Chapter 45: Raby 2

The morning sunlight seeped through the buildings that were built close together.

Hescal, the capital of the Heshet Empire, was always busy, and today, too, the streets were crowded with people.

I took a deep breath as I climbed the stairs of the Adventurer’s Guild.

‘It’s already been three years…’

I took out a crystal-encrusted metal badge from my pocket and looked at it.

The badge, engraved with the official emblem and A-class mark of the Heshet Empire Adventurer’s Guild, sparkled in the sunlight.

How much sweat and tears I had shed to obtain this badge.

Three months after my father’s special training began, I took the F-class adventurer exam.

I passed easily thanks to my experience hunting in the forest, but the road after that was by no means easy.

From E-class to D-class, from D-class to C-class…

I climbed up little by little, overcoming near-death experiences each time.

When I was promoted to B-class, I felt pain as if my whole body was being torn apart, and I lay unconscious for a week.

And finally, a month ago, I passed the A-class exam.

‘Mom, Dad was so proud…’

The letter I sent home only said that I had become an A-class adventurer, but the reply that arrived the next day was stained with tear stains.

That night, as I read my mother’s handwriting, I couldn’t hold back my tears.

Leah said that she had become quite good at archery.

Not long ago, she had even shot a sparrow flying in the sky.

For a 9-year-old girl to show such skill, it seemed that she had inherited our family’s blood.

Every time I saw Leah’s cute handwriting in the letter saying, “I’ll be like you, big sister!”, I felt a surge of determination to work harder.

As I entered the guild, familiar noises rang in my ears.

The adventurers’ laughter, the serious voices confirming the request, and the toasts celebrating the successful completion of the request.

“Lavy! You’re here!”

Guildmaster Mason waved his hand happily.

His face, with its terrifying scars, always looked warm when he smiled.

“Have you received a new request?”

“No, a special guest wants to meet you today.”

“Me?”

Mason motioned for me to come closer.

“Lord Ryandel, the chief researcher of the Golden Tower, has requested an escort to the Great Labyrinth of Sia Kalt. He originally wanted an S-class adventurer, but there are currently no S-class adventurers available…”

He winked at me.

“I recommended our Ravie. She’s still young, but her skills have been proven.”

My heart sank.

Receiving the guild master’s recognition has always been a great strength to me.

“Thank you. I’ll do my best.”

“Then, I always believe in you. Lord Ryandel is over there. Let’s go together.”

I headed to the special conference room inside the guild.

There were already a few adventurers gathered there.

And in the center of them, a man with golden hair and a neat robe was standing.

I saw him carefully placing his crystal staff on a table as transparent as ice.

At that moment, the blue crystal inside the staff began to glow faintly.

It was a gesture that combined the sophistication of a scholar and the sharpness of a wizard.

“Lord Ryandel, this is the A-class adventurer I told you about, Lady Rayvi.”

“Oh, this is her.”

Ryandel’s voice was calm, as expected from the chief researcher of the Magic Tower.

He bowed his head politely to me.

“Lady Rayvi, I’ve heard your story. It’s truly amazing that you’ve become an A-class adventurer at such a young age.”

His eyes studied my bow with interest.

The sharp gaze of a wizard seemed to be assessing the quality of the weapon.

“No. I’m not sure if I’ll be of much help to you, researcher…”

“It will be sufficient.”

Ryandel smiled.

“Most of the party members are already here, so let’s introduce ourselves.”

Ryandel introduced me to the other adventurers.

“Everyone, this is Lady Rayvi. She is one of the youngest A-class adventurers in the Heshet Empire.”

The first to approach was an old adventurer with graying black hair.

“His name is Rodrick. He’s an A-class adventurer. He mainly uses swordsmanship. He was once called Bloodsword. Well, he’s considered an old man these days. I’ve seen many adventurers before, but you’re the first young A-class I’ve seen.”

Next was a young adventurer with a lively expression.

“My name is Karl! I’m also an A-class. My main weapon is also a sword! But actually, what I’m more confident about is making the atmosphere better! Haha!”

His cheerful personality naturally made me smile.

Next, three B-class adventurers were introduced.

Elina, a female adventurer who deals with buff magic, Torben, a dwarf trap expert, and Terry, an assistant magician.

Terry looked at Ryandel with admiration throughout the introduction.

When he was finally introduced, I could sense deep respect when he said, “I joined this party to help Professor Ryandel with his research!”

“Now that all six party members are here, I will explain this request in detail.”

Ryandel said with a satisfied expression.

We sat around a large round table.

Ryandel spread out the map.

“Our destination is the Great Labyrinth of Sia Kalt. The Golden Tower requires Frost Aether Ore, a rare resource for magical research. This ore is a precious mineral found only in the lower levels of the Great Labyrinth of Sia Kalt.”

He took out his exquisite crystal staff and pointed to the location of the Great Labyrinth of Sia Kalt on the map.

A blue light flashed from the tip of the staff, and a path was drawn on the map with magical light.

“Frost Aether Ore… is not a simple mineral.” Ryandel’s voice rose slightly with passion.

“This ore is a crystal formed over a thousand years by exposure to the extreme low temperatures and unique magical energy of Sia Kalt.”

He took out a small glass vial from his pocket.

Inside it was a small piece of crystal that glowed blue.

“This is a sample from the Magic Tower. As you can see, the mana inside is crystallized and glowing. This small piece alone contains enough energy to cause a large magical explosion.”

The adventurers looked at the crystal with astonishment.

“The Golden Tower is conducting research using this gemstone to surpass the limits of existing magic. From tripling the effectiveness of healing magic to simultaneously controlling multiple properties with a single magic… the possibilities are endless.”

From Ryandel’s passionate explanation, I could sense that this quest was not simply about mining minerals, but an important mission for the rapid advancement of magic research.

“The journey will take about two months. On the way, we will have to pass through Seolhanryeong, an area inhabited by quite dangerous monsters.”

“Seolhanryeong…”

I muttered involuntarily.

It was a place I had often heard about in my maternal grandfather’s stories.

Ryandel nodded.

“Yes, it is called the graveyard of many adventurers. However, I believe that skilled people like you will be able to pass through it.”

“What do you do when you find the gemstone?” Elina asked.

“I brought special equipment. It can safely mine and store the gemstone.”

Ryandel took out a strange device from his bag.

It was called the Dwarven Mineral Detector.

Intricate gears and small crystals surrounded the entire device, and in the center was a part that looked like a compass.

“And finally, about the maintenance. The reward for this quest is five hundred gold coins per person.”

A gasp of surprise erupted around the table at those words.

Five hundred gold coins was truly a huge sum.

It was almost twenty times the amount of a typical A-class quest reward.

“Since the risk is high, the reward has been prepared accordingly.” Ryandel smiled softly.

“The Golden Tower highly values ​​the importance of this research. We promise to provide you with unsparing support for your safety and success.”

“If it’s Sia Kalt…”

Karl muttered quietly.

“Seraphina Bloom…”

I could hear the name faintly.

I felt like I had heard it somewhere, but I couldn’t remember exactly.

Just as I was about to ask, Ryandel continued.

“I have prepared everything. We will meet at the North Gate tomorrow morning and depart. Please prepare any necessary equipment or potions in advance.”

Ryandel made a suggestion after the meeting.

“Now that the team is formed, how about we have a meal together? It would be nice to have some time to get to know each other better.”

We all agreed, and we headed to a fancy inn called the ‘Golden Lion’ near the guild.

Ryandel said he would pay for everything.

As we sat around the table, each of us shared stories while eating.

Rodrik said he became an adventurer to avenge the village’s destruction by monsters, and Torben said he became one because he wanted to see for himself how the weapons he made would be used.

Elina was a healer at the temple, and Terry said he volunteered for this journey after being impressed by Ryandel’s research paper while studying at the Golden Tower.

Ryandel asked me carefully, “What made you become an adventurer, Lady Ravie?”

My face turned slightly red.

“We’re not even close yet, so I guess it’s better not to talk about the Academy.”

“I… was greatly influenced by my maternal grandfather. He was an A-class adventurer, and I grew up listening to his adventure stories. And…”

I hesitated for a moment before continuing.

“I’m saving up the money I need for my own dream.”

The sun was setting when we left after eating.

We promised to meet tomorrow.

…

But I didn’t go back to my lodgings right away.

I naturally headed to the Adventurer’s Guild’s library.

I wanted to learn more about the Sia Kalt Great Labyrinth.

Max, the librarian, sparkled when I entered.

“Raby! It’s been a while. What kind of knowledge are you looking for?”

“Hello, Grandpa Max. I need information on the Great Labyrinth of Sia Kalt. And also about Seolhanryeong.”

His eyebrows rose.

“Sia Kalt and Seolhanryeong? They’re both dangerous places. Could you…”

“Yes, I got a request to go there tomorrow. I heard that you have to go through Seolhanryeong to get to Sia Kalt.”

“Hmm…”

Max climbed up the ladder with a worried expression and took out a few dusty books.

“Here are ‘The Unknown Area of the North’ and ‘Secrets of the Ice Labyrinth’. And this… ‘Encyclopedia of Monsters: Ice Zone’… Oh, and this is also necessary. ‘Map of Seolhanryeong and Monster Distribution’.”

He took the books and sat down at the corner table.

He flipped through the pages, looking for information about Sia Kalt.

‘The Great Labyrinth of Sia Kalt is one of the eight great labyrinths, and is an ancient relic with thousands of years of history. It is divided into upper, middle, lower, and deep layers, and the inside has a complex structure like a maze… Less than 5% of adventurers who have returned alive from the Great Labyrinth of Sia Kalt have done so. Even half of them never told what they saw inside the labyrinth.’

He kept turning the pages and stopped at one passage.

‘The Great Labyrinth of Sia Kalt is home to various ice monsters, and the existence of S-class monsters has been reported in the deep layer. In particular, there have been testimonies of sightings of a mysterious being called “Seraphina Bloom” or “King of Bugs” in the past three years…’

‘Seraphina Bloom?’

That was the name Karl had muttered.

‘When did this book come out?’

Looking at the back cover, it was a new volume published this year.

It was an interesting topic, so I read it in more detail.

‘The records regarding Seraphina Bloom are contradictory. Some survivors say that it is a terrible being that rules over all the bug monsters in the labyrinth, while others testify that it is a mysterious flower that saved them in times of crisis. In particular, it is said that Saint Seraphina and the Silver Warrior Beatrice were helped by this being, so she was given the nickname “Serafina Bloom”…’

Was this information true?

It was hard to believe that a monster living in a labyrinth would help humans.

Next, I opened the book ‘Seolhanryeong Map and Monster Distribution’.

‘Seolhanryeong is a huge ice canyon surrounding the Great Labyrinth of Sia Kalt, and was formed by extreme cold over thousands of years. The canyon walls are made of ice cliffs hundreds of meters high, and the canyon floor is covered in permafrost.’

The book contained a detailed map of Seolhanryeong.

Narrow passages and dangerous areas were marked, and the areas marked in red were particularly noticeable.

‘Seolhanryeong is home to powerful monsters called “Guardians”. They guard specific areas and do not tolerate intruders. Representative guardians include the S-class monsters “Frost Werewolf” and “Blizzard Wyvern”, and the dangerous S-class monster among the guardians, “Ice Guardian”.’

When I looked closely at the map, the habitats of the guardians were clearly marked.

The Blizzard Wyvern is in the center of the canyon,

Frost Wolves and the Cold Sentinel were stationed deep in the east.

‘Fortunately, the Guardians have a habit of staying in their own territory, so if you avoid their habitat, you can pass through the Snow Range relatively safely.’

“Found something interesting?”

Max asked, coming up next to me.

“Yes, I learned about the Guardians of Seolhanryeong.”

“Ah, those terrifying guys.”

Max nodded.

“The Frost Werewolf is said to be able to move freely through the ice. The Blizzard Wyvern is said to breathe ice. And the Sentinel of Frost… I’ve never heard of him being defeated.”

“Fortunately, I think we can avoid their territory.”

“Yes, but you shouldn’t let your guard down. The weather in Seolhanryeong is unpredictable, and it’s easy to get lost when a sudden blizzard hits. If you accidentally enter their territory then…”

Max trailed off, but the meaning was clear enough.

After reading a few more books, I headed to the equipment store to prepare for the extreme conditions of my journey.

‘Ronin’s Armour Shop’ was the most reliable equipment store in the capital.

The owner, Ronin, was a retired S-rank adventurer who only sold high-quality equipment.

“Raby! What brought you here, old man?”

“Grandpa Ronin, I’m going to Shia Kalt tomorrow. I’ll have to pass through the Snowy Pass, so I’ll need equipment that can withstand the cold.”

Ronin’s expression became serious.

“Shia Kalt and the Snowy Pass… dangerous places.”

He thought for a moment and said, “I encountered a frost werewolf in the Snowy Pass about 20 years ago. Its red eyes were so creepy that I still dream about it.”

He went into the back room and brought out a special box.

“This is a cloak made from the scales of a frost drake. It will block any cold air. It will keep you warm even in the snowstorms of the Snowy Pass.”

It was a bluish white cloak.

It felt warm to the touch.

“Grandpa, this is too expensive…”

“Don’t worry. I’ll give you a special discount. You’ll get the full price when you come back alive. And the Guardians rarely come out of that icy area, so just avoid it.”

He bowed his head in gratitude.

He took out another item.

“This is a set of arrows called ‘Ice Destroyer’. They can pierce through even the hardest ice. It’s best to prepare them just in case.”

The arrowheads were reddish, and I could feel a slight heat in my hand when I held them.

After purchasing various equipment, I stopped by the magic potion shop for the last time and purchased plenty of cold resistance potions and recovery potions.

…

I returned to my inn and began checking my equipment.

Now, instead of my father’s old bow, I used a silver longbow called ‘Moonlight Whisper’.

This bow, which I obtained from the A-class monster ‘Eunwol’s Watcher’, changed its shape slightly to fit my hand as if it were alive.

The quiver was filled with the ‘Ice Destroyer’ arrows I had purchased today, as well as various types of magic arrows that I already had.

Ice arrows, explosive arrows, poison arrows, and even guided arrows.

I also hung a dagger called ‘Whisper of Dawn’ on my waist.

I always carried it with me in case I needed to engage in close combat.

I also packed a lot of magic potions.

Intermediate vitality recovery potion, intermediate magic recovery potion, antidote, burn treatment, and especially a cold resistance potion for Sia Kalt.

I finished preparing everything and went to bed.

Tomorrow, the long journey to the Great Labyrinth of Sia Kalt would begin.

I looked out the window at the moonlight and fell into deep thought.

‘Is it really right to take on this request?’

The dangers of Sia Kalt could be much greater than what I read in the book.

It would be the most dangerous place I’ve been on so far.

But 500 gold coins…

It would be enough to make all my dreams come true.

The face of the Third Prince came to mind.

The golden hair and sky-blue eyes I saw in that brief moment three years ago.

Would he remember me?

Probably not, but if we were in the same space at the Academy…

there might be a new beginning.

‘Dad, Mom… Leah… and Third Prince…’

The path I must take was set.

Whether a blizzard rages, the Seolhanryung blocks the way, or the darkness of Sia Kalt tries to swallow me up.

I will survive and achieve my dream.

The moonlight streaming in through the window gradually grew dim, and my consciousness also quietly sank into darkness.