Chapter 29

Dawn was barely breaking in the distant sky.

At the entrance to the Gilteur Mountains, the first cargo transport convoy heading to the capital was departing.

"Neigh!"

Busy hoofbeats. Commands to advance. The rattling of wagon wheels rolling over dirt roads.

Sounds accompanied by countless movements spread noisily then gradually faded.

The second and third convoys following behind.

Like the preceding convoy, horse sounds and departure signals spreading boisterously.

Movement and noise repeated at one-hour intervals.

The appearance of the carriages moving along the road grew increasingly shabby, as if reflecting the status of the passengers they carried.

"......"

In the shadows where no one's eyes easily reached.

Mikhail, perched on a tree stump, glanced at the large bag beside him. He tapped the opening.

"Stuffy, right? Just hang in there a bit longer. We're almost done."

"Grrr."

Before long, a voice calling together Dispatch Unit 2 echoed out.

Mikhail shouldered the bag and moved to the front of the signpost pointing to the mountain pass entrance.

Ann was cupping her hands around her mouth, giving instructions.

"Groups 1 and 2 go to the shared carriage at the very front, and Groups 3 through 5 will surround the middle! Groups 6 through 7 get on the cargo wagon in the rear! Let's move!"

Mikhail headed to the end of the convoy. The carriages passing by were packed with plainly or shabbily dressed people sitting close together. Day laborers and their families. Generally that kind of composition.

"......"

Mikhail went to the very end of the boarding line. Since his luggage was quite substantial, it seemed more convenient to board last.

"Tsk, it's not like we're going on a trip."

Mikhail glanced at the source of the grumbling. Nearby escort members were whispering among themselves.

"What's with bringing such big luggage? Didn't anyone teach them that items unnecessary for the mission are just burdens?"

"Hehehe, cut them some slack. These are kids entering their first field training. They're greenhorns."

Mikhail turned his gaze forward. Since this was the introduction to the main storyline, he had no intention of causing unnecessary commotion.

The goal for this journey was singular: ensuring the carriage attack incident proceeded exactly as in the original.

【Quest: [Main] Participate in the Main Storyline's Progression】

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"I thought we'd travel comfortably, but suddenly they're talking about field practicals and dumping kids on us... It's so annoying."

"It is troublesome. We thought we'd just escort, but we ended up taking on babysitting duties."

"Still, don't think too badly of it. We got paid pretty well for the trouble. Plus, I heard there are some kids from prestigious families mixed in."

"Right. We should think ahead now too. If we properly flatter and coax some naive young master during this opportunity, we could make some decent connections..."

Mikhail listened to the murmuring voices and let out a displeased breath.

Splash.

At that moment, something cold touched his cheek.

When Mikhail flinched and turned his head to the side, hair the color of wheat fields entered his vision.

"Drink this. It's mixed berry juice."

Lloyd pressed the glass bottle into Mikhail's hand and glanced at the escort members. Then he made a snorting sound between his lips.

"They may look like that, but they're the evaluators for this training. So even if they're a bit irritating, just endure it for three days. That's all they're useful for."

...Useful for.

Mikhail stared at Lloyd gulping down the juice. A sweet scent reached his nose.

"Hm? What?"

Lloyd, sensing the gaze, asked, but Mikhail remained silent. Mikhail just closed and opened his eyelids a few times, then tapped the bottle neck.

"There's a bee on it."

Lloyd flinched and rolled his eyes toward the bottle neck.

"—Ah! What the heck is this?"

---

Rattle, clatter.

Late afternoon.

Inside a cargo wagon carrying seven or eight people.

Ethan glanced at Mikhail sitting across from him.

Mikhail had been looking around outside the carriage for several minutes now.

Though he'd become somewhat quieter lately, his temperament inherently couldn't stand boredom, so he must be feeling restless.

"......"

Ethan fixed his eyes on Mikhail's left arm. In truth, he'd wanted to ask since they boarded the carriage.

That he had something really important to confirm, so please show him the wound on his arm.

...But his mouth wouldn't easily open.

He'd thought there was nothing more important than finding someone who could suppress the cursed ability dwelling in his body.

To avoid suffering from a sense of alienation. To no longer be pointed at by others.

But when he actually faced this adversary he'd clashed with bitterly and tried to speak, only the worst assumptions surfaced.

'Mikhail and Maxwell.'

What if they had no connection at all?

He'd be deflated for a while, but at least he'd feel relieved.

'But what if, just maybe, that's not the case?'

.......

Ethan bit his fidgeting lips and lowered his eyes. Just thinking about it made his blood run cold and his head throb.

Though circumstances had somehow brought them together now, Mikhail wasn't really someone he wanted to face for long.

Because resentment filled with contempt and hostility wasn't easily resolved.

'It's a really absurd assumption. I know. I know that, but. If there's some kind of relationship between Mikhail and Maxwell, how should I treat him? How should I view his past actions...'

Heat suddenly surged within him.

But Ethan swallowed his breath to suppress it and cut off his overheating thoughts.

Right. Nothing's confirmed yet, is it? There was no point dwelling on the situation. It would just be pointless exhaustion.

"Hah..."

Ethan let out a low breath and clenched his hand.

He'd only hesitated momentarily because he had to ask an awkward opponent, but he had no intention of backing out.

"......"

Ethan slowly raised his eyes to look at Mikhail.

'Don't think too complicatedly. Catching a lead about Maxwell. I just need to focus on that one goal.'

So for now.

Examining Mikhail's wound and confirming the detailed circumstances was the highest priority.

---

Rustle.

Mikhail lifted the curtain. He stuck his head outside the carriage and looked around the dense green forest.

While unfamiliar scenery passed before his eyes, the damp wind creeping over the nape of his neck felt unpleasant.

'Come to think of it.'

Dense forest so thick you couldn't see an inch ahead except the road.

The carriage convoy crossing the rough road surface.

The scene before him resembled the journey where the original Mikhail had met his death at the hands of polar magical beasts that suddenly appeared.

'Maybe it's just an unpleasant sense of déjà vu.'

Click.

Mikhail clicked his tongue for no reason and pulled his head back inside the carriage.

Snoring sounds were echoing enthusiastically inside.

"Snore, whoooosh..."

Four or five laborers were sprawled out sleeping. Ethan sitting across from him hadn't moved an inch, head bowed as if absorbed in something.

...It'll be quiet for a while.

Mikhail thought so and settled down.

"Mikhail."

Then Ethan spoke.

Mikhail only rolled his eyes slightly.

"Let me ask you one thing. What did you do the weekend before last?"

Mikhail suppressed his shoulders that were about to flinch reflexively. He turned his head toward Ethan and answered indifferently.

"Why do you ask?"

"......"

Ethan only sent his gaze without words. His eyes gleamed as if trying to see through his opponent.

"I have a favor to ask."

...I don't really want to grant it.

Mikhail clicked his tongue and frowned, but Ethan leaned forward with an unconcerned expression.

"I'll say it straight. I met someone last weekend. A person with extremely important information for me."

"......"

"I think you might be connected to that person."

Ominous premonitions rarely miss the mark.

Mikhail shifted his gaze to look at Ethan. The ash-gray pupils staring directly at him held no hesitation.

"Let me check the wound on your left arm."

"What nonsense are you suddenly spouting?"

"When I came to your dorm, I saw a cut wound on your left arm. And coincidentally, the person I'm looking for also has a cut wound. In the same location, the same depth."

Sharp gazes exchanged through the silence.

Mikhail let out an empty breath and twisted his lips.

"Setting aside that I don't understand at all, you're connecting me based on just that one reason? Isn't that over-interpreting?"

"I know. But I don't have the luxury to carefully consider everything."

"......"

"I told you. It's extremely important to me. I can't give up even a small clue."

His tone was firm. He pressed on as if he wouldn't give any opening to escape.

...At this rate, he won't back down no matter what I say.

"Tsk."

Mikhail dropped his gaze from the front.

There were no additional words. He rolled up the sleeve covering his left arm and unwrapped the bandage.

Plop, plip.

Soon a vividly gaping cut wound was revealed.

"!"

Ethan remained motionless, eyes fixed on the wound.

His trembling fingertips clenched tight as rough breathing rose and fell irregularly.

"You, this..."

"Too bad for you."

Mikhail cut off Ethan's words before he could properly continue.

He had no intention of letting his thoughts extend further.

"...What?"

"I showed you since you asked so earnestly, but in fact, this is a wound unrelated to what you mentioned. Because."

Mikhail rewrapped the bandage he'd unwound and opened the bag beside him.

Ziiip.

Through the gap between the opened zipper, fluffy white fur popped out.

It took Ethan some time to recognize the identity of those white fluff balls.

Han and Ul, who'd jumped out, stretched their stiff bodies and yawned, then looked around curiously at the unfamiliar scenery.

"Grrr, sniff."

While the sky foxes trotted around examining the scenery, Mikhail turned his head toward Ethan.

Ethan stared blankly at the sky foxes as if he couldn't believe the scene before his eyes.

Mikhail shrugged his shoulders and spoke.

"I got this wound saving those guys. I think I rolled quite a bit near a slope."

"......"

Ethan couldn't shake off his surprise but soon turned back. He moved his mouth as if to say something more, but.

"Kyarung!"

A sharp cry suddenly burst out.

Perhaps remembering their first encounter at the training grounds, Han with tail standing stiff leaped at Ethan's face.

"Kyarrung!"

Ul followed and flew in as well.

"Grrrrr!"

"Kugh!"

Ethan, attacked unexpectedly, tumbled backward.

As the sky foxes clinging to his face kept gnawing at his hair, Ethan flailed his arms trying to stop them.

"Ah, ahh. It hurts. Stop, stop it."

Ethan's strength should've been enough to push them away, but his hands held no real force.

Given his temperament, the biggest reason was probably worrying the little ones might get hurt, but another reason might be...

'He seems a bit relieved too.'

Mikhail stared quietly at Ethan. He could roughly guess Ethan's feelings must be complicated.

Considering their bitter relationship and Ethan's desperation regarding his ability.

'So I absolutely can't let him find out. To maintain an indifferent relationship.'

"Karung! Grrrrr."

Eventually failing to push off the sky foxes, Ethan dropped his flailing hands.

A relaxed, disheveled breathing sound escaped.

---

The carriage advanced for quite a while. Shadows with their backs to the sunset stretched long tails.

Mikhail had his eyes closed but raised his head to look at Ethan sitting across from him.

Perhaps because his tension had relaxed, he was dozing off.

"...Ngh."

However, Ethan's tightly closed eyelids twitched intermittently. The breathing sounds escaping between his teeth broke irregularly.

It seemed he was having a bad dream.