Chapter 133 : Chapter 133

Translator: AkazaTL

Pr/Ed: Sol IX

***

Chapter 133 – The Cloud Bridge (1)

White Castle.

Standing in the garden, Russell White gazed at the blooming roses—pure white blossoms dusted with snowflakes, flowers that bloomed only here, in White Castle.

“We’ve interrogated every member of the Legion of Freedom imprisoned in the dungeon. Not a single one opened their mouth.”

Behind Russell White stood the Watchers, clad in immaculate white armor—faithful swords who followed their sacred duty.

“When we asked why Hugo Rhapsody appeared in the Iron Kingdom, none answered. When we asked where he might have gone, none answered. When we asked what happened there, none answered.”

“Is that so?”

“What would you have us do? Shall we use any means necessary to extract the truth? If that’s your wish, we will.”

Russell White shook his head.

“Don’t. Let them keep their honor.”

“But, sir…”

“Only then can ours be preserved.”

He stroked the white rose.

“The truth always reveals itself in time. The Watchers need only keep their honest eyes open and remain in place. We do not judge, nor do we expose. We only witness.”

“Understood.”

At his command, the Watchers withdrew.

Once the crowd of them had gone, the beautiful rose garden belonged again to Russell White alone. He looked toward the Winter Fortress and murmured in a voice as cold as the snow.

“Hugo.”

He looked upon the fortress of winter.

“The whole world is shouting your name. They say chaos came because you abandoned your duty, that peace was shattered by your foolishness. And I can’t say I don’t understand their cries. After all, just as you once were, we too had our days of weakness. We, too, once howled and screamed.”

To be precise— He looked beyond the Winter Fortress, to the sky.

“But still… it’s not that I cannot understand you. Even if the whole world condemns you, I cannot. None of the Masters living upon this land can. Yes—we cannot.”

The sky stretched endlessly blue. In that infinite sky shone the sun, with faint white clouds drifting through. But in Russell White’s eyes, there was a world beyond that sky—a world seen only by those who had transcended.

“Who else could have given as much as you did? Whoever sat in your place would have done the same. Those who reach transcendence always break, one way or another. Yet even so, the trials that befell you were far too cruel. Anyone would have ended up as you did. In your place, even I might have.”

Russell White lifted his gaze toward the eyes above the clouds— Nine eyes, seven eyes— Omniscient beings watching over the world.

“I cannot forgive you for taking the lives of the Watchers. But even so, your life was more tragic than your sins. Enough that pity outweighs anger.”

He plucked the white rose.

“You deserved a reward. We all believed so. But the Great Ones did not. For they loved only the Sword of Heaven.”

He sighed.

“Yes… in your place, even a finger raised against your own blood would drive you to draw your sword. The blood in your body would rage backward. Not even the perfect senses of a Swordmaster could suppress a father’s fury. How could a son of yours—of yours, and no one else’s—be condemned by the gods? Not after all your devotion to them.”

Hands clasped behind his back, Russell White gave a hollow laugh.

“The living of the continent see only the result. To them, you’re an unworthy sword who abandoned duty out of twisted fatherly love. They don’t care why you did it—why the Lazy Idler, slothful but never foolish, came to such an end. None of them do. Oh, the most wretched and lonely sword… why did the gods not repay you?”

The Winter Fortress reflected the sunlight— white, dazzlingly white.

“For the man who killed with his own hand his parents, his wife, and even his children who had yet to take their first steps… all for the gods’ sake.”

***

Cloud Garden was a peculiar city. It lay along the trade route leading to the Sky Empire—a midpoint city where merchants and travelers alike gathered. Entertainment and lodging thrived here. Women touting customers filled the streets even in daylight, and drunkards shouted beneath the bright sky. Unlike Cherville, where the atmosphere had been tense from the war, here peace seemed unshaken.

When I asked whether the chaos had not spread this far, Tom answered for me.

“It’s because we’re close to the Sky Empire. Though Cloud Garden lies outside its territory, it’s practically a city of the Sky Empire.”

“Is that so?”

“They say all the cities under the Sky Empire are like this. Even when other nations are at war.”

“How can that be?”

“Because it’s the Sky Empire.”

Tom spoke calmly.

“The oldest and mightiest empire, blessed with unbroken peace. Its citizens firmly believe their empire will prosper forever—that no one will ever invade them, that they’ll live and die without ever knowing war.”

Arrogant thinking. But who could fault them? Such was the standing of the Sky Empire—Velma, the Grand Empire.

「The Sky… yes, it’s a fitting name for such an empire.」

“……”

「Which also means it’s a land full of fools.」

As Liam muttered, our group followed Audrey’s lead and arrived at our destination—the tallest point of Cloud Garden, a building called the Cloud Tower.

“You can reach the Cloud Bridge from here.”

“Do we need any preparations or fees?”

“No. The Cloud Bridge doesn’t belong to Cloud Garden. Not even to humans, actually.”

Audrey walked toward the entrance of the tower.

The manager of the Cloud Tower greeted us warmly. One thing stood out in this city: everyone smiled. It was almost paradise—everyone seemed happy. Unlike the Iron Kingdom, where glares were greetings and a bump of the shoulder warranted shouting. Here, the warmth was almost awkward.

And then—

“You’re going to climb the Cloud Bridge?”

The manager blinked, then asked,

“Have you all been drinking?”

***

The Cloud Tower was a sort of observatory—a sightseeing spot where one could safely gaze upon the Sky Mountains and the Great Forest. On clear days, it was said even the cities of the Sky Empire could be seen.

“Cloud Tower is one of the continent’s great wonders. It’s over a thousand years old, yet even scholars debate how such a thing could’ve been built with the technology of the time. Of course, that’s because it was the work of dragons.”

“Dragons?”

“Yes. This structure was built back when this whole region belonged to them. Everyone who sees it is astonished—and wonders: Why do the great dragons, who possessed such power a thousand years ago, now hide atop the Sky Mountains? But really, who could ever understand the will of dragons?”

The manager guided us to the top floor. Unlike the well-maintained lower levels, the top showed clear signs of age.

“Cloud Garden maintains this abandoned structure, but it has no ownership rights. So we can’t stop anyone who wishes to cross the Cloud Bridge—and we can’t charge a toll, either.”

“……”

“Of course, no one tries. Occasionally an eccentric explorer, a truth-seeking mage, or a scholar mad with curiosity will attempt it.”

“And do they make it through?”

“No.”

The manager shook his head.

“All of them disappeared. Without a trace.”

“……”

“The cause is still unknown. So personally, I’d advise you against it. But I’ve no right to. Every being under the sky has the freedom to do as they will.”

He smiled.

“I wish you a good journey.”

With that, he left down the stairs. Only our group remained in the chill silence of the top floor. In that silence, Audrey jerked her chin.

“Go ahead.”

“Me?”

“Who else? You think a mage walks in front? In unknown places, the mage always stays behind. Don’t like it? Then pray to the gods and become a priest.”

“……”

I didn’t like her tone. But she wasn’t wrong.

Mages, like clerics, were key combat assets— and swordsmen always went first into the unknown. And here we had three swordsmen. As I hesitated, Sherizik stepped forward.

“I’ll go. I was the one who agreed to guide you when I joined.”

Competent in everything— and courageous, too. Sherizik was the perfect companion.

“Typical orc.”

“I’ll take that as a compliment.”

Even Audrey’s sarcastic clapping didn’t faze her. She strode confidently into the Cloud Bridge, and we followed behind.

“Oh…”

The passage at the top of the Cloud Tower— the Cloud Bridge was an unusual place. Contrary to the word “bridge,” it was a circular glass tunnel. At first, I thought it was just a poetic name, but the moment I stepped inside, I understood.

“It feels like walking in the sky.”

Surrounded on all sides by glass, it truly felt like flying above the clouds. Like a bird gliding through the heavens. Hearing Seol Yoon’s voice, I looked around, overcome by a strange sense of wonder. The earlier talk of people vanishing here felt distant; tension gave way to awe, and my heart began to pound—And then—

‘…Why won’t it stop pounding?’

I thought it was from excitement and beauty, but the heartbeat didn’t fade—it grew stronger, as if reacting to something.

“Wait…”

At that same moment—

“Down!”

Audrey shouted sharply. But it was too late. Beyond the transparent wall of the glass passage, something enormous moved between the clouds—flying closer, and the closer it came, the larger it seemed, until its size was beyond comprehension.

“Ah.”

We all knew what it was without saying.

A dragon.

“Just our damn luck!”

The shadow grew, swallowing the light, the heartbeat hammering louder—then, all sound vanished. Even the pulse stopped.

A high, piercing beep rang in my ear, followed by a dry, withered voice echoing inside my head.

『Do you know the genius who became a specimen?』

The voice of the sword— the voice of 「Flight」.

‘Bad luck? Hardly.’

I accepted the memories flowing in and smiled faintly.

‘This is fortune.’

Now then— Let’s say our greetings, you winged lizard.