Ch.99The Crossroads Mountain Range. Crucis (7)

At the summit of the mountain bathed in sunlight, thousands of pilgrims gathered.

They were all captivated by the scenery, and I was no exception.

Now I had become one who had caught the clouds, one who must run toward the horizon.

What was different between the view I had seen from Parsifal’s Cliff and this view from the mountain summit?

My mindset? My perspective? Or the alienness of the scene reflected in my eyes?

I wasn’t sure.

My soul was gripped by a feeling similar to that of an athlete who, after running so hard to reach the finish line that they had no time to think, falls into emptiness upon arrival.

“Yes… you’ve caught the clouds now.”

I muttered, rubbing my hands that still retained some moisture.

Clouds are nothing more than fog, but when that fog gathers, it soon becomes a storm.

Just as specks of dust gather to form a mountain, how many specks had this mountain embraced to become what it is?

Literally, perennial snow and ice accumulated over hundreds of thousands of years.

And the stable crust amid weathering and collapse.

Honestly, I could hardly believe I was standing on top of it all.

The ancients of the Empire could probably see such sights even from inside their homes, with their tremendous technological power.

But I was certain that the imperial citizens from tens of thousands of years ago must have felt the same emotions I did when they beheld this view.

After all, no matter how advanced the technology, aren’t we all the same humans?

I chewed on the cracker I was holding.

The salty taste of soy sauce once again swirled in my mouth, washed away by the cold Pilsner.

Once, I couldn’t even afford a single packet of crackers, nor could I easily find a glass of water to wet my throat.

But now, look at me standing here.

Haven’t I become the owner of a beautiful woman and the leader of an adventurer party guiding a sage and elven sisters?

I was proud that I hadn’t jumped from Parsifal’s Cliff.

Instead of looking down, I had looked elsewhere, and my dedication to that future had been rewarded with my present self.

Life has always been more valuable than death, and I had triumphed over the painful desire to end myself.

After imprinting this beautiful scenery on my retina one last time, I began gathering my scattered companions.

Our business in the Crusis Mountains was now finished.

Now I would advance to the metal rank and be reborn as something stronger than a battler.

“Let’s head down now. Our business up here is done.”

Everyone nodded, and I led them toward the cable car installed in the distance.

We had climbed up using the strength of our legs (and one with the power of magic), but we would descend with the power of machinery.

“Yes, payment complete. Please board to go down.”

The attendant who had finished the calculation guided us to the cable car, and we boarded it, concluding our long journey in the Crusis Mountains.

*

Creeeeak…

The cable car carrying all the Iron Walkers vibrated as it slowly descended from the mountain summit.

Because of the rugged terrain, this cable car didn’t go directly to the ground; it merely connected from a higher peak to a less high one.

And from that less high peak to an even less high peak via another cable car… continuing like that, we would eventually set foot on flat ground again.

I looked at the other cable cars visible through the window.

Like ropes on pulleys, one side of the cable cars was going down while the other side was going up, and we were among those heading down.

“I can’t believe we’re leaving this Faerûn continent.”

“Everything comes to an end… We’ve now seen 4 out of 52, and what remains are forty-eight sacred sites.”

“Forty-eight…”

I quietly sighed.

Now that I could use aura, if I proved it to the guild, I would receive the bronze rank, the lowest of the metal ranks, without question.

And if that happened, I would finally be able to become a knight.

“Knight-errant…”

“Yes. It seems you’ve already made up your mind.”

Errant Knight.

The core of the Order of Salvation, knights who wander the world as the embodiment of chivalry, saving the weak.

Those who fight under the light of the sun and moon, blessed by the Four Great Gods, we call knights.

In truth, my desire to become a knight-errant was mixed with worldly reasons.

A knight is one who protects the weak from oppression.

Since such a person cannot be immature, knights appointed by the Order of Salvation are legally treated as adults regardless of their age.

This tradition was established during the Age of Eclipse, when times were so turbulent that women had to bear their first child before their first menstruation, and men’s average lifespan was only 23 years, making it important to secure “fighters” as quickly as possible.

Therefore, while family knights tend to be older, knight-errants could be as young as not even 10 years old yet having two or three children.

The logic was that if a seven-year-old could use aura, what’s wrong with drinking some alcohol and bedding women?

“When I become a knight, I’ll legally be an adult. And so will my wife. Then we can finally get married.”

“Ah… yes. The law passed down from ancient times. I hadn’t thought of that.”

“M-Marriage ceremony…!”

At the mention of marriage, Raisha’s face turned red.

Now she would be called a lady before her advancement.

“Hahaha. Now you’ll be a wife.”

“How nice.”

A non-knight female spouse of a male knight is called a knight’s lady, and a non-knight male spouse of a female knight is called a knightess’ lord.

If both are knights, they’re simply called a knight couple.

And as I was painting a rosy future, Simon grabbed my shoulder and said:

“Don’t worry. I can cast one hell of a soundproofing barrier.”

“S-Sir Simon!”

“Ouch! This old man is dying!”

*

After several hours of such adorable violence flowing through the cable car…

We finally arrived at the crossroads at the foot of the mountain where we had first set foot, and our Iron Walker party entered the adventurer’s guild.

Jingle~ Jingle~

After familiarizing myself once more with the jingling sound I hadn’t heard for a while, I approached the receptionist.

“How may I help you?”

“I request advancement to metal rank.”

When I said that, some of the adventurers in the guild looked at me.

The receptionist silently waited, and I took out my dagger and infused aura into the blade.

Shuaaaaa….

Like mist taking form to create clouds, a blue light began to glow from within the short but sturdy blade.

“Aura…”

Someone sighed at the sight, and I withdrew the aura again.

The receptionist then brought a piece of parchment and began writing something according to the format and form, then handed it to me.

What she gave me was the adventurer guild’s certificate proving I could use aura, which could borrow authority from any branch of the Order of Salvation across the Faerûn continent.

“Congratulations on your advancement.”

Thus, my adventurer qualification was issued once more, and I silently left the guild.

Now what remained was to leave these Crusis Mountains and head to the nearest Order of Salvation branch to receive my appointment.

“Is it over?”

“No. It’s just beginning.”

“…Yes. Certainly so.”

Simon and I had a brief conversation, and the women had already brought three horses from the stable.

“Boss. Boss, brought your horse.”

Lucia handed me Bruiser’s reins, and I first helped Raisha mount before climbing up myself.

As I mounted Bruiser, the sensation of the saddle that I had forgotten until now came back vividly, along with the warmth of Raisha who was leaning her back against mine.

“Are you ready to become a knight’s lady?”

“Mmm… yes…”

Raisha answered with a blushing face, and I spurred Bruiser to start moving.

The Iron Walk began, cutting through the crossroads at the foot of the mountain, and now we would advance toward a wider world.

Soon I will become a knight.

An adult who cannot turn a blind eye to all the tragedies happening in this world, one with a mission to save those who are oppressed, and a good person who must stop the violence of enemies with my mercy.

I don’t know if I can fulfill a knight’s duties well, but one thing was certain:

All of this was my choice, and the price I must bear.

I embraced Raisha, caressing the girl who would soon give her virginity to me.

“Ahnng…”

Soon, sensual moans filled the cable car, and Lucia and Kasia looked at me with expressions suggesting they too should get married soon.