M E M O R I Z E

Deep night, the forest was dark.

Sie... Sie... Sie...

And it was very cold.

“Hmm.”

The cold breeze blows as hard as an ale, and I sag slightly. Then you pull your butt straight toward the burning campfire on your own.

Suddenly, I looked up at the night sky and saw countless shining stars. Looks like there's still a long night left.

“Cool... Cool..."

When I pulled up the blanket wrapped around my body, thinking that I might have a bowl of stew left over for dinner, I suddenly heard a slight snoring sound. Video, even if you don't see who it is. I smile blankly and sigh and look around.

densely grown trees and dense bushes. The landscape is different from the normal forests, although this looks like a permanent forest.

It is stuck in the trees that are trampled under my eyes.

No, it wasn't just the silk tree. Frost was all over the forest, and it even felt like it was in the middle of Antarctica.

Either way.

I scoured the area sharply to act as a vigilante, and only after confirming that no one was there did I look again.

How long has it been?

Ta-da, ta-da!

Suddenly, I looked up at the sound of sparks. Then I saw a spark spreading in the air, and someone bent their head over it. This is Ahn Hyun.

“Well, um... Sister... You can't do this... ”

It's not enough to tighten it in a firefight, is it?

I was supposed to wake up after about 15 minutes, but Ahn Hyun's sleepwalking made me change my mind. Honestly, I was willing to tolerate it if it was a well or a unity, except for Ko Yeon-ju.

As soon as I saw the sly smile on his mouth, I opened my mouth without delay.

“Hey, Ahn Hyun. ”

“Hehehehe!”

Surprisingly, Ahn Hyun immediately reacted. And the subsequent actions were also incredibly agile. He straightened his head for a moment, then opened his eyes and looked around.

“Hmm-hmm. Khh-hmm. Umm.... brother! There's nothing odd about it. Town.”

“... Really? ”

“Cough, cough! Town.”

“ ……. ”

It seemed to have been dull for a while, but he felt the saliva running down his mouth.

When I made my eyes narrow, he immediately stared at me with an awkward gaze.

“… Sorry. ”

I turn the wood piled next to me and quietly open my mouth.

“I'm arriving mid-morning today. If you're sleepy, go back to sleep. Don't make a mistake when it matters. ”

“Oh, no! How dare I... I'm disappointed, sir. ”

“Just wipe the drowsiness out of your eyes. Or talk ahead of time and close your eyes. You said that on Mule, right? ”

I mean, if she gets sleepy, she'll understand beforehand and Zola will. Rather than blinking and clumsily vigilant, I'd rather sleep for 15 minutes and stand up nonchalantly. (Of course, there should be a premise that there are at least two.)

“Hehe.”

An-hyun only smiled beautifully that she had wronged herself a hundred times.

I sighed for a moment and stopped pushing. Anyway, now is the hardest time to stand up, and I was pretty sleepy back then.

An-hyun opened her mouth for a while, then carefully opened her mouth to see if she could not win the horse.

“Sir. There's still plenty left, isn't there? ”

“Yes, it's a long way to go for a shift. ”

“Well, I'm really sorry, but can I just sleep for a minute? I'm so sleepy.”

“... I'll wake you up in five minutes. I'll keep an eye on your area. ”

As soon as the permission dropped, Ahn Hyun immediately bowed his head and started snoring in 10 seconds.

Yesterday, I threw the firewood I caught into the campfire and stared at the scattered flames.

After a while.

Looking at the blazing flames for a long time, my head fell into a deep thought.

It's been two weeks since I was commissioned by Istanbul Row.

Once you've received a quest.

And as long as the quest is filled with life and death that argues the hour.

I announced the quest announcement and personnel the day after, leaving for Frozen Forest the next day.

There were not many clans of six who participated in the investigation. Come with me, An-hyun. And Vivian, Shin Jae Ryong, Im Hannah, and Jeong Yeon were all together. And Song Seung-gyu, who joined as an Indian, will have a total of seven people.

The client didn't say much, even though it could be thought of as a smaller number of people. I just said that I wanted to leave early for once.

'Frozen Forest' was not an exploratory ruin, but it was definitely a place in my memory.

In fact, it was not that difficult by my standards, so it boldly excluded the necessary positions. (Though efficiently it was good to put on a high note, the current machine needed a Clan Road proxy.)

After that, the investigators who went west marched straight to their destination, and they arrived in the frozen forest three days ago.

And now, the day before we arrived at our final destination, the Tower of Ice.

It was an objective assessment so far everything was fine. The monsters didn't look like much either (they were already in a panic because of the siege.), except very cold, no clan members were injured.

If there is only one variable, the client...

"Huh?

- Shhhhhhh...

- Huahhhhhhhh...

It was then.

I woke up immediately from my senses and sensed abnormal signs in the vicinity.

And as I keep my head fixed, I turn my gaze to the right and to the left, I can see one or two blurry things emerging from the trees. I counted quietly and the number seemed to be about a hundred or so. It looks like fake steam or azirang someday....

'This suspicious gas... It can't be all at once.'

Apparently they were formless, so they couldn't hear their footsteps.

- Hehehehehehe...

- Huuuhhh...

Creepy ears that can never be heard by human nature. I grabbed hold of the 'Sword Unsheathed' in the blanket, and looked forward to waking An-hyun up first.

“I don't... ”

“Brother.”

But surprisingly, Ahn Hyun had already happened. I blinked three or four times to see if I was still sleepy, but my eyes sank endlessly. His hand was headed toward the Dark Spear.

An-hyun asked in a low tone.

“Bro…. What are these?”

“… a ghost. ”

“A ghost?”

An-hyun grabbed hold of the spear and stretched out his hand, but he couldn't rest and looked back and forth. Then I sent a signal to the guy about to run to the tent, telling him to wait for a while, and soon I began to understand the movements I felt around him in detail.

- Shhhhhhh...

- Huahhhhhhhh...

Don't you feel hostile? '

- Go away...

- Hit it...

No, wait.

'This...'

He's trying to say something.

I still haven't let go of the sword, but I've listened more to the grunts.

- ……! G-go!

- Shhh... I... I... I got it.

Yeah, I'm sure. The noise that first sounded like the wind, now it sounds like it's saying something. An-hyun rolled his eyes with a stiff face, whether only I had heard it.

“Tongue, brother.... What...? I hear a strange murmur. You don't understand exactly.... ”

Muttering. It doesn't sound perfect to me who has lifted my senses, but it will sound vague to Ahn Hyun.

After marking the intention of knowing, I dipped my index finger on her lips, and soon An-hyun shut up.

- Run away...! Run away! Inside the forest... Luck...!

- You're... fooling... The... gold tent... is... silver...

Yes, it is.

The last thing I heard, I was able to understand what the ghosts were trying to say, and at the same time, I put down my sword.

“ ……. ”

Then I looked back at the tent, and slowly turned my head again to look at the ghosts in the eye.

Later, when I met Ahn Hyun's eyes as the terminal station, Najik opened his mouth.

“Don't worry too much. Rest now."

“Yes? Rest?" ”

I nod quietly. And as I glanced, I felt a flutter.

- Don't worry...?

- H-hi!

The ghosts are silent in an instant, if any of them are quick to notice. After checking their silence, I said one more time.

Of course, I still keep my eyes fixed on Ahn Hyun.

“I know. These are the ghosts who have lost their way. ”

“Yes?”

“Don't let it get cold. If you step back soon.... Sooner or later you'll feel better. So don't react quickly, just wait quietly. ”

“? ”

An-hyun tilted his head consistently because he gave a slightly wrong answer. However, the ghosts acted as if they had understood my words in an instant.

-... he said. Th-that...

- Thank you... so much.

The azirans disappeared in no time. He appeared as quickly as he first discovered it, then disappeared in a flash.

A little time went by, and the silence came again.

“Hey, are you talking to me? ”

“I was right to tell you. ”

“No, that's not... ”

“Well, if you're going to say something like that, you have to understand. ”

After spitting out a word, I got up and looked at the campfire. Around the pyre was a pot of leftover meat stew for dinner tonight.

I looked at Ahn Hyun cleanly, lifting the pot with a light hand. Then I can still see him swallowing his collar with his dazed face.

“A bowl? ”

Ahn Hyun nodded his head while he was still hungry.

I looked up at the night sky and handed over the remaining bowl immediately.

Not yet. The rest of the night is long.

'I look forward to tomorrow.'

*

The morning was bright.

The morning of the Frozen Forest is no different from the morning. The sun was shining in the sky, but the sunlight was blocked by the ice in the forest and could not illuminate the earth.

Moreover, the colder we got into the middle, the more we had to march, rubbing our elongated clothes.

I did not take the lead in this march. In the lead were Songsung-gyu, an Indian, and Im Hana, an archer, and I was standing at a stop with Ahn Hyun to protect the rest of the long distance classes.

Basque! Basque!

Baslac, Cadduk!

Every time you step on the frozen earth, you hear the sound of frozen bushes crumbling.

“Phew. I'm freezing my ass off. ”

As I was walking through the forest, Vivian hugged me and grumbled. The cold in the 'Frozen Forest' is unstoppable even after wearing two layers of warm enchanted robes.

“I know. I couldn't sleep because I was so cold yesterday. It was warmer in front of the campfire. ”

“Ugh. Right? ”

Hayeon also held her hand “Ho.” I breathed and agreed with Vivian's ambition. Then, I looked back at the new dragon following me quietly.

“Isn't it cold wearing that? I see you only wore one priest's robe yesterday. ”

It's amazing what you've been talking to yourself about. Shin Jae Ryong opened his eyes for a moment, then smiled and replied.

“... It's quite cold. ”

“Then why is it so... ”

“When exploring, you have to dress like this to concentrate. especially in combat. To be honest, I regret that nothing has happened so far.... Anyway, the value of the name of the frozen forest is palpable. ”

“Me, too. I'd rather move myself if I see a monster." I feel like I'm freezing my joints off. ”

An-hyun also grumbled and complained. It must be pretty boring to be so excited about the fact that you're going on an expedition after so long, but then you continue to explore smoother than you thought.

“The sun is rising like that... It doesn't melt in here. ”

At that moment, Ahn Hyun came to me with a flashing face.

“Come to think of it, brother. Suddenly I was curious. Why is this place frozen? And why isn't the ice melting? ”

“… I don't know everything. ”

“Ah…. You've always been in the library before the expedition. So just in case you know.... ”

“I didn't have enough time to investigate this time.... ”

I said that, but I was able to find out what An-hyun wanted. In the past, when I went to the laboratory and the Magic City of Maggia, I explained a few related stories, perhaps I am also curious.

Suddenly, I could feel the gaze of the clan members who had been bored all this time. Even as I was walking ahead, I turned around for a moment and smiled a little.

'Regarding related myths…. I don't really remember the details.... Ah.'

I clenched my neck once or twice and stared at Song Seung-gyu's back for a moment. And I slowly opened my mouth.

“Anyway, I don't know... You saw the ghosts yesterday, right? ”

“Yes? Yes. ”

“Then listen. When you go to a grave or a tomb, you always feel creepy without a reason. So what do you call it... Yeah, it's called a phonograph. If you define those feelings as musical energy, the ice in the forest is not just ice, it's a ghost. In other words, it is a single crystal achieved by the Han of souls. ”

“Crystals? So all this ice is made up of soulful notes? ”

An-hyun was quick to understand, and I nodded my head loudly.

“I can see that. This forest is frozen solid enough to be called the Frozen Forest. ”

“Then…. ”

I nodded my head when An-hyun asked me again.

“Either way. There are souls that are strong enough to cover the entire forest, or there are souls that are incalculable. ”

Or both. I didn't want to say the last word. And let's take a slow look at the reactions, the women's clan. Especially I could see Jung Yeon shaking her shoulders slightly.

It was then.

Bashark! Bashar! Tuck!

The march stops with a loud noise coming from the ground. Song Seung-gyu, the leader, suddenly stopped walking.

Song Seung-gyu said without even looking back.

“We're here.”

Immediately after that, Song Seung-gyu slowly lifted his finger and pointed forward. Then there was still some distance left, but I noticed a towering tower with a slight appearance above the tree.

“That's the final destination. ”

“I can see that clearly. I've confirmed it.”

“… what would you do? Rest or right away? ”

“I'll be right in. ”

I was speedy, and the clans moved on with a more tense face.

Soon after Im Hannah looked at Song Seung-gyu, we started the march again.

Vathrak! Vathrak!

Vathrak! Vathrak!

As time went on, we were able to get to the front of the tower without interruption.

“Wow. Kim Soo-hyun. It's so high up here. ”

Vivian looks up at the tower, bursting into dazzling elasticity.

The scenery was moderately beautiful, just looking at the appearance except for the atmosphere. The tower is located in the middle of the lake. The ice is thick and frozen around the base, and it appears to be rising from below.

Also, as Vivian said, the tower was quite large. Wide, but about 50 meters tall. The material appears to be a brick, but the outside is covered with ice and appears to be holding some form.

Taking a moment to look around, I opened my mouth quietly.

“I'll be ready to go inside. ”

After a while, we slowly begin to reduce the distance from the tower.

I saw the appearance more and more detailed as I went, but the cracks and stains that appeared were secretly feeling like a bitch.

It was then.

Imhanna, who was suddenly in the lead, stopped walking and dropped her head.

“Are you coming?”

At that moment, Song Seung-gyu quickly grabbed her arm.

“It's dangerous. It's a ghost. ”

I shouted right away.

“What's going on? ”

Then I woke up and pointed down with trembling hands.

“I felt something strange. I lowered my head... Something swooped down here. ”

The impending voice is slightly frightened. I looked straight down with the third eye and tilted my head. The only way to the tower is frozen lake.

Soon I heard Song Seung-gyu's words.

“… Don't look down. ”

“Yes, yes? ”

“As Mercenary Lord said... There are so many souls here. At least don't make eye contact. They want to seduce people somehow. ”

“Whew…. Okay, I'll be careful. ”

Im Hannah takes a deep breath with her hands on her chest, trying to calm her surprised heart.

“Mercenary Road. I think we'd better get inside the tower. ”

I glanced at Song Seung-gyu for only a moment, then nodded calmly.

“Sure. I'll be right in. Be prepared... Seung-gyu Song, please lead the way. ”

“Very well. I'll lead the way. ”

Song Seung-gyu answered with a quick reply and walked into the open entrance. Then me and the group look at him and carefully follow behind him.

Soon, as I stepped inside the tower, a sudden severe cold struck my whole body.

And when I walked there.

Song Seung-gyu was standing alone in the middle of an empty cavity, surrounded by bricks that emit cold ice light. I can't see my face because I'm still looking straight ahead.

Within that state, he quietly pointed up.

“We can probably make it to the eighth floor right away. ”

And then, like scratching iron....

“Let's go. Heeheeheehee...! ”

Unlike what I heard outside, it was a very creepy sound.

= = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =

Originally, this chapter was about to go into a creepy horror, and then just turned around to explore in general. Because the next time you get to play rat fires with your hair... I didn't think it would be a match. Haha. -_-a

I'm really sorry about yesterday's break. I don't know why. I don't know if it's Monday sickness, but my heart was choppy and I was emotional. I keep feeling lonely... T

Anyway, I will continue to work hard.

Thank you for 400 congratulations.:)