NOVEL'S EXTRA: I Will Die at the Peak-Chapter 77: In the Stillness of Night [1]

The night had deepened. On the dry dirt road near the forest’s edge, a massive carrier woven from bone was moving slowly.

As the wheels turned, the ground cracked and crumbled, and the fine dust that rose with every turn turned into a hazy layer under the moonlight.

In front of the cart, a red-furred creature with nothing above its neck was walking. The body was solid, movements flawless. It seemed like it didn’t care what it had become; it was simply carrying out the task it was given.

The large black horse walking beside it was breathing deeply, its muscles slightly tensing with each step.

Juuhra had taken off after clearing the path for them. With coiled wings, he glided in front of the bone carrier, cutting through the wind, flying toward the castle.

Ravien was standing on top of the cart. Without losing balance, he stared at the wolf, lost in thought.

"For the first time, I loaded capacity into a dead body," he thought. "Its form has completely changed.

Last night, it was a creature that could decide, respond to its surroundings. Now, it’s just like an empty shell. Intelligence, will... seem to be erased."

He paused for a moment. He turned his eyes to the road ahead. On the earth, which had taken on a cool and multi-toned color under the moonlight, the tree trunks and stones swayed between light and shadow in an unclear boundary.

"So... what happens if capacity is transferred to something completely inanimate? Like a bone... or a useless stone? A form with no internal organs, no need for food or drink, but able to move... That would be a tremendous saving."

This thought stayed in his mind for a short time. But then he warned himself:

"Asogi doesn’t eat either, but still needs energy. So that’s the point. No matter what, energy will be consumed."

With a short sigh, he placed the idea to the side of his mind. "Still... worth trying. I should add this to the list."

---

About half an hour later, the bone carrier reached the front gate of the castle. There had been no issues along the way. The sky remained silent, and the light of the four moons faintly lit up the castle.

Juuhra had reached the castle earlier, heading straight to Ravien’s room without slowing. He slipped through the broken window frame, landed with a graceful motion. He didn’t stand; he lay directly on the bed and let out a quiet sigh.

"Today lasted too long... I dealt with far too much. I don’t want anything but to close my eyes."

Keeping his arms close to his body, he closed his eyes. His breath had steadied. He wasn’t moving.

Outside, the carrier was now at the castle entrance.

A few seconds later, the door hinges creaked. The thick doors dragged against the stone floor and slowly opened.

Ravien brought the horse and the wolf to a halt. A faint smile appeared on his face as if expecting someone familiar behind the door. Once the doors fully opened, he drove the carrier inside.

The stone walls trembled slightly with the passage of the cart. Once inside, Ravien jumped off the horse. As his bare feet touched the stone floor, a brief coldness spread through his body.

Jiho emerged from the shadows. His posture was straight, his gaze calm. His eyes first moved to the vehicle, then to the headless wolf. His expression didn’t change. He was neither surprised nor questioning.

"Welcome, young master. Do you have any requests?" he asked, bowing his head slightly.

Ravien only glanced at him.

"Bring me one of the Clessourine Éclesse wines. I want to drink a little."

Jiho bowed without hesitation and headed toward the inner corridors. His footsteps echoed on the stone floor and soon faded.

Ravien took a few steps. As his eyes wandered across the stone courtyard, his thoughts returned to the felled trees.

"These trees aren’t enough to build even hundreds of homes. I’ll have to bring more. I’ll also need plans... But I won’t think about them now."

He noticed an old table once used by merchants piled in the corner. He sat on one of the chairs at the edge and leaned back. His gaze fixed on a single point.

At that moment, he wasn’t paying attention to Jiho’s return or anything else. He was simply there.

Shortly after, Asogi dismounted. Silently approaching, he sat in the chair across from Ravien. A faint distance existed between them. His eyes occasionally rose toward Ravien, then quickly turned away.

He wanted to say something, but didn’t know how to start. Maybe he was still a little hesitant, or maybe it was just an emotional state he was trying to get used to.

The sound of footsteps echoing on the stone slowly faded. The air inside was cold. As the weight of the night quietly wrapped around the castle, the two shadows sat in silence a while longer.

---

Minutes later, Jiho appeared. In one hand, a long-necked, dark blue wine bottle; in the other, a simple plate carrying a still-steaming meal. Tucked into the crook of his arm were a neatly folded plain black sweater and bottom garment—very simple, but clean and usable.

The dinner on the white porcelain plate consisted of rice, spiced chicken pieces, and a salad made of fresh greens. It was a light but satisfying meal.

The aroma rising from the plate blended with the steam from the crispy chicken skin and the fresh scent of the herbs in the salad.

When Jiho reached the table, he silently placed the plate in front of Ravien. He wore a light black sweater and simple bottoms—plain but clean.

Ravien glanced at the table, then raised his head slightly and spoke in a calm yet clear voice:

"I only asked for wine. Why did you bring these?"

While opening the bottle and pouring wine into Ravien’s glass, Jiho bowed his head.

"Master," he said in a polite and measured tone,

"You weren’t wearing anything. And you’ve taken a long journey. I thought you might be hungry. So I brought a light meal and some simple clothes for you to wear. I also cleaned your private bath. If you wish, you can bathe after your meal."

Ravien picked up the fork and put a piece of meat in his mouth. The outside was crispy, the inside soft. The flavor of butter, garlic, and thyme lingered on his tongue.

When he heard the word "bath," he realized he hadn’t properly bathed since arriving in this world. He remembered that he had never been to a bathhouse and had once been curious what it would be like.

While lost in thought, he had eaten nearly half the plate without noticing. Asogi, at the far end of the table, didn’t need to eat and was simply watching.

Ravien eventually finished the entire plate. He picked up the napkin and gently wiped his lips, then reached for the glass. 𝑓𝘳𝑒𝑒𝓌𝘦𝘣𝘯ℴ𝑣𝘦𝑙.𝘤𝑜𝑚

As his fingertips touched the wine glass, a sudden chill spread. It felt as if the glass was coated in ice—but the harsh cold strangely pleased him.

He lifted the glass to his lips. Took a deep sip, then another... The deep blue drops of wine slid from the corner of his mouth and fell onto the table.