HTWBB Chapter 13

Rietta's party arrived in Mabia later than scheduled. The horse they were riding had obstinately refused to be separated.

Thanks to the large beast shedding tears as it appealed to Melian, the horse was able to safely accompany them all the way to Mabia. Naturally, switching horses at intervals during travel became impossible.

Regardless of the riders' condition, whenever the horse grew tired, they had to stay at an inn or camp until it recovered.

Finally, at the last stopover, Rietta hired a coachman and carriage. By the time they arrived at their destination after all these complications, roughly five more days had been delayed.

"We just need to pass through here."

Melian stuck his head out from inside the carriage and spoke. Rietta raised her gaze to take in the unfamiliar scenery.

At some point, the proportion of deciduous trees had begun to decrease, and from where he was pointing ahead, conifers grew so densely they could be called a grove.

"It's a small village with fewer than fifty households, but that's what makes it really easy to find."

"I see."

The coachman smiled good-naturedly. Indeed, as he said, it was spectacular enough that once you found it, you wouldn't forget it.

Rietta slowed her pace slightly and rode Terry alongside Melian. The horse, to which the name Terry was given, no longer rejected her despite Rietta riding alone. It seemed to have become convinced over their not-so-short period that she wouldn't harm it.

Rietta stared intently at Melian's somewhat pale face.

"How are you feeling?"

"I'm fine. It wasn't that hard from the start."

Unlike their spirited departure, the long journey had taken a toll on Melian's body. After all, it was a child's body regardless.

Unable to delay any longer, they had forced themselves to continue, but her worry was real. The weather hot enough to make you sweat buckets even standing still was also working against them.

Nymphs were naturally weak to heat. Even if the sun was just a bit hot, they'd flush red-faced and pour out sweat like rain. It was natural for his recovering stamina to drop again.

Fortunately, Melian seemed to have regained his composure to some degree in the carriage, as his complexion looked somewhat better. However, to others it still looked far from satisfactory, so the coachman cautiously suggested.

"Um, how about calling for a low-ranking priest when we arrive at the village?"

"Is there a temple nearby?"

"Even in the countryside, there should be at least one dispatched priest."

Melian stretched out his hand and exclaimed.

"I'm fine!"

"I'll consider it."

"Priests are, I don't want...!"

Whinny! The horse pulling the carriage let out a loud cry and raised its front legs. The coachman's flustered cursing could be heard. Startled birds flew up from nearby trees.

Rietta handed Terry's reins to Melian, who had gotten out of the carriage, and immediately moved forward. Beyond the coachman patting the horse's neck to calm it, she could see something crouched tightly. Just a couple steps away from the horse.

Clutching a carelessly sprawled bundle on the ground and lying face-down trembling was a small girl. Rietta deliberately made footsteps as she approached. When she got completely close to the girl, the body that had been trembling pitifully jumped with dramatic fervor.

"I'm sorry!"

Before she could even say anything, an apology like a scream burst from the face pressed to the ground. The worn skirt and messily braided hair were covered in dirt.

Rietta knelt on one knee right there and lowered herself. When nothing happened after some time, the girl cautiously raised her head. Large light green eyes visible between pale wheat-colored hair widened in surprise.

"Are you hurt anywhere?"

"N-no..."

"That was dangerous. If it hadn't been a skilled coachman, you would have been seriously injured."

"I'm sorry. I was in a hurry, so I..."

The girl who answered caught off guard immediately stiffened her shoulders and clutched the bundle in her arms like a lifeline. Rietta detected the bitter scent of medicinal herbs flowing from inside.

Meanwhile, the coachman who had settled the horse jumped down from the driver's seat with an angry face. Rietta raised her hand to stop him as he approached, gesturing accusingly. When she made eye contact with the girl again, she pointed with her chin toward the end of the road.

"Do you live in Mabia?"

"Y-yes."

"Then come here. Where's the biggest inn in the village?"

"Pardon?"

Rietta stepped aside for the girl who was rolling her eyes in confusion. Melian, catching Rietta's intention, was holding the carriage door with a sullen expression.

"I'm saying I'll take you there."

"No, my lady! She almost caused a disaster, and now what are you saying? I'm not taking that kid!"

"I'll pay for one more person."

The coachman, scowling fiercely, relaxed his expression and grumbled as he clambered back to his perch atop the coach. Rietta hoisted up the girl who was still blinking in bewilderment.

With an eek, the girl stood on the ground. Rietta placed the herb bundle back into her arms and loaded her into the carriage with a natural motion.

Only then coming to her senses, the girl grabbed the window and stuck her face out.

"Um...!"

"We're heading to Mabia anyway. Sit still."

At the disgruntled voice, the girl turned her head. A boy who looked a few years younger than her was catching his breath and frowning.

He looked sensitive as if in pain somewhere, but his sweaty face was cute. The girl, somewhat relieved to meet someone her age, glanced at Rietta outside, then went to a corner and awkwardly pressed herself against it.

Watching this behavior, Melian shook his head and leaned it against the wall as he asked.

"By the way, which is the biggest inn in the village?"

Snow adorning the night sky like stars fell soundlessly, down and down.

Rietta stood on the sand desert covered in white, looking up at the cliff. Someone who had been looking down at the fiercely crashing waves for some time stepped onto the edge of the cliff as if resolved. One small stone rolled down helplessly.

At that moment as if waiting, a fierce wind blew. And the person who had hesitated for so long slowly leaned forward as if perfectly timed. The fall was long, as long as the height of the cliff.

Splash—!

The water that splashed up with a heavy sound was immediately swallowed by the rising wave. Rietta stared expressionlessly at the black hair rhythmically rising and falling.

Despite having jumped in by choice, the person was flailing, trying somehow to surface. Then suddenly their eyes met. Precisely with Rietta, who stood as if hiding beneath the cliff's shadow.

A woman, huh. Rietta thought simply and turned her gaze away from the desperate struggle to stay afloat.

Meanwhile, the snowfall grew thicker, scattering about in shapes like carelessly torn cotton. It was weather perfect beyond compare for her original purpose of snow gazing.

Sa, save...

The splashing mixed with the sounds of the waves gradually slowed. The woman, trying to say something while spitting out the water entering her mouth, didn't surface for quite some time. Then she suddenly burst upward forcefully, screaming with all her might.

Save me...!

With that as her last, the woman submerged into the sea once more. Rietta finally moved her motionless body. Small barefoot prints were stamped on the accumulated snow. She entered the sea at a pace neither slow nor fast, gliding, and easily pulled out the woman.

Judging by her pale blue lips, if left a little longer, she would have lost her life. Rietta, who had carelessly thrown the limp woman onto the sandy beach, sat down beside her.

When she brought her halfhearted hand to the woman's chest and pressed, coughing immediately burst out. The woman, who spat out seawater several times, laboriously lifted her eyelids.

Unh...

Rietta bent at the waist. When she brought her ear close to the lips, the woman who had been groaning spoke softly in a weak voice.

Why, why did you just watch...

I thought you were trying to die.

It was an absurd question to ask someone who had saved her. At Rietta's answer, the woman slowly shook her head.

No. I wanted to meet you.

That's why I did that—to meet you.

...tta.

Rietta tilted her head in puzzlement. She couldn't understand the claim that she had thrown herself off the cliff to meet her. It meant the act, no different from suicide, had been intentional—but had she not considered the possibility that she herself might die?

Since no one could have predicted the probability of her being at this place today, what this person had done was nothing less than a gamble.

Finally, the woman's pale blue lips parted again. You are this place's...

"Rietta!"

Rietta's eyes flew open. Bright sunlight immediately burrowed through the gap between parted eyelids as if it had been waiting. The black sea with falling snow was erased, and a shabby inn room with floating dust appeared. The abruptly overturned scenery made it difficult to judge quickly.

When there was no response even after opening her eyes, light brown curly hair suddenly appeared at the edge of her vision. Rietta slowly blinked. Melian was gazing at her with a face full of worry.

"Melian."

"Are you alright? I was worried because you didn't wake up no matter how much I tried."

"I didn't?"

"Yes. It's past 9 o'clock now."

Rietta swept her face. It was about two hours later than her average waking time. The dream had been different from her usual ones, so she must have been disoriented.

It was probably because she was close to the sea. As she lifted her heavily drooping body, reality finally set in. Rietta roughly tidied her bedding and immediately left the room with Melian.

"What about breakfast?"

"I'm not hungry. You?"

"I ate something simple."

"That's fine then."

She was in no mood to fill her stomach. When they went downstairs, the innkeeper greeted them with a good-natured smile. Rags and cloths were placed nearby, as if he'd been cleaning.

This place they'd arrived at yesterday afternoon was the village's only inn. Originally a tavern, it used two or three spare rooms on the second floor for lodging, so it lacked many things compared to regular inns.

Since it was such a small village, there were hardly any travelers who stopped by on purpose, and the only ones were those who occasionally stayed for rest before going to Clémora. It would have been unsurprising if there were no inn, so it was fortunate that a place like this existed.

"If you're not feeling well, you don't have to push yourself."

"I rested enough, so I'm fine. I can go with you!"

Melian, clenching his fists, definitely had color back in his face. It was thanks to sleeping straight through from right after arrival until morning without waking once.

The coachman who had brought them turned his horse around at the village entrance. The girl who got out after them looked around with a slightly pale face, then stuck close to Rietta.

Then, in a small voice, after leading them to this inn, she bowed at the waist and disappeared in an instant.

"What to do since there's really nothing to see around here?"

The innkeeper spoke while handing over a water glass. Rietta obediently accepted it and drank it down.

"I'm planning to look around the nearby forest."

"The forest? There's even less to see there. It's all just trees with evergreen needles, so there aren't even berries to pick right now."

"Can't we at least see small animals?"

"Rabbits!"

Melian, who had been sitting quietly, brightened his eyes needlessly and looked at the innkeeper. The man with a long scar across one eye laughed heartily.

"Right. There are rabbits and squirrels that little ones like. It's not the season for magical beasts to appear, so if you're just a little careful..."

The innkeeper suddenly stopped talking. Frowning his fierce features even more while deep in thought, he soon put down the rag he'd been wiping the counter with as if remembering something. Then he firmly shook his head.

"No, it might be dangerous."

This was the information she'd been waiting for.

"Why is that?"

"For the past few months, large footprints have been showing up all throughout the forest. According to a hunter from the neighboring village, the size doesn't seem normal, and judging by the claw marks, it's probably something carnivorous."

"Are the footprints still there?"

"Of course. The guys who go to collect sap see them periodically."

"It seems no one has seen what it looks like."

"No one has seen it. Everyone avoids going deep inside since they don't want to die a pointless death."