Chapter 3

I want to play Xenoblade Chronicles so badly.

"Kwoooooo! It's so cold!"

The cold air pierced my skin. My eyebrows froze and crackled with each blink. Most of all, the fierce gusts of wind seemed ready to blow me away.

"......Are you okay?"

"I'm not okay, but I'm fine! It's so cold it hurts, but I'm fine!"

"That repetition just makes me more anxious."

"Just keep walking forward. I don't have the luxury to help you up if you fall!"

As I shouted, I almost fell, my feet slipping on the accumulated snow.

"......If you don't have that much leeway, why did you come along?"

"I couldn't stand the thought of staying at the inn and letting a woman work alone. I have no intention of becoming a freeloader!"

"Freeloader?"

"A term for unemployed men who live off women!"

Yes, this is Kanna Kamijo.

Currently, I am climbing a mountain in the extreme cold. The same mountain range we crossed on the dragon.

I skipped too much again. Let me explain in order.

After crossing the mountain range and descending to its base, we arrived at a nearby village without any incidents. It was a peaceful and idyllic village, just as I had imagined.

Rea was the first to head to the inn, booked a room, and suggested I take a bath to warm up. She even heated the water with her fire magic, which she was not used to. Feeling grateful but unable to resist the urge for a bath, I dove into the warm water. It was the most comfortable bath I've ever had. I felt tears welling up as my body warmed from the inside. Wait, am I this emotional?

After the bath, I returned to the first floor of the inn, feeling refreshed. The inn had guest rooms on the second floor and a dining area on the first, which apparently satisfied the villagers' palates.

However, there were no guests enjoying their meals. Instead, Rea and several villagers were gathered around a table with serious expressions. The atmosphere was far from pleasant.

I hesitated about whether to join them, but one of the villagers noticed me, and Rea turned around as well.

"Kanna, how was the bath?"

"It was great. ......So, what's going on here?"

Normally, I would have laughed and suggested Rea take a bath too, but I could tell the mood was too serious.

"Actually, a girl who went into the mountains this afternoon hasn't returned yet."

"The mountains, you mean that huge mountain range?"

There's no other mountain around here that reaches into the clouds. Why would she go there?

"Her mother has been sick with a cold recently. There are medicinal herbs growing on that mountain. She probably went to gather them."

"What a good daughter......"

As I said that, I remembered the time. Looking out the window, I saw the night sky.

"Hey, it's already dark!"

"Yes, it's night. And once the sun sets, the weather on that mountain tends to worsen. The villagers always come down before sunset. But this girl, who should know better, hasn't returned. Something must have happened."

"Then we shouldn't be wasting time here. We need to go and find her quickly."

"I understand. But there are dangerous monsters living on that mountain. They are nocturnal, so it's safe to enter during the day."

"......You're serious?"

Monsters—literally, the third symbol of fantasy. As the name suggests, they are dangerous creatures that attack people.

"Entering the mountain at night is suicide for the villagers who lack the strength."

By this point, I finally understood why Rea was here with the villagers.

"So, these people came to ask you to search for the girl, right?"

"That's right. What do you think?"

"Huh? Let's go and help her quickly."

"........................"

Huh? Did I say something wrong?

"......Were you even listening to me?"

"If we don't hurry, the girl will become monster food. We need to go and help her. Oh, right. Hey, villagers, can you lend us some warm clothes? At least that much."

"But I said there are monsters."

"I heard you. I don't want to see or imagine a scene where the girl is being eaten."

"Are you serious? You're coming too?"

"What do you mean? Didn't these people come to ask the mercenary Rea to save the girl? And didn't Rea agree?"

"Indeed, but I planned to go alone!"

"What are you talking about? I'm coming too."

"I don't want to say this, but you have no connection to these villagers."

"But Rea is determined to help."

"That's my personal decision. But I can't ignore your will as my companion. That's why I asked......"

As the conversation started to go in circles, I slammed my hand on the table.

"Details don't matter! If we can do something and have the will to do it, there's no time to hesitate! If Rea wants to and has the strength, I'll support her as much as I can!"

So, let's go back to the beginning.

"Isn't it incredibly bad luck that a blizzard started as soon as we started climbing?"

"Rather, I'm worried that we might have summoned this blizzard."

Later, this turned out to be a joke that came true. Remember that.

"Why are you so casually dressed in such light clothing!?"

"I'm using a cold resistance spell. This is enough for me."

Even with my fluffy jacket, I was extremely cold, but Rea was wearing only her usual light armor and a simple coat.

"Magic is so convenient."

"I specialize in this type of magic. I'm useless with elemental magic. In battle, I can only rely on this."

She adjusted the large sword on her back, emphasizing it.

Indeed, it was impressive. When we escaped from the castle, guards and knights swarmed us, but each swing of that large sword sent them flying. Even heavily armored soldiers were no match. Her combat power was on par with a warlord from a game.

"So, Kanna. Is the area where the herbs grow still far?"

"Just a little more walking."

I checked our current location by comparing the map in my hand with the terrain features the villagers had described. On my back was a bag with children's cold-weather gear for the girl.

I was told that the girl was lightly dressed when she entered the mountain in the afternoon. Even if we find her unharmed, in this weather, she could be immobilized by the cold from the blizzard.

In that case, Rea would have to carry the girl down the mountain, which could put her at a disadvantage if we were attacked by monsters. That's why I volunteered to follow Rea and carry the extra gear.

"Being a pack mule is clearly an afterthought."

"Rea brought me along because she realized it was necessary."

At first, she considered asking one of the villagers, but her calm judgment led her to bring me. She decided I would be less of a burden than they would.

"You're quite a soft-hearted person. For a girl you don't know."

"It's not entirely out of kindness. There's some calculation involved."

"Indeed. After you mentioned the payment, the villagers' faces became quite awkward."

I'm doing this in such cold weather for a stranger. It's only fair to ask for some compensation. I secured one night's lodging, a few days' worth of food, and a small amount of money as a success fee.

"Truly, you're a difficult person to judge. Are you thoughtful or not?"

"Is that a compliment?"

"Maybe."

As we talked to distract ourselves from the cold, we gradually approached our destination. Our goal was the area where the herbs grew. We would start our search from there. The girl was likely heading there, so we might find some clues.

After about thirty minutes of climbing, we arrived. Despite the darkness and the blizzard, we found the herbs growing. The terrain matched the villagers' description.

Next, a brief battle begins.