Death Can’t Sleep - Chapter 109
“We will go to the Bandit King’s fortress this way.”
Victor fell silent for a moment at her firm words. Even though he wanted to ask many questions, he only asked one.
“…How do you know them?”
“The bandits often come down to the North to barter, and I used to follow them to their fort. They are the only ones who can climb the Black Mountains unscathed. That’s how I learned to use their way.”
Amarion quietly groped a black birch tree.
As expected, one of the knots had a notch in the shape of a semicircle.
“If you cross the Black Mountains using this road, you can arrive at Amari a few days early. But… the mountain range is a scary place that changes from time to time. You have to use a sword to keep the monsters at bay.”
“…”
“It’s going to be very dark, are you going to be okay?”
“It’s okay because I’m with you.”
Amarion bit her lip and squeezed his hand.
“Come on!”
They rode their reindeer down a dark trail.
＊ ＊ ＊
The forests of the Black Mountains were alive. They arbitrarily changed positions to trick intruders. At some point, the single road split or forked. Depending on where you entered, a distance that would take half a day would be reduced to an instant, or a path that would take ten minutes could last for months.
Simple signs had been tampered with by forest magic, allowing bandits to navigate the complex ways.
“You are pure white, a white star that does not melt… This way!”
As they ran, Amarion read the verses written on the tall trees one by one.
“Unreachable, white, honey… this way!”
“What kind of code is that?”
Victor shouted as he followed her down the second path.
“Connecting lyrics!”
Amarion said while reading the phrases carved into the next tree.
“There are several roads in each area in this forest, and they switch places to deceive people. So, I wrote down a ciphertext modeled after the lyrics of a song on a tree so that I can choose the right way, and mark what song it is in advance.”
The sign at the entrance of this road was a round half-moon. It was a folk song called ‘The Knight and the Snow Goddess’.
The lyrics were roughly like this.
[You are pure white, a white star that does not melt.
You who can’t be reached, there are no words.
Oh, if I die and fall here.
Goddess, please take my soul.]
Amarion ran down the road with the words ‘from here’ written on it and cut down the goblins that were attacking her. Victor threw his sword at an approaching Yeti.
She hurriedly read the next phrase and spurred on her reindeer. There were more monsters than usual, so she felt impatient. Their large reindeer galloped forward at a tremendous speed.
“This is the end!”
She approached the road where the last phrase was written. Then, suddenly, their view widened. And in front of their eyes, a huge wooden fort was revealed.
“This…”
Victor looked up at the fortress, which towered endlessly. The legendary fortress, the residence of bandits, was right in front of them.
The stronghold of the bandits was very high. The fort, which was grown by tying special fire-resistant trees together over several generations, was like a black wall that could not collapse. Thanks to the fortress that even a Serpent could not overcome, the bandits of the Black Mountains were able to survive in this dangerous land for a long time.
Fortunately, even though there were so many monsters, the fortress looked fine. Relieved, Amarion approached the fortress. Guards in the watchtower glared at her and asked grimly.
“Who are you? Are you a spectator of the mountains?”
‘Don’t they recognise me?’
Amarion was a little shocked. She thought they had seen her often enough…
She shook off the shock and took a step closer.
“This is Amarion, Amarion of Amari!”
“…What? Lady Amarion?”
The bandits who were watching opened their eyes wide.
Soon there was a commotion inside. After the sound of something falling down, a familiar figure leaned out of the window. Silver hair close to white, and purple eyes, rare in the North. The delicate face of his, which always had a calm expression, was rarely surprised.
Amarion smiled and called him.
“It’s been a while, Kyrgyz.”
Her childhood friend, the king of bandits, replied with a tight grip on the wooden frame.
“…Marion.”
“Marion?”
Victor’s eyes narrowed.
＊ ＊ ＊
Amarion and Kyrgyz were old friends. They knew each other from the time they first held the sword.
He was quite strong from a young age, so he would come down with the bandits to do business. He was the only person her age who could compete with her, so she often crossed swords with Kyrgyz.
As she was able to climb the Black Mountains alone, their number of encounters increased. The taciturn boy grew stronger as he aged. He outlived all of her friends, taught her the art of daggers, and became her hunting companion.
When Kyrgyz said he was selected as the ‘king’ of the bandits, he celebrated by picking a wine from the Amari Castle cellar. She even joked that she couldn’t believe he was that good.
Amarion followed him into the fortress.
Kyrgyz was silent today.
He was a taciturn guy, but not to this extent.
The bandits spoke to her, who was puzzled.
“Oh, I really didn’t recognize you, Lady! Your face has completely changed!”
“Is that so?”
“Your voice is brighter! My God, I was very worried because you suddenly got married, but you seem to be doing well there?”
Amarion laughed quietly.
“Yes.”
“Good. But who is the man who came with you? It couldn’t have been easy to climb that road.”
“Oh, this is my husband, Victor. Victor Morte.”
“…”
Suddenly a heavy silence fell. All eyes were fixed on Victor.
‘Should I have not said his name?’
But they didn’t seem afraid of Victor. It was something more…
Amarion looked up at Victor with inexplicable embarrassment. Victor was looking around the village casually.
The village of bandits was a unique place.
Thanks to its high walls, only strong people went out to fight with the name of ‘bandits’ here. In the meantime, the weak lived peacefully in a warm village built of wood. An old man and child walked hand in hand, and blacksmiths hummed while they hammered iron for the warriors to use. It was the place she was envious of.
A safe land for the weak. But somehow Amarion felt uncomfortable. Something seemed different from usual…
Kyrgyz called her, frowning.
“Rest here for now.”
It was a hut for outsiders in the middle of the village. Amarion nodded and went inside.
The inside of the cabin was already warm. As she sat down on the soft cloth chair, she lost all her energy. She kicked up her sore legs and took off her fur hat. She didn’t intend to stay for a long time, but she felt comfortable after sitting by the fire.
Soon, servants came in with warm goat milk and thin onion bread.
“Thank you.”
“What, no ‘nice to see you’ after such a long time? Kyrgyz will like it too!”
They laughed and left the room.
Victor asked.
“…May I ask how you know the ‘King of Bandits’?”
“Yes.”
Amarion briefly explained while eating.
Victor’s eyes sank.
“I see. A friend… Why didn’t you tell me before?”
“It is difficult to explain. I thought you didn’t need to know.”
She didn’t know it would turn out like this.
She smiled bitterly.
It was right that the two would never meet. Like the previous bandit kings, Kyrgyz did not descend from the mountains. As soon as he became the king, inflated rumors spread all over the continent.
It was the same for Victor. Why would the Grand Duke of Morte, a public servant of the Empire, come to the bandits’ fortress? So she didn’t really explain, and during this trip, she missed the opportunity to say it.
Soon Kyrgyz returned.
“Did you fill your stomach?”
“Yes, thank you.”
Kyrgyz’s purple eyes looked at Amarion. Then he asked calmly.
“Why are you here?”
After she finished chewing the food in her mouth, she answered.
“I want to borrow the way of bandits. I want to get to Amari as soon as possible.”
“Why Amari?”
“…Why? I heard it’s dangerous there. News from Muriel and Pandragon. So, of course, I have to go.”
He slowly scanned Victor. Amarion looked at him a little nervously.
The old friend she met after a long time was a bit strange. He glared at Victor silently as if he had a lot to say.
“Kyrgyz, what the hell is going on?”
When Amarion finally got impatient and asked, he spun around. Then he opened the tent and called someone. The bandits quickly stuck their heads in.
“What, boss?”
“Bring some drinks and food. Anyway, the road to Amari is only open in the morning…”
“Oh, are we drinking?”
The bandits were excited and ran out. Since they always lived stoically, they seem to want to use their guests as an excuse.
They were the same as before.
Amarion glanced at a friend who was acting strangely. He let out a deep sigh.
“Let’s talk over a drink. As always.”
Amarion couldn’t help but nod her head.
***