Chapter 45

"Title: Must-read for Snow Castle Newcomers

Listen carefully to what I'm about to say, bro.

Snow Castle is indeed a fucking difficult game, and it's true that it's divisive due to the initial entry barrier it creates.

However, if you follow the guidelines I'm about to explain, you can somehow manage no matter how difficult it is.

First, the premise: even though routes like Holy Knight or Mystic Mage seem easy, in the end, choosing the pure Hunter route is much stronger in terms of damage and agility, so choose this.

In that state, when you arrive at Vandre Village, there's a slave trader.

Get a little girl named 'Asti' as a slave there.

This is why I told you to take the Hunter route.

Even if strange things keep happening, don't doubt and just keep her with you.

Without her, you'll have to grind a lot to clear the boss battle later.

That's all.

Comments:

ㄴ You crazy bastard lol

ㄴ This is such a good guide haha

ㄴ Why are all the reactions like this? It's true.

ㄴ That's... not correct.

ㄴ I want to see newbies get into big trouble for not following this because they're suspicious lol

ㄴ Why is this pinned?"

As I opened the door using the lock I picked from the still unconscious slave trader's pocket, I watched the children inside rush out, hugging my legs and crying profusely before heading somewhere following the instructions of a girl who seemed to be their leader.

As I recalled the post I saw in the community while looking at the girl who was still standing motionless and dazed,

The comments on the post that was uploaded as a guide were quite concerning, but I had no choice but to believe it since it was pinned.

I thought there wouldn't be lies in a post that even used the expression "must-read for newcomers".

Surely the admins there wouldn't collectively decide to mess with newbies.

So before starting the game, I had searched for the name Asti and memorized her appearance.

Half-closed eyes, brown hair, an unsettling gaze as if she was in another dimension, and doll-like visuals.

The girl here matched exactly with the image in my memory, so this must be Asti.

As I approached Asti, who wasn't moving at all, she looked up at me expressionlessly.

"What's your name?"

"...Asti."

As I thought.

It was the moment my simple guess turned into certainty.

"Why aren't you leaving?"

"I have nowhere to go."

Of course, I should approach slowly.

I wanted to take her with me right away, but how would a forcibly captured child feel if I suddenly told her to follow me?

At times like this, you need to coax gently.

Life is about building up.

You need to let things seep in gradually; nothing good comes from rushing.

"Or you could go to the knights and ask for help. They'll help you. Try to find what you want to do while doing that."

Especially for a child likely to be wary like this, using the appearance of the quite handsome 'Laydan Tanton' would be perfect.

But contrary to my expectations, Asti just tilted her head.

"What kind of help should I ask for if I find a knight?"

"Huh?"

"Since I was young, I was only educated on how to satisfy my master as a slave. What kind of help would be good to ask for?"

...Ah.

I was at a loss for words at the story that sounded depressing just hearing it.

As if to confirm her words were true, Asti dropped her head.

Although each of her actions seemed indifferent, to me, this series of behaviors just seemed too pitiful.

No place to go, and no hope.

Humans can have hope because they have somewhere to go, and they can move because they have hope.

It meant this child had no motivation to move right now.

At this rate, forget about building up, I'd be the bad guy if I just left her here.

"I think it's better to leave her behind."

At that moment, I heard the Gardener's voice.

"That child, despite giving off a human aura, somehow doesn't seem human."

The reactions of passersby seem too normal for that.

The Gardener's words were a bit concerning, but when it comes to observing people, wouldn't I be better than the Gardener?

For us, it would be similar to distinguishing 101 types of locusts.

"To be precise, she is human. But..."

But?

"...Never mind. Hasty judgments bring trouble. Do as you think."

No, why are you talking so ambiguously?

It's making me anxious for no reason.

But this time, I couldn't agree with the Gardener's opinion.

This was content written in the game guide tip.

Wouldn't it be strange to miss this?

It would probably be helpful for me to take her along by any means necessary.

Yeah, it's actually good.

I should think of it as having a proper justification now.

"Then, want to come with me for now?"

"...Master?"

"No, that's not it..."

"...I see. Then you're taking me for disposal."

Huh?

My eyes widened at the suddenly extreme statement.

But Asti, who was saying this, was speaking with an utterly nonchalant attitude.

"What...?"

"If you're not my master, then I become useless as a maid. So I'm no different from scrap metal."

"No, wait, that's not it...!"

"It's a shame to end like this though. Or can you recycle me in some way?"

My head hurt from Asti's emotionless yet horrifying words.

But the person in question had a very serious expression as if it wasn't a joke, which made it even more bewildering.

"Do I have to take you as a 'master'?"

"Otherwise, I'm useless."

"That's too extreme!"

I tried to refute as much as possible, but Asti showed no signs of backing down, now wearing an expression as if she had given up on everything.

Sigh, really.

I already had various labels following me like psychopath, attempted Outer God rapist... I wondered if this was right.

But I was afraid that if I didn't take her now, she'd be found with her eyes closed soon!

After much deliberation, there was only one way to take Asti from here.

Yeah, I just need to say it with my eyes closed.

Afterwards, I can just ask her to change how she addresses me, and there shouldn't be any big problems.

"Alright, Asti! From now on, I am your master!"

Thud!

I shouted with all my determination, but suddenly I heard the sound of plastic falling behind me.

Feeling a chill down my spine, I turned around to see White Mask and Muyeon standing there, who knows since when.

Muyeon had dropped her toy axe, her eyes empty.

"...Subordinate."

"No, that's not it! This is, well, you see! This child..."

"Then, Master. Please put this on my neck."

As I was trying to make excuses somehow, Asti, seemingly oblivious to the situation, was holding out something to me.

It was a necklace with a chain attached.

"Th-This is...?"

"A symbol that I'm your slave."

Ah.

As if deliberately trying to cause pain, even the choice of words was provocative...!

Feeling my head go blank for a moment, I glanced at White Mask and Muyeon.

Muyeon was already gaping with her soul seemingly departed, while White Mask spoke with her arms crossed.

"Sorry to interrupt your fun, but slaves are illegal for knights, subordinate."

"That's not what this is!"

...It took a very long time to convince them.

***

When I tried to take her without putting the necklace on her neck, she started to say something like "As I thought, I'm..." so I put it on her while holding back tears.

Because of that, I thought Muyeon and White Mask would still look at me strangely, but White Mask even laughed lightly.

"To come all this way and discover such a situation again. At this point, I'm starting to wonder if you're creating incidents just to solve them."

"Haha, that's right..."

It was an incident I couldn't miss, but anyway, it's good to have made a good impression on my superior, right?

The world was already not bright, but as time passed, I could see the subtle darkening.

The scene of light disappearing from the clouds was so captivating that I wished I had a camera to capture it.

"Hmph, you're looking at such gloomy scenes as if they're beautiful, just like back then."

That's right.

White Mask was with me when we escaped the underground prison too.

"Here it is. Where we'll stay tonight."

Following White Mask's words, we passed through the door of a quite decent-looking inn.

Perhaps because the reservation was already made, there was no one to greet us.

We went up to the second floor, and White Mask pointed to another room and said:

"That's your room. It's spacious enough for one person."

"Ah, yes. I understand."

White Mask said that, then looked at Asti once, and then back at me.

W-What is it?

"This child will sleep with us. Don't be disappointed."

"...I'm not disappointed!"

Yeah, I thought it was strange how easily she was convinced!

As I was about to enter the room, feeling dejected at the thought of how much more I'd be grilled on the same topic, I took a last look at Asti.

Asti, who was entering the room following White Mask's guidance, for some reason glanced at me once and her eyes lit up.

...Those who show excessive interest in people like that often end up backstabbing.

...That guide post, it was legit, right?

***

After going to the room, lying on the bed, and falling asleep for a few hours.

"...!"

Ria, who had frantically shaken me awake, had an anxious look in her eyes.

Not only Ria, but I was also pale, with my arms stretched out in resistance.

The person in front of me was Asti.

But now she was holding kitchen knives in both hands, exerting force as if about to swing them at me.

"...Asti, what are you doing!"

Only now did I realize.

I had fallen for another damn community-style bait!