SWY Side Story 3

Breakfast was set just outside the entrance to the Ice Cave. The houses inside the cave hadn’t been built with stoves, none at all, as if it had never been considered. Heating could be managed with heatstones to some extent, but the issue was cooking. Sure, the food could be eaten raw, but if possible, it was better to have it cooked.

So the nanny lit a fire near the entrance to cook meals. Today, it was roasted potatoes and cornmeal soup. Cooking utensils had been salvaged from homes at the base of the mountain, and water was drawn using water stones.

“Please, have a seat.”

The nanny gestured for them to sit, and Sharhan and Lestel took the empty spots side by side.

“Sorry we’re late.”

Sharhan offered an awkward apology, but the group simply smiled, unbothered.

“Please, go ahead and eat.”

While the nanny ladled out the soup, Kuph handed out two roasted potatoes to each person. Sharhan quietly looked around as he ate the simple but warm meal. The nanny gently fed bite-sized pieces of potato to Iris, who chewed with puffed cheeks. Rael and Adam were having a quiet conversation. Kuph sat calmly, peaceful. It felt like they had gone back in time, to before the world collapsed. A sense of quiet contentment settled over Sharhan, and he smiled to himself.

“This one’s roasted just right. Try it.”

A warm piece of potato slipped into Sharhan’s mouth. He glanced sideways at Lestel, whose fingers brushed his tongue as they pulled away. Lestel then brought the dampened fingers to his lips and deliberately sucked on them. To others, it might have looked like he was licking off crumbs, but to Sharhan, it was suggestive. He nearly got hard right then and there.

Now he understood what Lestel meant when he said Sharhan looked arousing even just breathing.

‘I’m the one who might get hard just from a glance.’

He had once been indifferent to sex. But now, he was hyper-sensitive. All because of Lestel.

Sharhan shot a resentful glare at him, blaming Lestel for turning his body into this. But Lestel ignored it, dragging his tongue slowly across his lower lip, feigning innocence.

‘Damn it, I want to kiss him. If he doesn’t take responsibility, he better not even think about going to anyone else. I won’t let it happen.’

If it came to that, he might just break Lestel’s ankle. Of course, there was no way that would ever happen. Lestel was obsessed with him.

Stop messing around.

Sharhan mouthed silently, warning him, then cleared his throat and looked away. He turned to Adam, cheeks puffed with a potato the size of a grown man’s fist.

“How’s the palisade coming along?”

They hadn’t just found food, weapons, and mana stones at the ruins, they’d also discovered harun wood. It was carved to points at both ends, about the size of Iris, and seemed incredibly useful. After discussion, they decided to save some for weapons and use the rest to build a wide palisade around the cave. Fortunately, they had enough harun wood to make that possible.

‘Once that’s done, people will feel safer moving in and out of the cave.’

Harun wood was as strong as steel. It would be an excellent line of defense against outside threats.

“We’re working steadily, but progress is slow. Partly because we have to be quiet, but mostly due to lack of manpower.”

Adam swallowed his bite and answered. He was a skilled worker and had experience building such structures during his time wandering after leaving Serman. He’d started work two days ago after estimating how big they could build it with the remaining wood. Sharhan, Lestel, Rael, and Kuph helped as well, but carrying heavy harun wood, digging, and setting posts deep in the cave was hard labor. Even Sharhan and Lestel, the strongest among them, would be absent for several days, which would slow the work even more.

“We might be able to solve the labor problem soon.”

“You’re planning to bring the survivors from the tax storehouse?”

“Only those who want to come.”

After discussing it with Lestel, Sharhan had decided to bring the people from the storehouse. More people meant more resources consumed, but also more strengths. They couldn’t stay cooped up in the cave forever. Eventually, they would need to go out and build a new home, and their current numbers weren’t enough. Having people they already knew, even slightly, was better than taking in complete strangers. But they weren’t going to force anyone to come along.

“Didn’t you say one of them was a mage?”

Rael, who had been quietly focused on his meal, asked.

“Yes.”

“A mage, huh… Interesting. That could be a major help to our strength.”

Sharhan glanced at Rael’s hand, tapping absently against his leg, likely due to lingering pain. Healing stones weren’t a cure-all. They couldn’t fix old wounds completely. Rael’s injuries from the Ailun estate had healed, but his limp remained.

Sharhan had been quietly hopeful, so he felt disappointed, but Rael had taken it in stride. He even consoled Iris when she cried over the unchanged leg. Rael truly deserved to be called a knight.

“They’ll be a solid asset. Aside from Derry, there’s a former hunter and a guide. If they agree to come, it would help a lot.”

“You’re going to bring Sister Ardelle, right?”

Iris’s eyes sparkled with hope. Sharhan nodded with a smile, remembering how thrilled she’d been upon hearing about Ardelle.

“Yeah. Ardelle will probably want to come. But remember she looks after quite a few kids.”

When they first talked about the tax storehouse, they had mentioned the children under Ardelle’s care.

“Of course! That’s even better. I’ll have lots of new friends and siblings!”

For Iris, it meant playmates, and she welcomed it with both hands raised. The others, Kuph, Rael, Adam, and the nanny, all agreed. In this world, some adults might turn away children without combat abilities, but thankfully, none of them were like that. With enough food and secure shelter, they would be able to care for them well.

“Brother will bring your friends back, so no mischief while I’m gone, okay? Be good for the nanny, Rael, Kuph, and Adam.”

“Mm. I’ll wait quietly, but you have to come back safely, okay?”

She had been so excited about making new friends just moments ago, but now her eyes were wet with worry. Sharhan reached out and gently stroked her cheek with the back of his hand.

“Don’t worry. Have I ever broken a promise?”

“No.”

“When will you be leaving?”

Kuph, listening fondly to their exchange, asked.

“As soon as breakfast’s over, we’ll pack and head out.”

Sharhan glanced up at the sky. If they dragged their feet, they’d be caught on the mountain after dark. He wanted to return as soon as possible, for Iris’s sake. No matter how safe the cave seemed, his heart was never truly at ease unless she was in sight.

“I’ll pack your bags, then.”

Kuph downed the rest of his soup and stood quickly.

“I can do it.”

“I want to do it for you.”

Despite Lestel’s protest, Kuph hurried into the cave, with the nanny following close behind.

“I’ll help, too.”

Sharhan chuckled. To Kuph and the nanny, he and Lestel must still seem like kids who couldn’t even pack for themselves.

The two soon returned, each carrying a stuffed bag.

“Why’d you pack so much?”

“Mostly food. We also packed a good variety of mana stones.”

Sharhan peeked into his bag and gave a wry smile.

“Nanny, this is enough to survive outside for a month.”

“A month?! Will it take that long?!”

Iris asked, alarmed and on the verge of tears.

“Even if something goes wrong, we’ll be back within a week. Nanny, we’ll remove half of this.”

“But what if you need it? Please take it all.”

The nanny protested nervously, but Sharhan smiled and shook his head.

“It’s too heavy. It’ll only slow us down.”

If they had a horse, maybe. But they hadn’t found Thunder and Lightning yet. If the whistle still worked, there wouldn’t be a problem, but it had been destroyed by the mana explosive Parel had triggered.

‘Hope they’re safe…’

Sharhan worried for the two horses as he removed some food and stones from the bag. Lestel did the same. In truth, they left half in the bag not only to reassure the nanny and Kuph, but also in case it was needed for the people at the storehouse. Especially the healing stones, which they packed in generous amounts.

While checking the bags to make sure nothing was missing, Rael handed over a mana explosive.

“Just in case, take one with you.”

There were only three mana explosives left in the cave. After hesitating, Sharhan took it. It could save their lives in a critical moment.

Finally, preparations were complete. With bags slung over their shoulders, Sharhan and Lestel stood at the entrance of the cave. Their group came to see them off.

“Sir Rael, Kuph, Adam. Please take care of the nanny and Iris.”

“Don’t worry.”

“If any moving corpse or survivors show up, don’t fight, just hide inside the cave.”

The door was left open for now to allow people to come and go, but it was built so it could be closed from the inside. Once shut, only someone with the amethyst key from outside could open it.

“No need to worry. The sooner you leave, the sooner you’ll be back.”

“Yes. We’ll return soon.”

With their worries and attachments tucked away, Sharhan and Lestel departed for the tax storehouse.