Chapter 216

Chapter 216

Krika opened his eyes. The back of his neck throbbed, and his stomach felt hot as if it was churning.

"Dammit," Krika cursed after surveying the situation.

'They came to kidnap Bilker from the start. Crafty bastards.'

Krika was carried while lying on his stomach behind a horse. His arms were tightly bound behind his back, leaving him helpless.

Bilker, riding the horse, saw that Krika had woken up and spoke to him.

"Are you awake?"

"You shut up, you are a dumbass."

Krika cursed. It was already over. He had failed in his mission, and even if he made it back to the northern encampment by himself, he wouldn't be able to avoid reprimand.

The northern warriors had gone to great lengths to find Mijorn's descendant. They wouldn't let Krika off easily for failing to protect Bilker.

"A real man should take up arms and fight the enemy. What even are you? If your wife gets taken or something in the future, are you just going to hide and watch? Huh?"

Krika said to Bilker without a hint of respect. Bilker averted his gaze, looking fearful.

"You shut your mouth, you brat. This esteemed gentleman is scared because of you," Urich said, slapping Krika's back.

"You son of a bitch!"

Krika glared at Urich and struggled until he fell off the horse.

"Not a dog, a human. You and I both," Urich chuckled as he kicked Krika. Krika trembled with humiliation.

"Kill me if you want. I'm not afraid of anything!"

"Of course, you're not afraid. Because Ulgaro is waiting for you, right? On the famous Field of Swords."

Urich dragged Krika by the rope tied to his wrists.

‘What the hell is this strength...?'

Krika, who was resisting, decided to let himself be pulled after realizing that Urich’s force could dislocate his wrist if he resisted further. Even with one hand, Urich pulled with immense strength. It felt like being dragged by a horse.

"I'm not going to kill you. Killing a crybaby who is asking for death would only give me nightmares.”

Urich’s words completely destroyed Krika’s pride.

'And if I did kill him, Bilker would throw a fit, and that would be an annoying problem in its own way.'

In any case, Urich needed to get on Bilker’s good side. Even though they started off with kidnapping, if their talks went well, it would benefit both sides.

'Considering he was being used because of his lineage as Mijorn's descendant, anyway, being used by our side wouldn't change things all that much.'

Just as Urich thought, Bilker obediently followed him, only sighing while pondering his predicament.

'I only recently learned that I was Mijorn's descendant...'

Bilker gazed wistfully at the snowy horizon. His mother was the daughter of Mijorn.

Bilker's mother had disliked being swept into the world's turmoil, so she kept her bloodline hidden. However, she ended up falling ill before Bilker had grown into a man, forcing her to reveal the lineage to the northern warriors in order to send Bilker away with them.

'At least you won't go hungry. Go with them and eat all you want, Bilker.'

Bilker recalled his mother's parting words. After confirming Bilker’s lineage with Mijorn's daughter, the warriors treated him with respect. The north needed a strong symbol. The descendent of Ulgaro had the authority to replace the dying Ulgaro.

'That tubby boy is supposed to be the symbol that shakes the north...? The world really is a strange place.'

Urich chuckled by himself. This was a boy who had gained power he never wanted.

"I think it's best to take a break here, Urich. We’re on top of a hill, so it should be easier to respond if anyone attacks.”

One of the warriors leading the group suggested. Urich nodded, and the warriors built a campfire and brought out food.

'Usually, we'd just fill ourselves with jerky, but the cold weather is making everyone want warm food.'

The warriors didn’t care what the food was—they just wanted it to be warm. To the western warriors, the northern climate was brutally harsh. It felt like they were staying in the highlands of the Sky Mountains for an entire year.

Clank.

The warriors pulled out a pot and placed it over the campfire. When the pot became hot enough, Georg filled it with snow to melt, then shredded some jerky into it.

Bilker, who had been observing, approached.

"U-uhmm, sorry, but i-if you add this, it should help with the taste."

Bilker collected some wild herbs from the area, cleaned them, and brought them over.

After walking for another half a day, Urich's group set up camp.

Bilker was busy helping with the cooking this time as well, adding different herbs and winter berries to the pot.

"This will make it tastier."

"Doesn't look very appetizing."

"I’m telling you it will be."

Bilker was resolute. He added the prepared wild herbs and berries to the pot even before Urich gave him his approval. The juices quickly spread, changing the color of the broth. The dark hue wasn't exactly appetizing.

Urich crossed his arms and gestured with his chin, signaling Georg to take a sip of the broth.

"Eh? It's not bad at all. The sourness brings a unique balance," Georg remarked.

"Are you sure?" Urich asked.

"Of course. I’ll have you know that as a scribe slave, I grew up eating some good food. Consider me sort of a critique.”

The warriors also tasted the broth, and their eyes widened with surprise. It had an unfamiliar yet distinct flavor.

"I used to forage for wild herbs with my mom. I know my way around them. Back then, we didn't have meat, though."

Bilker had lost his father early, so he couldn't learn fighting and hunting skills. Instead, he lived by foraging various wild herbs with his mother to make ends meet.

"Oho, well, it seems like we can entrust you with the cooking."

Urich acknowledged Bilker's culinary skills. It wasn't common for someone to create such a taste with hastily gathered ingredients.

The night deepened. The warriors took turns standing guard while keeping an eye on Bilker and Krika.

Bilker glanced at the warriors with wary eyes. At night, the warriors' eyes were menacing.

'They're probably taking me to the northerners who follow Lou.’

Bilker had an idea of what was happening. The western plunderers had already made contact with the northern Solarists. To secure Bilker, who was the key to the northern expansion, Urich had risked approaching the warriors of Ulgaro.

"Sigh."

The air was cold, and his breath clouded in the chilly air with wavering steam.

Before sleeping, Bilker clasped his hands in prayer. The western warriors paid little attention to Bilker's actions.

"Oh, Lou, the almighty Sun, thank you for not letting me go hungry today. Please provide us with food and drink tomorrow as well..."

Bilker's prayer was directed to the Sun God Lou. The western warriors on guard didn’t seem interested in the prayer. Urich and Georg had already fallen asleep.

The descendant of Mijorn believed in the Sun god Lou. This was Bilker's secret, one that the northern warriors must never discover.

'Bilker, we must keep our faith in Solarism a secret.'

His mother's warning echoed in his mind. But this situation was hard to endure without praying. The anxiety was overwhelming, and it felt like it was choking him.

"Please, protect me.”

After finishing his prayer, Bilker looked around nervously. Then, he forced an awkward smile with a pale face.

"Oh, Krika..."

One person with glaring eyes was watching the spectacle of Bilker's prayer. Krika, with bound hands, jumped up and shouted.

"You son of a biiiiiitch!"

Krika threw himself and headbutted Bilker. They tumbled to the ground in a chaotic scuffle.

Even though Krika was the one who had his hands bound, it looked like Bilker was the one on the losing side.

Thump!

Krika stomped on Bilker's stomach with both legs.

"And you call yourself Mijorn’s descendent? You crazy son of a bitch! You couldn’t find any other god to believe in, so you chose the enemy’s? The very religion of those who killed your grandfather!"

Krika yelled enraged as if he was trying to showcase the spirit of the north. The warriors who were on guard ran in and separated the two northern boys.

Thud!

Krika's head was smashed into the ground, but he still glared at Bilker with his eyes wide open.

Bilker clutched his bruised stomach and mumbled weakly, "Why are you doing this to me...? I didn't do anything wrong to you."

"Your very existence is wrong! You damned little shit!"

Krika screamed with a reddened face, struggling even as his broken left arm was being twisted.