Chapter 66 – Variables (5)

After the rumbling ceased, Hephaestus was the first to move.

Without a word, she pocketed the Stone of Fate and began gathering her belongings.

“Hey, Pinky… no, Hephaestus. I know what you’re thinking, but think carefully,” Charlotte said gruffly.

“Huh…?”

“That stone started glowing right before we heard that noise. It’s natural to think something happened to Yuria. But…”

Charlotte paused, closing her eyes as if choosing her words carefully.

“Artifacts typically respond to the user’s mana. But that rumbling… it disturbed the ambient mana in the air.”

Rubia nodded in understanding, while Hephaestus tilted her head in confusion.

“In other words, the mana flow might have gotten tangled, causing a temporary malfunction.”

“So, you’re saying…” Hephaestus looked at Charlotte, her hands stilling.

“Yeah… Yuria might not be there. I can’t be sure.”

Charlotte sighed heavily, turning to look out the window once more.

“No bomb could make a noise like that… something definitely happened… damn, this is frustrating.”

She ran her hand roughly through her hair, lighting a fresh cigarette.

“Of course, I’m still going to check the summit. But like I said, Hephaestus, think carefully. If you die, Yuria might die too.”

“But…”

Hephaestus collapsed to the floor, her head drooping as she began to sob.

Charlotte exhaled deeply, puffing out smoke, while Rubia clenched her fists tightly.

If I were in her situation, without my greatsword, like Hephaestus… what would I want the most?

I have no idea.

I can’t empathize, nor do I fully understand. But still.

I approached Hephaestus slowly.

Rubbing the greatsword at my waist, I spoke.

“Hephaestus… let’s go.”

Hephaestus slowly lifted her head.

“W-What… did you say…?”

Her face showed utter confusion.

I smiled at her the way I always did, a big, carefree grin.

“To Karahan.”

Then, I puffed out my chest and tapped it.

“You saw how strong I am, right? Just trust me, big sis has got this…!”

I repeated the same words I’d told Hephaestus back in Roholon.

“Sis…”

“Yup.”

“…Noah, sis…”

“Yup, I’m your big sis…”

Hephaestus’s head drooped once more, but this time, her expression was filled with joy and gratitude. Luckily, unlike last time, she didn’t blow her nose into my clothes… Phew…

Rubia, who had been quietly watching me, let out a deep sigh before beginning to pack her things.

And Charlotte…

“Wow, damn… No wonder Rubia’s so smitten. Shit, I need to change my underwear. They’re all soaked now.”

Panting heavily, Charlotte left the room, her voice flustered.

The rumors… she is a good person, right?

Shaking my head, I reached out and wiped away Hephaestus’s tears.

“Come on, let’s stop crying… and get ready, okay?”

Hephaestus, sniffling loudly, nodded and quickly resumed packing her things.

As for me… I stood up and cautiously approached Rubia.

“Uh… Rubia.”

“Yes?”

Her response was gentle, but… with no expression on her face, Rubia silently packed her belongings, which scared me.

“…I-I’m sorry for deciding on my own…” I whispered, tugging at Rubia’s sleeve.

She stopped what she was doing and looked down at me.

Her gaze bore down on my head as if pressing it down…

I’m scared…

Ten seconds passed…

Just as my head began to lower, my body bending over from the weight of her stare…

“Noah.”

Rubia softly called my name, her face breaking into a light smile.

“Y-Yes?”

“You were really cool. Truly.”

Her smile grew, spreading across her face into a bright laugh.

“Charlotte was right… Hahaha…”

Then, she turned back to continue packing.

“Uh… um… that’s… ugh…”

I was bracing myself to get severely scolded.

Honestly… I figured if I insisted on going, Rubia would follow me no matter what, even if Charlotte didn’t. So, I made that choice… thinking very selfishly.

“I mean, actually—”

“Yes. I know, Noah. I know exactly why you said what you did. You were sure I’d follow you no matter what, right? It’s so cheeky of you that I want to flick your forehead,” Rubia said, her voice full of mischief as she continued to smile while packing.

“Ugh…”

“But still… you trusted me that much, and it doesn’t feel so bad. Hahaha… it actually makes me happy.”

“So… you’re not mad?”

Rubia paused for a moment, then slowly turned her head.

“I’ll get mad later, after everything’s over. We’ll talk it out thoroughly, just the two of us, in a room.”

Leaving me with those words, Rubia went back to packing.

I stood there awkwardly, unable to respond, and shuffled about. As I was about to join Rubia and Hephaestus in packing, something very important crossed my mind, something I had almost forgotten to do before heading up to Karahan.

I almost forgot something big…

“Uh, hey… Rubia.”

“Yes?”

Smiling softly, Rubia looked at me, and I leaned in to whisper in her ear.

“Do you… by any chance… have any underwear?”

Rubia’s expression immediately stiffened.

“I… uh, I’m… not wearing any right now…”

Her face twisted instantly.

Rubia’s hand shot out, gripping my wrist tightly.

“What… are you trying to seduce me, or… are you really not wearing any?” Rubia’s voice dripped with frustration, echoing in my ear.

“Ugh… Ru-Rubia?”

“Answer me quickly, before I check myself.”

I stammered as I lowered my skirt with my free hand.

“I-I’m really… not wearing any…”

“Why?”

“It… tore…”

“And… bandages?”

“They… ripped too…”

At that, Rubia, much like Charlotte earlier, ran her hand through her hair in exasperation, growling under her breath.

“What am I supposed to do with you… damn it… Just follow me quietly.”

With that, she pressed herself close behind me and guided me to the corner of the room where the luggage was stacked.

***

After… securing some underwear, we arrived at the foot of Karahan and immediately began our ascent.

We passed several wild beasts on our way up the foothills, but none posed a problem.

Even though it was night, my senses made it easy to detect the beasts… and more importantly, Rubia had grown incredibly strong. The minor beasts burst before they even realized we were there.

As we reached the end of the foothills…

“I told Rebuge, but gathering adventurers will take some time…”

Charlotte, now clad in heavy plate armor, which was completely different from her usual clothes, and carrying a magnificent sword and shield, spoke in a serious tone.

“If we happen to run into Kalt before the reinforcements arrive… I’ll hold him off, so don’t look back—just run. Got it?”

“Will you be okay…?” Rubia asked, her voice full of concern at the thought of Charlotte buying time.

“No, I’m terrified. But there’s no one else here who can do it. What choice do I have?”

Tapping her shield, Charlotte continued.

“At least this thing’s from the royal treasury, so it should hold up… but who knows what that crazy bastard will pull.”

“…I’m sorry for all this…”

Seeing Charlotte’s back, Hephaestus, who was riding piggyback, lowered her head again.

“You don’t need to apologize, Pinky. We can’t just leave you in the village, especially if Kalt comes looking for you. It’s better you’re with us.”

“That’s right, Hephaestus. There’s no need to apologize. Noah and I promised to help you until the end.”

Rubia added with a warm smile, nodding in agreement.

“Yeah, so just be careful and don’t get hurt.”

“Yes, I will…”

“You too, Rubia… and especially you, Noah.”

Why me, all of a sudden?

“Y-Yes?”

“You’re the biggest problem. The moment those beasts popped out, you were the first to jump in. Are you possessed by some ghost that died without killing a monster? Do you die if you don’t drink blood or something?”

“Exactly, Noah. You can’t do that again,” Rubia added, glaring at me along with Charlotte.

“Eek… even you, Rubia… I don’t do that…!”

A ghost that died without killing a monster? Dying if I don’t drink blood?

I just thought I’d loosen up a bit…

This is unfair.

“Yeah, sure. Anyway, if you don’t listen, I’ll lock you all up, so keep that in mind.”

With that, Charlotte turned her gaze toward the summit.

“Phew… Let’s get moving again.”

Her armored footsteps clinked as she set off.

An hour passed.

The air thinned as the temperature dropped sharply.

Rubia maintained our body temperature with her divine power as we continued onward.

Two more hours passed.

The path became barren, with no trace of vegetation, and the scattered beasts began to disappear as well.

I shifted Hephaestus onto my back, practically dragging her along as we pushed forward.

Finally, as we neared the summit, Rubia, panting heavily, looked up at the sky and spoke.

“Huff… huff… The sun… is starting to rise.”

“Yeah, we’re almost… huh? Hey, look at that—”

Charlotte wasn’t looking at the sky. She was staring straight ahead.

At that moment, I expanded my senses, taking in my surroundings.

Far ahead.

“Isn’t that Yuria’s ability?”

I saw it—the unmistakable sight of hundreds of tree roots rising unnaturally from the ground.