We dismounted our horse and greeted the Archduke of the North. Quenor slowly walked to the front of the line and looked at us. He looked like something straight out of a fantasy novel. He was in his late thirties, mid-forties at the most, with piercing blue eyes and long black hair that cascaded down his cheeks.
“You must have traveled a long way to get here, Hero.”
Archduke Quenor was tall. Elroy was probably 185 centimeters(6’1) tall, so Archduke Quenor, looking down at him, must have been at least 190 centimeters(6’3). His broad shoulders and the fur cloak he wore over them combined to give him a terrifyingly imposing appearance.
It wasn’t just his appearance that was frightening. His voice was deep and booming as if echoing from a cave. Most of all, he had the unmistakable air of a martial artist who exuded power yet still hid his true strength. No one dared to move, whether it was the Hero’s Party or the knights sent by the queen. I racked my brain to figure out how to respond to him.
“It was much more convenient to move now. The snow in the winter would have made our journey even tougher.
“We can talk more later. For now, let’s get all of you inside the castle.”
Archduke Quenor gestured toward the inside of the gates, his voice cold, as most high lords are. Knights led the horses we rode in and disappeared into the distance. My horse’s reins were tugged violently by the knight leading it.
(It doesn’t seem like we are welcome here.)
As the Holy Sword said, the expressions of the knights lined up here could not be said to be kind, even with empty words. The proud northern soldiers did not seem to be delighted with the existence of a Hero who made their lord greet them. ‘It’s not like I wanted this either.’
“Forgive the knights for their impertinence. This is what the North is made of.”
Archduke Quenor said, looking at them with pride. I kept my mouth shut and walked alongside him, not wanting to create unnecessary friction by pointing out what was wrong with this old-fashioned hospitality.
(I thought you would argue with your personality.)
The Holy Sword asked as if it was surprising. ‘You surely realize I am a mere worm in front of him. At this point, it was safe to say that there was hardly anyone stronger than the Northern Duke.’
(Is it only because of his strength he can act like that?)
Of course not. Northerners have their own right of passage, discipline, and oaths. These are the common characteristics of northerners in most novels. I didn’t expect them to be happy to see me in the first place.
“I’m sure you’re tired, so I’ll show you to your quarters first. It’s summer, so you won’t be able to rest very easily. Soon, we might not even see the dark of night for weeks as we approach the summer solstice.”
Archduke Quenor spoke. I glanced over at Georg and saw his mouth working overtime to somehow communicate with those around him. ‘Hang in there, brat.’
We piled into the wagons. The knights and soldiers dispatched with us had been led away, leaving only me, Georg, Daphne, and Marianne. Georg took the driver’s seat, sitting by a knight, while I sat with Daphne and Marianne in the four-passenger wagon.
“The people of Evernode are really different. I guess it fits the world’s perception.”
Daphne said, glancing out the window.
“Maybe they’re acting because they don’t want to betray our expectations.”
“… Don’t be silly.”
Daphne frowned, and I smirked.
The carriage door opened, and a burly man stuck his head in. Archduke Quenor soon entered the carriage. He wasn’t wearing his cloak anymore. I wondered if two horses could pull a carriage with Georg, Archduke, and myself. The Archduke knocked on the sliding glass door of the coach, and the carriage rattled to life.
“We’re wasting time, so we’ll continue our conversation here.”
High-handed was the best way to describe him. He turned to face me. Up close, I could see his face bore some pretty impressive wounds: one across his left cheek, a crack like a tear in his head, and a scar that would have made a child cry at the sight of it.
“I’ve heard good things about you, Hero,” he said, “the North has been keeping tabs on your movements ever since we heard you had drawn your sword from the ruins.”
“I am honored.”
Why does the phrase “keeping tabs on me” not sound good at all? Well, I didn’t help with how much drama I’ve caused. I looked at the Archduke, who seemed to have a grim expression, and asked a question.
“Where is the ‘horizon’ now?”
At my words, he arched an eyebrow, looking quite surprised.
“It’s creeping slowly, about a step a day. Once a week, an army of demons invades from Beyond the Limit.”
Beyond the Limit is a land of ice and blizzards year-round. It is the land of the Fourth Disaster, the dwelling place of the ‘Giant.’ The Giant is not only mighty in its own right, but it is the one who drives the north wind and winter. They are called the destruction of the world and reign as a divine beings over intelligent monsters. The army of monsters that the Archduke is talking about must also be led by monsters with intelligence.
“I’ve heard you always fight monsters on the front line.”
“I got out once a day. However, my main goal is reconnaissance. Killing them happens as part of my task.
“Then have you found anything unusual?”
“It’s the business as always, but that makes it even more disturbing. You’ll see when you go scouting with us.”
Archduke Quenor leaned forward as if it was his turn to ask a question.
“Hero, do you think you can kill the Giant?”
I frowned at the Archduke’s question. The Giant was not something that could be captured by trickery. Just as the sea was the domain of the Kraken, the frozen lands were its domain. The difference with the Kraken was that we would be disadvantaged wherever we fought, as we could not lure it like the Kraken.
Well, I won’t answer anything like I can or can’t. No matter which way you answer, there will be a corner that can be faulted. I usually ignore questions like this. However, in front of the Archduke, this was not an option. ‘I can’t back down here.’
“Do you call your battles before they’re fought?”
“Are you saying you can’t do it?”
‘This is a test, a provocation. Don’t get too angry.’
“How could I know without facing my opponent first? How can you fight a Disaster and be confident you can kill it? That’s more than just arrogance; it’s just the wistful thinking of a fool.”
I lowered my voice slightly. Archduke Quenor’s eyes shone, but I didn’t look away.
“I could never be confident fighting against the Disasters. I just have to give it my all.”
It was good that Georg couldn’t hear us, so I could talk as I pleased. Archduke Quenor didn’t try to argue with me further but sat back in his seat. It helped ease the tension that had been building up. Daphne could barely contain herself.
“…Well, you should know better.”
Still, it was nice to see him stop cleanly and not act like the politicians in the Capital. I may have been a jerk, but it is still a hard place to live.
After the short question and answer session, there was an awkward silence in the carriage. It lasted until we reached the building where we would be staying. I stepped out of the carriage until I heard the Archduke’s voice.
“The night is short, and you won’t get much sleep.”
“It is all right.”
“Draw the shades on the windows and get some sleep.”
Then the carriage drove away. Georg walked to us with a smile. The knight beside him must have learned much about Georg’s time in the North. I’ve never seen him so excited.
“Did you have a good talk?”
Georg coughed, a little embarrassed. Daphne looked around at the knights around us, who were glaring at us, and lowered her voice to a whisper.
“They’re staring at us like they’re going to eat us.”
“It takes a while to be recognized as an ally in the North. Well, sooner or later, they’ll be forced to accept us.”
With that, Georg shrugged and went back into his quarters. I narrowed my eyes at the soldiers and knights of Evernode. I know it’s a rite of passage, but I wish they could do it in moderation.
(Your ominous premonitions are usually spot on.)
‘Don’t tell me about my ominous premonitions usually being right. When you say that, it’s pretty much a done deal.’
(Isn’t it better to know what is to come?)
I looked around, the stares of the knights and soldiers boring into the back of my head. ‘For this situation, it’s best not to be right.’ I follow Georg into the quarters.
***
“What was the Hero like?”
Evernode’s citadel. A knight came up beside Archduke Quenor as he walked across the hall. He shrugged his shoulders.
“He’s a good talker. I don’t know how he’d fare in combat, but he’s not as bad as he’s rumored to be. He seems to get along well with his companions, and given that they are his newest recruits, it would be strange if there were any discord among them.”
The rumors of the Mad Hero in the North were ugly and unsettling. He was often at odds with his colleagues. He has a high-handed attitude and has an attitude stronger than he is. Tales of strength were favored, but rumors of weakness are never good.
Crucially, he was rumored to have pushed aside colleagues he didn’t like in favor of those he did, especially those with him here, which was enough to make him unpopular with the northerners who valued bonds above all else.
“I’m not going to jump to conclusions since I’m a member of your staff, but I’m concerned that other knights or soldiers might do something unnecessary, and it would be better to be forewarned.”
Archduke Quenor shook his head slowly.
“No. I will make it unnecessary.”
Then, as an afterthought, he muttered.
“Tomorrow, I will test myself to see if the rumors of a true warrior are true or if petty misdeeds have been blown out of proportion, and then I will end the discontent in one form or another.”
***
The next day. I don’t know if the day has changed, but the hands on the clock said it did, so I’ll call it the next day. Archduke Quenor left word for us to equip ourselves and meet in front of the citadel. I muttered lowly as I followed my escorting knight.
“Something’s up. I wonder if monsters are crossing the ‘horizon.'”
At my words, Georg replied with a creak of heavy armor.
“Either way, we’ve been sent to help defend the Evernode. If they give us a job, we’ll do it.”
I couldn’t help but recall my conversation with the Holy Sword yesterday.
“…Yes.”
Archduke Quenor met us in front of the citadel. After a brief exchange of greetings, he led us to the barracks, where the soldiers were already marching in formation at the command of their knights, radiating a seething sense of military spirit.
Archduke Quenor glanced at me, then turned to the men in formation.
“I will patrol sector one today myself.”
There was no uproar, but they did look surprised.
“… You’re going alone?”
“No. With them.”
Archduke Quenor pointed to me. We needed more than our brief conversation yesterday to turn the Archduke’s mind. However, I believe he is using this to quell the discontent of the knights and soldiers, who still gave me hostile looks.
“I will take a party of warriors on patrol to check their skills and mindset. If it is determined that they are not up to my standards, I will have them removed from service….”
The Archduke’s eyes met mine.
“I will write to Her Majesty, asking her to reconsider their very dispatch.”
That sounded reasonable to me.
“Do you accept, Hero?”
I nodded. I fought the corners of my mouth from turning up.
The Northern arc was, by far, my favorite part of [I will never go back]. I could recite the details of how Arjen hunted the northern monsters without missing a beat.
“Of course.”
It was time to use my knowledge as a transmigrator.
