A few hours after Rudell’s victory in the duel against Dagruul.
“I’m sorry. Normally, it would be proper to treat you as warriors, but our situation isn’t exactly plentiful, you know.”
“You don’t need to worry about it. We don’t exactly have an abundance of time ourselves.”
With a simple meal before them, Rudell and Dagruul continued their conversation.
Considering Kahlan’s case, it would be normal to have a lavish feast, but given the circumstances, the Nord tribe couldn’t afford such luxury.
After being chased by monstrous beasts and barely making it this far, their food supplies were hardly adequate.
“So, this whole mess is because of those Church of the Eaters of Death, huh?”
“Yes, that’s right. Have you ever seen them?”
“No, it’s the first I’ve heard of it. I’ve never seen movements from them in the Eternal Winter Plains.”
At Rudell’s question, Dagruul shook his head.
It wasn’t entirely unbelievable. Their stronghold was located deep within the Eternal Winter Plains.
In the original story, it was said to be at the world’s end.
“If I lay my eyes on them, I swear on Mother Earth, I will skin them alive and throw their hides to the beasts.”
“You absolutely must do so.”
Considering the incidents they had caused, even that seemed insufficient.
“So, what are your thoughts on proceeding with the peace treaty with the Empire?”
“First, I will send a letter to the Empire. We need to negotiate the location later, but it will likely have to be on Empire soil.”
“Empire soil, huh…”
At that, Dagruul let out a low groan.
That was understandable, given his status; he was close to being the king of a nation.
For him to go to another country’s territory personally would be a challenge for him to accept.
“You don’t need to worry too much. I’ll vouch for your safety, Great Chief.”
As long as the Empire isn’t completely bonkers, even if they were enemies, they wouldn’t harm the leader of another country. Especially when a hero is backing them up.
“Even so, it’s not something easy for me to accept. I hope you keep that in mind.”
“Sure. I’ll do that.”
Given the bloody history between the Empire and the Nord tribe, his reaction was entirely understandable.
Considering the bloody history between the Empire and the Nord tribe, his reaction was only natural.
So, after Rudell and Dagruul finished their meal…
“Well then, let’s start getting ready.”
“Huh? Ready for what?”
Rudell gave Dagruul a puzzled look as he stood up.
“Weren’t we supposed to go to the Empire?”
In response to Rudell’s confusion, Dagruul looked at him as if to say, “Why are you asking the obvious?”
“Huh? But just now, didn’t you say it wasn’t something easy to accept…”
“Believe it or not, I’ve thought about it quite a bit. In the end, we’re stuck with either starving to death or being hunted by monstrous beasts, so it’s a lose-lose scenario, right?”
“If you put it that way…”
What could he say to that?
Hiding his reluctance, Rudell nodded.
“Let’s leave tomorrow morning. Is that okay?”
“Yeah, let’s do that.”
And just like that, Rudell’s sudden trip to the Empire was decided.
*
Amo Fortress, situated in the Empire’s borderlands.
Located a bit away from the border between the Empire and the Eternal Winter Plains, this place originally served as a sort of warehouse for unloading supplies destined for the front-line fortresses.
However, due to the unexpected invasion by the Nord tribe, the border fortresses had fallen, and it had now been reconfigured into a front-line fortress, undergoing numerous renovations.
“Yaaaawn…”
On the walls of Amo Fortress.
A soldier on guard duty yawned and smacked his lips.
At the same time, a cold wind, filled with the promise of snow, blew in, and as he slightly shivered, he turned his head back toward the snow-covered plains.
“Sigh, when’s my shift gonna end?”
Suddenly finding himself on the front lines, he voiced his dissatisfaction about being stuck on guard duty.
Normally, he would be cozied up in a warm blanket, basking in the firelight with a beer by now, but the massive invasion by the Nord tribe had completely flipped his routine upside down.
“Darn those Nord bastards! May they fall into the jaws of hell!”
Spitting over the fortress walls while cursing the Nord tribe that turned his life upside down, he was just a typical citizen of the Empire harboring a deep-seated hatred for them.
He was just an ordinary person from the Empire.
Then, at that moment…
“Huh?”
From the top of the fortress walls, he spotted something moving in the distance.
“A herd of bisons?”
Bison groups, known to thrive in cold regions, were often seen on the snowy plains. Since they passed by the fortress several times a day, the soldiers didn’t pay much attention to them.
But, that thought didn’t last long…
“Uh…? Uh oh??”
It didn’t take long to confirm that it was one gigantic wolf and several people.
The soldier rushed towards the watchtower on the fortress walls in a panic.
With a clank! the door opened, and a cold gust of wind poured in.
“What the heck? No knock?!”
“Squad Leader! A swarm of undead has been spotted up ahead!”
The flickering campfire shook violently with the wind, and the squad leader, sitting in front of it, glared at the soldier.
After a crisp salute, the soldier reported the situation to the squad leader.
“Undead swarm?”
“I think you should take a look!”
At that, the squad leader sprang to his feet and headed towards the fortress walls, spotting the approaching undead swarm just as the soldier had described.
Creatures resembling huge wolves and several people.
They were clearly heading towards the direction of the territory occupied by the Nord tribe.
“What should we do? Should we call in the reserves?”
“Hold on, it’s not that many.”
If he called the reserves, it would mean a mountain of paperwork starting from the report.
No matter how high up he was as a squad leader, he was still just a person.
He absolutely refused to let his workload increase over just a few Nord tribe members.
“Hey you! If you approach any further, we’ll consider it a trespass on the Empire’s land and will attack! I repeat! If you approach any further, we’ll consider it a trespass on the Empire’s land and will attack!”
The squad leader shouted loudly at them as they came within earshot, and at the same moment, their movements halted.
“See? These things can be handled with words…”
“Squad Leader!?”
The squad leader looked at the soldier with a triumphant face after witnessing the scene.
And at that moment, the soldier shouted at the squad leader, deep in thought.
“Uh? What is it? Why?”
“Behind, behind…!!”
“Behind what?”
At the soldier’s reaction, the squad leader turned back with a confused expression.
And at that moment, he saw a girl with long, flowing white hair, like drifting snowflakes.
“W-What the heck!? When did she get here!?”
Upon seeing this, the squad leader quickly assessed the situation and reached for the sword at his waist.
But the girl was much faster.
Grabbing his arm, she twisted it so he couldn’t move, and a painful groan escaped the squad leader’s mouth.
“Ugh, aaaaaah…!!”
He had never heard of such a monster in the Nord tribe!!
With that thought, the soldier raised his spear, aiming it at the girl.
“Leje, I told you to talk it out.”
“But I was trying to attack first.”
At that moment, another voice came from behind the soldier…
“Whoaahhhh!?”
Startled by the appearance of a boy behind him, the soldier yelped and dropped onto his knees.
The boy reached out his hand toward the soldier…
“Sorry for scaring you. I didn’t mean to attack.”
“Eh? C-Common language?”
Realizing that the two were speaking a common language, the soldier stood up with a puzzled look.
“Uh, can you please let go? It feels like my arm is about to break…”
“Oh shoot, sorry!”
Startled, the girl released the squad leader’s arm, and he rubbed his now-free limb as he stepped back.
“So, who are you guys? Why are you coming from the Eternal Winter Plains?”
“Um… How should I explain this?”
The girl had a troubled expression at the squad leader’s question, and the boy, observing her, lightly bowed his head and said to the squad leader.
“My name is Rudellheit Weinstein, and I am a hero.”
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