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IBHJ Chapter 726
🕑 Added 2024-02-25 03:06:19 +0000 UTCThe crimson sun hung high in the clear sky. Its warm sunlight spilled over the silent, frozen world below. The snow topping the mountains melted into droplets that trickled down, following gravity's pull. The air was fragrant with the aroma of spring's arrival. Birds chirped loudly, heralding the new season.
Just as Hel had once replaced Skadi, so too would this frozen silence pass, giving way to resurrected spring. But the coming thaw may not bring good fortune for all.
Along their journey towards the Gate of Muspelheim, their party encountered numerous freed sea monsters that started attacking. Fortunately, Shirou had the foresight to summon his armies beforehand, so their journey remained free of danger.
That night, under the bright moon and sparse stars, his party made camp just outside a small town. Salter and the soldiers mingled, exchanging stories of exploits and quests. Shirou and the Valkyrie checked that they were still headed in the right direction.
Sigurd and the young boy sat by a campfire, gazing into the flickering flames. The boy sobbed softly, likely thinking of his family, slain so cruelly. Sigurd felt the need to comfort him but struggled with his stiff, imposing manner. He lowered his outstretched hand and sighed.
...
Hel thought her coup was still unknown to Chaldea and the others. So, as Hel's envoy, A-46 accompanied Shirou and the others into Village No.6 to meet the village chief.
This world was still in an ancient, isolated state with extremely poor communication. Thus, these villagers remained unaware that Hel had overthrown Skadi to become the new ruler. They still treated A-46 as Skadi's divine envoy and gave their utmost respect.
Shirou left his soldiers outside with Saber. Along with A-46, they came to the village chief’s house. After brief pleasantries, A-46 directly asked, “Chief, where are the travelers from Chaldea?”
“Oh - those esteemed Chaldeans?” The chief pondered a moment. “They've set up camp by the city walls to defend against attacks from the fire giants.”
A-46 asked about the exact location, and the village chief thoughtfully pointed it out. After some friendly chatter, the chief hesitated a moment, then said:
"Envoys, the blueberry harvest in the village has gone down lately, and we've seen some strange new monsters nearby. Has something...happened to Lady Skadi?"
"No, Lady Skadi is fine," A-46 indifferently said. "Those monsters are just the giants' tricks - nothing to worry about. And don't worry about the blueberries either. Before long, this land will be extremely abundant - you have the gods' word."
"Is that so? Well that's wonderful news," the chief replied happily.
As A-46 chatted away with the chief, Shirou felt it was all meaningless and wandered out, strolling around the village instead. Like all the other villages in this land, it was poor, backwards, surrounded by nothing but endless white snow.
As he walked past a rickety wooden house, a blueberry suddenly burst through the window right at him. Of course, Shirou easily grabbed it out of the air.
Just then, an angry teen burst out the front door, axe in hand.
"Give that back!" came an exasperated yell from inside.
"If you want it back so bad, go pick it up yourself!" the annoyed teen shot back. "That's Old Snow Witch's stuff anyway - an evil, cursed fruit. I ain't eating it!"
"Who taught you to be so disrespectful to Lady Skadi? She shelters us, protects us from the outside world and the giants. She built those walls to keep us safe!"
"Keep us safe? More like keep us penned in!" the teen cried. "I know the truth now. The world didn't used to be like this - cold and snowy all the time, with only enough fruit to scrape by. A long time ago there were springs and flowers, countries and cities. But ever since that old witch showed up, she froze over the whole world! All that's left is snow. Those walls ain't to protect anybody. It's to trap us! All those wonderful worlds from the books - they're out there beyond that wall, aren't they?" the teenager retorted.
A one-legged middle-aged man angrily hobbled out of the little house. He strode right up to the teen and slapped him across the face.
"There's nothing wonderful out there!" he bellowed. "Only death, you hear me? Nothing but death! I won't tolerate you disrespecting Lady Skadi like that! And I definitely won't let you call her an old witch!"
The teenager clutched his stinging cheek, fury in his eyes. "But you just called her that! Why can you say it but not me?"
"When did I ever call Lady Skadi an old witch?" the man shot back.
"All the aunties and uncles told me - that's what you used to call her when you were a kid," the youth yelled. "Out of everyone, you insulted her the worst! And what happened? Divine punishment - you lost your leg! Ever since then you've been too scared to say peep, becoming her loyal little slave!"
"Have you lost your mind?" the man hissed. "There are envoys here from the goddess! If they heard you say those things you'll be dead!"
"Then let me die!" the teenager screamed maniacally, blue veins bulging from his skin. "Because even if I die, at least I won't be trapped in this goddamned world like everyone else, going insane! I don't wanna end up like that! This frozen hell oughta be destroyed soon as possible! Destroyed!"
"That's enough outta you," the man snapped. "I'm telling ya, there's nothing wonderful out there past the Wall like those books say! Just man-eating giants that'll gobble you up in one bite! Your dad ain't lying to you, son!"
As the youth turned to storm off, the man hastily blocked him with his crutch.. "You try to leave and the giants will feast on ya, you hear me?"
The boy paid his father no mind. He slapped the man's hand off his shoulder and shoved him to the ground instead. Ignoring the yells behind him, the teen charged straight ahead without looking - right into Shirou's solid chest.
"Oof!" The boy tumbled backwards, yelping as he hit the ground. Glancing up to see Shirou towering over him, his eyes went wide with fear, his previous bravado vanishing.
The man hurriedly scrambled over on his crutch to stand protectively in front of his son again. Anxiety plastered across his face, he stammered "Y-Your Excellency, please excuse him! He hit his head recently, so he's not thinking straight..."
The man was clearly a terrible liar. Or more accurately, he didn't dare lie in front of an "envoy" of Skadi.
Shirou glanced at the two uneasy people, then bent to place the blueberry before the teen. "Food is precious. Don't waste it," he said simply. Then he stood and walked off.
Both father and son breathed sighs of relief - it seemed the envoy hadn't overheard their argument after all.
But as Shirou started to leave, he paused and glanced back over his shoulder at the boy. "Take a look at your father's leg," he said simply. Then he left.
Puzzlement filled the teen's face, while his father just heaved a weary sigh.
As Shirou headed out of the village, he sighed. It looks like Hel and her Valkyries aren't the only ones who want Skadi's rule to end...
Comments
JeanMartin Freites
No surprise that there are dissidents to the current system.
