Chapter 169 The Redania Empire (3) Road To The Empire

"W-What!? You crossed the mountains and those deadly cliffs!?" One of the merchants asked with widened eyes.

"Yeah. Well, I was just taking the shortest path to the north from the Astellia Kingdom, though," Lyan shrugged indifferently.

"T-They said that there are vicious magic beasts and monsters residing there. Not to mention that in this kind of season, it will seem as if the whole cold region is trying to kill you... Even in normal circumstances, travelers usually avoid those dangerous paths at all cost, you know..." The other merchant said with a wry smile.

Of course, it's not that Lyan does not know about the danger of the path. He had gathered enough information about the northern routes, and the safe and dangerous paths, and took great details in their terrains from other travelers and merchants that he met in the towns and cities before.

The reason for his choice of the risky path is because of his aim on arriving at the dwarven temples with the hope of getting any trace of information about the earth, holding the sliver of hope of obtaining a way to go back to his former world.

It's a dwarven temple that could only be visited by crossing those mountains and taking a single straight line towards it from the Astellian borders. The other routes that detour around it would make it longer to find it, and there is a chance that you won't even find it. So without hesitating, Lyan faced the dangerous path with great determination.

"So that's why it felt like we're walking on a tightrope every day, huh..." Tesha uttered bitterly as she clung to Alpha while glaring at Lyan.

"You're the one who decided to follow me, remember?" Lyan shrugged.

Tesha snorted, feeling betrayed as she didn't get told about how they are taking the dangerous route to the north, while Alpha soothes her by snuggling his head to her.

"Are you sure you're going right away, Lyan?" Haldor asked Lyan with his usual stern look while folding his arms, but Lyan could sense the hint of worry in his words. Following his line of sight, Lyan realized that he was looking at Tesha.

(Well, I guess they could say that I'm quite heartless for bringing such a small child to the dangerous north, huh?) (Lyan)

"Well, then could I leave her with you?" (Lyan)

"Huh!? Wait! No!! I'm following you!!" Tesha sprung towards Lyan and clung to his robe while shaking her head furiously, firmly rejecting the thought of getting left by him.

Tesha's cute reaction invites laughter from the group of travelers, warming the atmosphere around them.

"But damn, those are strong and trained dogs you have there. What kind of breeds are they? I've never heard anyone going to the north with dogs to carry their wagon," One of the older merchants has the winter wolves caught their eyes. His eyes are observing the muscles and the intelligent-looking eyes of the winter wolves while stroking his beard.

Of course, Lyan had considered the possibility of bringing unwanted attention by showing people that he has tamed the winter wolves and ended up having his strength as a summoner be discovered. So he covered the winter wolves with his illusion magic.

(Polymorph, huh... Those are some tricky magic to use. I'm impressed you could transform them into such an identical form, master) (Lilith)

(I've trained a lot in the past, after all. Hm? So you've finally gotten out of your room, Lilith. Does the snowing inside the grimoire's space has subsided?) (Lyan)

The high spirits except Eira have been locking themselves inside their own rooms with their room heater on because of the unexpected phenomenon of snowing inside the grimoire's space. It's been several days since Lyan didn't hear the high spirits having their usual ramblings and giving comments about what he's doing since Eira rarely raises her voice.

(Hell no. It's still damn cold here, but I'm getting bored inside my room. I'm using a jacket but still, wrap my body with a blanket, you know) (Lilith)

Lyan chuckled, imagining Lilith with her nose red because of the coldness.

(I guess she didn't get a cold resistance from her parental genes, huh?) (Lyan)

"Not only the dogs, though. His steed here is damn strong as well. When I went to check on our mares, damn, the sight made me think that the mares got poisoned by someone!" One of Haldor's men laughed as he told the story.

In the early morning, he made quite the ruckus because of the mares getting covered in nasty fluids. But all of them are alive despite seeming to be very exhausted. While on the other side...

"You're right. There are about 8 mares inside the stable that he knocked out, yet this guy doesn't even seem to be fatigued at all, huh," Haldor uttered with admiration as he stare at Shadow standing firm and haughty as always.

"I'm really sorry about that..." Lyan plucked some of Shadow's mane, making him neigh in pain and about to go aggressive. But when Tesha strokes his side, he immediately went docile.

(This guy...) (Lyan)

"Well, I guess that's all. When will you guys start continuing your journey again?" Lyan asked the merchant.

"Ah... We're waiting for Mr. Harold's remaining men to gather here, then we're going to the north together. About 3 days or more, I guess. Are you sure you don't want to wait and went to the north with us, Lyan?"

"I guess I have to pass. You could say that I'm quite in a hurry," Lyan politely refuse the offer.

Looking at Lyan's determination, the merchant nods. "Well, then at least take this," The merchant hands Lyan something similar to a badge.

"This is?" (Lyan)

"It's the symbol of our merchant group. Meeting someone skillful enough to cross the dangerous path to the north must be some kind of a good omen. You can search for any firms with the name 'The Frostfaire Mercantile' on the north, and show them this badge. You'll surely get a discount," The merchant made a thumbs up with a big smile on his face. He sure seems to be in a good mood.

"Of course, we greatly open our hands if you want to sell us those great dogs and that vigorous horse of yours, Hahaha!!"

The meeting was brief, and so does their farewell, but Lyan has a feeling that the connection he made inside this winter cabin might be useful for him in the future.

Looking at the icy path before him, Lyan put on his hood as he holds the reins of the wagon.

"Time to continue our path," (Lyan)

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Dozens of kilometers at the south of Lyan's current position, three girls clad in mercenary attire are in a conversation with the guards of the Astellia Kingdom capital's northern gate.

"Huh!? He had left since more than a week ago?" Emilia raise her voice in surprise because of the information the guard gave them.

With a bitter smile, the guard scratches his neck. "Yeah... I've told him how risky it is to go to the north in such a season, but he doesn't seem to mind it much,"

"That guy surely travels at an unexpected pace, huh..." (Surena)

"No wonder the feeling of his presence doesn't seem to get closer at all," Alice uttered with a slightly annoyed look on her face.

Because of the contract made between Lyan and the Valkyries, they could sense the direction of each other's location, but they could only have a faint signal telling whether they are close to each other or far from each other. So the valkyries could only know that Lyan is in the north, but they have no way of knowing in how far in the north he currently is.

"We'll catch up to you in no time, huh..." Emilia uttered the line that her captain told Lyan before.

"S-Shut up. At that time, I never thought that he would be traveling at such a speed. And isn't that guy using a wagon while we're only riding on a horse? How could he travel so quickly!? (Surena)

"Um... Ladies, it might be dangerous for the three of you to follow him to the north. How about forgetting it for a moment and taking some rest? I could treat you to some drink at night-" (Guard)

"""No thanks,"""

The three of them replied without even looking at the poor guard.

Looking at the northern route on the other side of the gate, Surena took a deep breath as she tightens the hold of her horse's rein. "It looks like we need to fasten our pace even more, to catch up, huh? I guess we got ourselves a rather unbelievable master,"

"Indeed, this is going to be quite troublesome." (Alice)

"Hm... I think it's time for us to stop talking and start moving already," (Emilia)

After hearing those words, the three mercenaries mounted their horses and galloped through the northern gates with their respective steeds

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Name: Lyan Arkanium Evocatore

Occupation: Mythril-ranked Mercenary

Money: 3,797,710,950 Elnes / 3797 gold 71 big silver 9 big coppers 5 coppers

Weapon: Magic Glaive, 1 (Decent) One-handed Sword, 2 (Good-Quality) One-handed swords, 1 (Decent) bow

Equipment: Black leather cloak, Leather Armor, Breastplate, 2 Health Potions, 2 Poison Vials

Grimoire's Companions: 8 High Spirits, 3 Valkyrie, Shadow Goblin Lord (Lv. 5), Papilio Slime (Lv. 45), Galewing Butterfly (Lv. 45), Rock Golem (Lv. 50), Deadlight (Lv. 63), Moonlight Butterfly (Lv. 45), Ice Golem (Lv. 50), Acid Ant Queen (Lv. 9), Magma Bear (Lv. 1), Fey Mammoth (Lv. 1), Arcane Retriever (Lv. 1), Winter Wolf Alpha (Lv. 12)

Grimoire's Army: 6 Shadow Servants, 800 Skeleton Army