Children of the Rune – Winterer - Chapter 301

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Episode 71.
Finding the Cat in the Furnace (20)
The four of them descended upon the figure that appeared in the opposite alley, and without knowing who started it or asking why, they began beating him mercilessly. The man had no chance to protest.
Then another appeared and attacked them in turn, and soon more arrived to pummel them again. Thus the situation devolved into a chaotic brawl. Between the layers of people striking and kicking one another like a sandwich, fragments of dialogue could be heard.
“Teach those loud-mouthed fools a lesson!”
“I’m not on either side!”
“Don’t make excuses!”
“Which side are you even on?”
Meanwhile, about an alley’s distance away, the original trio of three was fleeing at full sprint.
“The servants must have accumulated quite a bit of stress!”
“After a good bout of fighting, they’ll probably bond over it!”
“Stop talking and just run!”
By the time they left the villa grounds, dawn was already breaking. The three, exhausted from running, discovered a bridge spanning a narrow river that wound around a hill and descended toward it. Soon they hid themselves beneath the arch and collapsed, each breathing heavily.
“This place isn’t safe either. Once they finish searching the villa’s alleys, they’ll naturally drive us this way. At least those servants caught a few of them.”
It was Maximian speaking, having recovered quickly.
“By that logic, nowhere on this island is safe. Unless you’re planning to escape the island entirely.”
This was Riche’s assertion.
“That might be true.”
When Maximian replied indifferently, Riche grew irritated.
“I told you I’m not leaving here! If you two just disappear, I’ll return to my normal life!”
“I’d be delighted if that were possible.”
Then Joshua pointed toward the riverbank and asked.
“What’s that boat?”
A small ferry capable of holding three or four people was moored to the bridge’s arch. Joshua found it strange that a boat existed when a bridge was already there. Riche clicked her tongue and explained.
“It’s a commoner’s boat, what else? These grand bridges are built for the nobility’s carriages to pass through—not for people like us to walk on. When there’s no traffic, it doesn’t matter, but the moment some noble decides to travel, they block the bridge for an hour or two, so what choice do busy people have but to take the boat?”
Riche, having fallen into the habit of conversing with Maximian, forgot that her companion was Joshua and unconsciously spoke in casual tones. She immediately felt embarrassed, realizing he was indeed a nobleman. However, Joshua, confused by Maximian’s presence, failed to notice the shift in her speech and responded in kind.
“I see. There’s much in this world I don’t understand. But that boat might be useful to us now.”
Saying this, he stood and dipped his hand into the river. The current flowed toward the southwest.
“Does this river merge with another? Where does it lead?”
When Riche didn’t answer quickly, Maximian glanced between them both and called to Joshua.
“I’ve found it rather touching how you two have been speaking formally to each other. For my own sake, I’d appreciate it if you continued speaking this way.”
“Oh, have we? Is that so?”
Joshua seemed entirely unconcerned. Only then did Riche click her tongue softly and reply briefly.
“Further down, it flows into the sea.”
“Really? Then let’s take that boat.”
Maximian raised an eyebrow.
“Wait, you’re going to take that boat all the way to Anomarad by sea?”
“What? Ah, haha… That’s impossible, isn’t it?”
As he laughed with his whole face for the first time in ages, like he had in childhood, a faint smile crossed Maximian’s lips as well.
“You’ve always said unrealistic things since way back.”
“Ah, that’s right. Maximian, do you remember when I said we should go to the Sea long ago? I told Joshua’s Sister we’d visit.”
Hearing Joshua speak in that dreamy, rambling voice, Maximian frowned despite his true feelings being otherwise.
“That’s just one of the many nonsensical things you’ve said.”
“I do remember it. But here’s the thing—that place was right here. This Island, the Villa where I lived. Joshua’s Sister was living there.”
“So?”
“So I guess we really did come together after all.”
Joshua was the type who, once lost in his own thoughts, paid no mind to others’ indifference. So Maximian skipped any response, merely shrugged his shoulders, and headed toward where the ferry was moored. He untied the rope and pulled the boat to check if water was leaking in. Riche mentioned from beside him that people had been using this boat just days ago.
“It should be fine.”
Riche tilted her head and asked.
“You’re really going to take that? Where are you going?”
“At best, somewhere near the mouth of the coast. If there’s anyone clever among those chasing us, they’ll notice the boat is gone soon enough. Riche, is there anywhere worth going? Somewhere we could hide for a day or two. A place they wouldn’t think to look for you, even when they pursued your home and interrogated you.”
Riche frowned in thought for a moment before speaking.
“There is one place, but the problem is I don’t really want to go there myself.”
“Right, that’s exactly the kind of place I’m asking about. Is there any other problem?”
“Another problem?”
“For instance, whether they demand payment.”
“That’s a practical concern, but there’s nothing like that.”
Maximian gestured for Joshua to board first. Joshua, still lost in his own thoughts, rose and came to the boat. He was probably thinking about something that had happened in Kotzboldt, but Maximian had no leisure to ask what. As Riche settled into the bow, he pushed off from the Riverbank with a pole and departed immediately. Joshua gazed down at the dark water and trembled slightly before speaking.
“I’ve now been on a boat.”
In truth, this was Maximian’s first time on a boat as well. The boat was so small that he worried slightly whether anything would go wrong. But he was even more concerned about that unrealistic genius.
Maximian looked down at Joshua, who was sitting while standing. After a moment, he turned away, but ultimately he couldn’t help but speak what was on his mind.
“If you ever decide to ignore a hundred perfectly clear paths right before your eyes and insist on taking the one and only Swamp path, then you are… Angelic.”
Joshua flinched and looked up.
“Angelic… what?”
The answer came without him turning around.
“Your family says Demonic means genius, doesn’t it? Then Angelic obviously means blockhead.”
For something Maximian said, it was quite an elegant way of putting it.
Swordmaster Caesar Montplayne lived on Blue Coral Island, but he originally came from a mountain village in Orlanne Duchy. The place was too scattered to even be called a village—finding the nearest neighbor required an hour’s walk, and in winter it was common to be trapped indoors for a month at a time. There, Caesar had grown up swinging wooden swords at fir trees, and whenever a wooden sword broke, he would throw it into the Backyard behind his house. So many accumulated that he eventually built a woodshed from them.
When he told such stories, the children who had grown up on the warm Southern Island would exchange glances and giggle among themselves. One of them, unable to hide his mischief, raised his hand eagerly and asked a question.
“Then was the wall outside built from stones that the Master broke during board-breaking demonstrations?”
“Hmph, enough said!”
“The gravel spread outside was ground too fine during that process…”
“Why ask the obvious?”
“The homestead was originally a Rocky Mountain, and you broke it all down and cleared it that way, right?”
“Say another word and my mouth will hurt!”
Laughter erupted through the training hall. Caesar, with the same seriousness as the children, barked at them.
“That’s right, you brats! What will you do if I keep quiet? You need to understand exactly what kind of master you serve! Do you think you’ll ever meet anyone as extraordinary as me in your entire lives?”
One of them barely stopped laughing and raised his hand again.
“What is it?”
“You said before that the Master’s daughter is also skilled with a wooden sword. Does that mean a new woodshed will soon appear in our training hall?”
The children burst into raucous laughter again. Caesar threw back his head with the arrogance of a precocious youth.
“Nonsense! There’s no way that boy could build something like a woodshed!”
“Wait, isn’t that different from what you said before?”
“This isn’t the cold mountain village of Orlanne where a woodshed is necessary! Since there’s no need for one, it can’t be built!”
Jeers erupted immediately.
“Ooh, excuses, excuses.”
“Coward! The instructor is running away with his tail between his legs!”
“Grab his tail!”
“Surround him!”
Dozens of children, seized by mischief, scrambled to their feet and began chasing Caesar. He responded to their antics with enthusiasm, leaping over water buckets as he crossed the training grounds, climbing onto hand carts, and dashing across the courtyard in all directions. The sight of one large adult and a flock of children shrieking and swarming about kicked up so much dust and created such a cacophony that the neighbors all shut their shutters. A few brave souls poked their heads out and shouted.
“Can’t you keep it down a bit! These days go on forever, and I’m about to lose my mind!”
But they had long since abandoned any hope of a response, and shortly after, like the other neighbors, they firmly closed and locked their shutters.
Eventually, Caesar emerged from the trampled vegetable garden, smiling broadly as he gathered the children around him.
“Well, did you run yourselves out?”
One child, still flushed and not forgetting the matter, cried out.
“The woodshed!”
“You want a woodshed that badly?”
This time, several children answered in unison.
“Yes!”
“Very well, then. Let’s make building a woodshed this year’s goal. As you know, we’ll need broken wooden swords, so you’ll all have to pitch in. My daughter seems too busy sewing and earning money these days to have time for sword practice, so let’s leave her be to work hard and live well. Now, everyone bring your wooden swords! Whoever arrives last will have the duty of providing the first broken sword to lay the foundation for the woodshed!”
The spirited little birds rushed into their homes and returned with the wooden swords they had prepared. What amounted to a brawl of a sparring match began, but Caesar, despite being a sword instructor, made no effort to correct the children’s stances or warn them of dangerous attacks. Instead, he quietly backed away and crept toward the fence. Then he sat down on the weedy riverbank.
Shortly after, he was already sprawled out flat.
“The weather is truly fine.”
The large black hunting dog that Caesar kept crept over and wagged its tail, but its master had no interest in playing with it. His eyelids, which had begun to droop, refused to stay open, and around the third time a soft snore escaped him.
Children of Rune – Winterer
Author: Jeon Min-hee
Publisher: 14 Month Books
The copyright to this book belongs to the author and 14 Month Books.
To reuse all or part of the contents of this book, written consent from both parties is required.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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