Rangers Endgame

Chapter 141: Chief Discussion

Snowflakes bobbed through the calm air, a stark contrast to the sea of white beyond the village borders. Smoke curled from chimneys, every home one-story. Men emerged from cavities in the ground with cream-colored stones in tow, feeding them to the hearths that lined the roads at intervals. Women tended the vine walls across the village, harvesting food for the season.

Risa’s eyes caught on a shop displaying snow and flower charms.

The house at the village’s center stood a story taller than the rest, broader as well. The guard knocked on the door in a pattern, and something clunked on the other side before another guard inside, lean and tall, swung it inward. Heat billowed from within, as if beckoning them in.

"We have visitors,” their escort said.

The tall man scanned each of them individually, eyes lingering on their weapons. He stepped aside, and they funneled through.

The warm air greeted them, caressing their skin and loosening their rigid muscles. When Yakeru's eyes adjusted, the scene felt absurdly ordinary. Perhaps because he’d just come from a noble country house.

A fireplace dominated the center of the interior, snapping, casting dancing shadows over the bare walls. At a table, bathing in its warmth, was a woman sitting ramrod straight despite time etched into her skin. Across was a child no older than ten, fumbling with materials, tongue caught between her teeth in fierce concentration.

“Don’t strangle it, Emi,” the elder advised, watching her wrestle with a stubborn knot. “It is not your enemy, dear.”

Emi’s teeth clamped on her bottom lip, readjusting her technique. “It’s not my fault. You picked the good thread.”

The elder dangled the expertly carved bear charm before her, a playful taunt. “Yes. The one you ignored.”

The knot finally gave, the child beaming with triumph as she retied it. “Hah! Whose looks better now?” she declared, presenting what she considered a masterpiece.

The elder examined it with critical, milky eyes. “Not bad. Far better than your one-eyed slime last week.”

“I told you it was a bunny!” she pouted.

Only then did the elder’s gaze meet the rangers' to acknowledge them.

Emi whirled around in her seat and gawked. “Whoa. They look like icicles.”

“They are icicles,” the elder corrected, turning the girl back around to face her. “Tell you what: when I’m finished with the guests, I’ll show you how to make a lunar lilac with the finest material.”

The girl’s eyes brightened with excitement and a tinge of challenge. “Careful. I’ll surpass you if that happens.”

The corner of the elder’s mouth lifted. “Bold words. I look forward to it.” She ruffled her black hair, eliciting a giggle. “Now, shoo.”

Emi scooped up her work-in-progress charm and materials. The charm slipped from her awkward hold and skipped to Fuyumi’s feet. She knelt and handed it to her. The girl gave a fidgety thanks, stuffed it into her coat pocket, and darted out the door.

The elder’s gaze swept across their party, stopping on the splats of blue on their clothes. “I see you've already met the inhabitants.”

“Yes. They were quite the welcoming party,” Yakeru answered.

A bare smirk. “Aren’t they? Frost vestiges always know how to make a deliberate entrance.”

“Is that what they’re called?” Yuto inquired.

“That’s what we call them.” She rested a frail hand on the rough, white table. “Remnants that still defend a long-extinct master.” She turned her attention to the guard standing in the corner of the room. “Mamoru, fetch these people spare coats, will you?”

The guard, Mamoru, nodded and disappeared around the corner. She looked back at the group expectantly.

“Well, don’t just stand there.” She gestured to the fireplace. “Come warm yourselves.”

Risa thanked her for the hospitality, as Yuto and Takahiro sat at an empty bench across from the elder and let the fire’s warmth press against their palms. Yakeru made himself comfortable on a bench adjacent to the elder, his quivering legs grateful.

Thankfully, Fuyumi claimed the spot next to him before Risa could snag it, eyeing her. The conjurer cracked a quiet smirk in response as she took the bench across from him, swinging one leg over the other with deliberate grace.

Yakeru ignored their unspoken feud—whatever it was.

“I’m Chief Zeri,” she introduced curtly. “There aren’t many reasons for outsiders to visit Marrow Village, so I think I have an idea of why you’re here.”

“Where did you last see the bloodhounds?” Fuyumi demanded ungracefully, leaning in.

Yakeru sighed. ‘Very tactful.’

“Straight to the point. I like that.” Chief Zeri stood and sifted through some parchment from a shelf. She unravelled it and gave a confirming nod before coming over to hand Fuyumi the sheet.

Yakeru and Fuyumi looked it over—a map of the entire mountain range, stretching farther than he initially thought. A black dot labeled “Marrow Village” sat on one mountain face while a red dot sat on the opposite side.

“They were sighted north of here.” The woman slipped back into her seat, hands on her lap. “A pack of them, six or seven.”

Fuyumi passed the map to Yuto so that he and Takahiro could inspect it.

“We can manage against frost vestiges, but A-tier monsters are a different breed,” the chief admitted.

Yuto looked up from the map after tracing a wobbly line with his finger. “And they haven’t been seen around the village itself?”

Fuyumi spoke before the woman could confirm. “Bloodhounds aren’t scouts. Their insatiable bloodlust prevents any forethought.”

“You speak as if you have encountered them yourself, Fuyumi,” Takahiro said. “A knowledgeable young woman is always a welcome trait.”

She didn’t answer.

“There’s something else.” The elder perked as her memory jogged. “The witnesses mentioned that there was a larger one among them with fur almost as pale as snow.”

“When there are packs, there are leaders,” Fuyumi assumed.

“If so, then we should assume it’s S-tier,” Risa said as she examined the map Takahiro passed her, swapping legs.

“Then extreme caution is non-negotiable.” The noble responded.

“I’ve never encountered them personally, but I’ve heard rumors that bloodhounds prefer more… delicate prey.” Her milky blue eyes went to the door that the girl had left through earlier.

“Yes. They do.” Fuyumi confirmed.

Risa studied her for a moment. Her usual relaxed expression actually flickered with something that wasn’t suggestive—sympathy.

Chief Zeri’s shoulders tensed. “I see.”

Mamoru returned with fresh coats, passing them around and offering to take theirs for a good wash. They accepted gratefully, trading their blue-stained coats for clean ones.

“Well then, I’m sure you’re all exhausted from your journey,” the elder said, standing. “Mamoru will escort you to our tavern.”

“No, we’ll hunt them now.” Fuyumi declined, throwing on her fresh coat.

Everyone stared at her as if she’d just kicked a dog. But Yakeru expected this.

“I don’t think that’s a good idea,” Yuto pleaded, hand hesitating.

“Please, let us not be rash,” Takahiro concurred. “Those frost vestiges are still afoot.”

“It’d be better to rest here for a moment,” Risa reasoned. “We have no visibility in the storm either.”

Fuyumi stopped only to fix them all with a frigid gaze that rivalled a frost vestige. “I have no issue going alone.”

Her eyes met Yakeru’s. He didn’t say a word. He didn’t need to.

No anger. No lecture waiting behind his teeth. Just a steady, unyielding look—the kind that knew her scars. The kind that had stuck by her through disaster.

She held his gaze for several seconds, jaw tightening. The silence stretched between them until she finally averted her eyes, sobering.

“One night,” she sighed, leaning against the wall by the door.

He gave a small nod like a bargain struck.

The others let out collective breaths, relieved. Chief Zeri turned to the guard, and he nodded in understanding. Once everyone had their coats on, he opened the door, allowing the winter to fall inside, and gestured to follow.

“I also imagine you’re all quite famished,” the elder said as they got up. “Feel free to help yourselves to our stew and dessert.”

Thanking her again, they followed the guard outside. The storm continued to whirl and scream beyond the boundaries like a white dome around the village. The villagers stole glances at the outsiders as they passed until they arrived at a one-story building that looked identical to the others.

The inside greeted them with the meandering chime of chatter. The tables dotted around the hearth at the lobby’s center added to the calm atmosphere, the toasty air mingling with the scent of steamed veggies. A food bar stretched across the left side, while a series of doors were spaced evenly along the right.

Mamoru was kind enough to speak to the tavern keeper and get keys for them. He then guided them to two separate rooms, a few doors between each one. Fuyumi and Risa vanished into one door near the front while Yakeru, Yuto, and Takahiro stepped into theirs.

Yakeru and Yuto turned back, but the guard had already disappeared before they could thank him.

Takahiro was too busy scrutinizing the humble space.

“Hmm.” He tested the mattress with a prodding finger and smoothed his palm over the plain walls. “Serviceable,” he concluded.

They set their things down, Takahiro claiming the center bed while Yuto settled for the one nearest to the door. Yakeru took the window, having a clear view of the storm between two huts.

He sank into the mattress, allowing more rest to his legs to shake off the clawing fatigue of Phantom Step still lingering in his muscles. Yuto and Takahiro droned as he recovered. He unsheathed his sword, the obsidian blade catching light, and used the cloth he usually packed to clean the remaining blood before it crusted.

At some point during his maintenance, Yuto spoke from across the room. “What about you, Yakeru?”

He looked over his shoulder. “Sorry, could you repeat that?”

“We were going to check out the food bar and were wondering if you wanted to join us,” Yuto asked, setting aside his sword/shield hybrid.

“Maybe next time.”

“A shame. Yours truly shall send a servant to deliver a plate,” Takahiro offered, striking a pose in front of the mirror.

“I don’t think they provide that kind of service, but thanks anyway,” Yakeru chuckled awkwardly. “Go on without me.”

“Very well. And perhaps a private moment with my sweet Fuyumi under the moon’s pale light is in order,” the noble prayed dreamily.

“Good luck…”

After Takahiro finished admiring himself, he and Yuto left. Yakeru spent the rest of his time alone scrubbing away the thick impurities of his sword, taking more time than he thought it would. He worked until his reflection stared back at him, and raised the blade to the light, the glint gliding down its length.

Sword sheathed, he threw on his coat and left the room. He saw Takahiro and Yuto conversing at a table as the waiter served them. With their food were two skewered fruits he didn’t recognize. Risa also wasn’t there, so he assumed she was still in her room.

Still, he left the tavern discreetly.