HEO 27

Without thinking, Silver turned his head toward Black Weasel. The unexpected turn of events brought bewilderment rather than relief. Was that Bingapsu bastard still drunk?

As Wolf shouldered the bag, Black Weasel slung his axe over one shoulder.

[You, servant, walk ahead of us. Warning. If you try even the slightest trick, then I’ll kill you for real.]

They climbed the mountain path. Silver and Black Weasel were both impatient by nature, but this time they walked quietly without any mischief. The problematic cave wall was easy for Silver and Black Weasel, but in reality, even a top-tier warrior would need at least a year of relentless day-and-night training to reach it, if they could at all.

So you know how to climb rock walls, you little servant. But for a boy my age to climb that cave wall all the way to the top…

Silver stole a glance at Black Weasel. Ever since earlier, Black Weasel’s expression had been unsettling.

Why is he grinning like that?

Black Weasel never forgives those who interfere with his work. Yet now, a broad smile wouldn’t leave his face. At this point, Silver genuinely wondered if Black Weasel had stumbled upon a gold nugget while walking. Had he become suddenly rich and couldn’t contain his joy, treating the servant generously?

Silver shifted his focus back to Wolf. The back of his head still felt numb. How could that bastard…

“Hey. Silver.”

Black Weasel tapped Silver’s shoulder. Silver flinched and looked up.

“Huh? What?”

“How did you manage in the cave while I was gone? Meaning you and those morons.”

“Nothing much. I hunted during the day, stayed in the cave at night. The morons stayed in the cave day and night. In the spare time, I played around with them.”

“Played?”

“What else would we do? We did a ritual once to try to get rid of the spots.”

Silver stopped talking and scrunched up his nose.

“Right after you left, those fools tried to trick me, but I called their bluff and started playing along. I wondered if you, Bingapsu, had noticed their scheme. After a few days, I joined in too. That’s it.”

“Wow, you can’t underestimate those Atanian bastards. They’re usually pretty cunning.”

“I understand that he hid his rock-climbing skills…”

“That’s not it. Those fools were pretending to play while waiting. They were luring you to lower your guard and approach them yourself. Slowly coaxing you in, scheming to make you one of them! But then they realized you weren’t going to fall for it. So the prince let the servant escape, thinking he might save him.”

“This bastard is at it again.”

Silver let out a hollow laugh.

“The same old ‘actually, there was a plan’ nonsense. You didn’t see it yourself, but those fools have nothing in their heads except playing around. Ah, they did make plans when grilling meat. They were super particular about when to sprinkle the salt.”

“I’m telling you, they really were hiding a plan, you idiot. Just in case, while you were gone, the two of them probably practiced climbing the cave walls. The servant managed it, but the prince couldn’t, so he had no choice but to stay behind.”

“Ah, stop the bullshit. The servant is into rock climbing as a hobby. There are plenty of guys like that in Stoll too.”

“Oh, right! I never told you that. Silver, the fools’ hometown, Levenon, is flat plains. Not even hills, let alone mountains.”

Silver was speechless. Black Weasel smirked.

“I swear on my magnificent beard, that servant climbed a cave wall for the first time here. Those Atanians think a hundred times while a Stoll thinks ten. They’re different from Stolls who swing their fists first.”

“But they’re Stolls too…”

“They grew up in Atania and learned to think like Atanians. What do you call it… assimilation? Adaptation? Anyway, those bastards? Only their birthplace is Stoll. They’re Atanians through and through. They might have planned this even more meticulously than I imagined.”

Silver couldn’t say another word. Black Weasel’s explanation was logically flawless, yet still hard to stomach. Wolf was cunning? It sounded like calling an axe a crossbow.

The Wolf Silver saw… well, he was a Stoll who admired the Atanians. A Stoll who tried to be like them, but just couldn’t manage it. During role-playing games, he excelled at playing the fool, and he occasionally flashed glimpses of that rough, hot-blooded Stoll temperament. But all of that was just an act?

Right. An act. A trap.

What else was there to think about? Regardless of everything else, the very existence of Wolf walking right in front of him now exposed the truth. He was the one who practiced climbing cave walls in secret. Playing the part of a ‘Stoll who admired Atanians’ was probably no big deal for him. Both the prince and the servant acting perfectly their age was all part of the ‘plan’.

Silver felt a chill run down his spine belatedly. So then, all this time, I was just a ladybug crawling along, oblivious to being perched on a frog’s tongue. Fuck, this is a bit scary?

‘Stolls only ever see mountains and rivers, so they’re terribly simple. Like freshwater fish that snap at a hook without a second thought.’

Once, on a ship bound for Atania, Black Weasel had told Silver.

‘For example, to a Stoll person, one plus one equals two. But Atania folk do math differently. Aren’t you curious how, Silver?”

“Not particularly.”

“Ah, you are curious? There’s a method called simple interest. It’s ★◆ plus ◎▼. And another, compound interest. It’s ●■ plus □§, then ∞↑☆ plus ▼◥. Hmm, isn’t that a clever little trick? Now you understand how cunning those Atania bastards are, Silver?”

Having tuned out Black Weasel’s explanation back then, Silver couldn’t recall any words besides ‘simple interest’ and ‘compound interest’. He kicked the innocent dirt ground in frustration. Damn it, even that Bingapsu bastard can be right sometimes.

“Anyway, you say you performed a ritual? You didn’t do it alone, right?”

Black Weasel asked while stroking his chin with the back of his hand. Silver kicked a stone that caught his foot.

“Yeah, I did it with those Atanian morons. The prince had spots all over his hands and feet, so I helped him out. Damn it, I wasted my kindness. If I’d known this would happen…”

“Exactly. You gave them a rare sight for free. Stoll’s wishing ritual is something you can’t see in Atania even if you pay.”

Black Weasel chuckled. Silver’s anger flared even more at those words. Even as he scowled and glared at him, Black Weasel continued rubbing salt in the wound.

“That servant boy is something else. His physical abilities are astonishing, and unlike some, his head works like a charm. But what I envy most is his flawlessly clear skin… Ha ha! A handsome face and a big dick to boot, he’s the perfect protagonist for a legendary tale. Perfect in every way, but sadly, in his early twenties…”

“Did you eat something bad? What protagonist? You must’ve forgotten because you’re old, but that cave wall? I climbed it in one try without practice.”

Unable to hold back, Silver snapped. Black Weasel stopped with a “Hm?” He stroked his beard with the back of his hand while glancing between Silver and Wolf, then suddenly burst into laughter.

“Servant! Stand over there.”

Wolf flinched and turned around. Black Weasel snapped his fingers at Silver.

“Bet! Let’s make a bet, Silver!”

“What kind of bet?”

“You and the servant climb down the cave wall. We bet on which side gets down first. I’m betting on the servant.”

“Wh-what?!”

Silver was overcome with fury. Black Weasel shrugged his shoulders exaggeratedly.

“If you don’t believe me, bet on the servant too. The loser takes three punches from the winner. How about it?”

“…If you break that promise, just you wait. I’m betting on myself.”

Silver gave Wolf a meaningful look.

“Hey. Follow me.”

***

Once they were far from Black Weasel, Wolf spoke up.

[Silver, isn’t that the direction of the cave entrance? Are we going that way?]

“……”

[Did the old man tell you to climb down the wall? Why?]

Silver walked on quickly without saying anything.

[Silver, you went out to meet the old man? You should’ve told me. His Highness and I were so worried when you didn’t come back yesterday. We couldn’t sleep, thinking you might’ve had an accident while hunting…]

He couldn’t take it anymore. Silver turned around and swung a punch at Wolf. Wolf’s eyes widened.

[Silver?!]

He cried out in surprise, yet twisted his head to dodge. Silver’s fist grazed Wolf’s cheek. Silver’s whole body grew cold. This bastard dodged my punch?

[Silver! What are you doing?!]

“Cunning bastard!”

Silver shouted. Wolf gasped and stumbled backward.

“Trying to trick me! Your heart is as black as night!”

[Hey, Silver. You just insulted me, right? If you want to upset me, shouldn’t you do it in Atania’s language?]

[Cunning bastard! Trying to trick me! Your heart is as black as night!」

Silver shouted again, this time in Atanian.