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Translated By Arcane Translations
Translator: FusionX
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[Contractor, the atmosphere here is strange.]
“You don’t have to tell me.”
“Hmm, did something happen?”
We murmured our observations, taking in the unsettling atmosphere of Wendigo Village.
It was impossible to ignore.
People walked with downcast faces, others conversed in hushed, serious tones, and some stared worriedly towards the mountains. The entire village seemed shrouded in apprehension.
What should I do? Start by gathering information? But I was here to find the phoenix, not solve local mysteries.
While the situation was concerning, I should briefly investigate and, if it wasn’t a major issue, focus on my primary objective.
However, my intuition screamed that this atmosphere was connected to the phoenix.
“Let’s find out what’s going on.”
“Do you know anyone here?”
It was unlikely the locals would confide in outsiders. Ignoring the occasional wary glance, we left the horse and carriage at the stable and headed deeper into the village.
“What if it really collapses…?”
“If it gets buried in snow like decades ago, we’re finished.”
“Why was there an explosion at the summit…?”
“Could the Wendigo have awakened?”
Eavesdropping on the hushed conversations of the locals, dressed in clothing reminiscent of Eskimo attire, confirmed that something serious had indeed occurred.
They seemed to be arguing about whether a creature called a Wendigo had awakened.
Well, it wasn’t my concern.
My priority was persuading the phoenix to join the fight against Halphas.
…But I should confirm one thing.
“Tom. Do you know anyone in this village?”
“I know someone, but I’m not sure if they’re still here.”
An ambiguous answer.
So even Tom wasn’t certain about his acquaintance’s whereabouts.
Understandable in a world without phones, where long absences made it difficult to track people, especially with the high mortality rate.
I pushed aside my disappointment and surveyed the surroundings. Compared to Snowville, this village was noticeably less developed.
It felt like a remote, mountain village.
[Contractor, those people look like outsiders, like us.]
There were other outsiders here?
I followed Rue’s gaze and observed the group she indicated. They wore thick winter clothing and carried equipment resembling mountaineering gear.
Were there mountaineers here too?
Maybe I should talk to them.
“Tom. I’m going to speak with them for a moment.”
“I’ll go look for White Frost. Let’s meet back at the square.”
A clear division of labor. I walked briskly towards the group of outsiders. As I approached, they looked at me with a mixture of curiosity and caution.
“You look like an outsider, like us.”
“You can tell?”
“It’s obvious, isn’t it?”
“Fair enough.”
Three men and two women.
An odd group for climbing the treacherous mountain range looming before us. I noticed the badges on their chests and pulled out my own identification.
“It’s good to meet fellow members of the Explorers’ Guild.”
“Oh, you’re a guild member.”
Their demeanor softened noticeably. The shared affiliation seemed to ease their wariness. This allowed me to ask the question weighing on my mind.
“Is there a dungeon nearby? The village atmosphere seems…tense.”
“There’s no dungeon. However…the village hired our White Wolf exploration team. They want us to investigate the Wendigo.”
Ah, an exploration team.
“The Wendigo…?”
“What, you didn’t come here to investigate it? There’s no other reason to visit this remote place—”
“I’m here for personal reasons.”
“I see. Well, I hope you find what you’re looking for.”
The White Wolf team, having fulfilled the basic courtesy expected of fellow guild members, bid farewell and departed.
Tch.
I wanted more information.
Still, this was a significant discovery.
I now had a better understanding of the situation.
“…Wendigo.”
[What’s that?]
“Probably a monster.”
Or perhaps some kind of…phenomenon.
I looked up at the towering mountain range, its peaks obscured by clouds.
My scattered thoughts hadn’t yet formed a coherent theory, but some of my guesses might be true.
“Perhaps our paths will cross again.”
Maybe we were searching for the same thing.
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“White Frost is dead.”
Tom’s voice, usually cheerful, was heavy with grief.
Arriving in his friend’s village only to hear of his death…it was understandable he was upset.
“My condolences.”
“It’s alright. It’s been fifteen years since I last saw him. It was bound to happen eventually… Did you find the information you were looking for?”
“More or less.”
“Good. So, when are you leaving?”
“Tomorrow morning.”
“Prepare yourself thoroughly. The mountain weather has been especially harsh lately… I’m going to head up first.”
It was best to leave him alone. I watched Tom ascend the inn stairs, then finished my meal.
It wasn’t as good as the food at the upscale inn in Snowville, but it was edible.
I stood up and left the inn. Sharing a room with Tom felt…inappropriate right now. A man grieving the loss of a friend needed space.
Besides, I needed to gather as much information as possible before leaving tomorrow.
A walk around the village would help digest my meal and potentially yield some useful intel.
[Contractor, what’s that?]
“A sled.”
In a place like this, with constant snowfall, sled dogs were probably more efficient than horses.
I observed the dogs tethered to the sled.
Or were they wolves?
They were larger than most large dog breeds.
Yet, their panting tongues and wagging tails made them look…cute. It was amusing how dog-like they remained, regardless of size.
[C-Contractor! It’s looking at me!]
“Perhaps it finds your tentacles appetizing.”
[Noooooooo!]
She reacted quite strongly to my joke.
I glanced at the dog or wolf which seemed genuinely curious, and patted Rue, who was squirming frantically at my belt.
“Calm down. It’s tied up. It can’t reach you.”
[Really? Are you sure?]
“Yes. Now hold still.”
It looked large enough to swallow a human head whole, but there was no need to panic. I waited for Rue to calm down, then continued my walk.
I hadn’t even completed half a circuit of the village yet.
…The atmosphere here was truly depressing.
The further I walked into the village, the darker the expressions of the residents became.
Was the Wendigo really that dangerous?
I didn’t recall hearing about it in the game.
…But the original story didn’t feature this village, so I had no frame of reference.
Lost in thought, I continued walking.
“Young man, come here.”
“…Me?”
An old woman, older than anyone I had ever seen, sat in a rocking chair, beckoning me over.
Why was a local calling out to me?
Curious, I approached her.
“You have a peculiar soul.”
…Definitely not an ordinary old woman.
I decided to play dumb and probe further.
“Is that so?”
“It’s…foreign. Yet, you’ve lived here for a long time… Ten years is practically a lifetime here. You’re one of us now, aren’t you?”
“…You’re perceptive.”
I wanted to talk to her longer.
[What? What’s going on?]
“A sentient grimoire… You’re quite the oddity yourself.”
The nameless old woman’s piercing blue eyes met mine. Eyes that seemed to hold unfathomable depths, seeing right through me.
Strangely, her gaze wasn’t unpleasant.
It wasn’t malicious or calculating. It was warm, like a grandmother looking at her grandchild.
“Who are you?”
“They call me Seeing Bird. I’m the village chief, though my abilities are fading.”
“You seem quite capable to me.”
“Ho ho, you flatter me. It’s cold out here. Come inside.”
I followed the old woman as she rose, leaning on a staff that had been propped against her chair. A fragrant aroma filled the house as I stepped inside.
Was she burning incense?
“Sit. I’ll make some tea—”
“Thank you.”
“Such polite manners.”
[What a strange person.]
Indeed.
While the chief prepared tea, I quietly observed the house. It was filled with various household items and decorations. Dried meat hung from strings attached to the ceiling.
It felt…lived in.
“It’s been a long time since I’ve had tea with an outsider.”
“I imagine you get many visitors.”
“I used to. But I’ve mostly retired from my duties as chief. I’m old now. It’s almost time for me to be buried in the snow.”
Her voice was calm, even when speaking of her own death.
Was this the wisdom of age?
I took a sip of the fragrant tea and spoke.
“You seem quite healthy.”
“Ho ho, I’ve taken good care of myself.”
“I see.”
“Did you come alone?”
“I have a companion.”
“He seems burdened by grief. Comfort him well.”
How much could she see?
Impressed by her insight, I asked,
“Can you see the future?”
“That is not granted to mortals. But I can make…educated guesses.”
“Could you perhaps share some of your insights?”
“I could, but it might not be beneficial for you. Hasty assumptions can lead to great misfortune.”
“A pity.”
“Wise decision.”
If she put it that way, I couldn’t press further. Perhaps I should ask about something else.
I considered my options, then decided to inquire about the Wendigo, the topic currently dominating the village gossip.
“Could you tell me about the Wendigo?”
“It’s an old legend passed down in this village. Long ago, an explorer and a native joined forces to defeat a monster called the Wendigo, and they founded this village on this spot. The defeated Wendigo is said to be hiding in the mountains, waiting for an opportunity for revenge. Rumors of its return surface periodically, but don’t pay them much mind. It’s just something people talk about when they get bored. Life in this village can be dull.”
“It sounds like a fairy tale.”
“Ho ho, indeed.”
A fictional monster, or a real one?
In a fantasy world, the latter was entirely possible. Though it didn’t seem directly relevant to me.
“I gather you didn’t come here seeking the Wendigo… Are you here to meet the one who resides on the summit?”
“…Yes.”
She knew about the phoenix too? Perhaps she had known I would pass by her house and had been waiting for me.
“Fill your pack well. It will be an arduous journey.”
“Thank you for the advice. Do you have any other words of wisdom?”
“What happens next depends on your actions… There’s nothing more I can say. Ah, but there is one more thing.”
A mischievous smile played on the old woman’s lips.
“Be wary of your fortune with women. It could become a misfortune.”
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