end so easily due to Barelzen’s opposition, but Chief Bethuel looked down at the map with a pondering gaze.
“Yes, it’s definitely that kind of land… … .”
Barelzen, who sensed some anxiety from that gaze, hit the floor as if to come to his senses.
“Chief, if you’re thinking strange things, stop. “You’re not planning on going here, are you?”
“Snowstorms are becoming strangely frequent. If we continue like this, we will run out of food before we even reach Ravenfell.”
“that… … Anyway, isn’t this the Shen Plateau!”
“Yes, a plateau. “There is no land better than this to move around.”
One advantage of the Shen Plateau was that the unstable terrain unique to Harbadonia did not apply there.
Because the wide, flat plains spread out across a vast expanse, there would be no land more suitable for carrying out large-scale migrations than here.
In fact, it is said that at the end of the war, Enuel and his assault force also advanced north along the Ishen Plateau.
“You know. “What happened to all the tribes who went here for a little convenience!”
“know. And those tribes didn’t have companions like us.”
Bethuel, who was arguing with Barelzen, suddenly turned his gaze towards us.
That gaze was asking… … Our will and will.
I hesitated because I thought it would be a nuisance, but I nodded, my breath turning white from the tension.
“If the goal was just to move quickly, we wouldn’t have made this decision. But Varlzen, that’s not the only goal now, is it?”
“… … !”
“We need to get these kids to meet Grypion. Isn’t that so, Alakish?”
Alakish, who had been silently watching the conversation unfold with his arms crossed, nodded.
“This Alakish has passed through the Shen Plateau several times. It is definitely a dangerous land, but if you can pass through it with tact, it will be the safest route.”
“How can this place be safe?” … .”
“Don’t you know? There is no truly safe path in Harbadonia right now. Something is strange. The cold wind is getting too harsh.”
It was a problem that Barlzen knew well as he had lived his entire life in this country.
It’s strange, something I can’t explain… … The abyss mixed with the cold wind has become so dense that it makes you uncomfortable, making you break into an unpleasant cold sweat.
And the dark clouds that had been covering the heart of the Mountains of Madness for some time were enough to further fuel that vague fear.
“It’s clear that something strange has occurred with the seal. “Hurry up and get these kids to the wall, and Alakish should go investigate.”
It was as if Alakish’s words had brought a tentative conclusion to the meeting.
The eyes of everyone gathered for a long time rested on the ominously deeply engraved word [Säén] on the stone slab.
Even Raine had to swallow his saliva dryly because of the vague fear that permeated the land that was supposed to be a huge mystery.
Finally, Chief Bethuel let out a nervous breath and decided the future of the tribe.
“Varlzen, take a direction to the southeast tomorrow. “I’m going to Shen Plateau.”
* * *
“Look, there’s no one here either.”
The white wolf frowned and blew irritably at his frozen hands.
“This patrol is a f*cking waste of time. “Where are the beastmen who haven’t gone to join Grypion now?”
They are called wolves, but they are not wolves.
The name White Wolves comes from the pure white wolf fur cloaks worn by the warriors who guarded the Snowy Wall during the Age of Origin.
It is said that in addition to the wolf cape, their costumes were all pure white for protection. Wool clothes, leather vests, and leather boots… … .
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As this impression was passed down from generation to generation, the name was also passed down, and those who are now here are also called white wolves.
“No, something is different this time.”
Another wolf, who was looking closely at the desolate abandoned village, said.
“There are traces of blood and sparks scattered here and there.”
His name was Seanwell, and he was a limited (2-star) wizard who had just graduated from the magic college
Gut, the senior wolf who didn’t think that was worth it, narrowed his eyebrows and responded.
“The blood stains are because those children are eating raw food like animals.”
“And it’s also strange that the tent is still there. “When the beastmen moved as a tribe, they took all their tents with them.”
“Heng! They must have made a new tent and brought it with them. “It’s so old that I’m going to abandon the country.”
Jared, the old wolf who had been listening to the strange reports of his subordinates who returned one by one, finally nodded.
“It’s just as Seanwell said. Something is strange here… … I might need to investigate further. “Returning to normal is the next step.”
“Yes?”
“Gut, we will camp here. We have a tent so you can complain. Oh, and put up stakes around the entrance.”
“You want to sleep in the tent that the beasts used? “Hey, I’ll just freeze to death in the snow.”
“Well said. “If you don’t start preparing for camp right now, I’ll bury you in a snowball so you can freeze to death tonight.”
It was at that time that Gut finally got off his horse while grumbling and led the crew to prepare for camping.
The wind… … It was a time when the wind blowing through the dense branches of the pine forest felt as if it had sighed.
Primal fear, goosebumps running through me.
The hunting dogs brought by the wolves began barking hoarsely, and the horses tied up in the barn ran wild and snorted wildly.
“W-what is it?”
Suddenly something cold and wet landed on the wolves’ foreheads and heads.
Before I could even realize what it was, a blizzard, a fierce blizzard like I had never seen before, blew up and all the fireworks rising from all directions died out.
Is it because of the blizzard, or…? … The cold penetrating into my body was so sharp that I couldn’t even move my body for a moment.
“… … ?”
And into that blizzard, an ancient being that transcends human imagination walked in silently.
Judging by his body shape, the boy of peerless beauty appeared wearing a dark blue robe with long, flowing sleeves. He appeared to be about seven or eight years old.
“Hey, kid… … ?”
“What on earth… … ?”
However, under the flowing black hair, the skin was as white as a ghost, and strangely enough, there was an indescribable majesty in every movement.
「Doon oe piaris.」
The primal fear that engulfed Wizard Seanwell’s mind at that moment… … .
The moment he said “kneel” in the primitive language, the limbs of the sixteen wolves around the boy were torn to pieces and scattered around the area.
The head and torso were hanging in the air, caught in something like a spider’s web, and the boy put his hand into each of the heads one by one.
Every time that strange and evil ritual ends, the wolves become horribly thin, as if they have been deprived of nutrients, and their heads hang down.
‘I die, I die, I die, I die, I die…’ … .’
Only such overwhelming fear moved Seanwell’s body.
I made a desperate move and randomly threw a 2-star magic ice spike, but I thought the boy’s body would be pierced by the spike… … It wasn’t pierced.
To be precise, whenever it is pierced, spider webs immediately sprout and regenerate the pierced area. In the blink of an eye.
‘Ultra-fast playback?’
The only beings in this world who can use ultra-fast regeneration are… … Shawnwell absentmindedly turned his body and started running.
‘Let me know, I have to inform the main unit. That, that… … .’
But why is it that the more I run, the closer I get to the boy?
The answer lay in the boy’s outstretched finger, and in the dark spider web that flowed from it.
As the boy’s face got closer and closer, Shawnwell exploded with primal fear and let out a desperate scream.
“Save me, save me, save me, please, jebaaaal——!”
When the boy stuck his finger deep into the brain of Seanwell, who was eventually dragged to his feet, black energy flowed from the victim’s body and was absorbed into the boy’s hand.
‘While the King was asleep, the lowly things gained considerable power… … .’
Shar’kas, who was pulling memories directly from Shawnwell’s brain, slightly raised his eyebrows.
Still, are humans human?
I feel weak.
Shar’kath threw Shawnwell’s hideously, disgustingly withered body into the snow, with all the nutrients and vitality drained from his body.
‘We need another host. Being strong enough to get more information… … .’
However, Shawnwell’s head, which had been thrown away, suddenly bent in a strange direction and grinned as he looked at Shar’kas.
[Are you reading the memories now? What do you think of the work I created?]
It’s the art of possession on a human subject… … .
Shar’kath snapped a finger, and in the blink of an eye, Shawnwell’s head was cruelly sliced open by a spider’s web and sent flying through the air.
Even as he was flying through the air, coughing up blood from his throat, Seanwell’s head was full of laughter.
[As expected, you are as great as the legend says. Even I could barely see that movement. Because he is possessed, his abilities are slightly reduced.]
He smiled mischievously and spoke to him in a friendly manner, but Shar’kath just stomped on his head with his clogged foot with an expression that showed no emotion at all. Until his eyeballs pop out.
“Shut your mouth.”
[Haha, don’t be so cold… … I am on the side of Baek Doryeong.]
“side? “Consider it an honor just to have mixed words with humans.”
[Haha, anyway, what do you think of my work? Beastmen and humans are fighting. Are you saying they are descendants of those who bothered Baek Doryeong? you’re right! I planned it all. I think it took about 400 or 500 years.]
“I won’t say it until three times. Do not open your vulgar mouths without permission until I give you permission. “Do you think you don’t know where your body is now?”
As Shar’kath pointed to one side with his finger, the smile disappeared from Shawnwell’s face.
In the distance, a cold, sweaty laugh came out from the mouth of a young man who was sitting cross-legged in the center of a dark blue barrier blocking the north, south, east, and west.
Because Shar’kath’s deadly force was heading precisely toward the location of his main body.
‘What a ridiculous monster. How did the old woman defeat these monsters?’
Meanwhile, Shar’kath narrowed his eyes as he silently looked down at the human corpses.
These humans speak the language used by the creation god’s minions.
Shar’kas, who immediately learned the imperial language from Shawnwell’s memories, found this very annoying. How could his kingdom be so ruined in just fourteen hundred years?
‘The image the king showed me before the seal was released… … Are you saying the King is being held there now?’
Information must be obtained.
I need information to find the king.
But humans are weak and can’t use it… … There are only so many days to live and the total amount of knowledge that can be acquired is very small.
“It’s a host.”
Perhaps embarrassed by the fact that Shar’kas spoke first, Shawnwell’s reply came a little late.
[What host do you mean?]
“We need hosts that can swallow memories. Prove your worth with it. If you can’t do it, I’ll take your brain.”
Then, Shawnwell rolled his tongue as if he was lost in thought for a moment, then gave a short exclamation and created a mirage in the air.
[There is just one suitable one. Very close.]
What appeared in the mirage was a dragon crossing the snow field with flame-red hair fluttering.
[This is the true dragon sent here by Hwaryong. I believe it has been alive for over 1,400 years. Very annoying.]
It’s a fire dragon… … This is the one that was the left head of the three-headed dragon Asura. According to this human’s memory, it seems to have split now.
That’s his alter ego?
The corners of Shar’kas’s mouth, whose expression had not changed at all since he opened his eyes from a long sleep, rose slightly as if he was satisfied.
“Heh, that wouldn’t be bad.”
As soon as the words were finished, it started to sound like a beat, a beat… … In the disgusting sound of bones twisting… … One by one, they began to stand up.
Obviously dead… … White wolves.
With 24 ribs strangely sticking out of the body, it crawls on the ground like a spider.
fantasy,
