#095
We stayed in the snow mountains for about four more days. Luckily, we had resolved both the boss mob conquest and hidden dungeon conquest in one go, but we needed to explore a wider range of surrounding areas and secure more resources that could help with village reconstruction.
Since it was all additional work, we didn’t push ourselves too hard and mainly hunted or gathered resources in areas accessible by car, using the lodge as our base camp.
On the afternoon of the fifth day, we finally bid farewell to Freya and the winter snow mountains and departed for the village.
Sitting in the back seat of the car, I looked at the peak of the snow mountain where Licht’s ghost mansion had been. After conquering the ghost mansion quest, there had been many clear days, so the snow mountain peak was very visible. However, due to the distance, the mansion wasn’t clearly visible, but somewhere around where the mansion had been seemed to glitter regularly. It might have just been glass or ice reflecting sunlight, but somehow it looked like it was greeting me. It could be ‘Farewell, thank you.’ or it could be ‘Get lost, don’t ever come back.’ Either way.
I hadn’t known when we came because I was asleep, but to return to the village, we had to travel quite a long distance and then charge into some giant igloo to warp through space. Even though I was now aware of the situation and had enough stamina to withstand the shock, I couldn’t help but be startled every time we warped. The moment we plunged into the igloo at full speed, I squeezed my eyes shut.
After tremendous shock and shaking, when I opened my eyes, the car was driving along the familiar village’s coastal road, and Carlisle had extended his arm to grab my shoulder. Our eyes met as he looked me over from head to toe as if checking on me.
In that state, Carlisle stared at me intently for a moment, then turned his gaze away without a word and removed his hand. I also felt awkward and turned my gaze to the sea outside the window without saying thanks.
The sunlight on the waves was dazzling. If not for the shark fins, it would have been a peaceful scene.
***
On the first day, we rested at the mansion, and from the second day, we went around the village.
Meeting the Priest to hand over the Fragment of the Sacred Tree, meeting the Mayor to confirm the next quest area, then passing collected materials to Seiz and Eira while discussing and requesting items needed for the next quest. It’s the same routine repeated. It’s strange to call this a routine, but anyway, what we do during rest periods between expeditions is always similar.
The slightly different point was that this time Taro was following along on schedules I used to handle alone.
Carlisle had said he would accompany me himself, or if that wasn’t possible, he’d attach Taro, but in the end, it was mainly Taro who ended up accompanying me. Carlisle Lightinger was too busy a person to be following me around. This time too, he would have to get involved in handing over and distributing expedition harvests to the city, and while preparing for the next expedition, he’d also have to take care of the businesses he originally ran.
Carlisle, who disappeared somewhere as soon as we arrived, couldn’t even join us for dinner that evening.
Strictly speaking, in terms of security, Carlisle was incomparably superior, but in terms of peace of mind, Taro was much better. Anyway, the only dangerous place near the village was at most the forest path, and that wasn’t really dangerous for me anymore.
It was just a bit troublesome to come and go, but now I could travel quickly and comfortably in the car Taro drove, so having him along was actually more beneficial for me. Honestly, being alone with Carlisle… created tension in a different way than before, so it wasn’t very comfortable either.
“……”
Nevertheless, I don’t know what this subtle feeling is. Did I secretly expect to go around together while thinking it would be uncomfortable to go around with Carlisle? As I left the front door, I secretly sighed.
‘How foolish.’
I started the morning alone without Taro. When Hayden asked about my schedule during breakfast, I answered obediently, but there was no mention of calling for Taro or telling me to wait. When I finished preparing and left the house, he just saw me off saying to have a safe trip.
‘Well, I’m sure he’ll figure it out.’
As I leisurely passed through the garden and unconsciously took a breath, I was a bit surprised by the air that felt distinctly different from before. I had vaguely felt it when passing through the streets before leaving for the snow mountain expedition, but this time there was a definite difference. In addition to the warmer temperature, the wind carried a sweet fragrance.
I looked around. The garden trees that looked blackened and dead at first glance were no different from before, but if you looked closely, bright green new shoots were clearly sprouting throughout the dry branches. Small, colorful flower buds had also formed on the flowering trees.
Looking a bit further, I could see the island in the middle of the lake brilliantly colored in pink and white. It was distinctly different from the dark surroundings. The sweet flower fragrance had been flying from that island. The clean area of the lake surrounding the island had also noticeably expanded.
“Is it really spring now…”
By the time we handed over the third fragment and returned from the next expedition, it would surely be different again. Seeing the environment truly improving little by little somehow made me feel excited. With a fluttering heart, I crossed the stone bridge to meet the Priest.
“Welcome, Raon-nim. I’m truly glad you’ve returned safely this time as well.”
The Priest greeted me with a bright smile. Of course, he was the only NPC who had greeted me with a smiling face from the beginning, but his complexion hadn’t been that good, yet now he was definitely getting better each time we met. His cheeks were also smooth and his hair had a lustrous shine. He hadn’t yet recovered to his original dazzling level, but it seemed that day wasn’t far off either.
After handing over the Fragment of the Sacred Tree and having a cup of energy-boosting tea, I left the island.
“Hello, Raon. Good morning!”
Waiting for me at the lakeside was Taro.
“Ah… hello.”
I answered a bit reluctantly. If I had met him by chance on the street, I would have been happy, but meeting him as my surveillance felt rather unpleasant.
‘No. I should think of him as a friend, driver, and bodyguard.’
Anyway, we had to stick together all day, and Taro couldn’t be happy about having to work when he should be resting. Actually, the one who really felt bad was probably Taro rather than me.
“Sorry, Taro. You can’t even rest because of me.”
“No, it’s fine. During rest periods, there’s nothing to do anyway, so it’s boring – this works out well. I was honestly curious about what you do when you go around.”
Taro said with a grinning smile. If it were someone else, I would have thought it was just lip service, but considering Taro’s character, that was just his sincere feeling.
‘Right. As long as you’re enjoying it, that’s good.’
I just chuckled. Since it’s come to this anyway, I should lighten my mood too.
“Alright, shall we get going then?”
The first schedule was a meeting with the Mayor. Anyway, Carlisle would handle all the expedition-related matters, so I just had to confirm the next expedition destination, receive the quest, and come out.
I entered the Mayor’s office and met the Mayor. Taro naturally followed me in, greeted with that characteristic grinning face, and arbitrarily settled into a corner sofa. It seemed Carlisle had told him to follow along whoever I met.
I wasn’t the only one feeling reluctant. The Mayor also smiled with a somewhat uncomfortable expression but didn’t say anything in particular. He had definitely been given advance notice that Taro would be sticking to me like glue.
After some brief small talk, the Mayor immediately got to the point. Actually, when entering the Mayor’s office, I had some anxiety about the next expedition site, and my uneasy premonition was once again accurate this time.
“The next expedition area is here.”
The place the Mayor pointed to with his hand was a place with nothing. Nothing except blue rippling waves.
It was the sea.
The sea.
Water.
Ding.
As if delivering a confirmation kill, the main quest window popped up.
[Main Quest: Village Reconstruction]
[1. Conquer Wanderer’s Plains mine dungeon and contribute to village (Complete)
- Conquer Desert of Eternity oasis dungeon and contribute to village (Complete)
- Conquer Forgotten Snow Mountain ice dungeon and contribute to village (Complete)
- Conquer Chaotic Sea underwater dungeon and contribute to village
- To be determined
Complete conquest of all 5 areas above and donate harvests to receive reward.]
[Reward: Wish Fulfillment Voucher]
I crossed my arms and couldn’t answer, just groaning.
Actually, I had anticipated that the next area would be the sea. Because at this point, the sea was the only conquerable area left that we could access.
Actually, when experiencing it as a game, I didn’t dislike the underwater sections. No, I actually liked them. The initial pollution was only partial, and even that was just graphics, so the overall scenery was always excellent. The underwater areas after defeating monsters were simply peaceful and beautiful, with wonderful background music, making them perfect for leisurely swimming around for healing even when there was nothing to do.
But now I have trauma with water. I nearly died after having my leg torn by a shark, being poisoned by seaweed toxin, and was once eaten by a crocodile while crossing a river. Since then, just thinking about entering water still gives me chills and makes me sick.
I only had two bottles of Tranquility Potion obtained after resolving Licht’s request. I thought the normal effect lasted a week, but during this ice mansion conquest, I consumed both bottles in just one day. When panic grew, the effect disappeared faster too.
There was no guarantee that nothing would happen to break my mental state in the sea too. Just entering the water would be enough to break my mental state. I swallowed a sigh inwardly.
Author: Hyacinthus B
Hyacinthus
