Endless Winter's
Chapter 9: The Frozen Peak King

"Hows it? I'll give you time to think!Choose wisely!"

After saying that, Akemi left the adventurer guild.

"I still won't join him! Although, what he said was true." Said Riyo who crossed her hands and threw away her face.

"For now, we haven't been able to prove his words just now! So, we're trying to start taking on our first mission!"

Chika goes to a large board containing various mission requests.

"Hey, what about this mission? Just browse through the ruins of the old tower, but the pay is quite tempting!" Advice from Hinata.

"What did you say? High pay! Wait, let's go now!" Said the excited Riyo.

"Wait on! I think this mission is pretty weird. This unreasonable payment, could it be dangerous enough for us to take?" Said the worried Chika.

"aaah... You're always scared! There's nothing to worry about! We just browse through it and come back to pick up the pay. That's as simple as that, right?" Riyo tries to persuade Chika.

"What Riyo said! No need to get into a fight. If it is in a desperate condition, I will use teleportation magic so that we can escape." Said Hinata casually.

"Ah...Hmmmm.... All right, if you force it!"

"Well, great! We have to prepare ourselves for tomorrow's departure!" Said Hinata who gave a list of what would be brought.

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Meanwhile, at the Mirage Tower...

Aris and Gravestone were paying attention to something rather awkward.

"Hmmm... Has Mary changed? Now he has four unusual arms." Thought Aris who noticed the large tall figure that resembled Maria.

"I think she's quite different from being said to be Mary." Gravestone.

The figure stood up from his throne, then looked at the two.

"Ah shit..he felt our presence! What do we do?" Aris started to panic.

"Don't panic! Don't make any sudden movements!"

The figure began to lift his gigantic Staff like it wanted to exterminate the two unfortunate people.

Ice Eve that caused excessive fear made them continue to tremble.

"Well, you're back, Frostnox! Why didn't you tell me from the beginning? Oh, you want to surprise me! Geez, you could have!"

They were saved thanks to the arrival of Mary who greeted the tall figure. Then, the figure lowered his giant Staff and sat back to his throne Maria.

"Hey, that's my throne! Whahuh? You want to sit there? You can, you can sit as long as you want!" Mary seemed to be talking to herself.

Maria looked over and only realized the presence of two of her subordinates.

"Well, Gravestone? The aris? Since when are you guys back?" Ask Mary who is surprised.

"Si-Si-Who is that big tall figure?!" Shouted Aris in fear.

"Oh...he? He's the floor guard who guards this tower." Obviously Maria.

Suddenly, there was the sound of a bang that was so loud that the three of them were startled together.

"Eh... Ah yes I understand! So he was my long-lost old friend, Frostnox or Frozen Peak King. He was the ruler of the Frozen Peak area not far from the Sigor forest. Then, the Sigor forest is the area that I currently control." Explanation from Maria.

"..."

"So, what brings you here, oh lord of the frozen peaks? Whahuh? Oh... So it is. Turns out our guinea pig has already started to make a move."

Aris and Gravestone were astonished at how he knew what Frostnox meant.

"How can you understand it? He didn't say a word."

"That's because he's just a doll I made. Ah. yep... Just a doll... Just a pile of carved wood. Intentions work on you, instead of recollecting the bleak past." Maria's tone of voice was softened.

Then, Frostnox turned into a puppet that fell down like a cut thread.

The anger after knowing that it had been bullied, turned into grief towards their Boss.

"It's okay, Boss. We're sorry for your past!"

"If you may know, what's been going on all this time?" Ask Gravestone.

Then, Mary left the throne room. While the two were confused and astonished by what they saw.

"Our boss is full of puzzles huh!" Said Aris who did not understand at all.

"Yes, I wonder what's behind that hollow mask he's wearing." Gravestone said, wondering.

Gravestone suddenly thought of something...

"Do you want to see another room in this tower?" Gravestone.

"May, when I come in here I'm always taken to this room only." Aris happily accepted it.

"Come! We'll explore this bleak place!"

Gravestone instantly held Aris' hand, then she took out a bluish shining crystal stone. Indirectly, they disappeared like moving to another place.

Before long, they reappeared in the dark room like a long hallway.

"Where are we? Why is it so dark here? And what happened just now?" Aris is confused.

Gravestone did not answer any questions from Aris. Then, he just flicked his fingers suddenly the neatly lined torches began to light up one by one, thus illuminating the entire room.

"Wow... What is this place? So cool!" Said Aris in admiration.

"The place where all the artifacts Maria had were kept in this secret room."

The hallway was decorated with various kinds of beautiful and exotic decorations. The edge has 5 storage capsules. On the left there are two, then on the right there are three.

"Inside here, is a replica of the special thread doll that Maria made. Beautiful isn't?" Explained by Gravestone.

"Did they all look like Maria's friends? Because one of these five replicas looks exactly like the one sitting on the throne earlier."

"Well, I probably didn't know they were all long-time friends of Mary."

"Hmmm. So, what about that giant gate in front of us?" Ask the curious Aris.

"Oh that? That gate is the barrier of the storage artifact room I am referring to. Let's just go in!"

"Who? Could anyway? All right, then."

Inside, they saw countless various kinds of rare artifacts. Their gaze was fixed on an artifact in the form of burning feathers of purplish color.

"Look at this thing! What a beautiful feather!"

"It was an artifact of the shape of a fur pen made from the feathers of an ancient Phoenix. However, Maria didn't tell me what the function of this artifact was." Gravestone.

The next artifact is the 'Smiles Cry Controller'.

"This artifact is a mask made directly by Maria herself, where users can control brainwashing and control victims who have been wearing 'Smiles Cry Victim'. However, the mask used for the victim had been lost for a long time!" Reveal by Gravestone.

The next thing they saw was 'Iron Slime'.

"As the name implies, this also includes living things that are very fond of sticking to strong iron."

Suddenly, the Slime jumped up and clung onto Aris.

"Ahhhh... What is this? Get me off this thing! How disgusting!" Said Aris thrashing.

Meanwhile, Gravestone tried to release it instead ended in vain.

"Hey..wait for the slime to enter your body! Look that!"

"Eh... Eeeeeeeeh!!!! Is he dangerous? Are there side effects? What's gonna happen to me? Tell me, Warrance!" Aris who panicked while tugging at Gravestone's collar.

"Ahahaha, I don't know for sure either. But I'll have your funeral ready just in case." Gravestone said with a bitter smile.

"Aaaah... Don't joke around, Gravestone! Don't worry me!" Aris is panicking.

"Hopefully calm down there, Aris!" The last greetings from Gravestone while leaving Aris alone.

"Eh...? Aaaahhh! Damn you, Gravestone!" Shouted the scared Aris half to death.

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Seriate...