Chapter 161: Black Death Ice Forest Part 1

“Now that Karl’s evolution has finished successfully, there is something I would like to say to everyone.”

“What is it with the tone change?”

After indulging Karl for a bit, I turned to face everyone and started with these words. My sudden shift to a serious tone seemed to have puzzled them all.

“It’s about our next goal as a guild.”

Though we had successfully reunited, our guild currently lacked a clear purpose or goal. For now, everyone was just doing what they wanted and I didn’t see anything wrong with that. While some guilds impose quotas, that style didn’t suit us and it wasn’t my personal preference either.

However, since we’ve formed this community as a guild, wouldn’t it be fun to achieve something together?

“A goal for the guild, huh? Do you have something in mind, Isam?”

“I do have a suggestion. First, take a look at this.”

Saying that, I took out an item from my inventory. I showed it to Shiitake, who had the [Appraisal] skill. Realizing what I intended for her to do, she used [Appraisal] and then let out an absurdly surprised voice.

“Dragon’s Jewel?! A Dragon God?! Eh, what is this?!”

“This is an item I acquired during the ‘Trial of the Azure Moon’.”

“Oh, the one you showed to that huge dragon?”

“Yes. I’m thinking of returning it to the Dragon God.”

It was a complete coincidence that the map I received from Lord Gravekeeper was of this Vetus Floating Island, which was also known as the Dragon’s Paradise. However, I couldn’t pass up this accidental opportunity. After explaining to everyone what the Dragon’s Jewel was, I delved into the main topic.

“According to the information I gathered at Birdy Perch, there’s a legend about a place called ‘Dragon’s Sanctuary’ located far to the northeast from here. I propose that as a guild, we should set our sights on this ‘Dragon’s Sanctuary’.”

“That sounds exciting, brother! Count me in!”

Jigoro was the first to agree. He must have predicted that aiming for the “Dragon’s Sanctuary” would undoubtedly lead us to encounters with powerful opponents. For the same reason, those like Genjuro and Sei who were eager to grow stronger, agreed as well.

“It sounds like there might be unknown materials there!” Iris said.

“There might even be stuff I can use for [Alchemy]~~. Isn’t it a template that dragons are sources of materials for panaceas?” Shiitake added.

The production team was enthusiastic too. The appeal of coming across new materials was certainly tempting.

“Um, can I ask a question?”

“What is it, Shishu?”

A hand arose from an unexpected person. But I wanted any opinions to be shared openly. It’s not fun to keep harboring doubts.

“Are we going right away? I was planning to log out soon today… not immediately, right?”

“Of course, we’ll choose a day that suits everyone’s schedule. I didn’t plan to go today immediately. And obviously, we can’t do it on weekdays.”

“Oh, good!”

Shishu sighed in relief. It was impossible to ask them to sacrifice real life for the game, and I had no intention of doing so. After all, if our lives can’t be managed because of the game, then everything becomes pointless.

“So, can I ask a question too?”

“What’s on your mind, Wool?”

“It’s a very game-like question~, but we can’t just go straight to this sanctuary place~, can we~?”

Hmm, that’s very perceptive of him. Wool, despite his laid-back demeanor, was certainly sharp.

I’ve been thinking about returning the dragon’s jewel ever since I came to Birdy Perch and have been gathering information for just that purpose. In the process, I had to ask several favors of Haze, the intimidating Birdian who had a yakuza-like appearance, and Hornbill, the leader-like figure among the craftsmen. As a result, it became clear that I could never reach my destination alone which is why I had kept silent until now.

“That’s right. To reach the ‘Dragon’s Sanctuary’, there is one major obstacle.”

“And that is?”

“First, to the northeast of Birdy Perch lies a field known as the ‘Gale Plains’ This part isn’t a problem. The level of the monsters that appear there is around 20 to 30.”

“And then?”

“The problem lies beyond that. Past the ‘Gale Plains’ is the ‘Black Death Ice Forest’… This one is a coniferous forest of extreme cold, shrouded in thick black clouds through which even the Birdians cannot fly. This forest surrounds the ‘Dragon’s Sanctuary’.”

◆◇◆◇◆◇

――――――――――

You have won the battle.

You have defeated the field boss, “Storm Lion”.

As a reward, you have received 5 SP.

From now on, you can choose whether to engage in battle with this field boss or not.

Race level increased. Gained 1 SP.

Job level increased. Gained 1 SP.

The level of [Black Magic] skill has increased.

Newly learned “Black Hole” spell.

[Black Magic] has reached its growth limit. SP is required to break the limit.

The level of [Summoning Magic] skill has increased.

The level of [Talismanry] skill has increased.

The level of [Necromancy] skill has increased.

The level of [Spirit Channeling] skill has increased.

Newly learned “Summon Jailer” spell.

The level of [Assassination] skill has increased.

――――――――――

After checking everyone’s schedules, I found that the following Sunday was suitable. Therefore, we dedicated the weekdays and Saturday to leveling up and preparing, as well as tackling the initial phase of conquering the “Gale Plains”.

The “Gale Plains” turned out to be as peaceful as the information I had gathered beforehand suggested. Well, that might be a bit misleading. The real issue was that our levels weren’t quite appropriate for the area. This could be clearly seen from the boss’s [Appraisal] results.

――――――――――

Race: Storm Lion Lv35

Job: Lord of the Plains Lv5

Skills:

• [Big Fangs]
• [Strong Claws]
• [Health Enhancement]
• [Strength Enhancement]
• [Defense Enhancement]
• [Intelligence Enhancement]
• [Storm Magic]
• [Enchantment]
• [Assassination]
• [Slash Attack Resistance]
• [Roar]
• [Command]
• [Leadership]
• [Wind Aura]

――――――――――

It was by no means an easy battle. This was because around the Storm Lion boss monster was its entourage of female Wind Lions; they matched our party in numbers and attacked us in a highly coordinated manner. It would be almost impossible to beat them if your party was at level 20s, and even at level 30s it would be tough if the party did not work well together.

However, for us, whose levels had all surpassed 40, these enemies could hardly be called a challenge. In the end, Jigoro and I decided to head out immediately after setting the date for the exploration. And then we found that we could easily annihilate them in an instant.

Up to this point, everything had gone smoothly. However, as we approached the border between the “Gale Plains” and the “Black Death Ice Forest” the complacent air among us instantly dissipated. It was clearly obvious even from a distance that this place was extremely dangerous.

Just as the limited information had indicated, the “Black Death Ice Forest” was perpetually covered in thick black clouds. It seemed to be constantly snowing, especially towards the middle, where the “Dragon’s Sanctuary” was likely located, making it appear as if a blizzard was raging. Intense sounds of battle frequently echoed from the forest, along with terrifying death screams. It made sense why the people of Birdy Perch deemed it too dangerous to approach.

After that, we explored the outskirts of the forest several times. The level of the monsters that appeared was in the 40s, which was appropriate for us at the time. The difficulty was just right for leveling up and everything seemed perfect.

During these explorations, I was able to confirm that it was extremely cold. Therefore, we acquired wool from Wool and feathers shed by the people of Birdy Perch and asked Iris to make cold-weather gear. It seemed like it was possible to make accessories that would protect against the cold by using items dropped by monsters from the “Black Death Ice Forest”, so I had Iris work on those as well. Fortunately, just like me, there were others who didn’t need cold-weather gear which was a relief since we didn’t need to prepare for the entire party.

Since we had no information about the monsters that might appear, we prepared a wide variety of items. From potions for recovering from various status ailments to attack items and talismans of various elements, we made sure that everyone had a good supply.

Additionally, having sufficiently leveled up in both [Necromancy] and [Talismanry] I had completed the process of turning Hanna into a Jianshi. The procedure was a success without any complications, and she, who was once a High Human became a Hero Jiangshi. Since she became a member of the undead race like myself, she also started to endure light element damage while logged out; this was a strategy I had employed long ago to overcome my [Light Weakness]. It seems her progress in this regard is going smoothly.

The title “Hero” was attributed to her due to her triumph in the martial arts tournament. It appears that the condition for this recognition is being acknowledged as a hero by a certain number of NPCs or players for a heroic deed. But, leaving aside the NPCs, how are the players assessed to have such judgment by the game? This one remained a mystery to me.

Furthermore, I had everyone get ready by the planned date and set up a temporary campsite near the “Black Death Ice Forest”. On the day before departure, I had everyone set this location as their login point so that they would be ready for the assault on the “Black Death Ice Forest” I can proudly say that I have completed all possible preparations.

As for myself, I have acquired two new martial techniques and eight magic spells. Let’s browse through them.

Starting with martial techniques, the first was “Tail Whip” of [Tail Strike]. This one was a technique that involved flexing my tail like a whip and striking rapidly. Simple yet efficient, with minimal openings and straightforward motions; it has proven to be extremely useful, especially during sparring sessions with Jigoro as a means of restraining his movements.

The second was “Decapitation” of [Scythe Mastery]. This was a two-edged technique where damage to the neck is significantly increased but hits to other parts of the body result in less damage than a normal attack. While scythes are typically associated with the Grim Reaper, for a mage like me, having an enemy within the range of my scythe usually signifies imminent danger. So I doubt I’ll use it much.

Now, moving on to magic spells. The first was “Ice Rain” of [Water and Ice Magic]. This was a spell that rained down icicle-like hail on the enemy. It was incredibly easy to use and might be the most versatile spell I acquired in this skill since it evolved of [Water Magic].

The second spell I acquired was “Air Hammer” of [Storm Magic]. It was a spell that struck enemies with a mass of air. It possessed a blunt force attribute, which was unusual for wind element attacks. It would be particularly powerful against opponents like me, who had [Blunt Attack Weakness]. Though I have overcome my [Light Weakness] I still need to be cautious about blunt attacks.

The third spell was “Summon Evil Tree” of [Forest Magic]. This spell was akin to a limited version of [Summoning Magic]. It temporarily summons an Evil Tree to fight with you. While it seemed to have wide applications, I noticed that [Forest Magic] had no direct means of attack other than Thorn Whip!

The fourth spell was “Lava Pillar” of [Lava Magic]. Similar to other pillar-type spells, it created a column of lava. Unlike flames, the lingering, viscous lava requires careful consideration for effective use, but its power is undeniable. I’m sure it will prove to be useful.

The fifth spell, “Sand Blade” of [Sand Magic] was a spell that sliced enemies with a blade formed of sand. It had a narrower range than “Sandstorm” but offered significantly higher direct attack power. While slower and more visible than the similar “Wind Blade” spell, it compensated with greater force. It might prove to be useful in more situations than expected.

The sixth spell was “Poison Mist” of [Mist Magic]. This spell literally allowed the creation of a poisonous mist. It was the only spell capable of inflicting status ailments outside of the [Curse] skill and unlike the [Curse] spells, which typically targeted a single individual, it was an area-of-effect attack. This could be devastating in group battles.

The seventh spell I gained was “Black Hole” of [Black Magic]. This spell conjured a black sphere designed to suck in everything in its vicinity. Once trapped, an opponent would face intense pressure from all sides—front, back, left, right, top, and bottom. Its power was immense and it was fitting for a spell learned after reaching a growth limit.

The final eighth spell was “Summon Jailer” of [Spirit Channeling]. This spell seemed to summon a type of demon known as a jailer from hell. Although I had not used it yet, I believed it to be powerful, especially after what had happened in the “Ancient Ruined City”. However, the thought of possibly summoning something uncontrollable, like before, made me hesitant to use it recklessly.

“Isam, everyone has gathered,” Iris said.

“Oh, is that so?”

“Fufu, I’m sure everyone was looking forward to it.”

“Hahaha, that’s right.”

Today was the day we were to head to the “Black Death Ice Fores.” Everyone had arrived much earlier than the scheduled meeting time. Like me, they were probably excited with anticipation and anxiety about venturing into a new area.

I thought it was a bit silly for someone my age, but I blamed the game for being so interesting! It wasn’t my fault!

“Well then, shall we set off at a slow pace? I repeat, we have almost no information about the surroundings of our destination. Let’s proceed without letting our guard down!”

“””Ooooh!”””

“Hmm, you sound like a teacher leading a school trip.”

Though Seventh Armor said something, I decided to ignore it. And so, this is how we began our conquest of the “Black Death Ice Forest”.