Chapter 237 – An Important Matter

Chapter 237

An Important Matter

Date : Day 25 of Deepwinter 1024 Aethellgard Concord Year.

Yesterday, Freedom Party had finally completed their nine-day dive into Akela Dungeon.

After clearing the guardian of the Fourth Floor, they had returned to the Adventurer Guild Branch on the Dungeon Town to report their results to Sherly.

The guild clerk had been expecting something completely different. After all, Freedom Party had developed a reputation for bringing back enormous amounts of magic stones from their dungeon dives.

Thousands of them.

So when Sherly checked their report and saw that their total kill count was less than one hundred, she had simply stared at the numbers.

Her glasses had slowly become crooked. Her jaw had slackened.

For a moment, Sherly looked as though she couldn't understand what she was reading.

It wasn't that Freedom Party had somehow become weaker. But the Fourth Floor was simply different from the floors they had cleared before. There had been fewer monsters, while traps and the labyrinth-like passages had consumed most of their time.

After finishing their report, Freedom Party returned to their manor on Wyvern Street.

There was no grand celebration waiting for them.

The excitement they had felt after defeating the Fourth Floor guardian had already faded. Nine days inside the dungeon had left all of them profoundly exhausted. Even the thought of celebrating their victory felt like too much effort. They had barely lingered after returning home. They simply rested.

And after a night of much-needed sleep, another day arrived.

Today was Solday, the twenty-fifth day of Deepwinter. It was the final month of winter. Only five more days remained before spring arrived.

Yet winter had not loosened its grip on Akela.

Snow was still falling. The streets were covered in white, and a thin layer of snow had settled across the roofs and fences surrounding Wyvern Street. The cold air carried the faint scent of winter through the Entertainment District.

In front of their manor, Hyoren stood on the porch.

He tightened his coat around his body as he looked toward the sky. Silver Luna had already begun climbing toward its zenith, its pale light shining through the cloudy winter sky.

Hyoren breathed out.

A small cloud of white vapor appeared before his mouth before quickly fading into the cold air.

He glanced around their front yard. 

Then he looked to his left. Standing there was Elise, the silver-haired elven ranger.

Her deep green mantle covered most of her body, while a green shawl rested around her shoulders. Her long silver hair was let loose, and her emerald eyes looked particularly bright against the snowy surroundings.

Hyoren then looked to his right.

Ina was standing there. The brown-haired Cat-clan Beastkin wore her orange leather jacket open, revealing the red sweater underneath. Her cat ears twitched slightly whenever the cold wind passed by, while her tail moved lazily behind her.

Hyoren looked at the two women for a moment. A small smile appeared on his face.

“Are you two really wanting to go with me?”

He scratched his cheek.

“It's not an important matter. I'm only doing this because of my stubbornness…”

His eyes shifted toward Ina.

“Especially you, Ina. It's not your rest day, right? What about your work as Vice Guild Master?”

Ina leaned forward. Her cat ears immediately perked up.

“Not important? How is this matter not important?”

She shook her head, her brown hair swaying slightly.

“And I already asked for leave from the Adventurer Guild.”

A mischievous grin appeared on her face.

“For once, I'll leave all those desk jobs to Guildmas!”

Her cat tail swished behind her.

“Nyahaha.”

Hyoren smiled wryly.

He had expected that answer.

Ina might be the Vice Guild Master, but that did not mean she was incapable of taking a day off when she wanted to. Especially when she had already decided to accompany him.

Elise shifted her green shawl slightly, making sure it was secure around her shoulders.

She then nodded.

“Ina is right. This is an important matter, Hyoren.”

Her emerald eyes turned toward Hyoren.

“We're your lovers. We would never not attend something like this.”

A gentle smile appeared on her lips.

“And without me, who is going to lead the way? Fufufu.”

Hyoren scratched his cheek.

“Well… it's true.”

He glanced down the road. He wasn't exactly the best person to rely on when it came to finding a route through an unfamiliar area.

“I might not be able to find the way…”

Then he suddenly furrowed his eyebrows.

“Wait.”

He raised his head.

“I'm just going to follow the river. I will never get lost!”

For a brief moment, neither Elise nor Ina responded. They looked at each other. Then they both burst into laughter.

Hyoren stared at them.

“What?”

His defense had apparently made things worse.

Elise covered her mouth as she giggled, while Ina's shoulders shook with laughter.

The cold weather remained unchanged. Snow continued to fall around them, covering the porch and the street in white.

Yet the atmosphere in front of the Wyvern Street manor was warm.

After nine days of dungeon exploration, there was something comforting about simply standing outside with people he could relax around.

No monsters were waiting for them. No traps needed to be avoided. No one was watching the clock. For this morning, they could simply walk together.

Hyoren smiled and finally turned toward the road.

“Well, we still need to visit a few shops first, so let's go and not waste time.”

Elise tightened the belt of her deep green mantle before following him.

“Let's go, Hyoren.”

Ina also stepped forward, her boots pressing into the fresh snow.

“Let's!”

The three of them started walking together. Behind them, their manor stood quietly beneath the falling snow. Ahead of them waited the streets of Akela and the few places they needed to visit.

And so, on the 25th day of Deepwinter, Hyoren's journey continued—not through a dungeon this time, but through an ordinary winter day shared with the people closest to him. 

***

Their first destination was the magic tool shop—the Gilded Scale. The familiar shop was already open when the three arrived. 

Hyoren pushed open the door, and the small bell above it chimed. Warm air immediately greeted them. After the cold morning outside, the warmth felt especially pleasant. Hyoren loosened his coat slightly as he stepped inside, while Elise and Ina followed behind him.

They didn't even need to look around to know that the dwarf twins were there.

Their voices could already be heard from the backroom. They were arguing. Again. The subject, as usual, was magic tools.

Balin, the silver-bearded twin, was always eager to experiment with new runic inscriptions. If he discovered an unusual method that might improve a magic tool, he wanted to try it immediately.

Gror, his red-bearded twin, was the opposite.

He preferred efficient runic inscriptions. If something could be accomplished with fewer runes and less Aethell without sacrificing performance, he saw no reason to make it complicated.

The two rarely agreed on their approach.

But perhaps that difference was also what made them such an excellent pair. Together, Balin and Gror had become known for creating some of the best magic tools in Akela City.

Their argument continued for another moment.

Then the doorbell chimed again as the door closed behind Hyoren.

The voices stopped. A moment later, Balin appeared from the backroom.

He spotted Hyoren almost immediately.

“Well, well. If it isn't Hyoren and his two lovers…”

The silver-bearded dwarf grinned as he approached the counter.

“Don't tell me you're here for another Discourse Sphere.”

Hyoren smiled.

“Our Discourse Sphere is still working properly, Balin.”

He glanced toward Elise and Ina. Both women gave slightly embarrassed smiles.

Balin noticed their reactions and chuckled.

“Still working, huh? Good. I suppose you three haven't managed to break it yet.”

Hyoren chuckled.

“We haven't.”

He looked toward the counter.

“We're here for another reason.”

Gror had already come over from the other side of the shop. The red-bearded dwarf rested one arm against the velvet-covered counter and looked at Hyoren.

“Oh?”

His expression changed as he remembered something.

“Ah... Right. Your order.”

Hyoren nodded.

“Yes. I came to pick it up. Is it done?”

Gror snorted lightly.

“Done?”

He crossed his arm.

“It was finished a few days ago.”

He exchanged a glance with Balin.

“Though…”

Balin raised an eyebrow.

“What?”

Gror looked back at Hyoren.

“It was a strange order.”

Balin laughed.

“That's putting it mildly.”

Hyoren scratched his cheek.

“I did tell you exactly what I needed.”

Gror nodded.

“You did. And that's why we didn't ask too many questions.”

Balin had already turned around.

“I'll get it.”

He disappeared into the backroom before Hyoren could say anything else.

Gror watched his twin leave, then looked back at Hyoren.

“Still, I have to admit, it was an interesting project.”

He tapped his fingers against the counter.

“We learned quite a bit while making it.”

Ina, who had been quietly listening, leaned forward.

“Really?”

Gror nodded.

“Yeah. Especially those gimbals you wanted.”

His expression became more thoughtful.

“And those sensors.”

Elise's eyes brightened slightly.

“So they really were something new?”

Gror smiled.

“Some parts were. We'd never put them together in that way before.”

He gestured vaguely toward the backroom.

“Balin especially enjoyed that part. He kept coming up with ways to change the runic inscriptions.”

A faint sound of laughter came from the backroom.

Gror shook his head.

“Which meant I had to keep telling him to stop making things unnecessarily complicated.”

From somewhere behind the shelves came Balin's voice.

“Because your idea of 'efficient' is boring!”

Gror immediately raised his voice.

“And your idea of 'experimenting' is wasting materials!”

Ina covered her mouth, trying not to laugh.

“They're still arguing.”

Elise smiled.

“Of course.”

Gror sighed.

Hyoren couldn't help smiling.

Elise glanced at him.

“When you ordered it, I didn't really understand what you were talking about either.”

She looked toward the backroom.

“I remember wondering why you needed such strange specifications.”

Hyoren gave a small shrug.

“I knew what I wanted, but explaining it was harder than I expected.”

Gror chuckled.

“You definitely gave us something to think about.”

Balin returned before Gror could continue.

The silver-bearded dwarf was carrying a small box in both hands.

He placed it carefully on the velvet counter.

“It really was a novel idea.”

He opened the box. Inside was the magic tool Hyoren had ordered.

Balin's grin returned.

“We learned a lot making this thing.”

He glanced toward Gror.

“Didn't we?”

Gror nodded.

“We did.”

Balin then looked back at Hyoren.

“And you paid us well for it.”

He laughed.

“Thanks for being so generous. Haha.”

Hyoren smiled.

“It's understandable. It was a custom order, and the runic inscriptions were complicated.”

He reached for his card.

“500K Kres, right?”

He held the card out.

“I'll pay with the card.”

Gror took it and began processing the payment.

While the red-bearded dwarf worked, Balin leaned over the counter and looked at Hyoren.

“You really aren't going to test it first?”

Hyoren glanced at the box.

“You're confident it's working.”

Balin nodded.

“Of course.”

He grinned.

“But you're the customer. Shouldn't you at least try it before walking away with it?”

Gror snorted.

“Don't listen to him.”

He continued processing the payment.

“We already tested it.”

Balin looked at his brother.

“I know.”

Gror didn't look up from the payment magic tools.

“Then why are you asking him to test it?”

Balin combed his silver beard.

“Because I want to see his face when he uses it.”

Balin laughed.

Hyoren shook his head.

“You two…”

He smiled.

“If I don't trust you, why would I order it from you in the first place?”

Balin's grin widened.

“You trust us that much? What if we're trying to scam you?”

He laughed loudly.

“Five hundred thousand Kres for something you haven't even tested!”

Hyoren shrugged.

“If you two were scammers, Baron Akela would never permit you to continue doing business here.”

Gror paused while processing the payment.

He looked at his twin.

Then back at Hyoren.

“That…”

He nodded slowly.

“…might be true.”

Balin scratched his silver beard.

“Hard to argue with that.”

Gror finished the payment and handed the card back to Hyoren.

He then pushed the small box toward him.

“Anyway, here you go.”

Hyoren reached for it.

“You should already know how to operate it. We designed it according to your specifications, after all.”

Hyoren nodded.

“I do.”

He took the box and placed it inside his storage bag.

Balin watched him put it away.

Then he crossed his arms.

“Still…”

He shook his head.

“For someone to spend 500K Kres on a magic tool that can only be used once…”

His grin returned.

“You're either loaded or stupid.”

He paused.

“Maybe both.”

Everyone laughed.

Hyoren scratched his cheek.

“Of course I don't like wasting money.”

He glanced at the storage bag.

“But this was necessary.”

His expression became a little more serious.

“And I won't be doing this often. Maybe not even once a year.”

He gave a small shrug.

“So I think the cost is justified.”

Elise gently touched his arm.

“I don't think it's a waste, Hyoren.”

Her emerald eyes softened.

“You wouldn't have ordered it if you didn't have a good reason.”

Ina nodded beside him. Her cat ears perked up.

“Exactly. If it's for something important, then 500K Kres isn't a problem.”

Hyoren looked at both of them.

A warm smile appeared on his face.

“Thank you, Elise. Ina.”

Balin and Gror exchanged a glance. The two dwarves smiled.

Balin clasped his hands together.

“Well, if you two are fine with it, then I suppose that's all that matters.”

Gror nodded.

“You've got very supportive women, Hyoren.”

He gave Hyoren an approving look.

“You're a lucky man.”

Hyoren smiled back.

“I am.”

The twins exchanged another amused glance.

After that, there was little else to discuss.

Hyoren thanked the two dwarves once more for completing the order. Elise and Ina also offered their farewells before the three turned toward the entrance.

The bell above the door chimed again when they stepped outside.

The warmth of the Gilded Scale disappeared behind them. Cold air greeted them once more. Snow was still falling over Akela.

Hyoren pulled his coat tighter around himself and glanced at the storage bag where his newly completed magic tool was safely stored.

Their first stop was finished.

***

Hyoren, Elise, and Ina continued their journey through the streets of Akela.

The city was unusually quiet.

There were not many people walking through the streets, and those who were outside did not seem interested in lingering. The cold weather kept most people indoors, leaving the roads noticeably more sparse than they would have been on an ordinary day.

Snow continued to fall gently around them.

Their footsteps left shallow marks on the white-covered road as they made their way toward their next destination.

It did not take long before they arrived.

A wooden sign hung above the entrance of a small shop. A flower and several herbs were painted across it. The name of the shop was The Glowing Grass.

Hyoren had never visited the place before.

Elise, however, was familiar with it. She frequently came here to purchase ingredients for the poisons she prepared.

Elise looked up at the sign and smiled.

“This is it, Hyoren. It's the only place where we can get fresh flowers and herbs during winter.”

She tucked a loose strand of silver hair behind one of her pointed ears.

“Though… because it's winter, the price will be rather high.”

Hyoren nodded.

“Don't worry. I'll only get a few flowers.”

He smiled.

“And I've already prepared for the price.”

With that settled, the three entered the shop.

The moment they stepped inside, the smell of flowers and herbs surrounded them. Rows upon rows of fresh herbs and flowers filled the shelves. Bundles of dried plants hung in some places, while fresh ones were carefully arranged in containers throughout the shop.

The air was filled with so many different scents that Hyoren could barely distinguish one from another.

Ina's reaction was different.

Her sensitive Beastkin nose was immediately overwhelmed. Her cat ears flattened slightly, and her tail began swishing slowly behind her.

Hyoren noticed. He moved closer and gently touched her arm.

“Sorry. We won't linger too long.”

Ina gave him a weak nod.

“Okay…”

She tried to endure the mixture of scents as best she could.

Behind the counter, an old woman with blonde hair that had already faded with age was sitting at a table. She was grinding herbs in a mortar. She was so focused on her work that she hadn't noticed the three customers entering the shop.

Elise stepped forward.

“Good morning, Madam Dursila.”

The old woman stopped grinding.

She looked up. Her eyes landed on Elise.

“Oh, if it isn't Elise…”

She put down the mortar, wiped her hands, and walked toward the counter.

“You used up all your Shadow Flower already?”

She glanced at Elise.

“Or is it Nethergrass this time?”

Elise smiled.

“My stocks are still plenty, Madam Dursila.”

She gestured toward Hyoren.

“I came here to bring a new customer.”

Madam Dursila turned her attention toward Hyoren.

She looked him up and down for several seconds. There was an assessing look in her eyes.

“You don't look like someone who dabbles in alchemy…”

She shook her head.

“But a customer is a customer.”

Her expression relaxed.

“So, what do you need?”

Hyoren smiled.

“Do you have any fresh flowers that are white?”

Madam Dursila blinked.

“You…”

She looked at him again.

“You want a flower that's white?”

Her eyebrows slowly furrowed.

“Not a flower with healing properties?”

She tilted her head.

“Or something that reduces fever?”

Another pause.

“What are you looking for?”

Her confusion was obvious. She clearly wasn't accustomed to customers entering her shop simply because they wanted a particular color.

Elise smiled at the old woman's reaction.

“Hyoren isn't looking for flowers used in alchemy, Madam.”

She glanced toward him.

“He just wants the flowers for… something else.”

Madam Dursila fell silent.

She looked at Elise. Then Hyoren. Then back at Elise. For a few seconds, she seemed to consider whether it was worth asking.

In the end, she simply sighed.

“You are a very strange customer…”

She shook her head.

“But very well.”

Madam Dursila turned and disappeared into the storeroom. A short while later, she returned carrying several bundles of flowers. She placed them carefully on the counter.

“I only have three flowers that white, or close to it.”

She pointed toward the first bundle. The flower resembled a rose, its pale petals carrying a faint frosty appearance.

“This is Frostbloom Rose. It's a unique flower that only blooms during winter.”

She lightly touched one of the petals.

“It's one of the components used to create a potion for treating frostbite.”

Hyoren nodded as he listened.

Madam Dursila then moved to the next flower. It was considerably larger, though its petals were more grey than white.

“And this is Lullabies.”

She looked toward Elise.

“The pollen and petals can be used for neurotoxin.”

Her eyes narrowed slightly.

“Elise sometimes buys this one.”

Elise gave a small smile.

“I do.”

Madam Dursila moved to the final bundle.

The flower resembled a white lily.

“And this is Purity Lilies.”

She carefully lifted one of the flowers.

“By itself, it doesn't have any particular properties.”

She placed it back down.

“But it can remove impurities from an alchemical concoction. It's useful when a certain plant contains both medicinal and poisonous properties, and you only want the medicinal effect.”

Hyoren listened carefully. He considered the  flowers. He didn't need to think for long. Purity Lilies seemed perfect for what he needed.

“Thank you, Madam. I'll buy these lilies.”

Madam Dursila nodded.

“Very well.”

She quickly began packing the flowers carefully in paper so they would not be damaged.

Hyoren paid for them, then carefully stored the package. The purchase itself didn't take long. And Hyoren had already noticed that Ina was becoming increasingly uncomfortable inside the shop.

Once everything was finished, the three quickly left.

The moment they stepped outside, Ina released a long, relieved sigh.

“Ahhh…”

Hyoren looked at her.

“Sorry, Ina…”

Ina gave him a weak smile.

“Don't worry, Hyoren. I'm the one who wanted to accompany you…”

Elise leaned forward slightly.

“Fufu. She also dislikes my room because of all those herbs and flowers I use.”

Ina's cat ears suddenly perked up. She looked at Elise.

“Yes. Your room reeks, Elise!”

Elise's eyebrows immediately furrowed.

“At least my room isn't full of that ‘cheap’ perfume scent mixed together.”

Ina's tail immediately stood straight.

“They are not cheap!”

She puffed out her cheeks.

“Grrr!”

Hyoren looked between the two women.

Their argument had appeared out of nowhere. Yet neither seemed genuinely angry. Elise had a smile on her face. Ina's expression was indignant, but her tail and ears made it obvious that she was more embarrassed than upset.

Hyoren decided to let them argue for a little while.

After all, he knew their banter was harmless. They had argued like this many times before. And despite their words, they were still smiling at each other.

After a while, however, Hyoren finally reached out and gently patted both of them.

“Now, now.”

The two women looked toward him.

“We should move, or we won't be able to get back before nightfall.”

The argument stopped immediately.

Elise straightened her posture and fixed her green mantle.

“Of course. Let's continue to our next destination.”

Ina combed her brown hair with her fingers and adjusted her jacket.

“True… let's go, then.”

Hyoren smiled at his two lovers.

The three of them then started walking again. Behind them, the sign of The Glowing Grass slowly disappeared into the snowy street as they continued their errands through Akela.

***

Hyoren, Elise, and Ina continued walking through the streets of Akela.

Eventually, they reached the eastern gate—The Gate of Guts.

They stopped briefly at the checkpoint and proceeded with the necessary identity verification with the gatekeeper. The process was straightforward, and once everything had been confirmed, the three were allowed to pass through.

They departed Akela City.

Beyond the massive gate, the King's Highway stretched outward into the distance. The grassland surrounding the city was usually green during warmer seasons, but winter had transformed the landscape completely. White snow covered the fields as far as the eye could see. The road itself remained visible beneath the snow that had settled around it, extending toward the distant horizon.

Several caravans could be seen waiting near the city gate.

Merchant caravans stood in line alongside wagons belonging to farmers and other travelers who were waiting to enter Akela.

The line was considerably longer than the one for people leaving the city. Entering Akela required more time. There were goods to inspect, identities to verify, and other procedures that had to be completed before a caravan could pass through the gate.

Those leaving the city had a much simpler process.

Hyoren walked a little farther along the King's Highway before stopping.

He turned around.

From outside the city, the Gate of Guts looked different. He could see the massive structure rising above the snowy surroundings, the entrance through which he had once passed as a newcomer to Akela.

A nostalgic feeling slowly settled over him.

“Seeing this gate again gives me a nostalgic feeling.”

Elise also turned around. She smiled as she looked at the gate.

“True…”

Her emerald eyes softened.

“We were standing right there, queued up to enter Akela City.”

She remembered that day clearly. Then a playful smile appeared on her face.

“And I still remember you.”

Her gaze shifted toward Hyoren.

“You were wearing those primitive clothes made from Horned Rabbit pelts. Your hair was dirty and unkempt, and you hadn't even shaved your beard.”

She giggled.

“Fufu.”

Hyoren's expression became slightly awkward. He remembered that appearance very well. After surviving alone for more than a month inside the Forest of No Return, his appearance was becoming wild. It had not exactly been his finest moment.

Ina looked between the two of them.

“I still remember it too. Nyahaha.”

She laughed.

“The first day you and Hyoren entered the Adventurer Guild…”

Her grin widened.

“To think the recluse and lonely ranger Elise would actually bring a man home.”

She laughed again.

“Nyahaha!”

Elise's smile disappeared. Her cheeks puffed slightly as she turned toward Ina.

“Shut up, Ina.”

She pointed at the Cat-clan Beastkin.

“And you.”

Her eyes narrowed.

“You dare to try to steal him from me too, you thieving cat!”

Ina immediately put both hands on her waist. She raised her chin, looking completely unrepentant.

“But Hyoren is a good catch.”

She glanced toward him.

“Handsome, kind, hardworking…”

Her expression became even more indignant, as though the answer should have been obvious.

“Of course I wanted a man like him too!”

She crossed her arms.

“I don't care if he's my best friend's boyfriend. All is fair in romance!”

Elise's face reddened as she fumed.

“You!”

Hyoren could only shake his head.

They were arguing again…

Yet he knew better than to take their words too seriously.

Ina's tail was still swishing happily behind her, while Elise's pout kept threatening to turn into a smile whenever she tried to hold back her laughter. Their argument was clearly nothing more than familiar banter.

Hyoren finally clapped his hands.

“Yes, yes. That's enough.”

The two women looked toward him.

“You two became my lovers, so let's not dwell on the past too much.”

He smiled.

“Though…”

His gaze returned to the Gate of Guts.

“Almost five months have passed since I entered Akela.”

He paused.

“Time sure flies…”

The two women became quiet for a moment. Elise looked toward the gate again. Ina followed her gaze. Then, almost at the same time, they spoke.

“Time sure flies… Fufu.”

“Yes… it flies…”

For a moment, the three simply stood there.

The Gate of Guts remained behind them. The King's Highway stretched ahead.

Snow continued to fall quietly over the grassland, and the caravans waiting to enter Akela continued their slow progress through the gate.

But the three paid little attention to any of it.

They were simply reminiscing about the time they had shared since that first day. Almost five months. So much had happened during that time.

And for a while, the three of them simply stood there together, remembering how different their lives had been when they first entered Akela City.

The caravans continued waiting. The snow continued falling. The road continued stretching toward the distance. Yet none of that mattered for the moment.

They were simply lost in their memories.

***

After a few moments, the three finally started walking again.

They did not continue along the King's Highway. Instead, they turned away from the road that connected Akela with other cities and settlements. Their destination lay farther along the Akela River. To reach it, they had to cross the field and follow a path adjacent to the river.

It was considerably harder to walk there.

The King's Highway was frequently traversed by people and caravans, so the snow on the road had been packed down and cleared enough to make traveling relatively easy.

The field was different. Fresh snow covered almost everything, leaving no proper path for them to follow. Every step sank into the snow. Sometimes it reached their ankles. Sometimes their feet sank even deeper. Their footing was uneven, and moving forward required considerably more effort than walking along the King's Highway.

Still, none of them complained. They simply continued wading through the snow, keeping the Akela River beside them.

The river itself had frozen over on the surface. A layer of ice stretched across the water, covered in places by a thin layer of snow. Yet the river had not completely stopped. Through clearer sections of ice, they could still see the water flowing beneath the frozen surface.

Hyoren walked for a while before glancing toward the river.

His breath escaped as white mist.

“Will this frozen river eventually end?”

Elise looked toward the river as well.

“Yeah, Hyoren. The closer we get to the upstream, the ice will disappear.”

She adjusted her mantle as another cold breeze passed.

“The area around the Forest of No Return is a little warmer than the area around Akela City.”

Hyoren nodded.

Ina's tail swayed behind her as she stepped through the snow.

“Though, I don't think we need to go all the way to the Forest of No Return.”

She looked ahead.

“About half a day's walk from Akela, we'll find a section of the river where it starts to become unfrozen.”

She glanced toward Hyoren.

“The eastern side of Akela Territory isn't as cold during winter.”

Hyoren let out a relieved sigh. The white mist from his breath briefly obscured his face.

“Good.”

He looked toward the distant river.

“If we needed to go all the way to the Forest of No Return, it would take us about three to four days.”

He gave a small laugh.

“And that's without mentioning the Shadowden Collective's activity inside the forest.”

Elise tucked a loose strand of silver hair behind one of her pointed ears.

“Well, their activities should decrease during winter.”

A faint smile appeared on her face.

“Even goblins don't want to move around too much during winter. Fufu.”

Ina nodded. Her ears twitched slightly as she listened.

“Elise is right.”

She glanced toward the direction of the distant forest.

“Though, of course, it's better to avoid the area altogether.”

Her tail swished.

“Nyahaha.”

Hyoren scratched his cheek.

“That's true.”

He laughed quietly.

The three continued their journey, following the frozen Akela River through the snow-covered field. Their pace was slower than it would have been on the King's Highway, but there was no need to hurry. 

For a while, they simply walked.

Then Ina pointed toward the river.

“Do you think the ice is thick enough to walk on?”

Hyoren glanced at the frozen surface.

“I wouldn't try.”

Ina leaned slightly toward Hyoren.

“Why?”

Hyoren chuckled.

“Because if it breaks, we're going into freezing water.”

Ina's ears twitched.

“Ah.”

She immediately pulled her foot out of a particularly deep patch of snow.

“Then I'll stay here.”

Elise giggled.

“Good decision.”

They continued walking.

After a while, Ina glanced toward Hyoren.

“When spring comes, what's our plan?”

Hyoren thought for a moment.

“Nothing? We still have dungeons to clear. So I guess we will continue dungeon diving. Haha.”

Elise nodded.

“But I definitely want to plant flowers in our yard.”

Hyoren looked toward her.

“Yeah. That would be wonderful.”

Ina's tail swayed.

“Ah yeah… I can't wait to see our bare garden full of flowers.”

Then she narrowed her amber eyes, her gaze boring through Elise.

“But… Please don't plant too many herbs that are going to destroy our noses! Me and Jackey definitely can't take it!”

Hyoren and Elise laughed.

Elise tilted her head.

“Well. No promise. Fufu.”

Ina’s cat ears perked.

“Hey!”

They laughed again.

A little later, their conversation shifted again.

Ina looked toward Elise.

“I think we should buy another bookshelf for our library?”

Elise nodded.

“Right… Hyoren keeps buying books… Fufufu.”

Hyoren tilted his head.

“Really? Our current one is already full?”

Ina and Elise both pointed their fingers to Hyoren.

“Yes!”

They laughed as they continued walking.

Hyoren scratched his cheek.

“Sorry…”

Elise smiled.

“Don't be. It's not a bad thing to have too many books. Fufufu.”

Ina wrestled with the particular deep patch of snow. She continued walking after freeing her boots from it.

“Elise is right. And that's why we need a new bookshelf.”

Hyoren smiled and nodded.

“We will buy one then.”

The conversation continued like that as they walked. Dungeon plans. The manor. Furniture. Small things they wanted to buy. Things they wanted to do once spring finally arrived. Nothing particularly important. Nothing that needed to be decided immediately.

They simply talked.

And the three continued following the frozen Akela River through the winter field.