Chapter 39: Seeking Another Route

Without Nature Magic anchoring them to the broken suspension bridge, Ren and Fiona would have fallen into the lava-filled canyon.

Returning to the fort placed them back where they had begun, but there had been no other way to save her.

“I’m sorry,” Fiona said. “This happened because of me.”

After reaching the fort, they climbed to its rooftop to survey the mountains and decide what to do.

“It was not your fault, Fiona.”

She still trembled with frustration. Although the attack had been beyond her control, she blamed herself for involving Ren and placing him in danger.

Ren respected the integrity behind her remorse, but the situation ahead demanded his attention.

(We survived the bridge. Now comes the real problem.)

Immediately after escaping, Ren had searched the surrounding area for another descent route. The spreading lava made every nearby path impossible, forcing them to return to the fort.

(The people who crossed should be safe. I hope the knights and adventurers who were left clinging to the bridge survived too.)

According to the terrain Ren remembered, the route used by the group on the far side should remain clear. Ren and Fiona, however, had very few choices.

The closest remaining route required a long detour.

Waiting for rescue was also dangerous. The number of lava flows was increasing, and it would not be long before the fort itself was surrounded or swallowed.

“Adventurer… what should we do?”

Fiona had reached the same conclusion. Remaining still would not bring help.

“Our only choice is to descend by a route other than the suspension bridge.”

Several paths led down from the Baldor Mountains. Ren pointed toward one of them.

“The nearest is the road toward the former territory of Viscount Given.”

“Yes. We should be able to descend from that side.”

It would take considerably longer than returning toward Clausel, but they could not reject the only viable route merely because it was inconvenient.

(If that road is blocked too, we will be in serious trouble.)

They could theoretically follow the path the examinees had used to enter the mountains, but that route was so long that it would keep them inside the disaster zone far too long.

“Could the Hero Faction be behind this after all?” Ren murmured.

The disturbances were so unnatural that he could not avoid suspecting the same sort of political scheme that had surrounded Viscount Given.

Fiona shook her head.

“One of the examinees is the legitimate heir of a family connected to an Earl of Heroes. Do you remember the boy the adults were especially careful with before the bridge?”

“I think so.”

“That was him. I doubt the Hero Faction would create a situation that endangered his life.”

“That makes sense.”

The Earl of Heroes and his bloodline were too important to the faction. There were reckless men such as Viscount Given, but even they were expected to observe certain boundaries.

If not the Hero Faction, then who?

(An accident caused by Chronois’s absence? No. It feels more like someone took advantage of her absence.)

Marquis Ignat’s influence made the matter even stranger. Few people would willingly provoke a man of his power, regardless of how many political enemies he possessed. Anyone responsible would need influence comparable to or greater than his—or belong to another force entirely.

(The people plotting the Demon King’s resurrection…)

They might have acted in the Baldor Mountains.

But identifying the culprit would not help Ren and Fiona escape. Survival came first.

“We should leave immediately. We need to put as much distance as possible between ourselves and the fort while there is still daylight.”

“Yes. I’ll check the supplies.”

It was only shortly after noon. Moreover, the lava illuminating the mountains might allow them to travel even after sunset.

As they turned toward the stairs, Fiona stopped.

Her hand pressed against her chest.

For one instant, her heart had beaten with violent, inexplicable force.

“Fiona?”

“I-it’s nothing!”

The sensation vanished at once. She showed no sign that her former illness had returned. Fiona slapped her cheeks lightly and gave Ren a delicate smile.

◇ ◇ ◇ ◇

Lava spilled across the surface and flowed down the sharp mountainsides, staining the Baldor Mountains red. It had already begun reshaping the surrounding terrain.

Some ridges and paths remained untouched, however, and Ren led Fiona across them in search of a way down.

Two days passed after they left the fort.

Night fell again beneath a sky crowded with stars.

“…That was bad.”

Ren jerked awake beside the campfire.

They had spent the evening packing down the snow and pitching a tent. After dinner, Ren had told Fiona to rest because she was exhausted. He had taken the night watch in her place—only to fall asleep himself.

“It’s all right, Adventurer,” Fiona said from beside him.

She was sitting in front of the fire although she should have been asleep.

“No monsters approached while you were resting.”

“I’m sorry. I fell asleep while I was supposed to protect you.”

“No, I should apologize. You kept watch last night as well, didn’t you? You looked tired all day.”

“That is nothing you need to worry about. It is my responsibility.”

“At a time like this, please let me help.”

Fiona smiled earnestly. Even wrapped in cold-weather clothing, she hugged her knees against the chill.

A wooden cup steamed in her hands, carrying the faint scent of tea. On impulse, she handed it to Ren, lifted a small saucepan from beside the fire, and poured another cup for herself.

“Some of House Ignat’s attendants once served at the imperial castle,” she said.

“That is impressive.”

“And those same attendants could only smile awkwardly when they drank tea I had made.”

Ren did not know how he was meant to respond.

Fiona looked embarrassed. “You may throw it away if it is unpleasant.”

Ren raised the cup with a reassuring smile and drank.

His eyes opened fully.

The tea was extraordinarily bitter.

“It’s delicious.”

“That is a lie. Your eyebrow twitched.”

“It is only a habit. I truly do appreciate it.”

“I’m glad, but please don’t force yourself. It would be awful if you became ill.”

Despite its bitterness, Ren did not consider the tea bad. Its aroma was comforting, and in some respects Fiona had brewed it better than he could.

As he took another sip and then another, the tension quietly left Fiona’s face.

Previous chapter | TOC | Next chapter