It looks like a town straight out of a fairy tale.
I admired the snow-covered city as I walked along the clear tiled path.
Unnamed wooden houses and well-maintained roads. People bustling about on the streets.
In the distance, the magnificent snow mountain.
And the biting cold that made me feel like my skin would freeze.
I tightened my clothes and headed to an inn called ‘Wolf’s Rest’ with Tom, who was grumbling next to me.
“It’s always freezing here.”
“I heard it’s a land where snow falls all year round.”
Brr, cold.
“Don’t even mention it! Every time I come here, it feels like my joints are freezing up!”
Tom was genuinely rubbing his elbows and knees as if they were aching. Well, I could imagine that the pain would be worse in such bone-chilling cold. So I thought about getting into the inn quickly to warm up.
Though time wasn’t plentiful, I couldn’t ignore the state of my companion.
“Take care of yourself, will you? If you roll around too much when you’re young, you’ll end up like a broken rock like me.”
“I’ll keep that in mind.”
Although ‘keeping in mind’ was one thing; I didn’t have that luxury.
Thinking about what kind of creature Harpas, who had unexpectedly become my mid-boss, was, it was certain my remaining two years at the academy would not be smooth sailing.
It wasn’t just the Halphas Cult; strange cults like the Agares Cult were also running rampant.
There was a chance that they all operated under Harpas’ command.
Do I really have to catch every single one of those bastards?
At this rate, I’m going to end up as a sell-out.
If that were the case, then great! I could just pinpoint their locations and rush in to wipe them out.
Slice and dice!
…Sigh. What’s the point of these thoughts?
After spending ten years escaping a deserted island, why was the world such a mess?
If it gets really bad, should I just take the kids and flee to a deserted island? At least there, it doesn’t matter if the continent crumbles; it’s survivable. There’s plenty of food there, if nothing else.
“Here we are.”
“It’s big.”
“Of course! It’s one of the most popular inns around. Now, hurry up and go inside. I feel like my toes are going to fall off.”
Tom opened the door as casually as if he were entering his own home and walked into the inn. Following him inside, I was enveloped by warm air.
Just moments ago, I thought I would freeze to death out there, but this place was surprisingly warm. It felt like they had a boiler running.
“What do you think? Better, right?”
“Yep.”
I nodded and glanced around the inn.
There were a lot of people. It seemed that there were merchants, with poshly dressed individuals and armored guards gathered everywhere. Were all these people here to sell food?
I reserved a room for two nights and sat at an empty table to order a meal.
“It seems a lot of merchants stay here.”
“If you’re looking for a good inn, it’s either this one or the Breath of the Ice Giant across the street, or you’d have to find a smaller inn. That’s why this place is popular. It stands out the most.”
I mean, it was so big it almost looked like a hotel.
Anyone would naturally choose this prominent and well-regarded inn.
“So, what are your plans?”
“I’m planning to head to the Explorer Guild first.”
Sadly, there was no Mage Guild in this town, so I was thinking of getting information from the Explorer Guild instead. I brought enough spare money, so if I slid them a gold coin or two, I could get some decent information.
Sigh. To think I ended up in the North at this time.
Would it be different if I were in a warmer place?
“Then I’ll go look at the horses. I need to check if they’re okay.”
“I’ll see you at dinner.”
“Looks like I can drink to my heart’s content today.”
Tom seemed ready to see the horses like a true coachman. I gazed through the window at the streets filled with people bundled up tightly against the cold.
Despite the chilly weather, the street had a lively atmosphere. It felt almost like the days just before Christmas. While not flashy, there was an air of vitality.
Still… I wonder if there will be any information at the Explorer Guild.
The existence of the Phoenix wasn’t exactly unknown, but it was mostly treated as a legend, so there were probably vague bits of information floating around.
In the original story, I barely managed to meet the Phoenix with Merlin’s help.
I’d like to meet it as quickly as possible, but I’m not sure if that’s feasible.
…Still, it’s worth a shot.
I picked up my spoon and looked at the warm food that was coming to the table.
—————-
“The Phoenix, you say?”
“Yeah. I want to get some information about the Phoenix.”
I pulled out my Explorer Guild Certification from my pouch and asked straightforwardly. The receptionist paused for a moment, then frowned as she replied.
“The Phoenix… that divine beast that’s only spoken of in legends? Hmm… I don’t think I’ve seen any sightings about that… Oh, but I did hear that someone saw a big fireball settling on the summit of the Crevasse Mountain Range.”
“Is that certain?”
“Yeah. I can’t be sure if it was the Phoenix, but that’s the only similar information I have.”
“Any other information?”
“Just that it’s a week-old rumor.”
A week? That means there’s a high probability it’s still lingering around the Crevasse Mountain Range.
But the Crevasse is… the deepest part of the snow mountain.
Am I going to have to climb it like I’m reaching the top of Everest or something?
“Thanks.”
“No problem. Providing convenience for explorers is part of our job.”
“Is there an explorer around who knows the paths well?”
“Probably not. It’s a busy time right now.”
“A busy time?”
What kind of event was happening around this time?
In the original story, I couldn’t come to the North during this period, so I had no idea what the receptionist was referring to.
“Yes. The Ancient King’s tomb has just opened.”
“A dungeon, huh.”
I hadn’t heard of such a dungeon before. I thought I remembered nearly all dungeon names from the original work, but their unfamiliarity hinted that it might not have been included in the original.
“Yes. It’s quite a famous dungeon. It opens around this time, so everyone’s in a frenzy.”
A conditional opening that occurs only for a certain period?
Those places usually had pretty decent loot. After being left alone for a long time, monsters would be packed inside. If you had the guts to hunt them, it could end up being quite profitable.
“Got it.”
But right now, prioritizing finding the Phoenix was more urgent; curiosity could be ignored. Without any hesitation, I turned to exit the Explorer Guild.
Yawn… and it’s getting duller as I continue to stare at it.
“Of course, after watching continuously, the initial excitement fades away.”
Even though Karina’s face was always impressive to see, it was stunning enough.
Hmm, Crevasse or whatever… I’ll probably see something fun at that mountain range.
“You’ll see some frozen corpses until you’re sick of it.”
What kind of snow mountain is that? It’s an environment where bodies can instantly become frozen. In reality, no one really wants to climb that mountain.
It’s not like climbing it grants you honor or any sense of achievement like on Earth, and it’s a world where monsters like the Yetis exist. What’s the point of reaching the summit?
Yet, I had to reach the summit.
To meet the high-flying Phoenix, I had to get to the mountain top.
Damn Phoenix. Can’t you live at a lower altitude or something?
I cursed the Phoenix silently as I moved toward the inn. The streets were brimming with people. Looks like this area has an incredible influx of people. Is that why it feels more prosperous for the Northern region, which is said to be barren?
I pondered these thoughts as I walked and soon spotted the inn where I would be staying. I opened the inn door and soaked in the warmth.
Finally feeling alive again.
“Cold?”
“Yep.”
“I’m curious what ‘cold’ feels like.”
“Don’t you have a sense of touch? Can’t you feel that?”
Isn’t feeling cold part of the tactile experience?
“I don’t really understand what hot or cold means.”
I engaged in idle chatter with Rue, my only conversation partner, as I headed upstairs. Opening the door, I took off my coat and hung it on the rack. The room felt just as warm as the dining area.
What on earth is warming this place? Thinking this, I tossed Rue casually onto the table and lay down on the bed. The wooden ceiling came into view.
“I’m going to rest for a bit, so feel free to explore the room or do whatever. Just don’t go outside.”
“Contractor, are you going to sleep?”
“I’m just going to close my eyes for a bit.”
Since there’s nothing to do anyway.
If I really think about it, there is one thing, but I can always do it after I wake up.
It’s not urgent. My points are running low. I have no new missions either.
The only thing I can open in my Status Window is to reflect on my specs.
I closed my eyes while recalling how I had been neglecting my mission window recently.
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