Chapter 21

-----------------------------------------------------------------

Translator: Harry Potta

Chapter: 9-3

Chapter Title: Revelations of Giants

-----------------------------------------------------------------

Around 3 p.m., Count Hunt arrived at the encampment.

In response, the Crown Prince's and Glenn's units began crossing the upper reaches of the Missen River.

The supply train would follow later under Hunt's command, while Glenn's cavalrymen, mounted on horseback, forded the river.

Among those crossing were Jahankun, Edmond, Barts, Noel, and Leona.

Leona crossed the river on foot before mounting her black steed.

As the army marched slowly, a soldier assigned by the Crown Prince led Leona's black horse by the reins.

Barts and Noel, both skilled riders, mounted their warhorses and followed the Crown Prince.

Stan and the scouts took the lead, guiding the way.

The army marched during daylight and, as dusk fell, set up camp for the night.

With the soldier's help, Leona dismounted her black horse.

"It must have been tiring walking all day. Take a rest."

Leona thanked the soldier who had held her horse's reins throughout the march and gently stroked the black horse's muzzle.

"You worked hard too. I'll bring you some carrots later."

After whispering softly to the black horse, Leona approached the Crown Prince.

He was just then speaking with Glenn.

Leona asked Barts to attend to His Highness and quietly slipped away.

As she tiptoed stealthily, Nacha followed close behind her.

"Nacha, shh!"

Leona moved covertly with Nacha.

The soldiers were all busy preparing the camp.

Spotting one fetching water, Leona asked him where it could be found.

"There's a spring if you head that way."

"Thank you."

Leona led Nacha in the direction the soldier had indicated.

Pushing through the underbrush, they soon came upon a clear spring.

Leona and Nacha dunked their heads into the spring and drank together.

After quenching their thirst, Leona sat down by the spring, took a deep breath, and savored the air.

The air of freedom tasted incredibly sweet.

Soon, Nacha flopped down onto the ground beside her.

Leona wet her handkerchief with water and wiped Nacha's face.

"Come to think of it, I haven't bathed you since we left the Imperial Palace."

As Leona murmured regretfully, Nacha nodded in agreement.

"I even packed your favorite soap on purpose. What a waste."

Hearing this, Nacha drooped its ears and looked utterly disappointed.

Leona stroked its cheek to comfort it.

"Once the war ends, we'll go straight to a stream and give you a bath. How's that?"

"Purruk."

Nacha perked up and wiggled its hips excitedly.

Seeing this, Leona burst into a cheerful laugh.

As she lounged there with nothing to do, the thoughts she had been suppressing began to fill her mind one by one.

War, the secret pact, the 13th Har—various ideas tangled together until the 13th Har's words to the Crown Prince suddenly came into sharp focus.

'Once the war ends, we plan to head northeast.'

It was an odd statement.

Why bother telling the Crown Prince their postwar plans?

As Leona's thoughts deepened, Nacha pricked up its ears and turned to look behind them.

Leona followed suit and glanced back.

But there was nothing there.

Puzzled, she tilted her head—when suddenly, the sound of footsteps rang out.

"Who's there?"

"It's me, Lady Leona."

The voice belonged to Edmond.

"Lord Edmond. Here for a drink?"

"Ah... no, I..."

"I've had my fill. Come, have some."

As Leona made room for him, Edmond waved her off.

"Please stay put. I wasn't here for water—I was patrolling the area and scouting paths."

"I see. Don't go too far. It's easy to get lost once it gets dark."

"Yes, ma'am."

Edmond brushed past Leona, only to stop right beside her.

"Um..."

"Yes? Speak freely."

"May I rest here a moment too?"

The man's face looked troubled as he made his request.

Though puzzled, Leona didn't show it and agreed readily.

"Of course. It's a fine spot to rest."

"Thank you."

Edmond sat down neither too close nor too far from Leona.

He seemed lost in thought, brooding over something.

Leona left him be and quietly stroked Nacha's fur.

Nacha closed its eyes and leaned into her touch.

"Fascinating."

Edmond suddenly addressed Leona.

"Pardon?"

"I've heard Katago Tribe horses only heed their masters and no one else. Yet His Highness's horse seems quite fond of you."

"Ah... well, it is."

"What's the secret to taming a Katago Tribe horse?"

Leona recalled her time with Nacha and shook her head.

"I never tamed Nacha."

"You didn't?"

"Nacha came to me first. So... it's more like Nacha tamed me."

Nacha nodded in agreement with Leona's words.

Edmond gaped blankly before letting out a chuckle.

"Haha... I never thought of it that way. You're quite unique, Lady Leona."

"Am I?"

"Yes. ...Maybe that's why."

Edmond trailed off in a low mutter.

"Why what?"

"Nothing. Just thinking aloud about something else."

Silence returned.

Leona didn't press the conversation and instead admired the forest scenery.

For some reason, it felt like Edmond had sought her out intentionally from the start.

"Lady Leona."

Sure enough, Edmond spoke up again.

Leona turned to him attentively.

"I have one close friend. Or rather, calling him close is a bit of a stretch. To him, I'm probably just some passing acquaintance."

"But you consider him a close friend."

"Sadly, yes. He's... cynical and pessimistic about everything, whether from his upbringing or innate nature. Yet he has this pull that draws people in. They end up liking and relying on him naturally, even if he doesn't want it."

"Ironic."

"Haha... exactly. Knowing full well he finds it annoying, I dragged him into all sorts of schemes. His power and abilities were so remarkable... I could pursue my goals freely. It was thrilling and joyful. So I assumed... he enjoyed our ventures too. That he'd changed for me, become a true friend."

Seeing Edmond's face darken with gloom, Leona asked,

"But he hadn't changed?"

"No... he hadn't. Neither had I, nor our other friends, nor our achievements. None of it meant anything to him."

"That must have been a shock."

Edmond gave a wry smile.

"Not really a shock—I'd sensed it vaguely. Just... lonely."

"I see..."

The more Leona heard, the deeper her suspicions grew. She couldn't fathom why he was confiding in her.

"Lady Leona, suppose..."

Edmond cut himself off and fell silent.

As Leona looked at him questioningly, he stared back intently.

"Lord Edmond?"

"Suppose he were your friend. How would you change him?"

Leona pondered the question before countering,

"Why wish to change a friend? Shouldn't you accept them as they are?"

Struck to the core, Edmond was speechless for a moment.

"...You're right. A true friend should be accepted as is. But... I'm desperate. I need his power, but he's refusing to help me now. Even a little attention would suffice... but he shows none. I have no idea how to get his aid. That's why I sought your advice."

Desperation shone in Edmond's voice and eyes.

Leona remained puzzled, wondering what about her prompted this.

Under his fervent gaze, she reluctantly replied,

"Asking me won't help... I don't have many friends..."

"What would you do if you were me? How would you win him over?"

"If it were me..."

Leona imagined the scenario.

If she were as desperate as Edmond, truly needing a friend's help...

"I'd use everything at my disposal to corner him."

"Pardon?"

"You say you desperately need his help. How desperate? Enough to utterly betray your friendship? Is your issue more important than he is?"

"Th-that's..."

"If it is, abandon the friendship. Maneuver him into a position where he has no choice but to help. As the famed genius of the northwest, Lord Edmond, you could devise such a plan yourself."

Leona advised earnestly.

Edmond stared blankly, unresponsive.

Moments later, he let out a hollow laugh that escalated into roaring guffaws.

He clutched his stomach and rolled on the grass.

Leona watched in bewilderment.

"H-how... haha, I never thought of that... haha... you're truly one of a kind, Lady Leona."

Gasping for breath amid laughter, Edmond spoke.

Leona pondered if there was anything amusing in her words.

Edmond buried his face in the grass to catch his breath.

"Haha... choosing between friend and world..."

As his laughter subsided, he straightened up and bowed politely to Leona.

"Thank you. For the advice."

"Did it help?"

"Yes. Regrettably, I lack a way to corner him—his abilities are too superior. But at least I've made my resolve. I didn't realize how much I truly like the guy."

"So... you've chosen not to seek his help."

"Yes. I'll do what I can on my own first."

"Wise choice."

Leona smiled softly.

Edmond gazed at her quietly before blurting out,

"Please take good care of him."

"Pardon?"

Edmond clapped a hand over his mouth with an "oh no" expression.

"Nothing. Slip of the tongue. Forget it."

Edmond bowed to Leona and departed.

As he wandered the surrounding woods alone, Edmond recalled his earlier conversation with Kamin.

"Since when have you worried about me? I'll handle it, whether I can or not. Out with it!"

Pressured relentlessly by Edmond, Kamin finally spoke.

"The Yetaku Tribe says 'Yora's Necklace' holds her power. They want it back for their rituals."

"What ritual...? Wait."

Edmond paced gravely before Kamin.

"Impossible. If Yora's power lingers in her necklace, that means it was her ritual tool."

"So?"

"Ritual tools are extensions of the shaman's body. They contain the essence of their power—the soul itself. They believe their shamanic abilities reside in the soul, so a portion of it inhabits the tool. Thus, the Yetaku recover that essence before death to wield full power in rebirth."

"You know quite a bit about the Yetaku."

As Kamin murmured in surprise, Edmond explained gloomily,

"I learned while investigating Jahankun's identity. Anyway, it's nonsense for power to remain in a dead Yora's necklace. Are they deceiving you?"

Kamin shook his head lightly.

"Yora didn't just die—she was annihilated. She sacrificed her life and body to revive her guardian."

"Then her power might linger in the necklace. But only the shaman herself can use a ritual tool, right?"

"I don't know the principle, but they'll use it as a medium to amplify their ritual power."

"What ritual do the Yetaku plan for it?"

"...Barrier ritual."

"Barrier? To protect what?"

"Their tribe."

"...From what?"

Edmond instinctively knew this was the crux.

Sure enough, Kamin hesitated before answering.

Edmond waited patiently.

Finally, Kamin spoke.

"The Giant Tribe. The Yetaku need Yora's Necklace to survive the Giant Tribe's invasion."

Edmond was so stunned by the unforeseen revelation that he couldn't process it for a while.

"Wh-what...? What nonsense... Such a tribe doesn't exist!"

"The Giant Tribe. You know, from the legends?"

"Legends, yes. They don't exist in reality."

"The Emperor's lineage is that of the Guardian. Until just a century ago, the Emperor carried the Guardian's scent. Is that not real either?"

"That's... well..."

Edmond stammered, then tore at his hair.

"The Giant Tribe... exists...?"

"Yes."

"Their invasion is coming? When?"

"In four or five years."

Edmond jerked his head up.

"The anomalies happening now—are they connected to them?"

"Correct."

"How? If Giants exist, why not invade immediately? How do the Yetaku know all this?"

"One question at a time."

Kamin gripped Edmond's shoulders to calm him.

Edmond took deep breaths to sort his jumbled thoughts.

"Alright. First... how did the Yetaku learn of this?"

"They foresaw this crisis a century ago and migrated near the northeastern ice lands to monitor it."

"A whole century ago? Wait—that's when..."

"The Guardian's scent vanished."

Edmond rubbed his forehead, deep in thought, murmuring,

"Right. Legend says the Guardian gained the scent and drove off the Giants. But why wait a century? Why not invade right after the scent faded?"

"Legend says the Giants fled to the ice lands to avoid the Guardian. Then the Guardian erected a massive ice wall to keep them from returning."

"Yes."

"Never wondered why? Why not exterminate them but let some escape?"

"True... why spare them?"

"Not spared—couldn't."

"Couldn't...?"

"Some Giants survived no matter how fiercely the Guardian swung the White Sword. Forced to, the Guardian herded them to the continent's harshest ice lands and sealed them in solid ice. That's the ice wall."

Kamin gazed toward the distant northeastern sky as he continued.

"Once the Guardian's scent faded, the ice wall began melting. Even in the frigid ice lands, the wall imprisoning the Giants steadily thawed. They're still encased, but after a century, their aura is leaking out, affecting the continent."

"So... the four or five years you mentioned is until the ice fully melts?"

"Yes."

Edmond shook his head vehemently, rejecting it all.

Kamin watched impassively.

Moments later, pale-faced, Edmond asked,

"How do you know all this?"

"...A few years ago, curious about the legends, I visited the ice lands. I stumbled into a Yetaku barrier ritual. They recognized my status and saved me. In exchange for showing me the ice wall, I swore to grant one request later. That's why I'm here now."

"You've seen the ice wall...?"

"...Yes."

"Seen them...?"

Edmond's voice was hoarse.

Kamin nodded curtly, face expressionless.

Edmond almost asked what it was like but held back—more urgent questions pressed.

"Can't the Yetaku stop the Giants?"

"They can barely contain the leaking aura now."

"Even with Yora's Necklace?"

Kamin shook his head.

"It might only barrier a small village. Even then, unsure against Giants. The Yetaku aren't optimistic."

Edmond fell into despair, dazed.

Kamin offered no comfort, merely instructing coldly to suppress rumors.

Edmond replied weakly,

"We'll seal our side's info... but shouldn't we tell the Katago? They need to know this war is pointless."

"They already do."

"They do?"

Kamin briefly recounted meeting the Katago 13th Har while rescuing Leona.

"The Katago see this as the Giant Tribe's curse?"

"No idea how, but they're close to the truth. 'Giant Tribe's Curse.' Sounds plausible, no?"

Kamin sneered coldly.

"Why accept the truce then? No need for this charade."

"Deal with the Emperor. Promised to crush the barbarians thoroughly—gotta keep up appearances, or that sly fox might back out."

Edmond agreed, leaning against a tree as dizziness from successive shocks hit him.

Kamin turned away.

As he moved to leave, Edmond hurriedly asked,

"What will you do?"

Kamin paused, back turned.

"About what?"

"Just watch until it happens?"

"What choice is there?"

"Only the Guardian can stop the Giants."

Kamin turned with a icy expression.

"I'm not the Guardian."

"You inherited part of that power."

"No scent."

"True, no scent—but your power could stand against the Giants!"

Kamin scoffed briefly and coldly.

"Stand against them? My power's child's play compared to theirs. I'd be minced meat in an hour."

"How do you know without trying?"

Kamin turned fully.

"I just know. I can tell."

His voice rang with certainty; Edmond couldn't protest.

Edmond ended his recollection watching his friend's retreating figure.

He took deep breaths to steady his turbulent mind.

He resolved to assess the situation coldly and rationally.

He agreed with Kamin on suppressing information.

First, quash rumors of anomalies; then plan countermeasures.

Sorting his thoughts, he slowly headed back to camp.

If the Giants were the cause, Kamin held the key to the solution.

But Edmond vowed not to cling or whine anymore.

His talk with Leona had awakened him.

He'd been cowardly.

Calling him friend while resenting and leeching.

At the camp entrance, Edmond encountered Kamin.

With escorts present, Edmond bowed formally.

"Your Highness."

"Mm."

As Kamin moved past, Edmond spoke up.

"Your Highness, if our Imperial forces win the next battle, might this humble one withdraw without further service and return home?"

Kamin looked surprised.

But without probing reasons, he consented.

"Good thinking."

"Yes. I've realized my duties for Your Highness lie elsewhere. Thus, I take my leave."

"...Is that so?"

"Yes, Your Highness."

"Do as you will."

Kamin replied indifferently and passed.

Edmond watched his back with a bittersweet smile.

The next afternoon, the Crown Prince's party arrived at Makia's camp.

Dismounting immediately, the Crown Prince summoned the commanders and declared a major offensive against the Katago Tribe.

The date set for the full assault: two days hence.

He ordered securing attack routes by then and delegated remaining command to Makia.

Viewing it as a vote of confidence, Makia conferred intently with the commanders on strategies.

The Crown Prince listened quietly before adding one note: if the Katago retreated, beware ambushes or traps—don't pursue rashly.

Makia and the commanders incorporated this into their detailed plans.

That same night, the 8th Har 'Yarin' paced restlessly alone in the dark woods, hands behind his back. His guards kept watch at a distance.

Soon, a black shadow approached Yarin.

The guards intercepted first to verify identity.

It was one of the 8th Har's subordinates.

The guards stepped aside.

Yarin urgently beckoned the subordinate closer.

[How did it go?]

The subordinate whispered into Yarin's ear.

Yarin listened intently, breath held.

His face hardened, breathing grew ragged.

[Secret pact...? No wonder they dawdled after announcing withdrawal...!]

Yarin ground his teeth, muttering lowly.

Swallowing rage, he asked,

[Is this intel reliable?]

The subordinate scanned around, bowed deeply.

[Certain. The source is one I've cultivated long-term—a close friend of the 13th Har's guard. He said even he struggled to learn it. Rasin sealed lips tight; the guard was reluctant to tell his friend.]

[So Rasin meeting the Crown Prince is true?]

[Yes.]

Yarin paced agitatedly again.

[If they've already aligned... hard to strike at Rasin in the next battle.]

[Scouts say the 13th Har's forces plan to retreat without engaging once battle starts.]

[No exact pact date?]

[No. They say the Crown Prince's side will contact once we cross the border.]

Yarin spat curses, kicking a tree in frustration.

[Can't let it end like this. Absolutely not...]

The subordinate waited for Yarin to calm, then ventured cautiously,

[8th Har, why not seek his aid?]

[Him...?]

[The 'Outsider.']

[The Outsider...!]

Yarin's eyes gleamed coldly.

The subordinate gauged his mood and pressed,

[He provided Imperial intel and the war's blueprint, didn't he? He won't want the war ending like this.]

Yarin recalled first meeting the Outsider.

Half a year prior, unexplained water source contamination had peaked tribal anxiety.

Katago leadership clashed sharply over responses.

Moderates urged aid from the Empire and other tribes for peace; radicals demanded raiding border regions, refusing Imperial submission.

Succession tangled with it too.

Moderates backed the 13th Har; radicals the 8th Har.

As Chief 'Han' agonized without favoring either, a secret guest visited the 8th Har's quarters.

Calling himself the 'Outsider,' he offered Yarin top-secret Imperial military intel, urging war on the Empire.

He incited Yarin to reject border gains, marching on the capital to seize all Imperial lands.

Tempting, yet suspicious; the Outsider's motives unclear.

Yarin asked why; he only desired the Empire's fall.

Yarin requested time, verified the intel meticulously—it proved true.

He rushed to Han with it, claiming personal acquisition, pushing invasion.

Expecting solidified succession.

But next day, hopes shattered.

Han declared war, splitting command between Yarin and Rasin.

Yet promised chieftainship 'Han' to the greatest war contributor.

Yarin was disappointed but not crushed.

Confident then in surpassing Rasin for victory.

He accepted Han's terms quietly.

But now...

Yarin trembled recalling his dire straits.

[8th Har...]

The subordinate bowed low, sensing his mood.

Yarin quelled inner fury, coldly weighing the proposal.

[The Outsider's motives are opaque—hard to trust. With my forces so diminished, would he help readily?]

[Our interests align.]

[Hmm... interests.]

[He wants the Empire fallen. A pact between Crown Prince and 13th Har thwarts that. He approached the 8th Har, not 13th, because only you can fulfill his desires. He won't refuse your request—will aid actively.]

[True. True.]

Yarin nodded vigorously in agreement.

[Pact only after border crossing—time and opportunity remain.]

Face flushed with ambition, Yarin ordered,

[Contact the Outsider. Inform him of my plight and the impending pact between Rasin and Crown Prince. Tell him: help me surmount this crisis, and I'll support him fully.]

[Yes!]

Yarin eyed Rasin's camp with greedy malice.

To be continued in Volume 3