Act 3. Northern Continent, Arkteera (1)

"■Li... ■go■■na..."

"■■gan..."

. . .

"..."

Lately, I'd been having the same dream over and over. I'd float through an endless cosmic void, then hear ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠a woman's voice that pulled me awake. The voice was fragmented, so I couldn't make out its exact meaning.

"...No clue. Time to prep the stream anyway."

Today was the day I started the main quest.

. . .

"Potions checked, gear good... Yeah, that's everything."

"Greetings first, then we're off."

I headed straight to the Red House. The moment I knocked, Red Se-hwa greeted me with open arms.

"Whoa? What's up with the sudden visit?"

"Yeah, it's about time for me to head out."

"...What? Head out?"

"Haha, yeah... I have to go to another continent in crisis. It's my destiny."

"...I see."

"But can't you call me sis?"

Se-hwa blushed and bolted. Soon, the other Red House heirs came out to bid me farewell one by one.

"Hahaha! Off to another continent? You'll crush it. Good luck!"

"...Thank you. Safe travels to you too."

Se-hwa peeked from between them, avoiding my eyes. "...Come back safe, si... sis."

I smiled, bowed, and headed to the Blue House.

As I approached, Blue Ha-rin's voice rang out from outside. When I knocked, she answered, drenched in sweat.

"You're here?"

She greeted me with a rare smile.

"Yeah, just came to say goodbye."

"...Goodbye? Where to?"

"Time for me to head to another continent."

"...You can't stay?"

Regret filled Ha-rin's usually stoic face. I gave a wry smile.

"No can do."

"...Right."

I spread my arms wide to the openly disappointed Ha-rin. "C'mere. One hug before I go."

"I-I'm all sweaty though..."

"It's fine. Hurry, my arms are getting tired."

Ha-rin reluctantly blushed and hugged me.

'Whoa... smells kinda nice...'

It might sound pervy, but there was no sweat stench. Instead, a fresh mint scent wafted from her—super refreshing.

'...?'

"O-okay, enough..."

I stared curiously as she pushed me away lightly despite the affinity gains, and her face turned even redder.

'Her face alone screams Red House.'

The others came out for goodbyes too. As I turned to leave, rushing footsteps stopped me.

"W-wait... Take this."

It was a luxurious fur coat made of fine silk-like fabric.

"...I wore it during training. Thought you might need it..."

'How'd she know I'm heading north?'

I was touched that she'd chased after me just to give it.

"Thanks. Perfect timing—I needed one."

"...Good."

After final goodbyes with Ha-rin, I headed to the docks. Jin-un waited there.

"You leaving?"

His warm smile drew one from me too.

"Gotta."

"Where to?"

"North, to Arkteera."

"Hmm... I see."

Jin-un pondered, then spoke as if struck by inspiration. "I'll put in a good word about you. In the north... look for Marian. That kid ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠should be there."

The "others" meant the other heroes, probably. Marian—one of the five heroes, a saintess whose holy power even legion commanders dreaded. Blonde hair, silver eyes normally, turning gold when channeling power. Stunning looks, but her figure... yeah. Called "Sexy Saintess" more than "Holy Saintess," she always topped popularity polls.

"Her personality's a bit... unique. But she's not bad at all. Too kind, if anything."

I knew Marian from Season 1. Pious on the outside, like a goddess incarnate, but a spoiled attention-seeker inside. Season 2 changes were huge, though, so who knew how she'd evolved. And why was the empire-church-bound Marian in the north? Arkteera's situation must be dire.

I snapped out of it and thanked him. "Got it, thanks, Jin-un."

"...Don't die. Hope we meet again."

"Won't."

And with that, I left Bi-cheon-guk.

. . .

"Iceberg collision risk ahead! Passengers, stay seated and hold on!"

Only passenger was me, but whatever.

As Arkteera neared, icebergs appeared, and the temperature dropped.

"Haa..."

My breath fogged white. I quickly donned Ha-rin's fur coat.

"...Warm."

The lingering mint scent evoked her body fragrance. Rare-grade effects were solid.

'Cold resistance 30%!'

Not useful outside cold zones, sure, but still great.

'Add a cold resistance potion and...'

I pulled a sky-blue potion from inventory and chugged it.

"Ugh, bitter."

Tasted like mixed herbal medicine. I grimaced.

"Can't they make it soda-flavored or something?"

Glass would've cursed me out, but only viewers heard Noel now.

Bitter taste, potent effect—like medicine that's good for you.

Combined with the coat: 80% cold resistance. Only 20% of the chill hit me.

"...Still kinda nippy."

The flesh-freezing wind felt like cool autumn breeze now.

"You'll have to go the rest on foot! Ship can't proceed further!"

Arkteera loomed ahead. No path for the ship—we'd walk the ice.

"...Let's go."

To avoid thin ice cracking, I summoned my broom and flew forward.

. . .

"...Haa, damn. What a pain."

Soon after landing in Arkteera, I spotted the troublemaker.

"Gluttony, Legion Commander of Voracity."

Gluttony—Season 1's fifth of seven commanders. Unlike Lust Legion Commander Lilith's teamwork raid, this one tested individual physical prowess. Avoid gluttony state, but it grew stronger devouring corpses. Arkteera's harsh cold made food scarce—perfect for Gluttony.

But something was off. Every mob charged with blood-red eyes.

Demons, fine—but even polar bears attacked first.

"...These guys aren't normally like this...?"

I soon learned why.

"...What the hell."

A human-like thing crawled slowly, head half-eaten, covered in black liquid.

"Already tough, now even worse...?"

That black liquid—demonic energy. Rare demons shape it. Prolonged exposure addicts and kills non-resistants; then it mutates corpses into monsters. That was it.

"...Cold, gluttony, now demonic poisoning too?"

Difficulty felt doubled—no, quadrupled. My head spun.

'My status resistance is maxed, so I'm fine...'

But civilians? More dying while I hunted Gluttony.

Then the orange main quest window blocked my view.

Reading the quest, I frowned at the last line.

"...Basically, 'bash your head against it till you figure it out,' huh?"