CH 145

“Chapter 145: Guard”

– Everything is just like back then, huh…

We were carefully climbing the stairs to avoid slipping on the snow.

There are melted candles placed in stone lanterns in the middle of the stairs.

“Descendants of Oni”…

Oni exist in fantasy tales in my world, but are they really related to the ones here?

– Are you from here, master?

– No, I come from much farther away. Somewhere even the Grandmaster’s magic can’t reach. But that’s a secret. Can you keep secrets?

– I can! It’ll be our secret!

The more we climb, the colder it gets. Our breath is almost purely white now.

– Master, stop.

Mike’s ears twitched. She immediately transformed into wolf form.

– What’s wrong? Did you sense somebody?

– …Why… This Place…

– …At Once…

From their perspective, two strangers wandered into their territory without prior notice, and one of them just turned into a powerful hostile beast.

– Mike, don’t do anything unless I tell you to.

– …Gwrrr.

I took a step forward.

– Sorry for the intrusion! Can someone come out so we can talk this out?

No response… But I know they’re there.

– We’re sorry for barging in. We have no intentions of inciting hostility. We just came here to look for someone.

. . .

Again, my only response was the sound of our breathing. I don’t want to force my way through, these people might know Akane.

– If that’s not possible, could we at least send a letter? We’re trying to reach Akane-

At those words, two men dressed in black appeared from out of the fog.

Their skin looked almost human, but they had blue and yellow tinges respectively.

I don’t see any horns.

– How would someone like you be acquaintanced with her? (Blue Man)

The blue-skinned man was ready to draw his sword at any moment even while talking.

– We’re both disciples of the Sage of the Forest.

– We are well aware of the Sage, as well as the fact that she was taken under her care. However, we are unbeknownst to your existence. (Yellow Man)

– I’m sure we can ask her once we see her. We’ve been together for some time already. If only you could allow-

– By no means. Your position is irrelevant. Without the chief’s permission, you won’t go any further than this. Turn around and go back.

– Could we-

– No. Go back.

I’m running out of options.

Grosbeak isn’t here so it would take a whole week before Ever arrives.

– What if I don’t want to?

– Then…

The cold tip of a knife was pressed against my throat.

– Bid your farewells.