Chapter 34 – 34. The First Great Crisis of the Other World Summoner (1)

– One –

One winter day when the cold was raging.

It was a strange day.

Calvados, a skilled shield warrior and a seasoned intermediate mercenary, asked for the wrong information.

A trusty archer and an excellent guide, Martell led the wrong way.

“Sir.”

According to the information that Calvados had obtained, they arrived in an area where many monsters appeared.

It was just an empty plain as quiet as a safe area where monster subjugation had been permanently completed.

I couldn’t hit the ball like this all day.

Unable to go back like this, they decided to continue through a vote.

“It sucks, seriously.”

As usual, Martel volunteered to be the guide this time.

And they are completely lost.

“Haa, why today…”

It was a mistake that could be laughed over.

Even if they spent a day in vain, they wouldn’t starve to death right away.

But that day was the first time Monohorn had been seriously ill since meeting Urmama.

Haha. I’m sorry, hero. It’s just because of me…”

“No, Maman didn’t do anything wrong. It’s just that he became a little sensitive because bad things happened. It’s okay, so hurry up and look forward to it.”

And in the plains of the northern periphery, which had been blowing only light snow all winter, heavy snow fell for the first time and a blizzard began.

“I’m sorry. It’s my fault for going the wrong way. Just be patient until I find a place to stay.”

Martel apologizes for her mistake.

Calvados, who was just staring at it, apologized as well.

“I’ll apologize too. I’m sorry I made you suffer by asking for wrong information and insisted on continuing even though Mamang was in a bad state.”

Mono Horn shakes her head.

“It’s nobody’s fault. We made mistakes, and we’re responsible for making these choices.”

At least, Monohorn had the awareness that they all had a common responsibility.

Besides, no matter how much he cared for Urmama, he couldn’t show off his bad feelings toward those who could turn to enemies at any time if they were offended.

So Monohorn also accepted their apology.

It was the result of accepting the advice of the Cuelvos.

Still, Monohorn was not happy about his own mental maturity.

‘Haa, human monohorn 18 years old, I took off Ada and went to the fucking room. Delisting is coming soon, damn it.’

It is because he is well aware of the fact that he has become precocious because he has been exposed to such a harsh environment for so long.

‘Fuck you. And aren’t they in vain because they were struggling with the doubtful doubts? This is a neck problem.’

Yes.

Monohorn apparently kept their distance from them.

With the blessing of the Goddess, participants do not suffer from naturally occurring diseases.

But Urmama started to get sick.

She suffered from her high fever and couldn’t control her body.

Breaking out in a cold sweat, heat began to appear on her exposed skin, such as her face and neck.

Perhaps the inside of the clothes had reddish autumn leaves.

Since it could not be a naturally occurring disease, Monohorn determined that this was an obvious sign of poisoning.

‘You must be suspicious. We must be vigilant not to approach.’

Cringe

Mono Horn gritted her teeth and supported her urmama, hastening her arduous steps through the slippery fields where the snow had begun to accumulate.

Stumble.

“Oh, no!”

“… Ah…! I’m sorry. I’m sorry…”

Urmama’s consciousness flickers anxiously.

They were experiencing in real time what total impasse was like.

“Martell, let’s find the cave first. Finding your way through this heavy snow isn’t an easy task even for you.”

Martel nods her head with a somber expression.

“I agree. Mamang’s condition continues to deteriorate, so rest is urgent.”

The two intermediate mercenaries looked back at Monohorn and Urmama from time to time, and hurriedly set out to find the cave.

Urmama, limp and limp, dragged her steps, leaving a long trail behind them.

Soon, the snow piles up and even the traces disappear.

– 2 –

“This must be the right place. Jin, grow trees around the entrance to camouflage it. It’s better if you grow enough to use as firewood.”

They settle in shallow caves whose end is visible from the entrance.

In such inclement weather, the mere fact that they had found a cave where they could escape the snowy wind made them feel good.

At Calvados’s request, Monohorn memorizes the spell without any response.

He focuses his energy on the bony shrub near the entrance.

Woo Woo Woo.

It’s sloppy, but at least a shelter that can’t be hit by the cold snow wind has been completed.

It would be difficult for wild beasts and monsters to discover where they are from the outside.

Monohorn gasped.

“Ugh. Ugh…”

Although he intended to show signs of exhaustion, in reality he was completely exhausted.

It was to the point of exhaustion just by helping and dragging Urmama, who couldn’t control her body properly.

He doesn’t even remember the last time he ate sweet food, but the sweet taste in his mouth vaguely reminds him of the sweet snacks he used to buy at Hell Joseon.

If I didn’t do that, I felt like I would die right now.

“Haha.”

Dump.

“Damn it…!”

Urmama passed out in relief.

Not wanting to be a burden to Monohorn, he gritted his teeth and endured, but collapsed near the entrance as soon as he entered the cave.

Only the sound of her breathing heavily filled the cave.

“Let’s light a fire first.”

Calvados takes out a hatchet for logging from his backpack.

Startle.

The monohorn trembles minutely.

She makes eye contact with him.

Calvados grinned.

“Jin, are you cold too?

Calvados turned to the entrance and headed for a relatively thick shrubbery.

He strikes the hatchet violently.

Tuk-tak, tuk-tak, tuk-tak, tuk-tak!

An ax mark is carved at an appropriate depth on a relatively thick shrub stem.

Calvados kicks his bundle of stems.

Blah blah

Soon, a beautiful pyre was completed.

“I never thought I could get firewood in such a cold weather. As expected, it’s amazing.”

Martell admires as he alternately looks at the firewood Calvados has cut down and the Monohorn.

Calvados shrugs his shoulders.

“I’m blessed, well. I lived thanks to you, Jin.”

Clinging on.
Tiddik, tadadak.

Calvados skillfully starts a campfire using a portable igniter.

“Whoa! Whoa!”

Breathe in and light the fire.

Fire.

“It’s done. Let’s take a break.”

Calvados sat down near the entrance with his back to the fire.

This is to respond immediately if someone approaches.

Martell also sat cautiously behind Calvados, with his back to the fire.

This was to ensure that approaching enemies would not be lost in sight if they could not instantly darken adapt while looking at the fire.

Monohorn was looking at their backs from the furthest point from the entrance.

“Yo, hero. Hero…! It hurts, it hurts…”

With one hand, hold Urmama’s hand tightly.

With your other hand, melt the snow using your own body heat and soak a towel in it.

Squeeze out enough water and place it on her forehead.

“Damn. It’s okay, damang.”

With her mouth, she constantly whispers to Ur Mama that it’s okay.

Whether she hears her or not, she cheers her on.

However, the two eyes constantly look at the back of the other party.

‘Let’s leave out inferring a motive for both. It doesn’t matter now. You have to focus only on the events and phenomena that have already occurred.’

Martell murmurs to himself.

“It’s not snow that will stop in a day or two.”

At her words, only Calvados nodded her head.

‘Martell bought today’s food.’

Monohorn glared at her from behind.

Muttered Calvados.

“I’m not worried about firewood, but I’m worried about food. Where do you get food in this weather?

No one answers him

He didn’t mean to ask for an answer, so he only shrugs.

However, it was difficult to stop the sigh that escaped from the gap between her lips.

‘Calvados subdivided and distributed food.’

Monohorn glared at his back.

‘Both are suspicious. It doesn’t matter when or how he was poisoned. It is important that both had moments where they could poison Urmama’s food. There is no need to pinpoint a single suspect just yet. I doubt both until it’s clear.’

Calvados looks back.

Before he can turn around, Monohorn hides his sharp eyes.

She lowers her head to look at Ur Mama.

“Ah, let’s eat. No matter how little food there is, we have to eat.”

Calvados takes out a canteen from his backpack.

‘In the worst case, we should leave open the possibility that both of them are traitors who approached intentionally from the beginning.’

I sweep my eyes into the canteen, and tear up pieces of beef jerky.

Add dried grain flour and dried vegetables.

Walk over a bonfire

‘I have to be careful with food from now on. Both are questionable. However, since only Urmama was poisoned, it is more likely that Calvados was poisoned when subdividing.’

Monohorn’s stream of consciousness gradually accelerated.

Bubbling.

Soon the soup boils.

As the grains swell with moisture, the liquid becomes viscous.

It gets sticky.

The monohorn feels like being caught in a sticky web and loses its appetite.

Taktak.

Calvados season.

Hurulup!

“Um, that’s it.”

Divide into two small bowls.

Bruises.

He rises and approaches Mono Hon with a bowl in each hand.

“Haha.”

I hear Urmama’s panting breath.

Even if he tried hard to hide it, Monohorn’s breathing also became slightly faster.

“Hey, Jean. Eat some.”

Widely!
With Tang.

Monohorn smashes the bowl he held out with the back of his hand.

“I’ll eat it myself, so get out of here!”

Calvados looked down at him with absurd eyes.

“Uh, that, uh…”

Calvados could not hide his bewilderment at his overly sensitive reaction.

“…I’m sorry. But be sure to take care of it later.”

After politely apologizing to Monohorn, pick up the bowl that fell on the ground and quietly retreat.

I was overly frightened.

To remove doubt, you must control your mind.

Bite your lips and take a deep breath.

“…”

Calmed down

“…I’m sorry too. Maman suddenly got sick and must have become a bit sensitive…”

Calvados nodded and smiled at him, and readily accepted his apology.

Martell catches a glimpse of what they are doing.

The light from the campfire is reflected in her eyes and shines.

She doesn’t say much.

Back toward her entrance, she turned her head.

“Come on. You eat too.”

“Thanks.”

Slurp.
Hurulup.

In the awkward silence, only the sound of Calvados and Martell eating soup echoes.

– 3 –

As she puts it on Hood’s head and shoulders, Martel enters the cave, wiping off her eyes.

“Gather everyone.”

Martel, who has gone on three reconnaissance trips alone, summons the two except for Urmama, who faints.

Mono Horn shifts her towel from her ur mama to her forehead, and then turns to her.

“How is it outside?”

“The blizzard got worse. I couldn’t see the road at all. I checked it against the map, but it’s hard to see because of the snow.”

Calvados’ complexion darkened at her answer.

Martell hands Calvados a leather water bag filled with watered wine.

Gulp.

He takes a sip.

“Foot. Consolation?”

“The leader’s frustration is neither necessary nor beneficial. Stay centered until the point of return.”

“Ha ha!

Calvados’ complexion softened somewhat, as if Martel’s clumsy consolation had worked.

“You take a sip too. You starved all day today. Who will take care of Mamang if she collapses?”

Startle.

Monohorn hesitated for a while, looking at the water bag Calvados held out.

Think carefully.

‘Even though I drank a few sips the whole time, there was nothing wrong with that.’

When you come to a conclusion in your heart, accept it carefully.

Gulp.

Take a sip, close the lid, and return it to Martel.

“Let’s spend the day here. It’s dark anyway, so it’s hard to find your way now, right?”

Martell nods at Calvados’ words.

“How is the state of Mamang?”

Martell carefully asks Monohorn.

“It’s a little better than before. The fever seems to go down now. I’m still not conscious, but…”

Thanks to that, Monohorn was able to regain some stability.

But he still doesn’t trust them.

“I see. Still, we can’t stay here indefinitely until Mamang’s condition improves. Can we march tomorrow?”

Monohorn turns around and looks at Urmama for a moment.

He is his own spouse, to whom he is somehow to blame.

“Yes. I can’t starve to death here. I’ll try.”

Calvados looks at him with worried eyes.

“If you’re having a hard time,”

“No, it’s okay. She’s my wife. I’ll take responsibility unconditionally.”

“Okay.”

Calvados quickly gave up at Monohorn’s determined words.

“But if you’re having a hard time during the march, be sure to tell me. We’ll take a break unconditionally. If we overdo it and both of us collapse, we’ll all die, okay?”

“Yes.”

Mono Horn cast a wild light into her eyes.

Calvados thought it was like looking at a wounded beast.

“Then, let’s rest. I and Martel take turns standing during the night watch. Jin, you take care of yourselves. Are you okay, Martel?”

“No problem. Would you like to stand watch first?”

“Then thank you for me. Sleep first. I’ll wake you up in moderation.”

Everyone is scattered to where they belong.

The entrance, the sleeping bag by the campfire, and next to Urmama.

Tack, Tack.

The sap from the firewood burning in the campfire sometimes boiled, and only the sound of the fibers bursting resounded in the lonely cave.

– 4 –

Martell feels the warmth of the bonfire on his back and wakes up at dawn before dawn.

Look at the entrance or, if the fire is about to go out, push the stacked firewood into the fire.

Read the sign

No one comes

Growl, growl.

Calvados snored at him and let out an even breath.

She turns her gaze inside her cave.

I see Urmama, who may have fallen asleep from exhaustion, even the sound of her pain has disappeared.

Beside her, she nursed her all night, and saw her Mono Horn sitting in her sleep.

With her head down, she doesn’t even move.

“Martell.”

Startle.

As her monohorn sits, it calls to her without even raising her head.

“What’s going on?”

Monohorn’s head slowly lifted.

The mono horn lifts her head unnaturally, as an engine unit creaks in need of oiling.

“Isn’t Martel sick?”

Martel lets out a chuckle.

“I’m fine. I’m fine. Are you worried?”

“Yes. The ship moved more than we did because we had been reconnaissance several times by ourselves.”

“You’re fine. How about you? Your voice sounds tired.”

As Martel said, Monohorn was overcome by a deep feeling of fatigue.

Her eyes were red and bloodshot, and her lips were parched.

“… I can still hold on.”

After that, Mono Horn bowed her head again.

The sound of him snoring softly echoes.

Martel also turns his head towards the entrance.

Her eyes, looking at her entrance, become still.