Winter Without End

Linsey sets off from Border Town to search for Meteorite in the Border Mountain Range.

Winter is coming to an end this year.

As he climbed to the summit, wielding his Meteorite Pickaxe to dig for Meteorite, preparing to outwit and outmaneuver Elemental Creature.

Spring should have already returned to the earth.

The latter did not occur.

While Linsey toiled in the scorching Meteor Crater, the Hidden Borderlands did not welcome the Spring Goddess that should have been there.

On the contrary, the cold monsoon continues to ravage the land.

The forest was covered with snow that had not melted for a long time, the frozen rivers no longer murmured, and even the animals that were active in winter were becoming fewer and fewer.

This winter showed no signs of decline whatsoever.

At other times or places, this situation might only be considered a secondary seasonal anomaly.

But for the residents of the secluded Border Town...

Having already understood the crisis brought by the Dragon Beast, they were very clear about what this seasonal anomaly meant.

Winter's lingering attachment to the earth is no accident.

Rather, it is the erosion of temperature that is spreading to the world they inhabit at an alarming rate.

It was at such a moment.

Upon returning from hunting with his mother, Ju couldn't help but feel worried when he saw the two rabbits he had caught.

"Mom, when will this winter ever end?"

Dan, who was walking ahead, shrugged.

In her youth, the Female Hunter was passionate about adventure and had her own perspective on various situations. "In the worst-case scenario, this might be the last winter we experience; but if there's good news, the sun might warm up immediately tomorrow."

Ju looked at the two rabbits in his hands. "There are fewer and fewer prey in the forest."

Dan said calmly, "If this winter continues, there will only be less."

Ju's eyes held a hint of resentment:

"Can't we do anything? Are we just going to sit here and wait passively?"

Dan stopped and turned to look at his son:

"Didn't Suo Mu Jin want to gather forces and break out with the others?"

That was the opportunity to avoid being passive.

"But as you know, after that counterattack against the Devil Beast, public opinion in the town was no longer on the side of taking risks."

After answering, Dan turned and continued walking forward.

She calculated the food stored in her own home, as well as the Beast Meat distributed to the townspeople. Thanks to the counterattack against the Devil Beast, the town had acquired a considerable amount of prey, and they weren't yet in a situation where they needed to worry about food.

But this does not mean that we can rest easy.

Within a month, some households will likely run out of food.

Dan couldn't help but sigh, "I don't know how that idiot Anrui came up with this idea."

"I hope he'll have this kind of mindset when food is scarce in the future."

Torch remained silent behind the Female Hunter.

As they returned to the town from the south, they passed through Farmland, where he saw a figure dressed in a black robe.

—It's Anna.

Ju recognized her at a glance and understood why Anna had come here.

A few days ago.

Linsey left the town alone once again.

He said he was going to find something very important to the town, which is why he entrusted Anna with the task of taking care of the plants and chicken coop.

This scene originally had no special significance.

But for Ju, who is trapped in the town's predicament, the situation is somewhat different.

He recalled the experience a few months ago when he, his mother, Alan, and Linsey killed the Tree Spirit together; he also thought about Linsey's solo adventure to the World's Edge; and he thought about Anrui's actions with Linsey.

A strong desire erupted in Ju's heart.

We were able to work together not long ago, so why have I been completely useless in these subsequent adventures?

Especially in Torch's eyes, Linsey was his best friend in town.

Three years ago, the other party even risked his life for him, almost like an older brother.

Then, although I had never seen it before.

But the father that the Female Hunter often talked about also appeared as a vague figure in Ju's heart.

Under his mother's loving and nostalgic gaze, Ju learned that his father was a brave adventurer, and he greatly admired his father's adventurous spirit.

The last image that came to mind was Suo Mu Jin's.

When his mother led her Distant Hunt party on a perilous expedition, this merchant came to her door and spoke with her about his views on the town.

"One's own destiny should be in one's own hands."

"To harbor wishful thinking when danger is imminent is tantamount to selling one's life to death."

"I have prepared enough supplies in the warehouse in the East Town to cope with the consumption of crossing the Black Mountain World."

Ju looked up at his mother in front of him:

"Mom, we should try to break through the Black Mountain."

The Female Hunter shook her head, as if mocking herself. "Silly child, don't think about it."

"Anrui now has a much stronger grip on the town than before. Unless you defeat him head-on, those ideas are impossible to achieve."

Ju tried asking:

"If we don't tell Uncle Anrui, we'll sneak away."

"Don't say such stupid things!" Dan retorted without hesitation. "How could a person do such a thing!"

"..."

This time, Ju did not argue with his mother.

He appeared to be silent, but the image of Linsey, who was like an older brother to him, and his experiences of repeatedly acting alone and achieving results were surfacing in his mind.

Ju murmured softly, a voice only he could hear:

"I'm sorry, Mother, I must try."

"I will not, like Suo Mu Jin, tie everyone to this chariot, but I will never accept the choice to cowardly survive here."

"..."

That night, everything seemed normal at the Female Hunter's house.

After a day of hunting, Dan returned to his usual routine and slept in late.

The next day, the sun was high in the sky.

She crawled out of bed, then fell back down two or three times before finally groaning and crying out:

"Ju, wake up!"

"Didn't we get two rabbits yesterday? Let's slaughter one and try it today. I want to eat fresh meat!"

"..."

"You brat, get up now!"

"..."

"Ju? Where is he?"

Dan called out several times in a row.

She didn't know how much time had passed, but Ju still didn't respond.

The Female Hunter had no choice but to get up herself. She saw that Torch's bed was empty, and the blankets were neatly folded.

"This kid is quite diligent today."

Dan naturally assumed that Ju had left early.

Her son is a kind young man who even helps the elderly in town, and it's not unusual for him to go out in the morning.

Dan yawned and prepared breakfast by herself.

During this process, she discovered that Ju was missing several pieces of clothing, and that her bow, arrows, and weapons had also been taken away.

"..."

In an instant, the conversation from yesterday's hunting trip flooded the mother's mind.

She suddenly understood what her child had been doing!

The Female Hunter didn't even bring her bow and arrows; she rushed straight outside, just as it was snowing.

However, Dan hadn't gone far when he heard Suo Mu Jin's voice.

The businessman waved to her. "Dan, there's something I'd like to talk to you about."

Dan: "Get out of my way!"