NOVEL NEXT Chapter 32 - Episode 032: Headhunter, Misunderstood as a Monster
Episode 032: Headhunter, Misunderstood as a Monster
In the midst of a fierce blizzard, a man ran without any concern.
That man, tall and muscular, had sharp eyes like a bird of prey, emitting a menacing aura from his entire body.
However, what caught attention was his attire.
He wore a short-sleeved polo shirt and cropped pants, a lightweight outfit. But what stood out the most was the frilly apron he wore, reminiscent of what a maid might wear, despite his robust appearance.
His name was Ack.
Once hailed as the world’s strongest mercenary, he was now the proprietor of the Fluffy Cafe.
As Ack continued to run, warm lights began to appear sporadically ahead.
“A town?”
After running all night, Ack had reached the outskirts of a town near the Great Blizzard Mountain.
The Great Blizzard Mountain, towering over 10,000 meters, was a treacherous place where blizzards raged year-round, making it difficult for ordinary humans to even climb.
He planned to gather some information in the town before ascending the mountain.
Step by step, he drew closer to the town.
—Clang! Clang! Clang! Clang!
Seconds later, the sound of a large bell resonated from the town. It was evidently a warning to alert the residents of danger.
Ack stopped and surveyed his surroundings.
Despite the blizzard, Ack, a former top mercenary, wouldn’t overlook any signs of danger. There were no hostile entities like monsters or thieves around.
Yet, the town bell continued to ring vigorously, signaling an alert.
Ack resumed walking to ascertain the situation.
Finally, as the town gate came into clear view, the thick gate, built robustly to protect the town from the blizzard, opened slightly, and soldiers clad in heavy attire emerged from within.
Were they going on a monster subjugation mission somewhere?
That’s what Ack thought, observing their imposing demeanor.
However, they moved to surround Ack, and before he knew it, he was encircled.
It turned out that Ack was the one mistaken for a monster who triggered the alarm.
“You monster!! We’ll protect this town!!”
One of the soldiers stepped forward and shouted.
Ack, bewildered by being mistaken for a monster, couldn’t hide his confusion.
“What are you talking about? I’m human.”
“Don’t lie! No human would come here dressed like that!”
The soldier in charge refused to listen to Ack’s explanation.
And it was understandable.
In the midst of a fierce blizzard, a man in light attire, wearing a frilly apron, approached as if unaffected by the snow. They would naturally be on high alert.
“I won’t resist. You can search me all you want.”
That was all Ack could do.
Raising his hands, he made it clear he had no intention to fight back.
Observing Ack’s demeanor, the officer hesitated for a moment.
“…Fine. Take him in!”
Since they were able to communicate clearly and Ack didn’t show any hostile behavior, the officer decided to interrogate him.
Ack was then escorted to a room at the gatehouse, where he underwent a body search and baggage inspection.
The result? Aside from the oddity of carrying an empty magic bag and wearing nothing but an apron over his travel gear, there was nothing suspicious.
“It seems you haven’t brought anything suspicious. But what about your body?”
Ack’s physique surpassed that of an ordinary human.
While he could still feel heat and cold, a blizzard like this posed no threat to him.
To others, it would be a mystery.
“I got this way from training.”
Ack had no explanation other than that. After all, he had tirelessly trained and fought from dawn to dusk, eventually gaining his current robust physique and strength.
“Is that so! And what’s with that attire? Why would a sturdy man like you wear an apron like a maid?”
“Is there a problem with that?”
Mocked for his attire, Ack’s anger simmered quietly.
His already sharp gaze intensified, emanating an even greater sense of intimidation towards the officer.
The officer began to tremble, shaking like a small animal facing a dragon.
“N-nothing, forget it. So, what brings you here?”
Sensing it was dangerous to press further, the officer changed the subject.
“I want information about the Great Blizzard Mountain.”
“Are you planning to climb that mountain?”
“Yeah.”
“Don’t do it. It’ll be tough with that equipment. Besides, a gigantic beast-like monster has recently taken up residence on that mountain.”
“What?”
Upon hearing the officer’s mention of a “beast-like monster,” Ack raised an eyebrow.
Though he had come for ice, the expectation of encountering fluffy monsters made him excited.
“Well, there isn’t solid eyewitness evidence, but there have been reports of seeing a giant shadow after climbing the mountain for a bit.”
“What does it look like?”
More important than anything else was whether it was fluffy and cute.
“From the shadows, it’s presumed to be a wolf-type monster.”
Hearing “wolf,” Ack couldn’t contain his excitement, but he reminded himself not to forget his original goal.
He calmed himself and inquired about the location he sought.
“I see… Do you know where the perennial ice is located?”
“It’s occasionally found even in the foothills, but it’s mainly said to be in caves near the summit.”
The officer’s phrasing caught Ack’s attention.
“Said to be?”
“Yeah. We haven’t heard any stories of people fetching perennial ice in a long time.”
There were hardly any adventurers going for perennial ice nowadays, and those who attempted rarely returned.
The journey to the summit was just that challenging.
“I see.”
With his questions answered, Ack got up from his seat.
That alone wasn’t enough to deter him from climbing the mountain.
“Wait. Take this map. It shows the location of the cave I mentioned.”
The officer stopped Ack and rose from his seat. Walking over to the desk, he pulled out a map wrapped in string and tossed it to Ack.
“Thanks. I’ll return it when I come back.”
“No need to return it. Since you don’t seem to be backing down, I won’t stop you anymore. Just be careful.”
“Got it. Thanks.”
Acknowledging the gesture, Ack lightly thanked him and left the outpost.
Feeling excited, Ack dashed towards the mountain.