Chapter 97

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Translator: Ryuma

Chapter: 97

Chapter Title: Spoils of the Sulfur Skeleton

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Karen blinked at Snowman's shout and asked back.

"Are you yelling at me right now?"

"No, it's just... opening it now would be a problem."

"Oh?"

Opening the box would trigger a separate time limit, independent of the adventure's deadline.

Once that new timer ran out or they hit the end adventure button, they'd be sent back to their base camp.

'That'd be dangerous.'

Snowman's current base was still Audenin.

He could've set it to Kongori on the way north, but he'd skipped it, planning to make Gulia his base instead.

So his base remained far-off Audenin.

'If the expedition system kicks in, it'll send us straight to Audenin.'

Considering the hellish ordeals he'd endured just thinking long-distance travel was no big deal, teleporting to Audenin would be a nightmare.

Besides, he still had business in Novira.

Snowman placed a hand on Karen's shoulder and said,

"Let's check it out in Gulia."

"Got it."

Karen grunted as she tried to hoist the box onto her back.

"It's kinda big..."

"Step aside, fairy. I'll carry it."

Jamad slung the Sulfur Skeleton loot over his shoulder alongside his sulfur skeleton trophies.

"Oh... thanks."

"Let's move."

To maximize their remaining time, Snowman hurried the group on their way.

They still had work to do.

Snowman's party swiftly left the ruined Altar of Fire and retraced their steps.

Soon after, they slipped back inside Nebania's border walls through the sulfur skeleton's burrow—the same one that had let them bypass Gulia and cross the border.

Rumble rumble...

Mael muttered in some unknown tongue.

And moments later.

Crraaaash!

Roooar!

The burrow collapsed completely, kicking up clouds of dust.

Knowing it was coming, Mael and the party had already exited, so no one was hurt.

"That do it?"

"No idea how they knew, but the skeletons exploited the soft ground here to punch a hole in the wall. With the burrow fully collapsed, it'll take months to dig it out again."

"Gulia will fortify by then."

"I tipped off the folks heading there first. They'll spread the word."

Without officially crossing the border, going straight from Yogna Tun to Gulia might've landed them in hot water for sneaking around.

But entering the walls like this and heading to Gulia solved everything.

"My part's done, then."

"Mael, thank you."

"I owe my freedom to you, Snowman. No need to thank me. Time for me to head out."

"Leaving right away?"

"No reason to stick around now that things turned out well."

"Where to?"

"Hmm... maybe west, beyond Nebania. Heard about some new ruins being uncovered lately."

"Same old Mael. Think we'll meet again?"

Mael grinned.

"Of course. I'll be wherever I'm needed—as long as my divination and ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠star-reading skills haven't rusted. They're handy, but they miss sometimes."

"See you around, Mael."

"You too, Snowman."

Mael vanished into the distance, his bag piled mountain-high with herbs and assorted tomes.

He might've looked ragged, but no one could doubt his power anymore.

"We owe him a lot. Solid guy."

"I've got an eye for talent."

After bidding Mael farewell, Snowman's party headed for Gulia.

A few days later, at a Gulia border outpost in northern Nebania.

The somewhat lax guards shouted at the approaching visitors.

"Halt!"

The guards eyed the odd group curiously. Leading them was Snowman, with Karen carrying a massive chest wrapped in chains.

"A-a fairy?"

The temporary ID Karen had forged using Kibo's power back in Novira proved invaluable here.

"All clear."

With Karen cleared, Snowman sailed through too.

"Hmm, you're good. ID checks out, so no need to inspect the luggage."

"Appreciate it."

"Word travels fast, huh?"

"Pardon?"

"About the Sulfur Skeleton getting taken down easy. Travelers were sparse till the day before yesterday—could count 'em on one hand. Now they're flooding in."

The survivors must've reached Gulia and spun a good tale.

"Ah... yeah, sorta."

"Rumors spread like wildfire. Anyway, Patrick’s been looking for reliable adventurers to trust with jobs. Ask around."

Snowman smiled.

"Thanks. We'll do that."

And so, Snowman arrived in Gulia without delay.

They grabbed lodging first, and Karen dumped the huge chest with an irritated grunt.

Thud.

"Freakin' heavy, ugh."

"Hey, that's just from the gates to here. I carried it from Yogna Tun."

Jamad's voice echoed from Snowman's shadow space.

"Whatever! But with Mael gone, the party's down to half size."

"You bummed?"

Karen fiddled with her now-red hair.

"Why would I be? Obviously."

"Haven't lost Hwamon—he's coming to Novira with us. Won't feel lonely."

"That old guy's too chill. Doesn't click. Besides, even without him, it's full house. Four of us. Right, Karuna?"

"If you talked less, Karen, no one'd know we're four."

"Heh heh heh... yeah! This fairy's yapping enough for all."

"Urk... fine, shutting up now."

"That's the fifth time today."

"Don't count! Damn troll!"

Even with just summons around besides Snowman, the inn room was rowdy.

No one overhearing could've guessed Snowman was solo in there.

"Now we can open it."

"Thought you'd die of curiosity."

"Good thing Karuna held you back. Otherwise, you'd have opened it while I slept, fairy."

"Didn't we agree no tattling to the boss?"

"Was there a rule like that? Behave."

Snowman watched their rule-laden bickering like it was a talk show. Impressive.

Anyway, he'd held off opening the Sulfur Skeleton loot until Gulia for a reason.

Opening it risked not just a timer drain, but warping to Audenin—his base—instead of nearby Gulia.

So he'd set Gulia as base first, then open it.

Karen raised her hand like a kid asking the teacher.

"Boss! Me! Can I open it?"

"Go ahead."

Click—

Whoosh!

Light poured from the loot chest.

Oddly, unlike usual, the box was enormous.

Way more items than usual.

"Whoa... so much stuff? No wonder it was heavy!"

"Told you—I carried it, fairy."

"Even a short carry was brutal."

With Novira and Hwamon awaiting, Snowman quickly sorted the loot.

First, Cloak of Long Slumber and Greaves of Swift Recovery—both rare-grade. He handed them to Karuna and Karen.

Leather boots and plate boots dropped too.

Treasure-grade, but basic—no fancy powers.

Leather went to Jamad, naturally. For plate, he pondered.

'Karuna fits.'

Karen had geared up lately; Karuna's stuff (sword aside) was outdated. Decision made.

Next, a ring.

Perfect fit for the ring. Unusually, rings allowed two, so Snowman slipped it on beside Wolf's Warning.

Two items left.

Snowman eyed them eagerly.

"Hm..."

Snowman's face soured.

Treasure weapons were always top-notch.

But only if they were standard weapons.

He hefted the Fire Snake lightly.

'Heavy.'

Karen's strength would handle it fine, but still a letdown.

Its bizarre shape was an issue too.

Anyone unfamiliar risked losing fingers wielding it.

'Wonder how Magra swung it so easily.'

Legendary monsters gonna legendary.

Karen stared at the awkward weapon thoughtfully.

Magra's odd signature weapon.

Could she wield it?

"I'll take it for now. I can handle spears, but this shape's new..."

No real use for it anyway, so Fire Snake went to Karen undisputed.

And finally.

Snowman picked up the cloak etched with strange patterns.

The moment he touched it, he sensed extraordinary power—and the motifs looked familiar.

'Purgar?'

It resembled Fire Monkey Purgar's face.

"Hey, that..."

"Careful, boss. Feels off."

The summons chimed in warily.

Snowman tilted his head and checked the info. Everyone, him included, was stunned.

Viewers especially.

The reason for the shock?

"Fire... Legend?"

The Purgar-faced cloak was Inferno Legend-grade.

Snowman hurriedly scanned its details.