As Fabio awakens, Henwell also stirs and throws off his blanket, moving over to check on Fabio's condition.
He unties the rope from Fabio's hands, as well as the one tied around his own wrist. This rope served as a reminder for Henwell that Fabio had woken up. Henwell feels that he hasn't yet established trust with Fabio, so taking precautions is necessary.
Fortunately, Fabio is still groggy and doesn't notice Henwell's little setup.
Henwell gives him a sip of water, then places the pot of soup on the fire to heat.
After eating some food and drinking a large bowl of hot soup, Fabio remarks, "I never knew bean and meat soup could taste so damn good!"
Henwell laughs, "We'd rather not have too many of these revelations."
Once Fabio has dressed in his dried clothes, he stands and gives Henwell a formal noble gesture.
"Henwell, you saved my life. I swear by my family name, as long as I make it back alive, I will repay you."
Henwell doesn't overplay his role and quickly returns the gesture.
"Knight Fabio, you're too kind. We're comrades after all. Though I'm still young and can't fight on the battlefield (better to clarify this upfront to avoid being treated as cannon fodder), sharing this ordeal with a knight like you is an honor."
Fabio chuckles and pats Henwell on the shoulder, "Alright, little guy, no need to be so formal with me. So, where exactly are we now?"
Henwell picks up a stick from the ground and starts sketching a map.
"We're roughly in this area, about ten kilometers southwest of Fire Eyes City."
Looking at the simple map, Fabio comments, "We've strayed off the main path, so the enemy won't be searching here. With the snow falling so heavily, any tracks we left have been erased. It seems we can wait a bit before heading to the fourteenth outpost. There, we can get horses and soon make our way back to Wilderness City."
Henwell shakes his head, "No, we have to leave this morning. Even though we're exhausted, we can't afford to stop. The allied forces will definitely destroy several outposts along the way. They must completely sever the supply route between Wilderness City and Kuka City."
"With the heavy snow, even if reinforcements arrive, they'll need to re-establish supply lines. This gives them enough time to trap the hundred thousand allied troops. So, they'll definitely target the supply stations. If we delay, we might get stuck there."
Fabio looks at Henwell curiously, "How did you figure all this out?"
Henwell's heart skips a beat, but he maintains a calm demeanor, "I don't have that kind of skill; Mr. Kavize told me all this."
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Fabio nods lightly, aware that Kavize is no ordinary person, and has no reason to doubt Henwell's explanation.
Suddenly, Fabio remembers something.
"Speaking of Kavize, where is he? And why do you have his weapon?"
Henwell's eyes redden.
"Mr. Kavize has fallen. When I found him, he's already dead. I can only take his weapon; I can't even bring his body with me."
This is the story Henwell plans in advance, practicing it several times. Each time, he forces himself to think of his parents from both lives to make his eyes genuinely redden.
If he says he got separated from Kavize, it would be hard to explain why he has Kavize's weapon. These are personal weapons, not something a follower would carry. So, it must be that he takes it from Kavize's body.
Now Fabio believes Henwell's story and gently pats his head, offering comfort. "From now on, stick with me."
Damn! That's exactly what Henwell is waiting for!
After packing their belongings, the two set out once more into the heavy snow.
This time, they are better prepared. Their boots are suitable for walking in the snow, preventing it from getting inside. Their clothing is highly wind-resistant and warm, eliminating the risk of hypothermia.
Last night, Fabio seemed like he was on the brink of death, but today he's full of energy, ready to hit the road again.
Although he's not at the level of a knight, his physical fitness far surpasses that of an average person, which explains his quick recovery.
Henwell can't help but feel envious; if he were a true knight, he'd be akin to a superhuman from his past life.
While Fabio has great stamina, Henwell has the advantage of experience in traveling through snow, thanks to his past life.
This way, they manage to keep pace with each other as they trek through the snow.
They trudge through the snow for an entire day before finally reaching the fourteenth outpost. There, they find many scattered soldiers, though their condition is dire, and it's uncertain if they'll survive until the next day.
Fabio and Henwell rest for only a few hours before setting off again at midnight on two mules. Fabio could have requisitioned warhorses, but Henwell advises against it, saying that warhorses are too delicate for the harsh snowy conditions.
What they need is endurance, not speed, making mules the perfect choice.
Even at a slower pace, riding is faster than walking, and by dawn, they reach the next outpost. After a brief rest and switching to fresh mules, they continue their journey.
This time, when they pass the twelfth outpost in the afternoon, they don't even stop. Instead of heading to the next outpost, they detour to a hideout Kavize had left behind to rest for the night, wary of being pursued by allied forces.
Their precaution pays off. By the next morning, the allied forces still haven't reached their location. Clearly, the severe weather has also greatly hindered the enemy's progress.
In the end, Henwell and Fabio return to Wilderness City safe and sound, without any major incidents.
Afterward, Fabio tells Henwell how narrowly they avoid being caught by the pursuing allied forces. If they had lingered even a bit longer at the first hideout, they would have been unable to escape. It's clear they have narrowly escaped death.
A few days later, the casualty report for the Silent Battle Axe Legion is completed. Out of the seven thousand soldiers, fewer than a thousand have returned. Among the nobles and officers, less than a fifth have made it back. Essentially, the Silent Battle Axe Legion is now just a shadow of its former self.
However, the allied forces' report doesn't reflect such heavy losses. They only list over a thousand deaths, while the rest are marked as missing.
This is partly to maintain appearances and partly to cut costs. Compensation for the deceased is quite high, but if they're missing, the expenses are significantly reduced.
Henwell is well aware of this manipulation, but it doesn't concern him directly. His priority now is to eat well and grow stronger. At the same time, he needs to contemplate his next steps and plan for the future.