North of the northern frontier, the northernmost edge of the Mokryeo Kingdom.
Also the most prosperous city and sturdiest fortress in the north. It was only natural that Wolhanseong guarded the northern border, and anyone living here would naturally learn that the lands south of Wolhanseong were human territory.
Thus, everyone held prejudices about the forbidden frontier beyond the northern border. Prejudices born from never having seen it.
That was certainly true.
“Your Highness?”
A soldier in my party showed a gate pass to the guard at the northern gate.
“What, His Highness is going?”
“That’s how it turned out.”
“Is that even possible…”
“What’s wrong with it? I heard His Highness decided so. Keep it quiet.”
The gatekeeper at Wolhanseong’s northern gate spoke.
I could hear everything. Already did.
I turned to look at the northern gate. Called so because it led north, but it hardly qualified as a gate.
It wasn’t grand enough to be called a castle gate—more like a back door. They said it was rarely opened except in emergencies or special cases like now.
Other soldiers nearby glanced at me.
“This way, Your Highness.”
The gatekeeper pushed open a seemingly new iron gate. It looked recently replaced.
Stepping outside through the northern gate, a rugged mountain landscape unfolded.
Towering peaks. Clouds draped over summits piercing the sky. The contrast of shadows cast by clouds and sunlit slopes. Jagged rocks like teeth along the mountain’s incline. Neither sky nor time could conquer it.
A mountain was a mountain. A bit rugged, but ordinary. Yet, its inaccessibility lent it an eerie air.
It was as if instinct whispered this wasn’t my domain.
No wonder it’s called the forbidden frontier.
It felt different from facing it inside the walls. From atop the walls, it seemed an ominous landscape; now, it was overwhelming. Yes, overwhelming. Oppressive. The mountain’s aura seemed to push my soul back.
The presence or absence of the wall made such a difference.
Others would likely feel it too.
“Your Highness.”
The guide called me. His name was Deokbong. Not part of Wolhanseong’s military, but a man who gathered herbs outside the walls, selling them. He survived long enough to catch the lord’s eye.
“Before we leave, the lord said if Your Highness feels tired, to return immediately without delay…”
“Ugh, shut up.”
He was saying I could turn back. No way. I’m not that weak. What do they take me for?
…Should I bulk up more? Would that make me look tougher?
“The lord insisted, so please heed it.”
Hondon butted in. I don’t know why, but he was in the party too.
They must have picked him for his skill or experience. The lord chose the expedition members.
To be clear, I trusted the lord, not this guy.
“I heard.”
“You don’t seem to have listened.”
The nerve, mouthing off to a Grand Prince. Deserves applause.
Those smooth cheeks would be perfect for a good slap.
Hondon stared at me blankly, then turned away.
What a guy. Try to give him a chance, and he acts like that. Who’d like him?
I felt the weight of the sword at my waist. This was what Hondon tried to steal.
No way I’d let it be taken, especially by him. No matter what he achieves, I wouldn’t give him a thing, just to spite him.
Even a hundred deeds would be undone by one word, one act. That’s the kind of guy he is.
“Let’s hurry. If it’s as dangerous as you say, we don’t have time to waste.”
If the sun sets, we’re in trouble. I’d considered camping, but it wasn’t appealing. I wanted to return before dark. A Wolhanseong bed beats the ground any day.
I didn’t hate camping, but this place made it unappealing. Sleeping on this rugged mountain, with dampness as a blanket… really not my thing.
Camping wasn’t unfamiliar. I’d lived without a roof for a time.
If the sun sets, we’d have to camp. Moving in a dark wilderness wasn’t just a bad idea—it was foolish. Beasts get more active at night, they say.
So we’d wait there until dawn.
I wasn’t thrilled, but if the situation called for it, we’d camp. Everyone carried food and supplies in packs.
“Yes, Your Highness. I’ll lead the way.”
The guide, laden with a pack, took the first step.
The party began moving away from Wolhanseong.
All we’d done was walk, but it felt like I needed a technique for it. Walking technique. It was different from wandering Seopyeong’s Taeryeong Mountains. The mountain and beastly aura seemed to press my shoulders and tug my ankles.
Probably just my imagination.
There were tangible things to blame too.
The slope was steep, with sheer cliffs here and there. Trees grew chaotically, tangling and competing. Twisted branches spread like a canopy, blocking the sky. No sunlight reached the ground. Instead of grass, unidentified mushrooms and mold colonies sprouted on the damp earth.
My shoes felt defiled. Anyone frequenting this mountain would need new ones constantly. Leave them a moment, and mold would bloom. My expensive leather shoes made it sting. As a former beggar, I’m sensitive about money and can’t help noticing.
The forest’s damp air entering my lungs wasn’t pleasant. Dark, cold, and humid, it fostered unease.
Perfect for hiding something.
“Common trees, but they look different.”
My muttered words got a reply from Hondon.
“Those are in Wolhanseong too.”
What’s that supposed to mean?
…Picking a fight?
“I know that.”
My sharp reply made the guide glance back. Meeting my eyes, he quickly turned away, as if checking if I was struggling.
“I’m not tired. Not tired.”
Of course, he said nothing, and I was just paranoid.
The guide was likely the most tired. He carried a large machete, clearing trees to make a path. Two soldiers skilled in trekking followed, tidying the way. I trailed behind.
We walked for a while. The trees grew so densely, their branches and leaves like a ceiling, that we didn’t notice the sunset.
Good thing it’s late spring. In winter, this would be hell. Snow on this damp ground would make walking impossible, even on flat land. A blizzard blocking visibility would force us to avoid getting separated before worrying about beasts. If someone slipped and fell, what then?
The thought alone was suffocating.
“Your Highness, it’s getting late.”
I looked around. It was darker than before.
The guide pulled out a map, explaining.
“We started here, passed this way, and reached here… What does Your Highness think?”
“What do you mean? Am I tired?”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
I sighed shortly and answered.
“I’m fine.”
“Shall we turn back?”
To avoid camping, we’d need to return now. But we’d found nothing.
The beasts that supposedly came to Wolhanseong didn’t show a whisker when we came looking. What kind of contrarians are they?
Making noise to draw them out might work, but who knows what’d happen.
A small party couldn’t easily take on a beast horde. So we’d search cautiously.
We had to keep looking until we found something, even just one.
“Did we see anything?”
“Nothing yet…”
“Can’t go back empty-handed without seeing anything.”
“But if we delay further, we’ll need to camp.”
The guide sounded reluctant.
Do I look like I’d die lying on the ground?
“No problem. We can camp. I didn’t come unprepared.”
The guide folded the map and pointed to a flat spot nearby.
“Then… how about camping here?”
I nodded readily.
“Sounds good.”
With my permission, the party moved efficiently, preparing to camp.
“I’ll do this.”
“No, Your Highness.”
A soldier was setting up a tent, but he was terrible at it. Not inexperienced, just clumsy.
“I said I’ll do it.”
I approached and took the tent. I set it up myself.
“Do something else. I’ll handle this.”
I shooed the soldier away and finished the tent. It looked pretty good. Experience from losing everything and wandering wasn’t for nothing.
Checking the tent, Hondon approached.
“This pole. You should drive it deeper.”
While everyone worked, Hondon was idling.
Looking like a kid, he wouldn’t be much help anyway. I had no complaints about him staying put.
But then.
“Not your first time pitching a tent, huh? The ground’s soft, so it might come loose.”
Should I just smack him?