Chapter Two: The Difference Between a Kettle And a Brain (Pt.5)

Huh?

We stopped moving forward hurriedly. Sanson moved his hand towards his waist, and I moved mine towards my shoulder, we are ready to pull out our weapons. In front of us there are nine Orcs, one Dwarf and one Elf.

Why are these Orcs wandering round during the day? Anyway, the Orcs are staring at the Dwarf. And the Dwarf is holding a huge tomahawk, stroking the blade and staring back at the Orcs. It reminds me of the tomahawk of Minotaur. The length is not that long, but size of the blade is similarly big.

However, even with such a big ax, the Dwarf can stand in front of nine enemies proudly, he is really amazing. Moreover, these Orcs compared with those we fought against, their bodies are larger, and they look more violent. The Orcs are staring at the Dwarf with angry expressions because of his provocation, but the Elf is actually not looking at any of those two parties, but standing in a distance from those guys and looking at the sky. We actually know this Elf.

"Iruril?"

Because the noise of the stream covered the hoofs beat, they didn't notice us until we got close. Sanson and I immediately jumped off from the horses. Sanson said to Iruril:

"Are you okay?"

Iruril tidied up her hair which got blown by the wind in the valley, and then said:

"We separated just now, and we immediately meet again."

"Don't worry, I will protect you."

"Huh?"

Iruril tilted her head. Sanson tensed up. Then I found that the situation is a bit strange. The Orcs have a overwhelmingly advantage number, but they didn't attack. And the Dwarf is not afraid at all, majestically staring at the Orcs, so it even seems like that the nine Orcs are afraid of the Dwarf. Iruril looked at me and said:

"Huchi, which side will you help?"

Uh... This is really a difficult question.

"I have to find out who needs help first."

Then the Dwarf put down the tomahawk and said:

"Fine now. Plus three, there are fourteen now."

But the Orcs' expression became very strange. One of the Orcs shouted:

"Oink! Then who will be left here?"

The Dwarf giggled with his gruff voice:

"I will kill two of you, how about that?"

"Oink! You and the Elf should be killed!"

Then Iruril stood out.

"No one should undermine the convention."

After she said, both the Orcs and the Dwarf looked at Iruril with unhappy faces. Sanson and I don't know what to do, we got confused. They actually didn't fight. But I don't understand what they are saying.

Karl asked calmly:

"Miss Sereniel, please explain the situation to us."

"Is it the first time you come here? "

"Yes."

"On the Bridge of Dozen, no matter what races you are, you can't fight."

"Can't fight?"

Sanson widened his eyes. Iruril nodded and said:

"It is the wish of the person who made this bridge, so he made the bridge that it will only move when there are twelve."

"Huh?"

Iruril pointed at the valley. We are startled.

The two cliffs are separated by about sixty cubits. However, in that the middle of the air there is a boat floating. No, I shouldn't say that it's a boat, it's just a large square which looks like a raft, there are railings on it, the structure is very simple. The most surprising thing is, it is not supported by any rope or other things, it's just simply floating in the air.

I ran to the cliff with Sanson and looked around, there can't be any hidden device. The thing is really floating in the air. There is just a circle painted on the bottom of the raft, as well as many complex patterns. That should be Magic Patterns... It's Magic!

Iruril continued to explain.

"Regardless of what races, there must be 12 individuals gathered in order to cross the bridge. As long as you can't fly, you have to comply with this rule no matter who you are. So everyone here would not fight."

Karl tilted his head and said:

"Uh... Does it work with twelve of the same race?"

"This doesn't matter though. So human businessmen or Orcs usually come with a team of twelve. But for other races it's not easy to have twelve of them traveling together. So no matter which races of them, they will be waiting here, and then cross the bridge together, and only because of that there won't be any fight here. "

Wow. Absolutely no fight? Well, it really is an amazing place. Karl nodded and said:

"That... The intention was good, but it's a bit inconvenient. If there is no twelve, the bridge is absolutely useless."

"Yes. But here is a busy place, so if you wait for a little while, gathering twelve is actually very easy. Also because of that we met again."

Aha, I know what's the problem.

Originally the Orcs, the Dwarf and Elf had a total of eleven. Therefore, in order to cross the river, although they didn't feel comfortable with each other, they didn't fight, and were waiting for the next person. But now we have three people. So the major problem is that two people must be left behind, and wait again for the next ten people.

During Iruril's explanation, the Dwarf continued roaring, shouting at each other with the Orcs.

"You disgusting jerks! Your should thank that you are on the Bridge of Dozen! Elsewhere, you would have destroyed by me!"

"Oink! How could there be such an ugly, long bearded short dwarf!"

In fact Orcs and Dwarves are impossible to take each other's size to make fun of. But these Orcs are so big that they are unlike Orcs, so they can point at the nose of the Dwarf and call him shorty. On the other hand, the Dwarf can't attack the Orcs in front of him, so he seems like going crazy. He hasn't got any foaming at his mouth, which is very amazing.

"But how can these Orcs walking around during the day?"

Probably heard me talking to myself, Iruril said:

"They are Urcs."

"Urcs?"

"They are known as a kind of Orcs. And it's the name of this branch... They are quite large aren't they? Although they also hate the sun like the other Orcs, they are still able to endure it. So the situation now is very strange. Usually Orcs won't come out during the day, so there wouldn't be any problem and you would be able to cross the river. But now Urcs and Dwarves, the two rivals, meet here."

Karl nodded and then walked away far enough from the Urcs, hesitated to say:

"Excuse me, please listen to me for a few words. Because we are latest, so we'll leave two people here and wait. Is that Okay?"

But the dwarves seems totally not willing to do according to Karl's words. He is swinging his tomahawk rudely, forcing Karl to step back.

"What do you mean? Come on! You leave two people here! Those left here can stay alive. But after crossing bridge, I don't know what will happen to me!"

After listening to the words of the Dwarf, I discovered another problem.

It's the proportion of all races after crossing the bridge. Iruril said very clearly that, no one should fight here. However when the destination is reached, will we still follow the rule? So the Dwarf is calculating a good proportion of races. If we leave two Urcs here, three human, an elf and a dwarf together we have a total of five people, and seven Urcs can cross the bridge. If there will really be a fight, we still have a chance. But if only one of us cross the bridge, the number will be three to nine, we can be in great danger. Although I unconsciously put Dwarves, Elves and Human in the same team, the idea seems to be correct.

Sanson's idea is probably the same as mine. He frowned, pulled Karl over. Although he is whispering with Karl, he's so loud that even I can hear.

"We don't know what the situation will become after crossing the bridge. Three of us have to go together."

"But... Didn't you hear that, no one can fight here?"

"Orcs can't be trusted."

Karl frowned. Then Iruril said:

"Mr Dwarf, excuse me. Did you count these horses?"

Huh? The horses are counted? Well, sure. This is a matter of course. No matter what races should be counted. So, we have seventeen here waiting to cross the bridge? The Dwarf shouted excitedly:

"Right, five of you Urcs can come with me! Which one want to stay?"

"Oink! Nonsense! Human, you are the latest.You stay here with your stink horses, wait here! No, you have to give one horse to us!"

Ah. Everyone is speaking their own language now. Iruril said:

"Absolutely no fight is allowed. That way no one can cross the bridge. We must follow the rule. You have to promise this first, then we can decide who will be staying here."

I think this sentence is absolutely right. However, such a right thing, for the excited Dwarf and Urcs, it looks non-sense.

Headache. If any one of us go with them, that man will be in danger. After we cross the valley, if the Urcs change their mind, he is likely to be attacked by them. I really want to suggest that the six of us (including our horses) must pass together, but we came late, it seems a bit unreasonable.

The Dwarf is very excited, and keeps shouting: "I will take five of your lives, tie the rest with a rope to go over it!" Kind of thing. The Urcs are squeaking, asking us to give up one horse.

What the Urcs thinking is obvious. Which horse is not a problem, as long as they can cross the river, they can deal with the Elf and Dwarf easily.

Although all races are shouting at each other, there is no fight. If we really fight, regardless of who win, they can't cross the river. Because there is no twelve in the same races, in the five races here (Horse is a race too!) we need at least two races to go together. Well.... The man who built this bridge probably had thought of such a scenario! Although we are in this kind of situation, I decided to satisfy my curiosity first.

"In the end who built this bridge?"

Iruril looked at me and said:

"Strange. You actually ask an Elf about human stuffs."

"You make us the three most lack of knowledge men then. Who?"

Iruril smiled. I saw that, and realized that this was the first time I saw her smile.

"A human wizard. Called Tyburn Highseeker."

Then we, the three human's expression became very weird. Karl asked me:

"Nedval, what is last name of Tyburn? "

"Huh? Even Karl doesn't know? I don't know."

Sanson kept blinking with a confused face, and after a while, his eyes again fixed on Iruril's body. Stop staring at her! Really want to kick his leg. I don't know whether Iruril understands that kind of vision or not. She said to me:

"Do you know him?"

"We know someone who is called Tyburn, but we don't know his last name..."

Iruril tilted her head.

"I've never heard human life can be that long. The bridge was built two hundred years ago."

Two hundred years? Then it's impossible. Karl shook his head.

"Sounds that the builder should be another man."

"Maybe."

Chapter One: Riding Towards the Dawn (Pt.15)

I fell and sat down on the ground, looked at the surrounded by dark smoke with the smell of sulfur around,  ten cubits tall humanoid monster. Its head has an even Minotaur has to call it big brother, about one cubit long bighorn. Looking closely, that is actually a horn on its helmet. Its whole body is protected by a black armor. Because it is too black, I can't tell clearly its figure, I can't even distinguish whether it's its skin or the armor. This Balrog guy is holding a double-edged machete with its left hand,  a huge bullwhip with its right hand him. This whip is "Cat o' nine tails" , coupled with sharp metal nails everywhere. In case of being hit by it, you must be busted wide open.

When I was rejoicing that Balrog was with its back to me, it turned its head over. God! It has no face! Under the helmet, all I can see is darkness. The infinite darkness I occasionally saw in a dream.

"The enemy is?"

Balrog seems to be asking Tyburn, but where is its voice coming from actually? I heard the voice coming from the air, so I got panic. Tyburn shouted loudly:

"Ah, stupid! Who else is here besides those taurens?"

"In which way?"

"Extinct!"

Balrog turned back, and slowly began to fly... Huh? Flying? Yes it is flying right. It suddenly opened its dark wings on its back, flew up. I guess its wings is at least twelve cubits long. It gracefully flew up about four cubits, then started rushing toward the taurens. When it is across the air, it issues a rustling sound.

"Roar!"

The taurens are roaring, while waving their poleaxe. But Balrog landed on the ground with a light action, immediately swang its whip, coiled the arm with poleaxe of a tauren. It then pulled strongly.

Squeak! Squeak!

The tauren's arm are pulled down abruptly. It again waved its whip on its right hand, the left hand is however waving in the opposite direction. The machete on its left hand split the tauren into two halves, the whip on its right hand coiled the neck of another tauren again. Balrog started swinging the entangled tauren.

"Cluck!"

Balrog didn't make any cry. It's like a naughty kid playing with a frog, kept flinging the tauren hanged on its whip, the taurens around jumped away. Balrog began to move on. It made the tauren on its whip a meteor hammer and kept swinging, once it brought down a tauren, it would stamp it by feet, and then blunt on its body by the machete. Use 'spectacular' to describe this scene, is a bit too horrible. But the battle is really enjoyable...

"What is that?"

That's not my voice. Don't know when, the guards arrived behind us. The guards saw this strange scene, they are also hesitating. So I quickly explained to them.

"That black guy is summoned by Tyburn! It's our ally!"

Turner in the guards looked confused and said:

"Is it? Really is our ally? I don't want be an ally with it. Isn't that Balrog?"

"Huh? Turner, you know this thing?"

The other guards are also looking at Turner. Turner gazed at Tyburn and said:

"Mr. wizard, I think that's Balrog? Look at the whip, right?"

"Correct."

"Then why would the Demon of the Abyss Maze help us?"

"Didn't Huchi say, I summoned it!"

Turner opened his mouth. The rest of the guards and I are making a crazily curious expression, but Turner is like ignoring us, continued with Tyburn:

"But you are not summoning fairy, it's demon!"

"Hoho, you're not bad. Know the Fairy Summoning of elves."

"This is just common sense... but how can you call it? It's not something you can summon right? Isn't it an existence like every human?"

"You are right. I am just temporarily moving it from the Abyss Maze to here. This is not summoning, just a teleportation."

"Then why would it fight for you?"

"Because we have a deal."

"What.. What deal?"

"Very simple. It agreed with me, to help me destroy the people I want to destory. In another perspective,  I provide him fresh blood. It should now be drawing the blood!"

Unwittingly, Balrog completely eliminated all the taurens. Although there were a few wanted to escape, it listened to Tyburn, made them 'extinct'. Tauren which even dozens of people might not defeat, got got rid of easily.

The last tauren completely burst screams and blood, then Balrog turned over. Looks like it doesn't care what itself just did. It cracklingly opened its wings, flying to here. Seems even the sky became dark.

The soldiers made some cries and retreated, all pulled out their swords. I want to escape too, but my legs are losing control. Balrog landed in front of Tyburn, and then turned it's head toward the soldiers in the back. Its voice came again from the air.

"What about this men?"

I understand the meaning, so I screamed immediately, but the soldiers are tilting their heads. Tyburn said hastily:

"What? You fool. No!"

"Then send me back."

"Why? Got anything to do?"

"Some adventurers entered my maze, I was about to destroy them, then you called me."

"Oh? Ah that... I suddenly can't remember Teleport Wrap."

Balrog instantly raised his tauren-blood-stained whip, I shouted almost like choking. Balrog is although standing like it's going to kill Tyburn, Tyburn who can't see is still giggling.

Balrog is standing there with its raised arm, the soldiers seem to be ready to die, preparing to charge to it. But after a while, Balrog put the whip down.

"Recall it now!"

"Listening to your voice, you are probably going to break those adventurers into pieces once you get back, right?"

Balrog looked down at Tyburn silently for a short while, and then said darkly:

"Listen. Tyburn. You are no longer that Tyburn you used to be. A wizard loses his eyes, is no different from losing his life. I am actually shocked that you are still alive."

Balrog voice seems to hold some substances grazing skin, making me and the soldiers pain. But Tyburn is still answering as usual:

"So?"

"I had to agree with you, because there was no alternative. Blood for violence, this contract is also not bad. But for the present you, I only need one finger, I can eliminate you easily. "

"So what?"

"Send me back now. I am still complying with your agreement, so you also have to treat me in a honorary way."

Tyburn smiled, began to recite the spell, shook his arm, said:

"Go down, unlucky demon. Those adventurers have probably all ran away."

The Balrog disappeared in the dark smoke like how it appeared. There is again an acrid smell of sulfur.

After Balrog disappeared completely, the plain where we are only seems to restore to normal again, there is now the feeling of sun-drenched. When Balrog was here, although the sun was still shining, there was just a kind of feeling of night. Anyway, until it disappeared, I felt safe. I wanted to lay on the floor, but Tyburn immediately called me.

"Come on, my assistant. We have to tidy up the bodies of the taurens. The places they went through, we have to casts the magic traps again."

"Tyburn, my legs can't move now."

"Look, I actually have such a dishonest assistant. Should I replace you?"

"What are you talking about? In the end because of who so that you are still alive?"

"Ah? What does this mean?"

"Just when you were casting, a tauren threw the ax over! If it wan't me blocked it, you probably have been thrown into the ditch!"

Tyburn instantly showed a surprised expression. He asked the soldiers:

"You take a look. Any poleaxe around?"

"There is one."

Turner finished, and ran to pick up the poleaxe I blocked. His face became very confused.

"Very, very heavy huh?"

Tyburn giggled, and then said:

"So, Huchi is actually my savior? Alright! Tell me a wish, I will help you to achieve."

"Really?"

"But you might probably give some absurd wishes, so think about it thoroughly. Get the urgent things done first. What the corpses can attract, are not only flies."

Chapter One: Riding Towards the Dawn (Pt.11)

In fact only a few trolls invaded the granary. The trolls were probably separated into two groups. They let the stronger be in the attack group, and drew the soldiers attention, the weaker caught the chance and went to plunder food. But because of the intervention of Tyburn, their attack group is annihilated. So the soldiers easily cleared the monsters in the granary.

After the things end, like previous order, crying began to come.

I did as the men entrusted, ran to transmit the messages the bereaved families. The girl named Sophia didn't even pretend to listen to me, just kept crying, but the man called Jack held my shoulder and said:

"Thank you, you've done well."

The victims are the three men and the woman they carried. The woman was like injured seriously, died on the way back. Anyway, at least that the woman doesn't need to become a widow, should be in heaven with her husband now. But their children are now ...

Damn!

The soldiers are trying their best to collect the three dead bodies scattered on the road. The trolls slammed them into fragments. But there is also one troll down beside them. Looks like the men fought very thoroughly, and also because the time they bought, the soldiers could arrive before the monsters hurt more innocent.

The soldiers transported their bodies back to their homes respectively, and then cleaned up the corpses of the trolls. I left gently, went to find Jamini with Sanson.

Tyburn is with Jamini, waiting in the tavern "Sindirella's Song". As soon as Sanson and I entered the tavern, we heard a blood-freezing laughter.

"Babble hee hee hee, hee hee!"

Sanson almost pulled out his sword, I became sluggish state like Jamini earlier. Jamini noticed me, waved her hands like dancing and laughed at me. What, laughing at me?

"Ah, it's Huchi? Come... Hee hee hee!"

I staggered, finally approached to the table they are sitting at. Tyburn heard me sitting on the chair then laughed, turned to me and said:

"It's Huchi? You actually have a girlfriend with such a charming laughter. Really happy ha!"

"Bull, Bullshit!"

"Ha ha ha ha!"

This moment, I suddenly feel the actual "want to die" feeling. Due to the affair shortly before, many people came to the tavern to relax, they are beating the tables heavily, issuing the "Cor Cor" sound, and laughing. In particular, Sanson is opening his mouth widely, exaggeratedly laughing. Jamini saw it, don't know what she is happy about, is also laughing along.

"Hee hee ... hee hee hee!"

I stared at Jamini. Surprisingly, that Merloc... something bottle is on the table, the cup in front of Tyburn is half empty, but Jamini's is completely finished.

"Hey, what are you going to do, you actually let her drink, Tyburn!"

"Alcohol has been an elixir since the ancient. To help people to forget all worries, troubles, trepidations. Look. For this little girl with charming laughter, this thing is much more effective than my magic, right?"

"Drunk people always think that the words from their mouths are correct."

I snapped my fingers quickly.

"Auntie Hanna! Here want something!"

"You kid, what do you want?"

"Not me, for Sanson! Who do you think I am? A lad who smelt alcohol too early?"

Auntie Hanna smiled, and Sanson ordered a beer. He sat down and said to Tyburn:

"Thank you for your help, I will definitely report to the thane His Honor. Thane His Honor will absolutely give you honorarium. "

"Honorarium? Forget it. You are now busy feeding Cathselprime, and you have to raise fund for the expedition. Or you want to give me lands? Ha ha ha. Give me the cheapest land on the entire continent?"

Looks like Tyburn in these few days, has already well understood our thane.

In fact, our thane is really poor that even I don't want to admit it. Originally all the manors here belonged to our thane, people of the village are tenants of our thane, it was no different from other fiefs. But every time when someone got killed by monsters, our thane would give his bereaved families lands, so that they can make their livings. Nevertheless the bereaved families would eventually sell the land back to the only person here who has the ability to buy land, that is our thane, and then once again become tenants.

Sometimes I wonder, if that's the case, then why didn't thane give them money directly, it should be more easy. However, according to Karl, the land originally belongs to our thane, he can give it away freely. But currency belongs to the king, it can only flow under the King's permission. In other words, the currency metal pieces physically are unconditionally the king's, citizens only use the value of the currency. Although it is getting more headache, in short after the era of the Dragon Lord, money is such a thing. So our thane with his upright personality complies with this principle, doesn't give money but lands, and eventually uses money to buy back the lands. But anyway, he gives away lands and buy them back like this, sure, he wouldn't have any money left.

So now, regardless how much land our thane gives, the people of our village will sell it back with one cent Purcell. If not, our thane had long been bankrupt. Our thane is very angry about this, but we think that we are free to choose how much we want to accept,  to sell how much we want to sell, any need to care what he says? Thus the joke "the cheapest land on the entire continent" rises.

Sanson blushed and answered:

"You're a bit exaggerating."

"Is there something wrong? Listen. I don't have any personal feelings in my words.That's your thane, not my thane."

"Hmm, maybe our thane will hire you as a consultant, not to mention..."

"Official? No way. People in this age, need to go greeting in the morning? It can be very tiring."

Sanson scratched his head.

"Ah, this, I am not so sure. Anyway, I will report this, to let out thane to think of a both appropriate, but also satisfying honorarium."

"I won't stop you from reporting, but could you please at the beginning, tell him that I don't want anything first?"

"Ah, sure."

"So now it's my turn to speak. I have a few questions for you, you don't mind?"

"Ah, feel free to ask."

Tyburn raised his cup and took a gulp, and said:

"The atmosphere of this village, from the thane to the guard captain, and this blind young man with fine eyes, all overwhelmed me. Really interesting."

"What do you mean?"

"The speed for you to forget a tragedy is really fast huh? Even the atmosphere of this tavern is so."

"We are used to it."

This answer is very simple, but this simple answer from Sanson is yet infinitely heavy. I found myself with a sigh.

We often meet scourges, but also quickly forget them. If not, we might be already crazy. We like joking. We live joyfully. But we are not happy.

"Right. Well, I don't know what you think, but I'm very interested in this village. This sort of thing often happens?

"Yes, often happens."

The answer is a bit ridiculous, but it is indeed a Sanson-style answer. What answer Tyburn wanted should be how many times a year, or how many times a month. Tyburn smiled, and asked in another way.

"How many times have you fought?"

"Well... Let me see. When Charles died, I became a guard captain that was the twenty second time. Ah, so probably thirty-fifth or sixth."

I saw Tyburn suddenly made a strange expression.

"Thirty-fifth, sixth?"

Sanson scratched his head, and said hurriedly:

"Ah, I don't know the exact number. It's ridiculous for people like me who play with sword to spend time on this, but because of a feeling, feeling that experiencing more combats, the chance to die in next battle is also higher, so deliberately not to count. Charles fought more than one hundred times, but died shortly after he got the award from our thane. Because I've seen these... If you ask the official historian of the city, he should have the correct record. I can ask today after the report, but..."

"Well, I can understand. You are busy, but I am still bothering you and asking questions, I'm sorry. You may go now."

"Yes, but Mr. wizard, where do you live now?"

"I live in Karl's house."

Sanson said with a surprised face:

"Huh? So you and Karl knew each other?"

"Nope. He said he lives alone, so he welcomed me to live there before I find a house."

"Ah, that. Then I will be excused."

Sanson stood up from the seat, once again bowed to the Tyburn who can't see, and then walked out of the tavern. Now I have another thing to worry.

Jamini don't know when she put her arms on the table, and drilled her head into them, like slept. Seems I must have to take her home. But a few days before she was beaten badly because of drinking, now if she goes back with this red face and keeps giggling, I begin to worry that her hip will again suffer.

Tyburn suddenly somehow said:

"He said thirty-fifth, sixth?"

"Huh?"

"Ah, nothing. Sorry, Huchi. This is a habit of a blind. When he is speaking normally, he can't see the people who are listening, isn't it like talking to himself? So he can be talking himself any time."

"It should be a tiring habit. You mean blinds can speak out their inner hearts freely?"

"If people of your age have this habit, it may be true. But to my age, there is no difference between inner heart and outer heart. Nothing tiring."

"Outer heart? Your words are really interesting. Grandfather Tyburn. Thanks to your blessing, Jamini has completely passed out, what are you going to do to solve it? "

Then Jamini suddenly raised her head.

"I am not drunk! Woo Hee hee hee!"

Wow, I was really shocked. This girl! I thought she fainted. Of course, my mouth began to say a lot of harsh words, and Jamini hummed a few times, and then looked like she felt very noisy, covered her ears, leaned on the table again. I don't want to care about her anymore! Simply go to her home, ask her mother to come here. Hey! What am I thinking? Tyburn said:

"What should I do?"

"Can't you use magics to make her sober?"

Tyburn giggled.

"Make her sober. This makes me think of a wizard story. That wizard was addicted to alcohol, so he could neither spend the time to study and practice magics, nor maintain a clear state of mind. So one day he decided to stop drinking at all, fully concentrated on creating a sober magic. Even the name of the magic was made good, called Cure Drunken. Do you know why did he want to do this? Because he wanted to enjoy drinking, and then use this spell, then he can practice magic also."

"Isn't that very smart?"

"What are you talking about? Smart? No joke. After all this Cure Drunken is a kind of spell. You can't cast any spell under a drunken state, so if he wants to cast, he has to wait until he is sober. So what's the use?"

"Huh? God! He is really stupid!"

I jeered. Tyburn also smiled, poked his long white hair.

"Then what? The wizard couldn't practice magics in the end?"

"No. After that wizard found that he was doing the wrong thing, he found his disciple, taught the magic to him. Then he started to drink happily, asked the disciple to cast the spell on him. Guess what? The disciple became very sober. Since from the beginning, this was a magic that can only be cast on self, rather than a magic that can be cast on the others! "

"Poof, ha ha ha!"

"So the angry wizard and his disciple spent several nights together continuously, tried to amend this Cure Drunken to a spell that can cast on all objects. You know what?"

"What?"

"It's was tough. While the disciple worked with his alcoholic master, at the end became alcoholic too."

"Poof Ha ha ha, ha ha!"

Chapter One: Riding Towards the Dawn (Pt.10)

Whistles. Whistles.

I'm on the way to the castle to see Deacon Hamel. I've made one hundred candles, but that is only my hedge, I don't know how much actually they need. Of course, I can't keep making unconditionally, so I must see Deacon Hamel, or the never met "Operational Commander". But I don't want to recklessly talk to the combatant commanders directly, so it's better for me to find Deacon Hamel to ask them for me.

Whistles. Whistles.

And in addition, I have something else to do. Dad practiced his spear for just two days, now he is lying on his bed, this should also be reported to them. This is definitely not caused by me, I didn't beat him. It's because Dad practiced too hard, so his limbs began to ache. I didn't even try to say anything to comfort him though.

Whistles. Whistles.

Looks like every time I came to the village main road,  the atmosphere here would change, this time I see a lot of vehicles around. Besides my candles, there should be a variety of items need to be prepared for a war. A famous tale said: As Zypern soldiers didn't prepare spoons and knifes, so they starved to death. Of course, I guess in Zypern they must have the same story, only the name of the protagonist would be changed to Vyseus soldiers. How could there be such an idiot army in the world.

Whistles. Whistles.

Although it's just my guess, but the most troublesome one in all the items should be Cathselprime's food. According to news came from the castle, Cathselprime eats five cattle for a meal. Really nonsense. Our thane has just totally ten cattle. If she eats like this, then cattle in our village has probably already extincted. Looking at the passing carriages, they should be carrying a lot of meat. The mint added to the meat inside should be the numerous too? Hehe.

Whistles. Screams.

"What...What the...?"

Because of the sudden screams, I had to stop whistling. The screams are coming from the rear. I quickly turned my head. I see people hastily running, behind there is a woman seriously injured, supported by some men and stumbling forward. One of the men found that this doesn't look good so he put the woman on his back and started to run. The remaining three men then quickly turn back.

I carefully went over and watched. But one of the men saw me.

"Hey, what are you doing! Quickly escape, run!"

"What happned?"

"I don't have time to explain to you, Go! Ah! Go to find the soldiers!"

The man turned away again. At the moment, I knew what happened, but also realized that these men are already ready to die. I turned around and ran into a shop beside.

"Shit! Bring this!"

I found some rakes and pickaxes from the blacksmith shop, threw them to the men. When those farm tools fell to the ground and bounced, they issued harsh noises. Those men smiles and picked up the tools. Whenever this happens, the people of our village would shout a line, and I shouted as usual.

"Any last words?"

Hearing what I said, I myself winced. In fact it's the first time I shouted that. These men showed a face that looks like they want to praise me, smiled and said:

"I've already said, so no. That woman injured is my wife!"

"Please tell Sophia, I am sorry, I cannot comply my promise to her."

"Tell Jack, as what we agreed, tell him please take care of my mom."

These men said quickly. I nodded, then ran away without looking back.

It should be a monster invasion. But what kind of monster is it? Ah, almost forgot! Tell Sophia no way to comply, I am sorry. Tell Jack, take care of his mother as agreed. The man might previously agreed with Jack , who shall die first, another has to take care of each other's mother. I suddenly found that I don't know their names yet. But it doesn't matter. Wait until the end of the incident, if I'm not dead, I will keep hearing their names, to an annoying extent. I don't want to see these people's families shouting their names.

Shit!

Amurtaat, it all because of you, Amurtaat, it's all your fault!

What, you said it's because of Amurtaat, so the survivors here are strong? Damn, stop kidding! You said because we have been psychologically ready for death at any time, so we can smile in the last minute, this is called strong? This is simply worthless!

"Uh, ah!"

I almost slowed down my pace because of the dying screams coming from behind, even to a point that knees are numb and can not run. But no. I am dead if I don't run. I was almost like leaning on the ground to run. At this time;

"Watch out! Huchi!"

I could see something. Weird. Is is because of my tears? What is that thing?

"Sanson!"

I dodged to one side. Sanson pulled his arm to his back, running towards me, and then shot a javelin. Now I clearly see him that because the large momentum, he continued to move forward unsteadily for a few steps. The javelin is flying with terrible speed.

A sound came. A sound of piercing something. A sound of javelin piercing through the flesh and blood.

"Ga lahh lahhhhh!"

Strange screams. That is not a human. I sat on the ground and looked back, I saw a huge body, but my view was immediately blocked. Sanson charged towards that body and stab its belly with his long sword. Above Sanson's shoulder, I can see a broader shoulder and a strange helmet, and a terrifying stone ax aloft. That is a troll. Although the troll's mouth is bleeding, its raised his arm is still violently blowing downwards. But with the stone ax it can never touch Sanson who is already close to its chest, so the troll's action becomes ridiculous. And because of this, the two of them are still close together, and Sanson continued to push forward.

"Ahhhhhhhhhhhh!"

Sanson pushed his sword into the troll body again and continued to forge. The troll's ax fell to the ground, it continued to get pushed hardly. Sanson who has his sworded plugged in the monster, now really gives me a feeling that he has no difference from an Ogre. After about 20 cubits, Sanson pushed his arms violently. Due to the acceleration of the running, the sword is pulled off from the troll, the troll rolled to the ground. In order to stop the troll from regenerating, Sanson chopped its neck several times, then quickly wiped off the flesh and blood on his face, and then looked at me.

"How many are there? "

"I don't know!"

"Then hide quickly!"

I got up and looked at Sanson with a squat posture. Sanson is only looking at the front. Why is he alone? What are his men doing? When I am thinking of this question, a group of people flocked in front of me. It is a group of soldiers. Their presence seems to refute my earlier idea. That six soldiers are standing around Sanson. Sanson said immediately:

"Trolls. One left... Damn! More! "

A lot of trolls appeared in front. Some not them are not holding stone axes. Pickaxe, shovel, rake. Didn't I throw these things to those men? Damn! I rudely rubbed my eyes.

A total of nine trolls appeared. After they saw the soldiers in front of them, they immediately stopped advancing, formed a line in their position. Temporarily entered the confrontation, Sanson seems to be worried. Start to gang fight? The figures are 9 to 7. It's a bit adverse, but still worth a try. However, it not necessary to do this.

"Retreat!"

The soldiers turned back and began to run without looking back. What! I can only hurry up and escape. I can understand the idea of Sanson. Yes we might win, but it would certainly be a large number of casualty. The number of soldiers of our village is often insufficient, once someone died it's very difficult to fill the position again. So he intended to lure those monsters, until the soldiers in the castle join.

Although the trolls were a bit panic, but when they saw the humans in front began to escape, they started to chase instinctively.

"Gah lah lah! Ji ahhh"

I am also running instinctively. The footsteps of the soldiers and the cries of the trolls behind are almost driving me crazy, I suddenly feel like fire is burning inside my chest. Fingertips started losing feeling, and also I can't feel my feet on the ground. But the strange thing is my legs are still moving.

"Ouch!"

I bumped into something and rolled on the ground for a while. Oh, what is this guy looking at, actually not escaping under this situation, and bumped into me? I only know a person who is that stupid.

That is...

"Jamini!"

Jamini seems didn't find herself fallen. After she screamed, she is just watching the trolls rushing in. Hic. Hic. What? Hiccuping?

Jamini is hiccuping, while sitting there blankly. Gu!

"Get up! Hey, you girl, wake up!"

I forcibly pulled Jamini up. God, is she this heavy? Jamini lost all her strength, It's not simple to pull up a paralyzed person like this, I almost fell forward, finally got Jamini up. At this moment, I made an eye contact with Sanson, said tragically:

"Please take care of Jamini. My last words are, although you've been bullied me since I was born,  however..."

Whack! Ouch, my head! Sanson charged to the trolls and shouted:

"Just a little boy, why imitate such a thing!"

Whack! Whack! Whack! Whack! Whack! Whack!

Looks like I will not be killed by a troll, but by them... when the remaining six soldiers passed by me, each of them slapped my head. The soldiers all ran to the trolls. Just run, why slap me?

Because I was slapped badly, so my arm strength naturally relaxed, Jamini then gently slipped down. I am alarmed, again pulled up Jamini. A melee battle is playing in front of us, how could she abuse me like this? This clearly is an abuse. I am snorting, trying to get Jamini on my back, but that just makes me realize that, putting a 17-year-old paralyzed girl on the back alone is not easy. Then suddenly someone from behind helped to lift Jamini, he touched my back, then correctly carried Jamini to the appropriate position.

"Ah, thanks....ah!"

It is not funny, that who lifted Jamini is actually the man who wears a black robe, and is full of tattoos. He is the wizard named Tyburn. His eyes couldn't see, how did he help to lift Jamini? Ah, he touched my back. Tyburn's white eyeballs are moving, quickly said:

"Are they trolls? "

"Yes, you, you are a wizard right? You quickly blow those monsters away! "

"I've heard this voice. You are the blind young man with fine eyes on that day, right? Hey, Huchi, you need to know, you must be able to see, in order to do something like blowing those monsters away."

"Damn! What's the use of this kind of wizard..."

"What about you be my eyes."

I don't want to let Jamini fall, so staggered to find my balance, and then said:

"What did you say?"

"Distance and direction. Fast! "

What do that do? But then a scream came again.

"Uh!"

The leg of one of the soldiers was hit by the iron rake and he fell. That is the eldest one of the brewery's four brothers, Turner. The troll hit him raised its iron rake aloft. Sanson who was blocking a stick of another troll immediately slided his long sword, stabbed the shoulder of the troll taking the iron rake. Turner took the advantage of the troll's wound and stood up. He again grabbed his sword, cried out:

"The price of me, Turner's life,  is three lives of you!"

At the moment I am panicked, I don't know what to do. At this time Tyburn said:

"I've got the direction. Sound really bad. Distance? "

"A....About thirty cubits, but the two sides are mixed..."

"OK!"

Tyburn correctly raised a hand towards the direction where the trolls and the soldiers are fighting. Within a glance, the tattoos on his arm started to emit light. What's going on? The tattoo light became stronger and stronger, after a while, even the tattoos on his neck and cheek started to shine.

Tyburn smiled and said:

"I engraved incantations on my body, use the body as a spell book. You are watching a rare thing."

"What, what?"

Tyburn didn't answer, but began to mutter some strange words that I can't understand. Although I don't know what that is, he read really fast. Won't him bite his own tongue? He suddenly waved his arm upwards to the sky and shouted:

"Detect Metal."

"Protect from Magic."

"Reverse Gravity!"

"Woo ah ah ah!"

"Gah lahhhhh?!"

Thanks to my scared ass fell to the ground, Jamini fell down also. Even the soldiers are all panic, then trolls that got directly hit by the spell, how panic are they?

The trolls are suddenly floating upwards. The soldiers did not float at all. Tyburn can't see, how did he do that? However, three of the trolls did not float also.

Those trolls are showing a panic expression (Maybe, to be honest, I am not confident enough to say that I can correctly describe the expression of trolls) looking at their partners flying to the sky. Sanson is also showing an expression of surprised, although his expression did not disappear, he still started to charge towards the remaining three trolls. The trolls wanted to stop Sanson with the shovel and pickaxe on their hands, but those are not even weapons, so they are a bit slow. Sanson's sword cleverly bounced away the shovel, the shovel then blocked the pickaxe, Sanson took the chance and slashed the belly of the monster with the pickaxe. Then the soldiers recovered from the surprise all joined the battle. The rest of the trolls are still flying up... The troll with the iron rake was stabbed by four long swords simultaneously, fell to the ground and squirting blood. The soldiers kept blunting those evil-look, fallen trolls. Flesh and blood splashed everywhere, stained on the faces of the soldiers. This is not because of their hatred, but because killing these trolls which can regenerate, you must continue until they completely expire.

Now Tyburn is still holding his hand towards the sky. He asked with a surprised expression:

"Why? Failed? Why I can still hear the sound of fighting?"

I continued to sit on the ground and said:

"Ah, most of them are flying, but three did not fly."

"Three? What are they holding with their hands? "

"Huh? Ah, pickaxe, rake, shovel..."

Then I understand.

The monsters with metal weapons didn't fly, all flying are hodling troll special weapons stone axes. The soldiers are holding swords, wearing armor, so they are holding metal weapons. Tyburn used another hand he didn't lift to hit his own head, said:

"Aye, why didn't I think of that! Speaking of trolls, I thought they only got stone axes. How is it now? The remaining three?"

"All, all are down."

"Then it's fine. Dear soldiers, please come over here."

The soldiers began to back off with the expression of fear, then Tyburn put down his raised arm. Now the trolls who are already in a very high attitude started falling. When I was talking to Tyburn, the trolls had flown to the height which is no longer visible, so the falling would take a lot of time.

"Gah lah lahhhh!!!!"

Whack! Pop! Pop! Whack!Whack!Whack!Whack, Pop!

I don't even want to describe the scene. I was terrified, I hardly managed to cover Jamini's eyes. So I had no way to cover my own. Oh Idiot! Just close my eyes would be fine? But before I could think of it, the trolls broken limbs pieces have already splashed all over the place. If they are now this fragmented, they won't be able to use their regenerate ability. Tyburn laughed.

"This sounds really loud. Ha. Sometimes blind is a good thing."

Sanson with an awe face came over and greeted him. Sanson found that Tyburn is a blind man, however he still bowed faithfully. His voice also trembled a little.

"I, I am Sanson Percival. I am the... the Guard Captain of Heltant Fief. This wizard is..."

"Tyburn. I am a wanderer. Things ended?"

"Huh, huh?"

"Any more monsters?"

"Ah!"

Sanson quickly turned and said:

"Search if there are any more trolls invaded! Should be in the granary. Check the warehouse in the village, check the farms on the outskirts! And Haley, take care of Turner. "

The soldiers started to move, Haley is helping Turner whose leg is injured. Turner probably just lost his tension, and began to moan. Tyburn said:

"A soldier is hurt? Bring him to me."

Sanson showed a bewildered face, but still obediently took Turner over. Tyburn allowed Turner to sit down and began searching on his body. His hands wavered quickly, and finally stopped on the wound on Turner's leg.

"Here right."

Tyburn just said. But a moment later, Tyburn's hands flashed a little light, then Turner's wound stopped bleeding. After cleaning the blood, there is no more wound on Turner's leg.

Sanson is half amazed,  half scared, anyway, using a strange face looking at Tyburn.

"Ah, thanks, thank you, Tyburn."

"You're welcome, this is not anything terrific, don't put it on your mind. Although the wound has been healed, within a few days, you have to avoid doing intense actions."

"Ah, okay. Really appreciate it ..."

"Why don't you listen! I have already cured him, why are you still here and not to perform your tasks! What are you doing here? Do you want stay here, until all the people get killed by the trolls?"

"Yes!"

The scared Sanson paid him a salute. The soldiers then scattered away hastily.

"Hey, we should also go and see? Please take me to the granary."

Tyburn seems to want to follow the soldiers. I grabbed Tyburn.

"Well, Tyburn, this girl also seems strange."

"Well?"

I pointed to the one who was dropped on the ground by me and then kept sitting on the ground, burping with a blank face, Jamini. But I immediately remembered that Tyburn can't see, so I then explained to him in words.

"Not long ago she saw the trolls charging in, then she began to sit still there and just kept burping. As if her soul has flown to somewhere."

Tyburn jeered.

"So you know it well? Right. Her soul has run away."

"What should we do?"

Tyburn raised his hand, tried to touch Jamini's face. But she doesn't seem to feel it, is still sitting there. I am worried to a unbearable extent. Tyburn said:

"Your girlfriend?"

"Don't ask useless questions, can you help?"

"If she is your girlfriend, it would be easier."

"Huh?"

"Traditionally isn't there a way, to wake a fainted girl?"

"...Are you saying a sleeping girl?"

"Fainting or sleeping are both OK. "

Tyburn made me bothered. "Do I have to kiss Jamini? Although Tyburn can't see..." However, after he giggled a few times, moved his fingers in front of Jamini eyes and snapped for a few times, Jamini stopped burping, began to moan.

"Hmm.... Ahh! Trolls!"

What I completely can't understand is, how did Jamini precisely bypassed Tyburn in front of her, jumped into my arms.

Chapter One: Riding Towards the Dawn (Pt.6)

※ ※ ※

On the main roads in the village, the atmosphere is unusually flustered.

This is because the news of the Amurtaat Crusade has spreaded. Excitement, concern, hope, anxiety, and all  feelings seem to be completely mixed, crushed on a on the stone plate and scattered on the main roads in the village. Whisper, laughter, sighs, shouting are coming from everywhere. These noises which sounded usual, now sounds a bit strange.

I went into the town.

Animal fats dumped by people in the town can be used as a raw material of candles. In addition to that fish oil also can be used, even whale oil that I've never seen, I was told that can be made into candles too. Anyway, candles made with grease are inferior, but they are still very expensive things for civilians. So our thane at a standpoint of charity, gives us the grease and animal fats in the town to make candles, then distribute to people in need for free. Number of people who do activities like reading is in fact not much, so the demand is very low. The castle would buy fine candles made with honeycomb, we make our living relying on this. In the order words our thane donates the candles made with residual food oil to the public, and purchases premium candles, so that our family can make a living. Our thane's heart is really kind. The village people often talk about some bad thanes even charge candle makers for those residual fats.

Because of a hangover, I looked at the ground to walk. So I almost bumped into the people gathered on the main road in the town.

The crowd has completely blocked the main road. I looked around and tried to find out what exactly happened. I saw Métis of the brewery.

"Métis? What? What happened?"

"Huchi? Look at the castle."

I looked closely, everyone's eyes are look at the direction of the thane's castle on the hill. I looked up towards the castle, I saw a huge white neck above the walls.

"Catheslprime?'

And next to it, some broad and big white things came up, blocked its neck. After a while, those thing went down, then I found out that those are Catheslprime's wings. The wings once again came up, went down.

She is waving her wings.

After a while, Catheslprime has flown up entirely. I think this is surreal. I feel that if such a huge thing has to fly, it has to accelerate from the top of a hill all the way down, and managed to start flying. But Catheslprime is just like a sparrow, toke off gracefully from a spot. Like a sparrow? No, should be like an egret.

The graceful movement of her wings, are slow but light. Although there is amazing strength in her neck and tail, but the movement is still incredibly gentle.

After a while, Catheslprime has completely flown to the sky above the caste. She is slowly waving her wings, flying towards the direction where we are.

Too fast.

As the movement of her wings is very slow, I totally didn't expect the speed of her would be so fast. This was because I didn't realize that her wings are so huge, that she waves once, other birds need to wave hundreds of time. Catheslprime only waved a few times, she had already crossed above our heads.

"Catheslprime Hooray!"

"Long Live!"

People are very touched, raised their hands and cheered. I am also touched by this scene, waved, and shouted the meaningless cries. So when Karl seized my shoulder, I quickly put down my arms, and almost hit his nose.

"Ha, be careful. Nedval."

"Hey, Karl?"

"Ah. It is really spectacular."

"Yea. But where is Catheslprime going?"

"Good question. Judging from the direction she flew, should be going to the Gray Mountains. I guess she is scouting."

"Scouting? Isn't that funny? Such a big thing, must be obvious to everyone, Amurtaat will certainly see it too."

"At this moment, of course it is."

"Huh?"

"Hey, Nedval. There is Invisibility on the world, is that a big secret?"

"Ah! Magic."

I shook my head. Although I certainly don't the principle of this magic, I at least know that this magic can make things transparent. I just forgot it for a moment.

But I have other excuses. I have only seen 3 sorcerers since I was born. One at the Sixth Amurtaat Crusade, two at the Eighth. And I only know that they were sorcerers. How they cast spells, I have never seen even once. So magic for me is a mysterious,  non-understandable thing. I forgot about magic, is hence absolutely reasonable.

Karl made a smiling face, and continued to walk. I am walking side by side with him.

"To be honest, sorcerers are very rare. So it's excusable that our Nedval couldn't remember."

"But who will cast Invisibility on Catheslprime?"

"Huh? It has to be cast by Catheslprime herself. Doesn't it?"

Karl looked at me with a puzzled expression, I had to respond with the most appropriate way to deal with this situation, that is, being brazen, showing a "Yes I don't know. What? Does that cause the End of the World?" expression. But then I heard a completely unexpected answer.

"Magics of course belong to Dragons."

Karl and I turned our head towards the direction of the voice at the same time.

An old man, no, a young man, no, should be an old man? This person is wearing a costume that makes people can't guess his age, and his face is almost entirely covered up with a scarf. The dress is a black twill gown. If he is a traveler that doesn't ride, this clothing is a good choice. These thick and wide clothes, are especially good when you sleep at night. But it's a bit cumbersome when you act, simply like wearing a blanket running around.

He is carrying a backpack on his back, holding a stick in his right hand. As the sleeve slid down to his elbow, so I can clearly see there are full of tattoos on his arm. The tattoos are so complicated that you won't be able to find where the lines start, and how many lines are there. Is that text? Or pattern? Sometimes it looks like text, sometimes it looks like pattern.

The man slowly took off his headscarf. Like he has been practicing this action for several years, the action was slow and gentle. After a second, we noticed that his tattoos extend from his neck to his cheek. Looking at his right arm and cheek, I suspect that his upper body, even the whole body may have tattoos. The next things appeared are his eyes. Nothing, just white. The last thing appeared is hair, white hair. Black clothes with black tattoos, but eyes and hairs are completely opposite white.

He really gives people a sense of threat, people would shrink with a glance at this blind old man.

"Who is this?"

Although for me, there is no reason to ask,  I don't need to know his name. But it's him who began the conversation randomly first. The tattoo blind replied without any expression:

"Tyburn."