Volume 4, Chapter 5 – Nishimine Mountain Range

After spending two nights in Sakimori, we set out for Miyako, the capital of the Golden Sun Miko Nation.

We had decided to head for Miyako thanks to the information the innkeeper had gathered for us, which suggested that someone who seemed to be Shizuku-san was heading there.

There are several routes from Sakimori to Miyako.

Among them, the path crossing the mountainous region known as the Nishimine Mountain Range is said to be the shortest.

It is currently March, and while it is springtime, there is still some snow remaining on the mountain roads.

However, choosing a route that bypasses the mountains by taking a wide detour along the coast would reportedly add about three weeks to the journey.

After gathering various pieces of information, we learned that the mountain path was well-maintained and that blizzards were unlikely at this time of year.

Thus, prioritizing time, we chose the mountain route.

Ten days have passed since we left Sakimori, and thanks to the well-kept highway, the journey so far has been smooth.

Starting today, we cross the Nishimine Mountain Range—the most difficult section of this highway.

Upon hearing that, we had all recalled those terrifying cliffside walkways of the Fanlin Mountains, but once we actually started walking, it turned out to be nothing more than a standard, well-maintained mountain path.

The stone steps were properly laid, and the slopes were reinforced with sturdy stone walls.

Compared to that road, it wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say this path felt almost like we were walking through town.

We climbed the stone steps one by one, firmly planting our feet with each step.

After climbing for a while, we began to see patches of lingering snow here and there.

“Oh, snow!”

Lu-chan’s excitement rose at the sight of the snow.

Reаd οո КαtRеaⅾіnɡСаfе

Come to think of it, while we’d seen light flurries during our travels so far, this was the first time we’d seen actual accumulated snow.

“Onee-sama, it’s cold! Look, look!”

Lu-chan showed me a handful of snow.

“Lu-chan, there’s plenty more further up,” I told her, looking ahead. If there was lingering snow at this altitude, there had to be plenty more further up.

“Really? I can’t wait, Onee-sama!”

“Eh? No… I wonder.”

If anything, I’d rather the snow hadn’t piled up. It’s much easier to walk without it.

“Lumia, don’t get too carried away. You never know when monsters or bandits might show up.”

“Ehh, but we haven’t seen any monsters or bandits since we came to this country!”

“That doesn’t mean it’s okay to let your guard down.”

“Muu…”

Chris-san cautioned her, but Lu-chan looked dissatisfied.

Of course, Chris-san was logically correct, but I could understand how Lu-chan felt.

After all, there wasn’t a shred of a monster’s presence, and we hadn’t witnessed even the smallest crime since entering this country.

The villages we stopped at along the way seemed quite prosperous; no one seemed to be struggling for food, and we didn’t see any orphans or street children.

I wondered what kind of governance could bring such prosperity even to remote rural villages.

Reаԁ оn KatRеaԁiոɡСαfе

The Queen of this country, Suikyou, must be exceptionally capable.

Furthermore, I don’t know how she does it, but the fact that monsters don’t appear is impressive.

I wondered if the world would become a peaceful place where monsters disappeared and neither Heroes nor Saints were needed if this Suikyou-san simply ruled the world.

As I continued up the stone steps while pondering this, the lingering snow finally appeared on the path itself, beginning to hinder our progress.

“Ugh, it’s getting harder to walk.”

“Now, now, don’t give up already. Follow the example of Fiene-sama, who is walking in silence. Honestly, Lumia, you’re such a child.”

“I’m not giving up! Besides, Onee-sama and I are only one year apart! And lately, I’ve almost caught up to you in height!”

No, I don’t think that’s the point here…

We continued to climb the mountain path.

The patches of snow that had been intermittent finally became a continuous blanket.

The snow was only a few centimeters deep.

Just then, light snow began to flutter around us.

“Onee-sama. It’s starting to snow.”

“You’re right. Let’s hurry. I want to cross the pass and reach the next town before the snow gets heavier.”

“Okay!”

“I agree, Fiene-sama. Let’s make haste.”

Rеаԁ οո КαtReаԁіոɡСαfe

Praying that the snow wouldn’t intensify, we quickened our pace.

Even if we took a wrong turn, we wouldn’t end up stranded as long as we had Lu-chan’s abilities.

However, if we were trapped by a blizzard, we would be unable to move.

That would be a major problem.

Contrary to our hopes, however, the snow grew steadily stronger. The wind picked up, and visibility gradually worsened.

“Hmm, this is bad. Lu-chan, we’re still on the path, right?”

“Eh? Um, yes. It looks like it.”

“I think it’s still before noon, but let’s camp out here for the day.”

“Eh? Onee-sama, we’re not going forward?”

“The path is getting hard to see, and if we keep moving with visibility this poor, we might get separated and lost.”

Since I was worried about all sorts of things, I decided to give up on moving forward early.

I’m no mountaineering expert, but I wanted to avoid situations like tripping or falling off a cliff in low visibility.

“But…”

Lu-chan still looked like she wanted to keep going.

“Lumia, I agree with Fiene-sama.”

“Muu.”

Reаԁ on ΚαtRеαⅾіnɡСafе

“Lu-chan might be able to navigate the forest alone, but we can’t. If we get separated from Lu-chan, we’ll be stranded. Moreover, if only I get separated, you two lose the tent and the food. Don’t you think it’s better to wait until the snow stops before moving?”

“…Alright.”

Eventually, Lu-chan was convinced, so we pitched the tent and decided to camp out early.

◇ ◇ ◇

The wind grew even stronger. It seems I was right not to proceed. Had we continued, we likely would have been brought to a standstill immediately.

Incidentally, because I cast a Barrier, the area around the tent was perfectly comfortable.

In other words, as long as I stayed awake, this tent should be safe even in a fierce blizzard.

I took out a pot of stew I had kept in Storage and warmed it over the campfire for lunch. Lu-chan, who had been dissatisfied and wanting to move forward, returned to a happy expression once she had bread and stew.

“Fiene-sama, this is quite a mysterious sight.”

Chris-san, eating bread dipped in stew, murmured while staring at the scenery outside the Barrier.

“…Yes, it is.”

Even though I was the one doing it, it felt strange to be in a windless environment while a blizzard raged outdoors.

“I hope it stops soon…”

I voiced my wishful thinking.

However, contrary to my expectations, the blizzard only grew more violent.