Farewell and Departure

(Side stories are for letting the imagination run wild—any strange idea can be crammed into them.)

The wilderness was deathly silent at night.

The faint chatter of the night watchmen drifted into his ears.

It seemed close enough to whisper in his ear, yet also impossibly distant.

"Whew... This weather is really damn cold..."

The Phantom Crossbowman whom Big Bear had relieved rubbed his hands together and sat back down beside the fire.

"Not going to sleep?" Big Bear asked, warming himself by the fire as well.

The man nodded.

"I'll sit a little longer. I can't sleep."

"Alright."

After a moment of silence, Big Bear did not object. He merely added a few more pieces of firewood to the flames.

The two sat quietly together, neither knowing what to say. For a moment, the atmosphere grew somewhat awkward.

"Captain, want a cigarette?"

Perhaps to ease the tension, the Phantom Crossbowman took a cigarette from his pocket and held it out to Big Bear.

These were rolled-paper cigarettes that could be found in shops in any mobile city of Ursus.

Now, the paper wrapping the tobacco was already torn, and even the tobacco inside had become damp.

Still, for exiles, having even a single cigarette was already quite good.

"Thanks."

Big Bear took the cigarette instinctively, lit it, then cautiously took a puff.

"Cough, cough—cough, cough."

The smoke immediately made Big Bear cough violently.

"Is this your first time smoking, Captain?" The Phantom Crossbowman found it somewhat amusing as he patted Big Bear on the back.

"I never smoked much before—maybe a few times a long time ago, but I'd already forgotten what it tasted like."

After coughing for a while and drinking some water, Big Bear finally recovered.

Supplies were scarce on the northwestern ice plains. Cigarettes and alcohol were both considerable luxuries, so he had naturally never had the chance to develop such a habit.

"Heh, Faust never allowed us to smoke before—said it would ruin our eyes with the smoke."

"We could only sneak them while we were out on patrol, taking turns—but he always found out."

"His nose was incredibly sharp!"

The Phantom Crossbowman sat beside Big Bear. He seemed to have gotten carried away talking to himself and did not care whether Big Bear wanted to listen. He simply kept rambling on.

He merely had a bellyful of words he wanted to share with someone.

"As for now—we can smoke however we want. The one who kept us in line is gone."

"Whew..."

He had shed enough tears already, and lost enough people already. The Phantom Crossbowman felt as though he had gone numb.

Big Bear was like a silent stone. He listened patiently until the Phantom Crossbowman had finished, then reached out and patted him on the shoulder.

"Captain, you should smoke less too... It's bad for your health."

As he spoke, the Phantom Crossbowman took the cigarette from Big Bear's hand, stubbed it out, and tossed it into the fire.

"Mm, you're right. If I can avoid it, I'll try not to smoke." Big Bear nodded in agreement.

"Thanks for keeping me company so long—I'm going to sleep first."

After finding someone to pour his heart out to, the Phantom Crossbowman seemed to feel much better. He bid Big Bear farewell, then slowly crawled into the cramped tent.

That was how people needed one another.

Sharing sorrow, sharing joy.

That was why Big Bear could understand how the young man felt.

He was not seeking comfort or anything else.

He only wanted to talk.

"Like I'm already an old man..."

Big Bear rolled his eyes at the pitch-black night sky.

By the flickering firelight, Big Bear sat down against a rock. He took a notebook and pen from his pocket, removed the cap from the fountain pen, and began writing in the notebook.

Organizing his thoughts, making plans.

In truth, Big Bear merely wanted to find something to do for himself. Nothing more.

He could not just sit there waiting for sunrise...

In any case, Big Bear spent his first night in the wilderness amid the swaying firelight, paper, and pen.

"Bring enough food and weapons."

The following morning, the time for a formal farewell arrived.

When the moment truly came, Big Bear instead seemed remarkably calm.

Perhaps he had already experienced something far more terrifying in his dreams.

Still, Big Bear seemed to be rambling on... as though he had endless instructions to give.

Rather like an old mother, wasn't he?

In fact, everyone in the exile group, Big Bear included, held a rather pessimistic view of Petrova's chances.

If anything went wrong, she might never return.

"Take this—"

Big Bear quietly slipped a small silver flask into Petrova's hand.

It was the flask of liquor Yangge had left behind.

Now, it was being given to Petrova.

After all, she needed this flask more than anyone else.

Petrova froze for a moment, but ultimately did not refuse. She knew Big Bear probably would not take the flask back.

She understood Big Bear far too well.

So she did not force the matter and accepted the flask.

She carefully tucked the silver flask into an inner pocket. If necessary, perhaps this thing could save her life.

Of course, perhaps she would not get the chance to use it even before she died...

Big Bear watched Petrova leave. Only after the girl vanished from his sight did he finally look away.

"I wonder how long it'll take her to reach the next mobile city..."

the Phantom Crossbowman said softly beside him.

"No... Whether she can even find it by following the map is a problem..." Big Bear shook his head. "Even the locations of the other mobile cities marked on the maps drawn before may change in the coming days."

"She'll have to accomplish all of this herself..."

Big Bear turned around as he spoke.

"Finish packing up the camp, then we'll continue onward as well. Follow the process we arranged yesterday step by step. We need to finish the plan before sunset."

They needed to gather food and herbs, collect timber for building a camp, and most importantly, find a place suitable for setting up camp and sleeping outdoors at night.

"This whole area is bare. I'm afraid it won't be easy to find one..."

After leaving Lungmen, the exiles encountered the first challenge they would have to face—the wasteland.

Yes, the area where Lungmen stood was now surrounded by desert and barren land.

Gathering supplies in such an environment had become at least three levels more difficult.

Big Bear had long been prepared for this.

"District 14 Ruined City. We'll go there first..."

Yes, Big Bear intended to lead the exiles back to the ruins of District 14.