Chapter 36
Chapter 36
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 36
Chapter Title: Joining the Expedition
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Snow will fall soon.
Crunch—
I lifted my head at the pleasant sound of crunching snow.
All around me was nothing but white snow.
"...So what do we do now?"
I turned to the side with a sigh.
The chat window was scrolling rapidly.
💬 Viewer Chat
— Anon
Dunno?
— Anon
If I knew, would I be a farmer lol
⭐ Heavenly Demon
— Heavenly Demon
Sorry. This lady doesn't know that either.
Looking at that chat window, I let out a deep sigh.
It meant we'd have to scour this massive snow mountain.
Overwhelmed by the hopelessness, I resorted to my cheat key.
"Knowledgeable Person, you there?"
I'd summoned the all-knowing encyclopedia.
But even he was no help this time.
💬 Viewer Chat
— Knowledgeable Person
That's only found in the Ice Palace, so I don't know either.
— Snow Girl
I only know it's been coming from that cave for hundreds of years...
"So we really have to search this mountain after all."
A sigh escaped me automatically amid the despair.
💬 Viewer Chat
— Shihanbu Master
Disciple, be quiet for a moment.
A message from Wind Justice Old Fist appeared in chat.
I held my breath at his words.
— Shihanbu Master
I hear voices from the right.
'I don't hear anything though?'
I didn't voice the retort.
Wind Justice Old Fist was a transcendent expert.
It was only natural he could hear things I couldn't.
"Then I'll head right."
Crunch— Crunch—
I climbed the snowy mountainside, stepping through the snow.
After walking for a good while, murmurs finally reached my ears.
Over the hill, a dozen or so Beastkin had gathered in a clearing.
"First time seeing so many Beastkin gathered like this."
They were all different races.
A fox Beastkin with striking red fur.
A sleek yet majestic tiger Beastkin.
A small but clever-looking weasel Beastkin.
Various Beastkin, each showing their distinctive traits, had assembled in the clearing.
The moment I approached curiously, one sable Beastkin shouted loudly.
My eyes went wide.
"The Ice Crystal Expedition is recruiting one miner!"
Ice Crystals—the very reason I'd come to this snow mountain.
This meant they'd guide me to their location.
No better opportunity could exist.
I shot my hand up and stepped forward.
"I'd like to apply as a miner!"
That was when it happened.
"Me! I'll go!"
Another applicant besides me appeared.
He was a massive gray bear Beastkin.
At least two meters tall, a giant.
His arms alone were thicker than my thighs—a body like a mountain.
"Oh! A strong bear Beastkin! And... hmm. You, monkey Beastkin... uh, balding... good luck."
The sable glanced at me pitifully for a moment.
Without much thought, he took the bear Beastkin and left.
As I stared in disbelief, the chosen bear Beastkin grinned at me...
Flex—
...and sauntered off, flexing his developed pecs boastfully.
"..."
I stood there dazed at the sight.
💬 Viewer Chat
— Anon
Lmao got outdone by a bear without a dantian lol
— Anon
Bald monkey's free ride life finally hits reality lol
The viewers pounced on the opportunity to bite.
I ignored their worthless jabs and surveyed the surroundings.
Upon closer look, more Beastkin were steadily gathering here.
"They're gathering people here to go mine Ice Crystals?"
That was my conclusion, so I decided to wait right there.
Until another expedition team arrived.
I waited until sunset.
Then, a dozen new Beastkin crested the hill.
The next expedition team had finally arrived.
One weasel Beastkin stepped forward in the clearing and raised his voice.
"We're short one miner, so we're recruiting more! Anyone want to join?"
I stepped forward immediately.
"I'll apply!"
But my shout was quickly drowned out by others.
All the Beastkin in the clearing surged forward.
The weasel Beastkin slowly eyed the applicants.
The moment his gaze reached me.
"..."
It just passed over.
He'd lingered long on the bear Beastkin's kin and the tiger Beastkin earlier.
"At this rate, I'll get rejected again."
I sighed and stepped back.
There was a massive boulder there, easily over a meter in diameter.
"What's that bald monkey doing?"
"Thinks he's out, so he's leaving?"
The Beastkin whispered and stared oddly.
But I ignored them.
"Hup!"
With a deep grunt, I bent down and gripped the base firmly with both hands.
Feeling the cold rock against my fingertips.
Crunch!
I channeled strength into every muscle and hoisted the boulder overhead.
That was the moment.
The bear Beastkin's casual eyes widened.
The tiger Beastkin gaped in shock.
All the other Beastkin stared at me in astonishment.
The clearing fell silent in an instant.
Only the wind whistled across the snowfield.
Confirming their reactions, I carefully set the boulder down.
Thud—
The boulder hit the snow with a heavy thud.
At that instant, the weasel Beastkin's voice echoed through the now-quiet clearing.
"Haaap! Amazing!"
The shouting weasel Beastkin rushed over, thumbs up in admiration.
"No way, you're small and scrawny but hiding that monstrous strength! Are all monkey Beastkin this strong? Anyway, I'm Rau!"
The weasel Beastkin who introduced himself as Rau.
The surrounding Beastkin buzzed at his friendly words.
Everyone acknowledged I'd been accepted.
Especially the bear Beastkin, who had been so smug moments ago.
His face flushed red as he awkwardly turned away from my gaze.
I flashed him a grin.
Flex—
...and joined the expedition, flexing my pecs boastfully.
The chat scrolled up.
💬 Viewer Chat
— Anon
Petty af.
— Anon
Bear level indeed.
⭐ Heavenly Demon
— Heavenly Demon
Go for it! That's the privilege of the victor!
— Baby Elf
Even childish is cool, World Tree sir!
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
The fox Beastkin leading the expedition.
She raised her voice.
"We'll rest here for a bit!"
At her command, the team members moved with disciplined efficiency.
Unloading gear according to their roles.
Setting up a rest area.
Preparing a simple meal.
"They're so organized."
As I admired the scene.
"Hey! Bald monkey!"
It wasn't full acknowledgment, but I heard someone calling me.
I turned to see Rau waving.
"Don't call me bald monkey."
"Huh? Then tell me your name."
"My name's Kim... Shihanbu."
"Shihanbu? Sounds like you're about to die soon. Here, take this anyway."
With that, Rau handed me something.
It was food made by boiling snow water and mashing in grass-like stuff.
"No meat?"
"There is."
Rau nodded toward the front.
There, four armored Beastkin led by the expedition captain were tearing into jerky.
Clearly getting better treatment than us.
"Meat's only for combatants. Us miners get this..."
Rau shrugged and chewed his grass clump.
"Try it. Surprisingly edible."
I popped the grass clump in my mouth and chewed.
"Hmm. Yeah, it's decent."
The texture was tough—worst part.
But thanks to the wild greens like watercress?
The flavor was good, going down easy.
"Right?"
Rau dug into his meal in earnest.
I chewed mine too, starting to ask questions.
"How far to the Ice Crystals?"
"Huh? First time mining?"
"Yeah."
"Eh, not far. Two days if no trouble... but..."
Rau trailed off, glancing sideways.
I followed his gaze.
An unarmed raccoon dog Beastkin eating meat with the combatants.
"That guy's eating meat, but doesn't look like a combatant."
"...He's the guide. Predicts weather and stuff."
Special treatment for premium talent.
"But listen..."
Rau leaned in after checking around, whispering in my ear.
"Total dud. Complete dud. The guide sucks at guiding. That's why we urgently recruited miners—got injuries from taking a wrong path."
I looked back at the raccoon dog Beastkin.
He met my eyes and smirked.
Our gazes locked; he openly sneered, flaunting his jerky bite.
As if saying, 'This is the difference between you and me.'
As my face soured at the sight, I felt Rau's hand on me.
"Drop it. No good picking a fight."
"Wasn't planning to."
I needed to know the way to the Ice Crystal cave.
Getting kicked out here would be trouble.
I averted my gaze and tore into the grass clump again.
"So, how much Ice Crystal do we get?"
"10%. You keep 10% of what you harvest yourself."
10%...
The Ice Palace harvests about 50 a year.
Enough to last until the next season.
"So how many per trip as a miner?"
Rau blinked at my question.
Then he sighed.
"Lived deep in the mountains? What 'how many'? Half a half-piece is good hauling."
Half a half-piece...
Not even usable as medicine.
"That's rough..."
"Heh, your master's greedy huh? Tough luck."
"Master?"
"Not tribute for the Dinosaur?"
I glanced around.
Most Beastkin here seemed to be mining Ice Crystals on the Dinosaur's orders.
"Everyone's working hard."
"Eh, this is paradise for us. Other places treat 'em as emergency rations or just eat 'em outright."
"...Yeah, fair."
I nodded bitterly.
"Everyone, listen up! Weather's good today, so we'll push farther!"
The fox Beastkin captain's voice rang across the clearing.
"Guess we're going more today. Makes sense—get more mining before the Dinosaur arrives."
Rau muttered, packing his gear.
The other miners and combatants followed suit.
But I didn't pack.
"Captain, hold on."
The fox Beastkin captain packing turned to me.
I spoke clearly to her sharp-eyed face.
"If we move now, snow will fall soon."
All eyes turned to me.
Including the guide raccoon dog Beastkin.
He snorted openly at me.
"What're you yapping, monkey Beastkin? I'm the guide saying it's fine—what do you know? Weather's this clear—snow my ass!"
I didn't waver at his mockery.
The chat was scrolling furiously before my eyes.
💬 Viewer Chat
⭐ 100-Year Demon Core
— 100-Year Demon Core
Hah! Using that as a guide? Can't even read the sky.
— Anon
Demon Core's word is gold.
— Anon
Fr, guy's ridden mountains for 50 years.
— Anon
Shihanbu's 100% right—big snow incoming.
I stared straight at the guide raccoon dog Beastkin and spoke with firm conviction.
"No. Snow's coming soon. A lot of it."
The guide raccoon dog Beastkin couldn't hide his sneer.
"Nonsense! No signs of snow at all! No wind, sky's clear—where's this bullshit coming from!"
The chat exploded at his arrogance.
⭐ 100-Year Demon Core
— 100-Year Demon Core
Tsk tsk, greenhorn. No snow signs? That's prime precursor for blizzard. In snow mountains, calm clear days herald big dumps. Every mountaineer knows!
I started to rebut based on the chat but stopped.
No one would believe me no matter how I explained in this mood.
"What does he know..."
"Tch, wasting time."
The guide had zero credibility, but I had none at all.
No one would buy it in this situation.
I shrugged and gave up rebutting.
Instead, I started packing.
That was when.
"Huh...? Snow?"
"It's really snowing... Agh! It's dumping hard!"
The sky turned over.
A blizzard.
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