Rich Young Man - 2
The first trial was reaching the mountainside via a hiking path battered by a ferocious blizzard.
It seemed like I just had to grit my teeth and push through to make it somehow, but it was far from easy.
First off, the frigid air of the snow-capped peaks relentlessly stole away body heat.
This wasn't mere cooling from the cold—it was outright theft.
Rubbing your body or doing vigorous exercise to generate warmth? Utterly pointless.
Your temperature dropped in real time, no matter how many layers of clothes you piled on.
Second, the storm made it impossible to keep your footing.
The wind wasn't just fast—it was razor-sharp, letting you experience what it truly meant to be "sliced by the gale."
This wasn't hyperbole; in the game, without countermeasures, you'd witness the bizarre sight of your character's limbs getting severed.
Even barbaric warriors with steel-like skin couldn't withstand it, so most perished before reaching the midway point.
Of course, not me!
"Eek! It's cold!"
The ring on my finger kept my body temperature from dropping below a certain level, maintaining it steadily.
Even when the icy wind slapped my face, it just stung a bit—no freezing skin, no runny nose, nothing like that.
The storm couldn't touch me either.
My clothes fluttered, but not a single hair on my body stirred.
Pure comfort.
For me, it felt like a stroll in the neighborhood hills.
"I sold it myself, but yeah... it doesn't really feel like a trial."
"You paid the price of gold for bodily comfort. For me, spending is the trial—and I've already cleared it."
"Fair enough. It's money earned through backbreaking labor in the outside world, so I can't argue with that."
I said nothing.
Did this spirit friend know? That the 100 gold coins she'd just taken could be earned in a single day.
Money my underlings generated without me lifting a finger.
Even after paying salaries and deducting labor costs, 100 gold was pocket change.
But saying that might prompt her to jack up prices, so I just nodded.
"You've breezed through the first trial easily, but brace yourself for the next one! Something far more horrific awaits!"
"It'll be tough, but I'd like to clear the next trial today if possible."
"You think that's easy? Ditch those pipe dreams quick!"
Beyond the cold and storm, the path was easy to lose, riddled with crevasses, and prone to avalanches.
Unlucky folks could wander for over three days, but I reached the midway point in less than half a day.
Cress showed a flicker of surprise at my impossibly quick arrival, then pretended to be nonchalant upon noticing my gaze.
"L-Lucky you! Arriving at the next trial spot already!"
"Yeah, lucky me."
Of course, it wasn't luck—it was by design.
I didn't have the entire path memorized, especially with the storm obscuring visibility.
But I remembered the general direction for the fastest route.
A mountain compass at the entrance made navigation straightforward.
"Hold up a sec before we start the next trial!"
Cress began fabricating her stall again.
Similar to the first trial, but now with a sign reading Cress's Grace.
And she stacked up items I hadn't seen before.
"The next trial is crossing the ice cave at the mountainside!"
"Just pass through the cave, and it's done?"
"Don't underestimate it, or you'll regret it big time! Terrifying traps and creatures lurk inside!"
"Figured as much. No real trial without the dangers."
The traps she mentioned were the icicles endlessly raining from the ceiling.
The creatures? Ice drakes spewing condensed cold breath.
Drakes inherited some dragon blood—not purebred, but nasty strong regardless.
Even Kizen or Rena couldn't take one solo.
And you had to fight them amid the nonstop icicle barrage.
How could a frail guy like me beat a powerhouse in the worst conditions?
Simple: pay to win.
"You seem eager for these goods, but choose wisely this time! Prices are way higher than the first trial!"
"How much?"
"50 gold each! A whopping five times more!"
Prices had jumped, but the special items were halved—from 10 convenience tools to 5 now.
On paper, about 150 gold pricier, but still not a big spend.
As I tapped my chin, mentally calculating, Cress grinned slyly.
Thinking I was fretting over costs, she made a bold offer.
"I do appreciate you buying at full price earlier, so I could discount up to two items!"
"Nah, just give me everything on the stall."
"Wha—...? You got the cash?"
"Right here."
I pulled out the second pouch of pre-portioned gold coins.
Peering into the heavier pouch, Cress's lips quivered.
Thrilled yet stunned, unsure how to react.
Meanwhile, I gathered the items I'd fiddled with in the game.
Second trial? Total cakewalk.
Cress's mind was a whirlwind of conflicting emotions.
The culprit tormenting her heart? The challenger of this trial, Hines.
He was defiling the true meaning of the trials—supposed to be ordeals of desperation and suffering.
This guy's a first...
Icicles greeted entrants to the ice cave.
Sharp as awls, perfect for punching holes in skulls on direct hits.
They vaporized on impact with the floor, rising to reform as icicles—pouring like relentless rain.
The path was a single narrow trail, making progress a nightmare.
But not for Hines, umbrella in hand.
"Kinda poetic, huh."
"You're the only one who'd call this poetic..."
The divinely empowered umbrella warped space, deflecting falling icicles sideways.
Impenetrable against top-down attacks.
After the mountain path, the cave was just another stroll for Hines.
Suddenly, he grabbed the flying Cress's shoulder and pulled her under the umbrella.
"Lady Cress, get in here too. You might get hit."
"N-No, I'm the Grand Spirit of Ice, so icicles can't—"
Flustered by the abrupt pull under the umbrella, Cress's face flushed as she stammered.
Absurd to think a Grand Ice Spirit vulnerable to icicles.
It felt like an insult, but she couldn't muster anger.
Her heart pounded clearer than ever, echoing the flutter from the mountain base.
She quickly pulled away from Hines.
Ugh...! This is weird! Totally off! Around this guy, I'm not myself!
Especially when his hand touched her shoulder—the shock felt like her heart might burst.
In the end, Cress kept her distance.
She wanted to flee until her heart calmed, but as trial guide, that'd be dereliction.
So she warily trailed behind, slow and watchful.
"Something wrong?"
"Scary human..."
"Pardon?"
"Nothing! Anyway, a tough foe's coming—stay sharp!"
The narrow path opened into a vast cavern.
At its center, a blue-scaled drake slumbered, coiled up.
Sensing the intruder, it snapped its eyes open.
"Touch its breath, and you'll freeze solid—be careful! Your talismans block it up to three times, don't forget!"
"No worries. I've got a plan."
Hines pulled a thick slab of meat from his bundle—the food he'd brought from the start, now doused in paralysis poison bought from Cress.
Sold for weapon coating, but repurposed for bait.
The effect was spectacular.
Enchanted by the marbled, fatty meat, the drake gulped it down without suspicion.
Its body convulsed, unable to steady itself.
"And now this..."
Hines unfurled a rapid-freeze magic scroll from Cress.
Intended for ice walls against drake charges.
But he used it to flash-freeze the entire beast.
"A snowfield drake won't die from freezing, but it'll buy time immobilized."
The trial goal was just passing the cave—no need to kill.
Hines's call was spot-on.
Finally, he spritzed deodorizing perfume everywhere, masking his scent to evade pursuit.
"Second trial cleared."
"......"
Cress was genuinely impressed.
Hide with perfume, stab with poisoned weapons for max wounds, then finish with talismans and scrolls.
Her tools, misused from intent, yet yielding perfect results.
This challenger might just...
She shook her head—too soon to say.
Then Hines hugged her from behind.
"Eek!! Wh-What're you doing?!"
"That's what I wanna ask! Look ahead."
Following his words, Cress belatedly noticed the ice pillar in her path.
She'd zoned out, neglecting to watch forward.
Her fault.
He saved me...?
Smashing her head into it would've tanked the Grand Spirit's dignity.
"Th-Thanks, but unnecessary! Pillars like that are beneath my notice!"
Stammering from embarrassment, she passed through—via magic, though normally she'd have collided.
Couldn't show weakness or true feelings to a human, so excuses it was.
"My bad for the needless meddling."
"Y-Yeah. So no more surprise hugs from behind!"
My heart's racing like mad.
Unable to voice that, Cress whipped around and zipped toward the next trial site.
"Weakling human...!"
But handsome face, loaded with cash, thoughtful, smart too?
"Gahhh!! Get out of my head!!"
Cress's tormented scream echoed across the snowfields.