Chapter 181 – Hardeon (13)

To describe a Yeti simply, it was a gigantic monkey with white fur.

Its body length was approximately seven meters.

Its movements were nimbler than any existing beast, making it difficult for most people to even follow its motion with their eyes.

“ROOAARRRR!!”

The Fiend’s roar, delivered while standing tall on its hind legs, contained a considerable amount of mana, causing Shin Ah-yeon to flinch slightly.

Hunting such a Yeti would be impossible for a squad or platoon; at least a well-trained company would be needed just to attempt it.

However, even forming an encirclement would be difficult due to its agility.

Through the swirling blizzard, I approached the creature one step at a time.

Even when our eyes met, the Yeti showed no sign of fear, merely letting out a ferocious roar.

SWISH!

Then, it leaped onto a tree like the wind.

Of course, it wasn’t trying to escape.

With its massive body, it was likely moving between trees freely, timing its attack on me.

I immediately drew a dagger.

Since the Yeti’s heart was essential to meet the Barbarian Shaman Remme, I had to aim for another vital spot.

The thrown dagger cut through the branches, heading for the Yeti’s neck. But then—

WHOOSH—

It displayed an agility unsuited for its huge size, momentarily grabbing a branch and extending its body to avoid the dagger’s trajectory.

No matter how spiritual a beast it was, for a mere monkey to exhibit such movements was truly astonishing.

Of course, the dagger I had thrown did not simply cut through the air.

Its straight trajectory momentarily formed a sharp curve, grazing past the Yeti’s neck.

“ROOAARRRR!!!”

The Yeti’s tough neck hide was scraped, blood spurted, and it let out a pained shriek.

I immediately drew another dagger.

Having assessed the Yeti’s movements, this time I wouldn’t merely graze its neck.

Sensing this, it leaped down from the tree without hesitation.

THUD!

Then, it charged towards me.

It was determined to attack me, even if it meant taking a dagger wound.

So, I decided to play along with its intention.

WHOOSH!

The dagger, fully imbued with mana, flew gracefully.

The Yeti raised both arms, covered its body, and charged straight ahead.

‘What an incredible creature.’

It should have instinctively flinched, but there was no hesitation in its movements.

It was as if I was watching a well-trained soldier.

CRUNCH!

Ultimately, the dagger pierced the Yeti’s left arm, and red blood streamed down.

Of course, its charge did not stop.

That had been its intention from the start.

“ROOAARRRR!”

Its colossal, outstretched hands closed in, as if to swallow me whole.

Most monsters caught in those two hands would be torn like paper.

Such was the Yeti’s fierce momentum, and the mana erupting from its body pressed down on the surrounding air.

But against me, this was not the way.

If it had leveraged its strengths just a little more, it wouldn’t have ended so futilely.

SWISH!

Bastian’s blade, thrust upwards, pierced through the Yeti’s neck.

Blood gushed out, splattering its face with red.

Fortunately, there was no foul sensation.

Red ink rapidly spread across the pristine white snowfield.

THUD!

The Yeti ended its life with wide-open eyes and an expression that seemed to ask ‘why’.

It was a futile end for the guardian of the Valdes Mountains.

***

The Barbarian settlement.

Armed groups surrounded me from the entrance.

Their response was rather slow.

Since it was only Shin Ah-yeon and I, the Barbarians hadn’t been overly wary.

“Who are you!”

“State your identity!”

I revealed my identity and purpose of visit as they demanded.

“As you can see, I am human, and I have come to meet the Shaman Remme.”

“You crossed the Valdes Mountains?”

“Of course.”

At my reply, the Barbarians aimed their swords at us, heightening their vigilance.

In fact, the statement “crossed the mountains” could not be taken lightly.

“Then, were you invited by the Shaman?”

“No, I wasn’t.”

As soon as I finished speaking, one of them shouted.

“He’s suspicious!”

The Barbarians’ hostility erupted in unison.

“Capture him and interrogate him!”

“That’s right! Intruders must die!”

They were uncharacteristically sensitive, as they were currently at war with humans.

Of course, I understood.

If I wasn’t an envoy from the enemy and my visit wasn’t authorized, it was a clear territorial intrusion.

Even if I were a civilian, I couldn’t be viewed differently.

“Humans are our enemies!”

I immediately retorted.

“Not all humans are enemies of the Barbarians.”

“What do you mean by that!”

“Shaman Remme. Wasn’t he human too?”

“…Human, how do you know that?”

They were simple Barbarians indeed.

Stunned by my unexpected question, they could no longer argue.

“Whether you capture me and interrogate me or whatever, first go tell Remme that there’s a human who brought a Yeti’s heart.”

“A, a Yeti’s heart?”

THUD!

A Yeti’s arm, retrieved from my Inventory, dropped to the ground.

The Barbarians’ eyes widened at the sight of the massive, shaggy white limb.

“Is this really a Yeti?”

“You’re uncharacteristically doubtful for Barbarians.”

THUD!

This time, a Yeti’s leg fell to the ground.

Besides the length of the leg, its enormous white foot was the Yeti’s signature feature.

I flashed a wry smile.

“It’s a Yeti!”

“It really is a Yeti!”

The Barbarians were startled and agitated.

“Hurry up and tell him. That someone who brought a Yeti’s heart is here. You can decide whether to talk to me or fight me afterwards.”

“Ah, understood!”

One Barbarian hastily entered the settlement.

Whether he went directly to Remme or to the Chieftain, I didn’t know, but he returned a moment later with a message.

“Remme says he will meet you. But, leave the woman outside; only you go in.”

“Very well.”

“And one more thing. You must go with your eyes covered.”

They must have seen the Yeti, but still didn’t fully trust me.

“Fine. I’ll accept that too.”

However, Shin Ah-yeon looked quite uneasy about this proposal.

“Unit Leader. Will you not be in danger?”

“Nothing will happen.”

I knew the Barbarians’ characteristics well.

Though crude and unrefined, they never stabbed anyone in the back.

And even if my eyes were covered, it was unlikely that a few of them would try to ambush me.

I followed the Barbarians’ guidance and proceeded to the room where Shaman Remme was.

My eyes were still covered.

“Everyone may leave.”

“Remme! But this man is human!”

“I’m human too, aren’t I?”

At Remme’s words, silence fell again as if the Barbarians’ thought processes had stopped.

“Although there was no prior appointment, these individuals are guests who brought a Yeti’s heart. I wish to speak with him alone, so you may all leave.”

Eventually, only the two of us remained in the room.

“Wouldn’t it be better to speak face-to-face?”

“Of course. Feel free to remove it.”

When I removed the cloth covering my face, a different scene than I expected unfolded.

A Barbarian sat before me.

Even sitting, he was a head taller than me, and the size of his face, at least twice mine, was striking.

“I heard you were human?”

“I am human.”

For a moment, I almost said it was a lie.

Anyone could see that Remme looked more like a Barbarian than the other Barbarians.

I quickly changed the subject.

“Why did you ask me to come with my eyes covered?”

“They are Barbarians, not fools. Wouldn’t doing this help avoid suspicion?”

If this was enough to avoid suspicion, it seemed more accurate to consider them fools, but I didn’t say it aloud.

“You arrived sooner than I expected. When I heard the Legion Commander was assassinated, I knew you’d be coming soon.”

“Rumors seem to travel even across mountains.”

“It’s faster during wartime. By the way, how did you kill the Legion Commander?”

I took out a dagger and showed it to him.

“So the rumors were true. You truly are a madman.”

“I’ll take that as a compliment.”

“It is a compliment. Now, I need to verify you first. To see if you are a trustworthy person.”

“Killing the Legion Commander isn’t enough?”

“Of course not. If it were the Emperor, perhaps, but why would I trust you just for killing one Legion Commander?”

I had heard that suspicion and verification would become tougher as the stakes rose, and I was eager to see how he would test me.

“I intend to read your memories with a spell.”

“Is that even possible?”

“I can’t peer specifically into your mind, but I can roughly tell if you are a trustworthy person.”

Then it didn’t matter.

I was only worried about anything related to my reincarnation being revealed.

“Did you bring the Yeti’s heart?”

“Here.”

I placed the Yeti’s enormous heart on the table.

“Remarkable. I’ve only heard about it; this is my first time seeing it in person.”

“I feel like I’m losing something. Not only am I giving you the Yeti’s heart, but I also have to reveal my memories.”

“No. That’s not the case.”

“Not the case?”

“Because you will be the one to consume the Yeti’s heart.”

“What?”

Remme plunged his hand into the Yeti’s heart.

“What are you doing?”

“Just wait a moment.”

Remme’s eccentric act of rummaging through the heart.

The thick, still-wet blood clinging to the back of his hand was unmistakably Barbarian-like.

“Found it.”

In his blood-stained palm was a small, spherical lump.

“What is this?”

“It’s the Yeti’s core. Something you must consume immediately.”

Remme’s smile looked bizarre and gruesome.

“Why me?”

“To properly read your memories.”

According to Remme, upon consumption, mana would rampage, and mental defenses would also be lifted.

Consequently, he would be able to look into my mind without any resistance.

“There will be no side effects, so you don’t need to worry. In fact, you’ll become very healthy.”

Since it was the core of a spiritual beast, a Yeti, that had been held within its heart for a long time, it wouldn’t be merely “healthy.”

In fact, if it weren’t for the quest, it would have been natural to consume it right after killing the Yeti.

“Are you sure I can eat this?”

“Well, you hunted it, so who else would eat it?”

There was no reason to refuse.

The moment I saw the pure blood flowing through the Yeti’s body, I knew.

The power contained within this heart would surely be extraordinary.

I took the heart’s core from Remme and immediately swallowed it.

“Soon, an immense power will surge through you. I learned it from books, but I’m sure that’s what will happen.”

Instantly, an immense chill began to rise within my body.

It felt as if my entire body was freezing.

Mana was already raging wildly.

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