The journey to the north went smoothly.
Before setting off, there were two things I was worried about.
The first was the presence of troublemakers.
In any game or novel, whenever there’s a mission to transport goods, you always encounter bandits or assassins.
Especially in this case, where the mastermind behind the incident was at least a member of the royal family, and the scale of the conspiracy was unclear, the uncertainty fueled my imagination and made me even more anxious.
“Why is it so peaceful?”
The sight of Rii, scratching her thigh and snoring beside me, symbolized peace.
Indeed, the empire’s roads were too well-maintained, and the public order was excellent, making an attack unlikely.
The environment was just too safe!
It really goes to show how important the environment is.
Should I consider this a blessing, or should I be even more tense, thinking of it as the calm before the storm? I’m not sure.
The second concern was my body’s negative reaction every time I faced Frennila.
At first, I was very worried, but with the excellent heart-soothing pills from the neighboring country that Rii brought, I found it easier to adapt than I thought.
With the medicine, the trembling when communicating with her has almost completely disappeared.
Of course, there was one crisis.
Once, the carriage shook, and I ended up pressed close to her.
I immediately fainted, foaming at the mouth.
As expected, regardless of the medicine’s effects, my body still reacts traumatically to skin contact or when she gets too close.
Explaining the reason for fainting later made me sweat bullets.
But compared to the times when I couldn’t even speak properly, this is a significant improvement.
If there’s one problem in this situation, it’s the endless routine and the boredom it brings.
Having lived in the modern era, soaked in dopamine, one of the hardest things after transmigrating to this world was dealing with the boredom during long travels.
It’s still something I can’t get used to.
How can I make good use of this boring time and make it known?
After some thought, I came up with a good idea.
Since we’re leaving the empire’s territory and will be staying in the lands of other ethnic groups for a while, perhaps a long time, why not properly learn the tribal language from Frennila?
Frennila clapped her hands lightly and readily agreed to my proposal.
So, during my free time, I managed to take lessons on the tribal language from Frennila.
“Where are you running off to? You come here too!”
“Ugh.”
The saint, clearly showing her reluctance to study.
Naturally, realizing she would also get dragged into it, Rii, who was pretending not to notice, also joined in.
*
Time flew by quickly.
“We’ve reached the Duchy of Bellot!”
Thanks to the high-quality horses of the ethnic groups, which are not ordinary imperial horses, what would have taken a month was accomplished in just three weeks without a single break.
In the distance, the massive white walls symbolizing the Duchy of Bellot came into view.
Bellot Castle, standing at the center of the boundary between the empire and the northern plains.
This castle, silently and steadfastly guarding the empire’s northernmost frontier, was bustling with people, a sight not befitting its name as the front line.
It felt like the entire north wasn’t evenly developed but rather concentrated in the central city area of Bellot Castle.
Built with the empire’s advanced architectural technology, Bellot Castle has never allowed an invasion from the ethnic groups since its completion.
This massive white castle looked so sacred that it was revered like a religious building by the northerners.
This was my first visit since the second regression, and it felt like returning to a familiar hometown.
I would have liked to stay in the Duchy of Bellot for a few days to relax and have various conversations with Duke Bellot.
However, the situation with the ethnic groups was urgent, and since this wasn’t a visit for a pleasant occasion, it seemed appropriate to leave quickly.
Frennila’s visit to the capital was not only a request for support but also included the sensitive issue of how to handle the refugees from the ethnic groups who had been pushed into the empire’s territory.
As we approached the end of the castle walls, a large man opened the gates and came out.
A man who accompanied the emperor on his conquests and achieved legendary feats.
He led every battle he participated in to victory, earning him the name, Duke Lanan de Bellot, the Victorious.
The current Duke of Bellot.
But even the mighty Victorious Duke couldn’t escape the passage of time, and his presence wasn’t as overwhelming as in his prime.
I stepped out of the carriage and stood before him.
Even a toothless tiger is still a tiger.
His stature, twice my height, was enough to intimidate me.
But I wasn’t intimidated at all.
He was a man who valued strict hierarchy and military discipline.
At least, as a superior in status, I didn’t need to be overwhelmed.
I extended my hand to him first, as a superior.
“Impressive stature, just as I’ve heard. I’m impressed. It’s a pleasure to meet you, Duke Bellot.”
“The empire’s third little sun, it’s an honor to meet you, Kenneth.”
Even in his humble posture, he was still one and a half times my size.
Just him holding my hand was enough to make my body feel threatened.
“You must be tired from the journey. Please, come inside. We’ve prepared for you to rest and recover from your fatigue.”
“Thank you.”
After introducing the saint from the neighboring country and Frennila to him, I followed his guidance into Bellot Castle.
Perhaps for today, I could rest freely from Frennila’s physiological threats and Rii’s psychological threats.
With that thought, I felt the tension gradually easing.
With light steps, I entered the assigned quarters and, overwhelmed by fatigue, lay down on the soft bed and fell asleep.
*
In the temple located at the center of the tribe, a sacred place worshipping the sky, the girl continues her celestial observations today.
Starting from the tribe of Chang, the anomalies began, turning into madness and transforming many brothers and sisters into monsters.
Despite their efforts, it was insufficient, and like a candle in the wind, the ethnic groups faced a precarious situation.
Even in the face of the crisis that has come to the entire north, she calmly looks up at the night sky, reading the flow of the celestial bodies.
Originally, fate is an absolute that cannot be changed once set.
Unless one can turn back time, which is impossible without the power of a god.
Thus, she could only accept and adapt to everything, and she thought so until that day.
But even knowing the set facts, she looked up at the sky every day, perhaps hoping for something.
Always expressionless, always feigning calmness, even she couldn’t accept the future where relatives, friends, and brothers were dying without any change.
Thus, today, even knowing it wouldn’t change, she looked at the sky, and something felt off.
Sensing something different, she silently observed the sky for a while.
‘The flow of the celestial bodies has changed.’
A planet that has deviated from its set course and begun to forge a new path, its once blood-red light replaced by a brilliant blue, has now arrived in the north.
Seeing this unusual sight, her eyes began to shake uncontrollably.
This record, she had seen in literature.
Such a phenomenon had only appeared once in the vast records of the ancestors.
And even that was in an ancient text whose authenticity was uncertain.
But the content was too significant to be dismissed as mere fantasy.
Tengri, the god worshipped by the ethnic groups, governing the sky, had foretold the coming of a savior who would overcome the crisis and unite the ethnic groups, leading to a powerful nomadic empire that would eventually unify the entire continent.
Not even the emperor of the empire or the pope of the neighboring country could compare.
This being beyond the heavens, the emperor of the ethnic groups, was called ‘Khan’ in their language.
As the planet shifted, it began to emit a vast light never seen before, signaling the arrival of the Khan across thousands of years, sending shivers down her spine.
Svioha.
Known by many titles such as the Star Keeper, the pinnacle of sorcery, the chief of the tribe, her true role was always the priestess governing the Tengri religion.
Crisis is inherently the coexistence of danger and opportunity.
Celebrating the arrival of a leader who would guide them through the crisis, she lit a fire in the temple and burned lotus incense.
“Today, I shall dance and pray to the heavens!”
Hahaha.
Cheers of joy, and ecstasy!
As time passed, the sweat dripped to the ground and her passionate dance moves seemed to show her tumultuous emotions.
Her appearance was almost like that of a fanatic, her dance celebrating the arrival of the Khan would last through the night, and it had only just begun.