Wolves of Hader

"Wow, this is amazing!"

I experimented several times.

I didn't know what kind of strength had entered my body, but the strength moved freely according to my will.

It was my first time experiencing mana move exactly as I wished without any skills.

Mana is usually governed by activations and responses according to skills—that is, it's operated through a process of stacking and combining unique structures.

But the strength in my body moved with nothing but will alone. This means the strength changes and reacts solely to my intent.

In other words, it means I can create skills with just my will.

In the game Rac, almost all advanced skills were developed by adapting existing basic skills.

The basic skills were coincidentally created by some who researched mana manipulation in the early days.

Thus, all skills require a method of operation, but the strength I have doesn't need such things.

My own mind is the operating method. And from the very start, not even from level 1, it's at the ultimate skill level.

I placed my hand on the wall and focused.

I gradually released some of the strength I possessed. A cold current whooshed—shaaak—out from my hand.

The wall around my hand instantly froze. If I released the cold all at once, it would freeze solid in a moment.

If I expended all the cold, dozens of meters around me would enter a state of freezing.

What was even more astonishing.

The strength I had released returned to my body by itself. Then, it swirled near my lower abdomen and condensed into a small orb.

That orb, left as material, is the demon's essence. When the wielder of the strength dies, only the strength remains in that place.

Perhaps, this is not exclusively a demon's power—it's just that demons happened to possess it.

Therefore, killing someone with a demon's essence means you can claim that strength.

I'm not sure how it would differ for essences that have gone through a person, unlike me who consumed a demon commander's essence.

I'm probably the first person to consume the essence of a demon commander who appeared in ancient times.

Regardless of where demons come from, that essence is not of this world; but it seems to change if it passes through a person.

The essence Art Syren consumed is very likely an essence with its own attribute passed down from ancient times.

It means high-ranking nobles are aware of the existence of the essence.

"Haha."

A laugh escaped me in reality.

I felt like I could find where the essence is without searching.

As for the rest, isn't it obvious?

The prestigious families or elders of the Kadena empire.

Kings of various continents.

But why is it the power of freezing?

Was it because this place is too cold? Or because my body was frozen solid?

Or perhaps because I'd absorbed cold for several thousand years?

Regardless, the experiment was finished.

Controlling the strength wasn't difficult, and I figured out I could create my own unique skills.

Above all, I could conceal the strength.

Perfectly.

Feeling refreshed, I left the cave.

It turned out to be the right choice to push myself to find the demon's essence.

Even though it had been hidden for ages, it could have been gone within a few years.

Once I reached the cliff entrance, I tied a rope to a stalactite and climbed down.

Not only had all traces of illness vanished, but for a thirteen-year-old, I felt immensely strong—almost like a small-bodied adult.

After walking along the iceberg-strewn coast for some time, I finally saw the troll cave in the distance.

Everyone must think I'm dead. Even if I don't know where the other entrances are, they would probably...

"Young master~"

"Master Roger, where are you?"

It was a truly welcome cry.

I wasn't cold, but I was extremely hungry.

I climbed a fairly high hill.

In the distance, I saw a wisp of smoke rising, and my companions had scattered to search for me.

Among the lofty snowy mountains, there was a rocky upland. I suppose that's where I had been.

"Over here! I'm here!"

"Young master!"

"The young master is alive!"

"Master Roger is over there!"

Donnie, who ran toward me first, and I had a reunion. He immediately knelt, but I made him stand.

After all, it was my mistake.

"What happened? We were so worried you might have been eaten by the giant!"

"You saw me escape through a narrow passage—so why worry? I just had a deep nap in a warm underground place."

"If so, I'm glad."

"Did you search for me all night?"

"Of course! One of the residents who came with us said there was another entrance, so we went in, but no matter how much we called, you didn't answer. As you said, it was a bit warm inside, but we had no idea where you'd gone."

One by one, the group gathered.

While everyone rejoiced, only Russell looked at me with a solemn face. He seemed lost for words and let out a wry laugh.

"I'm glad, young master."

"Sorry. Because of me."

"I heard you didn't just watch from afar but actually descended into the giant's lair. That was truly reckless."

"I thought the giant was in a deep sleep."

Regret appeared in Russell's eyes.

A sense of guilt for not going in with me himself.

Of course, it was a decision he made because he trusted me.

"Let's head home now."

"Right, have you thought up countermeasures against the giant?"

Russell teased me.

He wasn't really expecting an answer.

So I asked a resident first.

"Does hot spring water flow in this area?"

"Hot spring water? It seems the snow and ice on the surface melts and flows underground, sir."

"Then if it doesn't snow, warm water won't flow either."

"That's right. It's strange since there aren't even volcanoes here."

"There aren't any volcanoes?"

"No, sir."

Russell's gaze sharpened.

I wondered why.

"There must be a firestone in that cave."

"Firestone?"

"Firestone is a magic power stone condensed with heat. Judging by the complexity of the cave, it must have been a volcanic area long ago."

I'd thought there was a volcano even now, but this was unexpected.

A magic power stone, in the game Rac, is called [Racrill]—a mana stone. It's a powerful refining material that imbues equipment with various effects.

I hadn't a clue there was a fire-attribute Racrill here. When our guild stayed in that cave, it was never warm, so we wouldn't have realized there was heat underground.

Did the guildmaster absorb it by any chance?

The essence of rage isn't a fire-type power, but indeed, the guildmaster's ultimate skill was [Flame Storm]. The only skill unique to the guildmaster.

If the guildmaster ate the demon's essence near the firestone—then the fire element may have been absorbed en masse. After all, I, too, saw the demon's essence absorb the chill around it.

The circumstances make this seem right.

Right now, that cave has heat, but in the game Rac, it didn't when we went there.

That was after the guildmaster had already been through.

That answered everything at once.

Why it became Essence of Frost, not Essence of Rage; why there's heat now but not back in the game Rac.

Anyway, what's important—

There's fire Racrill buried here, unbeknownst to us before. If I mine it, I can make fire-attribute equipment.

Finally, I answered Russell's earlier joke.

"My thought is, we just need to defeat the giant in that cave."

"And why do you think that?"

"It's the only warm place in this frozen area. The strongest giant must have taken the best habitat. The one that broke through the barrier thirty years ago was probably that one."

"Then we should prepare and come again."

"If we take it down first, so much the better."

Defeat the strongest giant, reinforce the barrier.

And mine the firestone.

Fighting the giants that break into the fortress isn't a real solution.

We started the journey home.

Everyone looked relieved, knowing we would finally return home after four days.

It's about time to confess my plan.

"Donnie. Have you ever wanted to learn swordsmanship?"

"Swordsmanship? Me?"

"Yeah. You're strong."

Donnie glanced at knight Russell and the soldiers.

Russell pretended not to hear.

Of course, it's an impossible thing here.

"Young master, that's dangerous talk! How could someone as lowly as me possibly learn swordsmanship? The soldiers would be furious if they heard."

"Russell, do you agree?"

Standing behind me, Russell kept silent.

Maybe I'd gone too far.

Social class differences here are just too great.

"None of the soldiers really know swordsmanship. Those who could teach are the family head, young master Ross, and me."

"On second thought, that would be difficult."

Sure enough, it doesn't make sense for knight Russell to teach Donnie swordsmanship.

The soldiers have just learned fighting techniques, not swordsmanship. Swinging a sword doesn't make it swordsmanship.

"Then how about this—Russell becomes a knight order commander, and the soldiers become knights. Then Donnie, too, can wield a sword, right?"

The whole party stopped in their tracks.

They all looked at me blankly.

Why? Is that not allowed?

I can see the berserker in Donnie after all?

-------------= Clacky's Corner -------------=

Overall, I liked the first 10 chapters of the novel...

Some readers might need suspension of disbelief, but come on, this is a fantasy novel...

Nothing is logical...

Also, MC now has a demon's essence, time to get stronger...

Will he get Art's essence as well?

Also, also, if you don't have knights, just make some...

【ദ്ദി(⩌ᴗ⩌)】