Chapter 31
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 31
Chapter Title: Wintering - 4
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Village Chief gave me one request.
"Why do these bastards come all the way down here... Leon, you know anything? Like similar cases from village history."
The reason was the recent change in the Yetis' habitat.
"How would I know? Isn't it just because it's winter?"
"Nah, can't be. I've lived around the Dark Forest for almost twenty years, and I've never seen Yetis change their habitat in winter."
Excluding the unusual case where one attacked Elin, Yetis normally inhabited the northern snow-capped mountains. So unless I went north to hunt them myself, spotting one wasn't easy for me either.
But lately, sightings of Yetis near the village had spread like wildfire, and the chief had tasked me personally with investigating.
Even I had no clue, though.
"If I had to guess, something must've happened up north."
"Like what?"
"Some natural disaster big enough to force a habitat shift?"
To get a clear picture, I'd have to head up to the northern mountains. Problem was, scaling them in winter was suicide.
It was fucking freezing up there.
'Even Dad never bothered during winter.'
The northern snow mountains were tougher than the Dark Forest by a mile. Hell, the ecosystem was so brutally cold it was borderline unlivable for humans.
"For now, let's take down that Yeti over there and head back."
"Yeah, got it."
Thanks to the fine sword Robera, a Yeti was a one-swing kill for me. But today was about building Leon's hunting experience, so I let her take the lead again.
"They haven't spotted us yet, so aim for the eyes first."
"Okay, firing."
Following my instructions, Leon took aim and nailed the Yeti's right eye dead-on. She followed up with a second arrow right away.
Unfortunately, the second one just grazed under the Yeti's left eye.
'Her archery's flawless. Nothing to nitpick.'
Whether it was her innate focus, Leon's skill with a bow had surpassed mine at this point.
"It's coming this way."
"Sorry, I missed."
"No worries. That's more than passing grade."
"For real?"
"I'll handle the rest."
I charged barehanded at the oncoming Yeti. Perfect chance to score some prime hide.
The Yeti was nimbler than a War Bear, but it was all the same to me.
My raw strength outclassed it too, so grabbing its head and snapping its neck was child's play.
"Oh, and Leon—don't hunt like I just did, okay?"
"I couldn't even if I tried. Don't worry about it."
A sickening crunch echoed from the Yeti's neck, and its head lolled limply.
"Ah, it's dead."
The Yeti hides we collected were turned into winter clothes by the women at home.
"Finally done."
"Great work, Tom!"
The stone ice cellar we'd been chipping away at with Tom over time was finally complete today, after plenty of trial and error.
"Cooler than I expected."
"It'll hold the temp even through summer."
In a rural village without fridges, a stone ice cellar was invaluable.
'No more relying on smoked meat.'
No matter how good my hunting got, we couldn't store fresh meat—until now. And come summer, we could harvest ice for cool treats. Everyone would love it.
Though right now in winter, all it could do was store ice.
"By the way, you caught a Yeti yesterday?"
"Yeah. They're nesting nearby—real pain."
"How many'd you get?"
"Five? Hunting's way faster with Leon assisting."
"Good to hear. Anyway, got any tendons left? Sell 'em to me?"
"Tendons?"
Dad always said Yeti tendons were great for stamina.
But Tom had been widowed for years, as far as I knew. Was he...?
"Yeah. Their tensile strength makes killer bowstrings."
Oh. Not that.
"A bow...? Nobody around here uses one. Chief's order?"
"Nah. My daughter's still dead set on becoming a blacksmith. Figure I'll show off my skills to knock some sense into her."
"I'm game, but why a bow of all things?"
"No big reason. Iron's pricey, and I heard you're out hunting Yetis. Thought I'd make you one with their tendons. It'll be my gift to you, naturally."
Tom, the daughter-loving genius.
He doted on her endlessly, yet skimped in the weirdest ways. It was endearing.
"You don't need to gift me anything. You've helped me out tons already."
"Haha, thanks. If only my girl took after you half as much."
"Your daughter's plenty great."
"Not at all. Petra could learn a thing or two from you. Girl treats metallurgy like a joke."
"Haha... yeah, it's tough."
Myths always showed blacksmith gods as potbellied old dudes, so folks underestimated it. But blacksmithing was no joke.
You needed deep knowledge of melting points that varied by ore quality, plus the brute strength to hammer iron. No wonder dwarf blacksmiths had arms like tree trunks—it was all grounded in reality.
A girl chasing that trade? Tom couldn't be happy about it.
I got where he was coming from. He'd want to steer her from the hard path.
"Anyway, look forward to it. I'll make my masterpiece."
"Mind if I make one request?"
"What do you have in mind?"
"I'm crap with bows, so how about a custom one for Leon instead?"
"Didn't see that coming. Figured a hunter like you lived by the bow."
"I'm a total klutz with it."
I could hit stationary targets if I aimed—no Leon-level precision, but reliable. Still, my thrown weapons or javelins hit harder, so no need to bother with a bow. Habit kept my archery rusty.
I explained, and Tom nodded, convinced.
"Gotcha. Leon custom it is. Leave it to me."
"Thanks, Tom."
I handed over the Yeti tendons.
Couldn't wait to see Leon's reaction when I surprised her later.
Speaking of surprises.
'New Year's almost here, huh?'
No events or festivals in this backwater village.
Made sense—folks were too busy scraping by.
But what if I got gifts for the family? They'd love it.
'Time for a stroll to the Giant Ent nest.'
"Bro, whatcha doing? Working?"
"Ah, Clia. Yeah, making something."
"What?"
Bored Clia wandered into the shed where I was working.
To kill time, she hugged me from behind and squealed over the stuff on the workbench.
"Whoa~ Pretty! What gem's that, bro?"
"Yeah. Malachite."
The White Giant Ents handled the underground parts of the Dark Forest. Born miners, really—but they dug to expand caverns, not harvest ore, so they mangled most minerals.
Every now and then, pristine ones survived. A casual stroll there netted lucky hauls like this.
Just like with Blackwood—they were generous givers.
'Heard they're at war with Red Giant Ents lately. Should I step in?'
Red Giant Ents were wary types that spat flames from their mouths. Symbiosis like with the whites? Unlikely.
Might as well help the whites drive the reds out, then...
Clia nudged my shoulder, snapping me from my thoughts.
"Bro, so what're you making with it?"
"Rings or necklaces."
"Whoa, you can do that too?"
"Picked it up by eye from Tom."
Tom was a blacksmith, not a jeweler, so no pro techniques. Mine were crude too—just practicing on cheap stones to build skill.
"Lemme try! I wanna do it!"
"Sure? Takes grip strength—you could hurt yourself."
"Yeah, I'm fine!"
True to form, Clia lit up at the jewels, eyes full of fire as she begged.
"Alright, if you really wanna, bro'll help."
I sat eager Clia on my lap and walked her through it slowly.
Then, something clicked for her. She tilted her head back, peering up at me.
"But bro, you making these to sell?"
"Nah. Surprise gifts."
"Surprise gifts?"
"To catch 'em off guard. So Clia, our little gift-making secret, okay?"
"Got it! Pinky promise!"
Clia puffed out her chest proudly.
And the next day, the whole family knew about my surprise gifts.
No... sister-in-law?