Ch. 371 - Absence (6)

Northernmost Region.  

At the farthest reaches of the north, where snowstorms raged year-round, lay the entrance to the Arctic Iceberg Mountain—a polar region blanketed by eternal winter.  

Baek Yu-Seol and Florin were making their way to the Ice Spirit Plateau Fortress, hidden deep within the Arctic Iceberg Mountain, to meet Grand Duke Selphram. But before their journey could continue, they ran into an unexpected obstacle.

“What do you mean there’s no train heading to the fortress?”  

“Not a single one?”  

“None, not a chance. Look at the weather—how can a train possibly run in this storm?”  

The station attendant’s response was as bitter as the storm raging beyond the platform.

The blizzard was so fierce that all trains heading to the fortress had been delayed.  

Strangely enough, the locals seemed unfazed, accepting the delay as if it were an ordinary occurrence. Unlike Baek Yu-Seol, most travelers turned back without complaint, as though this was all part of the routine.

“... This is problematic.”  

Florin, whose nose and lips were covered by a mask, gazed out worriedly.  

“I didn’t think the weather would actually halt the trains.”

“Neither did I.”  

Baek Yu-Seol looked out past the platform.  

The raging snowstorm was brutal, but given the region’s reputation for such weather, he had assumed there would be some way to keep the trains running.  

However, it seemed even this region couldn’t handle such extreme conditions.  

To make matters worse, there was no Warp Hole nearby.

The Arctic Iceberg Mountain’s wild mana fluctuations made teleportation magic unstable, rendering spatial travel impossible.

Because of this, the area was often referred to as a graveyard for spatial mages.  

‘It’s probably because of... Blue Winter Moon.’  

Somewhere in this area, there existed a third-dimensional space created by Blue Winter Moon.  

Even if the location remained hidden, the oppressive magical energy leaking from it couldn’t be entirely masked.

“What should we do now...?”  

“Hmm... Let’s set that aside for now.”  

Baek Yu-Seol glanced around cautiously.  

It had taken them an entire week just to reach the entrance of the Arctic Iceberg Mountain.  

Because it was such a remote and isolated region, news from the Central Continent rarely made its way here. As a result, hardly anyone recognized Baek Yu-Seol’s face.  

The problem, however, was Florin.  

Even with her mask covering half her face, her striking beauty was impossible to hide. She drew attention like a flame in the dark, her very presence causing passersby to steal glances despite her attempts to remain inconspicuous.

"Before anything else, let’s stop by a general store for a moment.”  

“Huh?”  

“You’re going to need something to hide your face better.”

“Ah...”  

Baek Yu-Seol led Florin to a general store, where he bought a thick, hooded sheepskin coat that could easily conceal her face.  

Neither of them truly needed the extra warmth. Their bodies had long adapted to harsh climates, but in a place like this, where few ever reached Class 7 and beyond, standing out was a risk they couldn’t afford.

“You seem more concerned about attracting attention than usual.”  

“This area is full of hunters.”  

“Hunters?”  

“Yeah. We’ll talk about it later. For now, let’s keep moving.”

Though she didn’t fully understand what Baek Yu-Seol meant by ‘hunters,’ Florin silently followed him.  

They arrived at Trkalanta, an old mining town located at the entrance of the Arctic Iceberg Mountain.  

The settlement bore the scars of its past, its streets lined with crumbling structures and rusting mining equipment. Though it was still called a mining town, the veins of ore had long run dry, leaving behind only echoes of its former purpose.

“We have two options.”  

“Let’s hear them.”

“The first option is to head straight through the blizzard.”

“...That sounds awful.”

“The second is to use the abandoned mine as a passage.”  

On the surface, the second option appeared like the obvious choice—so much so that it made one wonder why the first option was even mentioned.  

But Baek Yu-Seol had a reason for listing both.  

“The abandoned mine is crawling with monsters.”  

“Ah...”  

In reality, traversing the blizzard also carried a high chance of encountering monsters.  

However, the mine was far more dangerous, swarming with creatures to the point that even Baek Yu-Seol hesitated to take that route.  

Additionally, this region was far remote from the World Tree, meaning Florin couldn’t fully unleash her powers here.

Baek Yu-Seol wasn’t confident that he could safely escort her through the mine in her weakened state.

“Well, I’m sure we’ll figure something out.”  

With that, Baek Yu-Seol headed toward the city’s central area.  

Despite the cold weather, the streets were bustling with activity.  

Oddly, a large number of people were wearing white coats, catching Baek Yu-Seol’s attention.

“They’re students from Azure Frost Magic Academy.”  

“Ah...”  

The group marched in orderly rows and moved toward a destination with disciplined precision, likely as part of their training.  

“So there’s a magic academy here too.”  

“The desire to learn magic exists everywhere.”  

However, Azure Frost Magic Academy was slightly different from other magic schools.  

Unlike other academies, which were filled with teenagers, this one had students ranging from their 20s to 40s.  

It served as a training ground for mercenaries and monster hunters who had gained field experience and later decided to learn magic to become warrior-mages.  

Because of this, Azure Frost Magic Academy was known for offering more practical, combat-focused training than even Stella Academy.  

This emphasis on practicality made sense. Stepping even a single foot outside the village meant risking monster attacks at any moment.  

Baek Yu-Seol studied the students from Azure Frost Magic Academy for a moment before speaking.  

“Hmm. Now that I think about it, this might work. What if we ask for their help?”  

“Do you think they’ll help us? We’re outsiders, after all.”  

She had a point. They’d agreed to keep their identities hidden, which complicated things.

“We won’t know until we ask.”  

Despite his words, Baek Yu-Seol was fairly confident - at least 50% sure - that they could cooperate.  

The Frozen Crystal Mine, located near Trkalanta, had long been a thorn in the city’s side.  

Frozen monsters frequently emerged from the abandoned mine, threatening the city, making regular exterminations a necessity.  

However, due to the mine’s maze-like structure and the monsters’ cunning use of terrain to ambush mages, the task of clearing it had proven extremely difficult.  

Because of this, Azure Frost Magic Academy had been preparing a large-scale project to clear the mine.  

As part of this effort, the academy frequently assigned mine-clearing missions to its students.  

Even so, participation wasn’t mandatory.

Given how dangerous the mission was, the academy often enticed young, impoverished students with attractive incentives to encourage volunteers.

The rewards were quite decent, so back when Aether World Online was popular, some players joined forces to complete quests in that area. However, the complex layout and the time-consuming nature of the missions made it less appealing to most players.  

“Let’s give it a try.”  

The Azure Frost Magic Academy looked less like a school and more like a military facility.  

It was surrounded by enchanted barbed wire, designed to prevent outside intrusions, giving it an appearance that resembled a prison.  

“Halt! Who goes there?”  

As they approached the academy, a mage standing guard raised his staff and pointed it at them.  

Strict identification procedures were required for entry, and if Florin revealed her face, they could likely gain access with ease.  

However, Baek Yu-Seol had no intention of revealing her identity. Instead, he reached into his belt and pulled out his Stella Academy pocket watch.  

“I’m Baek Yu-Seol, a second-year student from Class S at Stella Academy.”  

“A student from Stella...?”  

The guard was clearly startled upon seeing the emblem of Stella, the world’s most prestigious magic institution. He hurried inside and soon returned with a senior officer.  

“Nice to meet you. I’m Karlas, a Class 3 Magic Warrior.”  

“Baek Yu-Seol.”  

The guard tilted his head slightly, as if he vaguely recognized the name but couldn’t place it.  

‘I guess it was too much to expect my name to be known all the way out here.’  

But it didn’t matter.  

For situations like this, Baek Yu-Seol had already prepared a document issued by Arein, the Knight Commander of Stella.  

“What brings you here?”  

“As a second-year student, I was deployed nearby for practical training. However, I got separated from my team and ended up wandering into this town.”  

“Ah... Training, you say?” 

The Stella pocket watch glowed with a golden six-pointed star the moment mana was channeled into it, serving as undeniable proof of its authenticity. However, given how remote this location was, the guards remained wary and reluctant to let their suspicions go.  

“We’re here for research and observation of the White Werewolves.”  

“That’s... Not an easy task for teenagers.”  

“We’re not here to hunt them. The goal of our lesson is simply to study their behavior patterns and habits.”  

“I see. Is there any way we can assist you?”  

“Our training site was located in the northern forest. We were hoping to receive some support.”  

“Hmm... That’s...”  

The senior guard exchanged glances with his subordinate before giving a slight nod.  

“It’s not for us to decide. For now, please come inside.”  

Even inside the academy, the atmosphere remained harsh and militaristic.  

Given that this was a school for magic warriors rather than traditional mages, it made sense that Stella Academy might seem out of place in comparison. Perhaps this academy’s style was closer to what a combat-focused school should be.  

Baek Yu-Seol was soon escorted to the principal’s office, where he formally introduced himself.  

“This is Cadet Baek Yu-Seol from Stella Academy. He was separated from his team during training and wanted to ask if we could assist him in getting back.”  

The principal had a stern, rigid appearance, with several small scars smudged across his face.  

“Training, you say...”  

He appeared to think it over for a moment before shaking his head.  

“Under normal circumstances, we might have been able to assist. However, our situation hasn’t been favorable lately, so I’m afraid it’s difficult to offer help.”  

“... I see.”  

Hearing the principal’s refusal, Baek Yu-Seol nodded, though he couldn’t help but feel a twinge of doubt.  

‘Is something going on?’  

The monsters leaking out of the Frozen Crystal Mine should have been under control—or at least managed to some extent. But perhaps things weren’t going as smoothly as expected?  

“Still, since you’ve come all this way, offer them at least some hospitality. Meeting someone from Stella Academy is no common occurrence, after all.”

“Understood.”  

Baek Yu-Seol was about to politely decline the offer of hospitality, as he didn’t feel it was necessary. However, before he could speak, the office door burst open.  

“P-Principal!”  

“I’m in the middle of meeting guests. That’s rude.”  

“B-but... It’s an emergency!”  

“What is it?”  

The mage, still gasping for breath, clutched his chest as he forced out the words.

“A strange creature has invaded the northern part of the city… it’s massacring the magic warriors!”

“What?!”  

The principal shot to his feet, the severity of the situation sinking in instantly. Without another word, he stormed out of the office, his footsteps echoing down the hall.

Baek Yu-Seol didn’t hesitate. Grabbing his coat, he turned to Florin.

“Let’s go too. We might be able to help.”  

Even though the academy hadn’t been able to assist him earlier, that didn’t matter now. Saving lives didn’t require compensation or conditions.  

Baek Yu-Seol sprinted toward the northern part of the city at full speed and reached the site faster than anyone else.  

“Aaaahh!!”  

“Damn it! Magic has no effect at all!”  

“Fall back! We need to regroup!”

“If we retreat, what happens to the civilians?!”  

The scene was pure carnage. Blood stained the snow, streaked across walls and frozen streets, transforming the pristine cityscape into a nightmarish battlefield.

And at the center of it all—  

— Horrrrooooo....  

It stood there.  

“What the... Is that thing...?”  

Even Baek Yu-Seol, who had faced countless threats, was momentarily taken aback by the creature before him.  

Its form resembled rippling mirages or shifting shadows, something neither solid nor entirely ethereal.

The creature had a thin torso and elongated limbs, its form shrouded in a shadowy, dark aura. Its arms and legs were disproportionate, giving it an awkward, unsettling appearance, as though it were a crude imitation of a human.  

Its body stretched like a mirage, elongating and reappearing elsewhere in an instant. It swiftly sliced down a fleeing mage without hesitation.  

“Aaaagh!”  

Then, as if searching for its next target, it slowly turned its head.  

Flash!  

At that moment, Baek Yu-Seol locked eyes with the creature. Despite its shadowy black form, its eyes gleamed an eerie, glowing white.  

‘There was never a monster like this in the game...’  

In fact, was such a creature even supposed to exist?  

It defied the very laws of the Aether World.  

If it were a shadow, it should behave like a shadow. If it were a ghost, it should act like a ghost. If it were a living being, it should have a solid form.  

Yet this mirage-like creature fit none of those categories.  

It appeared as light, yet it was black.  

It was black, yet it emitted light.  

It resembled life, yet it had no physical form.  

— Horrrrooooo....  

The creature let out a strange, resonating sound and tilted its head.  

Then, it took a single step toward Baek Yu-Seol.  

And that’s when something incredible happened.  

Its body stretched unnaturally, like a glitchy video effect, and in an instant, it had closed the distance between them.  

Before Baek Yu-Seol could react, its sharp right arm slashed down.  

Sssshhk—!  

Barely dodging the attack, Baek Yu-Seol drew his sword and swung it at the creature’s torso.  

However—  

There was no impact.  

It felt like slicing through mist.  

And in less than 0.1 seconds, the creature’s distorted form glitched again, like corrupted computer graphics, and retreated several meters in an instant, widening the gap between them.  

‘What the...?’  

Even though his sword had been imbued with nature’s energy, which should have been capable of cutting through any shadow-like entity, it had no effect.  

He couldn’t even begin to understand what had just happened.  

“Sentient Spec, can you analyze this?”

Relying solely on his senses yielded too little information, so Baek Yu-Seol activated Sentient Spec to analyze the creature.  

A message immediately popped up.

[Error Occurred!]  

[Error Code: ???]  

[Detailed analysis reveals that the entity operates on an unidentifiable dimensional code.]  

“What...?”  

It was an error code he had never encountered before.  

In fact, this was the first time he had ever seen Sentient Spec produce an error at all.  

‘I have no idea what this thing is, but...’  

Wielding his sword in a reverse grip, Baek Yu-Seol stabbed it into the ground and began channeling nature’s mana with all his strength.  

‘At the very least, I know this thing isn’t a normal three-dimensional entity.’  

His Teripon Sword was unable to handle the surge of mana and fell limply to the ground.  

Then, in Baek Yu-Seol’s hand, a silver-blue blade appeared.  

Clang!  

Shing!  

Stowing away the Teripon Sword, Baek Yu-Seol drew Ethereal Wind and Moonlight.  

His eyes flashed with a piercing blue light.  

[Harmony of Heavenly Qi!] 

With a single sword, there is nothing in this world that cannot be cut.  

It’s just that...  

No one has yet discovered how.

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