Frozen Earth #1

 

Wheeee—

Goooo—…

The snowstorm stopped for a moment.

It’s now. I have to go now.

The weather in the North is so changeable that it’s hard to predict how it will change from day to day.

You have to lock it up while you can, otherwise you’ll never reach your destination.

I came out of the igloo.

I haven’t even tasted the warm tea and cookies I had prepared to enjoy while resting, but now is the time to get moving.

“Phew.”

I packed my bags and started walking. Looking back, I saw only my lonely footprints stretching across the snowfield.

Swoosh, swoosh.

He moved forward, pressing his Indian staff hard against the ground like a hiking stick.

—400m ahead. Turn right next to a large tree.

—Go straight. Be careful of the cliff 200 meters ahead.

The path is marked by the walking stick of India. As befitting an artifact, its performance is beyond doubt.

We’ve come a long way.

After parting ways with the party members in the big city of Karin, I started to seriously tackle S-rank quests and finally explored the Akasha Labyrinth.

Having obtained the Indian walking stick I had been searching for, I now stand before the great turning point of my journey: the castle of Kamula.

This is a frozen land.

‘No one in their right mind would venture into such extremes.’

I looked around and saw that I was the only person there.

In the far north of the continent, the desolate snowfields were even more deserted than the Garden Wilderness.

—You have arrived at your destination. Enjoy your rest.

The light on the Indian staff blinked twice and then went out.

I looked down at the scenery that spread out below the snow-capped mountains.

Beyond the white snowfield, shabby wooden houses stand here and there, and people who look like small dots like ants are walking around.

The land of eternal winter.

A land of slaves who cannot be freed by their own power even after a thousand years.

And, the land where I can finally regain all my power and be reborn as a Lich in his prime.

“Shall we go?”

With each exhalation, a puff of white breath dispersed into the air.

I put strength back into my hand holding the Indian walking stick and went down the snowy mountain, careful not to slip.

***

The extreme north of the continent.

Camula has established a base here, hiding from the world’s gaze.

The strategy of building power by maneuvering through the snowstorm without attracting unnecessary attention has proven effective. At least for now.

Even Michael couldn’t find Camula.

In addition to the rugged terrain, the enchanting magic of Camula, which causes people to lose their way, prevents even the most discerning travelers from setting foot here.

Of course, I am not much of a traveler.

Perhaps for this reason, the locals seemed quite surprised by the appearance of an unfamiliar visitor named Nara.

“Are you one of Kamula’s subordinates?”

Eyes full of caution observed me.

A bone that juts out above the skin of a emaciated face. A molar that protrudes above the lower lip.

As you can guess from their appearance, they are not human. I’ve seen a species like this before.

‘Snowfield Orc.’

A race related to the Wilderness Orcs we met in Garden.

Unlike the copper-skinned Wilderness Orcs, they have pale skin and gray eyes.

Perhaps because of the always cold and cloudy weather, his personality tended to be somewhat cynical and gloomy.

“I’m just a traveler. I’m lost.”

The orcs laughed at my words.

“You’re so unlucky, human. Welcome to hell.”

“She’s so tiny, she’ll freeze to death even faster. I bet that girl won’t make it through the night.”

The orcs were as cold and cynical as a cold blizzard.

Orcs are now in eternal slavery under the rule of the vampire queen, Camula.

For them, neither the pride of a warrior nor the rights of a free man remained.

The isolated polar regions vehemently resist outside invasion. They probably never dreamed of anyone offering help.

“Okay, let’s all get to work and stop dawdling. If we don’t meet our quota, we’ll starve today too.”

“Fuck-”

The orcs grumbled and walked in a line into the mine.

Bloodstone, the catalyst for necromancy and blood magic.

It is a precious material that is difficult to obtain elsewhere, but the northern part of this area is dotted with mines containing bloodstone ore veins.

It was a blessing for Camula, but a curse for all the other slaves.

Mining operations are never smooth sailing.

Other mines, such as copper or gold, were considered among the most arduous, but the bloodstone mines were incomparable.

The bloodstone mine is a hell of a place where people sacrifice their blood to mine blood.

No miner would want to work in the bloodstone mines, even if they were offered several times the amount of money. So, they had no choice but to risk their slaves’ lives to mine the bloodstone.

“Everyone looks tired.”

I took a leisurely stroll around the village.

The village was in dire straits. At least the basic necessities a village should have were lacking.

A slave colony. Or a prison without bars.

The reason they didn’t lock up the orcs to prevent them from escaping was probably because there was no need to do so.

Even without building watchtowers and surrounding the village with high walls, the orcs had nowhere to go outside the village.

Even if you run away, you will just end up wandering aimlessly in the bitter cold and turning into a lump of ice.

“I don’t like those eyes.”

An orc sitting on a rotten wooden barrel suddenly started to argue.

“Are you here for sightseeing? So, what do you think? Do you feel pity? Do you feel pity for us, who have been exploited and slaves our entire lives to death? Or do you find it pathetic?”

The orc had a cast on one of his legs.

It wasn’t a proper treatment, but a crude cast made with worn-out bandages and pieces of wood.

An orc injured while working in a mine.

“I didn’t really think about that.”

“You can fool the tongue, but you can’t fool the eyes. There’s a saying among humans that goes like that. Why, the eyes are the windows to the soul. They reveal everything a person is thinking.”

“Hey, you even know that? You’re quite knowledgeable.”

“Don’t talk down to me! I wasn’t trying to get your compliments.”

The orc pursed his lips and bared his molars.

It seemed like a threatening gesture, but he was so thin and weak that it didn’t seem very intimidating.

“Then this time, should I look into your eyes and read your mind?”

“Are you following me?”

“Hmm—you seem to know more than the other orcs. And you know there’s nothing you can change here on your own. The more you know, the more despair you feel. Helplessness, frustration, rebellion… I see those emotions in your eyes. How is it, right?”

“⋯You’re such an arrogant girl.”

If they were orcs from other regions, they would have been insulted and started a fight.

But the orc just stared at me with poisonous eyes.

Learned helplessness. Camula cleverly trained the snowfield orcs into losers.

“Do you need money?”

“Are you sympathizing? I don’t need any good deeds.”

“Who gives it to me for free? It’s only going to cost me a fortune. I’m new here and don’t really know what’s going on. I need someone to show me around, but everyone else seems busy. But you seem to have free time.”

“You’re being all kinds of different. I’m telling you to wait on me.”

“It depends on how you take it. At least it’s more rewarding than sitting there cursing the world all day. If you wander around and do something, time will pass quickly.”

The orc grumbled softly and exhaled with a hiss.

After grumbling for a while, the orc blurted out.

“Damn it, do whatever you want. With legs like this, I look like I’m going to starve to death, so there’s nothing I can do.”

“That’s right. Pride doesn’t feed you. I’m Estelle.”

“⋯It’s Jonathan.”

Jonathan Oak struggled to his feet, supporting himself with his hands on the wooden barrel. He seemed to be having trouble moving.

“When did you get hurt?”

“I think it was a week ago. I was digging for bloodstone when a support collapsed and I was crushed. The medic said even if I healed, my bones would remain permanently twisted. Damn it.”

“Still, it’s fortunate that at least his life was saved.”

“You think so? ⋯It might have been better to die then.”

Jonathan raised his dark eyes and looked up at the snowflake-filled sky.

If the eyes are the windows to the soul as he said, Jonathan’s heart must be filled with despair right now.

‘Snowfield orcs yearn for death.’

All living things hope to continue living for even just a moment longer and live by running away from death.

But such a life only applies to those who have hope for the future.

The snowfield orcs have no hope for the future.

We literally live to die. We desperately need the peace we’ll enjoy after death more than the joys of life.

‘But I can’t die as I please.’

Even after death, you cannot escape Camula. It is a terrible reality.

The master who commands them is the queen of necromancy, Camulla. Even after they die, they are forcibly brought back to life and exploited as soulless slaves.

It’s hell whether you live or die. It’s hell, an eternal hell that never ends.

It’s easy to guess what the biggest prize for the Orcs will be.

Being allowed to die.

“Extend your leg.”

“Don’t be so useless. Even if you’re limping, you’re still getting better. A rookie like you— ugh!”

Jonathan screamed. I ignored his desperate scream and kneaded his leg viciously.

The rotten cast was removed and the leg bones were realigned.

Sorry, but I don’t use anesthesia. Anesthesia is a bit expensive.

Still, since I’m an orc, I guess I can tolerate this much.

“Ahhhh- Stop it! It hurts, it hurts!”

“It’s okay, it’s okay. I’m not dying. If you can’t stand it anymore, should I get you a Go board? Maybe a game of Go will make it a little easier to bear?”

“What the hell are you talking about! Hahah!”

Before the bones hardened into a distorted shape, I put them back in the right direction and poured a healing potion to heal them.

Chiiik—

Smoke rose as the torn and twisted muscles and skin regenerated. Jonathan screamed again.

“You have to endure the pain, you grumbling orc. Nothing will get better if you just endure it.”

Jonathan’s eyes rolled back into a hazy white. A normal human might have died from shock.

I kicked Jonathan, who was sprawled on the floor.

“Hey, wake up.”

“Ugh⋯.”

“Don’t joke around. You’re an orc. You’re the best at resilience.”

Jonathan glared at me, his eyes sparkling with hatred.

Jonathan got up, dragging his upper body on the floor.

“Why are you doing this to me… This girl… won’t leave me alone…”

chin.

Jonathan trembled and grabbed me by the collar. His grip was completely weak.

A weak force that couldn’t even properly subdue a young girl like me.

There’s a long way to go. For now, nutrition should be the priority.

“Oh, now you’re up. That’s right. I don’t want to hang around with a slow, lame guy.”

“⋯What?”

Jonathan narrowed his eyes. He lowered his gaze and stared blankly at his legs.

Before I knew it, my leg was completely healed. I could push myself up and stand up.

“Huh… Huh?”

“No, it’s not that, you little brat. I made it better. You’re supposed to have something to say at a time like this. Didn’t you learn that?”

“Uh⋯.”

Jonathan hesitated.

“How- um- that- that⋯ and, thank you.”

Jonathan spoke haltingly, his eyes noticeably more open than before.