Chapter 1030 – (Side Story)08. A Witch’s First Love (5)
Preparations have been completed to head to the snowy mountainous region of the Kurdel Mountains.
“… “There are so many?”
“Of course.”
The entrance to the main gate leaving the city.
The adventurer party members and Illyana’s faces hardened when they saw the enormous size of backpacks that Eunhyeon had left on the floor.
Even so for Illyana, the amount of baggage Eunhyeon carried was beyond imagination, to the point where even adventurer parties with experience in external expeditions or explorations were shocked.
“Even with the tents and household necessities needed for camping… “I think this is too much.”
All party members nodded as if agreeing with the leader’s words.
“It is a necessary preparation.”
“But isn’t this much luggage rather inefficient for marching long distances?”
“You could buy daily necessities at a village you pass by…”
At least those who have been active so far have done that.
The essential necessities that must be used while going on a long-term expedition were minimized and fatigue incurred during the trip was minimized as much as possible.
The basic method is to purchase the necessary consumables and daily necessities at the village you will stop by for a rest while moving, and to minimize the weight of your luggage while moving.
“…”
The attention of the adventurer party members and Illyana was focused on Eunhyeon.
There was a light of disbelief in their eyes.
The preparations for expeditions and explorations, which are the most basic things for adventurers, are so poor. Even though I spent a lot of money hiring a guide, can I really trust them?
‘Also… Wasn’t it just that they hired it blindly because it was cheap?’
There is a reason why it is cheap.
Whether it is an object or a person.
That theory is like the most deeply held truth among adventurers.
This is because purchasing and hiring more expensive weapons and armor, and more expensive adventurers, brings corresponding performance and results.
However, despite the distrustful gaze, Eunhyeon smiled and persuaded the adventurers.
“If I were in an ordinary place, I wouldn’t have prepared this much luggage. Where are we headed?”
“… It’s the Kurdel Mountains.”
“You’re right. The snowy mountainous area of the Kurdel Mountains is a very rough terrain compared to other terrain.”
Steep mountain ranges and a climate that easily dips below freezing.
A fierce wind that threatens to tear one’s skin and snowflakes that impede movement.
There is a reason why even adventurers avoid requests from snowy mountain areas.
Compared to the effort and hardship that must be put in, the reward is very small.
Of course, it is said that you can get relatively high rewards and generous points from the guild compared to quests in other regions, but even so, you may wonder, ‘I worked so hard, and this is all I can get? This is because a person’s psychology of ‘I would rather not do it’ is revealed through their actions.
“That is why the number of adventurers visiting the Kurdel Mountains can never be large. “Can we really provide proper supply in such terrain?”
“…”
“That’s the kind of terrain we’re going to. You may be able to rest and get the necessities you need in a nearby village. However, it is best not to assume that those daily necessities will be in good condition.”
All daily necessities handled there are only meant to play a minimal role.
These were made by the villagers with a small amount of work and with a small supply of materials, or were sold to the village as used items by other adventurers when they left after completing their requests.
Can we really say that these items are in good condition?
“You probably can’t expect much other than providing a minimum amount of food.”
The adventurers and Illyana could not refute Eunhyeon’s confident explanation.
Those words were truly advice and explanations that came from experience.
She saw, heard, and felt it herself, and because of that, she suggested a more efficient solution.
Eunhyeon decided that it would be better to use a little more budget and set off with the necessities needed for the expedition in advance.
Persuasion based on solid evidence and experience was enough to convince the adventurers.
“I see.”
The leader nodded.
The doubt in my eyes had disappeared before I knew it.
Although this adventurer party, including myself, is going through the silver level promotion review, they are still adventurers of the same level.
Although I managed to gain experience and survive by rolling on the floor, there were still many times when my lack of insight and judgment led me to do things wrong.
From a leader’s perspective, Eunhyun’s insight and experience were respected.
At least it means that he has experienced this snowy mountain area several times and has survived until now.
The look of disbelief at having lost money by being lured in at a low price disappeared immediately.
“Sorry. “We were short-thinking.”
“No. It’s okay. Now, please load the wagon.”
Eunhyeon smiled and pointed to the carriage that had been waiting at the front gate.
“That carriage…”
“I purchased it in advance. “It would be very difficult to head to the Kurdel Mountains on foot while carrying this much luggage.”
If you walk, it will take over a month.
Illyana, who had a deadline for submitting an external evaluation, had to finish work at least a day early, so she planned to use the remaining budget to purchase a carriage from the beginning, but for adventurers, the purchase of a carriage itself was a great luxury, so it seemed surprising. .
“I will drive the horse. Then shall we leave?”
That’s how Illyana’s first expedition to the Kurdel Mountains began.
◆ ◆ ◆
The journey itself to the Kurdel Mountains by carriage was not that difficult.
Just drive on the road all day, and when the night comes as the sun sets.
Let the tired horses rest and set up camp.
After sleeping out in the open, I pull a carriage again and run on the road.
The tedious journey of repeated running like that had reached 6 days.
“It was faster than expected.”
By shortening the day, she was able to set foot in the snowy mountainous region of the Kurdel Mountains.
“… “It’s cold.”
Illyana shivered as the chill covered her entire body.
The wind seemed to cut into her skin like a knife, and the air coming in with each breath was cold, as if it would freeze her lungs.
“If she hadn’t taken precautions against the cold, she would have been in real trouble.”
One party member was trembling as she stroked his arms with both hands.
The sight of her trembling with a large shield on her back was almost comical as it looked like a giant, strong as a stone statue, yet trembling.
But no one blamed him for being so shaken.
The situation of all party members was not much different from his.
It was just as the adventurer said.
If they had not taken proper cold protection measures, they would not have had an easy time maintaining their body temperature due to the rapidly dropping temperature here.
“I had no idea it would be this bad.”
Eunhyeon’s prediction was accurate.
In villages that still maintained a perfect climate, it was impossible to obtain proper daily necessities or cold weather tools.
Not only food, but all the clothing and camping tools sold in the village were old or worn to the point where they could no longer function properly.
These were probably unnecessary items that were left behind as the adventurers passed them on to the villagers at a low price before leaving this place.
If I had come here without any preparation in order to minimize my luggage, it might have been the worst expedition ever.
Of course, even Eunhyeon didn’t expect that the condition of the items would be this bad.
In any case, it was fortunate that we were able to continue the expedition thanks to our preparation in advance.
“Let’s move.”
The difficulties began now.
Climbing a mountain with a steep slope is not easy.
“Perennial snow ginseng is an extremely rare elixir that is not easy to find even in snowy areas. That’s because of the characteristics of perennial ginseng.”
The origin of perennial snow ginseng begins with the ‘perennial snow’ created in the snowy mountainous area of the Kurdel Mountains.
Perennial snow is special snow formed over a long period of time in freezing regions or high altitudes.
The snow, which has been hardened over a period of 10,000 years, beyond 1 year, 10 years, 100 years, contains magical power of enormous purity within it, and the elixir that absorbs all the magical power of the eternal snow is none other than Permanent Snow.
“Is it such a great elixir?”
One of the party members, an adventurer, asked with curiosity.
Since he was also an adventurer who fought for a living, it was impossible for him not to be curious about an elixir that could strengthen his body.
Eunhyeon nodded as if it was obvious.
“It’s amazing. The magic inherent in the perennial snow ginseng is as great as the size of that huge snow mountain. It is said that if you consume it, you can elevate a child who cannot even handle magic to the level of an upper-digit wizard. Of course, I only heard about it through public opinion and rumors.”
“…”
It may be an exaggeration, but the value of perennial snow ginseng is that great.
“It’s so great, but why aren’t people looking for it?”
If it’s that great, wouldn’t it be worth it to come all the way to this snowy mountain area hoping to hit the jackpot?
“To put it simply, the odds of finding perennial snow ginseng in this vast snow mountain area are truly extreme. It’s as difficult as finding a needle in a sandy desert. No one would believe in those odds and throw themselves into this bloody cold storm.”
Isn’t it as foolish as piracy to search the entire ocean to find the treasure of a pirate king whose existence is questionable?
“… A request to find something like that. Can we really succeed?”
“Hmm, I don’t know. First, my role is to guide you as a guide. It’s different from finding perennial snow ginseng, but…”
Eunhyeon glanced back.
“Ha, ha, ha.”
The sound of harsh breathing.
It was the sound of Illyana’s breathing, who was barely following behind.
“… I will find it. No matter what happens.”
“No matter how much we are employers, we have no intention of entrusting our lives to your arrogance and cruelty.”
“I don’t want to die foolishly searching this snowy mountain until I find it. If I feel like I can’t come up with an answer, I’ll give up. Only… In preparation for this incident, I also searched and read all the literature on the ecology and appearance of perennial ginseng. I have a guess. “Your role is to escort me to that location.”
“I see. I got it.”
The leader and members of the adventurer party all nodded.
After the conversation, I silently climbed the steep mountain path again.
On this cold and difficult uphill road, even speaking a word took away my stamina.
“Oh, really…”
I haven’t even walked that far, but I’m already out of breath.
Although she had the stamina to the point of despairing, she was determined, but even taking that into account, what Illyana didn’t expect was her clothes.
The thick coat she wore as a winter protection measure was as bulky and heavy as the thick fabric designed to block the cold from penetrating inside.
Her breathing became rough, and every time the cold air that entered her airway filled her lungs, the blood in her whole body seemed to freeze.
It was natural that Illyana would quickly reach her limit as her stamina was depleted with each step.
“… Already?”
It was an astonishing thing for the leaders and members of the adventurer party.
It was outrageous that they had planned such an expedition with such a hopeless level of physical strength.
It was her first expedition, so even if she was sloppy, she said there was nothing she could do because her lack of experience was not something anyone could make up for.
Her trembling legs reached their limit, and she was about to fall to the snow-covered floor.
“Huh?”
Someone grabbed Illyana’s arm and helped her as she was about to fall.
“Are you okay?”
It was Eunhyeon.
“It’s okay… Kyaaa!?”
At that moment, Eunhyun lifted Illyana’s body and held her in her arms.
