The Shia Kalt Mountain Range was still quiet under the not yet dark sky at twilight.
Even in this place where the temperature drops below minus twenty degrees, people were able to live thanks only to the heating facilities powered by mana stones.
“Huff… hoot…!”
At the northern watchtower of the village, steam of white breath escaped from Erik’s mouth as he stood guard.
At the end of his sight, gigantic figures revealed themselves under the twilight.
“That’s… a monster! A troll!”
Erik vigorously rang the bell of the watchtower.
“Ding!” “Ding!” “Ding!”
Cutting through the evening peace, the bell’s sound echoed throughout the village.
“Kraaaaaak!”
“Krik… kik…!”
The roars of two Ice Trolls and a group of Ice Goblins covered the sound of the bells.
Thin frost formed wherever the goblins went, and wherever the trolls’ steps reached, the ground froze instantly.
Especially the chill exhaled by the trolls was so powerful that the air around them visibly froze, making it clear to the eye.
“Of all times, just now…”
Erik clenched his teeth.
This morning, the A-Rank adventurer party left the village for an urgent request, and it hadn’t been long since.
Normally, they would have been guarding the village.
What’s more, the B-Rank parties were absent as they had taken up the guard duty for the festival at the city below the mountain range.
The village instantly turned into pandemonium.
Horses in the stables went wild, and cows broke the fences with their cries and escaped.
Crops in the fields froze instantly from the chill exhaled by the trolls.
“Young men, take up your weapons!”
At the cry of the old blacksmith, the young men of the village rushed out with shovels, pickaxes, sickles, and axes.
But their faces all showed fear, and the weapons in their hands trembled.
“Someone help! Please!”
A young man working in the warehouse cried out as he ran out.
The halberd of the Ice Goblin chasing after him cut through the air.
“Over here, quickly!”
The old blacksmith opened the door wide and pulled in the young man.
The face of the young man who ran inside was pale as death, and his legs were trembling.
“Mom, I’m scared…”
A girl buried her face in her mother’s skirt.
They were hiding in the basement of the town hall, but everyone was terrified by the trolls’ roars from above.
“Ssh, we need to stay quiet…”
The mother hugged the girl tightly, but her hands too were trembling.
The residents gathered in the basement could only embrace each other without even breathing.
“Bryan! Cover the rear!”
The swordsman Bryan and his C-Class adventurer party comrades were fighting desperately in a triangular formation.
Under normal circumstances, they would never dare to face these enemies, but now, there was no retreating.
“Lord Mikael, lend your strength to your servant!”
The silver amulet around Marianne’s neck faintly glowed.
The wooden staff she held also emitted a glow, radiating a holy aura.
As Marianne’s staff lit up, Kevin’s pale complexion improved slightly.
He was able to gather magic power again after nearly exhausting himself from continuous spell casting.
“Blaze Barrier!”
Kevin drew the magic circle, and a wall of flames soared up, blocking the goblins’ path.
Though his specialty, flame magic, was effective against ice monsters, there were too many enemies.
“Haa… haa…!”
Bryan barely managed to block the troll’s attack.
Had it not been for Marianne’s healing and enhancement blessings, he would have fallen long ago.
“Uooooh!”
Once again, Bryan parried the troll’s club with his sword.
The impact was so strong that his feet sank into the ground, but he stood firm.
“Now’s the moment! Bryan, get down!”
In response to Kevin’s cry, fireballs flew in succession and struck the troll’s face.
While the troll staggered, Bryan’s sword flashed and severed the troll’s leg.
But at that moment, three goblins rushed toward him from behind.
“Flame Rain!”
Kevin deployed his magic circle.
Fire rained down from the sky, blocking the goblins’ path.
Weak against fire, they couldn’t help but flinch under the successive flame attacks.
“Frost Spear!”
Kevin changed tactics and unleashed a barrage of frigid ice spears.
The Ice Goblins mockingly avoided these attacks, but it was a trap.
“Bryan!”
“Got it!”
The goblins slipped on the thin ice formed where the ice spears had fallen, and Bryan’s sword met them.
“Haa… haa… This won’t do…”
Kevin muttered as he sweated cold beads.
His mana was nearly depleted.
At this rate, they wouldn’t be able to defeat even one troll.
No matter how much they attacked, the trolls regenerated from their terrifying regenerative powers, and there was still a large horde of goblins left…
The party’s energy was almost entirely drained.
Amidst the desperate situation, a sweet yet lethal fragrance began to spread.
A fragrance that seemed as if it could only be smelled in a heavenly flower field; certainly something that should not be smelled in this land of harsh cold.
Suddenly, the moonlight turned crimson.
As soon as the sweet fragrance spread, Marianne instantly grasped its meaning.
“This is… the mercy of the gods…”
She quickly looked around.
Already, some of the villagers were attempting to step out, drawn by the scent.
“Revive the Spirit!”
Marianne’s staff brightly lit up.
The hazy eyes of the villagers grew clear.
“Please everyone, go back inside! Quickly!”
She awoke one by one with her holy magic and guided them to safety.
As the crimson moonlight illuminated the village, the goblins and trolls, who had been in a frenzy, astonishingly all stopped.
Their bloodshot eyes were directed toward the source of the fragrance.
“Kruuuh… Kurrr…”
“Kek… Kekk…”
Like under a spell, the monsters began to move their steps following the fragrance.
The sweet fragrance blooming under the crimson moonlight in this manner saved the entire village.
…
By dawn, the village was covered in wounds everywhere.
The northern warehouse was completely collapsed, and the crops were all frozen by the troll’s chill.
The streetlights were shattered, and deep cracks ran along the walls of several houses.
Tracks left by the fleeing livestock and broken fences were seen everywhere.
Fortunately, though, there were no casualties.
Everyone had bruises and scratches, but thanks to Marianne’s healing, there were hardly any serious injuries.
The villagers gathered at the Mikel temple.
Though it was a small temple in a rustic village, it was filled with the survivors from the night before.
“Could the fragrance from last night have been the grace of Lord Mikael?”
An old woman asked Marianne.
Marianne pondered for a moment and shook her head.
“I’m not entirely sure. But one thing is certain: whether it was the grace of Lord Mikael or not, it was surely the will of the gods that saved us.”
Since that day, it became a belief in the small village of the Shia Kalt Mountain Range that, when the night sky moon turned red, a sweet fragrance would eventually spread from somewhere, and they began calling it “Mikael’s Flower Scent.”
*
Pink flower pollen scattered across the snowy peaks of Shia Kalt.
The purplish pistil emitted pollen that painted the sky like an aurora.
Pink particles shimmered under the soft moonlight, spreading far and wide with the wind.
“Wait, if the monsters come soon and these guys run away, what’ll we do…?”
After scattering the pollen generously, worry set in.
Verlez seemed to be intoxicated by the pollen, yet trembled violently, aware of the impending future.
“No! Don’t run! Fight back!”
「Honey-Willpower LV1 skill has been acquired.」
「Honey-Willpower
– Willpower is infused into the honey created.」
“Ah!”
Coincidentally, a new skill was obtained.
Perhaps eating the honey lets them feel my will.
“Guys! Hurry up and eat the honey! Try it again!”
As honey was produced recklessly, nearby Verlez began to consume it.
“Slaughter! Festival! Experience!”
I hoped that my will was properly conveyed through the cries.
When the Verlez who ate the honey had their eyes change.
They showed an eerie determination as if they were the elite guards, or a secret pact sworn to absolute obedience.
“Ah!”
Obviously my will was delivered well.
Rather… too much maybe.
Besides, can’t this unbearable sorrow finally be shaken off?
Although only a few Verlez could eat the honey due to their large numbers, they quickly settled thanks to the Verlez network.
“Alright! Battle Preparation!”
☆☆☆☆★ Werewolf Lv44 ☆☆☆☆ Werewolf Lv38 ☆☆☆☆☆ Werewolf Lv41 ☆☆☆☆ Werewolf Lv42 ☆☆☆☆☆ Werewolf Lv37 …
Just in time, the first prey, a werewolf, appeared, drawn by the flower pollen.
The menacing gray fur covered in frost and sharp teeth showing while on guard were threatening, but my Verlez were already perfectly positioned.
Blizzard Hornets moved first, signaling by flaring their transparent wings.
Flying above the wolf’s head, they formed accurate triangles.
Blue-tinged ice stings gleamed under the moonlight.
The wolf sensed danger, growled, and showed its teeth.
White breath dissipated in the cold air.
Meanwhile, Hyperborean Ants were quietly advancing through the snow toward the wolf’s underside.
“Oooh…!”
The sight of the white ants moving like a flowing stream was amazing.
Their antennae on their heads all pointed in the same direction in perfect unison.
Crystal Beetles stood up front shining like crystals.
As the moonlight reflected off the beetle’s carapaces, a rainbow of colors spread around.
The red eyes of the fleeing wolf shifted anxiously.
Then the Frost Moss flew up, fully unfolding their wings decorated like frost crystals.
A white powder was forcefully scattered as they flapped their wings, obscuring the wolf’s vision.
Without missing the chance, Blizzard Hornets attacked in unison.
Sharp ice stings split the air and pierced through the wolf’s body.
The wolf’s anguished howl echoed across the snowy mountains.
Hyperborean Ants did not miss their moment.
Dozens of white bodies leaped, biting into the wolf’s legs.
The previously snowy white field began to turn red with the wolf’s blood.
“It’s completely well done!!!”
Suddenly, it occurred that one species hadn’t participated in the battle.
Looking around, I spotted the Iceflies buzzing around near me while others fought actively.
“Aren’t you doing anything…? Are you cheering…?”
