Chapter 277
Chapter 277
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 277
Chapter Title: Winter Song
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Nothing is as ominous as the sound of a mosquito's wings buzzing in your ear.
Especially if it's the dead of night.
Of course, now that winter was closing in, mosquitoes were a thing of the past. But that only meant something just as foreboding as that buzzing was about to arrive.
Suddenly, a nonhuman chill jolted me awake, my eyes snapping open.
The room was pitch black, so it had to still be dawn.
This pounding... this heartbeat... no doubt about it.
It was here.
—Rustle.
I shot up and yanked back the curtains.
The world was still dark, but beyond the foreboding, there was something curse-like staring back at me: pure white flakes, clear as day.
"...Fuck."
It had come, just as I knew it would.
—The first snow was falling.
Those goddamn shitty flakes were pouring down.
I stepped out onto the balcony to witness the nightmare firsthand.
Winter's fragments drifted slowly, blanketing the world in white. This would be my third or fourth winter in this world—I'd lost track—but here it was again.
—Silence.
The world was as still as the settling chill, but my mind was a riot, like I'd been invited to a madmen's feast of screams. Sure, this year might be fine, but I've always dreaded winter and snow.
It was like that in the army, and even more so here.
A disgust and fear etched into my instincts and genes.
"We're fucked."
Maybe it was all a nightmare. Lie down, sleep an hour, and it'd vanish like mist when the illusion shattered. With that hope, I crawled back into bed.
Of course.
The snow was real.
"Urgh."
Clutching Cloudy until morning, caressing her down there, finally calmed my nerves. I made damn sure not to wake her.
After a good long while, the world began to brighten.
"Katt...?"
Cloudy swept her hair back as she woke.
"Cloudy. Look outside."
She got up and headed to the balcony. Unlike at dawn, opening the window let in a cold gust. She glanced at the scene and said,
"It's snowing?"
"What? You knew about it?"
You knew about snow?
"Snow falls in the desert sometimes too. Hmm, the last time was... thirty years ago? Oh, no. Wait, Katt. Snow falls in the desert too."
I'd just learned snow falls in deserts.
I'd figured she'd never seen any and planned to act all superior: "Yeah, this is snow. It's cold, right?" But that was ruined.
"I see. I thought you'd be amazed..."
"Hmm..."
She thought for a moment, then grinned wide.
"Whoa, that's amazing, Katt. What's this white stuff? It's cold!"
And then she said it.
"Too late..."
I made no effort to hide my disappointment.
"Sorry... Wanna feel my tits?"
"Hell yeah!"
Her thoughtfulness was a goddamn blessing!
"Guess it's getting cold now. I don't like it too chilly. Hotter's better."
"Oh, I'm the opposite. Cultural difference, huh."
"But this time it'll be fine. If it's cold, I can just hug Katt."
"Heh heh heh. Damn right. I'm your personal heater."
Anyway, winter has its own perks. I headed to the shower, rinsed off with water cold as ice, and geared up.
This means I need a new rain cape or cloak to throw over my gear.
My current cloak was already a rag. Snow would ruin equipment fast, so cloaks were essential in winter. I'd grab one after the guild.
"Cloudy, I'm heading out for a bit. Need anything?"
"Out in this cold? You're industrious. Hmm... Nah, nothing."
"Cool. Hang with Winia then. She's still asleep."
I slung the tattered cloak over my shoulders and pulled up the hood. The moment I stepped outside, snow piled on thick.
An utterly revolting sensation.
Only clueless kids who don't know better like snow. Humans become true adults by hating it. The instant fondness turns to loathing—that's the brutal line between child and grown-up.
"Ah, fuck, it's freezing."
For a first snow, it was coming down heavy. The morning streets were already full of people clearing it. Folks bustling about everywhere.
Straight to the Adventurer's Guild.
—Murmur murmur.
Mornings at the guild were always rowdy.
Winter brings work. Once the blizzards hit, they broker city snow removal, odd jobs, you name it. Probably prepping for that now.
Snow clearing pulls in every bum in town.
They'd starve or freeze otherwise. Hell, I'd survived winters that way back in the day.
"Yo! Barbarian Shak!"
A familiar shout rang out.
"No way! Kobson!"
Had he been boozing since morning? Strawberry nose and all, he waved at me with hyped energy. Felt like ages since I'd seen this guy.
I walked over.
"You son of a bitch, good to see you. What've you been up to?"
"Followed the holy army, hunted heretics. Made a killing, so I took a break. But snow means it's time to work."
This bastard joined the holy army too.
I munched some of his jerky and said,
"Yeah? I was there too. Probably crossed paths during the heretic purge."
"Heh heh, sounds like it. Anyway, Barbarian Shak, got a good gig. Been hanging here hoping to spot you."
Sweet.
"Figured you had more than chit-chat. Spill it. Winter hunt?"
"Bingo."
"Makes sense. Nothing else to do this time of year."
Winter hunting.
It's practically a culture among adventurers in this world. Like Earth critters, plenty of monsters here hibernate in winter.
After stockpiling food all fall, they dig burrows or hole up in caves for a long sleep.
Sure, there are winter herbs, mana roots, fruits—but it's lean pickings. So yeah, lots hibernate.
"Winter hunting... Haven't done much."
"Kuh ku ku, we're vets now, right? Time to dive in for real."
Of course, hibernating means "most vulnerable."
Nothing easier than killing sleeping enemies. Adventurers don't miss that—they gang up and raid the beasts for winter profit.
Some are heavy hitters like owlbears or drakes. Nail their dens, and you're rolling in cash.
Naturally, plenty get killed by woken monsters, turning into their stable winter pantry.
But fools dreaming of riches off weakened prey? They're everywhere.
And that's why hibernator caves have bonuses: loot from the already-dead.
Plus stockpiled food and such... Spot one on a winter hunt, and you're golden.
"Merchants are buying owlbear pelts at top dollar. Nobles' winter fashion trend or some shit. So idiots are forming parties to scour the mountains. What do ya say? We pitch in?"
"Owlbear? Fuck that. Even a truckload of noobs would get wiped."
Par for the course.
Greed, overconfidence, "it'll work out"—low-rank adventurer gospel.
I've seen dozens die like that in summer heat. Plenty vanish on winter hunts.
Hell, jokes about snow women kidnapping young adventurers. Bullshit—probably just monster chow.
"Truck? What's that?"
"Uh."
Sometimes my metaphors flop.
"Just means a horde of runts would end up grub. Too reckless? Owl bears are fucking strong."
With my mana awakened, maybe I could take one. Got that trump card that shredded orcs.
Plus, I'd massacred merfolk before.
But most adventurers? Nah.
Kobson seemed drunk-boosted confident. If he bit it somewhere stupid, I'd be seriously bummed.
"Too tough for average joes. Better skip it or die trying. Don't do it, you'll croak."
"Barbarian worrying about me? Priceless."
He roared with laughter and chugged his beer.
Dumb adventurers think booze warms you up.
"Like hell I'm worried."
"Don't sweat it. Tons of people. Those killer merchants hyped the fools too much. They'll drop soon enough."
Fools charging in blind always die. This world's full of 'em.
"If they wound an owlbear and croak, we snag the injured beast and their loot."
Couldn't help but laugh.
"Ku ku ku, you sly bastard. That's the angle."
"Heh heh. Getting it now, Barbarian?"
Kobson was isekai to the bone.
We cracked up sharing the scheme. Winter hunting... yeah, doable. No way I'm shoveling snow all season. Merchants mean side gigs for cash.
They won't just hoard pelts—they'll commission via guild for rep boosts.
"Fuck, owlbears still scare me. Let's just poke around, chop hibernating heads as we find 'em. Good enough for me."
Owl bear main quest felt iffy.
"Tch. Coward Shak. Fine. Been ages—let's sync up. Gear for cold, scout mountains."
"Who else?"
Gotta ask Cloudy and Winia first.
"You and me core—grab a solid third. But... fuck, Barbarian's got girlfriends galore. Cloudy too."
"Dunno if she'll join yet."
"Hmm. I'll round someone up. Beer?"
"Fuck yeah!"
The guild buzzed on. I sat with Kobson, ordered brews and snacks, caught up on life.
Buzzed just right, I stood.
Shockingly, under an hour.
"See ya tomorrow, Barbarian."
"Don't pass out in the street or you'll die. Go straight home."
His tolerance was trash—couldn't trust it.
But escorting? Nah.
"Heh heh, what do you take me for? Head in. Tomorrow."
"Yeah."
Split with Kobson, out into the snow. Still falling. Time to buy a decent cloak and winter gear. Mountains need prep.
Leg wraps too. New gloves maybe.
Quilted armor's warm enough anyway.
Grab a neck gaiter.