Chapter 136

The heavy northern sky loomed overhead, obscuring even the view a single pace ahead in the middle of the snowfield.

Northguard hunters, wearing thick furs and leather armor layered over one another, treaded quietly across the snow.

Snow crunched beneath their boots, leaving footprints that vanished without a trace under fresh falling snow.

At this rate, they would surely lose their way back. The seasoned hunters planted flags at regular intervals, securing them firmly into the snow.

The specially dyed flags faintly glowed even amidst the blizzard. With this, even in the snow-covered wilderness, losing the path was no longer a concern, and the hunters proceeded onward.

Leading the hunters was Chief Jorn.

Though it was originally Tarkind, the head of reconnaissance’s role, Jorn had taken it on due to necessity.

It was because Tarkind, who had counter-tracked to find the Orcs’ encampment after repelling their attack, had gone missing. Despite repeated investigations, there was still no news of his life or death.

He was an exceptional warrior from Lake Fortress… his loss was deeply felt.

There was nothing to be done about it.

Those who had departed must be forgotten; the remaining ones must give their all.

*Chuck.*

Jorn stopped, raising his fist.

The group instantly halted.

Reindeers were crossing the ridge in a line.

Linbar’s lips curled into a smile.

“Looks like a good start, doesn’t it?”

Reindeer meat had a unique flavor, with a suitable fat content that served well as an energy source. Missing this opportunity would have been something they’d regret later.

Jorn glanced back and nodded, prompting Linbar to immediately send out hand signals. The team swiftly moved to their designated positions.

Only Asies stood idly, looking around. She seemed to feel that there was something she should do.

Linbar winked with a grin.

“Since you’re here, I’ll show you how Northguard hunts. You just watch.”

*Whooooooosh.*

The hunt began with a small signal. The echoing horn in the distance made the reindeer herd look up.

The decoys, who had taken their designated positions, suddenly began shouting and running towards the herd.

“Heya! Run fast! Or we’ll eat you up!”

Startled, the reindeers kicked up snow and bolted. The team curved around them, herding the group like into the mouth of an hourglass.

At the end of the route they had prepared, hunters led by Linbar awaited with bows strung.

Even as the reindeers realized they were being herded, it was too late to change course. They boosted their momentum, aiming to break through.

The marksman waited patiently.

Positioned against the wind to conceal themselves, the conditions weren’t optimal for shooting arrows.

But they were Northguard.

Warriors who guarded the northern lands. Even the harsh cold wind could not hinder them.

“Gouge their foreheads!”

At Linbar’s command, the marksmen released their bows. Arrows imbued with mana pierced through the blizzard.

*Fwoosh!*

An arrow struck the forehead of a reindeer.

The reindeers fell forward, crashing into the snow.

“Okay. Good~”

“Spot on!”

The hunters gathered one by one, satisfied with their catch.

“Linbar, your skills seem to have improved, huh?”

“Come on, I was doing this all along. You saying I was worse before?”

“Your presence is too intimidating for jokes.”

The hunters laughed and joked, content with the bountiful result.

“What do you think, Chief? Should we retreat?”

“Hmm…”

Jorn pondered. With this harvest, they wouldn’t lack food for the time being.

Still, it was only the first hunt. Greed was to be avoided, but with ample time and energy left, it was only natural for desire to creep in.

“A few of us will head back with the reindeer sleds, while the rest will keep hunting.”

Since everyone shared the same thought, there were no objections. Some team members loaded the reindeer onto sleds and headed back to the village.

“Let’s move on.”

The march continued.

Asies followed closely behind.

Even with the snowstorm intensifying, where an ordinary person would struggle to take a single step, Asies walked with ease.

It was a peculiar sight.

The woman who looked the most delicate took the lightest steps.

As if an invisible barrier surrounded her, the snow vanished completely when it came near Asies. She remained eerily peaceful.

As if the snowfield itself embraced her.

“Chief, we’ve reached a position point. There’s a cave ahead.”

They discovered a flag planted during a previous scouting mission.

Sure enough, a cave appeared soon after.

“We’ll take a short break here.”

Inside the cave, they skillfully lit a fire and warmed their cold bodies. They began munching on dried meat pulled from their tunics.

If they didn’t warm themselves like this occasionally, their sensations would dull, and they’d risk freezing to death without realizing it.

Asies, who emitted cold but sought warmth nearby, was exploring alone at the edge of the cave.

Linbar approached her.

“What did you think of our hunting, miss? Pretty impressive, huh?”

Asies nodded, though she actually had no feelings about it. It was Karami’s advice: if someone seemed excited, nodding was polite.

Detecting excitement was difficult for Asies, but she tried.

“You’re not ordinary, I know that. But it’s still quite amazing the way you wander about in Isgangar.”

“…”

“Actually, it wasn’t always this cold. They say the reason it became this way is due to the evil dragon, Skadi.”

Linbar suddenly began an old tale, something out of a fairy tale.

“Centuries ago, Skadi appeared in the kingdom. That lizard demanded that the king regularly offer treasures and beautiful women, but the kingdom refused.”

“…”

“Skadi, having his command defied, sought to destroy the kingdom. The kingdom resisted with all its might. But resisting a dragon was beyond their strength. Eventually, the kingdom fell, and Skadi cursed those who rebelled.”

“Cursed…?”

Linbar nodded.

“It froze the people and the entire kingdom solid, leaving only their consciousness to endure eternal suffering.”

“…”

“They say the kingdom is still frozen somewhere in Isgangar.”

An old tale passed down among the northern people. Also a popular fairytale told to children. If they didn’t listen to their parents, Skadi would freeze them.

“Though no one’s actually seen it, grandma Darika insists it’s real. But you know how she is… probably just a legend.”

Linbar shrugged, treating it lightly.

But Asies felt a strange sensation. A slight pain in her chest made her press her hand there. It was as if sharp icicles were pricking her.

Though the cause was unclear.

While this one-sided conversation went on, they prepared to march again. The fire was doused, and belongings packed.

“Enough chatting. Let’s move.”

***

“A footprint. We’ve discovered one.”

Jorn, walking at the front, stopped halfway up the snow mountain.

Jorn pointed at the faint yet massive footprint in the snow. How deep it was that it hadn’t filled up even amid the heavy snowfall.

The footprint was far larger than any ordinary beast. Clear even down to the toes, it wasn’t animal-like but belonged to a monster.

“Looks like a Yeti, Chief.”

The Yeti, a creature seen only in the snowfields. Its meat might smell and have a poor taste, but its other features, especially its fur, were exceptional.

Tough, durable, and warm, it could be used to create armor or even outerwear. It was highly sought after in affluent circles and sold for exorbitant prices to merchants, from whom they could then purchase more food supplies.

Of course, hunting it was correspondingly difficult and dangerous, but the risks were worth it.

“Are we going to catch it?”

“Yes. It’s not far away.”

Judging by the amount of snow on the prints, it hadn’t been long since the Yeti passed by. The hunters increased their vigilance and moved forward again.

As expected, they soon spotted the Yeti. Although it blended with its surroundings due to its camouflage, the sharp eyes of the warriors saw it clearly.

Resembling a gorilla but three times its size.

Its pure white fur melded with the environment, yet the frozen breath it exhaled and its colossal silhouette gave away its imposing presence.

Jorn took out a pair of axes.

“I’ll lure it.”

If they hunted the Yeti like a normal beast, they would surely fail. A flimsy encirclement would just be broken. The proper approach was assigning someone to mark the Yeti and wear down its stamina before capturing it.

“When you’re ready, let’s begin. Stay alert.”

“Understood.”

The hunters prepared, while Jorn approached the Yeti with the utmost stealth.

He had plans for a surprise attack.

Carefully closing the distance, not making a sound, the moment he entered firing range, he hurled a pair of tomahawks in an X-shaped motion, then leapt forward.

*Thud!*

Like a sled gliding over the snowy path, Jorn smoothly advanced.

He swiftly reached close to the Yeti.

*Grawl?*

The Yeti, sensing his presence, swung its arm reflexively.

*Swish whoosh!*

Jorn deftly slid under to evade.

The Yeti’s arm swung harmlessly above.

Still sliding, Jorn swung the tomahawk as he passed by the Yeti’s side, targeting the leg.

*Kuug!*

A displeasing sensation.

It felt like cutting rubber.

Only a few drops of blood spurted out.

Due to the toughness and resistance of the Yeti’s skin, sharp blades struggled to penetrate it. Even with mana enhancement, the resistance to various powers remained too high.

*Grawwwwwr!*

Realizing the situation, the Yeti raised both fists high.

Getting ready for a downward strike.

Jorn swiftly retreated.

The fists came down where he had been.

*BOOM!*

The snow erupted like a landmine detonating.

Jorn landed lightly.

*Grhhhhh…*

The Yeti’s face turned red.

Apparently annoyed by the unexpected attack, its thigh muscles bulged as the Yeti launched off the ground.

*Boom!*

In a single leap,

The Yeti’s massive body formed a parabolic arc, reaching Jorn at once. Swinging its broad arms, it attacked. Each heavy punch produced a thudding air displacement.

Even getting hit once would be fatal, but the beast hadn’t been trained in combat techniques. Every movement was large, and with calmness, they were avoidable.

*Sss! Swoosh!*

Jorn evaded each strike while occasionally striking axes into the Yeti. Each hit added a wound to the Yeti.

*Chiiiik…*

Smoke rose from the wound sites. Thanks to the Yeti’s excellent natural healing ability, the wounds quickly closed.

If a fatal blow wasn’t landed, it would become an endurance battle. The atmosphere signaled a prolonged fight.

“…”

Asies, watching silently from a distance, remembered what Karami had said.

To help Northguard hunt.

To Asies’ judgment, this was that moment.

Asies extended her hand.

“Wha? Miss…”

*Chaaak!*

An icy spear shot out.

The icicle, hurled with great speed, struck the Yeti’s head with pinpoint accuracy amidst the battle.

*Crack.*

*Grawwwww!*

“…?”

Unfortunately, the Yeti’s physical resistance was too powerful. More so, its resistance to ice exceeded even that. Asies had no way of knowing, but the magic that pierced Wyvern scales dissipated like ice water.

The Yeti distorted its face, irritated by the hindrance to its fight, switching targets, abandoning Jorn and charging towards Asies who had been watching.

“Miss, what are you doing? Ice doesn’t affect a Yeti!”

“…Ah.”

“Not ‘ah’!”

*Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom!*

The Yeti rushed forward recklessly.

The shockwave caused the snowy mountain to shake, triggering an avalanche.

“This is insane! Everyone, scatter!”

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