NOVEL WEB Chapter 415
“Is it delicious?”
“Yum!”
…I really liked it.
It’s only been a day since that cheeky furball, the Wendigo, joined our party.
The wives were too busy cooing over the Wendigo’s adorableness. I guess they really liked its cute appearance. Is it because women tend to love cute things?
I took my eyes off the Wendigo, who was snugly nestled in Millia’s arms munching on jerky, and looked ahead.
The atmosphere was quite cheerful, but considering the environment of the snow mountain, it shouldn’t be this bright. I gazed up at the summit, even though we were only halfway up the snowy slopes.
More precisely, I looked at the Phoenix gazing down at us.
Is this a welcome for guests?
Seeing the Wendigo come over to the igloo below, it was clear the Phoenix had sent it.
If it’s this welcoming… perhaps the Phoenix secretly hoped for guests as well. Even though the Wendigo would babble on, it probably wouldn’t do so in front of the Phoenix.
“Hey, Uncle, didn’t you say there’s a Phoenix at the summit?”
“Yeah.”
“What’s the Phoenix like, uh, as a person, or bird?”
Are they asking about the Phoenix’s personality? I recalled the three times I had met the Phoenix. The first time… well, it did test me with an avalanche, so I can’t say it was pleasant, but as a legendary divine beast, it was fairly unremarkable.
The second time was when I asked the High Elf Queen for my reference.
And the last time was, well… when I was trying to protect the World Tree, so I don’t remember much.
I fainted right after summoning it.
Since then, I hadn’t called upon it again.
While I’ve been using the power of the Phoenix quite effectively… well, fire has so many uses.
“Do you think it would give me a feather if I asked?”
“Hmmm.”
That’s a super rare item. It rivals philosopher’s stones in rarity. You want to be able to revive the dead just by meeting some conditions?
“If you want it, it should be able to arm you with a pile of materials at least, right?”
“Umm, I’m not trying to get it for research…”
Viola quietly snuggled into my arm and got closer, lifting her heels. She whispered into my ear, her face slightly flushed.
“I want to keep one as a souvenir.”
“A souvenir?”
“Since this is our first trip together, I thought it would be nice to have something to remember it by…”
Viola seemed to find it amusing even though she said that.
A Phoenix feather, huh.
That should be simple enough.
“If you refuse, I’ll just pluck one for you.”
If Viola wants one, there’s no way the Phoenix would refuse.
“No, that’s not necessary! I’d just like it to be given generously.”
“Sure, your wish is noted.”
“Um… thanks?”
Viola looked confused whether she should be grateful or be wary.
So cute. I kissed Viola’s forehead and glanced at Karina, who had approached us without me realizing.
Karina naturally wrapped her arms around me and asked, “What were you two talking about?”
“I was saying Viola wants a Phoenix feather.”
“A Phoenix feather…”
Karina’s gaze landed on Viola, who looked cute. Karina, who was my age but had a smile like an older sister, nestled my arm between her chest and remarked, “That’s quite a gift for a trip.”
“If you want it, I can get one for you too.”
“Then that’d be unfair. If you give one to me… you should give one to everyone, right?”
I see. That’s so like Karina, always thinking of the other wives. I’m truly lucky that Karina is the first wife. She manages everything herself, avoiding unrest and maintaining harmony.
Originally, Karina’s position and authority alone kept anyone from even thinking about fighting.
Renny was marked off the list from the start. Millia treats Karina almost like a mom, so she didn’t count. Viola and Sif still felt the weight of being called ‘Saint.’
As for Elisa, she revered Karina like a benefactor and tried to avoid conflict with her.
In the end, while it’s great that Karina thinks of the other wives…
…the biggest reason seems to be that she simply can’t handle my stamina alone.
Honestly speaking, I’m not sure if I’m a human or a horse, going at it more than ten times! No matter how much divine protection I have, it’s tough to endure. You could say I was bound to end up full if I kept taking it in.
Having experienced it multiple times in their mouths, I can confidently say…
“It looks like we’re close to the summit.”
“From now on, it’s the real start.”
“Really?”
Karina looked surprised as she gazed at me. I guess the harshness of this mountain range starting now shocked her.
In fact, if I decided to power through, I wouldn’t find it difficult.
Terrain?
Just break through.
Cold?
Here’s a human furnace!
Height?
If we lose stamina, we just recover.
So, it’s easy to hike even with my delicate wives.
It feels strange to treat the snowy mountain like a walk in the park, but if my wife is struggling, isn’t it the heart of a husband to turn the snowy mountain into a walk in the park?
“Johann, what are you thinking?”
“Isn’t this tough?”
“To be honest, it is tough… but thinking about climbing the mountain with you makes me really happy.”
“Right. Since it’s a hike with Uncle…”
“Actually, I thought it might be a bit rugged for a graduation trip.”
“To be frank, it’s not really a fitting location for that. No one else but us would pick a snowy mountain for both a graduation trip and a honeymoon!”
Out of nowhere, Renny, who had wrapped her arm around my neck, playfully poked my cheek with her finger.
“But I still love it! We’re making memories no one else has!”
“That’s true. Even if you offered a fortune, no one else gets to climb a snowy mountain so easy like us.”
“Sif, are you okay with the cold?”
“No… that’s why I came here to ask you to hold my hand.”
Cats are said to despise cold. I took Sif’s cold hand and infused it with the power of the Phoenix. As the warmth flowed into her, Sif drooped her ears and closed her eyes.
“Warm~”
So cute.
We proceeded toward the narrow path leading to the summit, surrounded by that heartwarming atmosphere.
—————————-
[It’s been a while.]
“It’s been a long time.”
[I’ve been watching your activities from up here. Truly well done.]
Hearing such words from the Phoenix made my heart swell. I spoke to the Phoenix, which was lying by the open space next to the summit.
“Has nothing happened while I’ve been standing here?”
[While you’ve been shaking up the world, there’s been nothing happening. Even if something occurred, I hid to avoid you.]
I was stirring up ruckus in the continent, trying to catch outsiders.
I’d been roaming so much that even if there were plots, it was prudent to lay low.
If they had a problem, they should just get strong enough to dance around in front of Kalon.
That guy was struggling and wanting to die lately; should I pile some more trouble on him? The icon of rebellion shouldn’t be given a moment’s respite.
“I hope there aren’t any nuisances while I’m here.”
[Who would dare bother you? The Emperor of that Great Empire even has to watch my movements, and even the gods are trembling over your words, aren’t they?]
Well, I guess that’s true.
“Well then, enough talk about work… but, could I pluck a few feathers?”
[That much is fine.]
The Phoenix extended its wings to me. I pulled eight feathers from its wings, fanning them out like a peacock. The bright yellow feathers flitted playfully in my hands.
A fan made from Phoenix feathers.
I feel like you couldn’t even get this by selling the Imperial Palace.
I jokingly offered the fan to Millia standing next to me. Millia’s hair fluttered back in the breeze. She closed her eyes and sighed, looking satisfied.
“The wind is warm~”
“Let me have a turn too!”
“Me too!”
I used the fan made of the Phoenix feathers to blow warm air onto my wives’ faces. They all closed their eyes and seemed to enjoy the gentle breeze, looking genuinely warm.
I playfully stuck a feather on top of their heads one by one.
“If we go around with Phoenix feathers like this, don’t you think everyone will stare at us?”
“Other than that, I’d say we’d be thieves’ prime target!”
“Or maybe we’d be the number one people to avoid? Someone casually wearing Phoenix feathers like that wouldn’t seem normal!”
That’s true enough.
We sat down in a corner of the open space while chatting. The setting sun was clearly visible from our spot. Plus, we could see the city far away in the distance.
We chatted while gazing at the sunset.
“Millia, are you satisfied?”
“Yep!”
Millia, hugging the Wendigo like a doll, nodded vigorously.
“Johann.”
Millia naturally leaned against my shoulder, her red hair wrapping around my arm. I stroked her hair and looked at her lips.
“Thank you… for bringing me to the snowy mountains.”
“For what?”
“The snowy mountains… I really wanted to see it.”
In a voice quieter than usual, Millia spoke and then fell silent, staring ahead.
“I thought I’d have to spend my whole life stuck in a dungeon… thanks to you, I can see places like this, and I’m really happy.”
“If you want, I can take you even to the clouds.”
“Really?”
“Have I ever spoken lightly?”
“Hehe…”
The sunset deepens.
Our softly murmuring voices got carried away by the chilly wind.
We fell silent, appreciating the scarlet hue that had emerged in the sky.
“Ah, Screenshot! Johann! Let’s take a screenshot!”
“Rue.”
“Ta-da!”
Rue made a loud movement as she pulled out the screenshot from her pocket. We quickly turned 180 degrees to pose for the screenshot.
Having taken a commemorative photo once already, it didn’t take long to find the right position.
“Contractor! I’m going to shoot!”
“Wait a moment. Phoenix sir, how about taking this photo with us?”
[Hmm… that sounds fun.]
The Phoenix moved its giant body to stand behind us, creating a warm backdrop.
“One! Two! Three!”
“Rue! Hurry up!”
Rue rushed over, leaving her tentacle to operate the camera.
Thankfully, Rue quickly found her place as the flash went off.
“…Hehe.”
“It’s time to head back. Phoenix sir, if you could…”
[You wish for many things. I’ll do it. I have no plans, so hop on my back.]
Oh.
“It’s not every day you get to ride on a Phoenix’s back…”
“When you follow Uncle, you have a lot of surprising experiences.”
That’s true.
One by one, we hopped onto the Phoenix’s back and held onto its feathers. The flight was exhilarating; if you weren’t properly gripping on, you’d certainly fall. I checked to see all my wives were secured next to me and said to the Phoenix,
“We’re ready.”
[Then, I’ll take off.]
As the words finished, I immediately felt a sense of weightlessness. I could feel the arms wrapped around me tightening.
The descent would be on the Phoenix’s back.
We celebrated the end of our snowy mountain adventure with this rare experience.