— Neycute: "Crow, are you free today?"

— I.C: "I'm a little busy right now. What's up?"

— Neycute: "Oh.."

— Neycute: "There's someone, a friend of mine, who wants to meet you."

— I.C: "Who?"

— Neycute: "It'd be better if you come here directly when you are free."

— I.C: "Okay."

— Neycute: "Okay."

..

I turned off my tablet and stored it inside the storage cube.

When a device like that was stored inside a storage cube, it couldn't be tracked. That's why I was able to avoid Goose's tracking network.

Though, in the future, someone was able to breach the storage cube's defense system, like anti-jamming, flawlessly. That marked the beginning of the network war.

"..."

Anyway, "Neycute" was my business partner, Goose's boss who I didn't expect, Neychta.

So, Goose was actually a member—vice leader of Chrysalis Guild, where Shannon taking her apprenticeship.

Did Goose knew Shannon because he wanted to recruit her to the guild?

"Umm.."

I glanced sideways, sitting beside me was Lux. He was scratching his neck and looked rather awkward.

"Don't ask," I said.

"Okay."

We were currently inside a bus, riding to the Himalayan mountain range after teleporting to the warp gate near the region.

Though I was sitting inside the bus with a heater system, I could still feel the cold air penetrating my three-layer of warm clothes.

Looking outside the windows, I saw a breathtaking view of snow-capped mountains.

'Wow.'

This was my first time going to a mountain, not to mention the Himalayas region which was famous for its highest peak mountain, Everest.

Taking notice of Lux who looked fine even in this cold weather made me remember his origin.

He originally came from a snowy place, I did not really specify where was that but just know that the place was a fictional place that did not actually exist on Earth.

Since a child, he was constantly fighting with the cold weather so he had quite some resistance to cold. Even when his first element was manifested, he got the rare Ice element.

Lux's eyes stared far away, lost in thought as he observed the snowy landscape outside. I wondered what he was thinking about. Perhaps he was reminiscing about his past or pondering the risk that lay ahead.

Just as I had said before. Since magic molecules appeared on Earth and dungeons were manifesting, no forests and mountains were safe from the monsters lurking. This was also the case for the Himalayas mountain.

Though many local heroes had been in constant hunting in the area, the monsters would keep spawning, just like those in Role-Playing Games.

I turned to look at the rest of the Explorer Club members on this bus.

Honestly, other than Lumi and Lux, I did not know the rest of them.

Lumi was sitting in the very front seat, behind the driver, a position befitted a person of her title.

It was not hierarchy, but well, it just seemed fit for her to sit in the front seat and to walk in the middle of the group, safe from harm.

As we reached our destination, the base camp of Mount Everest, a student got up from her seat and stood beside the driver while facing straight to the other end of the aisle.

She cleared her throat to get our attention and began to speak with a mic.

"Okay, everyone, we have arrived at our destination. Grab your stuff and gather around point B, we will have a short brief before continuing our tour to the ancient ruin."historical

With her leading the way, the students unloaded their gear and equipment as they began to make their way toward the base camp.

Crunch–!

The fresh, cold wind hit my face as soon as I stepped outside the bus. It was crisp. I could feel my lungs filling up with fresh mountain air.

Then after that, I felt chill all over my body even though I already wore three-layered clothes; an academy uniform, a sweater, and a black thick jacket with fur around its neck.

"Is it that cold?"

Lux stepped beside me, though his clothes were less thick and less warm than mine, he did not show the slightest hints of him being freezing.

"It's very cold. You know very well that tropical regions don't have weather as chilly and snowy as this."

"Doesn't Octagram Island have the artificial 4=season system created by the wizard circle? It's the only place with snow in winter in SEA, right?"

"Yeah, but the temperature is still not as low as here. Also, there's no way an artificial could perfectly replicate a natural phenomenon."

Even with those advanced technologies and magic, replicating a natural phenomenon such as snow weather was impossible. Well, except if it was a skill or magic spell. Still, they won't last long, and there was no one who could maintain and control the weather for that long–

No, wait, there is one! No, two!

Clap–!

'Speaking of the devil..'

The sounds of clapping hands for garnering attention rang in the air.

"Hello, I am Han Jihan, you can call me just Jihan, your guide for this expedition!"

Standing in front of the group was a girl with long straight blond hair with curfew bangs, leaving her delicate head and face framed by the hair. Her pale and tender finger was fixing the strand of her hair.

"We will be exploring the ancient ruin known as 'D-Point', because it appeared near point D of this area."

Jihan, the senior student who appeared a few times in the story, especially in every chapter all about the Explorer Club. She had a skill that allowed her to control the weather around her for ten minutes.

Though it sounded useless, her skill has the potential to evolve into one of the overpowered skills in the story. Sadly, I'd never written it.

"There might be monsters and other obstacles on our way to the ancient ruin, but don't worry, we have strong A-rank and B-rank heroes who will accompany us today."

Standing behind her were four adults, nodding. According to my Clairvoyance, one of them was an A-rank, while the other three were a B-rank.

After the briefing, we gathered our equipment and began the journey to the ancient ruin.

There were around 80 students and 4 heroes in the group.

With that many members, what could go wrong in today's expedition?

I'm not jinxing it, it's the truth that..

'Of course! There will be many things that will go south today!'

..

"It's so cold.."

Lumi was shivering under her warm clothes, thicker than mine.

"Need a hug?"

As I said that, she gave me cynical eyes and a disgusted face.

"I'm just joking, don't look at me like that, please."

Well, at least I now know that having just a handsome face won't be able to sway her. Talent, what she was looking for was someone with great talent and potential to be a high-ranking hero.

I circulated my mana and channeled it to my palm.

When I felt the mana had gathered in my palm, I patted Lumi's shoulder, covering her body with my mana.

"Is it warm now?"

She looked at me with wary eyes.

"You know how to use mana-coating?" she said, examining the mana around her. "And it seems like you already have a high level of mastery too."

"Thanks to my cousin. She's the best yet not the best teacher."

Lumi raised her eyebrows, her face looked confused.

"What is that supposed to mean?"

I shrugged.

Then, someone approached us from behind, it was Lux.

"Zio, Lumi," he began. "Looks like we've arrived, look!"

Far from us, there was a big cave under the snow and ice mountain terrain. The cave's entrance was blocked by a huge metallic door.

"Wow. I think this is the biggest ruin I've ever visited," said Lumi.

I could feel an ominous feeling coming from the ruin's direction, then as I narrowed my eyes and used my Clairvoyance, window panels were appearing in my vision.

It was just as I expected, the trouble that would greet the group as soon as they arrived at the ruin.

"Hmm?"

"Who are they?"

One of the heroes said as they noticed the shadowy figure waiting in front of the gate.

"Hey! Who are you guys?! This place has been reserved by the Octagram Academy, anyone other than Octagram students is not allowed to be here!"

The B-rank hero shouted loudly, his voice made the snow rumble.

But, there was no response coming from the other group.

"Wait here, kid. We will go first and check what's going on ahead," said the A-rank hero.

"Okay.."

Jihan nodded, she looked nervous.

My eyes followed the four heroes who were running effortlessly on the snow toward the group in front of the gate.

As they arrived there, the heroes and the unknown group looked like they were discussing something.

"What the–?!"

But then something happened.

"Those guys are!"

Lux, whose eyes always had a great range of vision, obviously could tell what was happening right there between the heroes and the unknown group. He was shouting frustratedly as he witnessed the scene.

As for me, I had Clairvoyance and Pathfinding. I could see the image of the heroes fighting against the unknown group.

At that moment, Lux ran forward, toward Jihan while shouting,

"Senior! They are villains!!"