Chapter 986 – 986. Yggdrasil (7)
“Oh, oh! Thank god! You too…”
Midwinter smiled brightly at me…
“… There was more.”
His expression changed to a sad look as he looked behind me.
I turned my head and checked where Midwinter’s eyes were directed.
At that place…
“I’m glad I’m not alone.”
Namgung Yuha was standing quietly with a smile.
Midwinter sighed at Namgung Yuha’s words and lowered her head.
“Iknow, right. “I’m so glad I’m not ‘alone.'”
“…”
Why is he doing this?
Midwinter, who had been smiling brightly earlier, suddenly let out a voice full of dissatisfaction.
I sighed at the midwinter attitude and looked around.
A wind so cold that it is difficult to endure without a coat.
A dark forest with a visibility of only 10 meters.
And…
“It looks like the three fell apart.”
There was no mid-spring or mid-autumn with Min Ha-yeon.
It seems that Namgung Yuha and I were tied up together like in the middle of winter and moved to another place.
At that moment, Armonia’s voice was heard through the communication.
[As Suho said, the three are together.]
Thanks to Armonia, I felt at ease.
However, unlike me, who was relieved, Namgung Yuha looked around with an expression full of worry.
“I’m sure it’s the skills of the three of you, so it’ll be okay… I’m worried.”
And the middle of winter, as if agreeing with those words, with a tearful face.
“Ha… If all three of us are separated…”
Unlike me, who knows the exact situation, the two people will inevitably be worried.
Even once you enter the Mountain of Darkness, you cannot leave until it is cleared.
The story was that there was no way for the two people to know the situation of Min Ha-yeon and her group.
‘But that doesn’t mean I can tell you the whole truth.’
There is no problem in saying that the three people are safe.
The problem was that I could check the appearances of the three people at will.
This was because there was no reason to look favorably on surveillance and wiretapping all year round.
‘Because Midwinter has not yet joined. It would be better to hide it.’
I pretended to understand the current situation and reassured them.
“You don’t have to worry too much. The three of you will stick together just like us.”
After hearing what I said, Namgung Yuha and Midwinter nodded and answered.
“There’s no way we’re the only ones stuck together like this.”
“But… And with your skills, you don’t have to worry…”
After putting the two of them at ease, I took a step toward the darkness and spoke.
“Let’s leave quickly.”
“Yes.”
“Yes.”
The two people nodded and started following me.
.
.
A mountain covered in darkness.
The visibility was about 10 meters, making it difficult to see, and it was so cold that even with a coat on, you could feel the chill.
Please note, that was just a first impression, and there was a bigger problem.
‘The lantern I brought with me is useless.’
She couldn’t use the lantern she had packed before entering the Dark Mountain.
No, all the consumables I brought in my inventory were prohibited from being used.
Starting with the lantern, potions… I couldn’t even take out my disposable sleeping bag.
‘Still, I’m glad I can see some of the surroundings.’
The good news is that it is brightly visible up to a 10-meter radius.
It didn’t feel like the surroundings were dark.
‘It’s like a game.’
It felt like I had entered a game that was designed to be invisible beyond a certain distance.
Fortunately, the road to the destination itself was not difficult.
‘Once you get to the top, you will find the answer.’
Since you have entered the mountain, it is natural to head to the top.
We started climbing the mountain right away.
Although visibility was poor, it wasn’t particularly difficult.
First, the slope of the mountain was gentle, so there was no difficulty climbing it.
Although it was a dirt road, there was a mountain path, so there was no need to worry about getting lost.
However, if it had progressed this easily, it would not have been called the infamous mountain of darkness.
Namgung Yuha, who was following me, grabbed my sleeve and said with a serious expression.
“Mr. Suho… Before…”
The darkness obscured the view, but it seemed it couldn’t stop Namgung Yuha’s quick steps.
Shortly after we stopped, we started hearing sounds out of the darkness.
Purr!
Strong Tourezil.
With snort spewing out as if spitting out pure white fire…
“There is no way there is nothing.”
A huge Minotaur appeared through the darkness.
He was approximately 8 meters tall, and one blade of the huge double-edged ax he was holding was large enough to rival an adult man.
In terms of the atmosphere it gave off, it was similar to the gargoyles and trolls I saw in the 3rd floor dungeon.
No, the Minotaur I met on the Mountain of Darkness…
Mmmm!
It rushed forward with a much more bloody atmosphere than a gargoyle or troll.
Speed that doesn’t match its huge size.
I quickly took out Death Scythe from my inventory and shouted.
“For now, I will deal with it alone!”
Namgung Yuha and Midwinter flinched when they heard my command, then nodded and stepped back.
The members also know this.
I know I’m not just overdoing it…
‘The first thing to do is to understand the level.’
With that thought in mind, I rushed towards the charging Minotaur.
The Minotaur did not show any surprise even though the distance suddenly narrowed…
Whoa!
I swung the ax with all my might as if I wanted to split a rock.
Fast speed and agility not befitting his size.
I swing a huge ax like that…
Kwaaaaang!
I blocked it with Death Side.
‘The muscles are strong.’
Namgung Yuha could be stopped, but Midwinter was such a force that it seemed difficult to stop.
The Minotaur swung the ax again, paying no heed to the sight of me blocking it.
Whoa! Kwaaang!
After that, a fierce fight began as if yellow fireworks were exploding.
Strength, agility, reflexes.
Everyone was excellent.
But unfortunately, even though he had such outstanding skills…
‘It’s weak.’
Unfortunately, the standard of skill was that of an ordinary summoner.
It seemed like an ordinary summoner would need at least three people to catch this guy.
For reference, the standard for 3 people was based on the rulers on the 3rd floor.
‘Still, he’s definitely a guy with an impact.’
After engaging in a close fight with the Minotaur for about 3 minutes, I activated [Power of Death].
Tattoos resembling fine roots began to appear on the Minotaur’s body.
After choosing the line I like best among those lines…
Shoot!
I scraped it away with Death Side.
With the trajectory of the red crescent moon…
Kwaaaaang!
The Minotaur’s body collapsed to the ground.
And the Minotaur’s other body part, the head…
Boom!
It fell in front of my body when I landed.
I took a deep breath as I looked at the cow’s head as big as my body.
“Phew…”
The huge body and head of the Minotaur fell down with a sigh and quickly crumbled into powder and disappeared.
What I felt after fighting was simple.
‘It’s easy to have one.
I fought for about 3 minutes to figure out the level, but in reality, one hit was enough.
I lightly turned back and opened my mouth.
“At this level, even two people can fight…’
I was going to say that at this level, it would be enough to fight Namgung Yuha and Midwinter.
But when I saw the expressions on the two people’s faces, I stopped what I was going to say and asked.
“Why are you doing that?”
Namgung Yuha and Midwinter had stiff expressions.
At first, I was worried that something had gone wrong while I was fighting…
“For such a size and such speed…”
“Plus, he’s so strong that even if he gets hit just once, he’ll go for the goal…”
To these two people, the Minotaur’s level seemed completely different from what I thought.
‘… I had no idea how to use side techniques.’
Side level of 55 and new level weapon Death Scythe.
Because of these two things, I felt bored while fighting the Minotaur.
However, the two people watching them fight didn’t seem to be bored.
“You are truly amazing. “I can’t believe you take on such a monster alone with ease.”
Namgung Yuha was okay because he had some skill, but…
“…”
Midwinter seemed a little discouraged by the sight of the monster.
I spoke in a roundabout way to reassure this midwinter.
“Next time we meet, I will fight you from the front, so you two can attack from behind.”
Even in the middle of winter, when I was anxious at first…
“Yeah, okay.”
He immediately relaxed his expression at my words and nodded.
It seemed that no matter how strong the monster the opponent was, he decided that it was worth taking charge of the back.
But I looked at Midwinter, whose expression had cleared, and explained it as if warning.
“Even if you attack, attack from behind when they are not holding weapons. Avoid the one holding the weapon at all costs.”
“Yeah, okay.”
Midwinter nodded cooler than I expected.
‘I thought you were going to complain and tell me not to nag…’
Did you come to your senses before entering the Dark Mountain, or did you come to your senses after seeing the fight scene earlier? .
I couldn’t figure out which of the two was the correct answer.
But seeing that mid-winter scene…
‘I will listen well.’
The journey didn’t seem that difficult.
I nodded as I looked at Namgung Yuha and Midwinter who were waiting for me.
“Now, let’s start again.”
“Yes.”
“Yes.”
After hearing the two people’s firm answers, I started moving ahead again.
.
.
I encountered monsters all along the way.
The meeting time lasts approximately 15 minutes.
And the Minotaur was not the only type of monster.
Kieeek! Kuuuuung!
Ice Drake collapsed in front of me, rolling his eyes.
I was convinced as I watched the Ice Drake disappear into ashes.
‘There’s only one that comes out. And they are all at the level of the Minotaur.’
It felt like a boss fight rush.
Actually, it was the most convenient method for me.
It’s weak or strong, but it’s a one-shot cut anyway.
But even though I blocked the monsters’ attacks, I never attacked them.
The reason was simple.
“1 minute… It’s much faster than before.”
It was to match Namgung Yuha and Midwinter.
The battle that initially took 3 to 5 minutes was now shortened to 1 minute.
‘The shortening is faster than I thought. Should we let them fight in person?’
Attacking from the rear did not necessarily mean it was safe.
Monsters aren’t stupid either.
No matter how much aggro is drawn from the front, if damage comes from the back, it will attack the back.
The representative monster was the Ice Drake we fought just now.
Attack using the tail.
Namgung Yuha and Midwinter attacked the Ice Drake while dodging its freely swinging tail.
In that situation, it took 1 minute.
“The two of you fit well together.”
The two weren’t meant to be together from the beginning.
After fighting a few times, we talked to each other and gradually came together.
For reference, it was Namgung Yuha who put the sum together.
“It’s thanks to Mr. Winter’s active work.”
Namgung Yuha was superior to Midwinter in every way.
Skills, personality, and…
“If it wasn’t for Mr. Winter, she wouldn’t have caught it so quickly.”
Even the mentality of being considerate of others.
After hearing Namgung Yuha’s words, Midwinter crossed her arms and answered bluntly.
“If I had done it alone… “I wouldn’t have caught it at all.”
Unlike Namgung Yuha, who treated him coldly, Midwinter responded coldly.
At first, it seemed like she just hated Namgung Yuha…
‘… It looks a bit dangerous.’
=====
[Increasing chill (chill 70)]
=====
Looking at the temperament window in the middle of winter, she could tell that was not the case.
Midwinter was not in a position to smile and reply to Namgung Yuha’s compliments.
“Hmm…”
Midwinter with her arms crossed and her body shivering.
When I saw that mid-winter scene, I immediately cast fire magic.
Grumbling!
A fireball the size of a basketball.
I took that fireball right in front of Midwinter, who was rubbing his hands.
An expression that becomes even more subdued by the flames.
However, unlike his calm expression, he complained as if he was refusing.
“I told you. Don’t waste mana…”
“Because it’s okay. Come closer.”
“…”
“Come on.”
Midwinter approaches with his lips pouting at my coercive words.
However, even though the lips were pouting in the middle of winter, the smile was calm.
“Yuha, please come too.”
“Yes.”
So we gathered around the fireball I created and started moving forward.
As I cuddled up next to him and watched the coming midwinter, I started to feel worried.
‘I need to solve this somehow…’
I already knew about the cold debuff that midwinter has.
And I was prepared before coming in.
An item called Hwajeong’s Water Drop and a hand warmer.
I thought that I would be able to overcome the chill to some extent.
But unfortunately…
“Ban on the use of consumables… It’s too harsh.”
As Namgung Yuha said, consumables could not be used here.
Lanterns, potions… I couldn’t even take out the hand warmers.
At least, I was able to prevent the chill debuff from accumulating due to the heat generated during the intense battle and the fireballs I created.
The biggest problem is…
“I can’t see a safe zone.”
It was a dragonfly.
‘Food is a problem, but sleep is the most important.’
Since coming here, I have not seen a safe zone even once.
Okay… I could roughly understand that there was no safe zone.
The problem is…
“Do I really have to stay homeless like this?”
“Hmm…”
The fact was that sleeping bags and tents could not be used because they were treated as consumables.
In fact, the reason Namgung Yuha was worried about homelessness was not because of inconvenience.
“Winter, don’t look at me and stick to the fire a little longer.”
“Ugh… Yes.”
It was because I was worried about the middle of winter accompanying me.
And that worry was the same for me.
I was worried as I watched the midwinter shivering as I warmed my hands in the fireball.
‘I think it would be really dangerous to sleep without a sleeping bag and tent…’
If you live outdoors in this weather, you will 100% die in midwinter.
Not because my will is weak, but because of the chill debuff…
It was a moment when I proceeded with such concern.
“Uh… ? Mr. Suho.”
At Namgung Yuha’s call, I immediately turned off the fireball and took a stance.
But Namgung Yuha stopped me and spoke urgently.
“It’s not a monster.”
“Then… ?”
Namgung Yuha smiled softly and continued speaking.
“There is a place that is blocked by my steps.”
A place blocked by Namgung Yuha’s Balcheonbo.
In other words…
“Safe zone!?”
Like the cheers of midwinter, there was a high possibility that it was a safe zone.
We immediately started running towards the darkness.
And not long after…
“It’s a safe zone!”
I was finally able to arrive at the first safe zone.
Midwinter, smiling brightly and jumping into the safe zone.
But the smiling face of midwinter…
“No, what is this…” .”
It disappeared along with the warning window that appeared in front of my eyes.
〈(n/3) tents will be provided depending on the number of people (n) entering.〉
〈Food for (n/3) people will be provided depending on the number of visitors (n).〉
〈The safe zone will be maintained for (9/n) hours depending on the number of people (n) entering.〉
…
…
