**Chapter 345: 120. Dream (7k)**
The night in Miya was quite cold, and the camp set up by the Snow Fox Tribe could hardly be called luxurious. Perhaps it was due to their generally diminutive stature, but the height of the tents barely reached Fisher’s abdomen.
Fisher made some modifications to the tent for his group, which allowed them to fit inside.
After receiving treatment from the Snow Fox Tribe, Balzak’s condition gradually stabilized. He was now resting inside the tent, while Selti still felt a bit dazed, choosing to shrink inside the tent and not come out.
Unexpectedly, among his subordinates, Felis—who usually appeared the least reliable—was now the most composed, helping Fisher set up the tent while whistling.
Fisher glanced at Felis, who looked relaxed, and casually asked, “Weren’t all your funds left in Miya? Why do you seem so unconcerned? You were clearly a money-grubber before.”
“Oh, you don’t know,” she replied, “after leaving the Southern Continent, I’ve gone through similar situations a few times—getting shot while on a mission, being chased by humans in a city, getting caught by enemies. Every time I encounter such events, I lose quite a bit of money.”
However, her tone shifted, and she smiled at Fisher, giving him a rather wise look while giving a thumbs up.
“At first, I was pretty angry, but then I suddenly realized that every time I faced such dangerous situations, I only lost a little money, while somehow I was still alive. I thought this could likely be a case where losing money spared me from disaster. Moreover—”
Before she finished, she quietly moved a bit closer to Fisher, lifted her coat slightly, and Fisher, following her open coat, saw that she had several shiny gold bars tied around her waist.
Fisher glanced at her in surprise, and Felis winked back at him and chuckled, “Well, at least I’m not down to my last pair of underwear.”
“…”
Unexpectedly, this girl seemed quite clever as well.
Fisher didn’t respond to her anymore; the sky was gradually darkening, and a campfire had been lit in the camp. Although it raised the temperature quite a bit, it still felt cold, prompting the diminutive Snow Fox Tribe to huddle in a small circle around the fire to warm themselves.
It was only when Juna sat down and opened the wooden basket she had been carrying that Fisher discovered it contained several very young Snow Foxes.
The group of hungry little Snow Foxes resembled a bunch of tiny kittens, only they wore small clothes and could speak, which piqued Fisher’s curiosity as one of them cried out, “Auntie, hungry.”
Fisher glanced at Juna, whose white fox face quickly shook as she held a crying white baby Snow Fox in her arms, explaining to Fisher, “These children are my sister’s offspring, but unfortunately, both she and her husband contracted a disease. The tribe is not safe now, so I could only take them out to care for them.”
“I see. Hurry and eat; I’ll prepare a spell for you to absorb the decay antidote, and when you return, your tribe will be safe.”
“Mm, thank you, Mr. Fisher.”
Dinner was not very sumptuous; the Snow Fox Tribe had only managed to hunt a few small rabbits and snow lemmings, making the meat sparse and full of bones, and the roasted meat turned out dry and tough, quite unpalatable.
However, it was clear that Fisher’s party had no appetite. Heidi Lin cut a few pieces to feed Valentina, who barely managed to eat a few pieces before nearly vomiting, while Felis and the Snow Fox Tribe heartily devoured the meat.
The night winds in Miya were fierce. Although the Snow Fox Tribespeople set up camp in a windbreak sheltered by rocks, it was still impossible to stay outside for long.
During this time, Valentina maintained silence. After a simple dinner, she used fatigue as an excuse to return to her tent to rest, prompting concern from Heidi Lin, who watched her thin figure leaving.
Heidi Lin opened her mouth, wanting to say something to comfort the lady, but found herself unable to speak, merely biting her lips and remaining silent in place.
Behind her, Fisher, who was distractedly engaging with Juna’s incessant chatter, kept his eyes on Valentina as she wheeled herself back to her tent. He stroked his chin pensively.
In the deep night, amidst the silence of the camp, the campfire had extinguished, leaving only the howling night wind slicing through the towering rocks shielding the camp, preventing it from becoming too cold.
Under the pale, bright moon’s gaze, a rustling sound suddenly emerged from Valentina’s tent.
Not long after, Valentina quietly pushed her wheelchair out of the tent, wearing the same clothes, which meant she hadn’t rested at all but had remained in her wheelchair until the last person outside returned to the tent.
The night in Miya was too cold for most creatures to walk in such frigid conditions, and indeed, there was no need for a night watch.
Even now, much of the biting wind was blocked by the giant rock, yet Valentina felt an excruciating chill that made her delicate form tremble.
But she remained silent and calmly approached the now-extinguished campfire. She struggled to grip the armrests of her wheelchair and leaned forward, grasping a dagger that had been resting on the ground next to her.
The dagger, slightly warmed from the embers of the fire, provided a bit of comfort, and as Valentina looked at the sharp blade, she fell silent for a moment before glancing back at the quiet tent behind her.
There lay, in order, the companions she had encountered since leaving the fortress.
Balzak from the Shivali family—this fallen noble from Shivali had a tendency to be difficult but never faltered in a crisis, displaying no small measure of character, having helped her significantly.
Selti, a mechanic from Cardu, was still a minor. Born and raised in a heavily conservative religious environment of Cardu, she yearned to study further abroad in mechanical academia. Coming from a poor, parentless background, she joined her team to fund her journey to the Nali Royal Academy, taking responsibility for her weapons and equipment along the way.
Felis, a cute and honest subhuman mercenary from the Southern Continent, was supposedly an avaricious person but was, in fact, very loyal—a funny character who provided lightness to their journey through her banter with Balzak.
Heidi Lin, her steward who had cared for her since childhood, was now thirty-six. Trained by her family until she turned eighteen, she then dedicated her loyalty to Valentina, having lived without a normal life, transferring the burdens of Valentina’s disability to herself.
And there was Haldor, who was no longer around, as well as her parents.
In the cold night, Valentina, who had sat silently in the center of the camp for a long time, lowered her head and silently whispered a “thank you” to the camp before casting one last glance at the quiet tent where Fisher stayed.
The ring on her ring finger, glowing with magical light, felt warm still, much like him, giving Valentina a sense of security that made her decision feel fearless.
This guy, who usually annoyed her so much, somehow left an unexpected impression in certain areas.
If given the chance after this, she would definitely want to be their companion again.
Valentina thought this and smiled at Fisher’s tent before tightly gripping the dagger in her hand and wheeling herself into the bitter wind.
“Whoosh!”
The biting cold wind outside contrasted sharply with her petite figure seated in the wheelchair. Her frail body could hardly carry her far; the distance of just a few dozen meters was already her full strength.
Once she determined she was far enough from the camp, she held the dagger against her wrist, forcing herself to endure the numbing cold.
“Whoosh!”
It was unclear whether it was fear of impending death or the cold that caused Valentina’s hand gripping the dagger to tremble uncontrollably.
“Ugh.”
Her pale silver eyes did not dare look at her bleeding wrist, turning her head to the side as she closed her eyes to avoid seeing her arm.
“It’s a bit cold tonight, isn’t it?”
Just as she was about to stab herself, a man’s voice intermingled with the sound of wind and snow, arriving first.
Valentina hurriedly opened her eyes and turned back, where Fisher sat on the giant rock shielding their camp, resting his chin in his hand as he gazed in her direction. Behind him, a great moon illuminated his figure, rendering his features hazy but radiant.
“F-Fisher?”
Valentina paused in surprise, panicking to hide the dagger in her hand, but her body temperature was too low, causing the dagger to uncontrollably fall into the snow.
“Hmm? Lady Valentina, why aren’t you asleep so late? Are you also out here to catch a cold?”
Sitting atop the giant rock, Fisher wore a thin white shirt; despite the cold night, he looked more at ease than Valentina, who was bundled in several layers.
At this moment, he seemed “surprised” to notice Valentina, as if he had just realized she had come out, pointing to the ground and saying, “Emhart is snoring and keeping me awake. Can’t you sleep either?”
At that moment, Emhart, who was quietly sleeping in Fisher’s tent, turned over and fell back into deep sleep.
Valentina stared at the seemingly relaxed Fisher sitting on the rock, slightly opening her mouth. After a long silence, instead of responding to his joking words, she asked,
“. Were you waiting outside for me? Do you know I would choose to sacrifice myself at night?”
Upon hearing this, the playful expression on Fisher’s face gradually faded. He leapt lightly from the tall rock to land in front of Valentina, then glanced at the dagger that lay on the ground before looking at Valentina and saying,
“Well, you see, everything you’re thinking is practically written on your face. Even without the Phoenix bloodline, I could predict what would happen tonight.”
Valentina pursed her lips, her voice somewhat hoarse and hesitant to meet the elegant gaze of the Nali man.
“So, you’re here to change my mind?”
To her surprise, Fisher calmly shook his head, sitting in front of Valentina and saying,
“No, I never make decisions for others. You are an independent individual; I respect your choices.”
“…”
Valentina was slightly taken aback, following which her expression darkened as she turned her head away and coldly said,
“Fine, then help me pick up the dagger, and you can go back to rest.”
Fisher, sitting on the ground, didn’t move, merely shook his head and said,
“Lady, our employment relationship has ended, hasn’t it? I’m no longer your subordinate, so I can’t obey your orders…”
Valentina’s eyes reddened as she angrily glared at the expressionless Fisher, feeling a swell of grievance in her chest,
“You!”
Unexpectedly, just as she was about to explode, Fisher suddenly pointed at Valentina and interrupted her,
“Lady Valentina, I’ve got a question. If the Phoenix tribe can see the future, why hasn’t one of them foreseen their own demise?”
Valentina’s angry expression paused for a moment. Fisher, instead of looking at her, turned his gaze toward the distant Sema Snow Mountain, hidden in the night, as if genuinely pondering this question.
“Speaking of which, I seem to have never told you why I’m searching for the legendary Parasol Tree, right?”
Valentina’s frowning face began to soften as she looked at the enigmatic Nali man, hearing unexpected words from him for the first time. Her slight irritation faded somewhat as she was drawn to his purpose for reaching the Parasol Tree.
“Actually, like the long-extinct Phoenix tribe, I received a terrifying prophecy. In the prophecy, everything regarding humanity will perish, so I set off on a journey to resolve the Apocalypse Prophecy. At first, I maintained a relaxed mindset while seeking a solution, but later I realized I was wrong…”
Fisher’s gaze grew blank, and visions of the Death Ray, Elizabeth’s hollow golden eyes, Erwind’s cold, eerie biotechnologies, and the other dangers lurking in history opened their jaws to him incessantly.
“The path to solving the prophecy is far too difficult for an individual… no, even for all of humanity, it’s nearly impossible. Along the way, I have witnessed the loss of innocent lives, experienced the vicious betrayal of those I trusted, and endured countless instances of isolation and scheming.”
“Reaching today, there are times I truly feel exhausted, because no matter how careful I am, I will still leave vulnerabilities; no matter how hard I try, there will be things beyond my ability; and no matter how much I contemplate, there will be unsolvable mysteries. Unless I completely ignored this prophecy from the outset, then I wouldn’t find myself without a home to return to, and I would still be a celebrated gentleman—after all, perhaps even my efforts would be in vain.”
Fisher gazed at the moon above, his vacant expression halting abruptly, yet he suddenly chuckled and shook his head.
“Even when this idea arises, I find it unacceptable. Because if I reflect deeply, despite these harrowing sufferings, I have nevertheless encountered many wonderful treasures worth cherishing and seen numerous people or things deserving of my struggles.”
Bathed in the bright moonlight, it seemed that figures flickered in Fisher’s eyes—those alive and dead, familiar faces from long separation, and at this moment, the slightly widened eyes of Valentina before him.
“So, even if the final result turns out poorly, even if the things I can only accomplish at the cost of my life won’t fully resolve the issues, I still feel that it’s enough—at least, I haven’t gained nothing. In a sense, my goal has already been achieved.”
By the time he finished the last sentence, Fisher looked at Valentina, causing her to gently wrap her fingers around the magical ring he had given her, her face slightly flushing as she sought to evade his gaze.
She opened her mouth and suddenly realized that the things hidden within the Parasol Tree might pertain not just to the Turan family’s hereditary diseases, but also deeper secrets, such as the terrifying creatures that had attacked her hotel before, which was likely why Fisher was so intent on reaching the Parasol Tree.
However, what Fisher did not tell Valentina was that aside from this reason, he was also heading to the Parasol Tree for a foolish woman who hadn’t returned home for a long time.
Valentina paused for a second, then coldly snorted, “Heh, so that’s why you’re chasing after everything under the sun?”
Fisher raised an eyebrow and innocently replied,
“Slandering someone is a bad habit; it can easily hurt those who trust you. Lady Valentina, look, I’ve been honest enough with you, even telling you my reasons for going to the Parasol Tree. Yet you refuse to tell me what you saw in the prophecy, so shouldn’t I feel more aggrieved than you?”
Upon hearing this, Valentina’s face reddened; she retorted heatedly,
“I’ve told you, you don’t need to know!”
“Mm, well, I can probably guess what it’s about, so it’s no concern whether you tell me or not.”
“Huh? What?! You… you know?”
“Take a guess if I know or not?”
“…Pah, disgusting, bad person!”
Valentina couldn’t put into words her exasperation at the bad man in front of her. In the end, when she was utterly furious, she could only hurl out a couple of harmless insults.
But undeniably, after learning that Fisher was determined to reach the Parasol Tree, her initial thoughts of sacrificing herself began to wane. Originally, she believed that if her death could resolve the hereditary disease troubling her family, they would no longer pursue her subordinates. Afterward, Fisher could escort Heidi Lin safely away, ensuring everyone’s safety.
“However, even if you go to the Parasol Tree, there’s nothing more I can help you with. As you can see, removed from the glory of the Turan family, I’m just a timid, cowardly person with disabilities. Without Selti’s machinery, I can’t even go up the mountain, let alone reach the Parasol Tree.”
At this moment, upon learning that Fisher still planned to continue to the Parasol Tree, Valentina’s first thought was to provide him assistance, but pondering it over and over, she realized that a person unable to even leave a wheelchair could offer little help. Even if it were to fulfill his desires, her disabled body would hardly be of any use to him.
Fisher, sitting on the ground, gazed at the slightly dejected Valentina and simply asked her,
“Valentina, don’t consider whether you can help. Everything about the Turan family, the Nali people chasing me, the curse of the Parasol Tree, those who attacked me in the hotel, how to ascend the mountain, and how to enter the Parasol Tree—all of this will be dealt with by me. If that’s the case, I want to know, if there’s just a shred of hope for you to survive in the Parasol Tree, would you be willing to give everything for it?”
Valentina bit her lip tightly, tightening her grip on the ring in her hand. Although the night in Miya was quite cold, time seemed to stand still, making her feel nothing but the clarity of Fisher’s gaze directed at her.
Her heartbeat quickened, as if an unseen source of heat was flowing through her. Yet, after a long silence, she did not give a definite answer but suddenly looked at Fisher and said,
“Help me. Back to my tent, quietly, don’t let others find out.”
“Hmm? Didn’t you just accuse me of chasing after everything? Don’t blame me this time.”
“What are you thinking, pervert? I want to show you something.”
Fisher observed Valentina, who had regained her composure, understanding that she had abandoned her earlier thoughts of suicide. He no longer continued to joke but slowly pushed her back into the quiet confines of her makeshift tent, entering with her.
“Help me lie on the bed, then you lie down too.”
“…You’re serious? I’ll remind you that this is a very dangerous situation.”
In the dark tent, Fisher paused for a second before speaking. Sensing the fragrance of Valentina in the dark, his expression dimmed as his instincts surfaced like a hungry beast.
But Valentina did not say anything else; she reached within the depths of her thick clothing, pulling out a pendant that glowed with an unusual pink light. As soon as the pendant appeared, it emitted a magical ripple that caught Fisher’s attention, overshadowing even his instincts for survival.
The reason was that this high-ranking member of the Nali Magic Association and student of Master Heilson discovered a magic made from a ring he had never seen before on this pendant, arousing his curiosity about what spell was inscribed on it.
“What kind of magic is this?”
“…First, help me to the bed.”
“Alright.”
Fisher gently supported her body; her petite figure was soft and light, her limbs cold but breathing warmth against his neck, causing Fisher’s motions to slow. Yet fortunately, his intense curiosity temporarily quelled his instincts, allowing him to refrain from any extra actions.
Once settled down, Valentina did not stop; instead, she patted the space beside her, indicating for Fisher to lie down as well.
“…”
Woman, do you know you’re playing with fire?
Fisher hesitated for a moment but eventually lay down beside her, feeling the warmth of his body close to her—ultimately causing Valentina to secretly show a satisfied smile.
Then, she raised the strange, glowing pendant, which illuminated the darkened space with enticing colors. The unique engravings etched upon it made Fisher eager to begin investigating the magic inscribed there.
“This is a relic left by my mother. Although she left me when I was very young, I still have a deep impression of her. My mother was a very powerful magician, with remarkable magical talent, just like you. During her lifetime, she contributed much to the family, even being praised by the chieftain as the strongest magician in the family’s history.”
“This is a magic she created herself, something that consolidated her life’s work. I’ve never shown it to anyone else, and until now, only Haldor, myself, and you know about this magic. I call it ‘Beautiful Dream.’”
“Beautiful Dream?”
“Mm, lie still, don’t move, Fisher.”
The next moment, as Valentina activated the magic within the pendant using her own power, a blinding light erupted from it. However, Fisher, whose soul was highly sensitive, quickly realized that this magic was not meant for the physical body but for the soul. Under the fierce light, the surrounding darkness shattered like glass, pulling the two of them, lying on the bed, toward an unknown world.
Fisher’s pupils slightly constricted. In the next moment, the cramped, dark tent had vanished, replaced by a massive fortress nestled amidst the icy world. The fortress was shaped like a five-pointed snowflake, and any structure on it was imposing, immediately giving the impression that it was not designed for tiny humans.
This is the Snowflake Fortress where the Moon Princess once resided?
Fisher blinked in surprise and looked down, realizing he was no longer lying beside Valentina but rather standing in the snow outside the giant fortress. The sounds of howling wind and snow, along with the cries of unknown creatures and the collisions of ice blocks in the distant sea, felt remarkably vivid. However, Fisher did not feel cold at all; he merely lowered his gaze at himself, quickly discovering something peculiar.
He was not in a physical body but rather a pure soul. It seemed his soul had temporarily departed from his body and entered a strange place, one that felt oddly familiar.
“Hey, Fisher, what are you looking at?”
The next moment, Valentina’s voice came from the side. Fisher turned in surprise and saw Valentina in a vast white snowfield, bent somewhat with her hands behind her back, observing him. The wind teased her white hair, and she wore a black dress just like at their first meeting, with a slightly askew little hat that complemented her pale silver eyes and alluring beauty.
In her own right, she was standing firmly in the snow, no longer in her wheelchair. This was the first time Fisher beheld her standing normally.
“Hmm? Is it your first time using magic so you’re not used to it? Why are you spaced out, Fisher?”
She raised a hand, tucking a strand of silver hair, lifted by the northern wind, behind her ear, questioning while straightening her posture and moving closer to Fisher. She brought her hands to her mouth, forming a trumpet shape, and called out to Fisher, who was in a daze,
“Hey! Fisher! Can you hear me?!”
The northern wind carried her voice far, even encouraging a butterfly in the distant snowfield to finally take flight, showcasing its beauty for the first time in this expansive realm.
**(End of Chapter)**
