Chapter 121

Pyra had a peculiar expression.

Of course, it was something worth trying. But it was obvious that a negative answer would come back.

The Mountain King had no interest in things happening outside his territory.

Whether humans hunted a few Yagons at the entrance of Gramunt or not, it was of no concern to the Mountain King.

To begin with, the Mountain King was a herbivore. Not only did he resemble an elephant in appearance, but his diet was also similar to that of an elephant.

"I understand. You must have been frustrated as well."

However, the Mountain King was a wise being.

He might know something about why the Yagon pack had disappeared.

The shamans from the northern village climbed the holy mountain to borrow the Mountain King's wisdom.

"So, did you get an answer?"

"[Yes, we did.]"

The shaman's spirit trembled, its frozen body shivering with a wail.

"[An answer of ice and fangs!]"

"... Damn it."

There was no need for further words.

Pyra instinctively knew that the ones who killed the shaman were the Mountain King's followers.

But it didn't make sense.

Why would the Mountain King do that?

Why would he create a situation that would ruin the good relationship he had maintained with humans?

The Mountain King was a formidable monster.

But humans were not to be underestimated either.

The Mountain King knew well the power of humans. That was why he had made a sort of non-aggression pact.

Yet, the Mountain King's followers had attacked the shaman first...

'What on earth is he thinking?'

"Ian."

"I heard everything too."

Ian nodded.

Pyra had always grumbled about not seeing the Mountain King's followers.

But he didn't realize that it was actually a good thing.

Not meeting the Mountain King's followers until now had been a stroke of luck.

"Let's get off the mountain for now. We don't know what's going on, but staying here could put us in danger!"

"Good idea."

Ian also preferred to avoid being attacked by the Mountain King's followers.

There was no reason to fight monsters that didn't even give experience points.

This wasn't a game fantasy, just a medieval fantasy.

Grrr...

But then it happened.

"Damn it."

Belenka drew her sword once again.

This time, Pyra did not stop her.

Beyond the snow-covered valley, white-furred beasts appeared.

"Grendel...!"

Monsters resembling white-furred monkeys.

They were Grendel, followers of the Mountain King.

"Screech!"

[Death to the intruders!]

Each Grendel was more robust than an adult male.

And there were dozens of such monsters visible.

"This is bad..."

Finally meeting the Mountain King's followers they had been so curious about.

Pyra watched the charging monsters with a pale face.

The Mountain King was the ruler of the holy mountain.

As with any region, if the ruler of the area decided to attack, the target usually couldn't avoid death.

Pyra was no exception.

'Oh Hrundal...!'

Seeing the charging Grendel, Pyra felt darkness closing in.

Now... I'm going to die for sure!

"Pyra! What are you doing?"

"We're done for... The Mountain King has decided to dispose of us..."

Pyra was a shaman who could read the flow of fate.

Having always accepted fate, he thought he could accept his own impending death.

No, perhaps it had become a habit.

A habit of surrendering to the great flow.

But.

Wizard Ian was different.

"So what if that's the case!"

"...Ian."

Ian calmed his pounding heart and stared ahead.

Monsters more robust than northern warriors, dozens of them.

What they wanted was Ian's death.

In such a dire situation, a faint-hearted human would be overwhelmed by their presence and lose the will to resist.

However, Ian was different.

"Try to divine your fate, Pyra!"

"..."

"If Hrundal really wants you dead, then just die! But I assure you, your god doesn't want your death!"

Ian's shout snapped Pyra out of it.

Ian was right.

They were just a pack of monsters, not Hrundal's will!

"Yes...! What is the Mountain King anyway! I have the will of the god and nature with me!"

Pyra's whites gleamed with madness.

He drew his Arcana cards, eyes rolling back like a man possessed.

"Oh, Hrundal! Answer me!"

As soon as Pyra drew the card, a mysterious energy surged.

This was not a repeat of the failures in the village.

This time, true Arcana magic was unfolding.

As proof, the spirit of the shaman, a mystery, responded.

The shaman's spirit shuddered.

"[Yes. It is my turn...]"

The shaman's spirit willingly sacrificed its body for Pyra's spell.

Anyway, it was a dead, frozen body.

If it were to strike back at the Grendel, it would gladly cooperate!

[Who dares disturb my slumber!]

A thundering voice echoed across the mountain.

To ordinary people, it sounded like the mountain itself was roaring.

Pyra's Arcana magic had stirred the mountain's mysteries.

In response, the shaman's spirit shouted.

[It is I! You foolish old man!]

[What? Foolish old man?!]

[Yes! An old man who only knows how to sleep buried in the snow! That's you!]

Ian was horrified as he watched.

Is he trying to get himself killed?! (Even though he's already dead!)

If he kept running his mouth like that to the mountain...!

[You worthless wretch!]

The mountain was enraged.

At the same time, the shaman's spirit smirked.

Ian felt a shiver run down his spine...

He understood how this spirit intended to take revenge on the Grendel!

[Perish!]

The mountain wielded its immense power like a hammer.

Simultaneously, the frozen corpse exploded like a bomb!

An intense ice storm, unbelievable to have come from a corpse, swept through.

"Kyaak!"

The sudden snowstorm caught the Grendel off guard, slowing them down.

Ian swallowed hard.

He had just understood the shaman's method.

The principle of the magic wasn't complicated.

Pyra had drawn a card, spreading a loud intent around him, and the shaman's spirit had cooperated to create a commotion. The enraged mystery reacted violently, causing a fierce phenomenon.

Provoking the volatile mystery of the north to create anomalies.

The principle was very different from the language of magic.

While the language of magic begins by seeking the cooperation of the mystery, arcane magic does not hesitate to provoke the mystery.

It was a bold and daring approach.

If Ian tried that, he would surely be killed by the enraged mystery.

But sending intent indirectly through the cards made it hard for the spirits' wrath to reach the caster directly.

'So that's Arcana magic...'

Ian unconsciously smiled.

Witnessing and understanding new magic was always delightful.

Even if a monster was charging at him!

[Your understanding of Arcana has increased!]

[New skill acquired!]

[Arcana Manifestation – Draw One Card]

[Draw one Arcana card to induce an anomaly. Only the Ice God knows what will happen!]

"Ian!"

Belenka shouted.

Pyra had bought them some time; now it was Ian's turn.

Ian drew a card from his Arcana deck.

The card Ian drew was [The Hanged Man].

[You drew the 'Hanged Man' card...!]

[A being writhing in agony becomes aware of you!]

A tingling magic sent shivers through Ian's entire body.

He felt the gaze of an overwhelming presence.

Though it was a gaze that feared and despised everything, directed at Ian, it held a hint of goodwill.

Ian already knew this overwhelming presence of sorrow.

"O unholy mystery!"

[Aah... Ian...]

Ian glared at the charging Grendel horde and shouted roughly.

"Scream with all your might!"

Through the Arcana card, the unholy mystery was summoned.

To summon the unholy mystery in the wizard's way would have required numerous rituals and sacrifices.

But with the Arcana card, the will of Hrundal could be used to borrow the mystery's power in a short and certain way.

The unholy mystery let out a ferocious howl.

At the same time, a terrible dissonance engulfed the Grendel horde!

[Screeee!]

"Argh!"

"Ahhh!"

When the unholy mystery howled, the Grendel horde couldn't keep their wits.

The dreadful mystery that drove Ian, Pyra, and even Kira to insanity was the unholy mystery.

Pain, agony, sorrow, fear...

As all sorts of negative emotions burrowed into their brains, the Grendels could not endure it.

"Belenka! Cut them down!"

"Understood!"

Belenka decapitated the foremost Grendel.

The head of the monkey-like creature with fangs rolled on the ground.

"Screech!"

"Roar!"

With that, a contagious fear swept through the Grendels.

Seeing the death of a comrade while already drained of willpower by negative emotions, they completely lost their fighting spirit!

This is technically called 'Morale 0'. It means their mental state has shattered.

The Grendels fled in panic.

Belenka chased and cut down a few of the fleeing enemies.

"Ian. Are you okay?"

Kira grabbed Ian's hand worriedly.

Kira was one of those who had experienced the horror of the unholy mystery firsthand.

To wield a mystery, one must communicate with it. That's the wizard's common sense.

To wield a nauseating presence just by looking at it... How strong must one's mental fortitude be!

Kira naturally thought Ian had pushed himself immensely.

If Ian had used the magical language to summon the unholy mystery, Kira would have been right.

But...

Ian was perfectly fine.

It was because the one who summoned the unholy mystery was not Ian, but Hrundal.

The penalty was handed over to the god, and only the benefits were reaped!

This is why shamans worship and flatter Hrundal.

Even a lack of faith would grow rapidly.

'This is certainly effective.'

Arcana magic definitely suited the north.

"Ugh... My head suddenly...!"

"Ian!"

"I'm perfectly... fine!"

Kira blushed and hit Ian's back.

"You, you scared me..."

When Ian chuckled, Kira couldn't help but laugh along.

Anyway, with Ian fine, she felt good.

"Pyra! Let's escape quickly before they come back."

"Yes. We should."

Pyra muttered, looking up at the snowy mountain.

Defying the Mountain King...

In the distance, it seemed like an ominous wind was swirling.