Chapter 59
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 59
Chapter Title: Northern Expedition - 8
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Fortunately, we arrived safely at the cave where the Ice Flower Tribe lived.
While everyone marveled at the stunning scenery, I approached Helen and asked,
"What was that 'Sky-Swallowing Tiger' you mentioned earlier?"
"Before I answer, may I ask about your origins, Sian?"
"My origins?"
"Yes. It's a bit hard for me to answer without knowing."
"Hmm... Well? My father found me in the Dark Forest, so I don't know much myself."
"The Dark Forest?"
"Oh, and there was this strange patterned cloth I was wearing as a baby."
"Really? Could you show it to me?"
"Sure. Okay."
"Then let's wrap up the story after you do."
"Sounds good."
We put off the talk about the Black Tiger for now and headed deeper into the cave to find the Ice Flower Tribe.
"Weird. It's not that cold."
"Like the principle behind an igloo?"
Thankfully, the inside of the cave wasn't too cold.
However, perhaps due to the wind blowing in, it almost sounded like a woman's scream echoing in our ears.
"Ugh... I hate this."
"Sylvia, are you okay?"
"Sorry, we're delaying because of me."
"No, it's fine."
As we carefully explored the cave, a woman appeared before us. She wore a helmet made from an animal's skull and draped in leather that reeked of blood that wouldn't fade.
"Turn back, outsiders."
"Imperial tongue?"
Curiously, the woman spoke not the northern dialect but the common continental language.
"Guess we have to take her down first?"
"Sadly, I agree with the hero this time."
"Wait, hold on!"
She looked plenty suspicious at first glance, so Camilla and I charged at her without hesitation.
"Guardian of the North! Wendigo!"
The woman summoned two massive ice giants as her defense.
"Groooaaarrr!!"
The ice giants, the Wendigos, made a dramatic entrance.
They lasted exactly three seconds.
"Weaker than I thought."
"Just ordinary ice golems."
Once the bluffing ice giants crumbled despite their appearance, the woman freaked out and tried to flee. Her physical abilities were average, so the holy knights caught her in an instant.
"If you don't turn back right now, the curse of the God of Frost, Oronak, will fall upon you!"
Even then, the woman shouted defiantly. Of course, no one here was scared by her words. Most of the people gathered were holy knights from the Holy Kingdom on this expedition, and neither Clara nor I were naive enough to fall for lies.
Only Sylvia, who had a deep interest in theology, trembled at the woman's words.
"A curse?!"
"Don't worry. If a curse hits, those holy knights over there will handle it."
"R-Really?"
I said it to ease Sylvia's fear, but the woman wasn't just going to watch.
"Heh heh, your pagan gods can't overcome Lord Oronak's curse."
Bam!
"One more word, and I'll really hit you. And just so you know, I don't go easy on women."
"Eek?!"
After I casually punched the cave wall, the woman shut her mouth fast. To confirm her identity, we removed the animal bone helmet she wore.
And then...
"Mom?"
"Huh?"
Silky silver hair, blue-tinged eyes, and stunning beauty.
She bore an uncanny resemblance to Sylvia. Almost like twins.
"A doppelganger, huh."
"For real?"
"Kidding. If it were a doppelganger, the apostle would have reacted. Since she didn't, it's probably family."
I nodded at Camilla's words. According to Vivian, blue eyes were a physical trait of the Ice Flower Tribe anyway.
Maybe this woman was Sylvia's distant relative...
"You... No way, Sylvia?"
"You know me?"
"It's Sylvia! Of course I know you! I carried you on my back when you were a kid and helped raise you."
"Huh?"
"Don't you recognize me? I'm your aunt Irina."
???
Everyone was dumbfounded by the sudden family reunion.
"What, is the Ice Flower Tribe some anti-aging clan?"
...
Irina was Sylvia's aunt—her mother's younger sister. That meant she had to be at least fifty, yet she looked like that?
I first thought it was a lie, but she recognized Sylvia instantly without her name being mentioned, and given Vivian's info on the Ice Flower Tribe's traits, I had no choice but to believe her.
"Surprised? The Ice Flower Tribe's mana is innately heavy with yin energy, so we keep our beauty forever."
Despite her age and vibe clashing with fifty, Irina spoke in a strange manner.
"Um, Aunt? Your speech is kinda weird."
"Isn't this how Imperial is spoken?"
Ah, a translation quirk.
"Feels off."
"Clara, what's wrong?"
"Not that, but living forever looking the same sounds scary."
"Isn't that a good thing?"
The Ice Flower Tribe were practically descendants of an anti-aging lineage. Especially for women who cared about looks, it'd be a huge plus.
"Not always."
Irina countered my thoughts with reality.
"Not aging means you're the only one not feeling time pass while everyone else changes."
Yeah, put like that, it didn't sound great.
Chloe wouldn't age, but if only I did, it meant we wouldn't share the same time as a couple.
"And the Ice Flower Tribe can't bear sons."
"What?"
Sylvia jumped at Irina's words.
"Sylvia couldn't have a son either, right? It's because of the innate yin energy. It prevents yang energy in the womb, so only girls are born."
"Is that even possible?"
Irina's explanation sounded cultish, so I double-checked with Helen. She was the scholar here, despite her young looks.
"Yes, innate mana can influence a child's gender. Though not as extreme as the Ice Flower Tribe. Probably because they worship the God of Frost, Oronak—her divinity likely causes this trait."
Helen's explanation gave me a lot to think about.
It revealed how dangerous divinity could be, more than expected. And it meant my soon-to-be-born child, and any future kids with Chloe, were likely daughters.
And Sylvia was the same.
No, Sylvia seemed to take it even harder than me.
"Sian..."
Her face pale, she looked at me with a quivering voice.
"It's because of me..."
"It's fine. Don't blame yourself."
I covered her mouth. This wasn't her fault. Supporting the distressed Sylvia, I asked her aunt Irina,
"Irina, can you guide us to where you live?"
"Hmm... Very well. Since you're Sylvia's family and friends, I'll trust and lead you."
Her speech was odd, but we followed Irina to the hidden Ice Flower Tribe village.
...
Unlike other northern tribe villages, the Ice Flower Tribe's had a mystical aura. Living inside a massive cave was part of it, but their daily life amid enchanted ice felt like stepping into a fairy tale. Yet, unlike that vibe, the village was eerily quiet. The tribe numbered barely ten, including adults and kids.
"Not many villagers."
"Did the Frost Claw Tribe attack here?"
"Always this number. This is a sacred place—they wouldn't dare."
"Sacred?"
"This is Oronak's tomb."
"Tomb?"
"The entire cave is her body."
"That's why the air's thick with divinity."
So, the Ice Flower Tribe village was built inside a god's tomb.
For the first time in a while, this fantasy setup made my heart race.
"Sian, don't recklessly use Hestia's miracles here."
"Why?"
"Divinity inherently repels other divinities. This is like a god's palace—could provoke Oronak's wrath."
"Got it."
"But don't worry too much. Hestia's and Oronak's divinities clash, so miracles won't activate anyway."
Helen explained while fiddling with the antenna on her head.
"Really? Worked fine for me."
I conjured Hestia's flame on my fingertip and asked back.
She freaked out like she'd seen a ghost.
"Sian?! Stop that!"
"Okay, okay."
I snuffed it out at her urgent tone.
Still worried, Helen pulled me down to eye level and touched my forehead with her small hand.
"Any pain? Strange voices?"
"Nah, feels refreshing actually. Not sure if it's placebo, but I've felt energized since entering the cave."
"The hero's always been overflowing with energy."
"True."
I conceded to Camilla's point.
Contrary to Helen's concern, I felt perfectly healthy, and seeing that, she wore a subtly complicated expression.
As I was about to ask why...
"Enough play. Come in here. This is the 'burning ice' you seek."
The reason we'd come north appeared before our eyes.