Wolves of Hader

I spent the whole night talking with Urald.

The conversation took the form of Urald answering my questions.

"... So, what kind of place is the Beltern Continent?"

"There are several countries. The strongest is Tern Kingdom in the north. After that, there's Rube Kingdom, a small country in the center, that's fairly strong. The southern kingdoms are underdeveloped and, after warring with the north in the past, they have since established an alliance system."

"When did they become hostile with the Kadena empire?"

"It's always been common for countries to be hostile from era to era, hasn't it? Young master, don't you believe the people of Beltern are barbaric and cruel?"

"That's what I was taught."

Urald smirked.

"I'm neutral, but people from Beltern aren't much different from those here in Arshaire. If you ask me, the people over there are actually a bit more naive."

"So they might even think of us as the cruel ones."

"Right. People here might not know, but Beltern's folks are so afraid of the Kadena empire that they shudder just upon hearing the name. Even if all the countries of Beltern joined forces, it'd be hard for them to win."

"Do they ever refer to us as the forces of evil?"

Urald looked at me quietly.

From his expression, it seemed they truly did call us a force of evil.

A vast empire and a collection of kingdoms.

Even if 'empire' here might mean something a bit different from what I know, the word 'empire' and 'imperial army' command the same kind of dread.

If Beltern's kingdoms are ordinary states, then the Kadena empire takes the role of the evil force that could invade at any time.

Just look at what the Emperor or the grand duke's faction did to the marquis.

"By the way, do you know why my father was exiled?"

"I heard it was for defying a direct order from the Emperor. He had never once gone against the Emperor's will until then. I wonder why he did it."

"It wasn't the right thing to do, was it?"

"That's right. It wasn't."

"I wonder what really happened."

"It must have been something he simply couldn't do, even knowing it was a matter of the family's survival. So, there's no reason to resent your father. Someday, you'll come to respect his decision as you grow older, young master."

"Yes."

That's more or less what I expected.

Our family collapsed just after the western subjugation campaign, but the campaign I know of was a pirate extermination.

Despite having achieved so much, we still fell.

There must have been something behind it.

Maybe they weren't really pirates. Or it could have been connected to the invasion of Beltern.

After all, Beltern Continent lies right below the old western territory.

"But you seem very interested in the continent, young master."

"I'm curious. I suppose there's no way to get a map?"

"A map? There are rough sketches of the continent's shape. But detailed maps are military secrets, so I doubt you'll get your hands on one."

"What are you all talking about?"

It was Russell, fresh from washing up.

Looking outside the cave, it was already bright.

"I should get at least a little sleep."

"Please do. The miners will arrive at noon."

"All right."

I crawled into my sleeping bag and closed my eyes.

I wasn't all that sleepy, though.

/ / /

Bang, Bang– bang, Bang– bang, Bang–

I woke to the sound of something striking.

I'd felt hot while sleeping, and it turned out there was a pile of fire-element ore in the back of the cave.

Just how long had I been asleep?

I headed to the cave where the mining was in full swing.

Six miners were hard at work with their pickaxes.

It was so hot inside the cave that it was almost impossible to enter, yet the miners didn't seem to mind at all.

It was thanks to the fire seal stone that Urald had installed.

"When did you start mining?"

"It's been a while—the sun has already set in the west."

"What about Russell?"

"He's gone to the beach. Said he was heading out with two miners to retrieve the coins young master found in the cave."

"Aren't we short on miners then?"

"We have enough. We can finish mining everything today."

I watched while chewing on a piece of bread Urald handed me.

Some of the miners, probably seeing a Dran for the first time, kept glancing at Urald as they worked.

Well, Dran are said to be at the pinnacle of mining, after all.

Firestone is a red crystal.

Ores imbued with magic power are called racrill, and firestones are racrill infused with especially potent fire energy.

It was small in size, just overwhelmingly hot.

If you gathered it all, it'd come to about a basketful.

That's about average for a racrill lode, but the value was enormous. Worth much more than gold of the same weight.

I must have watched for around two hours.

Russell returned when I was taking a break.

An elderly miner approached.

"We've finished mining all the firestones. Normally, it would've taken days just to break through this cave, but we finished so quickly thanks to Lord Urald."

Russell stepped forward.

"Then, could the rest of you help me out?"

"Certainly."

"I'll get to loading the firestone then."

"Yes, young master."

Russell headed back to the seaside cliff with the miners who had finished mining.

Urald and I loaded the firestones onto the sled. The sled was already full of coins Russell had brought over.

Urald sat on the sled and said,

"With this, the family might be able to rebuild."

"Someone from the capital is bound to get in our way."

"True. Our young master isn't just an ordinary noble anymore. The future of the family is bright. Hahaha."

"The problem is, someone from the Syren family will be coming soon."

"From the Syren family?"

Urald's face stiffened.

He, too, must have guessed what could happen.

"There's been no mention of Art coming?"

"No. Do you think he'll come?"

"If I consider that guy's nature, he might. But I doubt the grand duke would send him. It's more likely his personal knight will come."

"Who is his personal knight?"

"Someone called Doge. Former knight of the imperial guard, and also Art's swordsmanship teacher. He's the loyal dog of the Syren family."

Doge, the Syren family's dog.

He seemed to be the one who handled all the Syren family's dirty business.

Urald continued his explanation.

"If he comes, things will get tough."

"Is he that strong?"

"The Syren family has three 'Swords of Light' and six other fighters on par with them. Doge is supposed to be one of those six and said to be the best of the younger generation in the empire."

"Three Swords of Light?"

"The grand duke, his bodyguard captain, and Art. Those three aside, the other six are said to be able to wipe out an entire family on their own."

Urald gave a wry smile.

"A crisis, but also an opportunity."

"An opportunity?"

"That man, Doge, is the one who wiped out your mother's family. The families that followed Syren's orders just handled the cleanup, but he led the massacre. You can't hide your swordsmanship just because you wear a mask."

An opportunity.

A chance for revenge for my mother's family.

A chance to kill Doge.

Someone from the Syren family is coming this spring.

That means when we survive the 30-year cold snap, they'll come—to finish us off for good. But if they do it discreetly, the suspicion will fall on the Syren family.

Now I'm starting to see what they'll try.

I also realize why they informed us in advance that someone from Syren would be coming. After making it public...

'House Hader attempted to murder those carrying a personal letter from His Imperial Majesty. So we had no choice but to fight, and in the process, the entire Hader family perished. Truly regrettable.'

To the nobles in the capital, it may sound suspicious, but there's nothing they can do if the empire's finest house says so.

We won't even have anyone to plead our case. Everyone will be watching the Syren grand duke's reaction.

"We've brought everything."

"Will we be able to take it all in one trip?"

"If we get rid of these rusty suits of armor, it should be fine."

"Let's have a look."

Urald inspected the load piled on the sled.

After taking out the leather pouch containing the coins, he tossed out all the rusty armor and shields, so recklessly it was a bit embarrassing.

"Are those things useless?"

"They're rare metal, so they're useful."

"Then shouldn't we take them?"

"We can buy something better with the money on the sled."

"I see."

I'd thought it was a much rarer metal.

Was hoping it could be used to make weapons.

Urald lightened the load considerably and then shouted.

"All right! Let's go!"

"Let's move out!"

We loaded everything onto just one of the three prepared sleds and climbed onto the rest.

The start was slow because of the weight, but once we picked up speed we raced forward.

The Hader family will surely change now.

We just need to endure this 30-year cold snap.

I don't care who comes from the Syren family.

They're not getting out alive.

/ / /

Five days passed in a flash.

After the second polar region expedition, all preparations were complete.

Now it was just a matter of when the cold snap would hit.

But days went by and instead of getting colder, the temperature just kept rising.

I started to wonder if there would be no cold snap this year.

Still, it's been three days since I stayed holed up in my room and didn't go outside.

But tonight was different.

It had been warm even during the day, but as soon as the sun set, everything suddenly changed.

It was like a typhoon was blowing over the pole.

Whooooosh—

Rattle-rattle—

"The wind is too strong."

"Indeed. I think the giants will arrive today."

Except for Russell, everyone gathered in my room.

My siblings, Urald, and Donnie.

They were all visibly tense.

"Elder sister. If the giants come, does that mean the cold snap will start right away?"

"Yes. The giants are said to arrive in advance."

"I'm really curious what kind of cold snap it'll be..."

After Urald spoke, silence fell.

Meanwhile, the wind kept getting stronger.

Looking back, yesterday was the calm before the storm.

Then it happened.

Suddenly, a loud noise erupted.

Clang, clang, clang, clang!

Along with the urgent sound of bells came a shout!

"Something is coming from beyond the darkness!"

"Is it the giants? How many are there?"

"It's not the giants! ... Wait!"

Whoooosh—

The wind roared once again.

"No way! Lord Russell!"

"What the heck is coming this way?!"

"Monsters! Monsters are coming in waves!"

I jumped to my feet.

Monsters?

And not the giants?