Transmigrated Into A Tragic Romance Fantasy-Chapter 64: November in the Northern Regions (2)

November heralded the beginning of the harshest period for the Northerners. A month of intense cold, where the land became covered by snow and the rivers would freeze.

During this month, many wild animals and monsters would be compelled to accumulate large reserves of fat to hibernate during the whole winter.

It was a harsh period where many struggled for their survival.

As the severe cold settled in, thick snowflakes scattered across the land and the nascents froze.

November also marked the end of the hunting season, as the entire ecosystem engaged in a fierce battle for survival.

Predators fiercely hunted their prey, and humans were no different, as they scouted the regions in search of game, for their sustenance and for their dependents.

During this month, a rumor also started to circulate.

A rumor that most would dismiss as nonsense, while those who had witnessed it, passionately proclaimed it to be the truth.

“Can you believe this? A noble actually hunting monsters by himself?”

“Nono, he’s not just hunting monsters, but eating them too!”

This was the rumor circulating through the North.

Where a certain young nobleman, a count to be precise, was accompanied by an old porter and two maidens, as they hunted and ate monsters.

The rumor spread like wildfire, quickly becoming a common topic among most hunters and common folk.

“Hah! You might as well be saying those Ent monsters started to eat people now.”

“Buahahaha! That’s the funniest nonsense I have ever heard in five decades!”

“You must be one stupid motherfucker to believe this shite. Can’t you all see this is clearly some fella disguising himself as a noble to get an easy pass?”

Most hunters dismissed the rumors not just as hearsay, but as utter nonsense.

After all, the idea that a noble, raised with every luxury, would eat from a monster carcass seemed utterly absurd, let alone that he would personally hunt such monsters.

Nobles were born and raised to believe that ‘dirty’ and ‘dangerous’ tasks were to be relegated to the lower classes.

So, the idea that a noble was hunting monsters?

Such a thing was so preposterous that even a drunken bard would stop in his tracks and sniff disdainfully at such a nonsensical thing.

Perhaps that was why.

Like wildfire, the rumor spread wide and far, starting with the fortress city and capital of the Grand Duchy, Winterfell.

Within just six months, the tale of the ‘noble monster hunter’ had spread through the whole North, reaching even the most remote villages.

“My friend, have you heard of it?”

“Heard what?”

“Y-You know, about the vampire lord who roams these wildlands tearing into raw monster flesh and drinking their blood.”

Suddenly, the ‘Noble Monster Hunter’ became a ‘Savage Vampire Lord’ who devoured the monsters while they were still alive.

Such is human nature.

A primal instinct to always crave for a bigger stimulus.

That same instinct could be seen in the rumors, as they changed and transformed as they spread.

The man swirled his ale-filled mug and snorted.

“You believe in that nonsense?”

“Now, now, just hear me out okay? It’s not nonsense at all. You know that weird fella, Glen?”

“Isn’t he the guy who insists on using a bolt rifle instead of a proper bow in the snow mountains?”

“Yes! That fool, that’s Glen alright. Apparently, he saw someone last night, with glowing red eyes tearing into a raw deer’s leg!”

“What? Surely he must be seeing things, that man’s a bit touched in the head.”

As one man prattled on about what seemed to him a great revelation, the other, seated across, sipped his drink with a skeptical frown.

Located in the snowy mountains, the tiny village of Slode consisted of a small community, barely numbering 100 people.

Usually, the village would be undisturbed by most threats as only herbivorous monsters lived nearby, and the local militia was capable of dealing with most things that showed up.

In such a small community, even small rumors would become the talk of the town, especially in taverns, where the whispers about the ‘Vampire Lord’ swirled anew.

Then, the tavern door creaked as someone swung it open.

The wind that had been howling outside rushed into the tavern’s interior.

With the chilly wind, the previously lively atmosphere turned sharply cold.

The villagers’ gazes sharply turned in unison.

The tavern fell silent.

In such silence, four hooded figures entered.

Their journey seemed long and harsh, as their bodies were nearly covered in snow.

This was a small village of just 100 people.

As such, everyone was capable of discerning those figures were outsiders.

And, with the rumors about the ‘Vampire Lord’ running around, the arrival of these four strangers brought forth an unsettling hush.

“......”

Stomp, Stomp-.

The figure at the front of the group walked towards the counter, followed by the other three.

With each step taken, the snow accumulated on their cloaks fell to the floor.

For those within the tavern, even the falling snow seemed ominous.

All eyes followed the cloaked quartet as they moved.

Gulp.

Even the seasoned old-timers swallowed nervously at the menacing aura the strangers exuded.

Eventually,

When the group gathered around the tavern’s fireplace, the residents had to chuckle nervously, realizing they might have been overly tense.

The sight of the four huddled around the small fireplace, warming themselves, seemed utterly trivial.

“Whew... Now, I feel like I...I might survive.”

“...This, this is... warmth.....”

“Ah... fir, fire is the gr, greatest discovery in the, the history of mankind...”

Clatter, Clatter, Clatter, Clatter-.

In the tavern, the sound of clattering teeth echoed around.

**

After renting our rooms and unpacking our baggage, we gathered in the dining area.

The cold we could endure...Somewhat...But after missing proper meals since yesterday, our guts had shriveled up.

“Just give something warm, anything will do.”

“Me too...”

“Same here.”

“For me as well.”

It had been a busy six months.

Updat𝓮d fr𝙤m ƒгeeweɓn૦vel.com.

After leaving the Grand Duchy and beginning our Culinary Journey, we reached the Lundgren Duchy within a month, and there we managed to hire a chef, but unfortunately, he left us 15 days ago after meeting the love of his life.

Luckily, Ariel who had been acting as the Chef’s assistant during these few months was able to significantly improve her skills.

Though she was still far from being a professional, Ariel had come a long way.

And the reason as to why Ariel was still accompanying us when she was supposed to stay at Lundgren was because she had found a new dream.

The dream being,

“I’ve always read novels, but now I want to write one!”

She wanted to become an author and publish her own novel.

Ariel wanted the protagonist of her first novel to be Elden Raphelion, who went from a Wastrel to a great monster hunter.

Indeed, the little bookworm wished to create a biography(fanfic) of ‘Elden’s’ journey and growth.

Of course, Rachel and Rendler would also appear in the book.

Furthermore, after hunting monsters indiscriminately and training for 6 months, I had now gained enough skill to hunt intermediate-level monsters, and for some unknown reason, I had also acquired the embarrassing nickname of ‘Vampire Lord’.

“S-Sir? Are you the famous Vampire Lord?”

“...I’m no such thing.”

“Could you please give me your autograph...?”

The nickname ‘Vampire Lord’ which suggested a desire for blood and slaughter, only made recruiting a new chef more difficult...And of course, it only increased my infamous reputation.

People were now terrified of me, sometimes when I appeared in a settlement, the children would cry.

But, ironically, due to my monster hunting, I’ve become a celebrity among hunters.

Of course, the rumors about me eating monsters alive were rather exaggerated.

I would always cook them first!

Scribble, scribble.

Anyway,

Amid those wishing for an autograph and those staring at us and whispering, we continued our meal.

When our bellies were filled, I pulled out a map and spread it on the table.

This was my very own Gastronomic Map marked with all the locations known for their monster cuisine as well as the monsters’ known hunting grounds.

“Hmm, seems like we’ve covered the west, haven’t we?”

Numerous circles marked the western regions of the Northern Lands.

Like landmarks, I made sure to mark every place we had stopped at, and soon enough the entire western region was covered in marks.

“Hmm. It does seem so, my lord.”

“Wow, have we already covered the western region? That was quick?”

It was indeed quick.

I had never thought that we would cover this vast area in just six months.

Considering the generally lower grades of monsters and the abundance of herbivorous species in the Western region, my rapid growth in skills had set a solid foundation.

Of course, I couldn’t have come this far without my valuable companions.

We also officially joined the [Monster Hunters’ Guild].

With this, we were able to cover our travel expenses.

While hunting and eating monsters was fine, only the members of the guild could sell the monsters’ by-products.

It would be a waste of resources to simply discard the leftover ingredients.

Regardless,

“Now I think it’s time for us to head to the Eastern Region.”

The real monster-hunting experience would likely begin in the Eastern Region.

That place was known for the emergence of mid to high-grade monsters.

While the Western Region focused more on gastronomy, the Eastern Region would focus on monster hunting.

“Shall we start from here then?”

I pointed to a spot.

It was the Marquisate of Eris, located at the entrance of the Eastern Region, famous for its [Carnivorous Dark Plant Salad] and [Carnivorous Plant Sautee seeds].

Before embarking on the next phase of our Culinary Journey it would be wise to head to a populated location and hire a new chef.

Moreover, the quickest route to the Marquisate was through the Grand Duchy of Winterfell, which was practically my ‘birthplace’.

“Ah, we’ll go through the Grand Duchy then?”

Well.

That wouldn’t be too bad all things considered.

In any case, going through Winterfell would be a shorter trip, and more importantly, the mountain village of Slode was close to the Grand Duchy.

Therefore, while scooping up the last remaining stew with a spoon, I nodded my head.

Winterfell.

What could have happened there in these past six months?