The Snowman and a Clue to the Hearth Family

Although this was the second time they had gotten lost in the snowfield, Yuri really couldn't be blamed this time.

Snowfields are inherently fraught with danger, no less so than deserts.

Even the most terrifyingly low temperatures couldn't harm Yuri, but the blizzards that caused extremely low visibility were a formidable obstacle.

Furthermore, they have now completely ventured deep into the northern continent, where human habitation is naturally even more sparse.

According to the map provided by Uncle Macken, the places they had previously explored, including Brago Town, were actually just areas in the northern continent where towns and human settlements were clearly visible.

This part of human settlements occupies only a very small portion of the northern continent.

Therefore, to find the Hearth Family, the only option is to continue exploring deeper into the area... that is, the uninhabited areas marked on the map, or in other words, the forbidden zones for humans.

The northern continent is known as a forbidden zone for humans because, although it is much larger than human settlements, it is simply not suitable for humans to live there long-term.

The wind and snow are stronger and the temperature is lower here, so there are almost no towns or people.

An ordinary person here would probably freeze to death within three days.

Even so, Yuri could only enter it.

Why?

Of course, it's because the Hearth Family is a legend, and one that was wiped out two hundred years ago.

Even if there are survivors, there has been no news of them to this day.

This suggests that they are either truly extinct or have indeed hidden themselves very well.

The harsh environment deep within the northern continent, unsuitable for human habitation, naturally provided the best hiding place.

This is why Yuri insisted on entering this place.

As for...

How the Hearth Family themselves will survive here is not a question Yuri should be concerned with.

He'd already searched almost every populated area ahead, so he didn't have any other options, right?

Ten more days passed...

Almost a full month has passed since Yuri and his group set off for the northern continent.

The dry rations he packed from Uncle Macken were almost gone. If he couldn't find the Hearth Family in these last few days, he would have no choice but to turn back and go home.

"Ah... where exactly are the Hearth Family?"

Amidst the vast, endless snowstorm, Yuri let out a desperate cry.

"Young man, are you looking for the Hearth Family?"

Quite abruptly, a voice rang out from the snow-white environment.

Yuri looked up and around, but couldn't find any other color besides white.

He was immediately puzzled. "Who's speaking?"

"Here, here!"

The sound grew louder, and a round figure in the distance swayed his... orange-yellow pointed nose?

It's a snowman?!

Yuri's eyes widened, and he quickly moved closer to examine him.

"Was that you speaking just now?"

"Yes," the snowman replied.

"What are you... a Yeti?" Yuri asked with a strange expression.

"It's a snowman!" the snowman emphasized.

Having said that, two human arms emerged from the sides of its round body, and then it lifted itself up to reveal its legs, slowly standing up.

"A person hidden in the snow..." Yuri was speechless for a moment, never expecting that the first living person he had encountered in half a month would be a snowman.

"That's right!" the snowman said proudly.

"Why did you do that?" Yuri asked, puzzled, looking at the comical carrot nose and beady eyes in front of him.

"This is to avoid monsters."

The snowman explained, "Don't be fooled by the vastness of this snowfield; dangers lurk unexpectedly."

"Those hunters use their white fur to hide in the snow, making them easy targets for a sneak attack if you're not careful."

"Without camouflage, there's nowhere to hide on this vast snowfield."

Yuri stroked his chin, thinking that what the other person said seemed to make some sense.

Whether it was luck or misfortune, Yuri had not encountered any living people or magical beasts since entering the depths of the northern continent.

Having not seen any living creatures for a long time, coupled with the confidence brought by his own strength, he subconsciously ignored other dangers that might lurk in the snowfield besides the wind, snow and low temperature.

However, none of these are the key points right now. The real focus is on the keyword that the snowman just mentioned.

"You know about the Hearth Family?" Yuri asked, half-believing.

He'd been asking around all this time, and so many people had said they'd never heard of it. Then suddenly a snowman appeared out of nowhere and said he knew. Anyone would be suspicious.

However, since the other party was able to appear in the depths of this northern continent, he must have some credibility. Let's hear what he has to say first.

"Of course, the Hearth Family are the most outstanding blacksmiths in this snowfield, but they don't stay in one place for long, so you outsiders can't find them." The snowman spoke with conviction, and his words seemed quite credible.

"So you can find it?" Yuri raised an eyebrow.

"Of course." The snowman pointed in a direction and said, "Just keep walking in this direction, and you'll soon see firelight. That's where the Hearth Family lives."

"Is that so!"

Yuri nodded excitedly, then turned and left without hesitation...

Before leaving, I casually picked up the snowman as well.

"Hey! If you want to find the Hearth Family, just go by yourself. Why are you dragging me along?"

The snowman's legs carved two furrows in the thick snow.

Despite his desperate attempts to break free, Yuri's hand was like an iron clamp, firmly holding his arm and impossible to pry open even an inch.

"What if you're lying to me? Of course, you have to bring someone along when you're looking for directions," Yuri said with a smile.

"No! I'm just a snowman responsible for guiding people, and my job as a tour guide is not included." The snowman said in a panic.

"Why are you so nervous?" Yuri turned around, his smile vanishing abruptly, replaced by a sinister look as he glared at him. "Are you really lying to me?"

"How... how could this be?"

Yuri's gaze put immense pressure on the snowman, whose white snow head immediately broke out in a cold sweat. He explained, "But the Hearth Family are blacksmiths after all. Their place is full of red-hot furnaces. As a snowman, I'd melt."

Yuri stroked his chin and nodded. "Yes, that's indeed very reasonable and logical."

"Right? Right!" the snowman exclaimed in delight, thinking he had convinced the other party.

Unexpectedly, Yuri's expression suddenly changed, and he abruptly said, "Daga, Koukouwalu!"

"Why?!" the snowman shouted in disbelief.

"For no reason at all, I never need a reason to refuse people!"

After saying that, Yuri grabbed the snowman's arm and dragged him away.

The two walked for almost half a day, and sure enough, they saw wisps of flickering firelight amidst the vast snowstorm.

"What? So you weren't lying after all. Then why were you so nervous just now?" Yuri looked back at the snowman with amusement when he saw that there really were people in the distance.

"I told you I wasn't lying, but you won't believe me! Let go of me now!"

The snowman struggled desperately to pull at its arm.

Yuri suddenly loosened his grip on the iron clamps, and he instantly transformed into a rolling snowball, crashing into the snow.

Looking at the large tents camped in the wind and snow and the rows of exquisitely crafted magical weapons before me.

Broadswords, spears, armor, shields... all kinds of weapons were available; no wonder it was the stronghold of the Hearth Family.

"Sorry to bother you."

Yuri shouted to signal his presence, then stepped forward, pulled back the curtain of a tent, and peered inside...

Goodbye!