EP14. To Calderon (7)
Shaun paused and looked around him.
The sight of the whole world dyed white had the power to move my heart anew every time I saw it.
He didn’t expect to see it this early, but Shawn was able to enjoy the scenery covered in his snow to the fullest.
Why do old memories always come to mind when looking at winter scenes like this?
Maybe it’s because it was a winter day when it all started.
Every time you exhale, a white breath occupies a part of your field of vision. Obviously, the weather that I felt was no different from usual, so it caused a considerable sense of difference.
“Shaun. What’s the matter?”
Levy, who was walking by her side, looked back at her with a puzzled expression when Sean suddenly stopped and asked.
Soon Shaun shook his head and took another step.
“Nothing. Let’s go.”
Levy tilted his head but meekly began to follow Sean. The two continued to move forward, following Elsa’s lead.
***
“You’ve finally arrived right in front of Calderon.”
Elsa muttered as she looked up at the huge mountain range that stretched out before her eyes. As she said, she finally arrived in front of Mount Calderon in the northernmost part of the kingdom.
“I suffered a lot during that time.”
“Is it better than I thought?”
“hehehe. It’s all thanks to my magic!”
Sean laughed at Levy’s arrogance, but did not refute. Because what she said was true. It would not be an exaggeration to say that her warming magic, which maintains her body temperature and is not affected by the surrounding weather, is useful, so it is a scam.
I realized once again that wizards do not end with simply being strong, but that they are different from ordinary people.
“I can’t deny it. Thanks to that, I didn’t even buy winter clothes.”
There was no change in the outfits of the three from the ones I saw at Henerd. To others, they will look very different. When you think of the bitter wind blowing and the cold that makes you fear that you might freeze to death.
Elsa, who paused her words for a moment and was lost in thought, added.
“We’ve been here until now, but I think it’s right to buy winter clothes to prepare for the future.”
“Why? Will it be okay?”
“Right! There is no need to do that!”
Despite the dissuade from the two, Elsa shook her head and did not bend her will.
“Don’t get me wrong. We haven’t even reached Calderon yet. Calderon should never be taken lightly.”
She said and pointed with her hand. Sean and Levy followed where their fingers pointed and looked, where a huge mountain range proudly boasted of its presence.
“Of course it won’t take too long to reach the top. No matter how long it takes, if you climb hard for two days, you will arrive.”
The fact that you have to climb the mountain for two full days is in itself saying that most mountains are too high, but in fact, there was a real problem.
“The important thing is the monsters that are infesting Calderon. They are not only strong, but they do not know what variables will arise in a fight in such an extreme environment. The number of people who died in Calderon is probably immeasurable.”
At Elsa’s words, Sean and Levy accepted her seriousness and nodded their heads.
“Well, it will be fine. With our skills, it will never be difficult, especially as long as Levy is there. But I meant that the prudent the better.”
“That’s right.”
Unless it’s a really dangerous monster, there’s no way it can withstand Levi’s magic.
“Let’s keep going. We decided to rest for a while before going up the mountain.”
How far did you travel? Shawn stopped to understand what Elsa was saying.
How did he decide to buy winter equipment and why did he bring up the idea of taking a break before going up?
“…Is there a village?”
“It’s a town built by pilgrims.”
“Are you a pilgrim?”
At the somewhat unfamiliar word, Levy tilted her head and asked. Then Elsa briefly added her explanation.
“It means a believer who visits a holy place.”
“I see…”
“If not many, there are a steady stream of people visiting Calderon. So do we.”
From noble mtl dot com.
In other words, it means a village made for such people. Realizing the town, the three went inside. Then an old man met them and greeted them in a calm manner.
“Welcome. It’s been a long time since I’ve been a guest.”
“I want to stay for one night. Also, can I buy winter clothes?”
“Of course, I always have extra winter clothes ready. Do you need clothes first?”
At the old man’s question, Elsa shook her head.
“It’s okay. I want to get some rest first.”
“Okay. Then I will guide you to your accommodation.”
Shaun followed the old man and looked around.
The village was so small that it was embarrassing to even call it a village. Wouldn’t it be closer to just expressing how many people live together?
How the hell do so few people live in such an environment? Sean couldn’t find an answer, so he carefully asked the old man who guided them.
“Did all of you here live only in this town?”
“Everyone is different. Because everyone has their own circumstances.”
“Ah… Yes.”
The old man said while laughing.
“Are you curious? Living in a remote place cut off from the outside world like this.”
“Yes? Uh····. A little bit.”
“It deserves it. But I’m sure everyone is feeling happy. Just because it’s simple doesn’t mean you can’t be happy.”
“Hmm. I think you know what I mean.”
“You are wise even though you are still young.”
Wise? Shawn never really felt like he was. Maybe it’s because the childhood friend he hangs out with is so good, but if he had to argue, he would be more like Dunjae.
The place the old man guided me to was an ordinary private house.
“It is an empty house without an owner, so you can stay as much as you like. If there is one thing lacking here, it is people.”
“Thank you. I want you to pay for the inn here.”
“One coin is enough.”
It’s just a coin. It was an amount that was virtually unheard of.
“Aren’t you receiving too little?”
“Originally, we don’t take money. However, it is impossible not to accept money as long as you first offer it, so to refuse money for such a small act of kindness would only degenerate into condescension.”
It was a cryptic answer that was not easily understood.
I don’t take money because it’s a small kindness. This is an understandable logic, but if you offer money, you should take a little bit? Is it condescending to completely refuse the money you are offering?
“Is it because of doctrine?”
At Sean’s question, the old man chuckled for a moment before speaking.
“I don’t believe in God. Please look at me as a simple petty egotist.”
“Um…”
“I will prepare winter clothes, so you can visit me anytime. Then rest in peace.”
After saying that, the old man left. Sean just remembered what he said and thought he was a very peculiar person.
“Then let’s get some rest today and start tomorrow.”
“Yes. Rest in peace, too, Elsa.”
“Yes. You guys should also go to bed early and don’t burn yourself too much.”
“・・・・Yes? What is that?”
Elsa didn’t answer Shawn’s question and just laughed. Of course, Sean and Levy, who couldn’t understand what she meant, were taken aback by the joke.
“What are you talking about all of a sudden!”
“You remember what I said before?”
Elsa asked while looking at Sean. It was clear when the transfer she was referring to was.
It must mean the conversation the two of us had on the day Levy fell asleep. I remembered what she had said about sleeping together as a matter of course between lovers.
But Sean couldn’t answer Elsa. Even in the midst of embarrassment, Levy was curious when a subject she did not know came up, but Sean just kept her silence until the end.
In the end, Sean and Levy had an awkward night due to a bomb thrown by Elsa.
***
In the morning, the three went straight to the old man.
“You are quite good at it.”
Elsa exclaimed as she looked around at the winter clothes the old man had prepared for her.
“It is a matter of survival.”
“If we said we wouldn’t pay, wouldn’t you accept it?”
The old man’s eyes widened as if he was surprised by Levy’s question, then let out a small laugh as if he had eaten a punch.
“Unfortunately, this is no small favor. The house is overflowing, but no matter how much winter clothing I make, I never know when it will run out.”
“I see.”
“And we also need a minimum amount of money to survive, so please understand. Of course Tae Ho takes care of us.”
The unusual name Taeho is the name of the owner of the blacksmith’s starry sky, their destination.
“Is he coming down to this town?”
According to a story I heard when I was young, I heard that Tae Ho never leaves his forge. Of course, since it was a fairy tale, it wouldn’t be strange if there was some exaggeration or fiction mixed in. It’s absurd that people only live in blacksmiths.
“Are you guys going to meet Taeho?”
“Uh, yes. By the way.”
“Then, when you go up, you will know everything.”
It was strange why he didn’t answer the question directly, but Sean nodded. It’s because he can’t hold on to someone who doesn’t want to answer and forcefully ask.
“Just be careful.”
“…What do you mean?”
“Mountains are like trials and tribulations full of danger. Many pilgrims and adventurers have lost their lives while climbing the mountain. What do you think is the purpose of this village?”
To the old man’s sudden question, Sean pondered for a while before answering.
“Hmm. It was built by a pilgrim…”
“That’s right. To be precise, it was built by a pilgrim who barely survived while trying to climb the mountain. It is for the purpose of warning people who are going to climb the mountain.”
“·······.”
“I hope you never forget that no matter how great an adventurer you are, you are only a mere human being in the face of the great forces of nature. So please be careful.”
The old man never made a fuss or threatened to never enter. She simply let out a word of warning as she plainly laid out the facts.
That calm reaction rather helped them realize how dangerous the destination they were heading to was.
When he left the village, the old man’s warning still stuck in Shawn’s head. Realizing that she was worried about him, Elsa smiled and reassured him.
“No need to worry. Because it seems to me that the power of the human next to you is stronger than the power of nature.”
She was self-evident who she was referring to.
As Sean glanced at Levy beside her, she could only smile shyly.
“heheheeng?”