Levi 3

As we reached the edge of Solhan Pass, an enormous ice gorge filled our view.

The sight was so breathtaking it almost took my breath away.

The ice walls, hundreds of meters tall, stretched toward the sky, and the ground below was endlessly covered in snow and ice.

“This is Solhan Pass…”

I swallowed hard involuntarily.

The Solhan Pass, which I had only heard about in my uncle’s stories, was now unfolding before my eyes.

Even as an A-rank adventurer, the sheer scale of this sight made my heart tighten.

“Is everyone ready?”

Ryandel asked in a calm voice.

“Yes.”

The voices of me and the other adventurers blended together.

He pulled out a crystal staff and drew a blue magical map in mid-air.

The complex terrain of Solhan Pass was depicted in 3D, with a green line marking the path we would take.

“Let’s go this way. This is the optimal route to avoid the guardians’ territories.”

Ryandel’s map was incredibly detailed.

In particular, the dangerous areas marked in red were prominent, with each guardian’s territory distinguished by different colors.

“Hmm… It’s really detailed.”

The veteran adventurer Rodrick admired.

“The Tower has been collecting information about Solhan Pass for decades. Of course, the exact habitats of the guardians change slightly each time, so we’ve updated the map with the latest information.”

I gripped my bow tightly.

‘Whisper of Moonlight,’ which I had specially prepared this morning, seemed to tremble slightly in my hand.

It felt as if it too sensed the danger of Solhan Pass.

“It’s okay, it’s okay…”

My heart raced.

To calm my trembling hands, I took a deep breath.

I had already faced many life-threatening situations.

This time, I was accompanied by the capable magician Ryandel and other skilled adventurers.

There shouldn’t be any problems.

“Let’s depart.”

Following Ryandel’s lead, we stepped into Solhan Pass.

Before leaving, we all drank potions to resist the cold.

The bitter taste slid down our throats, and a warm sensation spread through our bodies.

The Frost Drake cloak that old Ronin had given me also helped block the cold.

We cautiously advanced through the narrow ice gorge.

Each step crunched the snow, the sound echoing sharply.

Strangely, the vast gorge was eerily quiet.

Only the occasional falling snowflakes and the distant sound of cracking ice broke the silence.

“Why is it so quiet?”

I asked softly.

“Most creatures in Solhan Pass minimize their movements and sounds to conserve body heat. But when they detect prey, the situation changes.”

After hearing that, my footsteps seemed louder than before.

The silence of Solhan Pass suddenly felt threatening.

It was as if everything was watching us.

We followed Ryandel through the narrow passages between the ice walls.

Looking up, the sky beyond the ice walls was turning gray.

The ice and snow reflected the sky’s color, tinting the surroundings in a cool blue hue.

As time passed, the terrain became more complex.

We carefully moved between ice pillars and large ice walls.

Ryandel’s map was accurate.

Following the path he indicated, we were able to traverse Solhan Pass relatively safely.

Occasionally, we saw small monsters on the snowy plains.

Creatures like ‘Ice Hornrabbits,’ which resembled snow rabbits, and ‘Snow Foxies,’ small white foxes, fled quickly when they saw us.

Once, we encountered a few ‘Ice Crawlers,’ chimera-like monsters covered in ice, but Ryandel easily defeated them with a simple fire spell.

“It’s surprisingly easy. I thought Solhan Pass would be teeming with more dangerous monsters…”

Elena said quietly.

“It seems that way, but we’re avoiding all the dangerous areas.”

Ryandel smiled lightly.

“If we took the direct route, we would have a high chance of encountering guardians.”

His words were proven by the howl of a Frost Wolf we heard in the distance.

The sound was far away, but the power in the howl made our spines chill.

It was a mix of human screams and wolf cries, lingering in our ears for a while.

“Look over there… That must be their territory.”

Karl pointed quietly.

In the distance, a pack of massive wolves could be seen.

They moved like white ghosts across the snowy field.

They were the Frost Wolves.

Though they were quite far, their overwhelming presence still reached us.

“Don’t worry.”

Ryandel said confidently.

“They won’t leave their territory. As long as we don’t enter theirs, we’re safe.”

As Ryandel said, we didn’t intrude on the guardians’ territories, allowing us to pass through Solhan Pass without dangerous encounters.

Without Ryandel’s precise map and extensive knowledge, it would have been impossible.

As the sun began to set, we found a vast ice cave.

Ryandel checked the map and nodded.

“It would be good to rest here for the night. Going deeper into the cave will block the wind and be warmer.”

Inside the cave, it was surprisingly spacious and clean.

The ice walls were covered with a glowing moss-like substance that emitted a faint blue light.

Ryandel pointed to it and explained.

“This is ‘Luminous Moss.’ It glows in the dark. It has magical properties, so the Tower is studying it.”

Thanks to the light, we could easily explore the cave.

Fortunately, there were no signs of other creatures inside.

Torben set up simple traps around the entrance to strengthen security.

“Let’s rest now.”

Rodrick said, putting down his backpack.

“We should probably build a fire because of the cold.”

We worked together to gather firewood and start a fire.

Ryandel’s fire magic made it easy to ignite the flames.

As the fire blazed, the area warmed up, and our numb hands and feet began to thaw.

“I should probably replenish my mana.”

Ryandel carefully opened his bag and pulled out a small golden orb.

“What’s that?”

Karl asked curiously.

“It’s the ‘Prinel Orb,’ one of the treasures of the Golden Spire.”

The white magical circle on the orb glowed brilliantly as it floated in the air.

Ryandel touched it, and soft streaks of light emanated from the orb, enveloping his body.

“It’s an precious item that the Tower doesn’t easily let out, but I got special permission to bring it for this journey.”

His voice was more serious than usual.

“It’s like a mana potion.”

“Similar, but unlike potions that increase mana recovery, this orb is a concentrated form of pure mana, making it much more useful. However, relying too much on it can disrupt the mana flow.”

Ryandel absorbed the orb’s mana and carefully placed it deep inside his bag.

Then, he smiled and pulled out a beautiful wine bottle.

“By the way, everyone, you’ve worked hard today.”

“This is Crystal Berry Wine, specially brought from the Tower. Would you like a glass?”

“Oh, Crystal Berry? I heard it’s really expensive!”

Karl’s eyes sparkled.

“Ha ha. A privilege of the Golden Spire.”

We each poured a small glass of wine.

I decided to drink tea instead, as I was young.

Father always said to drink but never get drunk, but he never allowed me to drink even then.

So I drank the warm herbal tea I had prepared.

The sight of us sitting around the fire looked peaceful.

Like ordinary travelers. But the vigilance in everyone’s eyes remained.

Rodrick’s hand stayed near his sword, Elena’s fingers moved subtly as she prepared for magic, and Torben continuously scanned the surroundings.

I also kept my bow and quiver close.

“It’s nice…”

Karl said after taking a sip of wine.

“Rodrick senior, could you tell us an interesting adventure story? Nights like these are perfect for tales.”

Rodrick remained silent for a while.

A dark shadow fell over his face.

“What you want to hear are probably glorious adventure stories…”

He slowly continued.

“But real adventures are mostly filled with pain and loss.”

“Still, please tell us.”

Karl asked earnestly.

“We’re on our way to Shia Kalt. Your experience could help us.”

Rodrick took a deep breath and began his story slowly.

“When I was your age, my hometown was attacked by monsters.”

His voice was low and heavy.

It felt like he was reopening an old wound.

“In one night, the village was reduced to ruins. My family, friends, neighbors… Everyone was killed by the monsters. Only I and a few villagers survived.”

A spark from the fire cast shadows on Rodrick’s face.

“From that day on, I swore to get stronger and kill all those monsters.”

He slowly stroked his sword.

“I became an adventurer and spent over a decade… When I finally became strong enough, I led my party into the demon territory where those monsters lived.”

I held my breath as I listened.

Demon Territory was a place I had only seen on maps, a formidable region.

“We… killed too many monsters. We killed everything in sight, driven by our desire for revenge.”

Rodrick’s gaze wavered.

“But our revenge came at a cost. We encountered a powerful demon… He killed three of my party members in an instant.”

“Only I and one other survived. We barely escaped… But a new desire for revenge took root in my heart.”

He emptied his cup and continued slowly.

“Five years later, we returned. This time, with more companions and better preparation. And we finally killed that demon.”

The room fell into heavy silence.

“But my friends didn’t return. My family didn’t return. No matter how many monsters or demons I killed, the hole in my heart remained.”

Rodrick stared at the flames and muttered.

“Revenge is sweet, but ultimately hollow. That’s the lesson I learned.”

When Rodrick finished, the cave fell into a heavy silence.

Only the sound of the burning fire broke the stillness.

“Adventurers… always walk with death.”

My voice trembled softly.

My heart felt heavy.

Rodrick smiled bitterly and nodded.

“Yes. But some deaths can be prevented, and some won’t be in vain.”

He looked at each of us, his gaze serious.

“That’s why I’m telling you this story now. Not for revenge, but to protect.”

His words sank deeply into my heart.

The faces of my family appeared before me.

Father’s strong figure, Mother’s warm smile, and Leah’s bright laughter.

“I must become stronger to protect them. And…”

The face of the Third Prince flickered in the depths of my mind.

His golden hair and sky-blue eyes. Our brief meeting that day had changed the course of my life.

I was here now for a dream I wasn’t even sure was possible.

The adventurers each fell into their own thoughts as night deepened.

I couldn’t sleep easily either.

I lay down, gripping my bow tightly.

“I will never lose anyone precious again. I will protect them with my own hands.”