Chapter 286
Chapter 286
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 286
Chapter Title: Winter Serenade
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In the end, after such an intense battle with nothing to show for the boss fight, a dark, tar-like gloom started settling over my mood.
The spirit girl, whom I'd assumed was split clean in half and dead, had shaken off that Flying Maw and fled.
"Fuckin' hell, seriously."
I muttered a quiet curse under my breath.
"Barbarian! You okay?!"
"Yeah. I'm fine."
"That was one hell of a fight!!"
The excited Kobson came running over.
The remaining lesser spirits were all retreating now.
That spirit girl... she'd called them her friends, but in the end, she ditched them and bolted on her own. Figures from a conscienceless psychopath like her—no loot, just a getaway.
She had no basic decency.
She's as annoying as a mid-boss with that hit-and-run pattern, popping up again after fleeing. My head was spinning as I sheathed my sword, ran a hand through my hair, and clutched the side of my head.
"Fuck... but we're alive, fuck..."
No rewards, but we'd won and survived.
That would have to be enough.
Today's battle experience would save tomorrow's me.
"One hell of a close call. Thought for sure the Barbarian was done for and we'd follow suit."
"Heh heh, you maniac. Let's go give Meria some emergency treatment."
"Got it."
Meria had collapsed now that the fight was over. She was clutching her arm, and it looked like we needed to splint it quick before the injury worsened.
"Meria, you okay?"
"Ugh, yeah... no problem. Just my arm hurts like hell."
"Hang on. I'll make you a splint at least."
"Thanks."
"Thanks my ass, fuck. Without your shield, we'd all be dead here."
Without Meria's shield, no question we'd be goners. A tank really is essential in any party. Guess I need to reinforce my armor too.
"She's right on that, Miss Meria."
"Don't lower your voice, Kobson."
"Haven't heard that in ages, Barbarian."
Kobson picked up some nearby wood scraps, and I pulled a short cord from my pouch. We splinted Meria's arm and tied it tight.
"Ngh...!"
It hurt her bad.
Still, blocking those ice spears and getting away with just fractures was damn lucky. The more I thought about it, the shittier it felt—I couldn't hold back the rage. How dare that little bitch land a hit like that? Kids these days have no manners, and she was exhibit A.
Probably just hypersensitive from burning through all my mana.
"Rest up. We'll grab the loot."
"Ugh... thanks. Is this the technique that seduces women?"
"Heh heh heh, bullshit. Take care of your body."
Meria cracked a silly joke with a faint smile.
I moved off with Kobson.
"Kobson. Let's grab those spirit cores first."
"Suddenly feeling better already."
"Right?"
But the good mood didn't last.
Just thinking about collecting the spirit cores rapidly lifted my spirits and brought some peace. Turns out that spirit girl was a decent sort after all. Just an orphan, that's all.
Live strong out there in the mountains, spirit girl.
—Saaaa...
Cores like chilled glass orbs leaking cold air.
The ones scattered on the ground looked expensive at a glance.
"Whoa, fuck?"
As I picked them up, something off caught my eye.
"What's up, Barbarian?"
"Hey, fuck! These are cracked!"
"What?!"
A few were still emitting cold intact, but more were cracked, shattered, and dimmed.
I scooped up everything around and checked—zero magic from the broken ones!
"N-No way... that's it! The magic leaked out when they cracked!"
"Fucking disaster!"
"Shit!"
"Fuck!"
In a panic, Kobson and I crawled around on all fours gathering every core. My head throbbed—stress plus mana hangover hitting at once.
I must've destroyed around thirty lesser ice spirits during the fight. A thorough sweep matched the count.
"Goddamn it!"
"Unbelievable! Does God exist?!"
"No gods or Buddhas in this world?!"
But only about a dozen intact ice spirit cores.
Barely half salvaged.
"We went too hard and damaged the cores!"
Kobson dropped to his knees in despair. I felt like crying too. My weary mind and body were crumbling.
"Fuck, fuck! Our inexperience caused this catastrophe!"
The battle was too fierce to mind the details.
Cores dropped from the air and shattered on impact. Others got smashed internally from our heavy hits.
Was this the spirit girl's revenge?
Rage boiled up, but I had no energy left.
"Ugh... only ten intact."
"Fuck, really. Such a waste."
Plus the two we'd grabbed earlier, so today's haul: twelve ice spirit cores total.
Three each when split.
No idea the price per, but hopefully pricey enough to cover losses.
"Fuck... Meria. Only twelve."
"Ugh, too bad. But that's still huge, right? Spirit cores are expensive, I hear."
"Yeah, I've heard that too, but no clue on value."
Not like I'd ever nabbed a spirit core before.
First time tangling with spirits to the death, period.
"Four each, then."
We divided them into fours. Kobson tucked his into his bosom like sacred relics; Meria fumbled one-handed into her belt pouch, so I helped.
Anyway, time to head back.
Exhausted to death.
"Never even saw that owlbear."
Kobson said, picking up the hand maul I'd tossed earlier from the snow.
"Try sightseeing now and you're dead, asshole."
"Heh heh. Fair point. Don't even wanna look."
Running into an owlbear now wouldn't be fun. Thinking about it made me uneasy, heart racing.
Monsters target humans at their weakest.
"Let's hustle. Meria, you mobile?"
"Legs are fine."
So we fled the gruesome scene that felt downright ugly.
Didn't forget to shudder at the evil spirits that might linger.
"Hmm, Barbarian. Better to move cover to cover. Sun's not too low yet... avoid needless risks. You okay with that, Miss Meria?"
"Kobson, voice drop again. I'm fine."
"What do you mean, Miss Meria? Lower my voice?"
Kobson was still deepening his tone.
"Doing it again, dude."
"Tch. Whatever, let's head out. I'd love to hear my voice from someone else's perspective if possible."
His idea was solid, so we went with it.
Party weakened like this? Monster ambush or bandit raid would wreck our nerves.
Come to think, Meria injured, me dizzy from mana drain—but Kobson unscathed.
Guy's got a knack for self-preservation.
"Hmm, this way."
Kobson led along the mountain path.
Meria struggled with her injury, but safety first. We matched her slow pace.
In times like these, even roads crawl with criminals sans witnesses.
Winter meant no field mobs, though.
Just distant deer-like monsters bounding now and then.
"Peel those antlers and sell—good coin."
Kobson dropped tour-guide facts every sighting, killing boredom. True isekai local.
No further hostiles after.
Slow travel meant sunset creeping in, world darkening. Winter days short.
"Make it in time? No gear packed—if barred, we'll freeze."
"No worries."
We upped pace on the incline; walls appeared opposite. Managed timing somehow. Passed gates at dusk.
"Fuck, finally."
"Chill's sunk in. Need hot soup bad."
"Ugh... arm still hurts."
No rush to split, so escorted moaning Meria to relief monastery. Adventurer staple healing church.
Pay for heals to mend fractures decently.
"Meria. One day here, you'll be good."
"Yeah. Thanks for the escort."
"Eh, shield debt."
Inside, a nun approached.
Nun said nighttime hikes fees; fracture like this, about 1 silver.
"Kobson."
I eyed him.
"Got it. We survived thanks to Miss Meria too."
We each chipped in 33 coppers for her treatment. No debate—her wound was for the party.
Share the burden, common sense.
"Here, Meria."
"Thanks, guys."
Handed it over.
"Whoa! Thanks! My friends rock! Get home safe! See ya next time! Hope we team up again!"
Meria beamed, waving wildly with her good hand.
"Yeah, definitely. Stay safe, no more injuries."
"Of course, Miss Meria. Till next time."
Bid Meria farewell, exited with Kobson.
Among untrustworthy adventurers, Meria's character was saintly. Trust is king.
"How 'bout it, Barbarian? Made coin—drinks? Heh heh, warm this chill with booze."
Kobson grinned hoarsely, arm-slapping.
"Appreciate it, but gotta head home, man. Catch ya later."
"Shame. Guild next, then."
"Don't get smashed and crash anywhere in this weather—you'll die."
This guy's real worry.
"Not a kid, Barbarian."
"Heh heh, you look like you'd croak. Later."
Time to go home.
Sell cores tomorrow fine.
Won't... vanish like illusion by morning? Ask mage Winia, she'll know.
—Crunch crunch.
Stepped fresh snow homeward. Early dusk; streetlamps on white roads' flanking shops glowed.
Rare sight, lamp-lit streets.
Cozy winter vibe path.
"I'm back."
Winia in robe, chair-reading a book. New magic tome—probably from Tower today.
"Blackie's home?"
"Wait. Don't rage. Brought something great... Cloudy?"
"Sis bath."
Orange light leaked from bath.
"Dinner?"
"Ate out with sis. So, Blackie, what ya got?"
Winia closed book, intrigued.
Shed armor, pulled ice spirit cores from pouch. Gloveless grip chilled nicely.
"This."
"Huh? Ice spirit cores? Blackie, where?!"
"Hunted spirits by chance. Your tip paid off."
"Ooh! Good boy! Rare nice move. Desk, now. Wait."
Winia fetched towel, laid on desk. Her excitement lifted my mood. Finished stripping gear.
"Good condition. Fresh kill? Ice spirits rare."
Gloved Winia handled core delicately.
"Price per?"
"Market varies—1 to 2 silvers? Fluid."
"Not crazy pricey."
"Lesser spirits. Small size."
Lesser spirits, huh.
Then what was that spirit girl?
I asked her.