Chapter 80: Interlude – Bingsu Story (1)

This is a story from 500 years ago, when Sien was in the midst of an adventure, mingling with a hero party.

“Finally, a place where we can rest a bit.”

In the deepest part of the Alphard Mountains, Sien breathed a sigh of relief upon finding a cave suitable as a shelter.

He had heard from the residents’ warnings before entering that the climate here was notoriously harsh, but this was too much.

The snowfall was beyond heavy; it was as if the sky was dumping snow in waves.

The blizzard’s relentless assault, covering them in thick layers of white, was more exhausting than any battle they had faced so far.

On top of that, they’d also had to fend off hostile creatures like will-o’-wisps and winter wolves, making it doubly bothersome.

According to the doctrine of the Goddess Church, the heavens were said to be the domain of the Goddess herself.

But should the heavens really be treating them like this?

After all, they were conducting a guerrilla infiltration mission to overthrow the Demon King under the Goddess’s command.

Of course, Sien himself was that very Demon King.

“Alright, this spot seems flat enough to lie down on.

Gareum, can you hand me the sleeping bag?”

“Understood.”

The dwarf, with snow piled on the tip of his beard, pulled out a rolled-up sleeping bag from his backpack and spread it out at the designated spot.

Meanwhile, Mana and Exia, also soaked to the bone, were gathering firewood and setting up the materials to start a fire beside him.

Once everything was set up, Sien took off what he had been carrying on his back and placed it on the ground.

“Ugh…”

Lier, feeling the rough, hard cave floor despite the mat, let out an uncomfortable groan, her face flushed like a burning ember.

“Esther, does it still seem like there’s no improvement?”

“No, unfortunately…”

Esther, in charge of nursing the patient, sighed with concern.

Lier had collapsed three days ago in the middle of the mountain range due to an unknown endemic disease.

Even though she possessed a holy body, was there truly no way to fend off viruses?

Or was this another trial the Goddess had imposed on them?

Regardless, she was currently so feverish that she could barely move a finger, let alone wield a sword or even a spoon.

If she were the Saintess Esther of the distant future, she could have erased any ailment with a mere touch, but the current Esther had no such miracle to offer due to her lack of power.

Likewise, Mana couldn’t use long-distance teleportation, so returning to the nearby metropolis was impossible at this point.

All they could do was trudge through the endless snow, hoping to reach northern Schwald soon.

If only Sien could reveal he was the Demon King and teleport them all instantly…

“Haa.”

Sien brushed off the frozen sweat with the hem of his robe.

Since Lier had collapsed three days ago, it had been his responsibility to carry him on their journey.

It might seem unfair, but there was no other choice; the remaining members were three women and a dwarf, making it impossible for them to carry an adult man through the thick snow.

At least Exia could walk in her human form; otherwise, he would have been carrying the equivalent weight of two people.

Exia had complained endlessly about the long walk and her feet sinking in the snow, but Sien didn’t care.

She should endure some hardship, especially considering how she usually just clung to Lier’s back and slept.

“Alright, there’s still a bit of time before sunset…

We can do a bit of outdoor activity.

Mana, are you still in good shape?”

“…Yeah, I’m fine.”

Mana replied with a hint of exhaustion, though trying not to show it.

Sien appreciated her tenacity, especially compared to a certain whiny individual who would throw tantrums at the slightest discomfort.

Sien picked up a small pouch from his backpack.

“Alright, let’s go and gather some medicinal herbs to help with recovery, as we did yesterday.

Gareum, take care of Lier’s nursing with Esther.”

“Just us two? What about Gareum?”

“He’s a dwarf. In this kind of blizzard, it’s hard for him to keep up.

With this level of snow, even a tall person like me has it reaching my thighs; for a dwarf, it’d be almost impossible. He’d risk sinking into the snow and suffocating.”

Gareum nodded in understanding, aware of his limitations in the deep snow.

“Then, what should I do?!”

Exia raised her hand enthusiastically, stepping forward.

“Should I nurse the master? Stand guard? Cook?

I can do anything! Just leave it to me!”

“Ah, you? Come to think of it, I do have a task that only you, as the Holy Sword, can do.”

“Oh? What is it?”

Exia’s eyes sparkled with anticipation.

With a gentle smile, Sien responded.

“Gather the pebbles on the ground, arrange them in one place, and count them. That’s your task.”

“Huh?”

Exia tilted her head in confusion at the sudden command.

Clearing the pebbles might make sense to prepare a sleeping area, but why did she have to count them?

Were they planning to play marbles in their spare time?

…Wait, could it be—

“Are you saying I’m useless—”

“Alright! Let’s head out for a thorough exploration today!”

“Hey!!!”

Sien turned with a chuckle, leaving Exia fuming behind him.

If she felt unjust, she should make herself useful.

After all, what else could she do but act as a natural torch or hand warmer without Lier?

“Oh, are you two going out on your own?”

At that moment, Esther returned, carrying a pot filled with snow for boiling towels, and asked in surprise.

“Yes, given the circumstances, it can’t be helped.”

“Why? Is there some reason why only the two of us can’t go?”

“No, it’s not that, but… just the two of us, a man and a woman, going on an outing… I mean, I’m not doubting you, Sien, but if, by any chance, an improper thought were to arise…”

“It won’t, you crazy lewd nun.”

Sien replied, narrowing his brows.

People say that overly suppressing something brings a backlash, but this one was extreme, even accounting for that.

Perhaps due to excessive teachings on abstinence and purity, she had ended up viewing everything in the world with suspicion.

As if everyone around her was a being who could, at any moment, be overtaken by desire and engage in scandalous behavior.

Does she even realize that she herself is the most lecherous one with these kinds of fantasies?

“Then, let’s go, Mana.”

“…Ah, yes.”

With a slightly flustered Mana, they stepped out into the snowstorm outside.

From behind, an indignant Exia followed them to the entrance, shouting.

“Just wait until you get back! I’ll throw every stone I’ve gathered at you as punishment!”

It was a farewell as grand as it could be.

After that, the two of them went around the snowy mountain as planned, gathering various herbs and fruits that were beneficial for health.

In truth, Mana, who came from the forest, was mostly responsible for locating what they were looking for, while Sien acted as her guard or helped with minor tasks.

If they were in the Demon Realm, it might be different, but there was no way he, a Demon King, could distinguish which plants growing in Elpidion were beneficial and which were harmful.

All he did was follow whenever Mana pointed somewhere, collect the target, and bring it back.

They wandered around like that for about two hours.

“Good. We’ve gathered quite a lot now. It’s getting dark, so let’s head back.”

“Yeah.”

Looking at the sun peeking out from behind the peaks in a reddish hue, the two began preparing to return.

Today’s harvest was relatively smaller than yesterday’s, but they had managed to gather enough within the limited time.

This should be enough to make nutritious porridge for Riere for about two days—or three if they rationed it.

Combined with Esther’s holy power, it should be enough to sustain them until they cross the mountains.

“Hm?”

Just then, Mana, who was checking the gathered materials, tilted her head.

She had a puzzled expression, as if she’d noticed something strange.

“What’s wrong, Mana?”

“I just realized, we seem to be short on some materials.”

“Short?”

“Yes.”

With that, she pulled a small, red fruit from her pouch.

It was a native berry of the Alphard Mountains, known as ‘Snowberry,’ which was not only delicious but also rich in nutrients.

There were only twelve of them for some reason.

“There should be a total of fifteen—six left from yesterday and nine gathered today. I count them every day, so there’s no way I miscounted.”

“Hmm?”

Sien frowned.

“What about the other herbs? Is the snow ginseng intact? That’s the most important one.”

“Yes. There’s no problem with the others—only the berries are missing. Also, there’s no sign of any hole in the pouch.”

“…”

Sien crossed his arms, lost in thought.

If several types had disappeared at once, that would be one thing, but only the berries missing was odd, even to him.

If they’d accidentally dropped it while exploring, other items would be missing as well.

Perhaps, this wasn’t something they lost while gathering, but—

“Wait a minute.”

At that moment, a possibility occurred to Sien.

A very plausible, reasonable explanation as to why the sweet berries, and not the bitter or spicy herbs, had vanished.

He frowned deeply and said, “Let’s head back to the cave, Mana.”

“Are you sure? Wouldn’t it be better to check the paths we’ve come down? There are footprints too.”

“No, if my hunch is right, we won’t need to.”

Because there was likely another culprit.

With that, Sien led Mana back to their cave. As soon as they entered, he raised his voice in anger.

“Exiaaaaaa! Get out here, you damn airheaded girl!”

“!?”

Both Gareum and Esther, and even Exia, who was idly playing with pebbles in the corner, counting “538, 539,” flinched and looked back in shock.

And there before them stood Sien, towering like an ice giant in an intimidating posture.

“W-What is it this time?! I was staying in the cave like you told me to!”

“Answer me honestly. If you try to lie, I’ll cut your head off immediately.”

“Hic!”

Sien, growling, strode over to Exia.

The timid holy sword hiccuped, backing away.

Slowly, Sien pointed at the pouch in his left hand and asked, “Did you eat the berries that were in here yesterday? Hm?”

Exia’s eyes went wide, as if completely caught off guard by the question.

She looked up at Sien and asked, her voice trembling, “W-Was I not supposed to eat them…?”

Snap.

A red vein popped out on Sien’s noble face.