Ch.202Revelation (16)

Boehm, not Bom, was waiting for Kain outside Astrid’s office. The two walked until they reached a place where no one could hear them.

After walking for a while, they came to something like a balcony where they could see outside.

It was designed for shooting arrows while staying hidden, so it wasn’t quite like a typical balcony, but feeling the cool outside breeze seemed to clear their minds instantly.

Perhaps because of the heavy snowfall last night, the sky was perfectly blue, clean, and bright. The mountain ridge beyond Valhalla Castle was visible at a glance.

The mountain was absurdly tall. It was so high and massive that it somewhat distorted one’s sense of distance. Logically, it should be far away.

Otherwise, the outline of such an enormous mountain couldn’t be taken in at a single glance. Yet Kain was seized by the illusion that he was standing at the mountain’s base.

He understood why the White Blood Knights revered their ancestors. That mountain was a place humans couldn’t even touch. It wasn’t a place for humans but a natural fortress meant to stop the giants of legend.

Perhaps when the Two-headed Eagle was born into the world, the roaring living head built it to block the sobbing dead head—it was a place that inspired such imagination.

But Kain knew. It was humans who had crossed that solid fortress. Fierce warriors who persistently proved themselves had stepped into the realm of gods and finally crossed over.

“‘If conquering the mountain had been our goal, we couldn’t have crossed it. But our destination wasn’t the mountain but the fortress beyond it. Then the mountain became not a mountain but just a somewhat high and cold hill.’

That’s what they say the White Blood clan said after crossing that mountain. Quite remarkable people, aren’t they?”

Boehm agreed. Like Kain, he too was feeling something beyond reverence, bordering on the irrational. ‘To think of crossing that.’

“They became legends because they succeeded. In truth, it wouldn’t have been strange if they had failed. It was the kind of thing where failure would have been expected.”

“As you’ve seen on the way here, the gorge has three layers and would be difficult to breach using conventional methods. The Imperial army was thoroughly armed at the time.

I don’t think the White Blood Knights deliberately abandoned safe and certain options in favor of dangerous paths. That was the only path available, so they walked it as best they could.”

“That’s right.” Boehm nodded.

“How many people would jump into danger because they enjoy it? When the usual methods definitely won’t work, you take risks and challenge yourself to achieve something.

There’s always a risk of failure, but what else can you do? You have to find a way that works. But you’re being quite sentimental today, brother.”

“I have to be.”

“What do you mean?”

“I’m going to get Lily out of here.”

Surprised, Boehm leaned against the wall. A deep smile appeared on the sturdy man’s face.

“So you’ve decided?”

“Yes. I’m taking her out. Of course, Lily herself has to agree.”

“Good thinking. My brother and I were wondering if it was right to leave our little sister like that. But how will you get her out? Unless the grindstone knows some secret passage of the White Blood Knights, I don’t think we can break through.”

“That’s why I brought you here.”

Boehm blinked rapidly at Kain’s words.

“…What?”

“That mountain. There are no houses below it. Not even a single tree can grow there. See?”

“Yes, I can see it clearly. But what about it?”

“Can you cause a small avalanche on that mountain?”

Boehm looked at his respected supervisor with an expression of overwhelming excitement. He wondered again whether one needed a certain level of madness to become a supervisor, or if it was the mad ones who got promoted.

“Um, brother. This might be a bit presumptuous to say, but sometimes your imagination is hard to follow.”

“I didn’t call you here just to imagine things. I called you to find a solution. I’m not suggesting we cross that mountain like the White Blood Knights did. I wouldn’t have called you if you and Bom weren’t from Mirdenburk.”

“The mining town that produces the Empire’s best coal. But why?”

“In mountainous regions like Mirdenburk, they deliberately cause avalanches to eliminate potential hazards in advance, right?”

Boehm nodded. Kain was correct.

“That’s true. It’s much better to bring it down than to leave it precariously balanced.”

“Do you know the technique?”

“Well, hmm.” Boehm scratched the back of his head.

“This is a bit difficult to explain in words, but there are unstable formations. Ah, points that look like they’d collapse if nudged. If you gently disturb those points, they’ll naturally come crashing down.

But you can’t make a perfectly sound mountain collapse like that; there need to be already precarious rocks or stones piled up for it to work.”

“A lot of snow fell yesterday evening. And it’s been quite warm for several days. Not warm enough to melt the snow completely, but enough for thin ice to form. Wouldn’t these be good conditions for creating a small impact?”

“You’re serious about this.”

Boehm squinted as he looked at the white mountain. Kain’s request was clearly nonsensical. But at the same time, Boehm recalled what Kain had said at the beginning.

‘If they had tried to cross the mountain, it would have been impossible, but because they aimed to attack the fortress, it was possible.’

Boehm frowned as he stared at the mountain. The mountain returned his gaze with brilliant sunlight, forcing Boehm to stare so intently that he almost shed tears.

“It is possible.”

“Really?”

“There, in that slightly concave area, do you see that darkish rock? Right next to it. The snow seems to be piled up in a wedge shape, with what looks like a thin ice bowl acting as a breakwater. If we could just do something about that ice.

Of course, I’m saying it looks ‘thin’ from here, but it’s probably very thick up close. You’re not thinking something like fire arrows would work, are you?”

“I have something better than that. Let’s meet at the cabin around 8 PM. You know where it is, right?”

“Of course.”

“Good. Boehm?”

“Yes.”

“Want to go see Lily?”

* * * * *

Astrid had clearly said to follow the blue carpet, but it wasn’t an easy task. The identical-looking rooms weren’t much of a problem, but Boehm and Kain often found themselves at dead ends. With three out of four doors locked, it was essentially a maze.

After considerable patience, the two finally turned into a decent corridor. It was far from luxurious. It was such a rugged corridor that if iron bars were installed instead of sturdy wooden doors, it would literally transform into a prison.

At the end of the corridor, the carpet ended. The corridor was silent. Kain cleared his throat and knocked on the door. The door opened slightly from inside.

“Who…?”

Lily slammed the door shut so quickly that Kain almost got his fingers caught.

There was some commotion inside, and then the door suddenly opened wide again. The room, which had appeared quite messy, was now neatly organized.

“H-how did you find this place?”

Kain tried to explain something, but Boehm pushed him from behind, making it impossible. “Go handle your business.” And Boehm quietly closed the door.

Kain worried about how they would explain if someone spotted them, but he soon forgot about it. Lily had somehow embraced him and kissed him.

“You surprised me.”

Lily whispered in Kain’s ear. Kain gently embraced Lily’s waist.

“Sorry. I came like a thief. That wasn’t my intention. Were you resting?”

Lily released Kain. Only then could Kain look around Lily’s room. The room was quite spacious, though a bit smaller than Astrid’s office. All the furniture was large. The bed, the wardrobe, the bookshelf. The bookshelf was packed with books.

“You have a lot of travel books.”

“I was curious about the world outside the White Blood Knights.”

“And cookbooks too.”

“…The food here is too simple. We eat the same things every day, and it gets so boring. Did you know? I couldn’t understand what a tart was. I wondered how such food could exist. But what I was most curious about…”

Lily elegantly pulled out a cookbook. She turned the pages with familiar movements. A page that was notably more worn than others appeared.

“This is something I really wanted to try once. No, no. Even just watching it being made would be fun.”

“This? They make it a lot at country festivals. For big celebrations or weddings.”

“Really? How is it made? Have you seen it?”

Lily’s ears perked up. Kain recalled a spring day from his hometown. It was late April when the apple blossoms were in full bloom.

“Yes. They stamp the flour dough with flower-shaped metal molds, then drop them into a pot of bubbling oil.

When they seem well-fried, they scoop them out with a shovel and dunk them into a pot of honey next to it. The warm honey sticks to the hot dough and won’t come off.

In my hometown, they called them fried flowers.”

Lily stuck close to Kain as if she were that honey herself.

“And then?”

“Well, it’s not in this cookbook, but you don’t have to use molds. Sometimes they just drop the dough in to fry. If it’s about the size of a walnut, it cooks evenly inside and out. After taking it out, they’d put it in a honey jar.”

“That sounds fun.”

“It is. First, the smell of flour cooking in boiling oil is very savory. The sizzling sound makes your mouth water.

Then people gather around. Someone watches the pot, someone manages the fire, someone makes the dough and puts it in, someone scoops it up and puts it in the honey jar…

Even the most dignified people end up licking their fingers covered in oil and honey. It’s a time when even adults become like children. Then someone brings out apple cider that was fermented the previous year.

And after that, well, everyone gets in a good mood. After eating sweet and greasy things and drinking alcohol, they sing songs and dance. When a cool breeze blows, there’s a faint scent of apple blossoms.”

Lily’s cheeks turned bright red. She seemed happy just imagining it.

“Is that what all countryside is like?”

“Well, that’s how it was where I lived. I’m not sure how it is now.”

“…I wish I could get married like that.”

Lily’s words were soft, so Kain didn’t hear them properly. He asked, “What did you say?” but Lily just smiled. But then she shook her head sadly.

“What’s wrong?”

“Nothing. It just seems like a story that has nothing to do with me.”

“What are you talking about?”

“No. It’s nothing.” Lily turned her gaze away. “I’m sorry. I’ve been seeing only snow and stones for so long, so I was just… feeling a bit down.”

“Then, shall we go see something else?”

“When?”

“If you want, even now.”

Lily smiled. She seemed to think it was half comforting words and half a joke. But Kain was serious.

“I told the Grand Executor. That I couldn’t leave you like this. That I would take you out. She laughed.”

“…What do you mean?”

Kain briefly told Lily about his conversation with Astrid. In fact, there wasn’t much to tell. Lily had also participated in the meeting with the delegation.

So Kain’s words were less about informing her of unknown facts and more about confirming what she already suspected.

“The tournament isn’t over yet. The White Blood Knights are still in training. I know your situation is difficult. Ideally, you’d return to duty after the successor issue is resolved, but that’s not the case right now.

Liliana, you need to choose. We don’t have much time. I can’t make the choice for you. But whichever side you choose, I’ll always be on your side.”

Lily lowered her head. Kain cleared his throat, wondering if he had spoken too heavily.

“Well, I don’t think our work will take terribly long. If you’re worried about leaving without finishing your duties, you could think of it as just going out for a short trip… a bit…”

“…A bit what?”

“Just, let’s go see the outside world for a while. I mean. I did mention desertion and such… are you crying?”

“No.” But Lily’s eyes were red. “Ah, why am I like this.” She wiped her eyes with the back of her hand, but tears flowed more each time. The confused Kain embraced Lily.

“I’m sorry. I’m sorry. I was too insensitive. Talking about desertion and such…”

“No. It’s not that. It’s not.” Though she said this, Lily was almost clinging to Kain.

“Why? What’s wrong?”

“I just feel pathetic.”

“What’s pathetic about you? This isn’t something you wanted to happen.”

“I don’t know. I just hate this whole situation. So many unwanted things happening, being hated for no wrongdoing, and now… escaping like this.”

“Are you upset?”

Kain gently stroked Lily’s back. Lily silently nodded.

“I’m upset. My pride is hurt too. To be honest, I’m annoyed.”

It sounded just like a child’s complaint. Kain laughed without realizing it.

“You think I’m being childish, don’t you?”

“No. Not at all.”

“What were you thinking about?”

“Hmm, flour dough fried in oil, soaked in honey, with sliced fig pieces inserted? My grandmother used to make that.”

Lily pinched Kain’s arm as if she couldn’t believe it.

“Is this the time to think about that?”

“I thought it might make you feel better.”

“Forget it.”

Lily pushed Kain onto the bed. He fell down with a thud. Kain, who had been struggling, relaxed.

“Will you buy me something delicious?”

“Of course.”

“My mother told me not to follow bad people.”

“I’m not asking you to follow me. I’m asking you to come eat something delicious.”

“There are delicious things here too.” Lily gently bit Kain’s lower lip with her mouth. Just with her lips, not letting her teeth touch. She pulled slightly as if it were a delicacy. But soon she burst into laughter.

“What?”

“Nothing. It’s just… strange.” Lily happily embraced Kain.

“When I was young, I read books where knights always defeated evil dragons and rescued their lovers. Then they returned to the castle and lived happily ever after. But now…”

“The knight is trapped in an evil castle, so a thief has come to rescue her.”

“See? You are a bad person after all.”

“Don’t you want honey pastries?”

“I have them right here.”

* * * * *

Evening.

Snow fell suddenly. The delegation had no choice but to stay one more day. The White Blood Knights treated the delegation with the highest courtesy, but since they were in the middle of training, there was no grand feast reminiscent of a major festival.

The knights were given rest, and the superiors and high-ranking officials had to attend the banquet. It was just important people eating, drinking, and chatting at a long table.

It was an ordinary, unremarkable drinking party, but the White Blood Knights felt a slight sense of discomfort. It was because of Liliana.

She, who normally didn’t even enjoy a drink with meals, was downing alcohol continuously today. Even by the standards of a heavy drinker, she was drinking too hastily and too much.

Fortunately, mistakes were not tolerated. As soon as Liliana stumbled while going to get more alcohol, two executioners rushed to her. They quietly but quickly took Liliana from the banquet hall to her room.

Shortly after, Liliana left her room with a steady gait. With her hood pulled down deep, she walked along the shadows. Thanks to Boehm, who had participated as part of the delegation and prepared a bottle of alcohol diluted with water in advance, she was barely intoxicated.

Kain’s cabin had its lights off. But Lily carefully opened the door. As expected, it was bright inside. Thick leather had been placed on the window frames to prevent light from leaking out.

“Oh, you’re here?”

She saw Boehm with a grin from ear to ear and Bom bringing more bottles. Maria was also visible, raising a beer mug as big as her head. And there was Kain. Kain, who was happily extending his hand toward her.

Liliana was happy.