SWY 152

Lestel clicked his tongue in frustration and ran a hand through his hair. Since Harrel had seen Sharhan, he must have informed the marquis. That meant the marquis would inevitably try to seize the heirloom from Sharhan, by scouring Serman if he had to, in order to ensure both his survival now and his plans for the future.

“For our own safety, we have to kill the marquis.”

Thinking of the swarming corpses and the bloodshot eyes of the charging Harrel made the idea of returning to the castle unpleasant, but Sharhan was right. Whether for revenge or for their safety, they needed to confirm the marquis’s death.

“If you end up dying, I swear I won’t forgive you.”

Sharhan laughed at Lestel’s words.

“Why would I die? I’m going to survive no matter what. I just finally–”

“Finally?”

Seeing Lestel’s expectant face, Sharhan barely held back a grin.

“–got to meet Iris.”

“What?”

“You look so disappointed. Were you expecting me to say I’d stay alive because of you?”

“Of course. I’m surviving because of you.”

Sharhan gave Lestel a light punch on the shoulder and said, “Well, same here,” before quickly walking ahead. Lestel, frozen for a beat, caught up and kissed Sharhan on the ear with a soft, joyful smile on his lips.

When Sharhan and Lestel said the rest of the group should stay hidden in a safe place while they went to the ice cave, everyone looked bewildered. They purposely didn’t mention their plan to stop by the castle first.

“The Ice Cave? Why are you going there?”

Rael asked, confused.

“You see that mountain over there? Deep inside it is a cave that stays cold all year round, so we call it the Ice Cave. They say it’s an ancient ruin.”

“A ruin…”

Both Rael and those listening nearby, Adam and Kuph, looked intrigued. Sharhan smirked as he saw them swallow like they’d just been offered a feast.

“There should be quite a few relics inside. We’re hoping to find a healing stone, though we’re not sure.”

“A healing stone? We should go right now–ugh.”

Adam, who had stood up in excitement, let out a pained groan and sat back down, his injuries from the fight flaring up.

“Adam, are you alright?”

Kuph asked in concern.

“Yeah. I don’t think I’ll die.”

Adam gave an awkward smile.

“You’re all either badly hurt or exhausted. Going together would be too much. So Lestel and I will go. The rest of you, stay hidden and get some rest.”

“Will the two of you be alright?”

Rael didn’t insist on going. He knew well enough that, in his current state, he’d only slow them down.

“That place was our playground as kids. It won’t be hard for us to find our way.”

Of course, that didn’t account for enemies they might encounter along the way, but Rael didn’t press that point.

“If we went now, we’d just be a burden. We’ll wait somewhere safe, like you said.”

Kuph and Adam nodded. Iris looked ready to cry but finally agreed after Sharhan gently coaxed her. The remaining question was where to hide everyone.

Adam had a solution.

“There’s a secret hideout I made as a kid. It’s not much, just a little underground chamber we dug under a tree over a yard wide. Grown-ups used to scold us for being troublemakers but still helped us. When I came back to Serman, I checked to see if it was still usable in case I needed to hide, and it was. It’s not far from here.”

He must have checked it in case someone had ratted him out.

“Can it fit five people?”

“It’s tight. You won’t be able to stretch your legs, but for a day it’s bearable. I just don’t know if Lady Iris can handle it.”

“I can!”

Iris’s confident reply made everyone laugh.

“Then let’s go there.”

But they couldn’t leave right away. The nanny tried to stand and fell straight onto her rear. Her ankle was badly swollen. Sharhan could carry her, but Rael, who had worsened, could barely walk either.

“I’m fine. Let’s go.”

But one look at Rael’s bloodless face convinced Sharhan they had no choice but to rest for a few hours. As much as he wanted to hurry, he couldn’t push someone in that condition.

Finding the entrance and crossing the tunnel will take time anyway… a few hours should be alright.

While Sharhan tried to reassure himself, Adam left to search the neighboring house for herbs. He came back a while later holding a bundle of withered, dried plants.

“These help with pain, but they’re so dried out…”

He handed them over, looking apologetic. Rael accepted them, swallowed them with water, then lay down.

“I’ll… rest for a bit.”

He had finally accepted that his body needed it. Sharhan and Lestel broke up some waterstones to share fresh water, hoping the others could regain a little strength. Kuph, Adam, and Iris eventually fell asleep as well.

Some time passed. Just as Sharhan was about to wake them–

Step.

He sprang up at the sound of cautious footsteps approaching. Lestel, alert, moved to his side. Rael, now awake, drew his sword and moved protectively to Iris. The nanny held Iris tightly in fear.

Step.

The footsteps grew closer.

“Whoever it is, they’re making their presence known on purpose.”

Lestel nodded in agreement. Sharhan exchanged a glance with Rael, then he and Lestel carefully stepped outside.

Step. Step.

The footsteps sounded deliberately loud now, as if saying Get ready, I’m coming.

Sharhan stood at the entrance of Adam’s house, ready to strike. Lestel already had his sword drawn.

“…Parel?”

“Well, thank goodness. You’re here.”

The figure that emerged was Parel, smiling like he’d just found an old friend. Sharhan and Lestel’s faces contorted in disgust.

“Good to see you again–”

“You bastard!”

Lestel cursed and moved to strike, but Parel quickly leapt back out of reach, raising his hands in a mock surrender.

“I just want to talk.”

“I don’t want to hear a word. Die!”

Lestel lunged again, his voice cold as ice. Parel, clicking his tongue, backed off swiftly and, as if he had no choice, pulled something from his coat. It was clearly a mana explosive. Sharhan caught Lestel’s wrist just in time and dragged him back, his eyes flashing with fury.

“So you recognize this?”

“…”

“I didn’t want to use it, but you two are way too hotheaded. Are we ready to talk now?”

Parel waved the explosive casually.

“How did you know we were here…”

Sharhan trailed off. His eyes fell on Parel’s clothes, specifically the color.

‘That’s the same color as the scrap Rael showed us…’

Parel’s tattered and bloodstained shirt was a perfect match. Noticing Sharhan staring, Lestel glanced over, then his eyes widened.

“So you’re the one who followed us into Ailun Castle?”

“That’s right. Thanks to you, I slipped in quietly. But how’d you figure it out?”

“How did you follow us in the first place?”

“Not going to answer that? Whatever. I saw you two at the castle gates.”

“What? The castle gates?”

Now that he mentioned it, Sharhan remembered sensing someone’s gaze back then. He’d thought it was nothing, but it had been Parel.

“I thought you were dead. Imagine my surprise when you turned up in Serman, alive and well.”

“…”

“You don’t seem that surprised to see me.”

“We knew you came to Serman.”

Parel’s smirk deepened as he slowly sat down, still holding the explosive in his hand as if to remind them it could go off at any time.

Sharhan and Lestel watched him warily. There was no guarantee he wouldn’t set it off, Parel was unhinged enough to do it.

“I don’t know how you found out, but no matter. I was wondering if I could make use of you two, so I trailed behind and ended up discovering that secret passage. Didn’t expect it to lead straight into Ailun Castle. I’d been struggling to find a way in, and you made it so easy.”

He gave a hearty laugh, but his expression quickly turned grim, teeth clenched tight. Only then did Sharhan take a proper look at his face.

Pale skin, bluish lips… he was clearly unwell. His clothing was stained with dark patches, blood.

“You’re injured.”

“I still have enough strength to set this off. Don’t even think about trying anything.”

Parel stroked the mana explosive like it was a pet, still eyeing them both. Then, sighing heavily, he spoke.

“The knights of House Ailun were stronger than I expected. Damn it, the emperor was right there, and I still had to retreat.”

“You didn’t come here to complain.”

Lestel’s voice was cold. Parel nodded, as if that were obvious.

“I have a proposition.”

“…We’re not exactly on terms to be exchanging offers.”

“Why don’t we join forces?”