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Translated By Arcane Translations
Translator: FusionX
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This village looked like it belonged in a fairy tale.
I walked along the snow-cleared path, admiring the snow-covered town. Houses built of an unfamiliar type of wood, well-maintained roads bustling with people.
A majestic mountain range loomed in the distance. And the biting cold.
I pulled my coat tighter around myself and continued walking alongside Tom, who was grumbling beside me, towards an inn called “Wolf’s Rest.”
“This place is always freezing.”
“I heard it snows year-round.”
[Wow, it’s cold.]
“Tell me about it. My joints ache just being here.”
Tom rubbed his elbows and knees.
The cold would aggravate any existing joint pain. I wanted to get to the inn quickly and warm up.
While time was of the essence, I couldn’t ignore my companion’s discomfort.
“Take care of yourself. If you push yourself too hard when you’re young, you’ll end up like me, old and broken.”
“I’ll keep that in mind.”
Keeping it in mind was one thing, but I didn’t have much choice.
Considering the threat posed by Halphas, who had essentially become a mid-boss, the remaining two years of my academy life wouldn’t be easy.
Not only the Halphas Cult, but also that strange Agares Cult were causing trouble.
Perhaps they were all under Halphas’s control.
Did I really have to deal with all of them?
I was starting to feel like an exterminator.
If only it were that simple. I could just locate them and eliminate them.
Rip and tear, until it was done.
…No.
There was no point in dwelling on that.
Why was the world such a mess after I finally escaped the deserted island after ten years?
If things got really bad, should I just take the students and flee to a deserted island?
At least there, we could survive, regardless of what happened to the continent. Food wouldn’t be a problem.
“Here we are.”
“It’s…large.”
“Of course. It’s one of the best inns in town. Come on, let’s go inside. My toes are going numb.”
Tom opened the door and entered the inn as if he owned the place. I followed him inside, enveloped by a wave of warmth.
Just moments ago, I had thought I would freeze to death, but it was almost too warm in here. Like they had central heating.
“Ah, that’s better, isn’t it?”
“Indeed.”
I nodded, looking around the inn.
It was crowded. Mostly merchants, judging by the expensive clothing and the armored guards.
Were they all here to sell food?
I booked a room for two nights and sat down at an empty table, ordering a meal.
“This seems to be a popular spot for merchants.”
“If you’re looking for a decent inn in this town, it’s either this one or the Yeti’s Breath across the street. Or you have to settle for a smaller inn. This one is the most popular because it’s the largest and most visible.”
It was large, almost hotel-sized.
I would probably choose this inn as well, considering its size and reputation.
“So, what are your plans?”
“I’m going to visit the Explorers’ Guild.”
There wasn’t a Mages’ Guild in this town, so I would have to settle for the Explorers’ Guild. I had brought plenty of money, so bribing them for information shouldn’t be a problem.
Why did the phoenix have to be in the north at this time of year?
Couldn’t it have chosen a warmer location?
“I’m going to check on the horses. Make sure they’re alright.”
“I’ll see you later.”
“Tonight, we drink!”
Tom, ever the dedicated coachman, went to attend to his horses. I watched the bundled-up pedestrians through the window.
Despite the cold, the streets were lively. Like the days leading up to Christmas. Not exactly festive, but bustling with activity.
I wondered if the Explorers’ Guild would have any useful information.
While the phoenix’s existence wasn’t a secret, it was mostly treated as a legend. The information would likely be vague and unreliable.
Even in the original story, I had needed Principal Merlin’s help to find it.
I wanted to find it quickly, but I wasn’t optimistic.
…I had to try.
I looked at the warm food on the table and picked up my spoon.
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“A phoenix?”
“Yes. I’m looking for information on phoenixes.”
I presented my Explorers’ Guild identification and got straight to the point.
The receptionist looked thoughtful for a moment, then frowned and said,
“A phoenix… You mean the legendary divine beast? Hmm… I haven’t seen any recent sighting reports… Ah, but someone did report seeing a large fireball descending on the summit of Crevasse Mountain.”
“Are you certain?”
“Yes. I can’t confirm it was a phoenix, but it’s the closest match we have.”
“Anything else?”
“The sighting was reported a week ago.”
A week ago. It might still be there.
But Crevasse Mountain…that was deep within the mountain range.
I would have to climb the equivalent of Mount Everest.
“Thank you.”
“You’re welcome. Providing assistance to explorers is our duty.”
“Do you know any explorers familiar with that area?”
“It might be difficult to find anyone right now. It’s a…busy time.”
“Busy?”
What was happening?
I hadn’t been able to visit the north at this time of year in the original story, so I had no idea what she meant.
“The Tomb of the Ancient King has opened…”
“A dungeon?”
I had never heard of it. I thought I knew the names of almost every dungeon in the original story. Perhaps it wasn’t mentioned in the game.
“Yes. It’s quite famous. It opens around this time of year, so everyone is…preoccupied.”
A conditionally accessible dungeon that only opened during a specific time frame.
Those dungeons were usually quite lucrative. The monsters inside had plenty of time to…multiply. If you were strong enough, you could make a fortune.
“I see.”
But finding the phoenix was my priority. I couldn’t get sidetracked, no matter how intriguing the dungeon sounded.
I turned and left the Explorers’ Guild.
[This is getting boring.]
“The initial excitement fades with time.”
Karina’s face, however, never failed to amaze me. She was truly beautiful.
[Will there be anything interesting to see at…Crevasse…Mountain?]
“You’ll see plenty of frozen corpses.”
Mountains, especially snow-covered ones, were natural freezers. People could easily become popsicles. No one in their right mind would climb that mountain.
Unlike Earth, reaching the summit wouldn’t bring fame or glory. And with Yetis roaming around, what was the point?
But I had to reach the summit.
To meet the phoenix, which preferred high altitudes.
Damn bird.
Couldn’t it have chosen a lower elevation?
Cursing the phoenix under my breath, I made my way back to the inn. The streets were crowded. This area had a surprisingly high population density.
Perhaps that’s why this northern town felt so…prosperous, despite its harsh environment.
Lost in thought, I continued walking until I reached the inn. I opened the door and stepped inside, welcoming the warmth.
Ah, that was better.
[Are you cold?]
“Yes.”
[I wonder what ‘cold’ feels like.]
“You have tactile senses, don’t you?”
Wasn’t feeling cold part of the sense of touch?
[I don’t feel temperature.]
Chatting with Rue, my only companion, I reached my room, opened the door, and removed my coat. The room, like the dining hall, was pleasantly warm.
I wondered how they heated the building. I placed Rue on the table and lay down on the bed, staring at the wooden ceiling.
“I’m going to rest. You can…explore the room, or whatever. Just don’t leave.”
[Contractor, are you going to sleep?]
“I’m going to take a nap.”
There was nothing else to do.
Well, there was one thing, but I could do it later.
It wasn’t urgent. I didn’t have enough points, and there were no new missions.
Opening the status window would only serve to remind me of my current…situation.
I closed my eyes, thinking about the increasingly inactive mission window.
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