Goblin Knight - Chapter 343



Only Noblemtl

EP.343 Once Upon a Time (22)

Two months of severe cold.

At the same time, it is one of the place names in the bundle of stories that Anneli tells, and it is said to be the harshest winter she has ever experienced.

A period of extreme cold that lasts only two months, when even your breath freezes and falls to the ground.

The Fairy Godmother, and one of the four witches, along with the more recently heard ‘Growling Shack’.

Having heard all three explanations so far, Blanc had always wondered: ‘What exactly are these two months of severe cold?’

Nellyvia seemed to understand the question and began to explain in more detail.

“First of all, the area where the two-month cold spell rages is ‘somewhere’ in the northern part of the continent, but south of our territory.”

“Where? Don’t you know the area?”

“It’s a large area that can cover an entire region, but… it’s not like it’s a specific region’s abnormal climate. It’s more like a han.”

“one?”

“A woman’s sorrow.”

Nellyvia said, looking north.

“Have you ever met a powerful evil spirit? Not just one that goes crazy wanting to have a new body, but one that overturns the rules of the world and leaves scars on the world.”

“… … I’ve met you before.”

“Oh, really? Every time I ask you something just in case, you answer as if you already know everything. How long have you been alive? At this rate, you’ll probably see the dragon.”

“… … .”

“Anyway, it is said that the two months of severe cold are one of those evil spirits.”

“Are you sure?”

“The stories about your witches are almost all like that. Few people have seen them directly, and even if they have, they are mixed with other false information and cannot be distinguished, so they are just wild speculations.

The Fairy Godmother of the East, who is said to have emerged from a fairyland, the Grumbling Hut of the South, who is said to have seen other worlds being eaten, the Iron Seeker of the West, who is said to know all things, and the North… … .

“The woman walking through eternal winter, two months of bitter cold.”

Blanc flinched.

Because I had heard somewhere Nellyvia’s words about walking through eternal winter.

– Our only chance of victory in the coming war. Our last hope. The one who walks through eternal winter. The most noble purple gem.

– Her name isn’t Annelly.

-His name is-

Blanc looked at Nelivia without realizing it.

Nellyvia, who failed to catch his behavior, continued speaking.

“According to legend, she was a beautiful woman with long, white hair and ice-cold blue eyes.

Every year when winter comes, it suddenly appears and freezes the northern land with bitter cold. It is said that it is the embodiment of a woman’s anger, sadness, and resentment in winter.

“The bitter cold is the sorrow of losing a lover, and the reason it appears and wanders is to find the lost lover. I just can’t relate to it… … .”

What came to mind was a story of a frozen dream.

The sorrow of an old man, filled with regret and loneliness, even if it was through the power of a shoemaker, was enough to freeze a city.

Could two months of severe cold be another story of that kind?

A tragedy where a woman who lost her lover ends up becoming an evil spirit that freezes the world after failing to find salvation like the Viscount Evernage?

But then why is its name the same as Nellyvia’s?

‘Coincidence… …could it be?’

Listening to Nellyvia, it sounded like the two months of severe cold were something that no monster, not even the Demons, could dare to do anything about.

It might not have been strange to call Nellyvia, their only hope in the coming war, ‘the strongest being they know’.

It was also said that two months of severe cold had a refreshing effect.

Aren’t Annelies’ eyes and Nelivia’s eyes a color that is far from ‘ice-cold blue’?

It might be a bit of a leap to think that there is some kind of relationship between the two, just because they have the same title…

“In about a month, it will be her season to visit. If you’re heading north anyway, it won’t be difficult to enter her sphere of influence.”

“I understand. But the cold… Is it just the cold? Is that enough to shake off the pursuers’ pursuit?”

“It’s just cold. It’s just too much.”

Nellyvia declared, her body trembling as if recalling a past memory.

“I once stepped into that sphere of influence, under my mother’s protection. The cold there… is not something that can be overcome by fanaticism. Not even the thickest furred beast could last three days there.”

“I see.”

“And that applies to us too. Even with my magic and your cloak, it would still be suicide. So, stepping into her territory should be your last option.”

Nellyvia finished explaining.

Blanc nodded, chewing on all the stories with a hint of doubt.

You can understand it as the level of risk involved in entering the shimmering land without meeting the merchant Gilan.

… … It seemed like something I should never do, but in reality, I had already done it once, so there was no reason why I couldn’t do it twice.

“That’s enough. Then… let’s get up.”

“Huh? Why? I’m resting now… … .”

“We’ve already left too many traces. We don’t know when the Executor will wake up and come after us, so there’s no reason not to leave now that we’ve had our minimal rest.”

“… … .”

“If it’s too hard to evacuate me to a far place, tell me now. I still have enough energy to carry you-”

“Wha, how rude! You want me to ride on your back? Are you treating me like some little child!?”

“I see.”

I don’t really know what the criteria are for feeling rude.

But the way she blushed and refuted was so similar to Annely’s that Blanc couldn’t help but laugh and stomp on the bonfire.

Originally, it would have been right to erase even the traces of their stay, but now there was no room for that.

Blanc, who had packed up his things and jumped up the tree, hoping that the pursuers would see this obvious trace and think it was a trap instead.

“Then, come up.”

“… …Why are you going there?”

“Isn’t it natural that there are fewer traces on the tree than on the ground? By the way, I have no intention of leaving footprints in the dirt or breaking bushes to move forward.”

“… … .”

“What are we going to do, Princess Mongma? If you don’t want to be carried, I can carry you… but wouldn’t that be a bit rude?”

“You… you… Only at times like this do I call you a princess… … .”

Nellyvia blushed with shame and trembled, then muttered in a very small voice.

“… … Carry it.”

“I will serve you.”

When Nellyvia got on, her bandaged abdomen started to feel a little tingly… but it wasn’t a big deal.

Blanc took up a position on a branch and began to run towards the darkness of the forest.

“Hurry up! Goblin, hurry up! What if you bump into something or break a branch?”

“I appreciate your concern. Don’t worry, the treetops are the goblins’ territory.”

“Is this such a problem!? How can something this heavy run up a tree at this speed!!”

“Just step on the branches that won’t break!!”

Blanc stepped on a sturdy branch and jumped high.

Just as the leaves struck his face dozens of times, the night sky emerged from the shadows of the forest.

I heard Nellyvia let out a small exclamation from behind me.

“It feels different from what I saw from up there. Were those moons really that far away?”

“That’s a sentimental sentiment. But right now, I’m not trying to show you a nice view.”

“What? What the… Hiyak!?”

Blanc, who had figured out the direction by looking at the stars in the sky, immediately turned toward the north.

The circumstances have changed, but the destination has not.

Sister Derk’s hometown, Broken Moon Village.

There, you can repair your wounds and armor, and ask for advice if you can… then head further north.

Although we don’t know how they will react to seeing Blanc and the powerless Nelivia, we can’t help but believe Sister Derk’s words that they will welcome them warmly.

‘Wait. Now that you mention it… … .’

As I thought about what was to come, things I had forgotten because I was so impatient came to mind.

Blanc said without looking back.

“Mongma. Do you remember what we were talking about earlier?”

“a moment ago?”

“The story about the ‘talentless children’ you were talking about just before the Executors attacked. You were cut off just as I was about to ask you to elaborate.”

“Aha. There’s no need to go into detail. The church took these ignorant country bumpkins who knew nothing because they ‘found a talent for the priesthood.’ That’s all.”

“… … .”

“But what good is that now? Aren’t we being chased? We don’t have time to worry about such trivial discomfort.”

Nellyvia said nonchalantly.

And… it was true.

In a series of stories, there was an unnatural sense of discomfort, but there was no particular clue that it would immediately lead to tragedy.

The children involved also did not want Blanc’s intervention until the matter was over. They even thanked him for taking them to church.

Even if by any chance it were a well-constructed tragedy, as Nellyvia said, there was no room for intervention.

Just caring about it was a waste of energy… … .

“… … You’re right. For now, it would be best to just think about your own safety.”

“So, why on earth-”

“what?”

“No… no. Nothing.”

Nellyvia, who was about to say something, trailed off.

After tilting his head once, Blanc shook off his distracting thoughts and started running up the tree again.

Towards the North.

* * *

– Click, click! Squeak, squeak squeak squeak!!

– Tick, tick! Tick… tick tick tick!!

– Sizzle, kick! Kii… Kick!!

‘Hey… long…?’

When the blue enforcer who had lost consciousness opened his eyes.

He found himself in a dark hole of unknown origin, surrounded by countless rats.

He immediately tried to grab his sword and fight back, but of course the sword was not in his hand… and since his arm was broken in the first place, he couldn’t even grab the sword.

Although a terrible pain surged from his broken arm, the blue executioner looked ahead silently.

The pain I am familiar with is nothing compared to the pain I am experiencing.

Rather than worrying about that kind of thing, it would be better to… … .

“Who are you?”

The blue enforcer said, glaring into the darkness.

A dark shadow wrapped in a swarm of rats.

A new type of enemy. A monster of a kind never before discovered? Or a mad wizard?

The information that the princess of the Demon Tribe was missing and that she was being escorted by mutant goblins would have been enough for today’s surprise, but now we have a new enemy.

However, it is a sad thing for Yul, who only wishes for peace and stability. He had to punish… … .

… … the shadow answered.

– Even at that point, the first thing you ask is to find out the enemy’s identity. You guys… really, you haven’t changed at all.

“what?”

– No need to answer. Now is the time for us to ask.

A great number of rats climbed the shadows.

Thousands, tens of thousands… no, maybe even more, glowing red eyes surrounded him, shining brightly.

Death is near. The blue executioner, sensing the clear intent to kill, quietly closed his eyes.

This is also the meaning of the decree… … .

– We ask, fellow countrymen of the past.

“……what?”

While being flustered by unexpected vocabulary.

It asked.

– Where are we?