I was discovered while hiding in Vivio’s room.
As we proceeded down a narrow cave path, we found ourselves in a crowded settlement of the Yukidango Tribe. They all turned to face us, the intruders. Some were laying out mats to trade, others carried prey on their backs, and some led their dog pups.
They began to gather around us, likely having recognized us. The narrow cave filled with fluffy white orbs, resembling a snowfield.
“Move aside, make way. Don’t touch them.”
The man at the front pushed away his kin who were approaching with curiosity.
“This is Hakukyo, the chieftain’s advisor. You could say he’s her only son,” Vivio whispered softly amidst the commotion. “So that’s why he could use magic. I don’t understand the ‘only son’ part, but I do understand that we need to go meet the chieftain.”
A child ran up and touched Philiana.
“They touched me, eek!”
“Hahaha!”
They darted around our feet like mice, and I feared we might step on them. Just as Task had said, the children weren’t wearing hats.
Everyone crowded into the cave, as if it were a festival, just to get a look at us. Eventually, a wolfdog appeared, looking at us curiously. It was a large dog with pure white fur.
“This is amazing. It’s like we’re celebrities,” Elana remarked, to which I replied, “Right? I wonder if they have anything else to look at besides snow.”
There were so many of them that Elana’s sarcasm was understandable. The narrow cave was completely filled with white. If we were Hollywood stars, it might have been a pleasant sight. But the reality was different.
“Chieftain, we’ve brought them. These are the intruders.”
The chieftain appeared before us, escorted by guards. As expected, she was a woman, and all her escorts were women as well. Though her physique was child-like, her face was far from cute. Her eyes were sharp enough to pierce one’s heart, and her mouth was set in a frown. Furthermore, large horns grew from the hat she wore.
“So the rumors are true.”
“Vivio, the eccentric, had them hidden. They should be banished.”
I suppose that’s how it would go. But if we were cast out now, we wouldn’t last a day. The blizzard was still raging. And besides, I absolutely had to save Vivio. Naturally, Vivio herself wasn’t silent upon hearing this.
“W-wait,”
“Be silent, you have no right to speak! Cough, cough.”
Hakukyo coughed for a while. Perhaps he had caught a cold.
“I’m sorry, you shouldn’t listen to this eccentric’s words. I’ve gone down the mountain many times before. Did you think I wouldn’t be discovered?”
“Indeed. Banishing them. Cast them out with the outsiders. If they try to return, kill them.”
“Uh, excuse me, but…”
My single utterance drew all eyes to me. The clamor in the cave fell silent.
“Well, Vivio saved us. So, could you please forgive her?”
“Choose now: die here or go outside.”
So, there was no room for leniency. Their harshness towards outsiders was indeed true.
“Understood. We will go outside.”
“Arisugawa, it’s a blizzard outside,” Sharin said. That was true. But I had no intention of dying here. Going outside was a bitter choice, but I was sure Vivio knew somewhere safe. I’d gamble on her having the means to survive, just like Task.
“Hey, I’m going to die,” he exclaimed.
“Huh? Don’t you have any hiding places?”
“There are, but whether we can reach them…”
I had to carry him and somehow make our way through the blizzard. Behind us, guards armed with spears and the wolfdog waited. I decided to retreat, enduring hundreds of gazes.
“W-wait, wait for me—!”
Someone leaped out from the swarm of the Yukidango Tribe. They tumbled before the chieftain, making a rustling sound.
“Please wait… Um, those people, you see…”
It was Task. Did she come out for our sake? But if she said anything, she’d be banished too. The chieftain narrowed her eyes, urging her to speak quickly.
“Well, they saved me, or rather, they carried me this far.”
“Didn’t you come back alone?”
“Ugh… Well, it was tough alone, I guess.”
She must have gathered her courage out of guilt. I could almost see her cold sweat.
“I actually had a high fever, and they shared their medicine. In any case, they’re my life savers, so please forgive them.”
The chieftain frowned and glared at us. She clearly wanted to banish us immediately, but seeing that her companion had been saved, she seemed to be considering her options.
“Very well. You may stay until the blizzard stops. However, you are not to enter this area. And Task, I have something to ask you.”
“R-right, of course…”
Task was escorted away by guards. I felt sorry for her, but it seemed we managed to avoid being thrown out into the blizzard.
