Chapter 111

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Translator: Ryuma

Chapter: 111

Chapter Title: Overflowing Hell

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I've uncovered information on a hidden adventure.

A few more conditions need to be met before the related adventure unlocks.

Snowman stared at the letter for a moment, lost in thought.

Should he tear it up, or keep it safe?

Of course, there was no right answer.

Snowman sighed and carefully tucked the letter into his inventory.

The letter's fragrance lingered heavily.

It was an intense scent that instantly overpowered Mirei's cigarette smell.

"Hmm... Shall I go find her?"

Snowman was on friendly terms with Mirei.

This letter contained Malacus's wish—the one that had hastened her death.

Any sane person would have shredded it to pieces.

'But if it were her...'

If he showed this letter to the late Mirei, she probably would have responded like this:

‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠

Recalling her, Snowman smiled faintly and replied to Karen.

"We'll see. If I run into her on the way?"

Karen snickered.

"That works, I guess..."

This was the inconclusive end to their muddy brawl.

Snowman checked his newly acquired titles next.

"......"

The viewers' reactions matched what Snowman felt.

'These... titles like this exist?'

Master of Shadows was great, but Lone Walker was overwhelmingly powerful.

Ultimate techniques were jackpot-tier just to invent one.

They were such unique abilities, with no proper teachings, requiring endless refinement.

Often, they never shone beyond their initial power.

'But with Lone Walker... that risk drops.'

No exact numbers, but "noticeably" meant it wouldn't disappoint.

With that, he'd checked all his titles.

Worth the dangerous adventure.

Realizing there was nothing left here, Snowman sent Jamad and Karuna back into his Shadow Space.

Whoosh-!

"You're... good."

"What, tell me to go in too? I'd get lonely. Then who'd protect the master? Right? Right?"

"...That's why, no."

Karen grinned.

Using her haze, she was the perfect red-haired fairy—no one would suspect.

'Next up, Place Where Footsteps Cease adventure?'

A backup if the Enlightenment adventure didn't chain.

Ruin hunters had stopped coming lately, causing ruins to collapse and monsters to spill out.

That triggered this adventure.

Conveniently soloable, decent difficulty.

Snowman selected End Adventure.

Ziiing-

But then.

'...What?'

Teleported amid particles, Snowman looked around with a dumbfounded expression.

"Hurray! It's a person! Someone's here! Kyung-taek!"

"Shh! Stop yelling! What if something hears us?"

"You punk, when your noona speaks, you listen quietly!"

"Um... th-that person over there must be startled too, so l-let's talk quietly..."

What was this situation?

'Damn sudden adventure.'

Location-wise, not far from the Enlightenment adventure spot.

"Whoa! That person's a fairy!"

"What? For real? If it's a fairy..."

"Th-then not a transfer?"

Snowman eyed Karen and the people gathered before him.

A woman who seemed overly dolled up, less adventurer vibe.

An average guy.

And a middle-aged man lacking confidence.

Odd party.

'Others were here too?'

Snowman asked.

"Nice to meet ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠you. Things happened fast—were there others here?"

"Well..."

"Hmm..."

"H-ha-ha..."

They just glanced around, mood darkening noticeably.

The most approachable-looking guy answered Snowman.

"There were. Um... there were, but..."

"They... died, right?"

"Yeah, just like this noona said."

As expected, Snowman checked the adventure description that popped up.

"Hmm... Mind filling me in on the details?"

"Before that, introductions? Feels like an interrogation..."

The woman replied to Snowman.

He nodded and gave his name.

"Snowman."

"Huh? That's a nickname, right?"

"...Nicknames don't count?"

"Not that, but we use real names among ourselves. Fellow Koreans? Use real names!"

"Kang Seol."

"Foreign name?"

"Yes. Foreign name."

"Unique name... Cool, though. I'm Han So-mi, 22."

"I'm 25."

"Oppa then. We have strict hierarchy, so I'll call you oppa."

"...Sure, fine."

Strict hierarchy outside the military? Odd. Han So-mi glanced at the guy beside her, probably addressing him.

"Sigh... I'm Jo Kyung-taek, just turned 21. Hyung it is."

"Yeah."

"Drop the formalities. Everyone here does."

"Alright."

"...Quick adapter."

"I am."

The middle-aged man introduced himself.

"I-I'm Shin Mun-ho. Late forties now."

"Got it. Nice to meet you."

"Hyung! This noona... noona, right? Anyway, who's she?"

"Karen. Basically... travels with this guy."

"...Dating?"

"What?"

"Hey! Rude question. Gotta noona spell everything out? Geez!"

"Just a year older..."

"Oh ho!"

Amid the clamor, Shin Mun-ho patted Snowman's shoulder.

"H-ha... So glad to meet someone here."

Now knowing a bit about each other, Snowman asked his burning question again.

"So, what happened? I don't know the situation I've been dragged into."

"Figured... Informal okay?"

"Go ahead."

"B-before Kang Seol arrived... So-mi. Better if So-mi explains."

"Knew it. I'll tell you, oppa."

Snowman nodded.

"We met on Nobira's Great Forest scouting adventure. Started with five."

"Down to three."

"Yeah, never dreamed it. Thought it'd be a casual stroll with five. Believe me? Solid party, not super dangerous."

Basically Nobira scouts.

Scouts were nimble but weak in combat. They fit perfectly.

"Why'd two die? Haven't heard what you're doing now either."

"Step by step. They... ran into monsters."

"Monsters?"

Monsters dotted the Great Forest.

But strong ones stayed central, Nobira's reach shallow, so mostly weaklings.

"Yes. But... how to put it... no idea."

"They were dead when we split for water, hyung."

"What?"

"Smashed flat like sardines, guts everywhere burying them... Horrific, first time seeing that."

"Monsters' doing, then."

"Yes. No human could. Pressing people flat? Impossible."

Possible, actually.

Snowman's ten Pieces could, easily.

But early adventure, limited to monsters.

"Hmm... Central monsters leaking out, maybe."

"Exactly! Matches perfect. Super unlucky. Thought rest adventure, but..."

Karen stuck to Snowman, getting the rundown.

"So, monsters in the center leak out sometimes? Like pig piss?"

"...Weird analogy, but yeah."

"How strong are these leaks?"

"Um..."

Snowman pondered, chin in hand.

'What level?'

Varied types, forest-based mainstream.

He'd rarely reached the center, no benchmark.

"Stronger than Atarack?"

"No way."

"Good then. Just lead 'em out."

Snowman nodded.

Jamad, Karuna, Karen.

Even she wasn't baggage now, no worries if foes stronger.

"Right? Girlfriend confirmed?"

"Kyung-taek got one right? Thought mercenary..."

"Merc with a pretty fairy like that? Talk sense."

"Tch... Eyes hurt."

Han So-mi and Jo Kyung-taek eyed Karen and Snowman suspiciously, whispering nonstop.

"...Not like that."

"Ahem... We say anything? Anyway, that's the situation. Gotta report to Nobira now?"

"The monsters?"

"Gone. Could target us anytime."

"......"

"So! We need to stick ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠tight to survive. We're already tight—oppa just join!"

"How?"

Three eyed him expectantly.

Han So-mi asked.

"What's your job?"

Snowman answered.

"Summoner."

One word from each, same reaction.

"...Ah."

"Ah."

"Ah..."