For the first time in my life, I’m running on a snow-covered road .

It’s harder to run than I thought it would be .

I’m running along the frozen road after escaping from the governor’s residence and every 10 seconds I’m applying recovery magic so in effect I can run endlessly .

I’ve lost track of the times I’ve fallen over on the slippery surface but I can’t help but feel happy .

I’m free .

I regret not being able to speak to Gordon before running off but I had no choice .

Let’s concentrate on putting some distance between me and Kombu Wall mine .

I can’t go as fast as I would like due to the snow and the frozen baggage I’m carrying . I think 15 kilometres an hour is my limit .

When the sun started to rise I’d been running for 5 hours and covered about 75 kilometres .

Both of the hummingbirds and George-kun are keeping up no problem .

Under the predawn sky, a signpost appeared before me .

A  maid carrying Ippei’s breakfast along with her soldier escort were the first to discover he was missing .

The room Ippei had been confined in was like a cast-off skin . The door was securely locked and the grill over the window showed no signs of tampering .

The floor and ceiling were also checked and again no abnormalities were found .

“How did he just disappear?!”

Cordelia heard the report of Ippei’s disappearance whilst having her breakfast .

The sound of her whip rang out but no one answered .

“Useless! All of you! Everyone, get out!”

Everyone left apart from the old steward who was always by her side .

“Should I put him on the wanted list?”

The steward probes the intentions of his master .

“…… . . It seems he chose freedom rather than the pleasure of restraint . That’s regrettable . He had the qualities as well……”

The old steward simply waits without saying anything back .

“Don’t bother looking for him . Make it the official record that Ippei died… . ”

“Is that okay ojou-sama?”

“That fellow endured my whip . This is my reward to him . ”

Bowing to the Governor the old steward sees her empty eyes reflected in the window as they look out over the dead wintry landscape .

The old steward leaves the room . He has served Cordelia since she was a child so he knows her well .

Now she was alone she would be crying .

Deciding that giving her time alone was the best thing he went off to make himself a cup of tea . (1)

As dawn arrives I stop running .

I’m pretty much buried amongst the snow but there should be a village around here somewhere if the fields I’ve found are any indication .

Since I’m a fugitive I should really try to avoid standing out .

I wonder if the pursuit teams have set off after me yet?

Black eyes and black hair are not very common around here .

I need to buy some supplies before my wanted poster gets circulated .

I need salt more than anything at the moment .

I don’t need it as a seasoning but to replenish my salt levels . I’ve sweated nonstop since I left Kombu Wall mine .

Recovery magic may restore my fatigue and injuries but it cannot maintain normal bodily functions if important things like salt levels drop too low .

I also want some different foods since I only have meat at the moment .

Some bread and vegetables would be nice .

I continued walking in the hopes that I would reach the village soon .

The boy Ruu of Macha village was milking the goats like he did every morning .

They couldn’t farm due to it being winter so the goat’s milk was the only source of income Ruu and his grandfather had at the moment .

Ruu lost both his parents to an illness that swept the village 2 years ago . He was only 5 at the time .

His grandfather Paas now looks after him though he’s currently ill with a cold .

His grandfather Paas now looks after him though he’s currently ill with a cold .

If Paas dies Ruu will be all alone .

They don’t have the money to ask for a priest or a healer either .

[Please, help my grandfather]

This was Ruu’s prayer to G.o.d every night .

The nice sister from the church had taught him this .

If you pray to G.o.d then he will surely send an angel .

At the moment G.o.d had not granted Ruu’s wish

[When will the angel appear?]

Ruu’s small chest hurt to see his grandfather getting sicker every day .

In the morning haze, a man appeared stepping gently on the on the frost-laden ground .

Who is that thinks a suspicious Ruu

It’s a very strange man .

From head to toe, he’s wearing clothes made from animal hides .

2 s.h.i.+ning silver birds surround the man whilst a monkey made of silver also follows him .

His eyes full of sorrow were a deep black

Ruu knew immediately .

Its the angel! G.o.d heard his wish and sent the angel!

“Excuse me… . are you… . an angel?”

The man tilts his head to one side while saying nothing .

Though scared, the thought of his grandfather gave him courage .

“My grandfather is sleeping . He sick all the time . Please help him . ”

If an angel is found by the guild can he blame it on the monkey G.o.d? He followed Ruu while murmuring things Ruu didn’t understand .

Ruu invited the angel to his house where his grandfather was sleeping next to the fire .

Ruu invited the angel to his house where his grandfather was sleeping next to the fire .

“He’s got pneumonia on top of his cold . ” the man muttered while looking at Paas .

Ruu didn’t know what pneumonia was but it didn’t sound like a nice word .

He didn’t seem to do anything but the man turned to Ruu and said

“It’s all right now . ”

Looking at his grandfathers face Ruu could see that his face that had been scrunched up in pain now looked peaceful .

Before long Paas started snoring . He really seemed better .

“He’s lost a lot of strength . He should eat some nutritious food . Can you make some rice porridge with goats milk?”

“Thank you very much angel-sama!”

The man stops Ruu from prostrating himself on the floor .

“Can you sell me a cup of goats milk and some salt?”

Ruu quickly bought the jar of salt and some goats milk from the kitchen .

The man gave Ruu 3 silver coins and immediately drank the goat’s milk .

“I was so thirsty . I’m saved . Well then I better get going . Take care of yourselves!”

The angel gently pats Ruu’s head and disappears into the morning sun .

Not long after the angel left Paas gets up and eats 3 bowls of rice porridge made by Ruu .

He seems to be really healthy .

Ruu was really happy his grandfather was so energetic compared to yesterday .

Ruu had no way of knowing yet but in the future grandfather Pa.s.s would live to be over 150 and would become something of a celebrity known as old Paas .

Many times throughout his life Ruu would tell people the story of the angel with the 2 silver birds and monkey that saved his grandfather’s life .

Whenever people asked him what the angel looked like he would answer like this .

“He had a flat face . ” (2)

It became the legend of Macha village that a black haired, black eyed, flat faced angel cured illnesses there .

I have no idea what children think .

I child I met a while back called me an angel .

I have no idea what children think .

I child I met a while back called me an angel .

What part of me looks like an angel?

I wanted to ask him what part of me looked angelic but I didn’t have the time .

Perhaps I do look like an angel to innocent children .

More like a dirty fallen angel wearing a chast.i.ty belt and carrying a whip .

The wings on my back broke long ago .

If I’m an angel then pure boys like him should definitely have wings!

If wings really were attached then one day they will break just like mine did .

The world is not nice enough for an angel to live in .

Do boys that lose their wings become men?

While walking and pretending to be hard boiled I suddenly realised I had forgotten to buy vegetables .

I’m glad I got the salt and milk though .

That old man’s condition was terrible .

He’d have died in 2 to 3 days .

He had pneumonia as well as a host of other bad health issues .

I cured everything so he should be fine now .

I’m sure I did a good thing as he was looking after that small child .

He needs to raise that child for a while yet so he should live a good life now .

It wouldn’t surprise me if he didn’t live to a 100 now .

And the field became a mountain . (3)

After coming to a deserted place I started running again without looking back at the village .

(1) I guess she had no ulterior motive per se . She was simply a dom who thought she had found her sub .

(2) Not sure why the author thinks every non-asian person thinks asian people have flat faces . Strange .

(3) Basically, it means the future will take care of itself / what will be will be .