It's been 20 days since I rescued Kiyomi from that giant scorpion. Things have been peaceful since then. No attacks, no battles—just quiet days. But the weather keeps getting worse.
At first, everything was fine, but by the 10th day, the snowfall intensified into a storm. That storm lasted another 10 days, and this morning, things went from bad to worse. The snowstorm turned into a blizzard. With powerful winds, even more snow piles up in front of the cave.
Water isn't a problem, luckily. There's a spot inside the cave where water drips from the roof. The cold hasn't frozen it yet, but it's getting colder by the hour. The wolf cubs are shaking from the chill.
"Haruto…" Kiyomi's voice trembles as she speaks.
"This winter is harsher than any winter I've experien—" She sneezes, cutting off her words. "We have to do something, or the wolf cubs will freeze!"
"I know. If they feel this much cold even with their fur, we won't last much longer either without proper clothes for the cold. I'll think of somethi—"
My eyes land on the fire square—the spot we use to cook meat. An idea strikes me. Without wasting time, I rush outside our small cave into the main hall, where the wolves are huddled together for warmth.
I run to each corner of the main cave and start drawing circles on the ground. Then I draw a big one in the middle of the cave. The wolves raise their heads one by one, watching me curiously.
"Haruto, what are you doing?" Kiyomi finally asks.
"Just watch," I reply, turning to address the wolves.
"Listen, everyone! Stay away from these circles and keep your cubs away too. It's for your safety."
The wolves lower their heads in acknowledgment, and I kneel near the largest circle. Placing my right hand on the floor, I focus on my Lumirith flow. Just as I hoped, shadow-like Hellfire begins to crackle from the smaller circles.
When the large circle in the middle bursts into flames, the entire cave fills with warmth. The biting cold is driven away, replaced by a comforting heat. Relief washes over me as the wolves relax, and I feel Kiyomi's gaze on me, filled with awe.
"Oh, so this is what you wanted to do! Then I'll show you what I can do!" Kiyomi says, kneeling where she was standing. Her voice carries confidence as she places both hands on the floor. Suddenly, golden walls rise from the ground around each circle, just tall enough to keep the wolves from getting too close to the fire.
"Wow! I didn't know you could do that. This makes everything much safer for everyone!" I say, genuinely surprised by her work. As I speak, I notice her face turning red.
"I… there's a big journey ahead of us, and I need to be strong enough to face anything and help everyone," she says, her voice quivering just a little, her face still flushed. "So, I used my mom's notes to learn and practice Celest Lumirith manifestation. This is just a simple trick I picked up."
So that's what she's been doing! Over the past few days, I've seen her poring over that book day and night. She's really doing her best.
"Come on, let's sit by the fire," I say, walking toward the cave wall. The dark, shadowy Hellfire crackles furiously, but the golden walls keep it contained. I sit down, leaning my back against the wall and stretching my legs toward the center. Kiyomi follows my lead, sitting the same way to my left.
I glance around the cave and see that the wolves are now resting more comfortably. The wolf cubs have stopped shivering as the warmth of the Hellfire spreads around them. Who would have thought we could use something so devastating to help others?
As the cave warms up, the snow piled in front of the entrance slowly starts to melt, revealing the furious winds still raging outside. This blizzard doesn't look like it will end anytime soon.
With the warmth enveloping me, a wave of drowsiness begins to creep in. My eyelids grow heavy, and just as I'm about to drift off, I feel a weight on my left shoulder. I turn my head slowly, and to my surprise, I see Kiyomi resting her head on me. It seems sleep claimed her first.
The way she's sleeping… she really is an angel.
I let sleep conquer me. My back rests against the cold cave wall, and the warmth of the fire surrounds me. My eyes close, pulling me deeper into the dreamworld.
Suddenly, a scream pierces through the silence. I snap my eyes open, only to find myself standing in the middle of a burning village. Black, shadow-like flames rage through the streets, swallowing everything in their path. At the entrance of the village, a woman weeps over a lifeless body.
I step closer, and my heart sinks as I recognize the body—it's Gorou.
The woman stands, her face obscured by smoke and flames, and begins to walk toward me.
"You did this!" she exclaims, her voice chillingly familiar.
"YOU DID THIS TO US!" she screams.
The words freeze me in place as her face comes into view. It's Emiko. My throat tightens, and I try to speak, but no words come out. A wave of panic crashes over me.
I run toward her, but just as I reach her, she erupts into black fire. Her form twists and writhes, consumed by the flames. My body freezes, unable to move, paralyzed by fear.
And then, with an agonized scream, she leaps at me, her burning hands outstretched.
I wake with a start.
My eyes snap open, and I immediately scan the cave, trying to orient myself. The familiar cold stone walls, the wolves huddled together, and Kiyomi, still sleeping with her head resting on my shoulder—everything is as it should be.
But Emiko's screams still echo in my mind, a haunting reminder of the dream. I close my eyes for a moment, trying to shake the lingering fear, but her anguished cry continues to reverberate in my ears.
"Lord Haruto, are you awake?" a familiar voice fills my ears, cutting through the silence.
I open my eyes to see the Wolf King sitting in front of me. His sharp eyes, usually calm, are clouded with unease. Something is deeply troubling him.
"Oh yes, Wolf King, I'm awake. What is the problem?" I ask, adjusting myself into a comfortable position. My movements stir Kiyomi, waking her from her deep sleep.
"Follow me, Lord Haruto. There's a problem... one we never thought we'd encounter." The Wolf King stands and starts walking toward a small cave nearby. I've never explored it before; it's usually empty.
Once Kiyomi is fully awake, we both stand and follow him, the chill of the blizzard biting at us. What could trouble the Wolf King so much?
As we enter the cave, I see a figure sitting in the center. At first, it's just a shadowy outline, but as we move closer, the details become clearer. A humanoid figure, larger than me, with green skin. My mind flashes back to the goblins in the games I used to play.
"Lord Haruto, this is Genta from a goblin village in the south. And Genta, this is Lord Haruto and Lady Emiko," the Wolf King introduces us.
The goblin leaps to his feet and bows deeply. His movements are stiff from the cold, his worn clothes offering little protection against the blizzard. He towers over me, his whole-body trembling.
"Lord Haruto... We need your... help!" His voice shakes, uneven and desperate, like a fish gasping for air.
Did he come all this way through the blizzard?
"First, sit down, Genta. You've made a long journey in this weather. Let's warm up first." As I speak, I walk to the middle of the cave and ignite a small circle with HellFire. Black, shadow-like flames flicker ominously, casting eerie shadows on the cave walls.
Genta stares, his mouth falling open like he's never seen anything like it. Once we're seated around the fire, the tension in the air feels heavier.
"Okay, Genta," I start, "first tell us what's going on and why you came all the way here."
The goblin is staring into the flames. His body is here, but his mind seems far away.
"I... I don't know where to start," he says, his voice heavy with exhaustion. His eyes remain fixed on the dark blazing flames.
"We goblins live in a small village to the south of the Wolf Den. We don't attack anyone. We warmly welcome anyone who enters our village, even though some have destroyed it in the past."
His voice trembles as he continues.
"A few days ago, a group of goblins from another village came to us. Their clothes were tainted with blood, their bodies covered in wounds. There were only thirty of them. We took them in and treated them as best we could. When they recovered, they told us what had happened.
'What happened?' we asked the eldest of the group.
'They… they're coming!' his voice was filled with terror.
'Who? Who is coming?'
"The elder's face twisted in horror. I was there; I saw it with my own eyes.
'You have no idea,' he said. 'Hundreds of soldiers in silver armor are going from village to village, slaughtering us!'
"At first, we didn't believe them. But then more and more groups began arriving, fleeing for their lives. They told the same story. The soldiers started from the far south of the forest and are making their way north, killing anyone in their path.
"In just a few days, they'll reach our village. This blizzard is the only thing slowing them down. That's why I came, as the son of our village leader, to ask for your help."
Genta finishes his plea, bowing deeply to me once more.
Hundreds of soldiers? What are they going to do? Can I stop them?
I can't just sit here thinking—I need to act. These lives, once under Shien's protection, are now my responsibility.
"So, how many goblins are in the village now?" I ask, breaking the silence.
"When I left, there were about 100 goblins, including the refugees," Genta replies, his voice trailing as he recalls the past. "By now, the number might have grown."
"And do you have enough food for everyone?" I press, knowing that food would be the first problem in a situation like this.
"That's the issue," Genta admits with a sigh. "This weather makes it impossible to gather supplies. We only had enough food for less than 50 goblins to last the entire winter."
I glance at Wolf King, silently asking for his help. Without a word, he nods in understanding.
"Don't worry, Lord Haruto," Wolf King says. "Thanks to you, we have more than enough food stored for the winter. We will share our excess with the goblins. I will arrange it immediately."
He gives a low growl to one of the wolves, who darts off to gather the supplies.
"And what about the wool from that Lumithorn?" Kiyomi interjects, her voice bright with an idea.
"If I can get some tools, I can weave it into cloth for the goblins. They'll need proper clothing to survive this cold."
Her enthusiasm momentarily lightens the mood, but my thoughts drift to her safety. Should I leave her here, in the safety of the wolf cave?
"I think our craftsmen have the tools you need, Lady Kiyomi. And thank you for your care! Some of the refugees don't have proper clothes to wear," Genta expresses his gratitude.
"Oh my! No need to thank me. I'm just helping Haruto with his cause. He wants to help anyone he can, which I wholeheartedly support," Kiyomi says in her gentle voice. Her words almost make me blush, but my mind remains preoccupied with her safety. We might be heading toward a war, after all.
"Kiyomi, listen," I say, turning to her. "I don't think you should come. We might go to war, and I can't risk your safety." As I speak, I notice her face fall slightly.
"Don't get me wrong. I'm not saying you must stay behind, but I don't want you to get in trouble," I add, hoping to ease her disappointment.
Suddenly, her beautiful smile reassures me.
Did she understand what I meant?
"No need to worry, Haruto," she says softly. "Remember, I gave you a promise—to help you with your cause. How can I help if I stay here? I know you care about me, but there's a greater purpose ahead of you, and I'll do my best to support you."
Her words feel like a gentle breeze calming the blazing fire in my mind. It's comforting to have someone like her with me in this unfamiliar world. And now, I can't bring myself to stop her.
"Alright, I can't stop you. You can come with me. But there's another problem—these clothes aren't suited for the cold," I say, glancing at our thin garments.
"That's true," Genta says, gesturing to his backpack. "I have two thick blankets. I can give you one. I hope that's enough."
"Oh, it's fine! We can share the blanket. And we can stop a few times to warm up if needed," Kiyomi exclaims with her usual optimism. She's right. We could share the blanket and take breaks. Or, if the blanket isn't big enough, I'll let Kiyomi use it while I keep myself warm with my fire.
"Then it's settled," I say, standing up. "Rest now, Genta. You've come all this way for your people. Get some sleep—we'll leave in the morning."
Genta leaps up from his seat, bowing deeply. "I don't know how to thank you, Lord Haruto and Lady Kiyomi. I truly appreciate your help!"
"There's no need to thank us, Genta," I reply, trying to reassure him. "Let's just call this a responsibility and a promise I intend to keep. Now, rest as much as you can."
We leave the cave to give Genta some quiet near the warm fire. Wolf King excuses himself to prepare the food and wool for tomorrow's journey. As for us, we return to our cave to make our own preparations.
I hand Kiyomi one of the bags I'd taken from the adventurers we encountered when retrieving Hikariken. She packs her parents' notebook and her clothes carefully. Meanwhile, I check Hikariken, inspecting the straps and sheath, ensuring it's ready. I also pack a few spare clothes—washed and left behind by those adventurers—just in case.
Later that night, the wind seems to have calmed, yet the cold lingers, sharper and more piercing in the absence of the sun's gentle warmth. It gnaws at the edges of the night like unseen fangs, wrapping everything in its relentless grip. After ensuring everything is ready for the journey ahead, Kiyomi and I retreat to our sleeping places.
Within moments, Kiyomi succumbs to sleep, her soft breaths blending with the stillness of the cave. But for me, sleep feels like a distant shore I cannot reach. No matter how much I shift, roll, or adjust, the unrest in my mind refuses to let me drift away. The weight of the strange dream I had and the looming battle against hundreds of soldiers presses heavily on my thoughts.
Can we truly win this battle? Can I protect everyone? Or will I fail, just as I did before?
Darkness coils around my thoughts, pulling me into a spiral of doubt. Just as despair begins to take hold, a familiar voice echoes in my mind, cutting through the noise like a beacon.
"Haruto, it seems you don't trust yourself..." Shien's voice resonates, steady and calm, yet firm with conviction.
"Why do you think Genta traveled all this way? Because he believes in you. Why did the Wolf King entrust you with Hikariken, a blade they protected for generations? Because he believes in you. And why does Kiyomi stand by your side, knowing the dangers ahead? Because she believes in you. So why don't you believe in yourself?"
His words pierce through the haze of doubt, a light shattering the shadows in my mind.
"Your powers, your abilities, your blade... they're yours, Haruto. Believe in them. Believe in yourself!"
Shien's voice grows softer but no less resolute.
"You may have fallen once, but you stood against a demon, face-to-face. You didn't flinch. You didn't waver. You had one goal—revenge—and you achieved it. Now, set a new goal. Fight for it. Believe in it. You have what it takes, Haruto. Whether demon or human, you can do this. You're not alone anymore."
His voice fades, leaving behind a profound stillness. The doubts that once plagued my mind feel lighter, as though swept away by a gentle breeze.
He's right. I am not the same person who faltered before. I am stronger now—demon or half-demon, it doesn't matter. With the powers I've gained and the people who trust me, I can save everyone. I won't let their hopes shatter. I will fight, and I will win.
A calm resolve settles over me, and for the first time tonight, my body feels light, and my eyes grow heavy. As sleep finally claims me, I hold onto the determination burning in my heart.
A few hours of calm sleep pass before I feel someone gently shaking me. Slowly opening my eyes, I see Kiyomi sitting beside me, her beautiful smile warming the cold morning.
"Good morning!" Her soothing voice melts the lingering grogginess from my mind.
"Good morning. Are you ready to leave?" I ask, stretching my arms to shake off the stiffness of the night.
"Yes, Haruto! I've already brought your blade and bag to the door. Everything is ready!" Her voice carries an unmistakable excitement that sparks a small smile on my face.
Walking to the stone basin filled with fresh water, I splash my face and take a few sips. The cold water jolts me fully awake. When I return, Kiyomi is waiting, already equipped with her backpack. Her energy feels contagious. Grabbing Hikariken and my bag, I gesture for her to follow me. Together, we head toward the main cave where Genta, Wolf King, and the rest of the wolf pack wait near the entrance.
"Is everything ready, Lord Haruto?" Wolf King asks, his gaze calm yet piercing, as though weighing my resolve.
"Yes, Wolf King. Everything is ready," I reply with a steady voice, gripping Hikariken's hilt tightly.
"Very well." He turns to his pack, and four wolves step forward with solemn precision.
"These wolves have volunteered to assist you on your journey," Wolf King explains. His tone is even, but I sense the deeper trust in his words.
Before I can thank him, he lowers his head, his golden eyes meeting mine. "Haruto, should a battle break out and you find yourself outnumbered, I grant you my permission to summon me or any of my wolves. Lord Shien will guide you when the time is right."
His trust feels heavy, like the weight of Hikariken in my hand. They believe in me—Wolf King, Genta, Kiyomi—and I can't fail them. I clench my fist, silently vowing to honor that faith.
The weather seems to favor us today; the wind has softened, and the snowfall has slowed to a gentle drift. Yet the biting cold persists, nipping at our exposed skin. Genta retrieves the thick blanket he mentioned, and to our relief, it's large enough to share. Kiyomi and I huddle beneath it, the shared warmth a welcome respite. As I wrap my left arm around her shoulder to secure the blanket, I notice her cheeks flush red, but she says nothing. Her quiet acceptance feels more comforting than words.
The wolves flank us, their fur brushing softly against the snow as we take our first steps into the frozen wilderness. With every crunch of snow underfoot, a new determination rises in my chest. Wrapped in the blanket and the strength of those beside me, I feel ready.
With Kiyomi by my side, the wolves at my back, and Hikariken steady in my grip, we embark on a new journey to save the goblin village. Ahead lies an army of soldiers and the promise of a fierce battle—but together, we will face whatever comes.