Chapter 38
Chapter 38
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: Ace
Chapter: 38
Chapter Title: Avalanche Shelter
-----------------------------------------------------------------
"Hoo..."
As the yeti collapsed, Luen cupped her chilled hands and blew on them warmly.
"Without the Five Elements trait, we wouldn't have lasted."
While conquering the blood-red cave, the effects of their existing titles had shifted once more.
Thanks to the Five Elements effect boosting natural resistance by 20%, they had endured three days in the freezing cold.
"At least the end's in sight now."
"You know there's still 30 minutes left, right?"
"Ugh... Can't we take a break?"
"Rest after 30 minutes."
Luen nodded, her lips pouting slightly at Woojin's words.
'They weren't kidding about level-ups getting tough after 35...'
Even factoring in the scroll, the remaining 10 levels wouldn't be easy.
"Luen, what's your level?"
"Me? Just hit 38."
Was it her royal bloodline?
Either way, Luen's growth had exceeded Woojin's expectations.
'Camilla's blood could cure the demon blood syndrome right away, but that's not an option here...'
Leaves of the Leafran tree, July dew, moon fruit, and more...
Woojin had asked about the items Luen used to treat her demon blood syndrome in that other world.
The issue was the order they'd been used in.
She'd grabbed whatever was at hand, and that led to a few side effects.
'But this is a game. If something like the 환요 egg works for curing demon blood syndrome, a window should pop up.'
For now, they needed the next cure to cross to the Central Continent together.
"We've come pretty deep. Shouldn't Hundred Flowers Valley be in sight by now?"
"Probably."
At Luen's words, Woojin pulled up the map.
A holographic window appeared before him, marked in red.
Those marks were spots Go-eun had highlighted on the map when he returned to the game.
Most were still unexplored black zones, but one location was active.
And it wasn't far from where they were.
'Where Darin Lake used to be.'
He scanned the surroundings.
The snow-covered plains looked nothing like what he remembered.
Fifty years separated that world from this one.
Changes in terrain and geography over time weren't surprising.
"A bit further and we'll hit Hundred Flowers Valley. We'll hunt till then and head over."
"Yes!!"
That was when it happened.
"Whoa? It's snowing!!"
Snowflakes began drifting down onto Luen's head, one by one.
"Wow... It hasn't snowed once in three days..."
She beamed excitedly at Woojin.
"Yeah. Snowing, alright."
Grip!
Suddenly, Woojin seized her arm.
"Eek?!!"
Tap— Tap—.
Snow started piling lightly on Luen's head.
"M-Master?"
Blushing at his abrupt move, Luen looked up at him.
"Run."
"...Pardon?"
Plop— Plop—
Whoooosh!!!
The gentle snowfall exploded into a raging blizzard.
Rumble...
And right after his words, the ground began to shake.
"Kyaa?!"
Luen bolted alongside Woojin as he pulled her along.
"Wh-what's going on?!"
"Avalanche."
"Huh?!"
Crash!!
As if waiting for his answer, a massive wall of white roared toward them from afar.
Climate event.
One of the random events tied to weather, like mirages in deserts or avalanches in snowfields.
"Thirty minutes left. Damn it."
"...It's fine now. We should split up and run. It'll be faster."
Catching Woojin's mutter, Luen pouted and let go of his hand.
"There should be a shelter nearby."
Woojin just swept his gaze around, ignoring her expression.
"There!!"
Once they broke from the open plain into the woods, a rundown cabin came into view, just as he'd said.
"Th-think it'll hold?"
She eyed the shabby structure doubtfully against the torrent of snow.
"It will."
Unlike her worry, Woojin stayed calm.
A small gravestone by the cabin bore a red crescent moon—the mark of the Red Tower.
Click.
Inside were other players huddled from the avalanche.
"Mmgh..."
Luen hesitated tensely at the sight of them.
The others looked equally stunned by the arrival of an NPC amid players.
"Let's go in."
Luen nodded at Woojin's cue and settled in a corner.
"Heh heh, thought the avalanche was the only surprise. This is intriguing."
There were three people inside.
"Not even the Central Continent, and someone's hiring mercs in the Dark Forest? Must be loaded."
One addressed Woojin.
He had a kindly face and a thick beard.
A massive crossbow slung on his back, dual one-handed axes at his belt.
Peak hunter look—with one oddity.
"You look loaded."
The man chuckled at Woojin's retort.
Unlike the others, his appearance stood out.
Not just the beard or gear.
"Heard race changes cost a fortune."
He wasn't human—he was a dwarf.
Evil Tail started everyone as human, but the site sold paid race-change items.
Price: 50 million won.
Outrage at launch, but years later, with Central Continent auction house prices from thousands to hundreds of millions trading daily, it wasn't bad.
A chance at instant riches.
That's why Evil Tail players risked it all for the Central Continent.
High entry barrier, too.
"Worth every penny. It's not just looks—skills and stats change too."
The dwarf grinned at Woojin.
"I'm dead serious about this game."
Even with big auction money, normies rarely dropped thousands on a game.
Race changes were mostly large clans raising alts for Labyrinth Tower raids.
But this dwarf? Different.
No raid vibe.
"A dwarf with a bow? 'Serious' feels like a stretch for such a joke build..."
"Kekeke, doing what others skip is serious. And this ain't your average bow."
Woojin shrugged at the cryptic words and sat by Luen.
"Avalanche should clear in 30 minutes at soonest."
A low voice from a man quietly reading by the fire.
Probably a hint to shut up.
Green robe—apprentice mage.
"Name's Weden. Fellow warrior? Pleased to meet ya."
The last one greeted warmly.
Younger-looking than Woojin, tall and sturdy.
'Character models ain't trustworthy, though...'
Sword at hip, big shield on back—frontline tank.
"Khan."
Woojin shook the offered hand lightly.
"Gareth."
"..."
The dwarf waved his name too; the mage glanced, then back to his book.
"Eh, no need for intros—we're not partying up."
Weden smiled awkwardly at the mage.
"Try some?"
Dwarf archer Gareth pulled jerky from his pouch for Woojin.
"Tasty stuff."
Dark Forest had villages everywhere—no need to fuss over food while camping.
Bread and water from shops sufficed.
"Whoa..."
Woojin eyed him wonderingly, matching his confident smirk after a bite.
"Kekeke, right? Why I went dwarf."
Gareth leaned against the wall, pleased.
"Hunted and made it myself."
Woojin got why he'd picked dwarf.
'Dwarves start with crafting bonuses.'
Most chose it for gear-making jobs; who'd use it for cooking?
"You really mean it."
"Damn right."
Gareth beamed.
"Bro, can I snag one too?!"
Weden sidled up with a friendly grin.
Good-natured warrior.
Prickly mage.
Quirky dwarf.
Like a scene from another world, not a game.
Rare to find such dedicated role-players.
'Not bad.'
VR's appeal was living another life, away from reality.
Woojin gave a wry smile.
He'd been like that once.
Now he played to return to reality.
"All heading to Hundred Flowers Valley?"
Weden chomped his jerky eagerly.
"Yup. Only spot worth hitting in the snowfields. You crossing to Central too?"
Woojin eyed Weden sidelong.
Central meant level 50.
"Haha, yeah. Just the last quest left."
"Oho... Congrats. Farewell to boring Dark Forest."
"Tell me about it. Can't wait for Labyrinth Tower."
"Guild lined up?"
"Nah, not yet. Join the Adventurer Union, merc a bit, get my bearings."
"Heh."
The mage snorted mid-read.
Weden frowned, knowing why.
"Hey. Plenty thrive in the Union. You don't need a big guild to have fun."
"Who said otherwise? Fine if you're happy grinding low floors without main raid spots."
"..."
Thud.
The mage closed his book.
"For the record, I'm joining Nayan Clan."
His snark was off-putting, but dropping the clan name shocked them.
"Nayan...? With the Crimson Witch?"
"Heh heh, rubbing shoulders with big shots. Impressive."
"Ahem."
The mage cleared his throat instead, lips twitching—he liked their reactions.
"Having a big shot around sounds like a problem."
All eyes turned to Woojin.
"Ah, sorry. Talking to myself."
"What do you mean?"
"Just... Labyrinth Tower has limited slots, like any dungeon."
"So?"
Woojin met the mage's eyes.
As if to say, Really?
"Aiming for main raids? With top-tier mage Crimson Witch in the same party? Room for you?"
"Ah..."
Weden's sigh flushed the mage's face.
"Big shots don't make me big. Belonging and stability? Sure, that's fine."
Woojin leaned back against the wall.
"Me? Not into that. I'd rather lead as the head snake."
"So no one's taking you?"
"Nope. Never planned on serving anyone."
"Show-off..."
"Not even the level yet."
"...What?"
"Just hit 40."
Shock filled the cabin.