Chapter 76

How long had it been since I had gone down this path? Though I was not ascending, but rather descending, I began to feel fatigued around this time.

“We’ve arrived.”

The voice of Arhen finally sounded as confirmation of our arrival.

By widening my detection of Divine Power, I could indeed confirm we had arrived.

But wait.

Something felt off…?

“If my prediction is correct, there should be no people here, or at least only a minimal number…?”

For some reason, the life forms I sensed through my Divine Power were certainly numerous, if not more than before, and I could not shake the feeling that they were not fewer.

I had clearly given them a warning.

Soon, the monsters would awaken, and if they remained here, they would undoubtedly be annihilated by those monsters. Though, I had borrowed the name of the divine, my conviction felt a little odd.

Anyway, it wasn’t as if they didn’t know I was a Saint, so if I had warned them that monsters would awaken, I thought for sure they would move the village.

But that was not the case.

“This is not good…?”

If they had communicated that I, of all people, had said the monsters would awaken, my situation would become awkward.

Yet at this point, I couldn’t just suggest going back. I had thoroughly warned them, and since they took my warning seriously, the very premise that they would have moved the village, or at least migrated, was shattered.

Staying like this would lead to dire consequences.

“This place… is a village?”

Evan, who was looking around, voiced his confusion.

“This is called the ‘Sanctuary of Tempests,’” Arhen replied.

Evan, taken aback by this remark, suddenly questioned Arhen with a look of curiosity.

“The names here seem all metaphorical.”

“There’s a culture like that here. Most names are quite complex. The name ‘Matimos’ is one we assigned.”

The Sanctuary of Tempests.

A village in the depths of the Realm, which would collapse and disappear without a trace when monsters awaken…

I broke into a cold sweat.

Is this really okay…?

As I pondered what to do, I soon found myself at the main gate.

Having caught sight of us, the soldiers approached, brandishing their spear and aimed it at us.

“Come any closer, and we will attack!”

“State your identity!”

How intimidating.

I didn’t think they usually reacted this excessively; what was happening here?

In my moment of confusion, Arhen stepped forward and took something from his robe to show them. Upon seeing what Arhen held, the two soldiers were taken aback and let us in, citing an apology.

Though I found it strange that they knew the ins and outs of this place, they must have been interacting with the Matimos tribe long before I had a clue.

“You knew, didn’t you?”

Well, hundreds of years ago, they would have sealed it together with the tribes of this area down in that prison, so even if no beast survived to this day, they must have been able to maintain some form of interaction.

“Then I can relax.”

If Arhen had communicated that I was the one who warned about the awakening of the monsters, he would not have brought it up considering that I wouldn’t know.

If it was a test, then that was beyond my intelligence—effectively an insurmountable wall—so it would only make sense to yield to it.

But if they were going to act like that, it meant they had doubts about me from the start, and there was no reason for them to do such a thing when there was no basis for suspicion.

Though I do not understand the reason, it seemed they hadn’t mentioned a word about me.

They only seemed to have heard of the impending monster awakening.

And that was recently.

Of course, the warning about the monster awakening was something I had asserted when I had fallen into the Valley of Wailing as a Saint, invoking the name of the divine. Now that a significant disturbance was in effect, it seemed they had merely mentioned the possibility of an issue with the barrier.

“Thank goodness.”

Yes, saying that the monsters would awaken all of a sudden was absurd.

Even though it would sound odd coming from me, if they had said it, there would have been even less explanation than that, so they must have seized the opportunity to mention the barrier while unusual events were occurring.

If it hadn’t been me, we would have begun a raid completely caught off guard, so it was rather fortunate.

Truly…

Anyway…

“This way.”

A man who seemed to be the leader of the guards approached us and began to lead us this way.

Where we were taken was none other than the Chief’s house.

Upon entering, we were immediately directed to the Chief’s quarters.

This matter required a serious discussion with the Chief.

After settling into the reception room for a while, someone opened the door and walked in.

Though I couldn’t discern the color well, if my faint memory serves me correctly, this must be a huge humanoid bear beastman with brown fur down to its waist…

“So, you’ve made us wait. My apologies, Dean.”

“It’s alright. You have your own matters to attend to.”

Right.

“Then first… let me introduce myself.”

The Chief, or rather…

“I am called ‘Guide of the Frosty Tempests.’ I oversee this village.”

Guide of the Frosty Tempests.

Not only does it indicate the path leading down to the ‘Prison of Eternal Frost’ lurking with danger, but also guides us there itself. Considering that it’s where the first boss is located, one would assume it would reveal all the methods to progress and weakness, making it a rather exquisite title.

Indeed, that information is only necessary for newcomers… since the location details or the weaknesses that I know wouldn’t change, it’s not of grand importance.

So it was spoken out of a desire for survival.

“But why are you here?”

Things seemed to be proceeding well, so there wasn’t really a need to worry, but I had to admit I found it difficult to comprehend why they were here.

I was certain I had warned that it would be dangerous if I was around, yet there was no thought of moving.

“After all, if the monsters awaken, they will be the first to collapse…”

No matter what, they can’t prevent the collapse.

Even if we entered the seal within the ‘Prison of Eternal Frost’ to subjugate it, as the seal is lifted, those massive monsters would appear and naturally lead to the Realm’s destruction.

But if they don’t suppress it, it will resurrect at some point, making a collapse inevitable.

In other words, as long as one remains in this village, nothing less than death awaits.

In fact, even within the game, failing to act led to them falling down into the collapsing ground and dying, so even if they survive, it would be impossible for anyone, beastman or not, to move out of the debris.

“I’m so fed up.”

In light of that, it’s hard not to feel frustrated.

I seriously wondered if they were planning to die.

While I struggled internally in frustration, Evan gently lifted Esther beside him.

Hmm?

“Um… is it okay for me to be here?”

“Just stay put. As you are a Hero, you need to know about this matter.”

In the meantime, Evan appeared uncomfortable in his current seat.

It seemed he had spoken just softly enough that others might not hear, but since I could comprehend it through thought, I understood everything he said.

Thought is supreme.

“Hmm…”

Now that I think of it, Evan must not have heard the explanations that Arhen provided.

I, on the other hand, had heard everything from the initial conversation, so I was fine, but Evan had been dragged along here without any explanation, so it was increasingly necessary to provide him with context.

Of course, that explanation was not my responsibility; it would be the Chief who would briefly summarize the current situation.

“Then first… I shall begin the tale of the ‘Beast of Frost that Brings Ruin.’”

The Chief began his story.

It would likely cover the monstrous ones sleeping beneath us, giving Evan a rough idea of the situation, along with a briefing regarding the disturbances that had occurred here so far.

After a while of listening to the Chief narrating, Arhen suddenly sprang to his feet.

“I need to check immediately…!”

The things the Archduke had mentioned and all the disturbances occurring down below in the Valley of Wailing.

Whether it was fortunate or not, or perhaps out of concern that it might pose difficulties for me, they had perceived a prophecy from the divine that the monsters would awaken.

Having heard all these, Arhen abruptly shouted.

He insisted on confirming the integrity of the barrier immediately.