'So this is the last one, huh?'
A buzzing sound spread through his mind as his eyes caught the edges of the village—the last town. After this, he would be at the mountain's border.
[Village Discovered]
[Evaluation completed: 12%]
While running down the steep slope of the snowy dunes, a clear sign that the mountain was nearing its end, he noticed his steps becoming faster. Surprisingly, his running speed was higher than he expected. The mountain's nature was affecting his movements somehow.
Of course, after seeing the village, he decided to slow down and cover the remaining distance on foot. At this point, he figured they had probably already been warned of an intruder.
As he got closer, the features of the village became clearer. It looked different from the others. Surrounding it were fields of crops, varying in shape and color.
"Of course, they can't farm in the harsh mountain terrain, so they plant on its edges."
He even found an answer to a question he had wondered about before—why the other villages seemed to be made up of only women, children, and the elderly. The stronger folks must have been sent here to farm and raise livestock.
"I don't know about them, but isn't it a bad strategy to place your food source on the border of your territory?"
The thought popped into his mind automatically, as he was used to analyzing situations. But he quickly pulled back, reminding himself it wasn't his concern. The only thing that mattered now was opening the Eye and getting out, and that's what he set out to do.
Vio entered the village, and as usual, people started bowing their heads in greeting. He had gotten used to these reactions.
Stopping next to a pole, he quickly climbed it.
[Eye Opened]
[Evaluation completed: 112%]
There was nothing left to do or wait for, so he summoned the Chest and ordered it to open.
[Evaluation completed: 12%]
[Training Session obtained]
Muttering lazily, closed his eyes. When he opened them again, he saw the same endless whiteness, along with a featureless figure standing nearby.
'What now?'
Around them, several more faceless figures appeared. The main figure moved at the same time Vio did, bringing their hands to their hips, as if drawing swords. Suddenly, a black, formless sword appeared in his hand.
'A skill related to swords, lucky me.'
Both he and the figure swung their swords, slicing everything around them into neat pieces.
Vio felt confused—he was sure it had only been a single swing. How had everything been cut into so many pieces?
They finished with a thin sword, then moved on to a giant one.
His eyes widened as he watched himself swing a sword twice his size with one hand, spinning it as if it were just a stick.
Everything the sword touched turned into thin slices. The scene repeated itself with different types of swords until the session ended.
[Skill 'Slash' obtained]
Slash – Level 5
A sword strike lands as two slashes (real + illusory). The illusory slash deals 50% of the real slash's damage.
'Real and illusory? What is this even talking about?'
Before the train of thought could continue, it was interrupted by a sudden memory—his fight with Hamim, specifically the moment he felt as though two strikes had hit him, even though he only saw one.
'So that's the skill he was using. Interesting.'
He smiled, barely able to wait to try it out.
Climbed down from the pole, only to be surprised by the villagers gathering around him.
Frowning, he scanned them all.
'What's their problem?'
All along the road, he had stayed cautious, feeling an instinctive warning that there might be a trap. He had lowered his guard when he entered the village, believing in their simple "leave us alone" attitude. But now, he cursed himself—had he missed something?
As the villagers' eyes locked onto him, whispers started to spread. Before he could grasp what was happening, each villager formed a long line before him. The scene reminded him of what had happened before in Shama's village.
Sure enough, the first in line bowed his head and placed a hand over his heart. Remembering what Shama had taught him, he placed his hand over his chest and returned the greeting. Instantly, a buzzing sound echoed, and screens of the believers appeared next to him, updating each time someone stepped forward.
As the line neared its end, several questions flashed through his mind.
'Why?'
In Shama's village, they gave him their faith because he had saved them—even if it was unintentional. But here, he hadn't done anything for them.
The first thought that crossed his mind was that it might be part of some plan.
But how? And why? While he was pondering, his eyes caught a name on one of the believer screens as the last person in line approached.
Uzair. From the screen, Vio shifted his gaze and found the man standing before him, giving the same bright smile Shama used to give him. No surprise—he was her father.
As soon as Vio realized what was happening, Shama's father jumped forward, grabbing both of Vio's hands in his own, overflowing with visible and emotional gratitude.
"I thank the honored one for his kindness and blessings in saving the daughters of this poor human," Uzair said with a trembling voice, as a flood of tears streamed from his eyes.
Vio didn't understand the words, but he understood the feeling—he could sense it.
Finally, after several firm shakes of Vio's hand, Uzair let go.
Vio finally understood. It seemed all the ones he had saved in Shama's village were the families of the men living here. Of course, they would give him their faith.
'Don't tell me... this is what they call kindness being repaid with kindness.'
Vio looked at the screen.
[Believers]
Name: Fenra Village
Title: Hero's Supporters
Location: Aiz Mountains
Influence Center: Aiz Mountains
Influence Rate: 1%
Production Rate: 1 BP, 1 Coin, 1 Plastic, 1 Metal, 1 Steel per year.
Just as Shama's father finished wiping his eyes, he lifted a finger and pointed toward the road Vio had already planned to take.
"Honored one, be careful. Other honored ones are waiting at the mountain's edge. There's a narrow passage—please be cautious," Uzair said, bowing his head as he stepped back.
Vio didn't fully understand the words, but that didn't stop the system from explaining it in its own way.
A ringing sound was followed by a new screen.
[New Mission Activated]
[Mission: 'Who Are They Playing With?']
Type: Urgent
Requirements: Awareness of the trap
Restrictions: Do not avoid the trap
Description:
Some plot against the hero, believing they can play him. Heroes do not fall into traps—they create them. Make your own. And if you're miserable enough to fall into one, at least flip the table on them. Be a hero.
Objective:
Sabotage the trapmaker's plans
Rewards for Mission Completion:
Will be determined based on how well the hero ruins the enemy's plans
Penalty for Failure: Minor Punishment: A hero's shame.
Vio's eyebrows rose.
'So that answers my suspicions.'
He then rushed out of the village, heading for the only road that would get him out of the cursed cold of this mountain. He didn't stop until he reached a crossroads.
Looking ahead, he found a wide stone path—not too wide though—cramped between towering stone walls. But it wasn't the narrowness that made Vio frown—it was the fog.
The ground and walls were coated in a layer of mist. It didn't blind him, but it clearly hid something from sight.
'A clear trap.'
Only a fool wouldn't recognize it as a trap. Yet whoever set it must have known Vio would step into it anyway.
'Whoever the bastard is, he wasn't wrong.'
Vio turned to look at the other road—the long path he had originally planned to take.
'A pincer move.'
It wasn't hard for him to guess the enemy's plan. Enter the first path, move halfway through, then find himself trapped from all sides.
He checked the map and confirmed there were no other options. If he wanted to leave, he had to reach the pass.
Pulled out his dagger from inventory and studied its battered state. It was clear it could still hold up for a little while longer, but it was risky. What if it broke at a critical moment?
He laughed bitterly at himself, unable to believe he was feeling sympathy for an object.
'These damn emotions are still controlling me. They'll get me killed someday.'
Without any thanks or farewell, he pushed the dagger into the black screen.
[20,000,000 coins obtained]
Even in its worn state, its value remained high.
'How much would it be worth if it were fully intact?'
He summoned the Gauntlets of Fury and noticed the cracks on them, too.
[Gauntlets of Fury]
Black metallic gauntlets equipped with energy tubes.
+20 Damage
Durability: 27
'Damn, they won't last either.'
He didn't know exactly how durability worked for the dagger, but as an attack weapon, its durability didn't drop fast. The gauntlets, however, lost durability with every clash, and with only 27 left, they could barely survive a few encounters.
There were only a few options:
Repair them, which would cost resources; upgrade them, also costing resources; or sell them, get some coins, and buy something else, which would cost even more resources and coins.
He checked the store but found no other combat gauntlets besides the Gauntlets of Fury.
Selling them was the best choice.
[1,000,000 coins obtained]
'You thieves are robbing me in broad daylight.'
He bought new gauntlets.
[Gauntlets of Fury]
Black metallic gauntlets equipped with energy tubes.
+20 Damage
Durability: 500
Then he purchased an energy shield.
The cheap kind, of course.
Checked his inventory, then checked his body's condition, and lastly his stats. A few unused points were waiting, but he had decided long ago not to use them unless he felt a specific need during a fight.
After finishing everything, he took a step forward and entered the passage, his expression cold.
"Let's get out of this cursed mountain," Vio muttered.