The Northern Snow Mountains Are Way Too Harsh for Me (2)
"Elvin, where the hell is this guy going?"
Thanks to the small light orb Vina had conjured, we were able to navigate the tangled forest without too much trouble. We followed what looked like Elvin's footprints, staying alert to our surroundings. We might run into a beast like that bear from this afternoon, after all.
"S-Still, it's less scary thanks to you, Vina... Hehe."
I was stuck right to Vina's back. If only I had magic aptitude—things would be this easy, I thought.
"It's just basic magic, but hey, it's one of my strengths."
Vina giggled and shrugged her shoulders.
"C-Can I do it like you someday, Vina?"
"Hmm... Magic aptitude isn't that common."
Come to think of it, even Iri, who seemed good at everything, couldn't use magic.
"Vina's aptitude is pretty top-notch. Not everyone can handle basic spells that cleanly, even if they learn them," Iri said.
Vina puffed up her shoulders even more at that.
"Ahem!"
She proudly thumped her chest.
"This much is basic! If nothing gets in our way, we should catch up to Elvin in no time."
"Gets in our way?"
"Like a ghost~"
"Eek!"
"Or a yeti!"
"A yeti?!"
Vina nodded.
"Haven't you heard the rumors about yetis living in the Northern Snow Mountains?"
"F-First time for me!"
A yeti was basically the cliché monster that had to show up in a place like this. Sometimes it was a beast, sometimes a beastly person. Either way, scary as hell!
"Ah... I've heard of them."
Iri responded flatly, like it was no big deal.
"Big guy wandering the mountains with a massive axe, right?"
"What?!"
"Yeah, and it's always dripping with blood!"
"N-No way!"
I shrank back at Vina's words.
"And if you follow the blood trail..."
"Follow it?"
"You find the yeti's cabin."
"Cabin...!"
Vina suddenly stopped walking.
"Ow!"
Since I'd been glued right to her, I bumped straight into her.
"Why'd you stop all of a sudden?"
"It's there."
"Huh?"
Vina pointed ahead.
"There's a cabin..."
And sure enough, there was a huge cabin, with Elvin standing right in front of the door.
Elvin trudged through the dim Northern Snow Mountains. Even without much light to guide him, he moved through the forest like it was his own home.
I could find my way even with my eyes closed.
He knew exactly where he was in the forest, what spots he was passing. Having grown up here since he was little, Elvin could wander it blindfolded—or draw a map in his head.
Is he still around?
Elvin ran his hand over a tree. The feel under his fingertips told him what kind it was. And soon, the cabin would come into view.
The reason Elvin had survived in this harsh place was his guardian. The amazing person who had picked up and raised him, abandoned even by his parents.
Crunch.
Crunch.
Stepping through the deep snow, he approached a faint yellow glow leaking from somewhere. As he drew nearer, the familiar cabin appeared in his sight.
—Come down when the time is right.
—You don't plan to live in this forest forever, do you?
A twinge of worry hit him. That person had driven him out to broaden his world. Elvin would've been fine living here forever, but not him. He'd always said it was time to leave, no matter what path he chose.
With careful steps, Elvin reached the cabin door.
"Hoo..."
Unlike his sturdy build, Elvin let out a tense breath. Then, with resolved eyes, he knocked.
Thud thud.
"..."
Ten seconds passed with no response. As he raised his hand to knock again, heavy footsteps thudded from inside.
The steps stopped at the door.
"Who is it?"
A bit frail with age, but Elvin was sure—it was the voice he remembered.
"It's me."
A brief silence followed. Then the door creaked open.
Warmth and yellow light spilled out. Standing there was a giant of an old man, with graying hair and a thick beard. So tall even Elvin had to look up.
"Elvin?"
"Yes, Teacher."
"What are you doing here? And at this hour?"
The old man Elvin called Teacher was Regaf Krauzen, owner of this mountain cabin and Elvin's guardian.
"I wanted to see if you were doing well."
"You don't mean..."
Regaf spotted Elvin's trainee uniform and understood instantly why the boy was here. He rubbed his forehead with a massive hand and sighed deeply.
"Haa... I told you to see the wide world and learn all you could."
Regaf felt firsthand how stubborn innate nature could be.
"And here you are, following my old path."
"...Sorry."
Elvin scratched his neck with an awkward smile.
"What's done is done. Water under the bridge."
"Teacher, are you doing okay health-wise?"
"I've got plenty of years left. Don't look at me like I'm on my deathbed."
Cough.
Cough.
Regaf hacked a bit. It was about time to send Elvin back, he thought—just then, he sensed movement from the forest.
He glanced over, and a small light winked out.
"Elvin... Your vision still narrows when you're in a rush."
"Pardon?"
"You've got some cute little stalkers."
"S-Stalkers?"
Elvin whipped around, scanning behind him. Nothing visible. It was pitch black, visibility low, and the thickening snow obscured shapes.
"Agh."
Regaf shook his head.
The blizzard would make the path treacherous for a while, no doubt.
"You lot—Elvin's friends?"
Regaf called out loudly.
"Huh? Teacher, what do you—"
Elvin followed Regaf's gaze and saw silhouettes approaching cautiously. Familiar faces: Yufir, Vina, Iri.
"...?"
Why the hell were they here? Elvin couldn't make sense of it.
"What are you doing here?"
"V-Vina!"
Yufir trembled behind Vina as she spoke.
"She said you vanished suddenly... And this afternoon, you seemed off, so... uh, well..."
"We came because we were worried!"
"Haa, I only came because these two would be in trouble if you got caught sneaking out."
Yufir, then Vina and Iri, in order.
Elvin had never imagined anyone following him—he just stared blankly.
Regaf, meanwhile, chuckled, shoulders shaking. He clapped Elvin on the back and flung the door wide.
"Come in. Head back as soon as the snow lets up."
Luckily, the person Elvin had come to see was indeed called a yeti, but not the monstrous kind I'd imagined.
"This place is huge!"
The cabin was like it was built for giants—door oversized, ceiling towering, desk and chairs all bigger than normal. Everything felt about 1.5 times scaled up.
"Haha, as you can see, I'm ridiculously tall. And I made most of this stuff myself, so yeah."
"Y-You made it yourself?!"
"Whoa, impressive."
Vina and I wandered the cabin, peeking everywhere. It was all wood, clearly handmade—the rough surfaces screamed amateur craftsmanship, talented as it was.
A massive bear head was mounted on the wall, mouth agape like it was roaring.
Wait, roaring's more tiger... whatever.
Anyway, once I realized Elvin's teacher—this supposed yeti—was actually kind, it wasn't so scary. Sure, his sheer size still gave off unintentional intimidation up close, but I could tell he was being extra careful with his expressions and movements not to spook me.
"Drink up."
Elvin's teacher, Mr. Regaf, handed us warm cocoa.
"Looks like the snow won't stop anytime soon...?"
He glanced out the window, then gestured for us to sit on the sofa.
"What fun stories should we tell?"
We sat side by side on the long sofa, three of us crammed in, while Elvin took a wooden chair.
Slurp.
"Then, I have a question," Iri said first, sipping her cocoa.
"Go ahead."
"Why is an Intelligence Agency agent living out here?"
At that, I scanned Mr. Regaf up and down. What about him screamed "Intelligence Agency"?
"Sharp eyes."
Mr. Regaf just smiled calmly.
"How'd you know I was with the agency?"
"I didn't for sure—until you just confirmed it."
"Fishing, eh?"
"Yes... No solid proof otherwise."
"So what made you suspect?"
"First, no normal person lives in a place like this. The cabin and furniture are well-made but not pro-level—probably an outsider. You're seasoned, so long-timer. And Elvin calls you Teacher, so together since he was a kid."
Iri rattled it off like rap lyrics.
"Plus, when talking to Elvin, you habitually scan surroundings, and even now, you hide little habits... Not self-taught."
"Learned somewhere... Like what you trainees learn."
"Yes."
Mr. Regaf nodded, satisfied.
"Elvin's made some fine friends. Observation skills beyond a trainee."
"Friends... not quite."
"We're just classmates. This beanpole snuck out without permission—if he gets caught, we're in trouble too."
At Iri's words, Regaf stood and approached Elvin.
Thwack!
He balled a huge fist and flicked Elvin's forehead hard.
"Putting your friends in a bind, huh?!"
"S-Sorry..."
"Not sorry to me—to your friends."
Elvin bowed his head toward us.
"Sorry. I'll go back once the snow stops."
The guy who wouldn't budge for the instructor this afternoon was a total lamb in front of Mr. Regaf.
"Well then... Can't just sit idle till the snow clears. How about some stories from Elvin's childhood?"
Regaf leaned back in his single-person sofa.
"Looks all grown and sturdy now, but he was a huge crybaby as a kid. Scared of everything, clumsy hands leading to all sorts of mishaps."
"R-Really?"
Hard to picture with current Elvin, so I double-checked. Regaf smiled with his eyes and nodded.
"For example..."
We huddled by the warm fireplace, hearing tales of Elvin the bedwetter.
Vina and I giggled; Iri just smirked, corner of her mouth twitching. Elvin plugged his ears, screaming for him to stop.
About an hour later, the snow stopped, and we made it back to the Temporary Barracks safely.
"Training again today. No big changes from yesterday, right?"
"Yes!"
We shouted in response to the Black Rose Instructor.
The routine was the same, but something had changed about us. Everyone's clothes were a layer lighter. Me included, lots of trainees shivered in the biting cold.
Elvin, of course, didn't bat an eye.
"If you wanna survive, adapt to this environment fast."
First time I actually wanted to run. Anything to warm up. It was insanely cold!
"And as you know, your final eval is here in these mountains. Think about why we've had you scouting every corner."
The Black Rose Instructor grinned at us.
"Who knows? Might end up playing hide-and-seek with me."