Chapter 5: Elf (1)

Ketal still didn’t know what had happened to him or how he had ended up here. When he woke up, he had become a barbarian in the snowfield, and had no time to figure out why he was stranded in the White Snowfield. The cold was so harsh that his breath turned to frost. Even staying warm was impossible, let alone growing crops.

Fires died out almost instantly, extinguished by the relentless, freezing winds.

That wasn’t the end of it, though.

The only things that existed here were endlessly strong and terrifying monsters. Nightmarish creatures charged at him, intent on killing and devouring him.

Survival was the only priority. There was no room for anything else. He fought desperately to stay alive.

He killed monsters and draped himself in their raw hides. He drank the warm blood before it froze. He roamed through various places with his tribe.

Once things had stabilized somewhat, he finally had a moment to take in his surroundings. Occasionally, humans from the outside world came and revealed what lay beyond the White Snowfield. Through these encounters, he realized that he had indeed arrived in the fantasy world he had always dreamed of and longed for.

Beyond this nightmarish snowfield lay a world of wonder and fantasy. He wanted to get out of here immediately, but he couldn’t. This cursed expanse of snow imposed a powerful restriction.

Until he resolved that restriction, he could not leave.

So, he gave it his all to get rid of the constraint. On the other side was the fantasy he had longed for.

His purpose was clear. His top priority wasn’t survival anymore, and he acted decisively, crushing monsters and breaking down the restrictions one by one.

In the process, he lived a life that far exceeded the length of his previous one. In the midst of striving for survival and the constant struggle, the past held no significance. Ordinary people would have long forgotten past memories and fully become a barbarian of the snowfield.

However, Ketal was different. He had a singular purpose—to travel through the world of fantasy. Even as time passed and tried its best to make him forget about his past life, he never lost sight of that goal.

Finally, after overcoming all hardships and trials, he was ready.

“I’m here.”

Barbarian Ketal stepped onto the green grass.

***

Seeing greenery again after so long nearly brought him to tears. Ketal inhaled deeply. Scents from kilometers around flooded his senses, overwhelming his lungs.

The fragrance of grass, the scent of animals, and the smell of rivers were all the things he could never have experienced in the White Snowfield.

“Perfect, just perfect,” Ketal said, smiling broadly.

He reached out and touched a nearby leaf. The rough texture brought him joy.

“Haha!” He felt almost delirious with happiness. Ketal grabbed a handful of wild grass and stuffed it into his mouth.

Common sense told him that most wild plants were poisonous, but he didn’t care. Even the venom of a spider that corrupted eternal ice hadn’t poisoned him. Wild plants were nothing as the defense mechanism of ordinary plants posed no threat to him.

He chewed on the grass. It was bitter and tasted horrible. But he was still happy.

“Hehe.” Laughing, he dug into the earth under a tree. His hand was filled with soil each time he dug the ground. He gnawed at the tree roots without hesitation.

If there were another person nearby, they would think that he was insane, but Ketal didn’t care. He kept grinning like a madman.

“Perfect, just perfect.”

He had escaped that wretched snowy expanse. He had always wanted to leave, but the cursed System had blocked his way.

“Damn the System,” he murmured. He glanced at the space in front of him. There, visible only to him, floated a System window.

[Quest 784 completed.]

[You have acquired the reward.]

[You have met the condition.]

[You may leave the White Snowfield.]

For ages, he had been trapped by that cursed Quest. Any attempt to leave was met by a strange force that stopped him.

But now, it was over. He had fulfilled every condition. He had escaped the snowfield.

“Rot in hell, snowfield! I am never coming back!” he shouted. He raised his middle finger high toward the snowy mountains. “Hahaha!”

He couldn’t stop laughing. He had heard stories from the occasional visitors to the White Snowfield that this was indeed a world of fantasy. It was a place he had dreamed of but thought he could never reach.

That fact alone gave him the drive to keep going. Although he was no longer a young boy, his heart was just as excited as if he still were.

The starting point wasn’t exactly what he dreamed of, but he had persevered and survived. The only thing left now was for him to enjoy this world.

There were countless things he wanted to encounter—swords, magic, dragons, and elves. He was planning on enjoying every last bit of this world.

Without that longing, he would have died long ago. The White Snowfield was akin to hell where one could not endure with mere survival instincts.

Ketal started to walk leisurely. He could rush through a forest like this in an instant, but for now, he relished this simple walk.

However, even after a long walk, the forest didn’t end.

“How far does it go?” he wondered to himself aloud. Even in his freedom, his desire to meet people remained as strong as ever.

Finally, he abandoned his leisurely pace and expanded his senses. He began to detect numerous things, such as rustling leaves, wild animals breathing, and fish flicking their fins in a stream. However, what caught his attention was the presence of other humans, many of them.

“Oh.” Ketal felt the presence of a gathering place. He wondered if it was some sort of a village. His face lit up. “Will I finally see a civilized village?”

His companions in the snowfield so far had been crude brutes who dug into the snow for makeshift shelters. He had argued for proper lodging, but the other tribe members stood there with confused expressions, unable to understand.

Ketal missed organized human villages.

What would be a good first greeting? Should I just say “hello”? Or should I go in a more traditional way and ask what language they speak first?

Ketal thought excitedly.

Whatever he chose, he resolved to be polite. With anticipation, he moved on.

***

A blue dome of light formed in the forest. Several elves lowered their hands, their expressions relieved.

“It’s done, elder,” an elf said.

𝕗𝚛𝚎𝚎𝐰𝗲𝗯𝗻𝚘𝚟𝚎𝗹.𝕔𝐨𝕞

“Yes, well done.” The elderly elf smiled with satisfaction and called out, “Everyone! This is our new home!”

“Hurrah!”

The gathered elves erupted in cheers, some even shedding tears. They had fled from slave hunters, constantly evading capture, until they finally arrived here—in a remote place untouched by humans.

“Settle your belongings and build our dwellings!” the elderly elf said.

“Yes!”

The elves set to work, weaving branches into homes. The elder watched, eyes filled with contentment.

Then, a young elf approached cautiously and said, “Sir...”

“Yes?” the elder responded.

“Is this place truly safe?”

“It is.” The elder’s voice brimmed with confidence. “This is an extreme wilderness. Humans cannot reach us. We’ve confirmed there are no traces of human presence.”

“I understand but...,” the young elf murmured. He knew the exact reason why there was no human presence nearby. “This place is in close proximity to the White Snowfield.”

The elder chuckled, having realized the source of the young elf’s concern. “You’re worried about the monsters of the snow, right?”

“They’re too close,” the young elf replied.

The White Snowfield was a place where the world’s most fearsome and powerful creatures gathered. Yet, the elves’ newly chosen home was just hours away on foot from such a dangerous place. The young elf was understandably afraid.

However, the elder shook his head reassuringly. “There is no need to worry. Nothing has come out of the White Snowfield for thousands of years. And we have the barrier for added safety.”

It was a barrier that obscured their presence and made the forest appear ordinary. After months of work, using ancient elven techniques, they had finally created this protective dome. With it in operation, no outsiders could approach.

“And even if the monsters come, we have our queen,” the elder explained.

“Ah...” The young elf felt relieved. It was their rightful queen who appeared after centuries of hardships—a powerful figure who would be etched in the history of the elves. “You’re right. She is protecting us.”

“Yes. No monster, no matter how fierce, can stand against our queen. So, worry not,” the elder spoke with certainty.

***

“Did I tear something?” Ketal tilted his head in confusion. It felt like he had brushed against something, but he wasn’t sure. The sensation had been too subtle.

If even his senses found it confusing, it probably wasn’t worth worrying about. He shifted his focus. As he approached the source of the human presence he had sensed earlier, he soon saw a figure.

Out of habit, Ketal hid his presence. It was an instinct ingrained in him since the White Snowfield days.

When he approached the figure, his eyes widened.

An elf?

Ketal thought.

The pointed ears were the first thing he noticed and were a dead giveaway. He looked like a human, but Ketal knew he wasn’t a human. He had pointed ears, strikingly beautiful facial features, and was wearing simple cloth garments.

It definitely was an elf.

“Ah...” Ketal exhaled softly, a note of happiness in his breath.

Elves were among the most iconic races in any fantasy world. He hadn’t expected to meet one so soon.

The seemingly lost young elf looked around nervously, his ears twitching like a rabbit’s.

Oh wow, it’s a real elf.

Ketal thought excitedly.

Ketal had read so many books on elves, but this was his first time seeing one. Tears pricked at his eyes, moved by the sight.

“I’m so glad I survived,” Ketal murmured.

This single encounter felt like a reward for all his past hardships. The elf hadn’t noticed him yet and continued to wander. Ketal slowly closed the distance.

“Huh?” the young elf muttered.

When they were close enough to touch, the elf suddenly tensed, ears twitching again. Then, his gaze landed on Ketal.

Ketal instinctively grew tense. It was their first encounter. He raised his hand slowly and said, “Hello...?”

The elf stared at him, dumbfounded, craning his neck to look up at him. Then, his eyes rolled back and he collapsed.

Ketal caught the unconscious elf. He scratched his cheek, not knowing what to do. Ketal was massive and the elf barely reached his knee. From the elf’s perspective, such a sudden encounter had to have been terrifying enough to faint.

“That’s a shame,” Ketal said.

Ketal’s first encounter with an elf hadn’t gone as planned. Cradling the elf, Ketal turned toward the village. He decided to think in a more positive way. He could be seen as a kind stranger returning a lost child.

Legends varied, but elves were generally known as a peaceful and orderly race. As long as they weren’t hostile, he could receive a warm welcome. The thought of elven hospitality was thrilling.

With a spring in his steps, Ketal walked toward the village.