By Zephyria =======
「Silver, why are you acting like this? Tell me!」
Wolf paced back and forth, unable to stay still. Silver’s gaze lingered on that anxious face. Even drenched in the flickering torchlight, he exuded a chill like a snow-covered canyon. To use a metaphor, perhaps like a dense wine?
To have such grand impressions of an ordinary guy’s face… Glamaugh must still be affecting Wolf… No, maybe my eyes have just been dragged through the dirt because I’ve spent so long looking at the Ice Armor Warrior’s withered mug.
“Hey, Fairy. In your opinion, how does that guy’s face look? Is he handsome?”
He requested an objective evaluation from a third party. The mantis fairy glanced at Wolf, then without hesitation, raised both front legs to make an ‘X’ sign.
“Really? You’re not just different from humans in your aesthetic standards because you’re a bug?”
〔No. I can accurately tell who is a beauty or a handsome man.〕
The mantis fairy replied sharply.
〔He’s not ugly, but he’s definitely not a beauty. But Silver is a stunningly beautiful boy! That’s why I couldn’t leave your side!〕
“So you let yourself be kidnapped by me? How sly of you.”
「What are you two talking about? Please speak in the Atania language!」
Wolf cut in between Silver and the mantis fairy, waving his hands. Silver glared at Wolf and gave the dirt floor a sharp kick.
「Follow me. You have something to do with me.」
* * *
The surroundings were noisy. The heavy scent of smoked fish, the savory smell of rye bread, and the pungent aroma of liquor pouring from wooden barrels floated in the air. Silver slowly opened his eyes.
Where am I…
He saw a woman busily darting between tables carrying plates of food, and people noisily stuffing salted meat into their mouths. Winter sunlight filtering through the window cast a cool light across the room. It was the tavern on the first floor of the inn.
“Ugh…”
Silver grimaced. Every time he breathed, the smell of alcohol poured from his mouth. His nose stung and his head throbbed. It seemed he had another fight with Black Weasel last night. Whenever that happened, Silver would drink heavily alone at the tavern, fall asleep face-down on the table, and wake up to a welcoming party of puffy, frog-like eyes and a violent headache. Today was the same… wait, something’s different.
Right next to him, he saw Wolf fast asleep with his cheek pressed against the table. Silver frowned. Why is this guy here?
Memories slowly returned. Black Weasel, who had slapped him for the first time in his life. Wolf’s proposal to immigrate to Atania. The appearance of the mantis fairy. And… the exorcism ritual. Silver squeezed his eyes shut.
Only three chickens bought from the inn for sacrifice had vainly ended in screams. Unlike before, when he had been skeptical, wondering if this was the right way, Wolf had prayed frantically last night during the ritual, his hands clenched tight. It was only natural, since he had personally witnessed the skeleton wraith and countless fairies. Consequently, the shock of the ritual’s failure was just as great. He had been drinking at the tavern with a completely despondent Wolf, and… the memories ended there.
Why did it only end in failure? Did the Goddess want a four-legged animal like a sheep or a goat as a sacrifice? Or did they need to bring in a professional priest?
Before he could think further, a heavy drowsiness washed over him. Just as he was about to close his eyes, the voices of people pierced his ears.
“They’re all dead? Not a single one left?”
“Probably. I was too scared to go deep inside, but they said they didn’t even hear a baby crying.”
“I stopped by there briefly yesterday morning… the villagers were fine then. Ah, is this the work of the warriors who were partying there?”
“Who knows. According to the people who brought the news, the state of the corpses was horrific.”
“It’s the warriors’ doing. They killed all the villagers to migrate their own tribe members to the river port.”
The whispers, mixed with the sound of gulping liquor and chewing dried meat, were delivered in an indifferent tone. Silver bit his lip hard.
It’s become known.
It wasn’t surprising. Even by boat, it was a place that could be reached in the time it takes to flip an hourglass three times. People would either blame the heavens for the river port incident as they always had, or mention speculative rumors before gradually forgetting about it.
Suddenly, someone shook Silver’s shoulder. It was Red Eagle.
「Did you guys sleep here? Were you drinking together all night?」
「Yeah.」
Silver brushed back his bangs and pushed himself up. Red Eagle sat across from him. His complexion was haggard.
「Did you stay up all night? Well, I guess you can’t sleep, right?」
When Silver sneered, Red Eagle gave a bitter smile.
「No, I fell asleep as soon as I hit the bed. It’s absurd, isn’t it? To sleep so soundly after experiencing such a thing…」
「Anyone sleeps soundly when they’re tired. Wolf and I slept soundly too.」
「Mnh… Hm? Hm!」
Whether he recognized the Prince’s voice even in his sleep, Wolf snapped his head up.
「Prince, when did you arrive? Ah, was your bed uncomfortable? I’m sorry for making you sleep alone!」
「I slept well. Are you alright?」
「I hope I’ll be alright soon. Ah, my head…」
Wolf grimaced and held his forehead. Silver hesitated as he reached for a glass of water. Black Weasel was coming down the stairs, yawning widely. The moment that sight entered his vision, last night’s memories returned, and a surge of intense rage flared up.
Was that something worth hitting me for?
He was confused. It felt like it might have been, but then again, maybe not. He might have been pissed at the behavior of a son who ignored warnings in a critical crisis. Maybe he exploded because a son who never listened to a word finally acted selfishly in that situation. But even so, was it really that warranted? Even if it was just an attempt, wasn’t the whipping crossing the line?
If he had only slapped me once, I would have been generous and let it go, thinking ‘it could happen.’ To put it bluntly, didn’t this guy avoid an infinite fall thanks to me? Then he should have only hit me once. No, he shouldn’t have hit me at all! I am his lifesaver!
Once he organized his thoughts to this point, he had nothing left to feel inferior about. Silver glared at Black Weasel with intense eyes. At the look that seemed ready to devour him without leaving a bone, Black Weasel stopped dead in his tracks, his sleepy face suddenly wide awake.
A staring contest ensued. In the tavern, which was bustling with the sound of clinking glasses and plates and people’s chatter, only this spot was as chilly as a lakeside in midwinter. Wolf and Red Eagle also seemed tense. They held their breath like children watching two squirrels glare at each other over an acorn.
Eventually, Black Weasel shrugged and walked over. The expression of the man who was always brazen was quite awkward. Was he finally regretting last night? Yes, even you think it was excessive, don’t you?
Right on cue, a server placed food on the table. Hot steam rose from the meat stew.
「Are you guys eating without Uncle?」
Black Weasel threw out a trivial comment and sat down next to Red Eagle. His gaze seemed to steal glances at Silver.
「This inn has a great breakfast, doesn’t it? The bread is quite…」
Black Weasel tore off a piece of rye bread in the shape of a bear—which Silver liked—and waved it. Silver pointedly turned his head away. I’m not eating it, you brat!
Black Weasel seemed quite flustered by the firm refusal of a truce. He lowered his head and mumbled, stuffing the bear-shaped bread into his own mouth.
「I have to row all day today…」
「That’s right, Silver. It’ll be hard all day, so you should eat something hearty.」
Wolf, oblivious to the tension, pushed the bowl of stew toward Silver. The moment the rich scent of stew brushed his nose, Silver’s stomach let out a growl.
「You… just eat.」
「Of course I’ll eat. I’m saying let’s eat together. You drank more than I did last night; doesn’t your stomach hurt?」
At Wolf’s words, Black Weasel’s eyebrow twitched while chewing the bread.
「You two… drank together? When?」
「They said they drank all night. When I came down, both of them had their heads face-down on the table.」
Red Eagle pointed alternately at Silver and Wolf. A smile flickered momentarily on Black Weasel’s lips before crumbling away. His grey eyes, now devoid of light, targeted Wolf. That sudden change in expression exuded a dramatically dangerous aura, like flames suddenly erupting from a hearth containing only ashes. Silver’s shoulders stiffened. What’s wrong with that guy.
Silence fell. Under Black Weasel’s gaze, Wolf’s face turned frozen. He remained motionless in the position of pushing the stew bowl toward Silver, bearing the full brunt of Black Weasel’s stare.
58 – Hell Execution Order