~Chapter 07~
. Fortress of the Snowy Mountain
The flames that had erupted from the explosion in the snowy mountain’s cold quickly died away.
Nothing was left behind there.
Neither those who had been heading to the fortress, nor the snow worms that had swarmed like vermin.
Only the scorched ground remained here and there.
Even that was slowly being buried beneath the endlessly drifting snow.
The three of us stood silently, watching the snow pile up.
“…Just what the hell are you, anyway?”
Ronan asked without even looking at me.
“A real magician.”
“What the… No, forget it.”
I could hear his sigh even from here.
“Thanks for saving us.”
“No need to thank me.”
I didn’t bother to add, I saved you because you’re useful.
Ronan turned his head slightly to glance at me.
“…Did you inscribe a mark?”
“Real magicians don’t use marks.”
“So you’re saying you didn’t inscribe one?”
“Of course not.”
“Then… could I become like you?”
I turned my head at that question.
In Ronan’s eyes, there was nothing but desperation.
I let out a short laugh and answered firmly:
“No.”
As he blinked at me, I drove in the nail:
“Never.”
“…You’re an asshole.”
Finally, Ronan clicked his tongue and turned his head away.
“Th-thank you… very much!”
The big guy stammered as he bowed his massive head.
Even bent at the waist, with his head lowered, he was taller than both Ronan and me.
“He’s the one who saved you.”
“Bullshit. Without you, we’d be dead.”
“Th-thank you, both of you!”
The big guy hurriedly added.
“M-my name’s Hog. From Norgil.”
“I’m Esric. This here’s Ronan.”
“Why the hell are you introducing me too…?”
Ronan snapped, then quickly shook his head.
“Do what you want,” he muttered under his breath.
“If we’re done with introductions…”
I said, walking ahead.
“…Let’s get moving.”
Night fell silent.
Only the sound of our breathing and our feet crunching in the snow echoed faintly in the darkness.
Every so often, when I turned my head, I could see the other two trudging along, too exhausted to even lift their heads.
Though I blocked the wind with magic, the mountain’s chill was still too fierce to bear.
And since more snow worms might appear, I couldn’t waste all my mana.
Preserving the bare minimum, we trudged through the long night.
Dawn broke dimly.
Even in the morning, sunlight couldn’t pierce through the thick forest.
And when we came out of the trees, the high mountain peaks still hid the sun from sight.
Only when the sun finally rose above the ridges did we see it:
Ahead, a wooden palisade.
“It—it’s the Guardian Corps’ fortress!”
Hog stammered with joy.
We glanced at each other, smirked, and quickened our pace.
After walking through snow for a whole day, rest was desperately needed.
When we reached the gates, they swung open as though welcoming us.
A group of rough-looking men rushed out.
One of them tilted his head at us.
“What the hell? This all that’s left? Where are the others?”
“We… we’re all that’s left.”
I forced myself to speak politely.
No sense picking a fight and losing precious rest time.
“What…? We sent about a hundred men! You’re saying it’s just you three?!”
“Yeah. When we left, there were around a hundred of us. Something like that.”
“And now it’s just you?!”
“A snow worm showed up. Everyone else was wiped out. Only we barely escaped.”
At my answer, the big men flinched, murmuring nervously.
“A snow worm…?”
“All the way down there?”
“Goddamn bastards, what the hell were they doing out there…?”
In the middle of their chatter—
“Worry about your own damn jobs.”
Another group emerged from within the gate.
Unlike the rough bunch, these men looked sharper, more disciplined.
“That’s not what I meant! Snow worm tracking and surveillance is the combat unit’s job—”
“So what?”
The man in front lightly placed a hand on the sword at his hip.
“Got a problem?”
“…N-no, sir.”
The burly man shrank back, swallowing his words.
This guy… he was strong.
His aura said it all.
“New recruits, follow me. I know you need rest… but first, you meet the commander.”
The fortress was better maintained than I’d expected.
A tall, sturdy palisade of logs.
Several well-built structures inside.
Soldiers moving busily, each with a clear purpose.
For a place that was supposed to house criminals sent to Ice Rock, its condition spoke volumes about its commander.
“Go in.”
The disciplined man—Gardner, I would learn—pointed at a large central tent.
One by one, Ronan, Hog, and I stepped inside.
In the middle stood a massive rectangular table.
A map spread across it, with carved wooden pieces placed here and there.
Two old men sat before it.
One, wrapped in a robe at the side.
The other, seated at the head, wearing light armor.
“Who are these kids, Gardner?”
“They’re the new recruits, sir.”
The robed old man spoke irritably. Gardner bowed his head.
“New recruits? Then why only these three?”
“They say a snow worm attacked them on the way.”
“A snow worm? That far down?”
Gardner didn’t answer, just glanced at me.
So I answered instead:
“Yes.”
“Damn it!”
The robed man slammed the table with his fist.
The wooden pieces toppled over.
“Gardner! What the hell are you people doing? Can’t even keep a simple watch?!”
“The combat unit’s short on men, so—”
“I don’t want excuses!”
“…I apologize. But it is the truth. If you’d assign these recruits to the combat unit—”
“Silence! Each soldier has the right to choose their own unit! Do you not understand that?!”
“That’s enough, Commander Barnard.”
The man at the head of the table finally spoke calmly.
The one called Barnard clenched his teeth, then shut his mouth.
“Barnard speaks rightly, though.”
The white-haired, shaggy-browed man—clearly the commander—spoke slowly.
“Freedom of choice. That is what the garrison agreed on.”
“But—”
“No objections. The magic unit has its duties. So does the combat unit. Don’t they, vice-commander?”
“…Understood.”
“You may leave.”
Gardner bowed and left. His heavy steps thudded with anger.
“My apologies for the ruckus. Welcome to Ice Rock, recruits.”
The commander looked at us.
“I am Siruela, commander here. This is Commander Barnard.”
“Esric.”
I bowed slightly, and Ronan and Hog followed suit.
Neither of us mentioned our family names.
“You must be tired from escaping the snow worm, but before you rest, a choice must be made.”
At Siruela’s glance, Barnard eagerly continued:
“There are two units here. The combat unit, and the magic unit.”
…What?
Did he just say magic unit?
Quickly, I pulled out my book.
『 The Contractor invokes magic. 』
『 With the Contractor’s will, Insight is used. 』
Mana spread from the book, scanning the two men.
Barnard’s body bore distinct marks.
One, two, three… a triple chain.
But Siruela…
Those dark-green eyes quietly met mine.
“The combat unit scouts and monitors snow worm movements. In battle, they hold the front lines.”
Barnard stressed “front lines.”
“The magic unit maintains the fortress and equipment. In battle, they form barriers and provide ranged support.”
“With magic?”
“…What?”
Barnard frowned at my question.
“I mean ranged support. You’re saying it’s done with magic?”
“Not all of it. But most, yes.”
“We haven’t had marks inscribed. Doesn’t that mean we can’t join the magic unit?”
“Don’t worry about that.”
Barnard grinned, baring his teeth.
“I can inscribe marks for you.”
A sigh escaped me.
So here was a fool who carved marks into human flesh.
Barnard, mistaking my sigh for awe, puffed up proudly.
“So don’t worry. Just pick whichever unit you want.”
“We are the Guardian Corps,” Siruela said plainly.
“Without will, no one can protect anything. So I won’t force you.”
“…!”
I stared at Siruela.
Those dark-green eyes seemed endlessly deep.
“I…”
After a brief pause, I spoke.
“I’ll join the combat unit.”
“Yes, as I thought… What?!”
Barnard, who had been nodding, yelped in shock.
“W-why? May I ask… why?”
“Why?”
Too many reasons.
Even at best, he was only third-circle, yet strutted around calling himself a mage.
And he acted as though inscribing marks were some kind of great blessing.
From the looks of it, most of the garrison had chosen the magic unit to live safely and comfortably.
“You said the combat unit was short on men, didn’t you?”
I had no intention of joining them.
“I prefer a larger room.”
That evening.
“Thank you, Commander.”
Gardner came to Siruela’s tent.
“Even just two new recruits lightens our burden.”
Esric and Ronan had joined the combat unit.
Of the new recruits, only Hog had joined the magic unit.
Just two, but it was enough to ease immediate strain.
Gardner thought Siruela had done it for their sake.
“I did nothing.”
“…Sir?”
“They chose for themselves.”
“But… why?”
“They said they liked spacious quarters.”
“…Huh?”
Gardner tilted his head in confusion, while Siruela chuckled.
There had been many recruits without marks.
Most of them branded failures, sent here in disgrace.
How sweet Barnard’s promise to inscribe marks must have sounded.
And the appeal of safe, rear-line ranged support.
Nearly all unmarked recruits chose the magic unit.
But this time, two of them had chosen combat instead.
Siruela didn’t know their motives.
But after years guarding this place, to him, it seemed admirable.
“So give them the largest quarters.”
“Yes, sir.”
“And at dawn tomorrow, send scouts to the site of their ambush.”
Still, Siruela was nothing if not cautious.
“I need to know exactly how those boys survived.”
The face of Esric, staring straight into his eyes, rose unbidden in his mind.
