novelraw Chapter 200 : Chapter 200
Chapter 200 : Chapter 200
Chapter 200
The terrain of the northern frontier was an endlessly unfolding snowy field.
Frozen earth surrounded the snowy field.
Rough mountain ranges connected to snowy mountains, and between them, deep gorges and barren valleys were covered in snow.
Trudge. Trudge.
A group walked on the snowy field.
As if a white curtain were spread out, the earth touching the sky continued pure white, its boundaries unknown, and the trees were all covered in snow, revealing only black, barren branches.
Frozen lakes and rivers here and there reflected a soft light on the ice.
Trudge. Trudge. Trudge.
Snow fell incessantly over the group, each emitting Mana of a different color.
The ceaselessly falling snow wrapped the earth thickly.
Every step taken, the footprints were quickly buried by the snow and disappeared.
Just like now.
“It's cold.”
“Indeed. It is cold.”
Killian responded calmly to Yulian's reaction.
Everything is pure white.
The cold air dug sharply into the skin, and white mist puffed out like breath every time they breathed.
Whoooooosh.
Strong winds blowing along the ridges shook the trees.
Pure white snow powder flew into the air and scattered.
“Achoo.”
Yulian coughed, and the spit he expelled froze before even touching the ground.
“At this rate, we'll freeze to death before we even do a proper investigation.”
“You are complaining while using thermal Magic Tools on top of cold-weather gear.”
“It's not that kind of problem. Look at Id and Raven.”
At Yulian's words, Killian looked back.
Id and Raven were trembling slightly with their skin flushed red.
His gaze reached the others beside them as well.
Arin, who had pulled the hood of the fairy race cloak deep over her head.
Pyrope, holding a staff engraved with at least three or more spells.
Russell, maintaining body temperature with magic through the spells engraved on his robe.
Pierre, looking peaceful while wrapped in Divine Power.
The Superhuman-level experts were warming their bodies in their own ways using Mana.
On the other hand, the 6-star Annihilation Squad members looked like they were struggling in the severe cold.
No, there was one more struggling.
[Grrr, grrr, whimper.]
Hazard moved his steps with difficulty, his teeth chattering.
Even the one with the fluffiest fur was barely keeping pace with the group.
Although a vast amount of Mana had accumulated in his Dragon Heart, he couldn't use proper Formulas of his own will.
He selected and brought the most energetic ones from the Annihilation Squad to investigate the northern boundary, but seeing them like this before even starting properly, he felt embarrassed to face the other party members.
“It can't be helped.”
Fwoosh.
Killian's Blue Mana clung to the bodies of the Annihilation Squad members and soon burned in the form of Blue Flame.
“Ah...”
Yulian groaned at the rapidly rising body temperature.
“Huu.”
“Hup.”
[Awoo.]
Id, Raven, and Hazard also made different sounds but showed similar reactions.
‘When we return, I'll have to add cold weather training. I know why the information about the North was poor.’
“…….”
“You said you handle Mana like a Formula, and it was true.”
“Every time I see it, it's a wondrous skill.”
Others looked curiously at the Blue Mana clinging to the Annihilation Squad members and uttered a few words of admiration, but said nothing else afterward.
Did they walk for another two hours like that?
“This is the first base.”
First-class Priest Colin, who was in charge of guiding, said so and entered a rounded sculptured building.
It had been five hours since they left the Temple of the Boundary.
It was a base reached by walking that long.
Descending the underground stairs, a wide space appeared that seemed sufficient to accommodate hundreds of people.
Several Priests brought warm water and tea.
The party went near the bonfire lit in the center, warming themselves and unpacking.
“Please rest comfortably. I intend to rest here for a day before moving.”
“A whole day?”
At Pyrope's question, Colin laughed awkwardly.
“Originally, the plan was to arrive at dawn tomorrow and rest for two days before departing... but it seems I underestimated the stamina of the investigation team members.”
He said their pace was faster than Priests who had lived here for decades, thus advancing the scheduled time by ten hours.
“Look at that.”
Killian lightly ignored Yulian, who appealed his unfairness saying it wasn't because he was incompetent, and scanned the base.
Unlike typical temples, no statues or Divine Objects could be felt.
It was a space faithful to the purpose of a shelter.
“Sir Killian doesn't seem tired. Indeed, you are an 8-star Knight of high repute.”
Colin admired quietly and continued.
“Would you like to take a look around? I can guide you if you wish.”
“Please.”
Killian ordered the group to rest and followed him through a door leading to another space.
“The closer we get to the boundary, the Divine Power we can use is halved. Therefore, we prepared bases underground like this.”
He said constructing a space of this size wasn't easy, so they expanded it one by one over hundreds of years.
“How many are there in total?”
“There are six from the temple to reach the boundary. In addition, we manage a total of twenty additional bases in all four directions, east, west, south, and north.”
“The scale is considerable. The number of believers must be large?”
God of the Boundary, Styx.
The God served by Saintess Lan, and one of the masters of the temples built on the northern frontier.
“…….”
Being inside a structure built under his influence brought back memories.
‘He wasn't someone who talked much.’
That was why he thought there wouldn't be many believers before visiting the Styx Temple.
Colin, misunderstanding Killian's thoughts, continued his explanation.
“Because there are many who question the boundary.”
“……?”
“It is a chaotic time. In such times, people realize they are hanging on various boundaries.”
“…….”
“For example, dealing with the boundary between life and death generally.”
Colin poured out words somewhat boring for an atheist.
Letting his words flow appropriately, they passed a few more doors.
Clean spaces with nothing special continued.
“There are widespread rumors in the world that demons are sleeping beyond the boundary.”
“Is that so.”
“Yes, the influence of such rumors must be large in people not wanting to approach the northern frontier.”
Colin said as if certain.
‘It's the same now as then that no one knows about the boundary.’
He recalls vague ancient memories.
“…….”
However, even Killian didn't know exactly what lay beyond.
He only vaguely remembered that many Gods, including Styx, sealed that beyond in ancient times.
Looking back, it was surprising that the boundary they placed remained until the present day, hundreds of years later.
A boundary standing firm even in an era where the interference of Gods is gradually disappearing.
‘What are they blocking?’
If they aren't blocking something, are they protecting something?
While such thoughts continued one after another, Colin was still explaining something beside him.
It wasn't important content, so Killian changed the subject.
“I heard Lady Lan also stayed here for a while.”
“That is correct.”
Colin nodded and smiled.
“Because she was also an ordinary believer belonging to the temple before.”
He said the Pope came for an inspection, saw Lan, said she had the qualifications of a Divine Maiden, took her, and after that, she became the Saintess.
“You must have been proud that a Saintess came from your temple.”
“Of course.”
“……?”
Colin's smile as he said that changed subtly.
“She is the pride of the temple.”
It was a change that happened in just a fleeting moment.
“The boundary has swallowed many things.”
Colin was smiling again.
“Sometimes human lives, sometimes unknown powers that even we cannot understand.”
Killian focused on his words and examined the surroundings.
The blizzard must be raging on the ground.
That chill was transmitted even underground.
Because no fire was lit inside here, the cold air felt like it was piercing the lungs.
‘An area where ordinary people cannot step recklessly.’
Even Mana users would exhaust all their Mana just maintaining body temperature and wouldn't be able to last a week.
“The nature of the North is truly strange. Sometimes it seems angry, and sometimes it seems to welcome us.”
“…….”
As if Colin's feelings were contagious, the intimidating pressure emitted by the northern blizzard felt like it was seeping in.
“This is the end of the first base.”
A distance of about thirty minutes on foot.
It was time to finish touring the base, which was of a size that wouldn't be strange even for a temple.
“Shall we go back now?”
Five more bases remained until the boundary.
“The closer we get to the boundary, the distance between bases will gradually increase. You will have to prepare thoroughly.”
“How long will it take?”
“Generously speaking, it will take three months.”
‘Three months is too long.’
There was no need to voice such thoughts.
“Let's go back.”
The schedule afterward was simple.
After resting for about ten hours, they roamed the area for a whole day. And then returned to rest.
Like that, they stayed at one base for a week while roaming east, west, south, and north.
Although they couldn't go far due to the raging blizzard, there was no one among the Superhumans of the investigation team who couldn't detect even in such a situation.
They just walked and detected as much as possible.
It took about two months to depart from the second base and reach the fifth base.
Facing the blizzard every day, the sense of time also seemed frozen.
“Still no gains.”
Russell, who was detecting the area, said quietly.
True to Sharle's words that he was a master of detection magic, the wavelength created by his Mana extended beyond the visual field.
“Only the last base remains. If we return like this, it will be like we just came to sightsee the snow.”
Arin said as if she didn't like it.
She had passed the sixth base and seen the boundary with her own eyes in the past.
She thought something special would happen, but seeing nothing happen, she looked deflated.
“The Priests at the base also said they haven't found any unusual points for the past few months.”
Colin said in a calm voice.
Having spent quite some time together, he had become quite close to the investigation team.
“Colin, since we're at it, quit this life in a place where only snow falls.”
“Sir Pyrope, your words are rough.”
“Hmph, come to the Arden Mountain Range. For a man of your caliber, I'll introduce you to the greatest beauty of the mountain range.”
Arin, watching this, let out a scoff.
“Telling him to make a marriage pledge with a dwarf in the eastern frontier teeming with monsters. The crazy dwarf is talking nonsense.”
“Grass-eater. Speak correctly. I have a son, but you are just aging.”
“……?”
“If you only like grass like that, you won't be able to leave an heir.”
“That is not something an old dwarf should worry about.”
“I'm saying this out of worry since we're aging together.”
“Rude thing.”
Kugugugu.
Kwaaaa.
Green and Jade.
Ashirian and Pyrope started bickering.
Watching them, Killian moved his steps.
“Huh? Where are you going?”
“I think this is enough for the fifth base. I will leave for the sixth base tomorrow.”
“Already?”
“Right. If it's the last base, there must be something interesting.”
“Don't get your hopes up too high.”
Killian said to the Queen of the fairy race who longed for adventure.
When they reached the sixth base like that.
[...ji?]
A voice was heard inside Killian's head.
‘This is...’
It is definitely a voice he has heard somewhere.
The thought didn't last long.
‘It's the voice I heard in the abandoned temple.’
“Captain, what are you doing not coming in?”
Yulian, who entered the entrance first, shouted and asked.
“…….”
Killian did not answer and quietly closed his eyes.
[...A...damas... right?]
The voice ringing in his head became much clearer.