Chapter 279
Chapter 279
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 279
Chapter Title: Winter Ballad
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The pure white snowy path was already crowded with footprints and cart wheel tracks, but even those would soon vanish under the steadily falling snow.
Of course, that just meant people would venture out again.
Even now, other adventurer parties were heading out alongside us. Some carts were rashly setting off before the heavier blizzard hit.
"Kobson. Scout out a good path for us. Any decent spots around?"
"Leave it to me."
We put Kobson at the front and entered the snow-capped mountains.
His steps were sure and unhesitating, which inspired some confidence. Kobson had always been a reliable guy, after all. We chatted idly as we moved.
"Whew, it's cold. So, what have you all been up to while holed up in the mountains?"
Meria asked, adjusting her fur hat as she walked.
"What do you mean 'up to'? We fucking busted our asses. Made money, worked out. Even picked up some sword skills. Thinking back, it was pretty damn fulfilling."
"You drowned yourself in booze and gambling."
"Totally opposite answers."
We were climbing the snow-blanketed uphill path of the mountains, but it didn't feel taxing at all. My stamina had definitely improved. Muscle and mana—feeling those two making me stronger hit home again.
"Meria, any progress with your shield work?"
"Lately, bashing with the shield feels more natural than swinging my sword."
"That's fucking scary."
Not common knowledge, but a shield makes a damn fine weapon.
If you smash someone in the face with one, even a tough bastard's booking a one-way ticket to the afterlife. Come to think of it, I remembered Meria pulverizing one of those cultists with her shield.
As we bantered, climbing the mountain started to warm us up.
I pulled off my hooded cap.
"Hey, shit. Speaking of which, don't we still have that holy water from last time?"
"The holy water? Still keeping it safe and sound. Heh heh, good luck charm. I can feel its holy power protecting me."
I thought that stuff had an expiration date.
"The one from the church, right? I already used mine up."
"You drank it?"
I asked in surprise.
"Yeah. I was exhausted and low on energy, but after drinking it, I felt a surge of strength. Ever since, I've been full of vigor and everything's gone smoothly."
"Uh... okay."
"Hm. Sounds effective. Maybe I should drink mine too."
Meria seemed thoroughly caught up in the placebo effect.
Elise had told me holy water didn't have any healing properties for people.
No need to burst their bubble, so I spun a tale about using it to slay a cursed monster and cheat death.
Unlike those two who hadn't put it to good use, I'd smashed the Kobold Queen with it and claimed victory.
"Barbarian, something like that happened? Then I should keep mine safe too."
"Nah, I think it has an expiration date. The holy power's probably all gone by now."
"N-No way! Why say something so cruel, Barbarian!"
Kobson hurriedly pulled the holy water from his pocket, but I couldn't sense even a shred of divine energy from the fancy glass vial.
Normal for a non-believer like me.
"Meria. You feel anything?"
"Not a thing."
"Impossible! You can't feel this holy power!"
The guy was freaking out.
"Hey, hey. Seems like only you can. Why don't you become a priest while you're at it."
"No way!"
"Should've drunk it like I did. What a waste."
Kobson looked visibly dejected as he tucked away the holy water—no, now just plain water. Some guys just can't catch a break no matter what.
If he'd chugged it like Meria, the placebo might've perked him up. Instead, it just left him bummed out.
"I didn't want to know this truth."
"Truth always tastes bitter."
Meria giggled mockingly.
"Heh heh heh. Nothing in this world without a catch."
I smirked and clapped him on the shoulder.
Anyway, we kept moving.
The bustle of human presence faded the deeper we went into the mountains, until we reached a pristine area untouched by footprints.
The dense forest and heavy snow limited visibility anyway. No signs of life. Monsters nested in places like this.
"Whew. Long walk, but it's warming me up."
Meria said, removing her fur hat.
About three hours in—time for a break.
"Shield not too heavy?"
"Used to it now."
We found a spot sheltered from the wind, sat, and used bark, kindling, lamp oil, and a fire starter to build a fire.
We warmed up jerky and hardtack we'd brought and took a rest.
"Kobson. Spot anything nearby? Nothing to my eyes."
"Snow's not that deep yet. We'll find something if we look. Trust me."
"This guy's reliable."
"Yeah."
Climbing had raised our body heat, but once sweat cooled, temperature would plummet fast. We ate hot food, huddled by the fire, and loosened up.
"Time to head out."
"Right."
"Alright. Let's get serious now."
Kobson drew his sword and strode ahead, poking around. Mountains teemed with more monsters than you'd think. Plenty of nests too.
About an hour later.
"Look over there, Barbarian."
Where Kobson pointed, a burrow peeked out discreetly.
Snow made it look small, but clearing it would reveal enough space to crawl in hunched over.
"What kind of hole? Goblin nest?"
"Looks like it... Let's check it out. Might be something useful."
Kobson pulled a lantern from his pack to light it.
"Hey, it's been ages since I've seen that thing."
"Comes in handy."
"Is that the one from the dungeon?"
"The very one, Miss Meria."
Tap tap.
He was struggling to spark the flint.
Meria and I circled him to block the wind. Soon, it lit. Time to go in.
"I'll take point."
Meria grinned, shield forward.
"Feels solid."
"Proper tank."
We crouched low and followed her inside slowly.
The entrance was narrow, but the ceiling inside was high enough to move comfortably. Kobson raised the lantern, illuminating the interior clearly.
Creep creep.
Breathing shallow, we crept straight ahead, scouting the cave.
Not complex or long.
Soon, we spotted the targets.
"...Goblins."
Meria whispered.
This was a goblin den. Dry reeds and brush piled everywhere, goblins tucked inside hibernating for winter.
These fuckers...
Here we were, suffering in the snow-capped mountains for coin, and they dared snooze away in dreamland?
A sudden inhuman urge surged—murderous rage boiling up.
This was winter's curse.
Winter strips away leisure from the heart, turns people cruel. Humans were wired that way from the dawn of time. Thus, winter is a savage season. A barren one where you can't survive without taking...
Kobson and Meria felt it too.
The goblins' cozy haven filled instantly with our irrational fury. The overflowing killing intent made it feel like a serial killers' convention.
Kee...
One goblin stirred.
Maybe drawn by the lantern's warm orange glow.
Thud.
Kobson set the lantern down as the signal.
Shing.
We drew blades without a word and mercilessly slit the throats of the comfortably sleeping goblins—like popping spam cans.
A pastoral, swift slaughter.
Stab.
The drowsy goblin, half-decapitated, finally stirred to resist—but with its throat cut, it could do nothing.
Winter sleep turned eternal.
We could search the cave after wiping them out.
A few goblins woke to the noise, but quick responses let us massacre without issue.
Soon, a sea of blood.
Just shy of twenty goblins, totally annihilated.
"Poor things. Should we spare the babies?"
Meria said pityingly, stabbing her sword into the last adult goblin's chest while eyeing the young ones.
"Better to kill 'em. They should go together. Family all dead—surviving alone would just make them miserable."
No point sparing them; they'd just eat their mother's corpse through winter. No need for that.
A filial cannibal kid wasn't growing up decent anyway.
"Barbarian. Think about it. Aren't those babies our future meal tickets? They grow up, cause havoc, and adventurers get work."
"Look at this evil bastard."
That logic made sparing them feel righteous.
Couldn't take them anyway—they'd freeze en route, no arena delivery.
Mercy it was.
"Fine, let's spare the babies."
"Aww, so pitiful."
She'd gleefully wiped out the family, yet said that—thorough isekai native.
Well, the plump babies did look kinda pitiful. Stirred some unwanted pity.
We shoved the squealing young into a corner and searched the den.
"Meria. Find anything?"
"Hold on. Looking."
Lots of nuts in hard shells—winter stores, squirrel-like.
Edible, so we took them all.
Could sell at the general store for coin.
"Oh. Dagger here."
"Condition?"
"Looks decent. Maybe 30 coppers."
"Tch."
Nothing else worthwhile.
What good are goblins to vets like us? Ditched the useless clubs, grabbed what mattered, and headed out.
As disappointment showed, Kobson said,
"Heh heh, did a good deed—good karma incoming."
Slaughtering sleeping goblins as a "good deed"? If that counted as virtue and gods rewarded it, the world was fucked.
"Anyway, let's find the next spot. Hitting an Owl Bear would be great."
"Owl Bear? Meria, you serious?"
"Ambush it sleeping? Might work."
"Goddamn it."
Crazy bastards.
Anyway, led the two idiots around, rummaging the mountains. Snowfall weakened, then stopped.
Kobson cheered, calling it a good omen.
Proved right soon—we found more monster dens. Turned killers in a flash, blades bloodied, looting everything useful.
"Hm, at this rate, not expecting big profits."
Smooth work, but meager pay. Explains why newbies eye Owl Bears.
Hard work alone doesn't pay easy.
"Why? Seems fine to me."
Meria was content.
"Not fine. Even till night, split it'd be 50 coppers each."
"That's plenty."
Is it?
"Let's pick up the pace. Slaughter everything nearby—decent income then."
"Yeah."
Monster hunting's adventurer life—what else?
Following Kobson downhill, scanning for nests.
That's when we ran into unfamiliar adventurers.