By Zephyria =======
Belatedly, Wolf remembered. ‘Due to long-term isolation in a natural environment, Stohl’s flora and fauna ecosystems are unique in many ways. Hundreds of species of plants and animals not found in Atania have been discovered.’
“Quiet! What are you chatting about!”
Black Weasel whipped around, his face scowling. With a look of disbelief, he stared intently at the rabbit the boy was holding and pointed a finger.
「What is that? You, lazy brat, actually hunted?」
「You said there were only three servings of food stockpiled in the shelter.」
「…Ha.」
Letting out a hollow laugh of absurdity, Black Weasel waved a hand and turned away. Wolf, unable to understand their conversation, grew gloomy. He regretted his past self for not learning the Stohl language, never imagining a day like this would come.
The boy tucked the rabbit into Wolf’s arms.
“You take it.”
“Okay.”
Wolf turned around holding the rabbit. After a few steps, the boy tapped Wolf on the shoulder.
“Take this too.”
Another rabbit.
“And this.”
The third was a wild baby goat. Even so, the goat’s appearance wasn’t much different from those in Atania.
「The boat’s going to sink! Stop catching things, you brat!」
Black Weasel shouted at the boy. Around that time, the forest ended and the riverbank appeared. A small rowboat was tied to a tree near the shore.
Wolf and Red Eagle looked across the river, unable to hide their amazement. Massive mountains stretched out in layers, with thin white streams of water flowing through deep valleys. It was a spectacle he hadn’t even seen during his travels in Atania.
It was mysterious and beautiful. However, those mysterious and beautiful mountains were the very culprits that drove the Stohl people to launch invasion expeditions as far as Atania. Because of the mountain range, which pressed down on most of the national territory with its bloated mass, Stohl was said to have an absolute shortage of farmland. At this point, Wolf, who dreamed of becoming a bakery owner, couldn’t help but feel a surge of curiosity.
What is the staple food of the Stohl people? Barley? Rye? In Stohl, where the weather is gloomy and most of the land is dark mountainous terrain, which grain has the highest yield?
“Stop sightseeing and get in!”
Black Weasel shouted as he sat in the rowboat. With Wolf and Red Eagle seated opposite them, Black Weasel and the boy rowed side by side. Their skill was proficient.
Wolf flipped through the pages of the book in his mind. ‘In the mountainous nation of Stohl, paved roads are rare,’ ‘The roads of Stohl are the rivers, and the horses are boats,’ ‘Even during the period of the
The boy was looking at Wolf while rowing from the opposite side. Perhaps because the pigment of his pupils was pale, the more their gazes met, the more Wolf felt an indescribable sensation. A kind of dissonance. Something special. Yes, centripetal force. In those Alice-blue eyes, there existed a centripetal force that pulled people in.
Wolf’s cheeks gradually grew hot. Why is he staring only at me? I’m staring only at him too, so it’s the same, but… your gaze is intense. It’s natural for me to look at you, but it’s strange for you to look only at me.
I’m curious! What’s the reason!
Could he possibly have a crush on me? The Prince also said my face was likable… and I was known as a funny guy at school… right, I was even invited to the student council president’s birthday party. I’m definitely likable to people my age… No, no! Suppress the ego! Suppress it! Why would a swordsman boy like that feel any kind of affection for a clumsy attendant like me. He’s probably just looking across the boat without thinking much of it…
Once he organized his thoughts, he felt deflated. Still, Wolf couldn’t pull his gaze away and stared blankly at the boy. Since the hood was pushed back, the boy’s hair was exposed. To Wolf’s eyes, it looked as if he had just woken up after tossing and turning all night. To think that one must look like that to be recognized as a ‘man’ by the boys of this country… Perhaps Black Weasel’s shabby, mane-like hair also passed for ‘masculinity’ in Stohl.
He wondered what the relationship between Black Weasel and the boy was. Definitely not father and son. Friends who overcame an age gap? Just looking at the nickname he gave the uncle, ‘Ice Armor Warrior’…
Even if they didn’t know about the Giant Rabbit, there was no one in Atania who didn’t know the Ice Armor Warrior. The Ice Armor Warrior, an animal native to Stohl, was a bear with hard plate armor growing on its back, fitting for the name ‘Ice Armor,’ and it enjoyed the highest popularity among wandering troupes throughout Atania.
Despite being extremely ferocious, it had a quirky side—such as falling on its backside in surprise after seeing its own shadow cast by a hearth fire, or trembling in fear at the sound of a bell. Because of this, the Ice Armor Warrior had long since become a synonym in Atania for ‘someone who doesn’t live up to their size.’ But that uncle certainly lived up to his size.
“You. Why are you staring at my slave like that?”
Wolf flinched at the sudden voice. Black Weasel was glaring at Wolf while rowing.
“Why is there no answer? I’m asking why you’re staring at my slave.”
“That’s… wait, a slave? Him?”
He couldn’t believe it. That boy, who looked at a single glance like he wouldn’t listen to a word anyone said, was a slave?
“Yes, a slave. I use him as an assistant when working. You’re seventeen, right? You’re the same age as my slave.”
“Ah…”
“Brat, you’re surprised? Did you actually think that fellow was my son? Strange, he looks like a complete stranger to me, too.”
“Yes, he doesn’t look like you at all, so I didn’t even think of you as father and son. I wondered if he was the warrior’s business partner. I was admiring him because he seems to be my age and is so impressive. But…”
Wolf subtly shifted the subject.
“What’s his name? It’s a bit awkward to keep calling him ‘him’.”
“Hmph.”
Black Weasel narrowed his eyes and scanned Wolf from head to toe. It was a gaze that seemed to search him thoroughly. Wolf felt a prick of nervousness. Did I make another slip of the tongue?
Black Weasel quickly looked away and spoke.
“One question first. The Prince called you Wolf; is your Stohl name Silver Wolf?”
“How did you know?”
Wolf asked back in surprise. Black Weasel snorted as if for Wolf to hear.
“Didn’t you know, you Atania bumpkin? Silver Wolf is the most common name in Stohl. In your age group alone, there are probably as many people with that name as there are stars in the night sky. Now, I’ll answer your question. Silver Wolf. That’s my slave’s name.”
“Ah…”
Wolf’s heart fluttered.
“I see. But right now, I am Wolf Bell. Please call me Wolf. I may be Stohl by birth, but I am a person of Atania.”
“That’s convenient. I call this slave Silver anyway. Because Silver hates his Stohl name.”
At those words, Wolf looked at Silver. Silver was looking down, glaring at the tips of his own feet.
Then is Silver a former prisoner of war?
In Atania and Stohl, there are three types of slaves. Prisoners of the Atania civil war. Stohl prisoners defeated in tribal conflicts. Atanians who were unfortunately kidnapped.
Silver seemed to fall into the second category. When Wolf asked if he was Atanian, Silver pointed to the tattoo on his face and sneered, “Me?” He was defining himself as a Stohl person. But why did he hate his Stohl name? Just because it was too common?
Wolf wondered how long Silver had been Black Weasel’s slave. How he had fallen into the status of a slave. Whether he had learned the sword from Black Weasel. Whether he had any intention of becoming a free man… Wait?
Am I not being tense enough?
There were mountains of serious problems piled up, such as how to sneak Red Eagle away from White Deer and a plan to return safely to Atania. In the midst of this, he was immersed only in thoughts of Silver. Like iron filings helplessly drawn toward a magnet. It was his first time experiencing such a persistent and intense interest in someone.
Why am I really like this? It’s strange. It’s just strange.
Moreover, a slight fever wouldn’t leave his body. He had been in this state ever since his retinas first captured Silver’s face. Feeling unfamiliar with himself, Wolf was overwhelmed by bewilderment. His body felt like a broken string instrument. One where a string had suddenly snapped during a performance, transforming it into a useless wooden box with four or five gut strings dangling.
Could it be.
11 – Hell Execution Order