Lindsay sets out from a border town to the border mountains in search of meteorites.

This year's winter has come to an end.

And as he climbs to the top, wielding a meteorite pickaxe to dig up meteorites, he prepares to fight the elemental creatures.

Spring should have returned to the earth as well.

The latter did not happen.

While Lindsay was toiling in the hot crater, the hidden frontier did not welcome the familiar goddess of spring.

On the contrary, the cold monsoon still rages on the land.

The forests are covered with long-lasting snow, the frozen rivers no longer murmur, and even the animals that are active in winter are becoming less and less.

There is not a single attenuation in sight this winter.

At any other time or place, this would have been considered a sub-anomalous seasonal phenomenon.

But for the inhabitants of hidden border towns.

Having understood the danger posed by the drake, they knew very well what this seasonal anomaly meant.

Winter's nostalgia for the earth is no accident.

Rather, it is the erosion of temperature, which is spreading at an alarming rate to the world they inhabit.

It's at such a moment.

Torch, who accompanied his mother back from hunting, saw the two rabbits he caught, and he couldn't help but feel worried:

"Mom, when did you say this winter?"

Dan, who was walking ahead, shrugged his shoulders.

Huntress was adventurous in her youth and had her own views on various state of affairs:

"At worst, this could be the last winter we'll ever experience; But if there is good news, the sun may warm up immediately tomorrow. ”

Torch looked at the two rabbits in his hand again:

"There are fewer and fewer prey in the woods."

Dan's tone was flat:

"This winter continues, and there will only be fewer in the future."

Torch's eyes were a little unwilling:

"Can't we do something about it, just wait here?"

Dan stopped and looked back at his son:

"Didn't Somkin gather his strength and rush out with the others?"

"That was an opportunity not to be passive."

"But you also know that after that counterattack against the monsters, public opinion in the town is not on the side of the risky attempt."

When he was done, Dan turned around and walked on.

She counted the food she had stockpiled and the meat that the townspeople had distributed. Through that counterattack against the monsters, the town has gained a lot of prey, and it has not yet reached the point of worrying about food.

But that doesn't mean you can rest easy.

In less than a month, some people's families should be without food.

Dan couldn't help but sigh with emotion:

"I don't know how An Rui's stupid head came up with this."

"Later, when there is a shortage of food, I hope he can have such a brain."

Behind the huntress, Torch did not answer.

As they returned to the town from the south, they were passing by the farmland, when he saw a figure in a black robe.

- It's Anna.

Torch recognized the other party at a glance, and at the same time understood what Anna was here for.

A few days ago.

Once again, Lindsay left the town alone.

Saying that he was going to find something very important to the town, he entrusted Anna with the task of taking care of the plants and chicken coops.

This scene did not have any special significance.

But for Torch, who is trapped in the embarrassing situation in the town, the situation is a little different.

He remembered how a few months ago, he, his mother, Alain, and Lindsay had killed the dryad; also thought of Lindsay's solo expedition to the edge of the world; I thought of An Rui's action with Lindsay.

A strong longing erupted in Torch's heart.

Obviously, they were able to act together not long ago, why did they fail to use anything at all in the following adventures.

Especially in Torch's eyes, Lindsay is the best friend in town with him.

Three years ago, the other party even risked his own life, almost the same as his brother.

Immediately after, although never seen.

But the father of the huntress who often talked about her also appeared in the heart of the torch.

In the eyes of his mother, full of love and nostalgia, Ju learns that his father is a brave adventurer, and he also admires his father's adventurous character.

The last thing that came to Torch's mind was the figure of Somkin.

When his mother was leading a hunting party in distress, the merchant came to the door and talked to him about his views on the town.

"Your own destiny should be in your own hands."

"To be lucky when danger is coming is tantamount to selling one's life to death."

"I have prepared supplies in that warehouse east of the town, enough to cope with the consumption of traversing the Black Mountain world."

Torch looked up at his mother in front of him:

"Mom, we should try to break through Montenegro."

The huntress shook her head, as if laughing at herself:

"Silly boy, don't think about it."

"Anrui has a much better grasp of the town than he used to be, and unless you knock him out head-on, those ideas won't come true."

Torch tried to ask:

"If we don't tell Uncle Anrui, we'll sneak away."

"Don't say such stupid things!" Dan did not hesitate to reprimand, "How could a person do such a thing!" ”

“……”

This time, Ju did not argue with his mother.

He didn't seem to speak anymore, but what came to mind was the figure of Lindsay, who was like his brother, and the experience of the other party acting alone many times and achieving results.

The torch muttered in a low voice, the voice that only he could hear:

"I'm sorry, Mother, I must try."

"I'm not going to tie everyone to this chariot like Mr. Somkin did, but I won't accept the option of cowardly survival here."

“……”

That night, it was business as usual in the huntress's house.

After the day's hunting, Dan returned to his accustomed routine and slept well.

The next day, there were three poles on the sun.

She got up from the bed, and fell down two or three more times, before she groaned and cried out:

"Torch, get up!"

"Didn't you get two rabbits yesterday, slaughter one and try it today, I want to eat fresh meat!"

“……”

"Stinky boy, it's time to get up!"

“…………”

"Torch? What about people? ”

Dan screamed several times in a row.

She didn't know how long it had been, but Torch never responded.

The huntress had to get up on her own, and she saw that the bed of the torch was empty, and the quilt was neatly folded.

"This kid is quite diligent today."

Dan naturally thinks that Ju went out early.

Her child is a kind young man, and even takes the initiative to help the old people in the town, and it is not unusual to go out in the morning.

Yawning, Dan prepares breakfast alone.

In the process, she discovers that several pieces of Torch's clothes are missing, and her bow and arrows and weapons are also taken away.

“……”

In an instant, the conversation from yesterday's hunting came to the mother's heart.

She immediately understood what her child was doing!

The huntress didn't even bring a bow and arrows, and rushed straight out of the house, just as the sky was snowing.

However, Dan didn't go far before he heard Somkin's voice.

The merchant waved his hand at her, "Dan, I have something I want to talk to you about. ”

Dan: "Get out of the way, get out of the way!" ”

(End of chapter)