Chapter 396: Holy Shit
Chapter 396: Holy Shit
In the frigid valley, the swirling snowflakes grew heavier, and with just a moment's distraction, they enveloped Lyon's footprints completely, burying his memories deep within the blizzard.
"Almost there," the woman in the thin cloak, hidden in the snowstorm, thought as she observed the young man furrowing his brows in concentration amidst the blizzard. A captivating smile graced her lips, captivating and breathtaking.
After being lured into the snowy valley, the cleaner named Lyon showed no signs of panic. He must have heard the legends about her.
He knew she couldn't directly harm him, and her only option was to entice him into the blizzard to kill him. He seemed relaxed, believing that with caution and endurance, he could survive the storm unscathed.
However, he was unaware of her true power, which wasn't just the ability to stir up a blizzard in dreams but also to erase the memories of those who entered her realm as effortlessly as the snow covered a traveler's tracks.
Memories are the foundation of dreams, the blurred perception of reality. Without memories, no matter how powerful one originally was or how many terrifying anomalies they had mastered, if they don't remember possessing those abilities, those anomalies cease to exist in their dreams.
Once he loses his memories, his guard against the "Snow Maiden" will also fade. If he follows her into the depths of the valley, he will succumb to the harsh cold and raging winds, naturally perishing in the midst of the raging blizzard.
She might not even need to reveal herself. If he forgets he's a cleaner and loses his enhanced physical abilities, in this frigid, pale world...
Hmm? Why is he starting a fire? And why did his clothes change?
...
Lyon checked his climbing boots, down jacket, climbing hat, headlamp, goggles, trekking pole, and gloves. Satisfied, he nodded to himself.
This feels much more normal.
Who would dare venture into a blizzard wearing just a thin autumn coat? That'd be downright stupid.
Am I stupid? No, I'm not.
I must have brought all my gear; it's impossible to climb a mountain in just an old coat. I'd have to be brain-damaged to do that. I must have been half-asleep earlier.
As for hunting, that's even more ridiculous. I don't even know what a wild boar's footprints look like, let alone how to use a hunting rifle. I'm just a hiker.
After finishing the hot canned butter, Leon, the hiker, scooped up a handful of snow and extinguished the campfire. He then rolled up his sleeping bag, packed it into his backpack, and collected the trash from camping. After applying heat patches to his body, he put on a headscarf and goggles, leaned on his trekking pole, and began his descent through the snowstorm.
"This snow camping trip wasn't bad, but it seems like the snowfall is getting heavier. I need to hurry down the mountain before I get stuck here."
???
Why... why are you still going down?
Lyon, dressed in a strangely-shaped but warm outfit, hummed a tune as he descended the mountain. The Snow Maiden was completely dumbfounded.
She had encountered people who could adapt to her conjured dreams before, and some had even endured for over half a month in sheltered mountain hollows. But someone as... relaxed as Lyon was a first for her.
This won't do! I can't let him go down the mountain.
As Lyon descended the non-existent mountain path, step by step, the Snow Maiden's brows furrowed. She took a deep breath and dissipated into the blizzard, transforming into a raging snowstorm.
"Whoosh!!!"
The biting gale swept through, and the falling snow intensified. Lyon, the self-proclaimed experienced mountaineer, realized the danger and hurried his pace, eager to return to the safety of the mountain camp below.
Regarding the existence of a camp at the foot of the mountain...
If there wasn't a mountain camp down there, where did I rent all this gear? Where did I buy these ready-to-eat canned goods and alcohol cubes? Surely I didn't carry them all this way.
Just as Lyon was braving the wind and snow, heading towards his vague idea of a "mountain camp," a graceful female figure suddenly appeared in the midst of the blinding blizzard.
"Finally... I've finally met someone!"
Seeing Lyon trudging through the snow, the shivering Thin Cloak Lady rushed over. Her beautiful face was filled with joy as she exclaimed:
"Kind sir! I got lost in the mountains. Please help me. Can you take me back...?"
"Damn! There really are idiots out here!"
"???"
Looking at the beautiful woman in a tight skirt, appearing in the midst of the blizzard, Lyon couldn't hold back a curse. He quickly led the bewildered Snow Maiden to a sheltered spot, took out a hot water bottle, and stuffed her into a sleeping bag, asking in shock:
"What the hell are you wearing? Where's your down jacket? Where's your team leader?"
"???"
Having no idea what Lyon was talking about, the Snow Maiden, now in the sleeping bag, clutched the hot water bottle he handed her and looked bewildered.
"I... I live in the mountains. I don't have a team leader. Just take me back..."
"You live in the mountains?"
Hearing this, Lyon furrowed his brows, rummaged through his backpack, and pulled out a map. He studied it for a moment, then looked perplexed.
"There's a village in the mountains? It's not marked on the map."
"No..."
Seeing the oddly shaped but undoubtedly a map in Lyon's hands, the Snow Maiden, clutching the hot water bottle, couldn't hold back any longer.
"This is obviously mine... How do you have a map of this place?"
"Are you kidding me?"
Facing the foolish woman in a skirt, attempting to climb a mountain without a map was insane.
"..."
"Fine, fine. We'll deal with the map later. Just rest in the sleeping bag for now!"
"Also, did you get lost? Where's your insulated jacket? How can I contact your team leader? I'll ask him about the situation and see how we can get you down."
"I... I live in the mountains. I don't have a team leader. Just take me back..."
"Screw that!"
After hearing the Snow Maiden's absurd request, Lyon rolled his eyes and decided to ignore her. He started fiddling with the satellite phone and sent out a distress signal.
Take her back... In this heavy snow, I'd probably freeze to death before reaching the village! Besides, without a map, how would I know where to go? Am I supposed to let a clueless person like her guide me?
Moreover, this woman must be hallucinating from the cold. Who knows if that village even exists!
It's common knowledge that people on the verge of freezing to death often feel warm and might undress themselves. Her clothes might have been removed by her own hands. If not for meeting me, she probably would've frozen to death within minutes.
What an inexperienced and reckless person to venture into the snowy mountains! Lyon glared at the Snow Maiden, who seemed about to speak again, and sighed. Despite her incoherent babbling, he couldn't just let her freeze to death.
Although she was delusional and annoying, she was still a life. He couldn't just watch her die. Hmm? Wait, is that a dog over there?
(End of Chapter)
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