I had to climb the mountain to escort the collapsed child.
“Let me down, you!”
“…”
Well, this was bound to happen. The moment they woke up, they started struggling. It was good I tied them up just in case.
“Hey, do we really need to be the ones to go?”
“Mhm… Arisugawa, don’t push yourself.”
I could feel glaring eyes from Elana and Sharin. I was starting to regret my choice.
“Fufu, flailing around like that will only raise your fever.”
“Don’t touch me, monster!”
That’s what they spat out at Philiana when she tried to stroke their head. She dejectedly pulled her hand back.
“Hey, can you just tell me which way to go?”
“I’ll never tell you, even if I die!”
I wonder if I can just leave them here? I’m starting to get a good feeling about this. Maybe it’s the fever, but my back, where I’m carrying them, is getting sweaty.
“Then can you go home by yourself?”
“Let me go already!”
There’s no other choice; I’ll give up and leave them. The other three looked like they agreed. I set the child down from my back and untied them. Immediately, I started trudging through the knee-deep snow. Then, I fell. I mean, of course I did, they have a fever close to forty degrees Celsius.
I grabbed their clothes and pulled them up. They were trying hard to fight back, even with their slurred speech.
“How stubborn!”
“I get it, you’re strong. Can you just lead us home now? Or do you want to collapse and die here?”
The mention of death finally made them stop struggling. Even so, they glared at me with vacant eyes. Why are they so aggressive? Can’t they just calm down already?
“Just stay on my back quietly. I’ll go right back after I drop you off.”
“…Fine. Hurry up and walk.”
On top of that, their attitude got even worse. This definitely isn’t a Hummingbird Harpy, I realized that. Then, as they said, I continued climbing the mountain. The avalanche must have softened the snow, making it difficult to walk. I understood why Dunder took the long way. Furthermore, if an earthquake were to happen again, there’s a possibility of another avalanche.
“Pant, pant, this is tough.”
“Yes, please hold onto me.”
Pathetically, I had no choice but to move forward, step by step, clinging to Philiana’s back. Despite the effort, the end was nowhere in sight. The sun, which had been brightly illuminating our surroundings, began to set quickly.
“Night is coming soon. It looks like we’ll have to camp out. However, there’s nowhere to rest.”
Sharin looked around. There was nothing but snow and trees. Honestly, I’ve lost feeling in my hands and feet for a while now. It’s only because the child on my back is warm that I haven’t frozen. My shoes are soaked due to the snow covering my legs.
“It’s getting cold. And the air feels thin.”
As we climbed higher, the air thinned, and the harshness increased. I suddenly looked back and saw Elana lagging behind, buried in snow.
“Hey! Are you okay?”
“I’d like to say I’m okay, but it’s a bit impossible.”
They were swaying unsteadily, and their condition was clearly unusual. Their face was pale.
“What’s wrong?”
“My head has been hurting, and I’m feeling dizzy.”
They exhaled a white breath. These symptoms are surely altitude sickness. As the name suggests, it’s a condition caused by the thin air when climbing mountains. There were no oxygen tanks or mountain huts to rest here. Perhaps there were some, but we wouldn’t know.
“Please, Elana, climb onto my back.”
Along with Sharin, I placed Elana on my horse-like back. It seemed best to stop here for today. If their condition worsened, it would be a disaster. I had no choice but to find a nearby fallen log to sit on and rest.
When I took off my shoes, my cold fingertips were bright red. I tried to warm them with my hands, but it was like touching ice; there was no improvement.
I broke off a tree branch and placed it on the snow. If I piled it high, perhaps it would catch fire on top.
“Elana, please.”
A fireball cast by Elana ignited the branches. The crackling fire illuminated everyone’s faces. I spread out the mat I brought, hoping it would provide some warmth, and sat down. It was sturdier than I expected, with good insulation. I was glad I bought it before coming.
“With fire, it’s completely different.”
“Mhm, there’s a sense of hope.”
I skewered the food I brought on the branches and roasted it. Despite the harsh environment, it was starting to become a little enjoyable.
“Eating outside like this isn’t bad.”
“That’s true. But it’s terribly cold. My legs feel like they’re going to freeze off.”
Philiana’s legs are of utmost importance here. Being large, she’s also crucial for her sheer horsepower. I wiped her legs with a towel.
“Thank you. Oh, would you like some too?”
Philiana offered food to the child, who had been lingering at the edge.
“I can survive for days without food.”
“I know, but you still have a fever. How far is your home from here?”
“Much farther.”
Whatever the reason for their stubbornness, the child covered themselves with their wings and fell asleep.
