The Ice Spirit's Birth
The Mana Golem lay shattered in ruins. The Frost Demon had collapsed with its chest torn open. It was the result of the raid led by Kang Yoonsoo and the clan members.
“Take the Mana Golem’s corpse for your clan.”
“What? Are you sure that’s all right?”
Jang Inwi’s eyes widened in surprise.
The Mana Golem was made of mana stones. Besides quickly replenishing mana, they were valuable magic stones that fetched high prices on the market for their many uses.
‘I already know thousands of ways to make a fortune. Right now, claiming rare items matters more than money.’
Kang Yoonsoo nodded.
“In exchange, I’ll take the Frost Demon’s corpse.”
“Understood. We wouldn’t know what to do with a demon’s body anyway.”
The Blood Martial Clan members gathered around the broken Mana Golem. They began mining the mana stones with their swords like pickaxes.
Watching the scene, Jang Inwi spoke carefully.
“I don’t think we can tackle the ruins boss in our current state.”
His voice made it clear he had given the matter serious thought.
“We’ve run out of holy water, statue treatment liquid, and healing potions. Several of our clan members have died as well. They were prepared for that, of course. But everyone is exhausted after the battle. Facing the ruins boss like this would be reckless. I’m sorry, but my clan intends to end the raid here.”
“Fine.”
Kang Yoonsoo’s reply was short.
Jang Inwi looked slightly bewildered.
“I thought you’d call me a coward or say I wasn’t fit to lead… but you agreed so readily?”
“A hunt without preparation only creates corpses.”
“Thank you for understanding.”
Jang Inwi smiled brightly.
“We’ll head out first. We need to recover the bodies. I’ll leave the ruins entrance open, so please follow when you’re ready.”
“I’ll make your right arm later.”
After collecting the mana stones and corpses, the Blood Martial Clan left the ruins ahead of them.
Kang Yoonsoo approached Shanette.
In his usual indifferent tone, he asked, “How are your wounds?”
“They’re fine. It’s just a small cut.”
Shanette nodded, her face pale.
Henrik, who had been idly carving an ice chunk with his sculpting knife, added, “Getting caught by a demon and only ending up like that is cheap. You’re lucky your guts didn’t spill out.”
Iris, standing beside Henrik, opened her eyes wide with curiosity.
“Guts? Can you eat those too?”
“……Do you only ever think about eating?”
Kang Yoonsoo pulled out his share of the healing potion from his waist.
“Lift your shirt.”
“Pardon?”
“I’ll apply the potion for you.”
“Ah, no. I can do it myself.”
“You did it for me last time.”
After a moment of hesitation, Shanette entrusted her body to him. As Kang Yoonsoo applied the potion to her wounds, he sank into deep thought.
‘If Shanette dies now, there’s no turning back.’
The same applied to anyone else. If someone died, that was the end. There would be no next life to prevent their death.
And the same held true for Kang Yoonsoo himself.
‘I must take risks, but stay cautious.’
There were truly dangerous places he had visited in past lives that he preferred to avoid. The Ruin Dragon’s Nest and the Magic Tower of the Giants were examples.
But in this final life, he would have to visit them for the immense rewards they offered.
‘For at least ten years, I’ll have to roam every dangerous region on the continent.’
While Kang Yoonsoo was lost in such dangerous thoughts, Iris tilted her head as she watched the two.
“I understand that is also something lovers do. Do you love Shanette, Kang Yoonsoo?”
“Yeah.”
……
While everyone was at a loss for words, Kang Yoonsoo calmly stood up. He approached the Frost Demon’s corpse. When he pulled the hilt of the cross-shaped sword deeply embedded in its chest, it slid out smoothly.
‘If I hadn’t planted the cross-shaped sword in advance, I wouldn’t have even been able to fight the Frost Demon.’
The demon race itself was that powerful. As proof, the cross-shaped sword had lost its original brilliant light, its blade dulled. It had sealed the demon’s power with such intensity that it had expended its own divine power.
‘It was too valuable an item to use up in one go, but it couldn’t be helped. It served its purpose.’
Kang Yoonsoo tossed the cross-shaped sword aside and split open the demon’s chest. Unfortunately, the heart had been destroyed by divine power.
‘If I had fed it to Iris, she could have used decent ice magic.’
After peeling away the hide, he found an item buried between the demon’s muscles.
◈ Tougher than any animal hide in this world
◈ Top-grade tailoring material
◈ A gem fragment containing the power of cold corruption
◈ Purpose unknown
The demon’s hide was a top-grade tailoring material. It possessed not only superior defense but also excellent magic resistance, making any armor crafted from it exceptionally powerful.
Kang Yoonsoo stored all the items in his backpack. He turned to his companions.
“Let’s go.”
……
Everyone was staring at him in silence. Shanette, unusually, had her face flushed red as she stole glances at him.
Kang Yoonsoo asked, puzzled, “What?”
“I’ve always thought this, but you’re the strangest man on the continent. You won’t find another like you anywhere.”
Henrik sighed and stood up. They left the hidden room.
At that moment, Kang Yoonsoo, who was in the lead, walked in a different direction from the way they had entered.
“Hey, that’s not the exit. That leads underground.”
“I know.”
Kang Yoonsoo spoke as if it were obvious.
“We’re heading straight for the heart of the ruins.”
* * *
Descending deeper into the ruins, they encountered no other monsters. However, the bone-chilling cold stirred an inexplicable sense of unease.
‘I’d like to hunt the Winterkill Ruins boss too, but it’s impossible right now.’
The boss monster of the Winterkill Ruins was an ice giant standing eight meters tall. As Jang Inwi had said, they lacked the strength to face a giant with such endurance and toughness.
Soon, a large gate presumed to be the heart of the ruins came into view. In front of it sat a giant with pale skin.
Shanette asked quietly, careful not to catch the giant’s eye.
“Do you intend to fight that boss monster as we are?”
“No.”
Kang Yoonsoo shook his head.
“We’ll just pass by.”
It was written in Lekimund’s records. He had used the light of a bonfire to slip past the ice giant and reach the heart of the ruins. The ice giant was vulnerable to high temperatures.
“Summon Salamander Sally.”
Sally, who had returned to the summoning realm due to the absolute zero temperature, was summoned. She sniffled and clung to Kang Yoonsoo.
“Papa……! Sniff! I was so cold and scared!”
“I know.”
Sally whined tearfully.
“Hnnng. Sally wants to rest now. It was too cold earlier.”
“I’ll make you a little sibling right now.”
“Really?”
At Kang Yoonsoo’s words, Sally’s eyes sparkled.
He nodded.
“Yeah.”
“Hooray! Sally loves Papa!”
Sally beamed and hugged Kang Yoonsoo. Iris looked puzzled.
“Does Sally love Kang Yoonsoo too?”
“Yes! Sally likes Papa!”
“Hmm. Love is truly mysterious.”
Iris seemed lost in thought about something. Sally raised both arms and spewed fire. The ice giant slowly rose to its feet.
“Intruders must die.”
The ice giant chased after the flames Sally controlled. In the meantime, Kang Yoonsoo’s party opened the gate and entered the heart of the ruins.
In the heart of the ruins stood a hexagonal crystal made of ice. The cold of the Winterkill Ruins flowed from that crystal.
“C-cold!”
As the cold intensified, Sally trembled. A similar altar to the previous one came into view. Atop the altar rested a crown of cold light. Kang Yoonsoo claimed the treasure of the Winterkill Ruins.
Crown of Frost
Grade: Rare
Cold Magic Enhancement: +52
A crown formed from souls frozen in frost. Presumed to have been worn by a king of a cold region in life. A favorite item of arrogant spirits.
Winterkill Ruins have been conquered.
Conqueror: Kang Yoonsoo
1st Achievement: Shanette Elogran
2nd Achievement: Henrik Elicurson
You have become the conqueror of the Winterkill Ruins.
The ruins’ magic resides within your body.
You are less susceptible to colds and cold-related illnesses.
Your immunity to frostbite has increased.
You have obtained the title ‘Adventurer of the Bitter Cold’.
Current number of conquered ruins: 2
The ruins’ boss monster is still alive.
If you do not leave the heart of the ruins quickly, the ice giant will return.
The moment they conquered the Winterkill Ruins, a powerful vibration rang from the Terminal.
Legendary Request - Castle of the Dead
7,287 undead have been liberated.
The undead army that marches across the continent every night will leave behind countless stories.
Their new purpose is to resurrect the strongest dragon as an undead.
You have acquired Nakron’s Alchemy Book.
Legendary Request - Desert Grand Temple has begun.
Kang Yoonsoo took out a black crystal from his backpack. It was the item Death General Caliburn had given him for communication.
—My Lord, can you hear me?
Caliburn’s voice came through the crystal.
“Yeah.”
—Rejoice. The seal on the Castle of the Dead has finally been lifted!
“Good.”
—We will embark on a journey to find the worst undead Nakron sought to create, the Neverdead Dragon. We must explore the most treacherous places on the continent. But if you ever need our help, we will assist you at any time.
“Got it.”
—Especially, please keep Nakron’s Alchemy Book safe. It is an invaluable item for a necromancer.
Kang Yoonsoo descended from the altar. However, he did not head straight for the exit. He looked at the ice chunk emitting cold air.
“Oh my? Now that I look at it, that’s eternal ice, isn’t it?”
Henrik spoke with delight. Shanette looked curious.
“What’s eternal ice?”
“An ice chunk that emits cold air all year round. It’s a fairly rare material, so it’s quite valuable as a crafting resource. It’s a bit small, but it looks to be in good condition. Should we take some?”
Just as Henrik was about to step forward with his sculpting knife, Kang Yoonsoo blocked his path.
“No.”
“Why not?”
“It’s material for creating a spirit.”
The ice spirit Icicle. Eternal ice crystal was a material capable of creating a spirit.
‘I need to make the eternal ice even colder.’
Kang Yoonsoo took out a water bottle from his robes and sprinkled its contents around the eternal ice. Combined with the ruins’ cold, the eternal ice froze even harder.
“There’s something we need to do.”
Iris, who had absorbed the Mana Golem’s strength, brought over a large chunk of ice she had smashed. Shanette chopped it into smaller pieces with her great scythe, and Henrik ground them down with his sculpting knife. When the ice granules were scattered around the eternal ice, the air grew so cold that their lips trembled.
“Ugh, Mama! Sally’s too cold!”
“I’ll hold you.”
Shanette hugged Sally tightly. Kang Yoonsoo extended his right hand, wearing the Ring of Life Oppression.
“Spirit Creation.”
The eternal ice was bathed in brilliant light. A small spark of life flickered as if an embryo were forming.
Please determine the gender of the ice spirit Icicle.
Male Icicles possess the power of cold disasters but are cold and arrogant. Female Icicles are chilly and aloof, yet excel in ice magic.
Unlike Sally, whose gender had been forcibly set to female, he was given the chance to choose. Kang Yoonsoo did not hesitate.
“Male.”
Brilliant light surged from the eternal ice crystal.
The eternal ice crystal is slightly small. The spirit’s age will be younger. Charisma -31
The advanced cold strengthens the spirit’s soul. Mana +17
The creator’s dry personality harmonizes with the spirit’s coldness. Cold +2
Only one spirit of each type can be created. The opportunity to create Icicle has been consumed.
Cold energy gathered around the eternal ice. Blinding light enveloped the surroundings. The moment the ice spirit was born had arrived.