I didn’t take long to respond.
My thoughts were already organized.
“Gishta.”
I looked straight into her eyes.
“I can’t go with you. I still have things I need to do.”
Gishta is a good friend. She’s honest, reliable, and trusts me.
The time I spent with her was short but it was an incredibly fresh experience.
We felt freedom together as we galloped across the sunlit plains.
It was a world apart from the Imperial Family, which always has to maintain etiquette and worry about the backs of their horses.
Surely, it would be fun to embark on an adventure together.
If I had met her a little earlier, my choice might have been different.
If I weren’t the attending physician.
‘Right now.’
Instead of exploring a new world with Gishta, I was worried about Acella, who I left at the Imperial Palace.
I wanted to hear her thoughts immediately.
I was curious about why she was thinking of me.
I need to return to the Moonlight Palace.
Gishta nodded, as if she already knew my answer.
“I know. I made an unreasonable request, Lars. Thank you for listening. And… for responding seriously.”
Gishta shot up from her seat as if she had brushed off any lingering regrets.
“Are you about to leave?”
She wore a slightly anxious expression.
“Oh, I wasn’t thinking of leaving alone… If you’re okay with it, I’ll go with the tribesmen.”
“That’s what I hoped for. They will still need a chieftain.”
Gishta looked relieved at my response.
“Thank you. From now on, I’ll be indebted to your land.”
Gishta extended her hand towards me.
It was a handshake request.
“The citizens of the Empire greeted like this.”
“Do as you please.”
Gishta grinned, pulling my hand and bumping her shoulder against mine.
We returned to the village together.
I checked the status window.
―――――――――――
· Normal Ending
· The ice of ■■ does not melt 94% → 0%
· Deleted.
· Good Ending
· Melting, ■■, continuing 92% → 0%
· Deleted.
―――――――――――
Two endings disappeared.
I thought the adventurer route with Gishta was gone.
The normal ending was speculated to be an alternative that occurs when you don’t reach the good ending in that route.
‘The remaining routes are the first and the third.’
The third route still had both normal and good at 0%, nothing had progressed.
I still had no clue where it might lead.
‘What was the last sentence that’s been there since before?’
―――――――――――
· Hi■■■
· ■■■■ ■■■ ■■■ ■■■■
1% → 7%
―――――――――――
On the contrary, the probability has increased.
Just a moment ago, it seemed any choice would lead to the same progress.
Does it mean that there’s a 4th option that you can’t miss regardless of which route you take?
‘I’ll need more clues.’
Gishta returned to the village and called the tribesmen. She took on the imposing figure of a chieftain and led them.
“Listen up, everyone! Now that our mother is no longer here, we are going to head down to the land below!”
The tribesmen roared at Gishta’s declaration.
They must know what kind of place it is; after all, scouts have sometimes ventured down to the Marquisate’s monster-filled forest.
It seemed like everyone was on board. Not a single tribe member objected.
“Chieftain, is there meat down there too?”
“There’s plenty! This man is the owner of that land! He said he would give us meat and homes!”
Gishta gave my shoulder a light pat. The tribesmen cheered.
“Landowner!”
“He’s rich!”
“Are there men too?!”
“Of course there are! Right?”
I shrugged in response to Gishta’s question.
“I’m afraid you might regret it.”
“Teacher, what do you mean by that?”
Bruno, who had been quiet, cut in.
“The land down below, the Gothberg Marquisate, is my hometown. There are good knights there. I’ll introduce you to Mujak, Lincal, and my friends.”
“Introduction!”
“Meeting Bruno’s friends!”
The tribesmen’s cheering grew louder. Gishta clanged her axe to grab everyone’s attention.
“We will cross the mountains before the sun sets! You, you, you! Go to the other village, gather your things, and regroup at the entrance village. We depart immediately!”
“Chieftain! Will you live down there with us?”
A tribesman asked.
Gishta hesitated for a moment but then quickly flashed a grin, showing her teeth.
“Of course! I will always be your chieftain!”
She raised her axe high in a show of bravado.
The morale of the tribesmen soared.
After dealing with the Thunder Tribe, we headed to check on our doctor. Hugo reported back to me.
“The treatment is complete. All the injured can move.”
“And the infected?”
“There are none. The Demon’s Blood has been confirmed to be eliminated.”
“Well done. Unfortunately, there’s no time to rest. We must return to the Imperial Family right away.”
“Understood. Let’s go.”
We each mounted our steeds.
The knights’ horses had been injured or killed, so we squeezed onto bears and mammoths as best we could.
“Commander, let’s set off.”
“Returning! All troops, move out!”
“Let’s head to the new land!”
With the shouts of the commander and Gishta as a signal, the advance began.
The large group charged across the ice plains, tinted red by the evening glow.
Our shadows grew long.
“Hahaha!”
“Farewell!”
The Thunder Tribe was in high spirits, laughing boisterously while beating drums and blowing horns.
It was a triumphant celebration.
As we continued on, marveling at their seemingly endless stamina, Tanya signaled to me.
“Teacher, look at the sky.”
On the other side of the towering icebergs, dark clouds were rapidly gathering in the east.
“Ah, snow clouds.”
“I think so. There’s usually plenty of time until the New Year, but it seems to be early this year.”
“Once it starts, it can snow for an entire year, dividing here and the Marquisate into a blizzard.”
When we came here, we were stuck for two days. This hadn’t been in the calculations.
“Yes. If we’re not careful, we might not make it back.”
“We need to pick up the pace. Gishta!”
“Got it! Trainers!!”
The tribesmen whipped the wolves and bears, picking up the speed.
We climbed the ridges. It was already the path we had passed two months ago.
We were retracing our steps through the snow that sucked you in at every turn.
Rumble!
The sky roared. The blizzard was creeping towards us as if to devour us.
Finally crossing the threshold, the descent began. The camp where the knights were waiting and the distant monster forest came into view.
“Run, run! Down we go! Don’t stop!”
We sped down like a completely unbridled foal, hitting top speed without brakes.
The gusts whipped around us. The vibrations knocked at my senses, forcing me to stay alert.
“Ah— la la la la la!!”
Gishta’s boisterous shout echoed widely across the ridges.
The tribesmen joined her in shouting.
As the winds intensified, we drew nearer to the forest.
In the frantic dash,
“Ugh!”
An emergency unfolded.
A bear toppled over from the line, rolling over. It had sprained its leg.
A tribesman and one of our doctors who was riding behind fell off and tumbled into the snow. They quickly drifted away from the unit, far behind us.
“Hugo!”
It was none other than Hugo. I immediately tapped Tanya on the shoulder. She understood right away and slowed down, making a wide turn towards Hugo.
“Lars!”
Before long, Gishta switched to a wolf mount and came to support us. The main force was already charging ahead.
We charged towards the blizzard, which seemed ready to swallow us up like a massive monster.
“Faster!”
We backtracked along the ridges. Hugo was coming to his senses after standing up. Luckily, his fall in the snow didn’t cause serious injury.
“Hugo, grab on!”
“Teacher!”
I caught him and pulled him up. Gishta had helped finish loading the tribesman.
We changed direction but were now almost within the grip of the blizzard.
If we got caught, we’d be buried in an instant, losing our direction completely.
“Damn it.”
I urged the bear, but it was getting slower instead. The snow was thickening.
Just then, Tanya pulled out her sword.
“Commander?”
“I’m not sure if I can still use it, but if I don’t do it now, I never will.”
Tanya focused her mana into the blade.
Her mana seeped into the blade, sharpening it into a fine edge.
“Fuh.”
Taking a calm breath, Tanya cycled her mana once again from her core.
With a flash, she opened her eyes at the critical moment.
“Ha!”
This was the first time I saw her shout so loudly as she focused her energy.
And the sight of that brilliant light emanating from her sword was also a first.
Boom!!
A whirlwind burst forth from Tanya’s sword, sweeping the ground ahead of us like a fan in an instant.
The dark clouds parted above us, momentarily halting the blizzard.
“A path has opened! I will pick up speed again.”
Tanya sheathed her sword and grabbed hold of the reins once more.
Hugo and I dropped our jaws slightly.
“Was that just Sword Aura?”
I patted Tanya on the shoulder.
“Congrats on being a Swordmaster.”
Tanya smiled slightly.
*
“Older brother, you’ve returned!”
Neria greeted me warmly from the northern castle wall of the Marquisate.
“I was worried when the blizzard started suddenly. I’m glad you’re back safely. Oh my, look at your long hair.”
Neria patted my back, and I felt all tension melt away.
“I’m tired. So much happened.”
“How much hardship did you go through to lose weight… No, you actually seem to be in better shape.”
“To be honest, I’ve been eating plenty of protein and running around.”
―――――――――――
Strength: 23
Stamina: 27
Magic: 1
Mana: 37
Divine Power: 42
Faith: 100
―――――――――――
My strength and stamina noticeably improved.
They say you get healthier in the military.
“Whoa, but are those people… savages?”
“I’m planning to use them as soldiers. Write up a contract. You can hear the details from Bruno.”
“Soldiers…”
Neria blinked rapidly at the tribesmen and bears cluttering near the castle gate.
“Lars! My mammoth can’t get in! Can you open that big gate for me?”
Gishta rushed over to me, eagerly requesting.
“I’ll open it right away. Just talk to Neria while I’m doing that. I think I should rush ahead.”
“I see. Is the Golden Girl waiting for you?”
“Exactly.”
Gishta patted my shoulder and nodded.
“I will protect your land. So rest assured while you’re away.”
“That’s reassuring. Just don’t eat too much meat; make sure you eat some vegetables too.”
“Understood!”
I shook her hand, turned my body, and said,
“Older brother, are you heading straight to the Imperial Palace?”
“Yeah. Prepare the Teleport Gate. The knights should return slowly. There’s a lot of cleaning up to do, so I’d appreciate your help.”
“Leave it to me. I’m part of Gothberg too!”
I was relieved to have such a reliable little sister.
I hopped onto the carriage, with Tanya and Hugo accompanying me.
“Let’s head back to the Imperial Palace.”
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