Wolves of Hader

Chapter 74

"Come back safely!"

"Have a good trip!"

Ross and the villagers saw our procession off in front of the rear gate of the barrier.

Everyone was brimming with anticipation for the new territory.

Our fortress was an excellent citadel, but as a village it was far too cramped, and we had no territory at all.

Therefore, we always had to buy food and firewood, there weren't enough buildings so some shops for various goods didn't exist. The population kept growing, but there weren't enough homes.

For these reasons, when we announced we were building and moving to a new territory, almost all residents welcomed it. Group housing is convenient, but you can't beat a private home.

Myself and the Berserkers. Some of the strike squad and the knight order. Construction experts also accompanied us. Urald and Wundbark didn't miss out, and even the Elin siblings came along.

As we were riding side by side, Donnie said,

"The advance party did find the easiest and fastest route, but crossing the mountain range is still no easy task."

"It's still better than going around through Urke's territory. That would take at least five more days."

"True enough."

Donnie looked back and shouted.

"From here on, we're riding fast!"

"Understood!"

"Yah!"

Those riding at the front all spurred their horses at once. They immediately turned right from the rear gate of the barrier.

I'd worried about the wind and chill, but since spring was approaching, it wasn't as harsh as I feared.

In fact, dashing through the breeze felt exhilarating.

To the northeast, a massive mountain range stretched, seeming to brush the sky.

That range extended not only east of our fortress but also past Urke's territory, stretching long and far.

The new territory lay beyond those mountains, and was south of our current fortress.

If we traveled via Urke's territory from the fortress, the distance would be much greater.

Even on the Urke side, one must cross the mountains, but that route is relatively less rugged.

The villagers take that way when migrating and for transporting building materials.

We raced on through the biting wind.

I thought the horses' speed was slowing due to the piled snow, but it turned out that wasn't the reason.

"Young master! Over there!"

Donnie pointed.

In the distance, on a hill, a pack of wolves was running in a line.

"They're Hader wolves!"

"They're following us!"

Even if I couldn't see, I knew 'Loki' was tailing us.

It was the same feeling as when I first connected with Loki in the western mountains.

Those wolves must have sensed we were moving and approached after staying quite far from the fortress all winter.

Wundbark and the Elin siblings gazed at the wolves in wonder.

"Do they know we're relocating and are following us?"

"They're probably just following for fun!"

"They look like excited puppies!"

"Hahaha!"

The knights riding alongside Lok's horse laughed.

From a distance, they really did look like giddy pups out for a long-awaited walk.

Up close, however, they were terrifying.

"We're entering the mountains!"

We were headed not for the highest peaks but for the spur closest to the fortress. It took about three hours to reach by horse.

/ / /

A sheer cliff.

Everyone glanced up at the cliff as we moved.

"Over here! There's a gap just big enough for one person to squeeze through!"

Everyone hurried.

This stretch was too steep for horses, so we'd been on foot for about twenty minutes.

Where the group gathered, there was a cleverly hidden ravine.

A herb gatherer from the house had discovered this gorge two years ago, which ultimately inspired the plan to build a new territory.

The gap was remarkable.

Who would imagine there was a hidden door in one corner of a towering cliff?

Three decades of recurring cold snaps must have split the ground here with a thunderous crack ages ago.

Originally, the gap was too narrow for a person to pass, but the advance party had widened it a bit.

One by one, we slipped into the crevice. There was a deep rift in the floor, but it was covered with ice, so we didn't fall in.

Once through the long gap, we emerged into a fairly broad valley.

Donnie spoke up.

"Follow this valley up and it's a safe crossing over the range. There are a few waterfalls, but as long as we install ladders, there'll be no problem."

Wundbark, looking around, said,

"We'll need to camouflage this gorge a bit."

"Or even create a passage at the base of the cliff. There's plenty of room inside the rock itself."

Urald also weighed in.

He suggested burrowing a tunnel into the cliff and installing a concealed door. This gorge was still a bit too noticeable as is.

Donnie called out again.

"Herb gatherers, go ahead and set up the support ropes!"

"Yes, sir!"

Three herb gatherers swiftly scrambled up the valley.

The valley only bore traces of where water once flowed; no water ran now.

The course must have changed at the waterfall sites.

I'd wondered if such a rugged mountain could be crossed, but it seemed easier than expected, thanks to the valley carving a gentler path through the landscape.

Since the valley wasn't a straight route, we sometimes came upon ledges, where we planned to carve stairs into the cliff sides.

After maybe two hours on foot—

At last, a waterfall appeared. Though not large, the thick walls of ice were a sight to behold.

Nearby were traces of a landslide, which had altered the watercourse. Frozen streams stretched down to a different valley below.

"We'll take this way around!"

We climbed up the ridge beside the waterfall, gripping ropes.

Then we trudged on in silence through the harsh climb.

We passed dangerously close to cliffs sometimes, and lowered ourselves on ropes at other points.

But since we were cutting through mountain gullies, the way was mostly manageable.

Had we climbed for about three more hours?

Finally, some semblance of a path appeared.

The Silk Road has Himalayan crossings; the path we were on was like that.

Everywhere around us rose towering mountains, like an endless Everest.

"We've crossed the hardest part! From now on, the ground is suitable for horses! Once you cross that tributary you can see over there, you'll arrive at the destination!"

I looked to the eastern fork the herb gatherer pointed at. It wasn't as tall as the ranges we'd crossed, but it was just as treacherous.

I said to Donnie,

"This looks like a good spot for the first base. Build a stable and a cargo warehouse here."

Urald also spoke up.

"From what I saw coming up, it'd be better to install the elevator platform on a steeper cliff over there, rather than where we crossed."

"That would shorten travel, right?"

"Of course. It'll cut it in half. Plus, it's a shortcut anyway."

The Dran tribe, having seen for themselves, adjusted the location for the elevator platform.

It wouldn't be as tall and grand as the ones we saw at the western Dran village.

We again walked along the goat-trodden path.

From here to the eastern tributary of the range would take about two hours on horseback.

/ / /

Another rugged ascent began.

This part was strewn with rocks.

Even though we crossed through one of the lower sections rather than the peak, it was tough.

The sky was awash in red.

We'd set out in the morning, but the sun was already setting.

A short winter day.

"There it is!"

"That must be our new territory!"

"Oh! It's truly wonderful!"

"Wow!"

Those who climbed to the ridge ahead of us erupted in exclamations. Bellen and Lok also climbed up before me, mouths agape in awe.

"Wow! It's huge!"

"Elder sister! It's the sea! Out there in the distance!"

I climbed onto the rock where the group was gathered.

In an instant, the view opened wide like a forest parting.

Far below in the distant mist lay a wide plain. In the center was a small hill and forest, and all around, a river flowed.

Tall mountains formed walls around the flat lands, with only the river's lower course open.

At the end of the lower course awaited the sea.

It was even better than I had imagined.

That plain was south of the fortress. The eastern range blocked the polar chill, so even the temperature seemed different.

Urald said with a laugh,

"This is truly fertile land."

"You can tell?"

"Just look at the animals living on the plain. It means food is abundant. The wild animals are grazing, which means the ground hasn't even frozen."

Everyone broke into brilliant smiles at his words. There's nothing better than fertile territory.

Thanks to the mountains, even the thirty-year big freeze probably won't reach here.

No one wanted to leave; they just admired the far-off land below. Birds wheeled in the sky.

There were said to be no monsters or predators—truly a paradise.

"If we go via Urke's territory, do we have to cross that mountain there?"

"Yes. We'll build a mountain fortress on that peak. And we'll build a castle at that forest in the middle of the plain."

"Hmm. Lots of wood and plenty of farmland—it's truly a blessing."

Wundbark and the Elin siblings hugged as they looked out across the plain.

They must have felt overwhelmed at the prospect of a new life on such land.

"We camp on this hill! The descent is treacherous, so we leave at sunrise tomorrow!"

The group unpacked and set up tents. Some started preparing dinner, others lit fires at various spots.

Before long, the sun set.

Laughter never left the group's faces as they shared freshly cooked food.

/ / /

At sunrise, we began our descent.

I had expected it to be hard, but it was even tougher.

There were many cliffs, and the slopes were so steep the descent was truly perilous.

Which also meant it would be difficult for an enemy to launch an assault.

We'd use the elevator platform to move up and down in the future, anyway.

The closer we got to the plain, the more beautiful it was.

The air was as warm as if spring had arrived, and there was not a single monster to be seen.

The mountains surrounding the plain looked even more formidable from below than from above, and the winding river would provide drinking water for the territory. It would also serve as a moat to stop enemy charges.

"The land is much larger than it looked from above. There's plenty for farmland, orchards, even ranches."

Nodding, I looked east.

Morning mist shrouded the sea at the river's lower reaches.

"Anything new you've learned about that sea?"

"Only stories that it's a sea cursed by blizzards. The shore's calm here, but farther out it's probably that kind of sea."

If you followed that eastern sea, you'd reach the Aindel continent, home of the Elin race.

The blizzard sea was probably the result of some being's magic barrier.

The western sea. The polar sea. And the eastern sea. Every route to Aindel by sea was cursed.

This new territory was likely the closest route to Aindel.

On the other hand, it would be nearly impossible to reach Beltern or Ta-iki Island by passing that sea.

Squelch, squelch.

We finally reached the plains. My feet sunk deep into marshy ground. There were plenty of fish in the river.

Everyone crossed cautiously. The deepest part of the river reached up to my neck, but the water was surprisingly warm.

We crossed and climbed onto dry land. Frightened animals scattered. Birds soared freely above.

We walked straight toward the center of the plain—the highest spot in the area, where the castle would go.

We would also build an outer wall around the castle and homes.

Just walking to the center took nearly an hour. Once at the heart of the hill, everyone looked around.

It truly felt like paradise.

Could there ever be better land than this?

You could be self-sufficient, and no army could invade such terrain.

It was much closer to the south than from the fortress.

Where the fortress stood there had only been wastelands, but here, everything was rich.

Resources abounded.

It seemed everyone was thinking the same thing.

Urald and Wundbark. Donnie and the Berserkers. And the knight order and engineers.

Every member from every house looked my way.

"Is this... really our land?"

"Yes. This is the land we're going to live on."

Everyone looked around the surroundings again.

It seemed no one could believe it, even seeing it with their own eyes.

Fertile land. Clean water. Mountain breezes and the smell of grass. Peaceful animals wandering. A clear sky.

All of it seemed set apart from the rest of the world.

And radiant sunlight.

The sunlight was the same as always, yet today, it felt strangely holy—carrying some mysterious force of fate.

From the moment I first arrived in this world, I'd always felt the sense that some vast being was watching over me.

But now, at this very moment.

That force was stronger than ever.

So perhaps this land is—

Maybe this is the very reason I was brought to this world.

It most certainly is not coincidence.

Just that, for now, I do not know what it is.