Into the Silence of Set Hanryeong
As Levy 3 arrived at the tail end of Set Hanryeong, a massive ice canyon filled her entire field of vision. The sight was so overwhelming it stole her breath away. Towering ice walls hundreds of meters high pierced the sky, while below stretched an endless floor blanketed in snow and ice.
This is Set Hanryeong... She swallowed hard without thinking. The Set Hanryeong she'd only heard about in her grandfather's stories was now unfolding right before her eyes. Even as an A-rank adventurer, the sheer scale of it for the first time made her chest tighten.
"Is everyone ready?" Liandel asked in a calm voice.
"Yes." Her response mingled with the other adventurers' voices.
He drew out his crystal staff and sketched a glowing blue magic map in the air. The intricate terrain of Set Hanryeong appeared in three dimensions, with a green line marking their path.
"Let's head this way. It's the optimal route avoiding the guardians' territories."
Liandel's map was incredibly detailed. The red-marked danger zones stood out sharply, each guardian's domain shaded in different hues.
"Hmm... remarkably thorough," the veteran adventurer Roderick marveled.
"The Golden Tower has been collecting data on Set Hanryeong for decades. Of course, the guardians' exact habitats shift slightly each time, so we've updated with the latest information."
Levy gripped her bow tightly. The Moonlight Whisper she'd specially tuned that morning seemed to tremble faintly in her hands, as if sensing the dangers of Set Hanryeong.
It's okay, it's okay... Her heart raced. She took deep breaths to steady her shaking hands. She'd faced life-threatening situations countless times before. This time, she had a capable mage like Liandel and other skilled adventurers with her. It would be fine.
"Alright, let's move out." Under Liandel's lead, they stepped into Set Hanryeong.
Before departing, everyone downed cold resistance potions. As the bitter taste slid down her throat, a warm energy spread through her body. The Frost Drake cloak from Ronin Grandpa also warded off the chill.
They advanced cautiously along the narrow ice canyon, each step crunching snow underfoot. Strangely, the vast chasm was eerily silent. Only the occasional patter of falling snowflakes or distant crack of ice broke the quiet.
"Why is it so quiet?" Levy whispered.
"Most Set Hanryeong monsters minimize movement and noise to conserve body heat. But if they sense prey, things change."
After that, her own footsteps seemed deafeningly loud. The silence of Set Hanryeong suddenly felt threatening, as if everything was watching them.
Following Liandel's guidance, they navigated the narrow passages between canyons. Looking up, the sky beyond the ice walls was turning gray. The ice and snow reflected the light, bathing everything in cold blue hues.
As time passed, the terrain grew more complex. They wove carefully between ice pillars and sheer walls.
Liandel's map was spot-on. They were traversing Set Hanryeong relatively safely by sticking to his route. Occasionally, they spotted small monsters in snow-covered plains—Ice Hornrabbits resembling snow hares and Snow Foxes like tiny white foxes—that fled at the sight of them.
Once, they encountered a few chimera-like beasts called Ice Crawlers shrouded in ice, but Liandel dispatched them easily with a simple flame spell.
"This is weirdly easy. I thought Set Hanryeong would be crawling with more dangerous monsters..." Elina murmured quietly.
"It might seem that way, but we're bypassing all the hazardous areas," Liandel replied with a light chuckle. "A straight crossing would've meant a high chance of running into guardians."
As if to prove his point, they heard the howls of Frost Worulves from one section. Distant as they were, the raw power in those cries sent chills down everyone's spines—a mix of human screams and wolf howls that lingered in their ears.
"Look over there... that's their territory," Karl pointed quietly.
In the distance, a pack of massive wolves prowled the snow like white phantoms. Those had to be the Frost Worulves. Far away as they were, their intimidating presence reached even here.
"No need to worry," Liandel said confidently. "They never leave their territory. As long as we stay out, we're safe."
True to his word, they never encroached on any guardian domains, slipping through Set Hanryeong without dangerous encounters. It would've been impossible without Liandel's precise map and vast knowledge.
As the sun began to set, they found a wide ice cave. Liandel checked his map and nodded.
"Best to rest here for the night. Deeper inside, the wind dies down and it's a bit warmer."
The cave was surprisingly spacious and clean. Glowing moss on the ice walls emitted a soft blue light.
Liandel pointed it out. "This is glowmoss, a special variety that luminesces in the dark. It has magical properties, so the Golden Tower studies it too."
Thanks to the light, they easily scouted the interior. No signs of other creatures, fortunately. Torben set simple traps at the entrance for extra security.
"Time to rest," Roderick said, setting down his pack. "We'll need a fire with this cold."
They gathered wood and lit a campfire with Liandel's flame magic. As the flames crackled to life, warmth spread, thawing their numb limbs.
"I should replenish some mana," Liandel said cautiously, rummaging in his bag. He pulled out a palm-sized golden orb.
"What's that?" Karl asked curiously.
"One of the Golden Tower's treasures: the Prinel Orb." A pristine magic circle etched on its surface gleamed as it floated into the air. When Liandel touched it, soft beams of light poured out, flowing into his body.
"It's not something we take out lightly, but I got special permission for this important journey." His tone was more solemn than usual.
"Like a mana potion?"
"Similar, but unlike recovery potions, this is pure condensed mana—far more efficient. Overreliance can disrupt your mana flow, though."
After absorbing enough, Liandel carefully stowed the orb and smiled, producing an elegant bottle. "Oh, right. Good work today, everyone."
"This is Crystal Berry wine I brought from the tower. Care for a glass?"
"Whoa, Crystal Berry? That's super expensive!" Karl's eyes lit up.
"Haha, perks of the Golden Tower."
Everyone poured small glasses of wine. Being too young, Levy stuck to tea. Her father had taught her to drink but never to excess—and not at her age anyway. She sipped her prepared hot herbal tea.
Gathered around the firelight, the party looked peaceful, like ordinary travelers. But vigilance lingered in their eyes. Roderick's hand stayed near his sword, Elina's fingers twitched in spell-readiness, and Torben scanned the surroundings. Levy kept her bow and quiver close.
"Nice..." Karl said after a sip. "Hey, Roderick senior, got any thrilling adventure tales? Nights like this call for stories!"
Roderick fell silent for a moment, shadows crossing his face.
"You want flashy tales, but..." He continued slowly. "Real adventures are mostly filled with pain and loss."
"Still, tell us," Karl urged earnestly. "We're heading to Sia Kalt now. Your experience could help us."
Roderick drew a deep breath and began. "When I was your age, my home village was raided by monsters."
His voice was low and heavy, like reopening an old wound. "In one night, it was reduced to ruins. My family, friends, neighbors... all slaughtered. Only I and a few villagers survived."
Sparks from the fire cast shadows on his face. "From that day, I swore revenge. I'd get strong and kill every last one."
He stroked his sword slowly. "After a decade as an adventurer, I was ready. With comrades, I stormed their lair in the Demon Realm."
Levy listened, breath held. She'd only seen the Demon Realm on maps—a terrifying place.
"We slaughtered countless monsters. Anything in sight, driven by rage."
His eyes wavered. "But revenge came at a cost. We met a powerful demon... it killed three of my party in seconds."
"Only two of us survived, barely escaping. But a new vengeance took root."
He drained his cup and continued. "Five years later, we returned—more comrades, better prepared. And we finally slew that demon."
The cave fell into heavy silence. "But my friends didn't return. Nor my family. No matter how many monsters or demons I kill, the hole in my heart remains."
Roderick murmured at the flames. "Revenge is sweet, but ultimately empty. That's the lesson I learned."
The cave sank into weighted quiet, broken only by the crackle of the fire.
"Adventuring... always walks with death," Levy's voice trembled softly. Her heart felt heavy.
Roderick nodded with a bitter smile. "Yes. But some deaths can be prevented, and some made meaningful."
He looked at each of them, including her. "That's why I'm telling you this. Fight not for revenge, but to protect."
His words etched deep into her chest. Visions of her family surfaced—her father's sturdy form, mother's warm smile, Lea's bright laugh.
I have to grow strong to protect them. And... Deep in her heart, the Third Prince's face flashed—golden hair, sky-blue eyes. That brief encounter had changed her life's course. She was here now, chasing a dream that might never come true.
The adventurers spent the night lost in thoughts. Levy lay awake, clutching her bow, vowing: I'll never lose anyone precious. I'll protect them with my own hands.