Chapter 144
Chapter 144
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: uly
Chapter: 144
Chapter Title: Freeze, Bottom Dealer?
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Freeze, bottom dealer?
Woooo!—
The wind howled so fiercely it almost sounded like a monster’s roar, enough to make you mistake it for one.
And that made sense—this place was right near the Blade Mountains, a region even seasoned warriors avoided if they could help it.
“…Still holding up fine.”
“Of course.
Hardly any tribesfolk or monsters come to this godforsaken spot.”
Amid that barren landscape, two women appeared.
Their hair colors differed, but their striking resemblance screamed blood relation.
“That said, we did pull some pretty wild stunts sneaking out here as kids.”
“Now that you mention it, yeah.
Hope the inside hasn’t collapsed.”
Eos and Zhan dismounted and exchanged words as they walked.
On the surface, nothing odd about sisters chatting like that—but these two had led Karta and Aigior, swords and fists flying at each other not long ago. Seeing them now, dismounted and trading idle talk, was downright bizarre and miraculous.
“Is this the place?”
Zhan and Eos’s group followed behind. Soon, Sion appeared, with Kim Yu-hyeon and Rishikida close after.
Hours’ ride from both Aigior and Karta camps.
Right by the Blade Mountains, midwinter gales whipped through like razor-sharp blades.
Eos glanced at Sion and pointed ahead, speaking first.
“There’s a cave inside, Sion Clauzen.”
“We came out hunting as kids and nearly died in a blizzard.”
“That’s when we took shelter here and barely survived.”
“Back then, we chalked it up to luck.
But looking back, it wasn’t just luck.
There was a reason Eos and I got so strong.”
With that, Zhan slowly shoved aside the rock blocking a small downward entrance.
No exaggeration—a boulder the size of a wagon, massive.
Finally, it rolled aside, revealing the path within.
Eos lit a prepared torch and took the lead.
Zhan and Sion’s group followed into the depths.
The cave ran deeper than expected.
As they descended the gentle slope, Zhan murmured.
“As I mentioned before, it might actually be useful for you, who can’t handle mana at all.
In this mana-starved land, mana oddly pools here, faint but present.”
“Of course, it’s worthless for anyone who can wield even a bit of mana.”
“…Only Eos and I know you can’t use mana, so don’t worry.”
“Wasn’t worried.
You’re no loose-lipped warrior who’d blab secrets.”
Sion replied as if he’d known all along, drawing a “Heh?” from Eos.
“What’s this?
Already dropping the formalities with Sis?”
“It just happened.
Anyway, finish the story?”
“Shall I?
Anyway, there’s a small spring inside.
Weird place that doesn’t freeze even in this cold. Back then—nine and eight years old—we leaned in to drink and plop!
Right in we went.”
Eos giggled, reminiscing, while Zhan shook her head and spoke.
Even as adults, the memory still made her dizzy.
“Not deep, but freezing cold and terrifying.
We flailed and thrashed until we clawed our way out—and that’s when we noticed we’d changed.”
“Our mana control had improved, even at that basic level.”
“We thought it was a gift from the heavens and trained like maniacs after.
That’s how we became the North’s strongest warriors.”
“…So the spring had some special effect?”
Rishikida piped up cautiously, but Eos and Zhan shook their heads in unison.
They’d wanted it too, of course.
Tried diving back in—nothing.
Even brought warrior trainees to mimic them—same result. Just a cold dunk on a frigid day, they reported.
“Here.”
Water echoed ahead. The sisters halted and turned to Sion.
He narrowed his eyes at the source: water dripping from the ceiling mixed with an underground seep, forming a natural pool.
“…Mana’s pretty abundant here.”
The one who best sensed mana flows stepped forward, confirming its uniqueness.
Kim Yu-hyeon.
No mention of this spot in the novel, so Sion waited silently for more insight.
“Decent compared to the North’s harsh, barren lands.
But it won’t affect most people much.
Good for mana newbies, maybe—but beyond that, just a stagnant underground pool.”
Kim Yu-hyeon concluded from the ambient flows alone.
Zhan and Eos gasped in admiration; Rishikida looked impressed too. Sion beamed with pride—not Yuhyeon, him.
‘Yeah!
That’s the eye you need to be a protagonist!
All the headaches I went through keeping him by my side.
Yuhyeon, you’ve grown so well!’
Bullshit.
Yuhyeon was already a whale of a man.
Sion’s role? Minor mental support and odd jobs.
“Impressive.
Kim Yu-hyeon.
You saw it that fast?”
“…Kinda stumbled into it.”
Oh ho, look at this guy?
Working his charm while I was gone?
Sion smirked inwardly at the subtly close pair.
No Lucia, no Lily, no Lia—Kim Yu-hyeon needed a girl to steady his nerves.
No heroine, no plot drive in these stories. Drive!
‘Dad said the reason men can’t quit life’s grind: wife and kids.’
Kids too far—start with a girl for now, thought Sion.
Slim chance, but if Yuhyeon had no ties here, he might bolt or wander aimless before the big celestial war.
Better prevent crises.
No downside in hedging bets.
Thus, Sion hoped Eos and Yuhyeon hit it off this time.
“Now, no hesitation.”
“Eek?”
His body floated up.
Looking up in dread: Zhan cradling him princess-style, eyes full.
“Uh, hey?
Zhan?
What’re you—”
“Water’s shallow.
Your feet’ll touch bottom.
Still freezing, so careful.”
No!
If it’s cold, warm up first!
Dunked like this, heart attack!
Damn, I’m done for.
No backing out with this woman!
Whoosh!—
“Gah!”
Splash!
“Pfft!”
Mind-shatteringly cold.
Water stung, but Zhan’s throw packed more punch.
Not a toss—more a hurl or slam.
Whole body throbbed.
“Hey, you lunatic!
You really chucked me?”
“Shh.
Eyes closed, focus.
Feel the natural energies seeping in.”
Not some monk’s training—I told you I know nothing!
Grumbling inwardly, Sion followed orders without protest.
Wish I could wield mana.
To get stronger?
Nah, would’ve found better ways.
Just wanna protect my own skin.
No munchkin protag dreams like Yuhyeon.
Body’s a mana dud with barely passable stamina—dunking won’t change that, or every cold-plunge guy’d be Yuhyeon.
‘…But if this spring really works?
Fixes my mana-dead body?’
If so, he’d blow it up.
No sharing good fortune—mine alone.
‘Selfish?
Screw that.
Leave it, and future enemies crawl in yelling ‘super evolution!’ and power up.
If it works, boom—gone.’
Sion chuckled wryly at Zhan and Rishikida staring like it was a show.
Hated stripping fully, so shed just winter gear—yet why’re they blushing?
‘…How long do I stay like this?
Freezing my ass off—gonna die!’
Seriously worried about frostbite, Sion was.
—
“So?
What’s the verdict, Rishi?”
“…Regrettably, no improvement at all, Lady Lily.”
Amid departure prep, Rishikida answered weakly to Lily’s question.
She glanced at the carriage, then continued carefully.
“Sir Kim Yu-hyeon checked repeatedly—no trace of mana in Master’s body.
Temujin and Burilla were quite disappointed too.”
“…Yeah.
Knew it deep down.
Why humans call states like Sion’s incurable.
Not inability to wield mana.
Can’t even accept it.”
“Any other issues, maybe?”
Lily crossed arms, pondering Rishikida’s query.
First meeting in Sion’s mindscape, his mental boundaries dwarfed normals—vast and wide.
Fill that void with mana? Apparently not.
‘Told him not to expect much, but I secretly hoped.’
“Just get a bit stronger!”
Sion’s words to her.
North’s Zhan and Eos shared their childhood spot that toughened them.
Not divine luck.
Such places form rarely—mana overflow or dearth, energy gathers specially.
Scholars theorized a shock there widens mana channels.
‘But no channels at all… unavoidable?’
Lily sighed, slipping into the carriage.
No outward show, but she knew he’d be disappointed.
Inside: Sion, deep in thought by the window.
“Hey, Sion.”
“Back?”
“If you hoped… don’t be too bummed…”
“No hopes—and an unexpected perk popped up, so no worries.”
“Huh?”
Lily blinked at his bold reply, staring.
Then noticed something off about him. “Eh?”
“You’re… kinda…”
“No mana as wished, but health I never dreamed of? Damn.”
No mana gained, but body lighter, firmer.
Not Yuhyeon’s shed-skin rebirth, but improved.
Zhan and Rishikida went “Ehh?”, Yuhyeon marveled sincerely: “God must feel guilty, tossed some compensation.”
Lily poked and prodded, cooing “Ooh, oooh!”, then licked lips. “Hee hee!”
“In our terms… you look delicious, buddy.”
“Didn’t freeze for a tastier meal for you, Lady Lily.”
“Why, why!
Ack, dang it!
Was gonna go easy, y’know?
But coming back all yummy like this? No!
Do it, do it!
Sion, right here!”
“How’d you jump there!
Over there!
Need to think!”
“What, what.
Sulking inside from disappointment?”
“Said no expectations.
Plop in water, bam—superhero? Then every dog and cat’d strut as elite knights?”
“Fair.”
Answered, but Lily clung relentlessly.
Starving, strength fading—she whined, hard to peel off.
“Later, later!
Gotta sort stuff now!”
“What stuff!
No!
Do it, do it!”
“Argh, enough!”
Queenly poise one moment, understanding sis next.
Then kid-mode clingy. Lily.
‘Which face is real?!’
Screaming inwardly, Sion recalled Yuhyeon’s recent talk.
‘Learned chatting with Eos Burilla—something off.’
‘What’s off?’
‘Trade with northern barbarians and kingdom.
She said three years running.’
‘Yeah. So? Problem?’
‘…Feels weird.
Supplied enough goods to cull monster numbers—rare byproducts, she says, but profits low.’
‘Value fluctuates with rarity…’
Wait, wait.
Flash in Sion’s mind.
Kinda suspicious.
Smooth trade dried up oddly.
And right after, tribes reverted to old ways.
Reports from northern nobles: bought at price, resold everywhere…
‘Ah, caught you bastards?’
Classic novel rebels.
Daring such nonsense.
‘Caught bottom-dealing—what happens?’
Gambling: lose a hand.
Power game: lose your head.