The Youngest Monster
As I sent off the Snow Women who had ambushed us, I tore open a rift in the warped space.
Going back to talk with them was out of the question — they were far too unhinged. Riding living creatures like snowboards? That was not the behavior of anyone in their right mind.
"But if they're riding Yetis, how do they even stop?"
"A fair question. On a slope like that, there's no way to rein them in the way you would a horse. How do they manage it?"
"The prostate…"
"Pardon?"
"Nothing. Forget I said anything."
A man has a third leg between his legs, and if you stimulate a certain spot, that leg stands at attention and the speed drops. The theory was flawless — except that once the acceleration got out of control, it was less a braking system and more a castration machine.
Still, a Yeti of that size probably had a groin about as tough as steel, right? The thought crossed my mind unbidden.
"Don't worry about it. Let's go."
No point fretting over them. Even in a world this deranged, every action had its reasons.
I waved for the others to follow and shoved myself through the gap in the warped space.
Beyond the distorted rift lay a village straight out of a fairy tale. Rows of log cabins stretched one after another, every roof blanketed in snow, and each yard boasted its own uniquely styled doghouse. Snowmen stood scattered throughout the village as if welcoming us, and snow piled on the branches drifted down in soft flurries, painting a scene of quiet beauty.
"It's breathtaking, but it's strangely empty. There's no one here."
"Yeah."
A village ought to have at least a person or two wandering about. No matter how thoroughly I scanned the place, though, there wasn't so much as a single presence. Judging by the doghouses, this was no ghost town — people lived here.
"It seems they anticipated our arrival and temporarily evacuated."
"What makes you say that?"
"A considerably powerful aura is approaching us at a deliberate pace."
"They sure didn't waste any time coming out to greet us."
A presence sharp enough to prickle the skin. I turned toward the cold, glacial energy pressing in from behind.
Anyone strong enough to pressure both Lin and me could only be the caster who had warped the entire village. This was my first encounter with a rare 8th-Class Mage.
"Who are you people?"
Her appearance was nothing like the overwhelming presence radiating from her. She was smaller than Rene, with half-lidded sleepy eyes, tousled pale sky-blue hair, and a mourning dress that dragged along the ground. In every respect, she looked so slovenly I wanted to point out half a dozen things.
Looks aside, though, the aura pouring off this Snow Woman was the real deal. She fell short of Breeze, perhaps, but she was more than strong enough to put pressure on me.
"Did you not hear me? I asked who you are."
"I am Bern, a newly devoted follower of Lord Prihart. I have come to this village on the introduction of Spirit King Gryupheid, as well as for personal business of my own. I apologize for arriving without prior notice."
Speaking formally to a little girl felt oddly wrong. But there was no helping it. Even if she looked young, an 8th-Class Mage could freely alter her outward appearance. In other words, this Snow Woman's real age could be absurdly high.
The Magic Tower Master had only reached the ranks of 8th-Class in his fifties, so she was probably around the same age. Showing proper respect was the correct call.
"You're a follower of Lord Prihart? Liar. Lord Prihart has no human followers."
"A natural reaction. I only passed the trial and became a follower yesterday, after all."
I turned the back of my hand toward her, revealing Prihart's mark — the one I hadn't shown the Snow Women guarding the village entrance.
How would she react? I half expected surprise, but the Snow Woman took it in stride without so much as a blink.
"Mark verified. Welcome. Rest as you like."
"Wow…"
With a few indifferent words of welcome and that same unimpressed expression, she turned and shuffled back the way she'd come. Cold and completely lacking in social grace — but still vastly preferable to the lunatics who'd been riding Yetis like snowboards.
Now that was a proper Snow Woman. Her drooping, shambling retreat was a little pathetic, sure, but still.
"Bern, shouldn't you have told her why we came here?"
"Do I have to?"
"You said you'd explain the situation to the village chief and gather everyone in one place to make your case."
"Just because she's the strongest doesn't mean she's the chief. And even if she is, we can go through the proper channels later and pay her a formal visit."
We knew nothing about Snow Women or Yetis. Even in Monopolizing the Strongest in the Academy, the Dragonkin had characters like the Empress of the Pleasure City — but Snow Women never appeared at all. Our information on them was a complete blank.
Judging by the way Rewen was busily looking around at everything, he didn't know either.
Well, if we'd followed the original route, this whole village would have been wiped out by a rampaging Breeze anyway.
Even a regressor wouldn't know anything about a place that had been destroyed before he ever reached it.
"Then what should we do from here?"
"Now that they know we're not enemies, the Snow Women will probably start coming back. When they do, approach them friendly and strike up conversations. If we're going to win them over later, building some rapport first will help."
"That makes sense."
"I'll find us a place to stay. In the meantime, gather any useful information you can."
"Understood."
Crunch, crunch, crunch!
Just as our plan of action was settled, the sound of many feet packing snow rose from the right. The Snow Women who'd evacuated were returning.
It might have looked overeager, but I put on my brightest smile and turned to face them.
That smile did not last long.
"Uh…"
Every single Snow Woman held a leash. At the end of each leash was a Yeti fitted with a collar of solid ice. The Yetis' expressions were uniformly solemn, like seasoned warriors — but with those collars on, they just looked like bipedal gorillas on a walk.
"Our Pochi had a nice walk, so when we get home, let's wash your hands and feet first, okay?"
"Huff…! Huff…! Yes, ma'am…!"
The word "Pochi" snagged on something in my memory. The doghouses I'd first noticed in the yards. Next to one of them, an arrow-shaped sign had been staked into the ground. I turned my head and checked it again.
The word written there was…
Pochi's House
Should I just scrap this whole thing and go home?
Watching the Snow Women treat strapping young Yeti men like dogs, I became certain of one thing: there was no way I was ever going to get along with these people.
Having reached that conclusion, I dumped the rest on Rene and Lin and fled the scene. I did worry they might pick up some strange habits from the Snow Women, but Rewen was with them, so it would be fine. As a regressor, he had far more experience with women than I did. He'd handle it.
Having slipped away from the group, I began wandering the village with no particular destination. No matter where I went, though, all I saw were Snow Women leading Yetis around on leashes. The 8th-Class mage I'd met earlier really had been the only normal Snow Woman in the place.
Then again, maybe even she keeps a Yeti at home.
I never imagined the truth could be this terrifying.
I was trudging along with a heavy sigh when—
"Ohoho! An outsider in this village — now there's a rare sight."
An elderly woman who looked every bit her years was smiling from a short distance away. She leaned heavily on an ice staff as she walked, struggling with each step — and failed to notice the sheet of ice underfoot. She went sliding.
I bolted forward and caught her just before she hit the ground.
"Are you all right?"
"Oh my! Thank you, dear. Getting old means I can barely keep myself upright anymore."
"It happens. Here's your staff."
"Hoho! A proper young man — you don't see many of those these days."
I had no patience for rude old people, but genuine elders were different. If someone had earned respect through a life well lived, I made a point of showing them every courtesy. If this had been the Magic Tower Master slipping, I would have kicked him in the lower back — but this was different.
"So tell me, young human — what brings you to our village?"
"Ah, well. I've come seeking the aid of this village's Snow Women and Yetis."
"Aid, you say?"
"I've made an enemy of the Red Dragon, Ignite. To fight him head-on, the help of the Snow Women and Yetis is indispensable."
"…The Red Dragon. I see. So that's why you've come."
A shadow fell across the kindly smiling old woman's face. The moment I mentioned Ignite, her expression turned grave. Did she have some painful history with him? Had I brought it up too carelessly?
"Will it be difficult?"
"No. Plenty of people in this village harbor a grudge against the Red Dragon. They'll gladly help you. Our village chief alone nurses a deep hatred for him."
"I was hoping to meet the chief, actually. Where might I find them?"
"Hoho! What a joker you are. You met her just a moment ago — have you already forgotten?"
"Just a moment ago…? Wait. You mean that short one is the village chief?"
"You really didn't know, did you? Yes, that's right. Our village's prodigy and youngest chief."
I flinched, a shiver running through me. She hadn't made herself look young — she actually was young? Hearing that her youthful appearance was her natural form was more surprising than I'd expected.
"Would you happen to know how old the chief is?"
"Hoho! A woman's age is a secret, dear."
"Could you at least tell me the first digit…?"
"Hmm. It's supposed to be a secret, but you look so desperate I'll make an exception. The first digit of the chief's age is '1.'"
…Younger than me?