## Chapter 276 – Winter Sonata
There’s nothing as ominous as the sound of a mosquito’s wings buzzing in your ear.
Especially in the dead of night.
Of course, it was almost winter now, so mosquitoes were nowhere to be found, but that only meant that something as ominous as that buzzing was about to return.
An inhuman feeling suddenly jolted me awake.
It was still dark, so it seemed like it was still early morning.
This throbbing… this pounding… it’s definitely it.
It had arrived.
—Rustle.
I immediately got up and pulled back the curtains.
The world was still dark, but something pure white, ominous beyond measure, caught my eye.
“…Shit.”
So it finally came.
—The first snow was falling.
Falling, that goddamn piece of trash.
I went out onto the veranda and witnessed the nightmarish scene.
Slowly falling fragments of winter were painting the world white. In the end, winter in this other world, whether it was the third or fourth time, had returned.
—Silence.
The world was as silent as the cold that settled in, but my heart was as noisy as if I had been invited to a madman’s banquet, screaming in agony. Of course, this year might be okay, but I’m always afraid of winter and snow.
It was the same in the army, and even more so in this other world.
It’s an unpleasantness and fear almost imprinted in my instincts and genes.
“I’m screwed.”
Maybe this was just a nightmare, and if I took a nap and woke up, it would scatter and disappear like mist, as if the illusion had been broken. With that thought, I lay back down in bed and tried to fall asleep.
Of course.
The snow was real.
“Ugh…”
Hugging Claudie and stroking her genitals until morning came calmed me down quite a bit. Of course, I used my technique to avoid waking her up.
After a while, the world began to brighten.
“Katt…?”
Claudie got up, brushing her hair back.
“Claudie, look out the window.”
She got up and went to the veranda as I told her. Unlike the early morning, a cold wind blew in as she opened the window. Claudie glanced at the scene and said,
“It snowed?”
“What? You knew about snow?”
She knows about snow?
“Snow falls in the desert once in a while. Hmm, when was the last time I saw it… Thirty, ah. No. Katt. It snows in the desert too.”
I never knew that snow fell in the desert.
I naturally assumed that she had never seen snow, so I was going to act all smug and say, “Ah, this is snow,” and “It’s cold,” if Claudie was amazed, but it was all for naught.
“I see. I thought you’d be amazed…”
“Hmm…”
She thought for a moment and then smiled brightly.
“Wow, how amazing. Katt. What is this white stuff? Is it cold?”
And then she said that.
“It’s too late…”
I was openly disappointed.
“I’m kind of sorry… Want to touch my boobs?”
“Yes!”
As expected, her thoughtfulness was truly appreciated!
“It looks like it’s going to get cold soon. I don’t like it too cold. I prefer it hot.”
“Oh, I’m the opposite. It’s a cultural difference, after all.”
“But it’ll be okay this time. I can hug Katt when it’s cold.”
“Hehehe. Of course. I’m a human heater.”
Anyway, there are things you can only do in winter. I immediately headed to the shower room, washed my body with ice-cold water, and put on my gear.
I think I need to buy a new raincoat or cloak to wear over my gear when I go out.
The cloak I was wearing was already in tatters. Snow can damage gear quickly, so a cloak is essential in winter. I should buy one when I go to the Adventurer’s Guild.
“Claudie. I’m going out for a bit. Do you need anything?”
“You’re diligent even though it’s cold. Hmm… I don’t really need anything.”
“Okay. Then take care of Winnia. She’s still asleep.”
I put the tattered cloak over my shoulders and put on my hood. As soon as I went outside, snow began to pile up on my shoulders.
It’s an extremely unpleasant sensation.
Only kids who don’t know reality like snow. Humans become true adults by hating snow. The moment something you liked turns into something you hate, that’s the cruel boundary between child and adult.
“Ah, shit, it’s fucking cold.”
It was snowing more than I thought for the first snow, so the morning streets were already full of people shoveling snow. There were also many people moving around here and there.
I immediately headed to the Adventurer’s Guild.
—Buzzing.
As always, the guild was noisy in the morning.
When winter comes, there’s quite a bit of work to be done. Once the heavy snow starts, the guild arranges city snow removal work and gives various other tasks. I guess they’re in the middle of preparing for that.
All sorts of bums in the city are mobilized for snow removal.
That’s because they’ll starve to death or freeze to death in the winter if they don’t do that. Of course, I used to spend my winters doing that.
“Yo! Barbarian!”
Then, a familiar shout was heard.
“Oh! It’s Copson!”
Copson, his nose red from drinking since morning, waved at me with heightened excitement. It feels like it’s been a long time since I’ve seen this bastard.
I approached him.
“You son of a bitch, it’s good to see you. What have you been up to?”
“I followed the Holy Army and hunted heretics. I made quite a bit of money doing that, so I was on hiatus for a while. But when it snows, I start to feel like working.”
This bastard also participated in the Holy Army.
I ate a few pieces of his jerky and said,
“Really? I went too. I guess we were together somewhere while subjugating the heretics.”
“Hehehe, I guess so. Anyway, Barbarian. I have a good job for you. I was actually waiting here, hoping to find you.”
I’m grateful that he thinks so.
“Well, I guess that’s all you have to say. So what is it? Winter hunting?”
“That’s right.”
“Well, that’s all there is to do at this time of year.”
Winter hunting.
It’s a kind of culture formed among adventurers living in this other world. Just like creatures on Earth, some monsters in this other world hibernate in the winter.
Having violently gathered food until autumn, they dig burrows or enter caves to sleep for the winter.
Well, there are unique herbs, magical herbs, and fruits that only grow in winter, but it’s quite difficult to survive on those alone. So many monsters hibernate.
“Winter hunting… I haven’t done it much.”
“Hehehe, aren’t we veterans now? It’s time to get serious.”
Of course, the fact that monsters hibernate means they are at their ‘most vulnerable.’
There’s nothing easier than killing a sleeping enemy. Adventurers wouldn’t miss this opportunity, and they form groups to raid hibernating monsters in order to make a fortune this winter.
Some of them are quite powerful monsters, like Owlbears and Drakes. If you find their lair and succeed in hunting them, you can make quite a bit of money.
Of course, it’s also common for them to be killed by the awakened monsters and become food to help them spend the winter more comfortably.
However, there are always fools who dream of wealth and fame by venturing out against ‘weakened’ monsters.
Well, for that reason. There are such bonuses in the caves of hibernating monsters. The wealth of the already dead may be piled up.
Besides that, there are also guys who store food in many ways… If you go on a ‘winter hunt’ and find a monster, you won’t lose anything.
“Merchants have appeared who will buy Owlbear skins at a high price. It’s a winter fashion trend for the nobles, or something. So some fools are forming parties and trying to stir up the mountains. How about it? Shouldn’t we lend a hand?”
“Owlbears, my ass. Even if a truckload of rookies gather here, they’ll all be slaughtered.”
It’s a common occurrence.
Greed, overconfidence in one’s abilities, and the belief that they will somehow make it are the basic ideologies of ignorant adventurers.
I’ve seen the sight of those guys dying like dogs on Bok Nal dozens of times. I’ve seen many guys go on winter hunts and never return.
Adventurers jokingly say that snow maidens kidnap young adventurers. Of course, there are no snow maidens, and their insides were probably eaten by monsters.
“Truck? What’s that?”
“Ah.”
Sometimes my metaphors don’t work.
“Well, I’m saying that even if a bunch of little kids go, they’ll all be food. Isn’t it too much? Owlbears are fucking strong.”
Of course, I might be able to hunt Owlbears now that I’ve awakened my mana. After all, I have a trump card that has the power to cut down orcs.
Besides, I have a record of slaughtering hordes of fishmen.
But most adventurers don’t.
It seemed like Copson was too drunk and his confidence had skyrocketed. I’d feel really depressed if he went somewhere and died.
“It’s not something that ordinary guys can do. I think it’s better to just look for something else. Just don’t do it. You’ll die.”
“No way, the Barbarian is worried about me.”
Copson laughed and drank his beer.
As expected, ignorant adventurers think that alcohol raises their body temperature.
“I’m not worried, you bastard.”
“Well, don’t worry too much. There are a lot of people. Those murderous merchants have blown too much wind into the lungs of those foolish adventurers. I guess they’ll all die soon?”
Guys who just listen to other people’s stories and jump in are bound to die. But this other world is full of those idiots.
“If those guys wound the Owlbear and die, we can steal the wounded Owlbear and their wealth all at once.”
Hearing that made me laugh.
“Hehehe, you evil bastard. So that was your plan.”
“Hehehe. Do you understand me now, Barbarian?”
As expected, Copson is an otherworlder to the bone.
We laughed and talked about that. Certainly… winter hunting. It’s worth doing. Am I going to spend the winter shoveling snow at my level? And since the merchants are here, there will be things to make money from.
Now that I’ve come this far, I’m not just going to take the Owlbear skin that I might find. It’s a good opportunity to build up my record, as they’ll definitely put in a request through the guild as a matter of custom.
“Still, Owlbears are fucking scary. Let’s just look around and cut off the heads of the sleeping bastards. I’ll do that with you.”
It’s too risky to make Owlbears the main target.
“Tsk. You coward. Well, good. Let’s get back in sync. We just need to prepare for the cold and explore the mountains.”
“Who else is joining?”
I’ll ask Claudie and Winnie too.
“Well, since I and the Barbarian are here, we just need to find the right people. More than that… this fucking Barbarian has a lot of girlfriends, doesn’t he? There’s Claudie too.”
“I don’t know if they’ll join or not.”
“Hmm… well, I’ll find someone. Then, shall we have a drink?”
“Of course, you bastard!”
The guild was still noisy. There, I sat facing Copson and ordered beer and snacks. Then, we talked about what we’d been up to.
When I was moderately drunk, I got up from my seat.
Surprisingly, it was only a short time, not even an hour.
“Then… see you tomorrow, Barbarian.”
“If you sleep on the street, you’ll die, so go straight home.”
This bastard’s alcohol tolerance is so terrible that I can’t believe him.
But I’m too lazy to walk him home.
“Hehehe, what do you take me for? Well, I’m going in. See you tomorrow.”
“Okay.”
I parted ways with Copson and went outside. The snow… was still falling. As originally planned, I should buy a decent cloak and winter gear and go back. It takes a little preparation to climb the snowy mountains.
I’ll need gaiters too. Should I change my gloves?
The quilted armor is highly insulating, so it’s okay.
Let’s buy a neck warmer too.
