NOVEL NEXT Chapter 21.1
21.1. Wyvern’s Nest
“I’ve got something to ask.”
“Huh? What is it, kid? Spit it out.”
In the adventurer’s guild tavern, Nord had begun gathering information from seasoned adventurers. As always, the price was a round of ale.
“The other day, I ran into a wyvern. I’d like to know how to deal with them.”
“Oh, that’s rough. Listen, here’s what you need to know…”
“Could you share one of your war stories with me?”
“Hah, you’ve got good taste! So, a wyvern tale, huh? Well, let me tell you…”
“Can you tell me about the monsters up in the snowy mountains?”
“Huh? Right about now, the Snow Golems should be showing up.”
“I heard you escaped from a wyvern attack recently. How did you manage that?”
“Oh, that? Easy. Here’s what I did…”
The adventurers, now loose-lipped from alcohol, offered Nord all kinds of information.
They shared stories from across the board—whether from Bronze, Iron, or Silver ranks. The discussion covered not just wyvern combat but also survival strategies and clever escapes.
Where are the wyvern’s weak points?
What’s their biology?
What are their behavioral patterns and habits?
Their gestures, habitat, food, senses, predators, likes, dislikes, breeding habits, dangers, and safe zones—every angle was explored.
“Hmm…”
Nord snapped shut his leather-bound notebook, now filled with information inherited from those with experience.
For a brief moment, he closed his eyes and carefully sorted through the ideas circulating in his mind, simulating the possibilities.
By now, it was close to midnight. The festivities had wound down, and the tavern was beginning to grow quiet.
The remaining adventurers trickled off to their inns in ones and twos, leaving the tavern behind.
The serving staff bustled around, collecting dishes and washing them, the sounds of their work echoing throughout the hall.
“…Alright.”
Murmuring to himself under the tavern’s dim lights, Nord made his decision.
His words disappeared into the still night, heard by no one.
§
Clink—the sharp sound of metal striking rock.
The tip of Nord’s pickaxe lodged into a small crevice, supporting the full weight of his body.
Clink—this time, his other arm swung the opposite pick, searching for another foothold.
With his weight on the picks, Nord slowly scaled the sheer cliff.
Clink—again…
He hooked the left-hand pick into a narrow groove and leaned his weight on it. In an instant, the rock crumbled, leaving the pickaxe dangling in midair.
Reacting swiftly, he clung to the cliff with his right hand to avoid falling.
Was there a hidden crack, or was the rock just fragile?
Nord watched as broken stones tumbled down the cliffside, bouncing noisily before being swallowed by the wind.
“…Whew.”
He let out a deep sigh, feeling cold sweat soak into the fur lining beneath his armor.
That was close.
The stones had likely landed far below in the snowfield, leaving a deep crater. Had Nord not stabilized himself in time, he would’ve gone down with them.
Snow might be soft, but it couldn’t absorb all the impact.
After exhaling a few more frosty breaths, Nord gathered his strength and drove his picks into the cliff again, resuming his climb.
He wasn’t sure how much time had passed by the time he reached a ledge where he could rest.
Nord crawled onto the small platform, his arms and body aching from the exertion.
For the first time in nearly an hour, he sat down in the snow, catching his breath.
The thin air near the summit made it harder to breathe. Nord knew it was more effective to regulate his breathing than to take deep breaths.
As he focused on calming his body, he noticed how cold he had become.
The frigid wind howled down the cliffside, sapping his warmth despite his winter gear. Even with insulated clothing, heat loss was inevitable.
Nord rummaged through his pack and pulled out food for a quick meal.
He set a small pot on his portable stove, melting snow for water.
Although it would have been preferable to use wood, there were no trees on the cliff. So, he fueled the stove with magic stones.
Snow was abundant in the mountains, but water in liquid form was a precious resource. Melting snow with body heat would have drained his energy, making the stove essential.
The snow melted into water, then started to boil, releasing white steam. Nord tossed in some tea leaves.
After steeping the leaves for a few moments, he poured the hot tea over hardtack biscuits, softening them for easier eating. The jam in the biscuits added a burst of sweetness, giving his brain a quick energy boost.
He finished the tea before it cooled, feeling the warmth spread from his stomach to the rest of his body, easing his fatigue.
With his hunger satisfied, Nord took a short break to rest and enjoy the view.
The distant peaks were covered in a blanket of snow.
Winds stirred up flurries, sending them dancing into the sky.
Ice spirits twirled across the snowy plains below, and Snow Golems roamed the landscape.
The view from the cliffside was breathtaking.
Nord wished he could admire it forever, but he had a job to do.
He adjusted his gear and once again gripped his picks, ready to ascend the mountain.
After some time, he reached his target location and began his work.
He hammered iron stakes into the rock, secured ropes, and set up equipment to make traversing the cliff easier.
With a lighter pack, he descended the cliff, gathering supplies from the base. Then, he climbed again—and again.
This process stretched over days, not just on this cliff but on others, too.
Nord labored tirelessly, setting up everything he needed by himself, working through nights without rest when necessary.
Eventually, Nord’s preparations were complete.
§
After collecting information at the tavern, Nord concluded that his plan—to steal a wyvern egg—was feasible.
He anticipated many challenges, but he was confident he could overcome them.
First, he thoroughly researched the wyvern’s location—the nest. Then, he purchased the necessary supplies, sparing no expense. Fighting a wyvern was no place to cut corners.
Wyverns build their nests on high, inaccessible mountain peaks, where they can soar through the skies and avoid predators.
While adult wyverns have few natural enemies, younglings and eggs are vulnerable to smaller predators. That’s why they nest in places out of reach.
Nord chose a nearby snowy mountain as his target.
It was the most practical option; other potential nests were either too far, located in dangerous regions teeming with monsters, or completely unfamiliar territory.
The snowy mountain, where Nord had previously operated, was a harsh but familiar environment. In winter, the area was a frozen wasteland, but spring’s thaw would bring lush greenery to the foothills, attracting herbivores—perfect prey for wyverns.
Nord believed the winter conditions could work to his advantage.
He had learned that during the incubation period, wyverns leave their eggs to hunt once a day.
The wyvern he had encountered during his earlier expedition must have been out hunting at the time.
In a prey-scarce area like the snowy mountains, hunts might take longer, giving him a window to steal the egg.
If everything went well, he could snatch the egg without encountering the wyvern at all.
That was Nord’s hope when he crafted his plan back in the capital.
§