By Zephyria ======
Within two days of setting out, Wolf had fallen in love with the joy of traveling.
“This is delicious!”
The quality of the ingredients was on another level. As it turned out, all the high-grade ingredients were consumed by the locals of the production area, and only the lower-grade goods were sent outside.
“There’s so much to see!”
Wolf was deeply moved by the sight of a shepherd playing a flute in the fields. In the bustling capital, it was a scene he had only encountered in the illustrations of fairy tale books. Beyond that, there was an endless stream of sights: grand temples, statues in the squares, art galleries, street musicians, and more.
After a month of traveling by carriage, they arrived at Merch, the seventh-largest city-state on the Atania continent. The moment Wolf and Red Eagle saw the river flowing before Merch, their eyes widened like frogs.
“Is this… a river…? I can’t even see the opposite bank…?”
“Yes, it is a river. From here on, we take a boat. One month to Evahill Port, and another month from there. If you don’t die in the meantime, you’ll arrive in Stohl,” River Vole explained.
Wolf nodded, but he felt a momentary surge of anxiety at the phrase ‘if you don’t die.’
The boat was a two-masted cruise ship. Red Eagle’s party spent about a month on the boat from morning until early evening. In the evenings, the boat docked at the riverbank. They would spend the night at a nearby inn and board the boat again in the morning.
The journey was incredibly pleasant, but there was one uncomfortable point. That was River Vole.
His appearance alone was menacing. A blond giant. A tattoo on the nape of his neck that couldn’t be hidden even by Atanian clothing. A large axe strapped to his waist. To anyone, he was the very image of an ‘omen of misfortune.’ The path cleared instantly wherever River Vole walked. On the boat, travelers huddled in the corners furthest away from him.
‘River Vole is a man of the warrior class. He’s from a tribe that his mother’s clan has operated for generations. Whenever he visited the Levenon court as part of the Stohl diplomatic escort, he delivered letters from my mother to me.’
For some reason, River Vole disliked Red Eagle. Wolf often caught him glancing sideways at Red Eagle and spitting out curses. Wolf was deaf to the Stohl language, but he swore to God that those were curses. After all, wouldn’t it be strange if the words spoken with the expression of someone who had stepped on a dead pigeon during a walk were, ‘Our Prince is truly lovely’?
The reason Red Eagle had pleaded with Wolf to accompany him to Stohl was also because of River Vole. He said it felt suffocating to go all the way to Stohl with only him.
‘Coincidentally, you caught my eye through the carriage window, Wolf. The reason I couldn’t explain in detail back then was also because of River Vole. I was afraid he would hear everything from the driver’s seat.’
Red Eagle confessed this while they were sleeping in the inn room. Wolf, lying on the adjacent bed with his arm as a pillow, frowned.
‘That’s understandable. If I had seen the face of the person in the driver’s seat back then, I would have turned around and bolted immediately. His face is as menacing as a monster in a temple mural. Well, still, don’t be too afraid. That vole fellow doesn’t have anything before his name.’
Unlike the people of Atania, Stohl people do not have surnames, regardless of their rank. Instead, it is said that if a person kills more than 100 people, modifiers such as ‘Valiant’ or ‘Unforgettable’ are attached before their name.
‘Maybe he’s just a fellow who’s good at running away, like a vole. My school’s combat instructor said that with men, you only know their true skill once you peel them open.’
‘Wolf, you’re fearless. Is it easy to kill 100 people?’
‘I said it to encourage the Prince. Anyway, thanks to that guy, even the common pickpockets don’t dare come near us. That’s enough.’
On the 21st day of the boat trip, River Vole spoke.
“We will reach Evahill Port tomorrow morning. Tonight, we stay on the boat. It’s cold, so make sure to sleep close to other people.”
The travelers seemed to mistake the Prince and the Attendant for River Vole’s sons. When they approached to ‘sleep close,’ everyone’s gaze became fierce, as if they had encountered tax collectors. The two boys ended up huddled in a corner of the deck, trying to get some sleep. River Vole didn’t even glance their way, as he was busy drinking with the sailors.
The boat swayed, making it hard to sleep. Moreover, it was winter. Even though he wore a thick robe and covered himself with a wool blanket, his body trembled.
“Wolf, isn’t it nice to look at the stars while feeling the river breeze?”
While he was freezing to death, the Prince was indulging in nonsense. If the other person had been Roy, Wolf would have raised his middle finger without hesitation.
“Yes, it’s romantic. But it’s a bit cold, Prince.”
“It’s the end of November. If it’s this cold here, I wonder how severe the winter in Stohl will be.”
Why the hell are you curious about that, you Prince brat.
Wolf cursed inwardly and turned away abruptly. Red Eagle said nothing more. As time passed, Wolf’s eyes slowly closed.
“You know, Wolf.”
Just as Wolf was about to fall asleep, Red Eagle spoke.
“When I said I was going to see my mother… did it make you feel bad?”
“Pardon?”
Wolf flinched and turned his head. Red Eagle was staring blankly at the night sky. Wolf, frowning, cleared his throat and answered.
“I didn’t feel bad. I was just flustered because you suddenly said you were leaving for Stohl.”
“That’s a relief. Actually, I thought…”
Red Eagle paused for a moment.
“I thought you were angry because I said I was going to be by my mother’s side for her final moments. Your mother cherished me deeply.”
Your mother cherished me deeply.
Those words instantly transported Wolf back to when he was nine years old. His mother lying in bed. A young boy sobbing with his head buried in her embrace. His mother continuously stroked the boy’s shoulder with her frail hand.
From a distance, Wolf had glared at them and thought: Why does Mom only look at the Prince? Why is the Prince in my place?
“Ah, that’s right. She cherished the Prince deeply.”
Pushing the memory away, Wolf spoke as if he were pretending to be indifferent. Red Eagle let out a low sigh.
“I agonized over it a lot too. Thinking about the love the nanny poured into me, I felt like I shouldn’t go to Stohl. How should I put it… it felt like I was betraying her… But in the end, a biological mother is different.”
Wolf suddenly went blank. His entire body stiffened as if he had turned into a bolted iron door. Then, a cool shock washed over him. It felt like being hit by the spray of a fountain in a square on a hot summer afternoon. He had never even imagined it. That for Red Eagle, the nanny would rank second only to his biological mother.
Haha, what? After loving each other so much, what is this?
Mother, did you hear? That guy loves his biological mother more. A biological mother he’s never even seen comes before you! Before!
In this era, children died commonly. Wolf’s mother had stayed by Red Eagle’s side all night whenever he fell ill. One summer day, both her son and Red Eagle collapsed side by side. The mother stayed by only one person’s side, and Wolf stared at the door in a room where he was all alone.
Only after regaining consciousness a week later did Wolf make a decision. He would never wait for the door to open again. He would not cry even if his mother died. That resolution was kept two years later.
“So… so…”
Red Eagle’s voice trailed off as he glanced at Wolf. Wolf swallowed a sneer. Immature brat, are you trying to apologize to me instead of the nanny? Do you think doing that will lessen your guilt?
In truth, Wolf knew. In the triangle between his mother, Red Eagle, and himself, the only one who had done wrong was his mother. The children had merely struggled, trapped in a web of favoritism cast by an irresponsible adult.
“Stop thinking about it. If it were my mother, she would support your decision, Prince. In fact, she would be happy.”
Wolf gave the answer the other wanted. Red Eagle looked straight at Wolf.
“Do you really think so?”
“Yes. I also think your decision is right. It’s a pity my mother isn’t alive to see this.”
This answer was not a lie. He was sincerely disappointed that he couldn’t witness his mother feeling betrayed by Red Eagle’s choice.
I thought I was an ordinary guy in every way. Maybe I have a bit of a twisted personality?
“Hearing you say that makes my heart feel a bit lighter. Thank you.”
Unaware of Wolf’s true intentions, Red Eagle thanked him. Wolf managed a smile.
“You’re welcome. Let’s just continue to enjoy our journey.”
“Wolf. This is an adventure.”
“It’s a journey. Adventures are dangerous and difficult. But the Prince and I haven’t even seen a fire-breathing dragon or an evil wizard. Every night we stay in a nice inn, we eat delicious food morning and evening, and during the day, we look at the scenery or play card games.”
At Wolf’s words, Red Eagle’s expression became pouty.
“In my own way, I meant it was an adventure. I know well. A valiant knight doesn’t stay in an inn.”
“They build a campfire and camp out in a forest where wolves howl. Prince, dragons were created by back-alley novelists to make money. There is one wizard in our neighborhood, but the guy who brags about being able to turn poop into gold always goes around begging for bread money.”
Red Eagle’s longing for adventure seemed childish. He was exactly like a Prince who had only experienced people bowing their heads before him since birth.
I’m envious. I find it hard to deal even with peers my own age.
In terms of difficulty, even an ordinary life was an adventure for Wolf. Reading the other person’s mind. Finding the right words. Asserting his own opinion occasionally because he would look weak if he only complied. Blending in anywhere while being evaluated as moderately funny and moderately trustworthy. Nothing was easy.
Let alone an adventure fighting dragons and wizards? No thanks. Absolutely not.
Wolf pulled the wool blanket over his head.
“Go to sleep, Prince.”
He was getting sleepy. Wolf fell into a sleep as deep as a cave. At the end of the long cave was a blue sea.
5 – Hell Execution Order