Chapter 185: Chapter 184: A Cohesive Squad

"Hmm?"

"Don’t go off on a suicide mission by yourself next time. To be honest, I’m pretty angry about it. Really, this is the first time I’ve been angry with you."

Hearing this, Orelia stopped applying ointment to Ale and looked over, a little nervous. 𝑓𝑟𝑒𝘦𝓌𝑒𝑏𝑛𝑜𝘷𝑒𝘭.𝒸𝘰𝑚

"Sorry..."

"I’m not trying to blame you, but by running off to die like that, did you really think I’d just watch you die to save my own skin? It makes me feel like you’re looking down on me, that you think I’m a coward who would abandon his brother and run."

"I was just thinking that at least you guys would get to live."

"You’re a real blockhead of a Half-Orc, Kase."

Colin sighed. He really didn’t know what to do with him.

’Then again, the custom of regular ritual sacrifice here at Snow Deer Ridge might be one of the reasons Kase thinks this way—it makes him feel like sacrificing himself is a perfectly acceptable thing to do.’

"We came together as a squad. I don’t think any one of us should give up on themselves, because none of us would ever give up on each other. Right, Orelia?" Colin looked at the Tiefling.

Orelia looked over, clutching the tube of ointment in her hand.

She hesitated, but then said firmly, "Yes, I think so too."

Sitting off to the side, Ale also turned her head to look at her companions, studying each of them carefully.

"Alright, I get it," Kase said in a low rumble. "Next time something like this happens, I definitely won’t run."

"Next time, we face it together. No matter what kind of monster the opponent is, we just have to fight it with everything we’ve got. There’s always a way."

"That’s right! No one is allowed to give up on themselves first!" Orelia said.

With everything out in the open, the atmosphere on the sled lightened up again.

The sled entered a pass between two mountain ridges, weaving its way forward.

Taking advantage of the moment, Colin glanced at his Panel.

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[Quest: Escort the Half-Elf]

[Rating: 8 (Local Hero)]

[Rewards: 150 Skill Level, +1 agility, Tier Two Magic "Misty Step"]

-----------------

Colin remembered seeing a record of the Magic [Misty Step] in the Divine Hall of the Deity of Knowledge. He had also seen the Mage from the Gray Squad cast this spell when they fought the Twig Blights and Frostland Druids.

This spell could instantly teleport the user to a visible location within ten meters.

’For most Mages, this spell is a common tool for kiting opponents,’ Colin thought. ’For me, it can also be a way to quickly close in on an enemy.’

More importantly, this was a Tier Two Magic.

Colin remembered that when he’d first learned Tier One Magic after Cantrips, his Perception Ability of the Magic Net had jumped to a whole new level. He wondered if learning Tier Two Magic would have a similar effect.

Regardless, this represented another solid step forward on his path of Casting.

Finally, there was the increase to his physical Attributes.

The boost to his agility would further enhance Colin’s physical coordination.

This coordination would help him better block and dodge in combat, which was equivalent to an indirect boost to his Defense.

Lying down, Colin shifted his position, comfortably resting his head on Pepe.

He didn’t feel like reading or practicing anything right now. That last fight had been exhausting.

The sled dog whimpered twice in complaint but couldn’t be bothered to deal with him.

The sled rocked back and forth, and Colin felt his eyelids growing heavier and heavier.

Before he knew it, he had dozed off.

He didn’t know how long had passed before waves of cheering from the distance pulled him from his dreams.

Colin looked around in a daze.

Only after coming to his senses did he ask, "Did we find them?"

"Yes." After speaking, Kase stood up and shouted loudly to his kin in the Orcish language.

After he finished shouting, the Half-Orc looked at his companions and said, "Everyone, please stand up."

After the group stood up on the sled, the Orcs in the distance began to cheer loudly. Colin could only vaguely make out his own name in their shouts, but from the looks on their faces, they were trying their best to pronounce it.

After a while, the cheering died down, and the Orcs calmed themselves.

The sled entered their ranks, moving forward with the main Orc contingent.

The Black Giant Root Squad, perched on the shoulders of Orc Warriors, drew closer.

One of the Gnomes asked, "Hey, did the plan go smoothly?"

"It went okay," Colin said. "We fought a giant Skeleton nearly five meters tall carrying a huge Axe, then barely escaped an avalanche from a goddess. All in all, everything went pretty smoothly."

"Huh? Well..." the Gnome said. "I guess you’ll be pretty lucky for the rest of your life."

Kase spoke up, "What do you mean?"

"You don’t know? A person’s luck is conserved. If you’re unlucky in the first half of your life, you’ll be lucky in the second half," the Gnome explained. "Maybe when you guys are old, you’ll be the kind of lucky old men who find Gold Coins just walking down the road."

"I hope so," Colin said. "Anyway, I just hope we don’t run into any more trouble before we head out this time."

The procession regrouped and set off once more.

They traveled for several more days through the forested snow plains of the World’s Roof.

Seated on the sled, Colin yawned while reading a book. He silently watched the white puff of his breath drift into the air and disappear.

"Mr. Colin, I can see Snow Deer Ridge!" Orelia, beside him, said excitedly, tugging on the corner of his sleeve.

’We haven’t run into any trouble these past few days, at least.’

Colin muttered to himself as he stood up.

Snow Deer Ridge had indeed appeared ahead of the party. He glanced back at the Orcs following behind the sled.

With them in tow, the party’s travel speed was much slower than it had been on the way here.

During this time, the food the Orcs carried was being consumed at a rapid rate; there was no way it would last until they got back to Thousand Masts City. Moreover, any animal along the way fled the moment it saw a hundred Orcs, so the party had managed to hunt almost nothing.

Also, just as he had expected, the Barbarian Tribe had no spare food either.

Colin sighed.

’These past few days have been quiet, but my nerves have been on edge the whole time.’

’We made it past Lady Rime’s trial. I just hope we don’t end up collapsing from hunger now.’

’Then again, we do have a lot of loot to sort through from this trip.’

’Coins from the Ancient Empire, a few mink pelts, a Bear Claw, a Bear Fang, and a whole bunch of miscellaneous antiques. I wonder how much all this will sell for back home. At the very least, we should each be able to get over a hundred Gold Coins.’

At this thought, Colin felt this journey had been absolutely wonderful.

Who could refuse a chance to earn a hundred Gold Coins in a month? Even if it meant nearly dying several times.

Just then, a sled suddenly shot out from the main gate of Snow Deer Ridge.

The sled approached at high speed, and on it, they could see a soldier wearing the same kind of Helmet as Colin.