Chapter 41: Ghost in the Snowstorm
It has been 2 hours running along the slope, they stop to rest. Hiro who have been carrying the heaviest luggage containing nanomembrane toilet, writhes because of leg cram. For that nearly two hours, they merely walk as fast as they could, but it is taking the toll on their body. They fall on their butt the catch some air but their very breath freezes in the air, making their rest harder.
The dim world of the mountain is already painted over with white, the freezing snow of the blizzard so sharp it sees to cut their skin.
Some of the girls ignite flame from their lighter but the fire vanish in an instant, even the last smoldering flame of them winks out of existence.
Sylvia crawls along supporting herself with her rapier, and her leg slightly trembles.
Clementine who is not used to extreme winter, is clearly at her limit. Her originally yellowy skin turns pale and bloodless, and her sweet lips are turning purple.
Fortunately,Sekrit has better protection from the cold with her thick clothing. She shields the two trembling girls as best as she could with her bigger body as the sit. Her long legs are shaking.
They feel usual cold during most of the the two hours but the last fifteen minutes, even if it just a single turn, it seems forever to collect themselves. Sekrit, Clementine and Sylvia are embracing and touching among themselves. Other girls are beside them with Kurotsuchi and Mirai are not that affected. Meanwhile, Hiro and Ivanna are at their limit. His right hand grabs Ivanna's whole voluptuous body and his left hand embraces the two black haired girl. Kurotsuchi and Mirai, despite not that cold, takes that chance hug Hiro's manly body. The sight of them all huddling is almost comical.
"Drink hot water." Hiro instructs and each of take out a big bottle from their bag. At the moment, he could summon up to 6 items from 'Item Transmigration'. The last item, the sixth item transmigrated, comes in handy now.
The big bottles are called flask bottles that contain hot water. They heat water and fill the hot water into flask bottles. Even after several days the water in the flask bottles still retain its heat.
They scrabble at the stopper with stiff fingers.
"Gulp."
"Hmm."
"EEE. Aik. Giilp."
The hot water burn as it goes down their throats and then they let out a breath of relief as they feel a heat in their stomachs, before minutes subsequently, spread to their whole bodies.
Kurotsuchi, who least affected by the cold barely drink anything.
"Hey. You better drink when you got the chance. We don't what will come next after all." Hiro gently caress her shoulder that makes her blush. She takes her flask bottle in both hands with a worrying look and then lick daintly at it.
Then, she pokes her head up over the big rock in front of them beyond the slope to see if the orcs are coming.
It's heavy snow with strong wind, but she is the scout for the party. It is her job.
The snowstorm is not getting weaker.
They stop drinking and try to be vigilant but they including the scout Kurotsuchi falls asleep.
Kurotsuchi suddenly wakes up. She looks around the brighter surrounding but the snowstorm is still strong. She becomes panic when she suspects they have been sleeping for long time.
"Everyone. Wake up!"
She shoves everyone. Hiro immediately stand up and checks her translucent dashboard. He could view time in his translucent dashboard. According to it, they have slept for nearly 7 hours!
"Listen girls, we have slept for 6 hours. We have to move on!" He says while clapping his hands as if to give encouragement.
The girls, who are at first, panic slowly raise their stiff bodies and follow behind Hiro. They are traveling further west.
"Come on, we can do it." He shouts but his voice is swallowed by the windstorm.
"Yeeeeaaaa!" A high pitched voice responds without instant hesitation, from just behind him.
Behind him is Sylvia. Other girls walk further behind her.
The noble girl with long honey coloured hair is looking at him directly, clutching a sounding rapier in her frozen fingers. She and other girls are still heroically trying to keep their body from shaking.
Trailing behind a frail looking noble girl who seems out of place, jealousy grows hotter in her heart. She puffs her cute cheeks and walks past Sylvia.
"Rich girl. Don't push yourself. I am the scout."
Sylvia clicks her tongue as she stares helplessly to her black haired rival who walk side by side with Hiro.
They finally arrive at a land that is not steep as before. The windstorm is weaker here.
Kurotsuchi notices a silhouette walk in weird way towards them. As it approaches closer, she pulls Hiro's cloth.
"What?"
She just look forward and he turn to that direction. He automatically retreats several steps.
"Why?"
"What do you see?"
Other girls who just reach there are puzzled by the both of them.
"Wait. Stand back. Enemy." Clementine and Sekrit moves to in front of Hiro.
The figure finally emerges from white surrounding. It is a man. It is hardly a living man. His face and body are rotten but frozen by cold. His eyeballs are nowhere to be seen. Shirtless and with only a worn out pant, they could see clearly how skinny he is. The skin lacks colour. His hair is white an sparse. He walks in the freezing temperature bare footed.
"Grrrr." He has not spoken any comprehensible words from his mouth that shows some missing teeth. His chin is deformed that they cannot even judge which is more hideous, the orc or this creature.
As he is 2 meters from them, his grotesque hands are clearly viewable. He bend down a bit or perhaps he simply cannot stand up straight.
His height is slightly taller than 180cm.
"Hmm."
"What"
The six women and a man are struck speechless by a sight so inhuman that they have to check to see whether are still sane.
"Groooaaarr!" He roars like a monster as we put down our luggages and draw our weapons.