Chapter 295
Chapter 295
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>Translator: Ryuma
>Chapter: 295
>Chapter Title: The 31st Horse Overturns the Game Board
>-----------------------------------------------------------------
Kang Seol's party sprang into action the moment they uncovered the revived Branca's plan. There wasn't time for delicate maneuvers. They had to push forward relentlessly with anything that might disrupt his scheme.
"The trolls have all barricaded themselves inside and aren't coming out."
"C-Cold..."
"We need to watch out for frostbite too. If we're not careful..."
Jamad and Kang Seol strode forward purposefully.
Joneh and Santio had no choice but to follow. The cold was growing more brutal by the minute.
Whooooosh...
"Ugh..."
Teeth chattered as they clashed.
Kang Seol glanced back and said,
"Fortunately, there are no sentries anywhere."
"Sentries? What's there to guard here...? Huh? Wait..."
"This must be their preserved food storage. Makes sense—most ingredients would freeze solid in this cold. It's on an enormous scale. So... you plan to burn it down?"
Kang Seol rubbed his chin thoughtfully for a moment, then shook his head.
"That would just advertise our intrusion. We'll take some minor measures and move on."
A choice appeared before Kang Seol.
[This is the Glacier Jaw Tribe's preserved food storage. Hunting in the snowfields doesn't always go as planned, so the storage is their lifeline. Strangely, no sentries are guarding it. This could be an opportunity. What will you do?]
1. [Risks: Heavy guard, detection, fire suppression] Burn the preserved food storage.
2. Smash the door and steal the supplies inside.
3. [Requires: Deadly poison] Contaminate the preserved food.
4. Hide in the storage.
...
Crackle...
Kang Seol, fused with Jamad, placed his hand on the outer wall of the preserved food storage.
Whooooosh...
The majestic energy of the mountain flowed from the wall into the ground.
Rumble...
A brief tremor.
"It's done. Let's go."
"A-Already? That fast?"
"You're not even going to check inside?"
"No need."
Kang Seol and Jamad had taken some inexplicable action at the preserved food storage. Soon after, they emerged elsewhere.
"Whew... So the underground is structured like this."
"Not only do they cultivate root crops here, but they've also made passages for underground travel... Be careful. Here they come."
Grrr...
Wak! Waaak!
A group of trolls circled past Kang Seol's party, who had slipped in unnoticed.
"What did they say?"
"...Hurry up and finish before the blizzard hits, then head inside."
"Internal patrol, I suppose. If they've built passages like this underground, then..."
"Probably to prepare for blizzards. Once one hits, you can't go outside for days."
Joneh's eyes widened.
"D-Days? You have to endure blizzards that long?"
"There are records of it. Human settlements have escaped the blizzards' reach for a while now, but the trolls live alongside those horrors."
Jamad responded to Santio's words.
"Blizzards in the north last at least two days. They sweep across such vast areas. The Glacier Jaws prioritize survival above all because they've endured these brutal blizzards."
Kang Seol smirked and asked,
"You know quite a bit, huh?"
"No one gossips about other tribes' affairs like trolls do. They cooperate, but deep down, they think their own tribe is superior. Even the reclusive Glacier Jaws' tales have spread widely to our southern tribe...."
The blizzard would soon turn this ice fortress into a turtle retracted into its shell, motionless. They believed themselves safe, just waiting for it to pass.
A choice appeared.
[The Glacier Jaw Tribe's settlement has underground passages. Their exact purpose is unknown, but they seem important alongside the root crop fields. What will you do?]
1. Destroy the root crop fields.
2. Follow the patrol.
3. Collapse the supporting pillars.
4. Search for underground water veins.
...
"This spot should do."
Whooooosh...
Rumble rumble rumble...
Just like at the preserved food storage, Jamad poured the mountain's energy into the outer walls. It wasn't enough with one go, so he muttered incomprehensible incantations at the pillars and earthen walls supporting the underground passage.
"This should suffice. Next is the last one."
"Huh? What are you talking about? We're up against this massive fortress...."
"Follow his lead for now, Joneh."
"Urgh..."
Kang Seol's party slipped outside and peered beyond the walls.
The solemn mountains were matched by a deathly silence.
Jamad gazed into the distance and said,
"It's coming...."
Joneh and Santio turned toward where he looked and gasped.
"Huh...?"
"Th-That's..."
"Yes, the northern blizzard."
Whiiiiiish-!
Whooooosh-!
A wind so ferocious it made their lips tremble raged forth. And the chill carried within it brought the terror of death.
"Isn't this dangerous for us too?"
"It is."
"Th-Then..."
"But it's not hopeless. Right, Kang Seol?"
Kang Seol grinned.
"If your body's nice and warm, even a blizzard feels refreshing. Now, on to the next spot."
* * *
Whiiiiiish-!
Kuuuooo!
The ferocious wind howled.
The man watching it through the window clenched his fist.
Branca, leader of the Glacier Jaws, shuddered at nature's majesty.
"Beautiful... yet eerie."
"The blizzard has begun."
"Preparations are sufficient?"
"We've not only prepared sorceries against the cold but also inspected nearby facilities. Patrols were withdrawn early, so no one defying orders should suffer."
"Good. Once we weather this trial, the ritual will claim the Keeper of All Things' remaining spirit. Then..."
Branca sat in his chair.
"I, Branca, will seize everything."
"No one here doubts that."
"Hmph..."
Branca felt a strange disappointment as things unfolded too smoothly.
He was one of the monsters who had lived through turbulent times. He shed blood for his desires, and when it froze, he bled from fresh wounds.
Branca was a cold warrior.
Even as he executed his plans flawlessly, doubt lingered in his heart.
Was this man drumming his fingers on the armrest truly the cold warrior Branca?
Since escaping that book, he had chosen certain paths over struggle. Was that right?
Had age brought wisdom?
Or mere caution?
Or cowardice?
"When I seize everything... I'll know."
In the end, only results would remain.
Branca's miraculous revival, claiming the world.
Then, a massive goblet of fermented liquor caught his eye.
Plop...
The liquor rippled.
"...Hm?"
Someone's voice drew Branca's attention.
"B-Branca, sir!"
"What is it?"
"Th-That is..."
A tone ominous beyond words.
"Speak!"
"Th-The food storage has collapsed!"
"...What? Collapsed how?"
Branca's gaze flicked unwittingly to the goblet from moments ago.
"...Was that tremor just now...? Why? You said it was checked thoroughly before withdrawing the guards!"
"W-We did check!"
"Damn it... Retrieve everything before the blizzard freezes it solid!"
"We've already sent soldiers via the underground passages. Excluding the damaged goods, we can salvage most if we're quick."
"Hurry. Our food stores aren't plentiful. Botch this, and we'll starve during the blizzard."
"We'll send as many as possible and handle it swiftly! The cause..."
"Investigate after the blizzard passes. Minimize losses now that it's happened."
"Yes, sir!"
Swoosh...
Branca sank back into his chair.
His heart began to race.
The first time since his revival.
'Why?'
Unable to guess why, Branca buried himself in the chair, lost in thought.
And moments later.
Rumble rumble rumble...
A vibration far stronger than before shook the fortress.
Boom!
Crack...
A long crack spiderwebbed across the floor beneath Branca's feet.
"What in the...? What the hell is happening!"
A subordinate approached Branca with a dazed expression.
"This can't... It can't be..."
"Speak!"
"Th-The underground passages have collapsed."
......The troops heading to the storage?"
"M-Most are missing, presumed... N-No... There's a bigger problem than them...."
"...Out with it."
"The ground is crumbling...."
"How far?"
"Probably... the entire fortress... Th-That..."
Branca's face went blank.
Neither calm nor composure shadowed it.
Why.
Why now.
"The blizzard... is entering the fortress."
"Kuaaaah!"
Crack crack!
Branca shot to his feet in rage.
The troop losses were irreversible.
He had to act fast.
"...Gather the sorcerers. I'll block the wind."
"Y-Yes, sir!"
Swoosh...
As he donned his coat, subordinates rushed to fetch the sorcerers.
Moments later.
The subordinates returned with fewer than half the sorcerers.
"Th-The sorcerers have vanished!"
Branca's heart pounded at the words.
He grinned.
"Now I get it.... Rats have snuck in. I'll go myself! You lot, block the invading chill!"
"Yes, sir!"
[Jamad uses Mountain Sorcery: Crack.]
[Generates fissures at marked locations.]
[If the strength or position prevents fissures, substitutes with equivalent impact.]
The one who made the sorcerers vanish—no, die—was naturally Kang Seol's party. They had collapsed the storage and passages too.
"How'd you collapse the underground passages?"
Jamad replied nonchalantly.
"This body is a mountain sorcerer. Pinpointing weaknesses is child's play. Once inside the fortress, it was inevitable."
The collapsing passages had exposed a vulnerability in Branca's fortress. Now, the blizzard poured through that gap.
Jamad had fulfilled his role. Next was Kang Seol's turn.
"But... what have you been making since earlier?"
"Smells good. Doesn't look appetizing, though...."
Sizzle...
While the fortress interior descended into chaos, Kang Seol's party was in the kitchen.
Kang Seol pulled out pre-stashed ingredients, poured oil into a massive iron pot, and stir-fried them.
A nutty aroma mingled with an odd sour tang.
Finally, amid the pandemonium, something was complete.
[Cooking complete.]
[Peanut Oil Volcano Squid Stir-Fry complete.]
[Spicy aroma wafts. Cooking successful.]
[Novel cooking method.]
[Inspiration awakens.]
[New recipes may emerge upon encountering fresh ingredients.]
[Cooking skill slightly improved.]
...
Not a monster dish, but a recipe Kang Seol knew well.
Peanut Oil Volcano Squid Stir-Fry had proven useful before.
"Eat up."
"W-Well, then..."
"For a second, I forgot where we were."
Joneh and Santio found Kang Seol's sudden offer of food odd, but trusting his plan, they dug in without complaint.
"Ho! This has a weird flavor."
"Delicious! Ranks among the best I've tasted, and it's new to me!"
"Slurp... But it's spicy. Got anything to drink?"
Kang Seol shook his head.
"You have to endure the heat with this dish."
"Ugh... Why?"
"Joneh... My stomach feels..."
"You too? Mine's bubbling like a cauldron...."
Only then did Kang Seol stand abruptly.
"The effect's kicking in."
[Fiery meal consumed.]
[Peanut Oil Volcano Squid Stir-Fry special effect activates.]
[Enter 'Walking Volcano' state for 6 hours.]
[Failure to cool off brings excruciating pain.]
"Ugh..."
"Ah, aaah..."
"Now's the time. Let's head outside."
"Y-You're insane! There's a blizzard out there... Urgh... Urgh...."
Pop-!
Kang Seol dashed out first.
Joneh and Santio followed helplessly.
Creak...
Kang Seol opened the door.
Whoooosh!
The massive blizzard roared in.
"Dangerous! Close the d—... Huh?"
"...Joneh? Feel... comfortable, by any chance?"
"You too, Santio?"
"Yes. Incredible. Don't tell me it's from what we just ate...."
Joneh and Santio stared at Kang Seol.
"We can move for a bit. Follow me! This way!"
"Ha! Hahaha! This is wild!"
"The blizzard doesn't bother me at all. Vision's a bit limited, though."
"Feels refreshing instead! Still, that hurt earlier! Warn a guy next time?"
Kang Seol's party moved on with renewed cheer.
"Now we just head to the Keeper?"
"The fortress is in chaos, so guards should be thinned out. First..."
Pop-!
Kang Seol, leading, halted suddenly.
"Hm? What's..."
"Oh no..."
Whoooosh...
An overwhelming presence emanated from right beside the Keeper of All Things.
"Found you, rats. After the Keeper, as expected."
Branca had set aside other matters to head straight for the Keeper.
He smiled chillingly.
"How'd you cross from the 6th floor? That beast was guarding it."
Branca faced the saboteurs not with anger, but apparent glee.
"Kekeke... So that's it. That's how it is."
"...What do you mean?"
"I've wondered... if I was truly myself. But facing you lets me confirm."
......
Blue sparks flew from Branca's eyes.
"I, Branca... am Branca. Capturing you and exacting justice sets my heart racing. As reward, I'll bury you in the snow."
Crackle...
Kang Seol promptly fused with Jamad.
"...A troll?"
"Branca, I've heard plenty about you."
"Who are you? Never seen you... but you know me?"
"Of course. It'd be disrespectful for a descendant not to recognize the old fossil stinking of that book."
"Kekeke... Ah, so you're of my line."
Whoooosh...
Silence hung between them, broken only by the blizzard's howl.
Jamad spoke first.
"Jamad."
"Branca."
Crack!
Branca's muscles swelled.
"Save greetings for your last words. Time's short."
The Glacier Jaw master of ancient sorcery, the icy Branca, had returned.
Jamad met his gaze with a ferocious grin.
"Farewell... old timer."
"I'll crush you!"
Boom-!