Episode 161: The North
Morning.
The sound of attendants busily moving about filled the air.
Amidst the commotion, Rudella quietly stood on her toes and left a warm kiss on Yohan’s cheek.
“Looks like everything is ready now.”
Rudella smiled softly, the morning sunlight illuminating her expression. Today was the day they would set out for the North for the final purification of the demonic lairs.
“I’ll be back. Take care of yourself.”
“Heh, you’re the one who needs to be careful, Yohan.”
She chuckled as she smoothed out the wrinkles on Yohan’s uniform with her fingertips—truly the image of an ideal noblewoman.
“…”
Standing nearby, Francia shot them a cold glare, but regardless…
Rudella spoke.
“I’ve heard that the number of demonic lairs in the North is unusually high. Be careful not to get hurt, and don’t try to shoulder all the danger alone. The purification officers and military officials all came here to fight as well.”
Yohan flinched slightly at her words.
Rudella knew well how he handled things.
It wasn’t that he insisted on doing everything himself, but he often chose to take action rather than delegate tasks. That way, the risks would be minimized. This was why the purification of demonic lairs always placed a heavy burden on him.
“…Who told you that?”
Rudella gently shook her head.
“No one did. I just thought that if it were you, Yohan, that’s exactly what you would do.”
Then, she smiled softly. She had always been perceptive and thoughtful.
Yohan smiled faintly.
“Alright. I’ll keep your words in mind.”
“Good. Then, travel safely.”
Once again, Rudella stood on her toes and pressed a kiss to Yohan’s cheek—this time on the other side.
“Haha.”
A laugh escaped him before he realized it. Despite her cold demeanor, Rudella had a surprisingly cute side.
“Yohan? That’s enough sweet talk. It’s time to leave now.”
At that moment, Francia spoke, narrowing her eyes. Her expression was as cold as ice—pure jealousy directed at Rudella. Anyone witnessing this scene would assume Rudella was Yohan’s official wife.
“Ahem, I’ll be going now.”
Yohan walked to the carriage and extended his hand so that Francia could climb the steps. It was a basic escorting gesture. With elegant movements, she stepped into the carriage.
Under Rudella’s warm gaze, Yohan boarded as well.
“We will depart now!”
The wheels began to turn. Since the carriage had been crafted by master artisans under the imperial family’s orders, there was hardly any shaking.
Francia started a conversation.
“Heh, this is your first time going to the North, isn’t it, Yohan?”
“Yes, I’m looking forward to it.”
“In what way?”
Yohan chuckled lightly.
“Well, for one, it’s the place where you were born and raised. And besides, the North is known as the land where heroes are born.”
The North was a cold and harsh land. With its abundance of demonic lairs and countless beasts, it was infamous for being a difficult place to live. But that was only half the truth.
“Not to mention, considering the spoils from the beasts, the rare minerals, mana stones, and magic crystals… I imagine the North to be quite a prosperous place. So, I’m rather excited to see it for myself.”
In reality, the North was incredibly wealthy. Despite the annual winter outbreaks of demonic lairs, they had survived on such vast land without issue. That alone spoke volumes.
Francia smiled warmly.
“Heh, you’re right. The North has technological advancements that rival the capital. They also have a bold way of handling matters. Perhaps that’s why the people there are so passionate.”
“Ah, I’ve heard that rumor.”
Yohan chuckled.
“It’s always said about the North, isn’t it? It’s amusing—how the people who survive the bitter cold are known for having the warmest hearts.”
People say that life is the same everywhere, but the truth is, people’s temperaments differ from region to region. It was a natural result of adapting to their environment.
Francia chuckled, covering her mouth with her hand.
“You’d think that in a cold region, people would have cold hearts as well.”
However, the reality was quite the opposite.
“The North is full of unexpected surprises. The people, for one, and the fact that despite being known as a barren land, it has developed as much as the imperial capital.”
Yohan gave a small smile and nodded in agreement. Then, as if suddenly remembering something, Francia tapped her fingertips together.
“Ah, right. A letter arrived from my father. He asked that we stop by the Fervache estate as soon as we arrive in the North.”
“I had planned to visit anyway, but if he even sent a letter, the duke must really be missing you.”
The Duke of Fervache was a well-known doting father—even in the novel. From what Yohan had seen in person, it was no exaggeration. He could only imagine how delighted the duke must have been upon hearing that his daughter was returning to the North.
“Hehe, I think so too. But he also seems to miss you, Yohan. He was curious about how his son-in-law has been doing lately… and he told me to keep a close eye on you.”
Yohan froze for a moment.
“Keep a close eye on me?”
That wasn’t just a casual greeting. There was a deeper implication.
Yohan understood right away. The duke was pressing him—perhaps suspecting that he had another lover.
If he had nothing to hide, he could have just laughed it off as a joke. But Yohan had plenty to feel guilty about. After all, there was a chance that Raeliana and Eris might become his lovers as well.
It was like a thief feeling uneasy for no reason.
Of course, nothing had been decided yet.
Raeliana and Eris could still change their minds.
“H-Haha… I see.”
All Yohan could do was laugh awkwardly.
***
“We’ve arrived!”
The carriage wheels, which had been rolling steadily, came to a halt.
Looking outside, Yohan saw the towering buildings of the Purification Bureau and the Imperial Bureau. Since their functions were similar, they had been built in the same area.
Yohan got out of the carriage first and extended his hand to help Francia down.
“Thank you.”
Francia smiled brightly and stepped down lightly. Yohan gently brushed her bangs aside and said,
“I’ll see you when we set out.”
“Yes. I’ll see you soon.”
Only after watching Francia enter the Imperial Bureau’s Office did Yohan finally turn around.
‘The final purification…’
His expression hardened.
Once this task was complete, he would head to Lahart’s territory and live a peaceful life with his lovers.
***
The North.
A blade-like wind cut across the land.
Even though winter was coming to an end, the cold here refused to fade. The sky was heavy with gray clouds, and the ground and trees were encased in ice.
Beyond the snowstorm, the towering mountains lay in silence, as if they were threatening the outside world.
Beneath the frozen surface, the river moved sluggishly. The village endured the winter with thick log houses and chimneys puffing out smoke. People wrapped themselves in coats made from the hides of beasts and walked through the harsh winds.
Yet, despite its unforgiving nature, the city was well-developed. There wasn’t a single place untouched by paved roads, and magic-powered streetlights were installed throughout.
At the center of it all stood knights mounted on horses and carriages bearing the banners of the Purification and the Imperial Bureau.
‘A difficult place to live in, yet overflowing with wealth…’
Yohan let out a quiet chuckle. The North was full of contradictions.
“Director, Mr. Enrique has arrived.”
While observing the northern streets, Yohan heard Elena’s report.
“Let’s go.”
After handing his horse off to an attendant, Yohan walked forward with Elena. Rudbeckia, who had separate duties as an aide, moved independently from them.
Elena led the way to a massive inn.
Upon entering, Yohan spotted Enrique seated at a table.
“It has been a while, Director Lahart. Welcome to the North. Have you been well?”
“It has been a while. I have been well, though much has happened.”
“Haha, it’s good to see you in good health. Please, have a seat.”
After exchanging brief pleasantries, they took their seats. Central nobles tended to embellish their words unnecessarily, making even greetings lengthy. The northern way of handling things was already to Yohan’s liking.
“Then, let me begin with an introduction to this place.” Enrique continued.
“This inn is the largest and most well-equipped in the North. It is primarily used by explorers in the region. To ensure that the officers have a comfortable stay, we have prepared individual rooms for everyone.”
Accommodations were a crucial matter—maintaining physical condition was essential.
“Thank you. That takes care of a major concern.”
“Haha, this much is only natural.”
Whenever they set out on an expedition, arranging lodging for the officers was always an issue. There were few places that could accommodate such a large number of personnel comfortably.
“Ah, also, the Fervache Knights will be assisting in this purification mission. Given the frequent snowstorms, the risk of getting lost is quite high.”
Guides were a necessity. Even though a scouting party had been sent ahead to provide maps, the harsh environment of a snowstorm always introduced unpredictable variables.
“That concludes what I needed to inform you about. The detailed discussion can take place at Duke Ferbache’s estate.”
Enrique smiled and handed over a letter summarizing the information. As expected of a competent aide, his handling of matters was impeccable.
“Understood. I will organize everything and visit the duke’s estate soon.”
With only the necessary matters discussed, the conversation ended swiftly. Was it because survival took precedence here? The efficiency and directness of the North’s work culture were impressive.
“Then, I shall see you next time.”
With that, Enrique bid farewell and left the inn. It seemed the North had already taken care of the accommodation expenses.
Yohan took the letter Enrique had given him and spoke.
“Elena, take care of the officers.”
“Understood.”
With that, Elena also left the inn.
Yohan narrowed his eyes as he examined the letter.
“The Fervache Knights are quite formidable.”
True to the might of the Fervache family, their knight order was incomparable to those of other territories. Their numbers alone were significant, but their level of skill was even more remarkable. They might even be the greatest knightly order on the continent.
It was only natural. Defending against the constant influx of beasts from across the North required highly capable warriors. The facilities for training knights and soldiers were likely of the highest quality.
“With this, the purification mission should proceed smoothly.”
Their forces rivaled the reinforcements sent from the Holy Kingdom. It was no surprise that they had successfully repelled monster outbreaks for so many years.
“We will rest for the next two days to ensure the officers are in peak condition, then depart immediately.”
Yohan rose from his seat. He, too, needed some rest. The journey to the North had been exhausting. It would be a shame to suffer injuries during the final purification mission.
“Let’s go.”
Tomorrow, he would visit Duke Fervache’s estate.
The day after that, they would depart to cleanse the demonic Lairs in the North.
The plan was perfect. The preparations were thorough.
Everything was going smoothly—almost unnervingly so.