Chapter 121
Chapter 121
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 121
Chapter Title: Fall, and... (1)
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“Gasp!”
The snow lotus stem snapped clean off because of those snow mountain monkeys, and in that instant, my legs wobbled. Then came the plunge. I was midway across and leaped toward the opposite side as hard as I could, but it was already too late. Blood drained from my entire body, like plummeting on a roller coaster. I clung tightly to the snow lotus stem and blew on the seeds in my pouch. Thanks to [Breath of the Forest], a skill that had become as natural as breathing...
-Pop!
-Pffft!
-Thud!
Just before smashing into the cliff face, the bed reeds shot up at tremendous speed and size.
-Squish~!
Instead of the cliff’s hard rock, I sank deep into the soft, fluffy bed reeds. What a stroke of luck. A split second later, and I’d have been smashed to a pulp against the cliff.
“Huff, huff... Urp!”
I peeled the reeds off my face and looked up. There were my companions peering down from that dizzying height.
“Te...acher!”
El’s voice was too faint to make out properly from this distance. Their faces were indistinct too. I waved one arm vigorously to signal I was fine.
“I’m okay!”
I shouted at the top of my lungs, but I doubted it carried all the way.
-Drip, drip...
Another ominous sound echoed.
‘Oh no, the steam’s softening the snow lotus stem.’
Snow lotuses were tough enough to grow in the chill of the Silver Mountains, but they were weak to intense heat. It had held up while the others crossed, but the intermittent bursts of geyser steam were gradually wilting it. I quickly shifted to the cliff wall and began descending carefully toward the bottom.
‘Hot...’
The lower geyser valley was sweltering from the constant steam and heat, unbelievable for the middle of a snowy mountain. It felt like being a dumpling in a steamer.
‘Gotta get out of here fast.’
Let’s see, any useful seeds...
-Oooooh...
As I rummaged in my pouch, a bone-chilling shiver ran through me. My teeth chattered from the eerie cold.
‘Ghosts...’
A translucent, hazy figure passed right through me. Whoosh, whoosh—two more followed, sending goosebumps racing down my back. I hadn’t been attacked, but having ghosts phase through your body was deeply unsettling.
“That’s too much. Couldn’t you go around?”
Not that they had bodies to bruise, of course... I glared at the brazen ghosts. Having wandered this place for who knows how long, most of their forms had faded into vague blobs. They didn’t seem to understand me, or care to.
‘At least they’re not aggro mobs...’
Feeling uneasy, I started to step away when—
-Clack!
Something snagged my foot.
“...”
Human bones.
The pile was nearly crumbled to dust. What my foot had kicked was already broken. Damn... Fortunately, no ghosts came complaining. I carefully extracted my foot.
-Sparkle.
Then, something glinted beneath the bone pile.
‘That’s...’
I cautiously brushed aside the bones and picked it up. A necklace with a large crystal locket. Inside the locket, a small magic stone spun, glowing brightly.
The back bore script in ancient Ansgar tongue.
[The nightmare shall not behold thee.]
Opening the locket revealed an intricately engraved magic circle glowing within. From the recognizable words here and there, this was probably...
“A magic to maintain wakefulness.”
The magic stone was from a Sand Olapunt of Altann. I’d seen them in Roshan’s market district. Not this small, though... Judging by the size, this must be from a juvenile. To catch one, you’d have to kill at least twenty adults... Among magic stones, it was the height of luxury.
Sand Olapunts were mysterious monsters that slept less than an hour a day. Famously, they even dreamed while awake. Every part—hide, tusks, eyes, and more—was prized by mages and nobles alike, making the species nearly extinct. A juvenile’s stone? Priceless.
‘This alone would fetch whatever the seller asks.’
What extravagance.
Its owner, this skull, was likely an Ansgar noble or royal. Fallen into this valley by accident. The item let them forgo sleep and rest without fatigue, but that alone couldn’t get them out.
They’d rotated wearing this necklace to endure, enduring until...
‘They met this end.’
A lonely death in a place no one would find.
[The nightmare shall not behold thee.] Fittingly, they hadn’t escaped eternal ‘sleep.’ Pitiful.
“...”
Excluding the necklace, there were other valuables. Unlike zombie cave traps, these were the real deal. Ansgar-style jewelry, rare nowadays. I stored them in my subspace ring. Useless to the dead.
I scattered Black Ivy seeds over the bone pile and used [Breath of the Forest]. The Black Ivy, which rooted into flesh and bone alike, wrapped the remains, grew vigorously, and began blooming pale white flowers. The blooms murmured like lost souls—“At last...” wisps of smoke drifting. Having listened to their ancient laments from the valley, I lit the dry roots of the Black Ivy.
-Crackle, crackle.
“Go to a better place now.”
I clasped my hands in prayer. May Nemeia guide their souls. As I finished, the watchful gazes vanished.
“I’ll put this to good use.”
A Sand Olapunt magic stone. Who’d have thought I’d find such a legend here? Life’s twists and turns—falling into the valley wasn’t all bad.
“Just need to restring it.”
I threaded a moonwood vine through the crystal locket and hung it around my neck.
“Whoa...”
Fatigue vanished the moment I wore it. Honestly, sleep quality had dipped since climbing the Silver Mountains, wearing on me subtly...
My mind sharpened instantly.
Worthy of a Sand Olapunt stone.
With this, no need for sleep—I wouldn’t tire!
‘Endless possibilities now.’
First things first: climb back up. I glanced up the cliff, then pulled the sage’s flask from my bosom and sipped the settled potion. Top up mana on time!
“Whew... Time to climb.”
The heat was intensifying. Growing snow lotuses here would be impossible. So, straightforward breakthrough it was.
“Wish I’d saved stickyweed seeds...”
From my seed pouch, I took two rice-grain-sized seeds, planted them in coin-shaped soil pellets, and used [Breath of the Forest]. Placed on my wrist, the stickyweed grew like a glove, wrapping between my palm and fingers.
“Perfect. This’ll do.”
Stickyweed was a carnivorous plant spewing adhesive sap from tiny nodules. It fed on insects and airborne seeds, with sap that stuck instantly—handy for many things.
Only downside: prolonged use made skin itch like mad.
‘Worth it.’
Climb to mid-cliff with stickyweed, then switch to snow lotus where geyser heat eased. I gripped a protruding rock and began ascending slowly, carefully. Avoiding looking down as much as possible.
How far had I climbed when the profuse sweat from geyser heat began fading, snowy chill returning bit by bit? I gripped a large outcrop and peeled off the stickyweed from my other hand. Itching already?
‘Pretty sure I’ve used up the snow lotus seeds...’
Rummaging in my pouch, a foreboding vibration hit.
-Thud!
-Thud!
-Thud!
“Huh, what?”
Panicking, I looked up. Not another avalanche?! As my hands hurried for seeds—
-Scraaaape!
A sharp noise, and something massive halted beside me. Familiar limbs, torso, and...
“...G, Golem?”
Khalid’s golem. It stared at me with its hollow golem eyes, then grabbed my collar and hoisted me onto its back.
“Eek! Careful!”
I swiftly grew the snow lotus vines wrapped around the golem’s body, binding myself securely.
“Phew...”
Ignoring my fright, the golem silently climbed.
‘...Riding like this, I feel like a kindergartener.’
Still, thanks to Khalid sending the golem, I ascended effortlessly. Nearing the top, I saw El and Ayla peeking out, waiting.
“Teacher!”
-Woof!
I waved reassuringly. Then, Pipi on Ayla’s head leaped high, flapped mightily, and landed on my shoulder.
-Peep!
Seemed miffed for some reason. I stroked under its beak and whispered.
“Don’t be mad. I made it back safe. Even got something good.”
I showed Pipi the dangling necklace, then tucked it into my clothes. Too precious to share. One of a kind, and I found it... Stingy? Nah. I’d split the other treasures, but Sand Olapunt necklace? Off-limits. Prime item.
-Thoom!
Atop the cliff, I severed the snow lotus binding me to the golem and jumped down. Khalid, arms crossed, spoke.
“You’re later than expected.”
“Why not send the golem sooner?”
“Cheeky.”
“Haha, joking. Was stuck, but perfect timing. Thanks.”
“How was below?”
“Hmm...”
I answered with the cryptic smile Khalid often wore.
“Nothing special.”