Chapter 72: Flashback Episode 1

The climate of this world is a bit strange.

If you go to the northern part of the continent, there is a huge mountain range with an average altitude of 5,000 meters above sea level.

The Erelim Mountains stand firm, but beyond that, a vast rainforest
spreads out.

It was a mysterious law of the continent that completely overturned the common sense of the previous life, ‘the further north you go, the colder it gets’.

In addition, the mountains that freeze everything that comes in and the warm large forest beyond were very good spaces for civilization to sprout.

It was perhaps natural that a race called ‘elves’, who handle high-level magic, settled here to escape the chaotic human society.

When human society was caught in the fight against monsters. And when embroiled in civil war and caught in an endless vortex of war, the elves settled here and built their own civilization. Humans called that place Elvenheim.

Maybe that’s why.

I became interested in the city located in the rainforest at the northernmost tip of the continent, Elvenheim.

“Heee, really… I’m going to freeze to death.”

Arriving in front of the Erelim Mountains, I rubbed my goosebumps and looked up.

Then, a breathtakingly huge mountain range that makes mountains like Jirisan or Hallasan look like neighborhood hills filled my vision.

“Miss, is this really the place?”

“Yeess.”

(Note: Sian speaks in a cutesy/childlike way here in the original Korean.)

I gave a few coins to the coachman who looked at me worriedly and got off the carriage. Then, a chilling cold that cuts through the flesh wrapped around my whole body.

Not many adventurers have crossed those mountains so far. Even energetic gold-ranked adventurers often go missing in these Erelim Mountains.

Platinum-ranked adventurers also avoid this Erelim Mountains. It was ridiculous for a mere silver-ranked adventurer to challenge such a place.

“…Well, only if I were an ordinary silver-ranked adventurer.”

But I was a little different from other silver-ranked adventurers.

First of all, my level is at least gold-ranked adventurer level. This was not arrogance of a young age, but an objective figure.

Having grown stronger using the knowledge of the original work and opportunities, I had the power comparable to most gold-ranked adventurers.

And my challenge was by no means reckless.

The elves have a way to cross the Erelim Mountains.

According to the description in the original work, a warp gate that they secretly hid was hidden somewhere in the Erelim Mountains.

I knew the approximate location of that gate. It was the privilege of a high-level player who has played the original work.

“…By the way, the snowstorm is a little severe today.”

It seemed like a snowstorm peculiar to the Erelim Mountains, which comes periodically, was about to start. I’d better find an inn first.

Fortunately, there were quite a few inns in the village in front of the Erelim Mountains. It was time for monsters to flock around the Erelim Mountains.

“This village will be busy soon.”

When monsters flock, people naturally flock. Because monsters were precious materials.

As if to support my thoughts, two carriages approaching from afar were seen. They looked like they were in a hurry for something.

“Hmm?”

However, the appearance of the approaching carriage was a little strange. Unlike ordinary carriages, there were no windows.

Besides, the back door of the carriage was even fastened with a latch and a lock. Even the material of the carriage was magically refined steel that did not conduct mana well.

It didn’t take long to understand the situation. The carriage passing in front of my eyes now was a carriage of s*ave traders.

“…The Empire, prohibits s*ave trade, though.”

Of course, this was only a dead letter law. Just going to the Imperial black market, s*ave trade was frequent.

But I, who lived in the 21st century, could not look at s*ave trade favorably. It was because of the difference in perspective between modern people and medieval people.

“…I can’t just watch this.”

Muttering quietly, I grasped the tightly wrapped sword. As I injected mana, the cloths that were wrapping the sword turned into dust and scattered, and the appearance of the carriage gradually gets closer in the swirling snowstorm.

When I took off the cumbersome coat, a heavy backpack and fur clothes fell to the ground with a thud.

As the cold creeps in, my senses stand on end. As my body becomes lighter, strength enters the hand holding the sword. I took a stance to draw my sword and stared at the carriage.

Dudududu…

The sound of the horses’ hooves begins to shake the ground, and the distance between the carriage and me is rapidly narrowed. 500 meters. 400 meters. 230 meters…

Woo-woong-

When I put mana into the scabbard, the sword began to tremble under the pressure. The inside of the hilt, where mana was compressed to the limit, was like a bomb just before ignition.

Even so, the scabbard of the 5-star sword held the fluctuating mana without any damage.

“Huu…”

Feeling the trembling hand and the fluctuating mana, I took a deep breath to empty my mind. Even though my eyes are closed, the appearance of the carriages is faintly felt.

Heeheehing!

Around that time, the opponent noticed my presence, and the carriage quickly turned. But it was already too late.

I opened my eyes wide and drew my sword,

Kiiiing-

With a sharp activation sound, a dark slash cut through the snowstorm.

Bang-!

Along the path of the slash, a terrifying explosion sound echoed one after another.

The horses pulling the carriage fly into the air, and the heads of the coachmen are neatly cut off and roll on the ground. The roof of the carriage is cut off as is, and the trajectory of the dark slash is deeply engraved in the air.

Looking at that appearance, I sheathed the sword again. With a sharp sound of sheathing, the carriage that lost its words gradually slows down.

Thud.

When I lightly stepped on the ground, the spread mana stopped the carriages. Without letting go of the string of vigilance, I approached the stopped carriages.

“Hmm, are there still remnants left?”

The two carriages had different appearances.

One carriage made for a prison, and another carriage carrying several human traffickers.

I stood in front of the prison carriage, ready to draw my sword at any time.

“Ugh… what’s going on?”

“Boss, are you okay?”

After waiting for about thirty seconds in that state, several human traffickers came out of the carriage behind, staggering.

I smiled and asked them.

“Article 15 of the Imperial Constitution. s*ave trade is prohibited within the territory of the Empire. I didn’t know that people who are at least thirty years old would not know the constitution that even a ten-year-old child knows.”

“Aang? What is this b*tch again?”

“Oh, you don’t seem to understand the situation yet.”

Looking at the s*ave trader who answered sarcastically while holding his head, I took out my sword again. The dark mana gathered at the tip of the sword began to scatter an ominous energy.

Only then did the guys seem to start getting their heads straight.

“Ma, mana user?!”

“I’ll give you 5 seconds.”

The gaze of the human trafficking group scanned the messed up road.

The subordinates who were driving the carriage were neatly beheaded, and the horses were all stuck in the snowdrift next to them.

The dark sword mark that still hasn’t dissipated remained in the sky, and it wasn’t difficult to infer the owner of that sword mark.

I swung the sword lightly as if I didn’t want to wait.

Then, the human trafficking group began to run away into the snowy mountains, not even able to properly put on their outerwear.

I didn’t bother chasing those guys.

Anyway, if they run away into the snowy mountains like that, they’ll just freeze to death. Even a Stigmata holder can’t survive in the snowy mountains without clothes.

Anyway, I didn’t want to shed unnecessary blood when they would die alone. I’m used to this kind of life now, but still, killing people is a bit heavy on my mind.

After a short prayer in front of the beheaded corpses. I approached the prison carriage.

“…”

I carefully put my ear to the wall of the carriage, but there was no sound coming from inside. Perhaps she fainted from the shock.

When I spread my senses, I could see the figure of a girl lying in the center of the carriage. So that the girl wouldn’t get hurt, I carefully began to cut the door of the carriage.

Chiiiiii-

Even though it was steel processed with mana, it couldn’t defend against even a large amount of mana directly touching it. When I brought the sword with dark mana, huge sparks flew as if welding.

After cutting the door for about 1 minute, a passage for one person to pass through appeared. Putting the sword back in the scabbard, I carefully went inside.

The inside of the carriage was bleak. There were shackles to hang chains and an empty bowl. And other than a girl with pointed ears that were impressive, there was nothing.

Looking at that appearance, I gritted my teeth.

“…Crazy bastards.”

The elf girl was only wearing tattered rags, curled up in a ball, and unconscious.

Without even considering the harsh environment of the snowy mountains. Hostility towards the guys who left the elf girl like this burned.

“Huu…”

But now was not the time to burn with hostility. Saving the girl was the priority. I took off the coat I was wearing, put it on the girl, and headed to the inn.