Mounds and hills of white over the horizon, the mark of footsteps streaking across the deep snow, only to be blown away by the following winds. A vas of white could be seen all over no matter where ourns their head.

  In suk vas, rabbits and foxes of white could be seen running and hopping along as they pyed chase. There were also bears from time to time, moving about slowly, their eyes searg for prey as their breaths turned white every siime.

  But it wasn't only animals and pnts, there were also other beings walking on such a desote, frozen wastend. Fures, to be exact. All were wearing coats, scarfs, and boots as they traversed the emptiness, unfazed despite the number of beasts roaming about.

  "Hey, how long until we find them?" ［Julius］

  "It shouldn't be too long... A couple dozeers, maybe?" ［Grey］

  "Alright! I finally stretch my arms!!" ［Julius］

  Excitement filled the air as Julius beamed a bright smile. Though they had just trained in a dungeon a couple days ago, he was itg to try out his newfound strength in the fields. He was full of fideh every stride.

  Currently, Grey and pany are up north of the city. They have just taken an F-rank quest from the Adventurers' Guild and are now on a mission to catch as many snow ferrets as they within the day.

  Snow ferrets, as the name suggests, are H-ras which lurk around the snow fields in the north. Although they are of the ice attribute, they barely use any magic, making them very weak. Still, they are known to be hard to catch because of their amazing speeds and senses.

  Sinow ferrets are always in high demand, their meat and fur always requested by many and als as excellent pers, they are a perma quest in the guild where one catch as many as they for as long as they want. A quest many adveake.

  Squeak Squeak Squeak

  A few more steps ter, squeaks and whimpers echoed in the air, a number of holes to be seen on the ground and streaks of white bolting across the fields, red eyes glowing along such streaks, one full of curiosity and wariness.

  There were snow ferrets all over the pce, popping their heads out of their holes from time to time, and then hiding afterwards. After all, there weren't only the snow ferrets, there were also adventurers and hunters along the fields. It was very lively.

  "Hey! It's goi! Catch it!"

  "What are you doing?! It's esg already!"

  "Watch out! They're ing your way!"

  Well, no matter how many of them there were, it was still too hard for the ferrets. Not only were they small and fast, they were also very slid slippery. Even wheches them, they always mao escape with their smooth fur.

  And while magic would make catg them much easier, doing so would damage the ferrets themselves. It was a very hard task with high rewards, one which would surely make people's head steam with irritation.

  "Ohh～! There sure are a lot of people, huh..." ［Julius］

  "It's only natural. Snow ferret quests are popur, after all." ［Grey］

  "I've also seen their fur before. It's no wonder people like them. I think they would be popur among noble dies." ［Amelia］

  "Ehh～? I wonder what they taste like..." ［Yuna］

  Different ents came flying from everyone as they watched over the fields with Yuna's really standing out amongst them. Even then, not one of them paid it no heed. It wasn't the first time she ented such things, after all.

  "Alright! Let's go hunting! See you ter when I win!" ［Julius］

  "Eh?! Wait a minute Julius, that's cheating!" ［Yuna］

  "Well then, I'll also be going ahead, Grey." ［Amelia］

  "Alright, see you ter." ［Grey］

  Smiles afloat their faces, everyone split up in different dires, hunting on their own. Julius headed east, Yuna headed west, and Amelia headed further north, leaving Grey behind, only looking at the others heading their own ways.

  "Hmm... They really are excited, huh... Well, I guess it's also time to head out. I don't want to be the loser, after all..." ［Grey］

  Mumbled Grey as he slid down the snowy slope, a smile sloearing on his face as he hummed to himself. Now that he had joihe fray, there was no way he would be losing the petition. He was full of fidence.

  What might this petition be, one might ask? It's nothing too plex, just a simple test where they pete to see who'll be able to catch the most snow ferrets before lunch. A test suggested by her than the mischievous prince, Julius.

  Such a thing came to be as they read the quest in the guild. As for the rules, it retty simple. They'll only be limiting their strengths to E-rank. It would just be pin broken if Grey and Yuo go all out, after all.

  Of course, what kind of test wouldn't be without any prizes and sequences. It was agreed that the loser would do anything the winner wishes as long as it is within their abilities. her one of them could afford to lose.

  "Haap! You're not going anywhere!" ［Julius］

  Shouts of excitement echoed all over the pce as Julius ran bad forth chasing the snow ferrets. With his speed boosted by his lightning attribute, it wasn't a hard task to keep up with them. The problem was timing his grapples.

  The snow ferret tried to tur and right to lose Julius, but its efforts were to no avail. Julius was just as agile as it was, a terrifying smile on his face, one which scared the living hell of the poor snow ferret.

  No other choices left, the snow ferret jumped and dove deep towards the snow. It was a tactic which would lose anyone. Unfortunately for it, Julius just wasn't just anyone. He was the sed prince praised for his genius during hunts and battles.

  "Not so fast!" ［Julius］

  Like lightning striking the ground, Julius' foot dug down the snow and with little effort, he quickly lifted it up, digging up the snow. Well, it wasn't only the snow. The snow ferret burrowing within was also lifted up.

  Anhtning bolt streaked as Julius' arm reached out towards the snow ferret. The tter's eyes only saw doom and despair as Julius' hands reached out towards it. The game was over.

  "Alright! Got you!" ［Julius］

  It wasn't even a matow, the snow ferret was in Julius' grasp. It tried to wiggle and struggle out, doing everything it could, but it was useless. Julius had locked its limbs in pce, making it uo slip away.

  With a wave of his hand, the ste ring opened and a rge basket appeared out of thin air. It wasn't just any normal basket either. It was one ented especially to restrain snow ferrets as soon as they're put in. Basically, it's a snow ferret cage.

  But the ferret wouldn't be going down without a fight. Showing it's little, sharp fangs with fidehe snow ferret bit down on Julius' hands with vigor, struggling like a rabid dog which hasen for days.

  "Hey, what are you doing?" ［Julius］

  Unfortunately for it, Julius' gloves were very tough. No matter how much it struggled, it was useless. All it did was look more pitiful, losing its strength after several seds of struggling. Its eyes were now lifeless, a certain tranquility in its eyes.

  "Sorry, pal. That's just the harsh reality of life." ［Julius］

  Wise words came out of Julius' mouth as he pced the ferret in the basket. There were no signs of remorse nor mer his eyes. There was only silence as he closed the lid, a depressed ferret now inside of the basket.

  The snow ferrets may be cute, but they're also sidered pests in the north. Not only do they overhunt other small animals, they also trample crops from time to time and are fast to reproduce. It was the only reason Julius didn't feel anything in particur as he caught the ferret.

  "Alright! Let's catore!" ［Julius］

  The momentary silence was easily and quickly broken with Julius' excited decration. The very moment he spotted another snow ferret, he quickly put down the basket and chased after it with much vigor.

  A few moments ter, another depressed snow ferret ehe cage, joining the one before it. With each passing moment, more and more snow ferrets ehe basket, their eyes all void of life and color. They have seen the beginning of the end.

  "Amazing... That kid sure is amazing..."

  "How mas does that make it? Seve?"

  "Let's just go to another spot, yeah?"

  "I agree... It seems like we won't catything here..."

  It wasn't just the snow ferrets affected by Julius' as. The surrounding adventurers were also paying attention to him, losing their fide the rate Julius caught snow ferrets. It was the first time they saw someoh so mas.

  With such things in mind, the adventurers simply headed north with the newfound hopes in their hearts. They chatted so merrily as they traveled together, thinking about what kind of feast they could eat if they could cate.

  "Oh～! The north looks so empty～!"

  "That's right. There's only a single person here! What luck!"

  "Hahaha! Seems like she's alsling. Just look at her basketー"

  And look at the dy's basket they did, their eyes filled with surprise and disbelief as soon as they did. There wasn't just one, nor two, nor three. There were several snow ferrets sitting there, uo get out.

  The adventurers rubbed their eyes over and ain, but not one of the ferrets disappeared. No more words are o be said. They simply left and headed towards another dire, their eyes void of colors and their mouths shut closed.

  Unfortunately for them, no matter where they went, the same se pyed out. Youths of the same age went around the pce, their baskets full of snow ferrets. They've never felt defeat so bitter their entire life.

  "I think I'll just be going home..."

  "Yeah, me too... Snow ferrets are me anyway..."

  "Just what am I doing with my life...?"

  Eyes void of life, expressions bitter ay, and their hearts suo the deepest depths of the snow, the adventurers headed home in sileheir baskets as empty as their hearts. It was an unfortunate day.

  The sun climbed higher in the horizon with the passing of time. Soon, the sun had reached its Zenith, lunch had e about. With it, the petition was also over. It was time to tally the results.

  "Hahaha! It seems like you've also caught quite a lot." ［Julius］

  "Fufufu! Who do you think we are?" ［Yuna］

  "I'm happy whatever the results may be." ［Amelia］

  Such words were thrown around as soon as the four met up. Well, it wasn't only them. The ferrets had also met their kin, their expressions differing from basket to basket as if they were different kinds.

  There were Julius' depressed ferrets, Amelia's scared ferrets, Yuna's fused ferrets, and Grey's sleepis. Even though they were the same species, they all acted totally different. It was an iing sight to see.

  "Well, since I'm obviously the winner. How about you all go first? How many snow ferrets did you get?" ［Julius］

  There were no bounds in Julius' fidence. He uffing his chest as he said his decration. No, it wasn't just simple fide was hubris, one which a prince like him naturally possessed. He was boasting naturally as if he was just breathing air.

  "Haah... So cocky... Well, since His Highness has said so, I'll be going first. I got 84 snow ferrets." ［Grey］

  "Amazing... That's so many...! I only got 56..." ［Amelia］

  "Hehehe, then it seems like I won! I got 107!" ［Yuna］

  Numbers came flyi and right as everyone revealed their score. And with each revetion, Julius' heart only sank deeper i. The fidence he once had was now burnt to ashes.

  Well, it was only natural. While they mentioned limiting their powers, abilities weren't banned. With Amelia's "Dete", it was easy to locate the snow ferrets. As for Yuna, "Nihility" was basically a broke. She caught the ferrets easily without them notig anything.

  As frey, rather than abilities, he only used curse magic. He simply casted "Sleep" all over the pce, pig up the ferrets which had fallen asleep while humming ever so calmly. If he had hurried up, he could have beaten Yuna.

  "Alright, since we already revealed our catches, could you perhaps enlighten us about your feats, Yhness?" ［Grey］

  There was only silence along with Grey's question. Julius couldn't even look him in the eye, his attention drifting away as he remembered his previous words. He was so embarrassed he could die.

  "Yhness...?" ［Amelia］

  "Uh... Umm... I-It's 87..." ［Julius］

  "Your bastardness, please tell the truth." ［Grey］

  "B-But that's the truth though..." ［Julius］

  "I said the truth. Don't make me repeat myself." ［Grey］

  Julius tried to lie his way out, but with Grey possessing "Judgement", it was useless. While Grey normally doesn't use his abilities in such petty situations, this time is an exception. He just wao mess with Julius.

  "Umm... It's 52..." ［Julius］

  "Yhness..." ［Amelia］

  Well, it wasn't long before Julius admitted to his lies. Now, eyes of pity were directed at him. Even Amelia who would usually sole him in such times couldn't help but shake her head. Julius was just too pitiful.

  After all, Julius was the one who made such a suggestion and was also the oo make the rules. To think he'd be the oo lose.... Not to mention his fidence from before. It was just pin embarrassing. A dark memory was engraved in his heart.

  "Okay, since we're friends... I'll only be asking for a week's worth of snacks from you. Cheer up, okay?" ［Yuna］

  "Hey, a week's worth is too much! Make it two days!" ［Julius］

  "Ehh?! Two days is too little! I'm even being generous!" ［Yuna］

  "Generous, my ass! Do you know how much your daily intake of snacks is?! A week's worth will make me go broke!" ［Julius］

  Well, such sympathy only sted for a short time. The atmosphere has returo normal as the sound of two people bickering echoed in the air. The only difference was that rather than Grey, it was Yuna who was arguing with Julius.

  "Holy, with how much you're eating, I'm surprised why you haven't gottenー Oww!!" ［Julius］

  "Don't talk about a dy's weight so lightly!" ［Yuna］

  "Oww! Stop hitting! I haven't even said anythi!" ［Julius］

  As Julius' screams of pain echoed aloud towards the sky, the snow started falling once again, painting the world white. The wind blew ever so gently and the clouds moved slowly like turtles, drifting by the freezing winds. It was yet another snowy day.

  And along the snowy ndscape, there weren't a lot of snow ferrets to be seen, only footsteps of the adventurers who chased before them. There were only desote and snow-filled fields across the bnk horizon, freezing winds caressing Grey's face.

  'Hmm... Looks like there'll be a blizzard tonight..." ［Grey］

  Such thoughts crossed Grey's mind, drifting along the howling winds, soon to be fotten. Minutes passed and the footsteps were o be seen, buried in deep, white snow like a bitter memory which has been burnt away.

  ...

  Harsh, cold winds bellowed aggressively as the snow swept away all there is to be seen. A veil of white hid everything there was as the heavy snow tinued piling up higher and higher with the passing of time.

  Two figures traversed such harsh weather, their cloaks fluttering in the wind and their steps sinking deep into the snow. Their bodies were trembling, hands were shaking, as were quaking. Still, they tio push through.

  g

  A resonant sound echoed all of the sudden. With it, the two figures stopped oracks. They then dug the snow below them, soon revealing a metal trapdoor beh, cold as id freezing to the touch.

  k k Creakkkk

  Such sounds followed soon after as the trapdoor ehe two figures then turheir heads left and right, caution traced in their eyes. It was only after they saw nothing that they jumped down without aation.

  "Whoo～! We're finally back! Damn, that was a cold journey!" ［???］

  "Ijas, lower your voice. We're on the sacred grounds right now. You should mind your manners and refle yourself." ［???］

  "Yeah, yeah, I'll do just that. You're just too stiff, Arklen." ［Ijas］

  "Hmph." ［Arklen］

  It was a short-lived versatio despite being ignored so nontly, Ijas didn't mind the other's expression. He only whistled pyfully to himself as they traversed the dark and gloomy corridors.

  Cck Cck Cck

  Ead every step redounded clearly as they walked down the corridors, only Ijas' whistling to apany it. They met a lot of people, but they only nodded, not uttering a single word to them. It was silent. So silent that it was deafening.

  Such silence tinued with the monotony of the dimly-lit corridors. The lights on the walls, the squeaking rats from time to time, and the dripping of water droplets from the pipes. Su ominous symphony echoed ever so clearly.

  Then, the footsteps halted. The two figures stopped by a metal door, decorated by a pair of torchstones by the side. It was located in the deepest depths of the corridor, a vile and ominous aura looming over it.

  "e in." ［???］

  There isn't even a o knock. As soon as the footsteps halted, the one oher side of the door khat his awaited guests had arrived, his raspy and olden voice resounding across the metal door as he opened his mouth.

  k k Creakkkk

  Like the trapdoor from before, heavy metallic sounds echoed as soon as the door ened. Inside, an aged man, beard reag his chest, was revealed. He was holding an orb by his hand, looking at it with curious eyes.

  "High Priest, I see that you're looking at that ain." ［Arklen］

  "How could I not? It's such a fasating creation... To be able to trol beasts and have them at your and. Isn't it a fantastic creation?" ［High Priest］

  "Hahaha! Well, no matter how amazing it is, it still 't save their asses! Man, I really pity Iblis!" ［Ijas］

  "Ijas, mind your words in front of the High Priest!" ［Arklen］

  "No, it's alright." ［High Priest］

  The raspy voice echoed once again as the aged man tio look at the orb in his hands. It was an "E Orb". The very same orb Iblis used to take trol of the beasts a few months ago. An orb of disaster.

  "Ijas is right... Ratok was a smart man, but... he wasn't smart enough. If only he accepted our hand, he could have lived longer and saved his anization... It's a pity. It truly is..." ［High Priest］

  As the aged man ended his words, he then pced down the orb atop a certain table. And as he turned around, his eyes pierced towards the two figures before them, full of authority and blooming with darkness.

  "Well, enough about the past... What of the tasks I gave you?" ［High Priest］

  "Everything is as you wish, High Priest. We have captured dozens of sacrifices as you have ordered. We only await your further instrus." ［Arklen］

  "I see, I see... That's good to hear..." ［High Priest］

  His raspy voice eg throughout the room once again, the aged man once again turned around. He then raised his head, looking at the stone-cold statue before him, his eyes unclouded and full of vi,

  It wasn't a statue of an angel nor a saint. What y before him was an ominous figure adorned with three pairs of horns, two sets of eyes and arms, a pair of ruptured wings on its back, and a distorted face which could send chills down one's spine as soon as they saw it. It was the statue of a devil.

  "The day of judgement is nigh... We must prepare..." ［High Priest］

  ""By your will.""

  Three voices echoed in the room, darkness creeping into ead every er. The statue of the devil unmovi domineering, its eyes only carved in, made of nothing but mere stone, yet exuding an ominous a-dev feeling. The day of destru is drawing near.

  CHAPTER 179 END