The snow trolls have dark blue eyes that stand out like blazing torches in the dim glow of the tunnels that only shine through the cracks in the stone. These pale humanoids, who are over fourteen feet tall in adulthood, rarely move in groups. However, there are times when there are exceptions.

For example, when they are in the nest.

There were eight of them, seven big and one small, and perhaps because they didn't fill their stomachs, they looked quite alert. The locations are also evenly distributed, completely eliminating the possibility of sneaking past.

Then, only the difference in strength between the Troll Skin and the Steel Blade can be verified.

[Poor fellow, why do you have to stand in the middle of the passage?]

Hiding behind the boulder, Jamila exhaled softly, clenched the bone sword in her hand, and prayed in a voice that she might not even be able to hear.

"O spirits of the fathers, protect your daughters. Let my sword pierce their fur, and let their minions break on my shield. ”

She is a dark elf, a guard of the Radoran who wields the art of swords and shields.

And Jamila isn't fighting alone.

And just then, the largest snow troll raised his head and yawned.

The time has come.

'Whoosh-'

Start with an arrow that sticks into the mouth of the strongest troll. The Travelers' surprise battle against the Snow Trolls began.

"Roar——!" The second troll stood up, thumping his own chest with his thick giant palms, and let out a demonstrative roar. It's a habit for trolls to show their strength before they spot their attackers. And this is also the way for the lurkers to prepare for him to die.

Before the beast's giant palm could be raised, the roaring ice spear pierced the air and pierced its chest.

Jamila's brow furrowed slightly.

[What the hell is Yuga thinking!?]

However, at this moment, a third troll had already rushed up.

They found them.

"Don't think about it!"

Jamila took a sharp step, and the yellowish bone shield in her hand slammed into the troll's waist from the left side. Most of her body's strength was condensed into the giant round shield on her left arm in the unique combat footwork of the Ryodoran guard, and even the snow trolls, who were famous for their strength in a place of courage such as Skyrim, could not keep their balance, and with a 'grunt', they staggered.

And that was enough for the Red Guard warrior to slash off the troll's head with a single sword.

"It's up to you, Jamila!" the Redguard whispered.

The girl bowed slightly, raised her round shield, and rushed towards the snow trolls who had fallen into a rage!

It was the secret palm oil of the Redguards, and once hit by a sword blade coated with this oil, the wound would quickly crack and not heal. It's a great way to deal with monsters like trolls!

In less than half a breath, the white-haired dark elf girl slammed the snow troll in front of her like a runaway four-wheeled carriage!

'Goo-' The wounded troll staggered back, and just then, a blast burst through the air and pierced through its left eye!

[Bymun, well done!]

Jamila sighed to herself, but she didn't slow down, and she lunged forward with a shield blow heavy enough to completely break the troll's balance, and then the Red Guard slammed forward, swiped two swords, and opened a large hole in the troll's face that could fit a pumpkin in.

There are eight snow trolls in total, and four of them have been killed. Well, if you get rid of the small one, there are still three.

If the remaining three trolls had ignored Jamila and the Redguard, and had pounced on the wizards and archers in the rear, there would have been a lot of casualties.

But Jamila wasn't worried about that in the slightest. Because she also has a powerful companion.

"Alice!"

The slender figure flashed by.

Her short pale blonde hair glowed in the shimmer, and the sword in her hand shone even brighter.

With just the first blow, two trolls were pulled from their bodies at the same time. Before the monsters realized what was happening, they were greeted by a slash!

Her swordsmanship is swift and brisk. Each blow can bring a large splash of blood to the troll's body. There is a wonderful rhythm and beauty in every gesture, and this seemingly delicate and delicate swordsmanship is just as lethal as its users, and has a great lethality that is not commensurate with its appearance.

Jamila, who was not far away, suddenly had such an idea in her head.

【Sirodiel's Court Swordsmanship...... I thought this kind of swordsmanship could only be used for viewing. 】

The snow trolls roared, but their clumsy movements couldn't keep up with the blonde girl's footsteps—she was wearing only an extremely light leather armor that matched her swordsmanship.

Such a fight is no different from teasing.

Shoulders, hips, waist, arms, armpits.

Neck, jaw, knees, elbows, abdomen.

With only two breaths, there was not a single intact place on the two snow trolls. The blonde girl was simply beating them alone, and their death was only a matter of time.

And the last one left naturally didn't need her to worry about it.

After a dozen breaths.

When the only remaining underage snow troll who tried to escape was also knocked down by the archer Baimon's arrow, the raid came to an end.

"It's a pity, if it's a little smaller, you can sell it at the baby animal market. Jamila looked at the corpse of the underage snow troll with a look of pity in her eyes.

She said in a very certain tone, "It's worth at least a hundred Septins." ”

"Don't bother with the dead. The Red Guard said lightly. He put away his swords and surveyed the troll's lair in front of him. "It's a nice place, we can take a break here. ”

"Bah, overly pragmatic old fellow. Jamila tilted her head to look at her other companion, the blonde girl of Sirodiel, Alice, who had just shaken off the blood stain from her sword.

As if aware of the dark elf girl's gaze, Alice raised her head slightly, a smile on her lips. Her pale blue eyes flickered, revealing an inquiring glow.

[This guy's swordsmanship is quite strong, but my Ruidoran Guardian Shield Technique is not lost to her. Well...... Try talking to her more. 】

She was about to speak. The friendliness in his eyes was replaced by disbelief in an instant.

The snow troll who was lying motionless behind Alice, the snow troll who was pierced through the heart by the ice gun in the first place, is actually not dead!

It scrept to its feet, its claws raised high and shimmering with sharp light!

And the Imperial Maiden seems to be unaware.

"Back ——!"

The girl's eyes narrowed slightly, her lips twitched slightly, and she spat out a few indistinct bytes.

"Flame ......"

Blazing red flames burst out from the steel longsword.

She didn't look back, and slashed backwards with a backhand.

Two flaming bodies fell to the ground.

It was only then that Jamila finished the word.

—Surface. ”

The Dark Elf Girl's face twitched slightly.

Well, now it's really over.

………………………………………………………………

Ten minutes later.

A bonfire was lit in the troll's lair.

"Oops, oops, thank you. I, Quinn, have lived forty years, and this is the first time I've seen a warrior who can take out a group of snow trolls. It's been a real pleasure to be with all of you. "A fat man dressed ordinarily, but the rings and necklaces on his body were worth a lot of money, and his face was full of smiles. One by one, they complimented the travelers who sat in a circle around the campfire.

He took out a silver flask and poured a glass for everyone present.

"Come on, come on, have a drink to warm your stomach. He said happily.

Jamila picked up her glass and carefully examined the liquid inside.

[This wine seems to be a mixture of ale and mead.] I remember that if the ratio was 6 to 1, it would be easier to have a stomachache if I drank too much...... Do you want to drink it?】

She was hesitating, but the Nord archers sitting across from her had already drunk their all.

"Ah~ Delicious. The archer smacked his lips. said: "It's a pity that it's too little." ”

He looked at the fat man and asked, "Hey, Quinn." These snow trolls weren't what was planned. Shouldn't you take more money, mean?" he said, squinting his eyes, "but you have shrunk back from beginning to end, and you have no strength at all." ”

Quinn's face immediately became bitter.

"Ouch, just spare me. In this chaos, a small businessman like me has no way to live. If it weren't for the fact that I happened to run into a couple of people who were going to pass through the cold rock passage, I would have starved to death. He said tentatively, "Why don't we discuss it when we get to Mosar?"

"Tsk. Bymon looked at his ring and necklace. Then he chuckled under his breath and did not speak.

And the fat Quinn immediately breathed a sigh of relief.

It wasn't a regular mercenary squad, and he didn't pay enough to hire them.

Half a month ago, with the help of the Dragonborn, Xueman's army defeated the Storm Cloak Legion besieging the main city, and announced that they had officially joined the Empire. And from that day on, all the territories under the command of Dugu City have entered a state of wartime alert.

This means that no one without credentials will be able to move freely between the many realms.

This is literally killing Quinn, a small businessman. They're not like those big chambers of commerce, where they can get passes lightly. And without a pass, there is no way to get the goods out. And sell Xueman's goods in Xueman's collar...... It's not a lot of money.

Just when Quinn was about to despair, he suddenly got a message from a certain source.

There is a powerful group of travelers who intend to pass through the cold rock passages, bypass the guards, and reach Mosar from the bottom of the Holy Blood Peak.

It's dangerous. The Cold Rock Passage has not been walked through for many years. No one knows what's inside. Even the bravest mercenary group is reluctant to take on such a long and unknown list.

And those travelers are even less safe. They may be more powerful than the average mercenary, but they are an improvised team. Everyone is a stranger to each other, there is not much trust, and no one can guarantee their character.

But...... This is his only chance.

And several fights so far have proven him right – at least for now.

Just then, a cold voice suddenly interjected.

"Alice, why did you kill trolls with fire magic?" the person who spoke was a young man with a dark face. He is Yuga, a mid-level wizard. At this moment, he was crouching beside the corpse of the snow troll with the extraction device, and his tone was full of dissatisfaction.

"You should know that Snow Troll Fat is capable of refining valuable Troll Refined Oil. The reason I used the Ice Spear was to preserve its corpse. And you ruined it!"

"I'm sorry, I killed it. The blonde girl replied as she sat cross-legged at a distance, without raising her head. Her sword was placed across her lap, and her fingers brushed lightly across the blade, as if doing something to it.

Her words were clear, but her voice was thin and a little hoarse. It was probably because of the sword mark on her throat - her neck was almost severed by the sword mark.

"As compensation, the two trolls you killed are mine. ”

"If you like it, just take it. The girl whispered.

Yuga's eyes rolled, and he glanced at the girl's pretty face. Immediately added. "No, it's not enough. You have to ......."

"Yuga!" the Redguard said loudly. "Enough. ”

The young wizard clenched his fingers.

"Hmph. He turned his head away. "Chamak, I'll give you this face. ”

The atmosphere was awkward.

Jamila slowly walked over to the girl and sat down.

"It's a very excessive person. She whispered. Completely unscrupulous, Yuga was only thirty feet away from her. "It's his fault for using ice magic on snow trolls. You should clean him up. ”

The wizard in the distance immediately cast a grim look at her.

"Look at what!" Jamila glared back unceremoniously. "Want to fight?"

The wizard gripped his wand.

Jamila also held down the sword at her waist.

Bymon whistled silently, and his footsteps moved imperceptibly.

Quinn didn't know where to hide.

And Alice was still polishing her sword.

At that moment, Chamak coughed lightly and shifted his position, blocking the two of them from view.

"Phew. Jamila tilted her head and said dissatisfiedly, "This old fellow." ”

"I don't want to kill right now. Alice whispered.

"Hmm...... What are you talking about?" asked Jamila, confused. "Sorry, I didn't hear clearly. ”

“……………………”

“……………………”

[uh...... This attitude of resistance is a bit heavy. 】

The Dark Elf Maiden sighed slightly. She then turned her gaze to Alice's longsword that lay horizontally on her lap.

Her eyes widened.

The sword...... Squirming?

No, not wriggling, but tumbling like a boiling gel! Every part of the steel that made up the blade was making subtle deformations, and the steel sword, which had been somewhat rough, was rapidly becoming smooth and sharp.

"You're ......"

"A little bit of a trick with metal, it's not a big deal. Alice said, "This sword is too fragile to last long in the magical flames. You have to take care of it. ”

"Uh...... This is no small trick. Blacksmiths will die of crying. ”

Jamila shook her head. She couldn't figure out the girl of Sirodil a little. He is skilled in swordsmanship and uses magic, but his temper seems to be a little better. What kind of environment can cultivate such a person?

[It seems...... The Dragonborn who defeated the Stormcloak in Snowman is also called Alice?Is the name Alice popular in Sirodiel?]

She looked at the girl in front of her again. Focused on the sword mark on her neck.

Definitely not!