NOVEL'S EXTRA: I Will Die at the Peak-Chapter 57: Clothes and thought

Ravien moved silently through the empty corridors. The sound of his footsteps echoed against the walls before fading into nothingness.

At one point, he stopped and looked out the window. Below, near the edge of the courtyard, two figures stood: XZ and Haldvir.

It wasn’t entirely clear what they were doing, but Haldvir, as usual, was talking to XZ about something.

XZ, on the other hand, remained silent as always. With no face to express himself and barely any movement in his body, he stood still like a statue.

Ravien watched the scene for a moment, then turned his head as if losing interest and continued walking.

When he reached his study, he pushed the door open and stepped inside. The room, once messy and disorganized, was now tidy and clean.

Jiho was inside, sitting on one of the armchairs and sipping tea from a small porcelain cup. The steam rising from the cup added a subtle motion to the still air of the room.

—

Noticing Ravien’s entrance, Jiho gently set the cup down on the table and immediately stood up.

"Welcome, young master," he said in a polite voice. "Since you hadn’t visited in a long time, I took the liberty of cleaning the room. I’ve also sorted and prepared your documents." 𝑓𝓇𝘦ℯ𝘸𝘦𝑏𝓃𝑜𝘷ℯ𝑙.𝑐𝑜𝓂

Ravien gave a brief glance around. Everything truly was in its place; papers were stacked neatly, and the desk was spotless.

"It really does look more organized," he said approvingly. "Now, what about the villagers with the fate abilities I asked you to find?"

Jiho clasped his hands behind his back and answered in a calm and steady tone:

"Master, they arrived while you were away from the room. But instead of keeping them waiting here too long, I sent them back to their homes.

However, I recorded the details of each of their abilities. The documents are on your desk. You may review them at your convenience."

As he spoke, he bowed his head slightly—an action that seemed more like a respectful habit than a conscious gesture. Ravien gave a brief nod in return and slowly made his way to the desk.

Ravien settled comfortably into his chair. He took a deep breath, his eyes briefly drifting toward Jiho.

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(POV: Ravien)

Jiho... I still don’t fully trust him. But I have to admit—he does his job flawlessly. At least for now, as long as he carries out orders without question, I can suppress my doubts. I’ll keep watching him.

I reached for the files on the desk. The papers were neatly arranged, each belonging to a different individual.

Let’s see now... Who are these villagers with so-called "fate abilities"?

As I picked up the first file, I instinctively frowned.

A ten-year-old child. Ability: muscle mass enhancement.

At that age, you can’t expect much anyway. He might be strong, but it’s probably uncontrollable. Useless to me. I set the paper aside.

The second file was of a twelve-year-old boy. Ability: acceleration.

Ordinary. Basic. I dismissed this one as well.

Third: eleven years old, ability listed as "strength enhancement." Again, raw physical power. Too young, and the ability is inadequate.

I flipped through the remaining files quickly. They were all more or less the same.

Either they had strength-based abilities, or they were so young that they were of no use to me in their current state.

If they were older, they wouldn’t even be here; they’d have already left the village to find their own path.

As I neared the end of the files, two documents caught my attention. They were different from the others. Hmm... at the very least, interesting.

The first file spoke of a girl named Nornara. Her ability: "Silken Touch." She can directly shape any silk-based material according to a design she visualizes in her mind.

Material creation through thought—infused with a sense of aesthetic... Now that’s genuinely unique.

The second file was about someone named Ellie. Her ability: "Scent Emission." She can perceive and replicate subtle smells.

Once she has sensed a particular scent, she can release a weaker version of it into the environment.

Scent emission... It might seem insignificant at first glance, but it’s intriguing. It could be used to influence emotions, alter the atmosphere of a space, or even send a wordless message to someone.

When used correctly, words might not even be necessary.

Both of them were of suitable age. Nornara was seventeen, and Ellie was sixteen. At that age, they should at least be aware of basic responsibilities—capable of acting by their own will.

I leaned back in my chair. My eyes drifted to the ceiling, but my thoughts remained fixated on Nornara’s ability. Scent emission is interesting, yes. But "Silken Touch" might be exactly what I need right now.

I looked down at myself.

A faded white shirt. The seams were worn out, and the old-fashioned pants were fraying at the cuffs. Neither neat nor comfortable.

And unfortunately, I have nothing else to wear right now.

There’s no workshop where I can make new clothes, no supply source for fabric. And of course, there has never been a shop around where I could simply buy something.

All I have here are a few scraps of cloth—barely better than what I’m wearing.

But... maybe that can finally change.

I paused for a moment. My thoughts drifted—without meaning to—back to my old life.

Soft fabrics... cool to the touch, but gentle on the skin... Clothes that didn’t itch or cling awkwardly when worn in the morning... And of course, that outfit.

My admiral’s uniform.

It appeared in my mind’s eye.

Pitch black—simple, but striking. On the shoulders, there were matte-textured metal epaulets with a faint shine.

Fine lines embroidered along the sleeves marked ranks and duty designations.

That uniform wasn’t just a symbol of rank. It was part of my identity.

But if Nornara’s ability is truly as described... maybe it doesn’t have to remain just a memory.

Maybe I can wear that coat again. Maybe I can recreate those comfortable, minimal but distinguished garments from my past life—one by one.

Before I realized it, I exhaled softly.

Ravien silently placed the paper in his hand down on the table and lifted his gaze to Jiho.

Jiho immediately noticed the sudden glance. He sensed a shift—an expectation—in Ravien’s eyes. He slightly raised his eyebrows and bowed, hands clasped in front of him.

"Do you require anything, my lord?"

Ravien paused for a moment before replying. Then, he picked out a sheet from the edge of the desk and handed it to Jiho.

"Hire the girl named Nornara immediately," he said in a firm tone. "Prepare a room for her in the castle. Also, make sure her needs are taken care of. If she has a family, they can come with her."

Jiho carefully took the paper and glanced over it. Then he bowed respectfully. "When would you like me to summon her, my lord?"

Ravien leaned back in his chair, taking a deep breath. His eyes wandered to the window, then back to Jiho. "Go in a few hours. Give them time—they may need to prepare."

Jiho nodded silently in acknowledgment.

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A mysterious voice whispered, "The God’s goat Kheret, will arrive in two days."

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