◆ Above the Garnis Continent ◆
The Garnis Continent. The northernmost land in the world, known for its frigid temperatures. That was about all I understood. The Great Garnis Glacier located here is said to be a treacherous area with a Danger Level exceeding 100, where no one has ever reached the depths. And deep within lies the Demon Lord Castle.
Kurinka calmly described how terrifying the place was, mentioning things like not being able to breathe or how one could hammer nails with a banana, and how one might find themselves with a leg missing before they knew it. Just how cold could it really be? There was a labyrinth in the Abyss Cave where the moment I inhaled, my insides froze. Was it on that level? If so, that could be a bit troublesome.
“Look, it’s coming into view. That’s the world’s northernmost country, the Kingdom of Freezing.”
Being the northernmost means there are no humans living any further north. I couldn’t help but wonder why anyone would choose to live in such a place. It’s famous for being completely untouched by invasions from other countries due to its harsh environment, and despite being the closest to the Demon Lord Castle, it hasn’t been destroyed by any incursions. But honestly, no one wants to go to a place like that, and since there’s no particular specialty product, I don’t think it’s something to be proud of.
“Wow! Is this snow?!”
Before my eyes lay a world of silver. There were no sandy beaches or forests, just a vast expanse covered entirely in white. In the middle of this immense land stood a gigantic building. That was the Kingdom of Freezing. Just as I had heard, the kingdom was contained within that structure. Given the cold, it made sense that the town would be inside. I was impressed.
From a distance, it looked small, but in reality, the castle walls stretched out as if crossing the snowy ground. It made sense, as the entry to the Great Garnis Glacier was managed by that country. In the Kingdom of Avangarde, high-level dungeons were also managed by the state, so that wasn’t surprising. However, those sturdy walls looked abnormal. I could easily jump over them, but for an ordinary person, it would be nearly impossible.
“Hey, can’t we just fly straight in?”
“We’re Adventurers, right? Even though we ended up in that situation with the kings of Avangarde, we should at least follow the rules.”
“I hope it doesn’t turn into a hassle…”
From my experience, things never went smoothly in a new country. The Wizard Kingdom, the Kingdom of Normitz, the Kingdom of Kashiram. There was always some sort of trouble. I hoped they would let us through.
◆ At the Checkpoint Before the Great Garnis Glacier in the Kingdom of Freezing ◆
“An A-Rank means nothing in front of the Great Garnis Glacier. Turn back.”
See? I knew this would happen. A large wall had a tunnel-like passage dug through it, leading to the Great Garnis Glacier. But halfway through, soldiers clad in warm fur coats stood with stern expressions, blocking our way. On either side, cave-like rooms were furnished with fireplaces and beds, looking incredibly warm.
“Look at this level. You still don’t trust it?”
Upon seeing the Level 999 displayed, their stern faces instantly softened. The three soldiers stared at the card as if they were about to poke holes in it with their thick gloves.
“Impossible, could it be that Adventurers’ levels have progressed this much in other countries?”
“With this level, perhaps…”
“No, it’s just too strange. I hope it’s some kind of mistake…”
The soldiers moved away from us, whispering among themselves. Their discussion was heated, filled with intensity, yet just out of earshot.
After a few minutes, the soldiers returned, looking calm as they compared us to one another.
“While I can confirm that card isn’t a forgery, surviving the Great Garnis Glacier isn’t just about levels. The strength of the monsters is one thing, but what’s truly terrifying is the environment. It’s a hell that doesn’t allow any form of life to exist; the word ‘harsh’ doesn’t even begin to cover it. If you were to die, there would be people who would mourn you, right? At your age, you don’t have to be an Adventurer; there are other ways to live…”
I was given a rather profound lecture. The soldier, who had seemed intimidating, might actually be a decent person.
“This says Level 999, but it’s actually over 2000. I can prove it with my Detect Ring.”
“What’s that toy…? No, honestly, I’m surprised at that level. Higher than our S-Rank, huh…”
“Eh, what do you mean…?”
“Higher than anyone else?”
Leaning against the wall behind us was a woman with straight red hair and an outfit that exposed her skin as if she were wearing a swimsuit. In this cold region, it was obvious she was no ordinary person. Her sharp blue eyes seemed to threaten us.
“Th-this is Lady Rainis! I’m so sorry…”
“When you say our S-Rank, it sounds like you’re talking about your pet. Do you know who’s allowed you to live this long?”
“Well, that’s…”
“What is it?”
“Thanks to Lady Rainis…”
It was as if she enjoyed intimidating the soldiers. The other soldiers stood silent, unable to retort.
“I’m thirsty. Bring me something cold to drink.”
“Um, we only have warm tea here…”
“Then run to the town.”
“Huh?”
“Run.”
“W-wait, please don’t— I’m on duty…”
“Even if you were sleeping, your job would still be valid? Ugh, this country should just freeze over…”
“I-I’ll go get it!”
The soldier, looking panicked and nearly slipping on the icy path, dashed off. Rainis watched him with a cold smile. I was getting really annoyed. Kurinka’s mouth was twisted into a frown, and she looked like she was about to say something.
“So, do you want to go to the Great Garnis Glacier or not?”
“Well, yes…”
“Hmph. No way.”
“W-why not?”
“I’m in a really bad mood right now.”
“…Huh?”
I felt like I wanted to knock her down. This wasn’t even a conversation.
“Who are you?”
“I’m Rainis, an S-Rank Adventurer in this country. Thanks to me, these gentlemen can live warm lives every day. Right?”
“Y-yes. Lady Rainis’s magic powers supply all the heat in this country.”
“No way?! Just one person’s magic?!”
“Of course. For example, that fireplace over there.”
When Rainis pointed with her slender finger, the fiercely burning fire extinguished itself. Even though there were still logs left, the fire vanished without a trace, not even producing smoke. She licked her red lips, smirking. It was clear what she was implying.
“Wait, could it be… the True Flame Witch?”
“Oh, even a country girl knows my name.”
“What is it, Kurinka? Who is this True Flame Witch?”
“She’s an expert in fire magic, or rather, she’s said to control all flames, making her one of the few wizards in the world. At her young age, she’s compared to Lord Hast of the Wizard Kingdom.”
I nearly let out a foolish sound at the mention of Lord Hast. I held it back because I didn’t want to inflate that woman’s ego. But even though she was older than us, she wasn’t that far off, and to be compared to Lord Hast was something else.
“To maintain the heat of this country with just one person’s magic…”
“How rude. From my perspective, you ordinary people are just too lazy. There may be differences in innate qualities, but still…”
According to what I heard, the Neo Demon Lord Army had attacked this country before. Yet, it was this person alone who repelled them each time, to the point where even the king couldn’t stand up to her. Moreover, while people used to gather firewood to keep the flames alive, she now managed everything with just her magic.
It made sense why that soldier had acted the way he did earlier. If they angered her, not only would their current way of life be threatened, but they wouldn’t be protected when the Demon Lord Army attacked again. The title of True Flame Witch was grand, but what she was doing seemed no different from the Demon Lord Army or the Comet Wolf Brigade. She exploited people’s weaknesses and did as she pleased. How could anyone claim that wasn’t the case?
“I-I got it!”
“Oh, you took your time… Wait! I don’t like this!”
“W-well, I was told…”
“Why didn’t you say that earlier?”
“Um… that’s not really…”
“I’ll just leave the fire I extinguished earlier as it is. Good luck burning some firewood. Go ahead and consume the few resources you have left.”
As Rainis watched the soldiers dash away in a panic, she burst into a fit of laughter. Beside her, Kurinka swung the Staff of Scorching Tales, and a small flame erupted, causing the snow on the soldiers’ path to slowly melt away. The soldier, noticing the bare ground beneath his feet, quickly turned back to us. He probably thought it was Rainis who did it. He stood upright, bowing repeatedly in gratitude.
“…What are you doing, causing unnecessary trouble?”
“I thought your flames wouldn’t be able to save them.”
“This country depends on me. They can’t survive without me.”
“Is that so…?”
“Yes, it is. Are you challenging me with such a trivial display?”
“I don’t particularly enjoy fighting, and I certainly wouldn’t challenge the weak.”
Finally, the fire in the fireplace of the adjacent room went out. Even though they were dressed warmly, the soldiers began to shiver in earnest now that they had lost their source of heat.
“I just extinguished every fire in this country.”
For a brief moment, the surroundings felt warmer, and the snow outside began to melt. It was thanks to her that that person could endure in such attire. If I kept my surroundings warm, it would feel just like a warm region to her. Yet, what had she done now?
“It’s your fault for making me angry… Now, if you pass through here, you’ll reach the Great Garnis Glacier. No one will stop you, so why not hurry along? You know, it looks warm, but it’s actually quite cold inside. Without fire, it can be pretty chilly… Hehe.”
The way she casually stated that our actions would lead to the downfall of this country made her seem more like a monster than anything else. I could remain calm even in this situation. If I let my anger take over and attacked her—no, this person—fire would be extinguished from this land forever.
“Are you planning to live like this forever? The Neo Demon Lord Army will definitely attack soon, and there will inevitably be an end.”
“The Demon Lord Army is no enemy of mine. I’ve dealt with them time and again.”
“If a unit led by the Twelve Demon Generals or the Four Heavenly Kings comes, it will be the end. You probably don’t know the true strength of the Demon Lord Army.”
“I told you, no matter what comes, they are not my enemies.”
“It’s cold! It’s so cold…! Fire… someone, please, fire!”
One of the soldiers, flustered, tried to conjure fire with magic. However, it was quickly extinguished by Rainis. After a few rounds of this game of cat and mouse, he began to cling to Rainis with teary eyes.
“These pathetic people can’t survive without me. They may have some knowledge of magic in this region, but it’s impossible for them to keep a flame going without anything to burn. Making me angry is tantamount to killing them. If you want to apologize, now’s your chance.”
“If I apologize, will it preserve your pride?”
“Well, if that’s how it is, I suppose I have no choice.”
Without a hint of hesitation, Rainis ignored the soldiers and started walking toward the town. She truly didn’t care what happened to them.
“If you feel sorry for them, why don’t you help them? Ah, I’m so thirsty. Maybe I’ll go get a drink at the tavern.”
How could she do something like this? How strong must one be to become so arrogant? Overcome by anger, I directed the Detect Ring at the woman in that embarrassing outfit.
[Rainis Level: 537 Class: Flame Master Rank: S HP: 3455]
- Even though it was much lower than mine, I was still astonished. She wasn’t even in the Abyss Cave, yet she had this level. I had heard that the rate of level-up growth varies from person to person, but Rainis was a true genius.
“First, let’s deal with the fire.”
In a monotone voice, Kurinka added firewood to the flames. This time, it didn’t seem to go out, especially since Kurinka had ignited it with the Staff of Scorching Tales. But if she miscalculated, it could become a problem.
“You don’t have to obey someone like her.”
“B-but the fire…”
“Has she always been here in this country? That can’t be right. The ancestors built this place without yielding to such harsh conditions. There’s no way they can’t do it.”
The soldiers, as if recalling something from Kurinka’s words, pondered for a moment before silently lighting the fire in the other room’s fireplace. I wondered how long she had been entrenched in this country and how it had come to this state. Either way, I couldn’t just leave it be.
“Lua-chan, you don’t have to worry about Rainis. I’ll take care of it.”
This was the first time I had heard Kurinka’s voice so clear and resolute. I never imagined that she could be angrier than I was. I didn’t know what she planned to do, but it seemed we would be staying in this country for a little while longer. Just a little while.
◆ Shin Report ◆
So, you’ve finally made it this far?
At the Demon Lord’s feet, the Great Garnis Glacier.
This isn’t going to be a simple matter.
I thought I could just Sonic Ripper my way through like usual, but that was a huge mistake.
The sheer terror of nature that defies all common sense—
You’d better savor it.
Just when I thought that, it seems there’s another delay.
How do they keep getting caught up in this?
Even this Shin is thinking, “Hurry up and get to the Demon Lord!”
If anyone else were watching, they’d be complaining non-stop.
Dawdling around like this…
To be surprised by a level 537? Look at your own level!
If you just landed a single hit, this would all be resolved in no time.
Why bother worrying about it?
Well, it seems Kurinka will handle it this time.
Let’s hope it doesn’t drag on too long.
Huh!?
What on earth is Shin doing?