Chapter 77: The Mist at Kataka Gorge

The next day arrived.

Before dawn, the outer training grounds of Malta Castle were bustling.

Duke Malta, who was organizing a search party to find the missing scouts, bowed his head when Rohan appeared shortly after.

“You have arrived, Your Highness the Crown Prince.”

After exchanging light greetings, the two continued their conversation.

“How are the scouts we found yesterday?”

“Other than not being able to remember things well, they’re said to be in good health.”

“That’s a relief. I hope nothing happens to the remaining scouts.”

“It’s already been two days since they went missing, but they’re specially trained men. Unless something terrible has happened, they’ll surely be alive and well.”

On the training grounds, not only the soldiers but also the families of the missing scouts had gathered.

“Your Grace, please, you must find our sons. We beg you.”

An old man, who seemed to be representing the families, pleaded, and the duke nodded, placing his hand on the man’s shoulder.

“Don’t worry. Have you forgotten how capable our missing sons are? I’ll find them and bring them back in no time.”

“We have faith in you, Your Grace.”

Duke Malta was like a king in these parts, but at the same time, he was like family.

Because of that side of him, the people of the northern fief were particularly loyal.

“All right, if everyone is ready, let’s depart!”

The sky was gradually being dyed blue and yellow by the faint sunlight.

And just as everyone was about to set out—

Hihihing!

A horse galloped swiftly into the training grounds.

A soldier was riding atop the horse.

He dismounted after bringing the horse to a stop and saluted.

“Your Grace, urgent news!”

“What is it?”

“Just now, the missing scouts have reappeared near the Kataka Gorge boundary!”

“What did you say?”

The duke’s eyes widened.

“How many?”

“Five in total. All have returned alive!”

The soldier who brought the news replied with a beaming face.

“What? The boys are back?”

“Is that really true?”

The families who had been anxiously waiting now wore bright smiles.

“Heh.”

Duke Malta let out a sigh of relief, then shouted toward the waiting search party.

“Today’s search is canceled! Everyone, prepare to welcome those who have returned!”

“Hurrah!”

“Understood, Your Grace!”

The search party, who had been ready to depart, was just as overjoyed.

Though their units differed, the soldiers of Malta Castle shared a strong camaraderie.

How much time had passed like that?

“They’re coming!”

Horses approached from the distance.

Prrring!

With a cloud of dust, the arrivals dismounted in the training grounds.

“We salute Your Grace!”

Chak, chak, chak!

They greeted the duke in disciplined formation.

“We apologize for causing concern, Your Grace.”

The returned scouts looked astoundingly healthy.

The duke walked toward them.

“Thank goodness, you’re all safe!”

He hugged each scout in turn.

Afterward, the leader of the scouts knelt before the duke.

“I apologize, Your Grace. We lost our way, shrouded by endless mist in the gorge. We barely managed to escape and struggled to find our way, finally reaching the boundary.”

“Mist?”

Rohan tilted his head.

“There was no mist yesterday.”

The leader’s eyes turned to Rohan—remarkably calm eyes.

“And who might that be...?”

“Pay your respects, this is the Crown Prince.”

“Is that so?”

The scouts’ eyes grew wide.

“We greet Your Highness the Crown Prince.”

After a brief greeting to Rohan, the leader spoke again.

“Your Highness, the weather in Kataka Gorge is capricious. We knew this, but this time the change was extraordinary.”

Rohan watched him intently.

A perfect answer, a natural expression.

However...

“Still, something is odd. Yesterday, we found the coats you left behind. If you lost your way in the mist, why did you take off your coats?”

At Rohan’s sharp question, the duke’s eyebrow twitched.

He, too, had wondered about that.

The scout leader smiled.

“We removed the black coats to recognize each other in the mist. As you can see, our inner clothes are white, which are more visible in the fog.”

“Ah, I see! As expected.”

The duke nodded vigorously.

“I’m well aware of your improvisation skills. Well done, splendid! Just the fact that you returned safely is a great joy to me.”

“We are sorry, Your Grace.”

Soon, the families of the scouts came forward to hug their sons, and everyone was smiling brightly.

“How strange. So it wasn’t Kazin Fabian’s scheme after all?”

To Rohan’s words, Retina replied.

“Simply getting lost in the mist... the situation is peculiar, indeed.”

“Hm, it’s unsettling, but...”

In any case, it was good that everyone had returned safely.

Besides, it had only been two days since they’d gone missing.

It was a very short time for anything to have happened.

“That ‘Oblivion Grass’ from yesterday, that still bothers me.”

Rohan stroked his chin.

If nothing else, those two scouts with memory loss still concerned him.

“Yes, the Oblivion Grass. To learn more about it, we must head to Silvaren quickly.”

At Retina’s words, Rohan nodded.

---

Time passed, and evening came.

While having dinner together, the duke spoke first.

“We’ve received reports from the scout teams, Your Highness.”

“Did they find any traces?”

Rohan’s question was met with a shake of the duke’s head.

“Other than the initial signs of entering and leaving the gorge, no further traces were found at all.”

“I see, then...”

“If, by any chance, those traces belonged to Kazin Fabian, it means he’s either died in the gorge or has already left—one of the two.”

Rohan clicked his tongue softly.

Once again, they’d lost the trail.

He’d been certain those were his traces.

“They stayed there for almost a week before getting lost in the mist. If nothing was found in all that time, it’s probably certain.”

It was unfortunate, but just as expected.

If no further evidence was found, there was no reason to stay any longer.

“We’ll likely have to cross the Silvaren border early tomorrow.”

“You mean you’ll go to Silvaren yourself?”

The duke was surprised again.

He was talking about directly entering Silvaren—a forbidden zone for humans.

“Even with the Blood Elfirians there, entering Silvaren won’t be easy.”

Rohan smiled at the duke’s words.

“Would you believe it if I said I was personally invited into Silvaren?”

“Officially?”

The duke’s eyes widened as he asked.

Rohan shook his head.

“Unofficially. It’s a very personal invitation.”

“Ah.”

It was astonishing.

“I’ve also been stationed at the border with Silvaren, but I’ve never set eyes on the place. I’m truly curious about Your Highness’s visit to Silvaren.”

He took a sip of water and set down his utensils.

“Do you not require an escort to the Silvaren border?”

“That’s all right. I already have three guards.”

“Well... I suppose so.”

To console the disappointed duke, Rohan made a request.

“In return, when I return from Silvaren, I’ll share what information I can about the place with you.”

“Truly?”

Information about Silvaren, sharing a border with him, was incredibly valuable.

“In exchange.”

Rohan also set down his utensils and spoke.

“Please continue tracking Kazin Fabian’s movements while I’m gone. He’s surely still somewhere near the north.”

“Haha, of course!”

He was already tracking and watching for him.

If the price of inside information on Silvaren was to keep tracking Kazin Fabian, it was a bargain.

“Before you leave tomorrow, could I see your face one last time?”

“Of course.”

“Then I’ll expect it. Rest well and see you tomorrow, Your Highness.”

With that promise, the two parted ways for the night.

---

Meanwhile.

Schubert Imperial Palace.

Bertolt, the jailer guarding the northern tower, was making his dawn rounds as usual.

Creak, creak.

The lantern that lit the darkness swung back and forth with his steps.

“My word, there’s neither sun nor moon tonight.”

The cloud-covered predawn sky was dark, and only the lantern lit his way.

Feeling the eerie atmosphere, he raised his collar and climbed the stairs to the fifth floor.

This tower mostly held political prisoners, but on the top floor, there was a special inmate.

None other than Empress Emilia.

“No matter how much of a traitor she is, a mother is still a mother, I suppose.”

In his other hand, he held Empress Emilia’s breakfast.

This had been specially requested by Prince Eliot and delivered to her every morning.

“Hey, mister. Nothing for me?”

“Another meal for the top floor, damn.”

The prisoners who’d woken early grumbled, drawn by the delicious smell.

Bertolt ignored the comments as he slowly ascended toward the top floor.

“Tsk, it looks like it’ll rain soon.”

He frowned at the damp air, and just as he was nearing the top—

Something above made a ‘tak’ sound.

Then a dragging noise, ‘drururuk.’

Bertolt raised his lantern to illuminate the corridor.

“Who’s there?”

But there was no one.

‘I’m sure I heard something...’

With a cautious expression, he slowly approached Empress Emilia’s solitary cell.

“Father, Father, please save me, Father...”

There, a woman was huddled in the darkness, mumbling to herself.

Her hands were clasped to her chest, and her knees shook as she trembled.

“Are you feeling unwell?”

Sensing something was wrong, Bertolt brought the lantern closer to the bars.

At that moment, another noise came from behind.

Kududuk!

A chill ran down Bertolt’s spine.

He set down what he was holding and drew his sword.

“Who’s there? Show yourself!”

Something like a shadow was moving swiftly in the depths of the corridor.

‘Damn.’

Was there an intruder?

If so, he needed to call the guards...

Just as he reached for the horn at his waist—

Kadeudeudeuk!

A chilling metallic screech filled the top floor.

It sounded as if a giant hook was scraping the walls.

“Ugh!”

He wrinkled his nose on instinct.

“What’s that smell...”

Suddenly, the stench of rotten blood wafted from somewhere.

At the same time—

Thup!

Something seized his shoulder.

A terror that seized his throat.

He slowly turned his head.

“Ah, aaaaaaah!”

And that was the last thing he ever saw alive.

Kwaak!

His neck was pierced, his body lifted into the air.

Thud, thud, shaaaaa!

Suddenly, rain poured in through the shattered window.

[A new branch... has sprouted...]

The top of the northern tower was engulfed by shadowy vines.

The shadow vines slipped away into the dawn mist.

“Ah, ah... no.”

Inside the cell, Empress Emilia stared wide-eyed, trembling as white as a sheet.