The Snow Girl’s Breath
"I thought there might be some elemental compatibility, but... this is more impressive than I expected?" Se-eun Unni clapped her hands together. Truth be told, she also possessed water-attribute mana, which was naturally strong against fire.
Grandpa Yong-su was the same. Ice-attribute magic was, well... if you had to categorize it, it technically fell under the water element in the Five Elements, but it was hard to treat them as the same thing.
Intuitively, water and ice were different. So, it was easy to think of fire and ice as polar opposites. It felt like if one side gained even the slightest upper hand in a clash, the gap would widen drastically. The disparity mattered that much.
But who am I? I’m Shiro, the future SSS+ rank legendary, historic hunter. I had judged that I could suppress the firepower of a mere mid-grade labyrinth.
"Hehe, it wasn't much!"
― Kyak-kyak.
"You did well, too."
― Keung!
"Bo, Bombe too."
As I was petting Jeolmi, Bombe approached and nudged her head against my palm. It was impossible for my short arms to embrace them both properly, but... I tried my best to hug them at the same time.
"If the kid is at that level, I think we can afford to move in a bit faster."
"Hoho, our Shiro is truly something else."
"Th-that's right. She was higher-level than I thought."
Watching Yeon-hwa Unni try so hard was amusing. I felt so lucky to have been picked up by Grandpa Yong-su.
Jeolmi, who had been enjoying my pets, flew over to the fallen Yeongno and pecked at it with his beak. The creature's body split open, revealing the mana crystal inside.
"Whoa? Did Jeolmi find that?"
― Bwong!
"It seems Jeolmi is good at tearing things open with his beak because he's a bird of prey. Since he's based on a snowy owl, after all."
"Then, is Jeolmi going to find all the mana crystals from now on?"
"There's no need for that. There are specialized companies that handle the harvesting."
"Eh."
― Bwong?!
At Grandpa's words, Jeolmi, who had been bouncing around with the mana crystal in his beak, looked shocked. He’d been excited about the praise, but he seemed surprised to learn it wasn't actually necessary.
"So, it's better to just move on quickly?"
"Hoho, Jeolmi seems disappointed, so let's not say things like that."
"Hehe, I understand."
― Bwong....
― Keu-keung.
― Bwong...!
Bombe just laughed like a human, but it must have been my imagination. Jeolmi was furious and was kicking Bombe's head, but I was sure they'd be fine.
"Dad! Then, let's keep moving! Shiro's training is important, but I don't think staying here for too long is a good idea."
"The air around here is quite stuffy. It certainly wouldn't be good for Shiro's bronchial tubes."
"Th-then, I'll lead the way! I know Jeokgeunsan well."
"Understood, let's depart."
After that, the formation changed slightly. Jeolmi was still flying above, but Bombe moved from the very front to walk right beside me. Since Yeon-hwa Unni was the professional guide, there was no reason for Bombe to be at the front anymore. Apparently, they had been adjusting the formation just for my training until now.
I hadn't known that, and I thought everyone was moving while tense. Hearing that, with two S-ranks, one A-rank, and me—who was effectively an A-rank—there was no chance of getting hurt in a mid-grade labyrinth. I felt a bit grumpy, but since they did it for my training, I couldn't really complain.
"There are fewer monsters than I thought, aren't there? At this rate, isn't this a level you could clear alone?"
"...N-no, it's not. I'm sure there were tons of monsters when I came here alone last time! Why is it so quiet?"
When Se-eun Unni teased her, Yeon-hwa Unni timidly resisted. It was strange. Jeolmi, who was flying in the sky and scouting, hadn't found a single monster either. And since the labyrinth's territory had expanded, there was no reason for the number of monsters to decrease; if anything, it should have increased.
That would only happen if a hunter stronger than Yeon-hwa Unni had visited and cleared them out, but that made no sense unless a large guild's hunters had suddenly come to Cheorwon.
"...If we can't see any monsters, it would be best to stay alert."
Grandpa, a seasoned veteran, sensed something suspicious and put on a serious expression. I still lacked experience, so I had to ask directly.
"Why?"
"Because it's not normal. You should know that these kinds of variables often lead to danger for hunters."
"Just past this thicket is the clearing at the summit!"
Before Grandpa could even finish his sentence, Yeon-hwa Unni spoke up. At the same time, Jeolmi quietly landed beside me and tapped my knee with his wing. Seeing that, the others, including Grandpa, fell silent. It was clearly a warning signal. If Jeolmi, who was supposed to alert us with a cry if he found a monster, had landed silently, there had to be a reason.
We carefully pushed aside the bushes to check what lay beyond. A massive clearing was filled with white flames, and at its center stood a single white tree. The peculiar thing was its size—it wasn't just an ordinary tree. It was so massive that I wondered if this was what the World Tree from myths looked like. And... I immediately understood why Jeolmi had sent us a warning.
"That is..."
A giant snake—no, a dragon. Or at least something that looked like an Imugi—was curled up under the tree, sleeping. Its long, white body stretched out, and in contrast, its pitch-black beard and horns caught my eye. To top it off, the carcasses of the monsters we hadn't seen on our way up were all scattered around, all of them dead with only the parts where their mana crystals were located bitten off.
"Is that a Gangcheol?"
"A Gangcheol?"
"Yeah, it's a monster that appears occasionally. It's not quite a dragon, but somewhere between an Imugi and a dragon?"
Se-eun Unni whispered as if she were used to it. I knew a Gangcheol as an Imugi that failed to become a dragon. That must be it. A monster that carries disaster, wrapped in "heavenly fire" born from the rage of failing to ascend. It seemed the Gangcheol intended to achieve the ascension it couldn't reach in its own world here, on Earth's soil.
"If it does that... does the Gangcheol get stronger?"
Yeon-hwa Unni gestured for us to lower our voices further before answering.
"Usually, boss monsters don't absorb or eat the monsters that appear with them; it doesn't help them much."
"Then why is that one doing it?"
"It just means it's that much of a stubborn, vicious creature."
"Or... perhaps there's a special rule to this labyrinth."
"I, I was thinking the same thing."
A rule, huh. That's right, labyrinths didn't just end by exterminating all the monsters, did they? The most eye-catching thing was that giant tree in the back...
"Wouldn't the goal be to put out the fire on the tree? If the Gangcheol is a spirit that deals with fire... I have a feeling the Gangcheol is the one who set these fires."
"That makes sense. In Korean folklore, trees are usually considered sacred beings."
"I think the kid is right. A labyrinth that appeared in Taean before also had a condition for closure that involved saving the roots of a sacred tree."
"Hmm... then, how about we try this."
In labyrinths, if you dealt with the boss without meeting the closure conditions, it often caused even more problems. So, since our combat power was high, the focus was on trying various things while keeping the boss alive rather than killing it immediately.
We huddled together to listen to Grandpa's plan. I didn't have any ideas of my own, so I just nodded and said, "Okay."
"Good. Then... let's begin immediately."
[BOSS ENCOUNTERED: Gangcheol (Failed Ascendant)]
How strong is an S-rank hunter? Some say they are beings who harbor the power of gods within human bodies, while others describe them as veteran warriors who stand against destruction single-handedly. Regardless, one thing was certain: they are humans who have reached the pinnacle of martial power in modern hunter society.
BOOOOM!
'Whoa...!'
A massive great white shark made of water surged through the air and struck the Gangcheol's body directly. The impact resonated, shaking the entirety of Jeokgeunsan. It was a raw display of Grandpa's power, as if his previous clashes with Bombe or the triceratops had been nothing but child's play.
― Grrr...! What is this...!
"Judging by the fact that it speaks human language, it must have been a high-ranking Gangcheol."
― How dare you call me a mere Gangcheol-!!
The danger level of a mid-grade labyrinth was usually treated similarly to a Rank 4 Gate. The boss monster, the Gangcheol, didn't intend to go down easily; it staggered and flew into the air. However, Se-eun Unni and Yeon-hwa Unni were not the type to sit idly by. As Grandpa drew its attention with a massive impact, the two Unnis appeared from behind.
Se-eun Unni used the waves Grandpa had created to fly in an instant and thrust her spear, while Yeon-hwa Unni infused her feet with mana and unleashed dozens of kicks in the blink of an eye.
Thwack-thwack-thwack!
Whenever Yeon-hwa Unni landed a hit on the Gangcheol's body, Se-eun Unni's water spray covered it. Then, I saw Yeon-hwa Unni's seeds growing instantly before they could be burned by the flames.
― KRAAAARGH-!!
Blue flowers bloomed all over the Gangcheol's body. The leaves of the flowers that had taken root spun violently, tearing away the Gangcheol's scales and skin as they fell to the ground. *Drip, drip.* Black blood ran down the Gangcheol's body and hit the floor.
― You wretches, you wretches...!
"You snake, burning with rage for failing to become a dragon—where do you think you are to be so angry?"
― Old human, your words are too long!
The Gangcheol opened its mouth wide and lunged at Grandpa Yong-su. Intense heat radiated in all directions from the white flames blooming all over its body. Grandpa immediately raised his shield and poured his mana into it with all his might. A massive water spray erupted from the shield, creating a giant barrier.
― Stay right there!
However, the Gangcheol suddenly twisted its body and changed direction toward the tree. It moved with a violent, writhing motion, as if that had been its plan all along. Se-eun Unni tried to follow, but because the Gangcheol was faster than expected, the distance only grew wider.
― Something that hasn't fully ripened yet...!
Is there no other way...?
― Bwong.
"Oh."
I was... riding on Bombe's shoulder, approaching the tree without the Gangcheol noticing. Grandpa said he would keep drawing its attention, but I hadn't expected it to turn out like this. I made eye contact with the Gangcheol and awkwardly froze.
― Wh, what are you trying to do! Stop!!
"Uh... I guess the tree is important after all."
It was certain that the tree was an important existence to the Gangcheol. In fact, I was already close to the tree, and there was some distance between me and the Gangcheol. I slowly reached out both hands toward the tree. It was truly a sacred tree. An aura that felt divine, though not quite mana, was rippling through it. The white flames were slowly eating away at that energy.
― No...!!
"What?"
I'm young, so I don't know right from wrong. And I was scared because I thought the Gangcheol would lunge at me if I gave it any more time. 'What did the real Snow Girl do?' I don't think she released mana. I recalled the memory and followed what she had done. I brought my open hands together and blew—
*whoosh*—
As if breathing life into the world. The mana inside my body drained rapidly. It wasn't like I was losing blood, but I felt dizzy and weak. Thanks to that, the power was certain.
― You wretch!!!!
The giant sacred tree. Above the tree that had been suffering from the fire...
Frost settled over everything.