Chapter 295
Chapter 295
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 295
Chapter Title: Chill
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The snow had stopped falling, but the accumulated drifts still blanketed the world in white. What a drag this winter was. The pristine snow even looked like bone dust from hell.
It was early morning.
After buying winter gear for Claudy and Winia, we headed out beyond the castle gates.
"Whew, feels refreshing. A bit cold, though."
Her white breath scattered into the sky.
Claudy, who had been complaining about the chill, seemed much better now that she was geared up. She moved around in the snow, checking her body's condition, then nodded.
...She looked so adorable in that Russian-style fur hat.
"Well, I can manage. Aside from the clothes being a tight fit."
Winia seemed okay too. I was a little worried, but if she said so, she must be fine. She adjusted her outfit for a moment and took the lead.
Now we were off to hunt some Owl Bears.
From what I'd heard, merchants were still buying their hides at top prices due to a shortage. I figured we'd make about 20 silver from just one.
Crunch.
The snow still crunched underfoot, but were these two ordinary women? They strode forward powerfully through the deep snow as if it were flat ground.
"So much snow..."
"That surprising?"
"Yeah. It's nothing like the desert. The snow piles up just like sand."
Squish.
"My feet are freezing too."
Her long leg sank into the snow. She had greaves on, but they probably didn't block the cold entirely. Damn it...! I wanted to carry her right then and there.
"Want a piggyback?"
"Heehee, I'm good."
Claudy leaned against me with a crinkled smile at the corners of her eyes. Our gear kept body heat from transferring, but at least my heart warmed up, and heat rose in my body.
"Blackie. If you're giving rides, do me next."
"C'mere."
"You come here, Blackie."
I walked over and hoisted Winia onto my back, following her directions. I'd carry her until the uphill started.
"Winia. You know where the Owl Bears live or whatever?"
"Think I wouldn't?"
"Where?"
"Shut up and follow orders."
We walked along the snow-covered road. Since we didn't veer onto the mountain path beside it, she must plan to go a bit farther.
Five days straight like this, and we'd reach Krasheim.
Winia had probably worked around here her whole life, so she knew the local terrain better than I did.
"Time to get down."
"No."
"I'm dying back here."
"You're so damn frail."
"I've been carrying your ass forever."
I was getting tired, so I set Winia down.
"Don't bully Katt too much. He's struggling."
"I have to do at least this much for Blackie, sis. You're too soft on him. What he needs is a good whipping."
"Oh? That's how you see it?"
"Ah. Stay back."
Claudy was the best, as always.
We'd walked quite a ways and found a decent spot to rest. The deep snow had slowed us more than expected. I cleared the snow, spread out my cloak, and made a seat.
With a mage like Winia, starting a fire was no hassle. She lit it up, and I gathered rocks to make a simple stand.
Then I pulled a small pot from my pack.
"Blackie, you brought that too?"
"Surprised?"
"Nah."
"Fuck, then why ask?"
"Just did."
I set up the pot and poured water from my canteen.
Wish I had some instant coffee right now. Oh well. We'd grill jerky, warm up with hot water, and head out.
"Katt."
"Yeah? What?"
As I warmed my hands on a heated stone and sat on a flat rock, Claudy came over and tried to sit on my lap.
"My ears are freezing."
"Heh heh heh, I'll warm 'em up."
Claudy took off her fur hat and leaned her head against me.
Her long ears were red at the tips from the cold. Wasn't the earring making it worse?
Anyway, I focused the heat from the stone into my hands and cupped her ear.
"Hngh."
A moan escaped immediately.
"Warm enough?"
"Yeah... feels good."
Like thawing a lover's frozen hands, I massaged her ear with care. It really was ice-cold. Long as they were, elf ears were vulnerable to the chill. As I kept rubbing, Claudy's moans turned into aroused gasps.
"Hngh...! Haa..."
She was even twitching and arching her back.
Elves' weakness is their ears, after all.
"How's that?"
"Yeah... Feels more intense 'cause it's so cold out here..."
"Ear thawed yet?"
"Not yet. Keep going."
"As much as you want."
The water was starting to boil.
Winia sat beside me and spoke up.
"Blackie, water's boiling."
"Claudy, hop off. Water's ready."
I put her fur hat back on and set the pot in the snow to cool a bit. We'd drink it after. I warmed some jerky over the still-burning fire and thawed my hands.
Winter was a pain in so many ways.
Spring needed to hurry up... It'd be here soon enough.
We finished our simple meal and moved out. With hot food in our bellies, it was much easier. We followed Winia up the mountain.
She said searching midway up should turn up an Owl Bear den.
"Blackie. This is all experience talking."
She'd hunted them a few times and memorized their habits with her superior memory. Mages were mages, alright.
"Me and Blackie are worlds apart in experience."
"Can't compete with that brain of yours."
Winia led the way, parting the snow as she scanned around.
"Obviously. I'm a mage. But since I'm sharp, even a dummy like Blackie is fine."
"Yeah, sure. I'm a 'dummy'."
"Nah, you're a retard."
"'Fuck'."
"What's with the weird emphasis?"
Winia moved skillfully, scanning spots here and there. Her observation and spatial awareness beat mine. She'd check around, then move on, and we'd follow.
"Hmm, so it's in a place like this?"
Claudy scanned the surroundings too.
I stayed alert for other adventurers or bandits.
"Right, sis. Use this chance to learn. Broaden your horizons."
"Heehee, thanks. So, where's the Owl Bear?"
"Wait a sec. That's their habit—right in spots like this. If not, oh well."
About an hour of the three of us looking around, Winia suddenly signaled quiet and stopped.
"...Over there, look."
Her staff pointed to a cave of decent size, covered in snow. The inside was dirt, with a pile of withered brush at the bottom.
Long icicles hung like prison bars over the entrance.
"Size and shape scream Owl Bear."
We'd found the den at last.
Kobson's face oddly flashed in my mind.
"Big one?"
"Nah, that size is like you or a bit bigger. Young one, probably. They grow with age."
Shing.
Claudy drew her two curved swords, eyes gleaming, and approached the den slowly. Winia stopped her.
"Sis, hold up. Blackie, see those icicles? Means it's probably in there."
Oh, fuck?
It made sense. It hunkered down for hibernation and hadn't moved much, letting icicles form.
Winia was sharp.
I hadn't even thought of it.
"Oh. Fuck, yeah."
"Blackie. Don't just go 'maybe.' Learn to observe properly. Can't believe you're impressed by this."
"Got it next time. Good lesson, yeah."
My adventurer experience leveled up. I suddenly wanted to brag about it to Kobson sometime.
"Anyway... how we handling it? Need clean kill for full hide price. Sis, can you one-shot it?"
"Never seen one before, so not sure. And I don't wanna one-shot anyway."
"Hmm, alright."
Winia laid out the plan: When it charged, she'd paralyze it with lightning magic, then we'd kill it with minimal damage. Having a mage made everything easier.
Nothing simpler than finishing a stunned monster.
"Blackie, go wake it. Don't go in."
"What kinda lunatic crawls in there?"
Get ambushed inside, and it's game over. I picked up a rock and approached the den with Claudy.
Winia raised her staff and began chanting.
"Here goes."
"Yeah. Exciting."
I skipped it like a stone and hurled it deep into the den. Thwack. Then I pressed my mouth to the entrance and screamed.
"Kieeeek—!!!!!!!!!!!!"
Whoosh!
I shrieked briefly, then leaped away nimbly. If it woke, it'd burst out soon.
"...Katt."
"Got it!"
Claudy readied herself.
And—
Rooooaaarrr—!!!!!!!!!!!!
The Owl Bear erupted from the den on all fours with ferocious momentum, bellowing horrifically. It was a brutal, inhuman monster.
Its bird-like head sported a long, sturdy beak. Its body was covered in a mix of brown feathers and beast fur.
Its powerful long arms had large feathers too, giving it an overall bird-like appearance.
Rawr!!! Growl growl growl!!!
Its hand claws were pure killing machines.
The four-legged beast stood, twisting its head 180 degrees. A bird-bear hybrid through and through.
It was my height... Probably packed with solid muscle inside. Couldn't fly, so sturdy bones to support the weight.
One-on-one, no guaranteed win.
"Winia!"
But we were three against one.
"Chain Lightning!"
Crackle zap!!!
A blue lightning bolt exploded forth at chant's end. The flash struck true, chaining into the Owl Bear.
Roooaaarr!!!!!!
The monster convulsed, screaming, and collapsed, paralyzed. Its twitching shoulders showed it still lived.
"Hold up."
We waited to avoid residual electricity, then checked it.
Roar...
"Huh, weird-looking thing. Neck turns like that?"
Claudy said, poised to strike. Yeah, freaky. That swivelly head meant no blind spots.
I stepped forward, analyzing.
Where to stab? Neck first? With Winia's go-ahead, Claudy and I approached.
"Katt. Neck stab first."
"Yeah."
Had to finish before it rose. I channeled mana and strength, slashing down at its prone nape.
Splat!!
"Tch."
No clean decapitation.
Without Flesh Cutter, just raw strength and swordplay aided by mana—this was the limit.
Felt I needed better mana infusion between muscles for the finish.
"Katt. My turn."
"Go for it."
Slash!
Her light swing neatly severed the head. The monster met its end.
Nature's mighty beast fell to a skilled mage's spell. Gushing blood stained the white snow red.