#126

Cullen and his party headed southeast. Having yielded most of the horses that survived the disaster to those leaving for the Lefellon Territory, the group moved with only two horses. Naturally, since not everyone could ride, their speed slowed a little.

Ulli rode a horse, carrying the luggage himself, while Arne rode with Lasano. Only Cullen and Kiyen walked behind. Because of this, it took a full day just to leave the Duke’s castle in the south.

As they moved further from the south, the wind gradually became more humid, and the temperature dropped slightly. Finally, reaching the end of the Duke Renon’s territory, they entered the eastern border. Lush fields and rivers, distinctly different in shape from the south, appeared first.

“It’s been a while since I’ve seen a river.”

He gazed at the river flowing, cleaving the land. Green grass, plants, and bushes grew thick. Flowers swayed, and the river channel in the middle was wide and calm. Arne exclaimed in admiration.

“Wow, it’s my first time seeing a river! The forest only has valleys and ponds, but it’s so pretty!”

“Right? The east has many rivers that stretch and branch out. There are also many forest lakes where water collects, making it a place with abundant water compared to other regions. My mother said she used to ride a small boat on a lake near the territory with my father.”

Ulli continued his explanation of the east with a voice filled with longing.

“But it’s a bit different from what I imagined! I heard the east was completely burned down, leaving nothing. Has it always looked like this? Usually… it takes a lot of time for forests to grow.”

Arne said something unexpected. At his words, Cullen also winced slightly. Come to think of it, it was strange. While the buildings in the eastern region remained in ruins, the trees and grass surrounding them were fresh. It was the same when Cullen had passed through the east in the past.

“Uh… is that so…? It really is, isn’t it?”

“I know because I live in the forest. It would take over 100 years to plant and grow trees, but here… it looks like a place that suffered no damage.”

Ulli also seemed to realize the strangeness at Arne’s words. Was it because it was a border?

It would be possible if Duke Renon had intentionally tried to create forests by using people as he expanded his land eastward. But it didn’t feel like that.

“It’s like magic!”

“It really is!”

Lasano interjected into their conversation, where they were deliberately avoiding talking about Kiyen’s fire.

“It has recovered a lot.”

He, who had been quiet since entering the border, looked at Kiyen. Their gazes met.

“It seems Kiyen’s fire didn’t kill everything.”

Cullen, who had been worried about Kiyen since the moment they headed east, stiffened his expression.

“Lasano. That is an unnecessary remark.”

“No, it’s fine.”

As Cullen defensively stepped forward, Kiyen spoke.

“Can we just pretend what happened didn’t happen?”

Kiyen didn’t seem in a good mood, but he didn’t look precarious. This time, he asked Lasano.

“You’ve been to the east before, haven’t you?”

At his question, Lasano smiled faintly.

“Why do you think so?”

“You spoke as if you had seen the land before it revived. There were no disasters that would have summoned you in your time. Doesn’t the High Priest always stay at the Aksha Temple if there are no prophecies or disasters?”

At Kiyen’s words, Lasano remained silent with a smile. He looked around while riding his horse, then turned his gaze to the river.

“That’s right.”

Lasano, answering Kiyen belatedly, added casually.

“I saw it when passing by the east. It was a long time ago, I don’t remember well… but I could tell the appearance had changed. That’s all.”

Lasano said that and closed his mouth, then slightly increased the speed of his horse. Arne, riding behind Lasano, quickly adjusted his balance, saying, “Whoa.”

“But it’s very quiet. When I broke in to steal Pantel, there were many Demonic Beasts. Do they not come to this land often? Or perhaps the Duke has already subjugated this area?”

Ulli said that, observing the scenery and looking around.

“This is my first time coming this way through the Lenon territory, so I don’t know. It is certainly quiet.”

“Exactly. The east is full of Demonic Beasts everywhere, so that’s the first thing that needs to be resolved to resettle people. If it were as peaceful as here, it might be possible soon.”

Then she glanced at Kiyen and asked.

“Why do Demonic Beasts only appear in the east?”

The issue of Demonic Beasts appearing had been a problem even before the Jenix territory disappeared, so it had been at least 70 years.

“I am not a god, so I cannot know.”

Seeing Ulli’s expression about to crumple, Cullen quickly replied.

“Demonic Beasts also appeared frequently in the north. The east suffered the most damage, but they were also moving north. Seeing them appear in the west these days, it seems they are spreading from the east as a base.”

“Back then, Ruena…”

Ulli, mentioning Ruena’s name, glanced at Arne. Then Arne quickly waved his hand.

“Please speak freely!”

“I’m sorry, Arne.”

“It’s alright. Really.”

Arne displayed exaggerated bravery. Ulli hesitated but continued.

“Ruena-nim said that a disaster was coming and we needed to unite. Could that be related to what happened in the east?”

“There is merit to that. They said the Dark Island could only be reached through the east, so it is likely a prophecy related to Akesis. The new prophecy from the goddess, delivered through the High Priest, also spoke of a time of ruin.”

Kiyen agreed with Ulli’s words after a long time.

“What on earth does the goddess want?”

Arne, listening to the conversation, asked with genuine bewilderment.

“Exactly. I don’t even know who the god is for. If she were looking after us, this wouldn’t have happened, and if she wanted justice, a guy like Duke Renon should have died long ago. And why did this prophecy suddenly come to Cullen alone? It’s unfair.”

“If you think about it that way, I can somewhat understand my teacher’s choice. When I think about when my whole family died… I know that pain. I’m not denying the goddess, but it must have been despairing. Why doesn’t she intervene even when things like this happen? The god we worshipped didn’t save us.”

Arne, who had been rambling, suddenly remembered and hastily apologized to Lasano.

“I’m sorry, Lasano-nim! I didn’t mean to deny the goddess. It’s not blasphemy…”

“It is not.”

Lasano smiled cynically.

“You can think that way. People expect many things from gods and want fairness. However, fairness is ultimately each person’s standard. Those who are greedy will have their own standards. A god cannot satisfy all of them. In the first place, the goddess…”

The smile slowly disappeared from Lasano’s face.

“Will never understand the human heart.”

He shrugged his shoulders and looked back, urging Cullen on.

“It’s best we go now. If the sun sets again, we’ll have to find a place to camp.”

Without waiting for a reply, Lasano urged his horse forward. The way he skillfully avoided the bushes and entered the forest felt as if he were heading somewhere familiar.

Night was approaching. The moon, just before reaching its full phase, was unusually large and round, as if it would crash into the land. So close, it felt like you could touch it if you climbed a tree.

Silver light scattered across the land. The light sparkled as if snow had fallen.

Having made a campsite, they appointed a watch. Although the presence of Demonic Beasts was unusually absent and it was peaceful, they could not let their guard down from now on, so special caution was needed going forward. Cullen’s turn was last.

“It seems safe for now, right?”

Ulli said, scanning the surroundings.

“It seems so. Seeing animals moving around, there don’t seem to be any Demonic Beasts.”

At Cullen’s words, Arne asked.

“What does that have to do with anything?”

“Beasts have a particularly developed instinct for danger, and they don’t stay in dangerous places. Unless a Demonic Beast is hiding and settled, animals won’t be near freely roaming Demonic Beasts.”

“I see. The Exion Territory didn’t have anything like that, so I’ve never heard of such a phenomenon.”

Cullen offered a rabbit he had finished preparing. Arne couldn’t even imagine killing and preparing a beast, so Cullen had to butcher the game. When he handed over the skinned and gutted rabbit, Arne recited a prayer. Then Kiyen said.

“It seems better not to eat meat than to recite prayers after killing it.”

Ulli bristled.

“How can people live without meat!”

“You can live perfectly well using plants.”

“That’s possible because you’re Kiyen. Humans need a certain amount of meat to be active. It’s not a massacre, so please overlook this much.”

“Tell that directly to the rabbit.”

Seeing the two bickering, Cullen chuckled and got up. He wanted to find water to wash the blood off his hands. Not wanting to waste drinking water carelessly, he planned to go to a nearby lake. It was a place they had checked before coming.

Although they confirmed there were no Demonic Beasts, animals tend to gather near water, so the party set up camp a little distance from the lake.

“Please eat first. I’ll go to the lake I saw earlier and bring back more water.”

“Will you be alright going alone?”

Saying that, Arne looked at Kiyen passionately. Ulli also nodded at Cullen. At the gesture of pointing alternately at Kiyen and himself, Cullen faltered. He understood the intention, but he didn’t want to trouble Kiyen unnecessarily.

“Yes. I checked earlier, and it was safe. I’ll take my weapons, so don’t worry.”

When Cullen ultimately didn’t ask Kiyen to come along, Arne swallowed a sigh. Ulli clicked his tongue.

“Well, fine. While you’re checking, see if it’s suitable for washing and let us know!”

Seeing Ulli speak as if to send him away, Cullen smiled.

“I’ll be back.”

When he said that to Kiyen, he looked up at Cullen silently. Blinking his eyelashes, he turned his gaze away.

“Go and come back safely.”

Arne let out another sigh, but neither Kiyen nor Cullen said anything.

Cullen, taking his longsword and dagger, set out into the night. He also packed a pouch along with a leather bag containing clothes to change into. He thought about packing herbs or edible plants, as they often grow by lakes.

The night breeze blew coolly. It was a little chilly mixed with moisture, and at the same time, the scent of grass permeated deeply. A thought suddenly crossed his mind that he had been enjoying an abundance of peace lately, a peace he hadn’t felt for a long time. Is this what people call a peaceful daily life? And what, then, is happiness?

Following the path illuminated by the moonlight between the trees, Cullen entered a place where vines and trees were densely intertwined. Did he take a wrong turn? The lake he had glimpsed was definitely in this direction, but it didn’t seem like a lake would be in a place like this.

Thinking so, Cullen cut through the vines with his sword. Scratched by the dense branches, he walked for quite some time. He thought his companions might be worried. He decided it would be better to turn back, and just as he cut through the last leaves.

An unexpected sight unfolded. Cullen stopped dead and his eyes widened. A soft purple light spread out before him. Yes, it was literally glowing. In the field that stretched out before him.

As if the trees had surrounded and hidden it, the field was round. The long, swaying grass repeatedly lay down and rose in the wind with a rustling sound. Between them, purple flowers bloomed. The flowers, bathed in moonlight, shifted between blue and purple, changing their glow.

The delicate petals held the light preciously. It was as if thousands of fireflies were flying, small lights gathering to spread a beautiful purple hue.

The wondrous sight, unlike anything he had ever seen in his life, reminded him of a single being.

He thought of Kiyen.

He wanted to show this to Kiyen. This space, beautiful in itself. This place that bloomed in the land he thought was ruined. It felt like a symbol of hope.

Without hesitation, Cullen turned and started running. The wind on his cheeks as he quickly retraced his steps caused scratches. But he didn’t care. He wanted to show Kiyen this place as soon as possible. Kiyen’s smiling face…

His wrist, as he ran, was caught. Pulled by a strong force, Cullen twisted his body. Kiyen was at the end of the forest path. His body, which had been rushing out, was embraced. The scent of lilies he loved so much wafted…

“Look.”

My beloved looking at me—

“Didn’t I tell you that you look like a hedgehog when you run away?”

He smiled.