TLed by NolepGuy
Chapter 210
A secluded mountain peak in The North.
“Oh…”
The Young Lady, now on her fifth day in The North, and I had come up to the Snowfield to conduct what we called an exploration.
-Rumble…
We dug a pit, covered it with Tree Branches for Disguise, and observed the moving Wolf Pack.
Judging by the Wolf burying its face into the ground and sniffing, it seemed to be searching for Prey.
The Young Lady, observing the Wolf through the Binoculars, spoke to me in a sullen Voice.
“Ricardo.”
“Yes.”
“When will they mate?”
“I don’t know.”
The Young Lady, who had been marveling at the wonders of nature with an “Hooo…” just moments ago, now wore a gloomy expression.
“Boring.”
The Young Lady and I had climbed the Snowy Mountain to explore the wonders of nature.
This journey began with the Young Lady’s wish to experience something unique in The North, but her expression hardened at the inappropriate behavior of the creatures, who were only searching for food instead of mating as expected.
“Mister said they were in heat.”
“Yes.”
“And he said they’re aggressive and bite when encountered.”
“That’s true.”
“Then why aren’t they doing it?”
“…”
I pressed my lips tightly together at the Young Lady’s question. How could I know something I couldn’t do myself? For the first time, I found myself resenting the Young Lady for asking only unanswerable questions.
“I don’t know.”
The Young Lady and I sat there like cameramen filming a Documentary, quietly observing the movements of the Wolf.
We spent leisurely moments chatting, placing bets on how long they’d stay like that, and even taking naps when we got sleepy.
It was still a fairly enjoyable time.
While we napped, a bear searching for food sniffed its way past the pit we were hiding in.
-Sniff sniff.
-Hooo…! Gomtangi’s Mom!
-Be quiet. We’ll get eaten.
-Eeeek… But wouldn’t it taste good if roasted?
-You’ll be punished, Young Lady.
A Giant Troll chased away the Wolf and relieved itself on the roadside.
-Ugly.
-Indeed.
-It looks like Ricardo. Ew…
-…Young Lady, are you good at fighting?
-…Sorry.
Observing the diverse lives of the Demonic Beasts, we had meaningful and entertaining moments without a chance to feel bored. Though we never got to see what we came for.
Time continued to flow.
The effect of the Potion to Erase Scent and Presence, which I had developed using the privileges of a Possessor, was nearing its end.
A Potion to Erase Scent and Presence.
No matter how much I disliked inconvenience, I wasn’t a Crazy Bastard who would venture into a Demonic Beast’s habitat unprepared. Especially since the Young Lady was with me, I had been even more meticulous in my preparations.
“Yaaawn.”
The Young Lady yawned and began to show signs of wanting to return to the Lodging while gazing at the Sunset Sky.
“Ricardo.”
“Yes.”
“What’s for dinner tonight?”
Throwing the Binoculars to the ground, the Young Lady asked about dinner with a tired face. I set down the Binoculars in my hand and answered her question.
“Is there anything you’d like to eat?”
The Young Lady answered with a serious expression.
“Anything but Gukbap.”
Thanks to the Innkeeper, who had been serving Gukbap every day recently, the Young Lady had grown sick of it and expressed her distaste.
“I’m even dreaming about pigs now. They torment me, telling me to stop eating it.”
“Then why don’t you just say you don’t want to eat it?”
“How could I say that…”
The Young Lady lowered her head with a gloomy expression.
-How is it! Isn’t the Gukbap I made more delicious? I used expensive ingredients generously to serve someone as esteemed as you.
-Ugh…
-Is it not to your liking…? Then I’ll make it again.
-Ugh…
The Young Lady, unable to trample on the Passionate Middle-Aged Man’s determination, had a warm heart that knew how to respect an Old Man.
At first, she said it wasn’t tasty, but the more she said so, the more frequently she ended up eating Gukbap, leaving her unable to say anything anymore.
The Young Lady confided her gloomy thoughts to me, saying she didn’t want to eat Gukbap.
“Anyway, I don’t want Gukbap.”
“I’m fine with it, though….”
“I’m not fine with it.”
I chuckled as I looked at the Young Lady.
“Just eat it today, and we’ll have something else tomorrow….”
“Eeeek…”
“Why?”
“Ricardo. For some reason, Ricardo looks handsome today.”
“Huh… Are you flattering me?”
“No. It’s just… that… I want to see Ricardo cooking.”
The Young Lady awkwardly smiled and struck a ‘Cat’ pose with an “Eeeek!” gesture. Seeing the Young Lady, who wasn’t usually fond of being cutesy, abandon her Pride and act adorable, I couldn’t help but let out a laugh.
“Pfft… What’s with that ridiculous pose?”
“…Eeeek.”
At the Young Lady’s heartfelt request, I nodded and began to think about the dinner menu.
I started by suggesting dishes the Young Lady liked.
“Pizza.”
“Too greasy.”
“Soybean Paste Soup.”
“Not in the mood for it today.”
“Steak.”
“I feel bad for the cow, so no.”
“Jerky.”
“…”
“Plain rice.”
“Eeeek…”
Angered by the poor options, the Young Lady began forming a Snowball with an annoyed look in her eyes.
“Something else.”
Seeing the Young Lady load the Snowball as if ready to throw it, I chuckled softly and cautiously suggested a dish I had thought of earlier in the morning. Honestly, I was also tired of eating Gukbap and wanted something different.
A dish that suits the cold of The North.
Something warm and different from Gukbap.
And a dish that could be generously filled with the Meat the Young Lady loved.
Confident that the Young Lady wouldn’t have a negative response, I spoke.
“How about Hot Pot? With the Spices in the backpack, we can make it spicy and delicious.”
Satisfied with the menu, the Young Lady nodded and began to bring the fully loaded Snowball to her mouth.
-Crunch…!
“Why are you eating that!”
“…It looked like it would taste good.”
Seeing the Young Lady happily munching on the Snowball, I had a Question Mark on my Head and began rolling a Snowball myself.
Watching her eat it so deliciously, it made me think it might actually taste good.
If the Young Lady had lived where I did, she might have become a mukbang YouTuber, I thought, as I also took a bite of the Snowball and nodded at the surprisingly satisfying taste.
“It’s not tasty, though.”
“Mmm…”
“Then why are you eating it?”
“Because I didn’t want to be the only one eating.”
Truly a Villainess-like answer.
While we were exchanging these trivial, nutritionless remarks, an Unusual Sound reached my ears—a sharp ‘Seogeok’ sound.
“Ricar…”
“Shh. Hold on.”
The Sound of Footsteps was too heavy to belong to an animal and too cold to belong to a Demonic Beast. I quickly covered the Young Lady’s mouth and held my breath.
At my sudden gesture, the Young Lady licked my Palm with her tongue and mumbled.
“Mmm…?”
“Shh.”
“Are they mating?”
“No. It’s something a bit…”
-Plod… Plod…
The Sound of Footsteps was getting closer.
The steady rhythm of human-like Footsteps echoed across the ground. A sound that shouldn’t be heard here, in a place where ordinary people shouldn’t exist. I began to activate my Sense Perception.
‘Thirty people…?’
‘Who are they…?’
‘There shouldn’t be humans in a place where High-Rank Monster Beasts live…’
As the approaching Footsteps multiplied, the Growling of the Demonic Beasts grew more intense. One of the Wolves before my eyes bristled its fur and stared intently in the direction of the sound.
-Growl…
Just as the Wolf’s Growl turned into a howl to summon its pack, with a ‘Thud,’ a small Hand Axe embedded itself in the Wolf’s head.
The speed was astonishing.
It was so fast that even a seasoned Adventurer wouldn’t be able to follow it with their eyes. I placed my hand on Tirbing and began to take slow, deep breaths.
‘Something feels off.’
A Demonic Beast’s Scream echoed.
A warning howl.
A cry to summon its pack.
It continued to howl relentlessly toward the source of the Footsteps.
As the Screams grew louder, the Scent of Blood thickened, and their steps drew closer.
I focused all my senses and began to fix my gaze on the approaching figures.
To decide whether to kill them.
Or to let them live.
Hiding my words to tell the Young Lady to close her eyes, I slowly observed them.
-Plod…
-Plod…
“Holy Apostles, it would be wise to refrain from excessive slaughter. Aren’t we all Clerics? Should we stain our hands with too much blood?”
“…”
“Even crude lives must be cherished one by one to foster Beautiful Faith.”
Along with the benevolent Voice of an Old Man, the figures of many individuals began to come into view.
A Procession-like spectacle.
-Thud… Thud…
I let out a bitter Smile.
‘This is bad.’
The Old Man at the front of the Procession looked down at the blood-dripping corpse of the Wolf with a grotesque expression.
A face devoid of Emotions. At the same time, it was a chilling expression that could almost cast a shadow over his eyes as he stared at the Wolf.
Seeing the Old Man dressed in pure white Cleric robes, I bowed my head.
‘F*ck.’
The Apostle of Mercy had come to The North.
The Apostle who would kill Yuria’s Father.
The Apostle who would create the catalyst for Yuria’s Awakening as the Saintess.
He had come to The North a little earlier than expected.
[Olaf. Lv. 95]
Job: Apostle of Mercy
*
Olivia simply stared blankly at them.
Once at the weapons in their hands.
Twice at the cold expression of the Old Man standing still.
And thrice at Ricardo, whose face was filled with bewilderment.
Olivia gazed at them blankly.
Without Malice.
Without Killing Intent.
She looked at them with vacant eyes.
-Blink…