Chapter 102: The Path to You (2)
It hadn’t even been a full day when they arrived at the campsite.
On the evening of the second day since leaving the estate, the group found themselves at a relatively mild plain. This was their last stop before entering the true snowy wilderness.
Tents were lined up in neat rows, their canvas flapping faintly in the evening breeze.
After a relatively peaceful night at the previous campsite, the group had traveled further and finally reached this location.
They planned to rest here for one more night before setting out on foot the next morning, fully equipped for the march.
“So, the infantry will maintain vigilance on the flanks and rear?”
In the command tent, a crude map had been laid out on the table, with small markers scattered across it.
The small markers, no bigger than a finger, were shifted around as the plan for the next day’s operation was explained.
“That’s right. The infantry won’t have much to do in this mission. There’s no need to put them on the front lines. But, if the tower collapses, who knows what might happen. They’ll need to be ready to rush in and hold the line.”
One marker bore Astrid’s name.
Another bore Baizik’s name.
Yet another had Wolfgang’s name.
The last was marked with Ashray’s name.
The four markers moved together on the map, heading toward a marker labeled Tower in the distance.
Wolfgang’s thick fingers pushed the infantry markers further back, positioning Astrid and Baizik’s markers closest to the tower.
“No matter how you look at it, putting my daughter and a mage on the front line feels a bit off, doesn’t it?”
“What’s the problem? Astrid’s there to protect you.”
“Even so, this feels like an odd arrangement, don’t you think?”
Baizik shot Wolfgang a dissatisfied look.
Astrid might be a Heavy Cavalry Knight, but the idea of her single-handedly protecting him seemed questionable.
“It’s fine, I’m telling you. Astrid, is there a problem?”
Astrid hesitated to answer Wolfgang’s question.
The plan was to replace her with the real Astrid once the operation began.
When it came to combat, it was always better to leave it to the expert. And in this case, the expert wasn’t her—it was the real Astrid.
【“No, there’s no problem. Protection, after all, just means destroying the source of harm.”】
“…There’s no problem.”
Baizik frowned at the brief hesitation before her response.
On the front line would be Baizik and Astrid, with Wolfgang and Ashray positioned behind them.
“Aren’t we taking any heavy equipment?”
“We’re bringing cranes and catapults, aren’t we?”
“Cranes? Catapults…?”
Astrid tilted her head, trying to recall such equipment.
No matter how hard she thought about it, nothing came to mind.
“They’re right here.”
Wolfgang’s hand gestured toward Astrid.
Astrid blinked, staring at the finger pointed directly at her, then tilted her head as she slowly opened her mouth.
“…Me?”
“Yes. A walking crane, a walking catapult. If you’re going, what more do we need?”
“No matter how you spin it, treating a living person—your own daughter, at that—as heavy equipment feels a bit…”
Astrid forced a smile, but the uncomfortable feeling lingered.
“It just means you’re the key player. No one else can do it like you, right?”
***
【“A glass of chilled wine would be nice.”】
‘Don’t even think about it. That’ll just lead to more trouble.’
Astrid found herself wide awake that night.
She had kicked Ashray out when he offered to accompany her, deciding to head out on her own.
The real Astrid had mentioned that the view from the hills nearby was quite something, so she had followed the suggestion, even if she was skeptical.
“…Not bad.”
The inevitable darkness of the snowy wilderness spread out before her, but the soft glow of moonlight was enough to make the snow sparkle.
All around her was pristine white, glittering in the night.
It was breathtaking—beautiful in a way that words could barely capture.
【“See? I told you it was a great view. This is my secret spot, you know.”】
“Well, in a place like this, wandering around alone would be strange in its own way…”
Knowing this area felt more unusual than not knowing it, Astrid thought to herself as she looked around.
It was stunning.
If it was this beautiful at night, what would it look like during the day?
【“It’s not as nice during the day. This place is all about the night view.”】
That made sense.
Some places are meant to be admired at night, and such places often lose their charm in the daylight.
“…So, do you have a plan for tomorrow?”
【“How could I, when we don’t know the battlefield’s current state? If the enemy were human, we could at least make some predictions, but…”】
“True. A growing tower… That’s not something I’ve ever heard of. It’s not like it’ll attack us first, either.”
【“We’ll just destroy it. If we can’t get close, we’ll start by throwing rocks at it from a distance. That’s where we’ll begin.”】
“And if that doesn’t work?”
【“If that doesn’t work, Lord Baizik will step in. That’s why he’s here—did you forget?”】
“Oh, right.”
In that case, wouldn’t it be easier for Lord Baizik to use magic to crush the tower from the beginning?
It felt like her involvement wasn’t even necessary.
【“We’ll move on to the next plan.”】
“The next plan? What's the next plan?”
【“…Don’t tell me you forgot?”】
“Forgot what?”
Astrid was perplexed.
The purpose of coming here was to destroy that tower.
What could be next after that?
【“Didn’t you say you’d figure out how to return to your world?”】
“Oh… Right. I did say that.”
【“You’re not thinking of going back anymore, are you?”】
“That’s… that’s ridiculous.”
There was no way I could forget something like that.
Actually, I had forgotten.
【“No matter how I look at it, you’ve been acting strange. Ever since you were separated from His Highness, you’ve been acting like a girl hopelessly in love. Isn’t it odd?”】
“Well… it does seem that way…”
But that wasn’t it.
At least, probably not.
Yes, maybe not.
It must have started back then.
That day when I was cursed by magic and did something terrible to Leopold.
From that day forward, things felt… strange.
Seeing Leopold’s face had become oddly uncomfortable.
On days when he smiled at me, my heart would drop with a loud thud.
When someone else was alone with Leopold, it annoyed me to no end.
Even passing remarks from him could leave me upset.
“…It’s hormones. Just hormones.”
【“Hor… hor-mones? What’s that?”】
“It’s nothing.”
This world probably doesn’t even have a concept like that.
But it had to be hormones.
With someone like Leopold, any woman would turn to look at least once.
It had to be because this body was female.
“I just want to get my body back.”
【“You mean, you want to go back to being a man?”】
“Yes. Because, believe it or not, I was a man.”
【“You keep going on about being a man… Aren’t you tired of it?”】
How could I be tired of it? It was the truth.
Astrid plopped down on a solitary rock jutting out from the snowy plain.
A chill immediately crept up from the cold surface, sending shivers through her body, but she soon grew accustomed to it.
“If we destroy that tower… then I’ll finally be able to tell Leopold about our situation, won’t I?”
【“Yes, you will. Once you ask His Highness for help, I’m sure he’ll find a way. Then, you’ll finally be able to return to your world. Without a doubt.”】
I had to go back.
Back to where I belonged.
There wasn’t anyone waiting for me there, no one I particularly missed. But there were things I missed—smartphones, televisions…
The things that defined my world.
That’s where I had to return.
【“Let’s get this over with so I can get my body back, too.”】
“Yeah, we need to. After all, this body is yours, not mine.”
【“Exactly. I’ve gotten used to it, and it’s kind of convenient now… but it’s still not mine. I need to reclaim what’s mine.”】
“…Let’s head back down. We need to get some sleep.”
The real Astrid was saying something in my head, but I ignored her.
Rising from the rock, I brushed the snow off my clothes and looked around.
Nothing.
Nothing but an endless snowy field.
White snow as far as the eye could see, with a few rocks sparsely breaking through the surface.
With one last glance at the barren landscape, I turned and headed back toward the tents.
Tomorrow.
In just a few hours, we’d face our first target.
Would we really be able to destroy the tower so easily, lift the curse, and march back triumphantly, as the real Astrid had so confidently claimed?
I wasn’t sure.
The real Astrid’s grand plans had rarely turned out as smoothly as she made them sound.
“Let’s just get some sleep. I’ll need the energy for tomorrow. Ugh… It’s freezing.”
Stretching her arms wide, Astrid let out a big yawn.
As she made her way back to her tent, snow continued to fall endlessly behind her, painting the world white.