Chapter 125:


    Chapter 125


    The winner takes everything from the loser.


    ording to the iron rule that had been followed for thousands of years, the tribal alliance took everything from the defeated chieftain. Many things had changed, but the most dramatic change was that Hengels title had changed to Ka.


    Ka-Hengel.


    He became the new ruler of the north, following Jigors footsteps. He looked down at the ice axe in his left hand and opened his mouth.


    Its too heavy for me.


    At his words, Ruon, Kyle, and Ame, who had finished preparing to leave, smiled faintly.


    Even though he had lost his right arm, he still looked like he could beat a bear with his bare hands. They knew he wasntining about the weight because of his massive physique.


    Ruon spoke to Hengel, who had taken on the heavy task of the future of the north.


    I believe you can do it well.


    Thank you.


    Encouraged by the brief cheer, Hengel smiled morefortably. Behind him, An and Colin approached.


    An spoke first.


    Were going to El Tigre with Hengel as soon as this ce stabilizes. We have to inform the kingdom of the new chieftains will and stop the meaningless fight.


    As he said, Hengels first promation as the chieftain was his firm will to end the war.


    The two groups had already inflicted indelible scars on each other, but Hengel hoped to personally initiate peace negotiations to prevent the worst-case scenario of one sides annihtion.


    An, who agreed with his intention, volunteered to be the mediator, which was a very encouraging thing.


    El Tigre and the tribal alliance. Both sides had fought for their lives, and he understood theplex interests involved in this war. If he stepped in, the peace negotiations would be much easier.


    Of course, it wasnt easy at all.


    The lord of El Tigre is a flexible thinker, so we might be able to talk to him. But its also important who will represent the king who has gone mad.


    An nodded in agreement with Ruons words, and Colin reached out with a nervous look. There were a silver dagger and a wrist guard on his hand.


    Brother. Ive used them well. Now that were saying goodbye, I have to give them back.


    Ah? Just keep them.


    Colin muttered with a dumbfounded expression at Ruons indifferent answer.


    Huh? These are precious.


    Think of them as a gift.


    Ah. A gift


    His eyes welled up with tears at the unexpected word. He looked up and swallowed his tears. His cough was hot.


    Colin. Ill invite you to the tower if I get a chance. Then Ill give you potions that suit your body, not the shoddy ones. You can look forward to it.


    Colin smiled with his head down at Ames words.


    That sounds like a herbalist.


    Didnt you know? My major was originally herbalism.


    Ah? Im suddenly jealous of my sister.


    Whats there to be jealous of?


    Well-


    When Kyle joined the conversation, the atmosphere became lively. Ruon didnt rush the three people who wereforting their regrets with silly talk.


    Instead, he went to Caliban, who was blinking his obsidian-like eyes, and quietly scratched his forehead. The ck horse snorted and neighed, showing his joy at his masters touch.


    Ruon looked around for a moment.


    Hengel smiled faintly as their eyes met, and Hebert, who was hiding behind the tent, flinched and closed his eyes, bowing his head. Far away, the children hanging on the giants barrelughed. It was a smile without any worries.


    He then gazed at the endless barren snowfield with his eyes. He took a deep breath. The air that filled his lungs was cold, but refreshing at the same time. He was sure that he would remember this scenery and air first when he heard about the north in the future.


    Just then, Kyle and Ame, who had finished saying goodbye, came over.


    Lets go now.


    Ruon snapped out of his thoughts at Kyles voice and climbed onto Calibans back. The two followed him and lightly grabbed the reins of their horses, which Hengel had given them.


    Lets go.


    As Ruon pulled the reins slightly, the ck horse turned his body and started walking. Kyle and Ame followed him side by side.


    An, who watched them disappear into small dots, tapped Colins shoulder and turned around.


    Ill stay a little longer.


    Colin answered like that and quietly looked at the south, where the party had disappeared. An also stopped walking and turned around again.


    The two stayed in ce for a long time. Until the horse tracks on the ground were covered by the falling snow.


    ***


    It was definitely too cold in the north.


    Ame, who was roasting deer meat on a skewer over a bonfire, turned her head at the murmur from behind.


    Suddenly?


    Its surprising that the temperature difference is so big even in the same winter.


    Ill try to act as a web novel editor for you. Here is my edited and tranted version of your text:


    Kyleid down the dry oak leaves he had gathered with Sajung in his arms near the bonfire. He had been careful to pick only the ones that were not damp.


    He sat down on the ground and added.


    I guess we can feel that weve entered the kingdoms territory now. Well, anyway


    The party had finally escaped the northernnds after moving diligently for almost a week. They had descended southwest, not south where El Tigre was located, and they were preparing to end the day with camping again.


    Ame sniffled and said.


    You have to be careful not to catch a cold at times like this. Ruon, here you go.


    She handed him a skewer that was roasted to a golden brown. It was a small gesture of gratitude for him, who had not only hunted a deer for a decent dinner, but also cleaned it neatly.


    It was delicious.


    Ruon bit into the meat with a big mouthful and nodded in satisfaction. It didnt have much of a gamey smell, and it was juicy enough to moisten his dry mouth.


    Oh, this is really good. I wish we had some beer to go with it.


    Ame chuckled softly as she saw Kyle making a gesture of drinking alcohol with his round hand.


    After she finished thest piece of meat, she threw the remaining skewer into the bonfire and said.


    We should be able to reach Dumfries in four days at most, or three days if we hurry.


    Kyle rinsed his throat with water from the canteen instead of beer and dabbed his wet lips with his sleeve. He asked.


    Whats the deal with that fairy Quintuanus? Hes the one we have to fight, but I dont know much about him.


    Ruon knew that the question that followed naturally was not just asking for information about the fairy.


    Kyle was cautiously asking about the past between Ame and Quintuanus, which he had been dodging until now.


    The mage, who couldnt have missed that, shifted his gaze to the bonfire with aplicated expression. On the other side of the mes that were ignited by the burning logs, a gloomy shadow stretched out and swayed in a dance.


    Quin was once one of the masters of the tower. Of course, I never saw him in those days, but those who remembered him said he was a respected schr. He was a schr who suited the words a friend and a teacher to everyone.


    Ame lifted her hips slightly, pulled the sleeping bag she was lying on a little closer to the bonfire, and sat down. Her words continued.


    Before I tell youYou both remember that there is a thing called the philosophers stone in the tower, right? Simply put, its aplex puzzle that contains the history and ancient spells that are not recorded. The tower was born as a group of mages who gathered to decipher it. Quin was also one of those mages.


    It was an interesting story.


    The mages sanctuary, the tower, was actually a gathering of mages who had gathered to decipher the philosophers stone.


    Ruon listened with interest to the rare and amusing story. Ames voice rang out clearly in the dark night air.


    The philosophers stone is a wicked thing that splits the interpretation into hundreds or thousands depending on how you approach it. As a result, even after a long time, it was almost impossible to fully grasp the power and records contained in it. Among them, there were those who reached the peak with their own interpretation, and they were the masters of the tower.


    Kyle eximed softly.


    I dont know what it is, but I can tell its amazing. The philosophers stone and the masters.


    Then Ruon chimed in.


    That means Quins fall was also rted to the way he interpreted the philosophers stone.


    Ame nodded.


    Youre right. Quin seeded in deriving some information from the philosophers stone, and he left the tower and hid his tracks. From what I heard, its been more than thirty years.


    Thirty years?


    Ruon recalled the time when the Thunder King Imrek was killed, and Kyle tilted his head and asked.


    So youre saying that the other mages just watched as their colleague, and a master of the tower, disappeared overnight? They didnt even try to find out what he had deciphered?


    Ame smiled softly and pinched Kyles cheek, then let go with a start. She pped his shoulder with her hand and said.


    Hey, I told you. The way mages interpret the philosophers stone is very different. There are certainly somemon methods, but at some point, its better to see it as an independent domain. No one but Quin himself could know what he had concluded.


    Kyle rubbed his cheek with his palm and nodded nkly.


    What a show.


    The awkward atmosphere made Ruon chuckle and he took another skewer to his mouth. It was still a great taste.


    So what happened then?


    Ame snapped out of it at his words and continued her exnation after exhaling a short breath.


    Quin, who had hidden his tracks, reappeared after a few years. The orphanage in Dumfries was where he was. Since then, he took in the children who had nowhere to go and fed and raised them like his own. You might think theres no one like him in this harsh world, but as you know, that wasnt the case.


    At some point, her expression hardened like a wax doll. She added with a pale face.


    The children he took in were all outstanding talents with magical abilities, and they grew up under the harsh teachings of Quin, who was once a master of the tower. There were countless children who died in the process. Like my sister


    Her eyes moistened as she remembered her sisters face in the burning mes.


    We were orphans. Quin found us and took us with him when we were sucking on the milk of our mother who had died of famine and disease. I was a newborn baby and my sister was lying down.


    She said this.


    They were among the most talented children in the orphanage, and they quickly stood out in the training and monopolized Quins love.


    But Ams older sister, Roselin, couldnt endure the horrible training and experiments that followed. Her brain melted and she died, and the shock made Am break through her limits. She shattered the seal that Queen had ced on her and miraculously escaped from the orphanage.


    After that, she lived like a vagabond, barely surviving with her talent. A mage from the Tower of Magic noticed her and gave her a chance to start anew, leaving behind her hellish past. That was her story.


    Many years have passed Salvatore, the traitor of the Tower who was corrupted by the power of the Demon Lord, stole a part of the Philosophers Stone and ran away. I met you two while I was chasing him. You know the rest, dont you?


    Am looked relieved when her long story finally came to an end. Kyle, on the other hand, looked gloomy.


    So you went back to that orphanage where you had such terrible memories? Why did you do that?


    Am smiled wryly and said,


    It was urgent, you know. The fragment waspletely tainted by Belduciuss magic at that time. If it had gone berserk, not only me, but you two would have been in danger as well. Of course, it would be different with Ruon now. But that was the best option then.


    Ruon and Kyle, who finally understood why Am made that choice that day, couldnt easily utter the words that were swirling in their mouths.


    Do you have to make such faces?


    Am said that and curled up inside her nket.


    Im tired from talking too much. Ill go to sleep first. Ill take the second watch, so wake me up on time.


    The two didnt mention that her voice was soaked with tears. They just waited until Ams trembling shoulders calmed down and her breathing became steady.


    Kyle, who was staring nkly at Am who had fallen asleep, muttered to himself.


    It seems hard to find someone without scars in this world.


    Ruon lifted his head silently at the voice filled with deep anger. He agreed. He never imagined that Am, who always smiled, had such a past.


    The sky was drawing a beautiful Milky Way without a care. Were the gods also looking down on us with the eyes of the stars?


    He felt a sudden urge to turn their hidden feelings inside out, but he quietly suppressed his heart. He opened his mouth calmly as usual.


    Of course, the words that came out were anything but peaceful.


    Lets tear down that orphanage as soon as we get to Dumfries.