Chapter 325

After walking practice, we finally began to climb the Snow Mountain. Monsters will appear from here, so be careful climbing up the slope.

"Huff, huff..."

Although the backpack is lighter than usual, walking up the steep slope seems to be quite a burden for Seam. However, I am training with weight. This is also part of the Training. Keep going.

"Huff."

At the end of the long climb, because the road was still somewhat flat, Seam breathed a sigh of relief. —Immediately after, a flapping sound came from the sky.

I saw a large white bird flying toward me. The target is

"Seam!"

I shouted, and Meleoron yanked Seam's arm, who hadn't realized the attack.

The bird flapped its wings—its body trembled unnaturally. At the same time, something jumped out from the area where the bird was.

Something grew out of the bird's body and the base of one wing. A bird that lost its balance, spread its wings, and dove down. It landed on the snow with a thud.

"Pah.

... Dangerous things came right at the start. Besides, my target was Seam...

Sorry for the delay in handling it."

Saying this, Uranus picked up the card.

... Hitting it at that distance. It's troublesome that the opponent is empty, but the speed is still quite fast. I'm not sure if I could hit a Bullet under the same conditions.

<734: Swan Eagle>

E-Rank Card limit 84

A Hunter looking for prey in the snowy sky

It shoots cold and sharp feathers in the form of a giant eagle.

"The monster just now was troublesome, but you guessed right too."

"Ah, it's true!

How could you defeat it so easily?"

"Hmm...

Actually, I missed one shot. Out of the three Needles I threw, two hit."

"Eh!? You threw three at once!?"

A frustrated Seam was surprised by this. Releasing 3 at once, that accuracy...

At our reaction, Uranus didn't seem happy, and the expression on his face was complex.

Matching a low kick with the pure white substance growing from the ground. Without much reaction, it turned into smoke. Two Uranuses had already been defeated, and the surrounding presence disappeared.

"Are you done now?"

"This is the third one, so it's over."

At Uranus's answer, I disengaged my combat stance and picked up the card.

<709: Snow Mole>

F-Rank Card limit 174

A Snow Mole suddenly stretches out its pure white claws from the snow to scratch

If you don't attack it quickly, it will soon escape into the snow.

Meleoron and I sighed as we picked up the card, just like me.

"Haha, it's really white.

Honestly, I don't know if I couldn't judge it through my aura...

Why did Aisha have that reaction?"

"I was worried."

"No. No eyes, no ears, no breath?"

"..."

Uranus glanced at me. Well, I still feel that people are curious about my skills.

"Hehe, should I fight too?

The backpack is light, so I think maybe I could defeat the current mole."

We answered Seam's question silently.

Although it seemed hard to say, Meleoron fired.

"... It's painful to get hurt, please stop."

"If it's just a scratch, I will heal immediately, but if it's deep, it won't heal right away.

The mole itself can be defeated with Seam's 'Kneading' attack power, but if you hit it correctly, that's a different story."

"Uh...

Does Aisha have the same opinion?"

"Yes."

"But..."

Being willing to do it is a very good thing. However, if you are too anxious, that's a problem. I bent my knees and aligned Seam with my line of sight,

"Actual combat is also important, but being excessive here is not good.

This isn't ordinary scaffolding; if you fall, you might get hit in the face by the mole's claws.

... If you want to fight, during regular Training, Uranus and I will be your opponents; can you endure that?

If you get hurt and the Snow Mountain exploration is canceled, wouldn't you hate that?"

"Yes..."

Good, good, honest boy. I pat her head.... I didn't hear if this was Gon or Killua.

"However, perhaps it is time to start considering practical Training.

It would be easier to leave the backpacks at Bell's house, and on the rocky terrain on the way from Antokiba to Masadora, there are only monsters you already know, so it should be safe to do some Training."

"... I think it's too early.

In terms of Aura quantity, a short duration is no problem, but I haven't properly trained 'Focus'."

Ah... that's right. As expected, I don't have to say "Focus", so I must remember it. Just having "Hard" eyes won't accomplish anything. If Shim is in danger, Meleoron will protect him, and he might get hurt.

"Of course, 'Focus' Training is the top priority.

Shim. It looks like practical combat is still a ways off, but please observe the monsters' movements carefully. As long as you observe carefully and avoid attacks, that is enough for practical Training."

"Really?"

"Yes. I do that kind of Training too."

"... Mm. I understand."

They seemed to agree. It is bad when you hesitate regarding your own sudden movements against monsters.

Meleoron, who attacked the Goo body of the Slime, hurriedly Recaptured his hand.

"──Tsubet! What is this guy?"

Uranos was a bit dumbfounded seeing Meleoron waving his sticky Finger,

"So you say?

At first glance, it seems slow and easy, but if you cannot defeat it quickly, you will catch a cold.

Drain properly and warm up with Kairo."

"It's hard to see the nucleus inside the body."

"Did the text on the card say the same thing?

Fine, I'll kill you."

Uranos's Hand Sword pierced the opaque white slime for a moment, turning it into mist.... Just like that, the height of the lethality you occasionally display. What kind of Training have you done?

"725: Cool Slime"

G-Rank Card limit 302

A mutant slime with high elasticity and Snowflake properties.

The Translucent body feeds on cold air, making it hard to see the core inside the body.

"Snow...

I see, that's why it's whiter and cloudier than the slime on the rocks."

"This is a species that can only be found around Snowflake.

Every slime has a core, and they all have a common weakness."

Just after I felt a bit uncomfortable with the snow still spreading in my field of vision, the snow in front of me suddenly expanded. The expanded snow quickly turned into a huge human figure.

Zuzo, zuzo, stepping on the snow, a huge humanoid snow statue approached.

"Keep your distance! I'll beat you up right away!"

Under Uranos's command, Meleoron and Shim retreated without blinking.

I slid past the slowly moving snow statue, soaking the ugly ground! And stepped on it. The snow piled up strangely. I heard the sound of the snow statue falling behind me.

"Eh eh eh..."

The siblings opened their eyes wide, and Uranos groaned because he failed to defeat it.

"Hmm, I found it. I think it's right here."

I poked the sunken snow with my shoe. Ah, but this is the trouble of digging for a card.

Uranos tilted his head in disbelief,

"How did you know...?"

"Just a moment before that snow statue rose from the snow, I saw the snow here rise slightly.

At first, I thought it was a mole."

"Hmm, hmm...

It's easy to see by looking at the Aura of the snow statue; conversely, the way to see through the snow statue is a blind spot."

"By the way, what are you going to do with your card?"

"..."

It looks like it will be harder to dig, so don't do it. At the next opportunity

I just started working. However, it won't be much money.... I did it.

"Lie down!"

Lower your posture in response to the voice. A sharp Needle passed by.

"Oh!?"

Meleoron's scream made Shim lower his head. I think it was too late for me to lie down because I prioritized my younger brother.

The source of the Needle—a Crystal Ball floating in the air grew a chestnut-like Needle again. The speed of loading the next round is fast. When moving at high speed on a curve?

Pop!

It suddenly broke. The fragments scattered and formed a card before falling onto the snow.

"... Is it a Nen Bead?"

Turning around, Uranos held his hand. He lowered his hand and nodded.

"The current guy has a balance between power and speed, and a Nen Bullet is the most decent way to deal with it.

Even if you throw a Needle, the Needle will block it. The cost-performance is not good."

I looked at the slightly weary Uranus while picking up the card.

"672: Crystal Ball"

D-Rank Card, limit 59.

At first glance, it is just a Crystal Ball.

A product of dangerous thinking that indiscriminately shoots out icicles.

Because it floats in the air and moves at high speed, it is difficult to counterattack.

"Are Meleoron and Seam both okay?"

"I am fine! But my sister..."

"Don't worry, the guards arrived in time.

I am not injured."

"Where did you hit me?"

"The head... um, on the hood."

"Did you protect it with Aura? Let me see."

"I don't mind."

Uranus shook his head and clapped his gloved hands Together.

"Take a break."

"Hmm. It looks like there is no problem, but..."

"That is why I said it is fine."

"Even if the part that was hit is fine, it shook its head, didn't it?

Do you have a concussion or neck pain?"

"I think it is fine."

"You look very unconfident. Show me your neck."

While listening to this exchange, I shifted my attention to the surrounding snowy scenery.

There were some dead trees here and there, but most looked like rocks covered in snow. It had been less than 30 minutes since we started climbing, and the white mountain slope continued.

"Aisha, even if you have time, you should sit down and take a break.

We still have a long way to go."

"Yes."

Just as I was wondering if I should talk to him, Uranus called out to me. I answered reflexively and walked over to where the three of us were gathered to sit down.

"How is Meleoron?"

"It looks like you are not in pain.

My head took an impact, so I think I should rest a bit more."

"I am very worried..."

"I don't know if there is something wrong with my brain.

I feel that Meleoron's amount of Aura should be fine, but the best medicine right now is rest."

"Are you okay, sister...?"

"You don't have to worry about yourself.

I don't care, I don't care."

Meleoron has a habit of being tough in strange places, so he cannot fully believe his words. That said, I also feel that the two of them are too worried this time. I am not against taking it seriously.

Uranus looked around.

"Everyone, take care of yourselves so you don't catch a cold.

If you sweat, you will suddenly feel cold, so I want you to use something warm to regulate your body temperature."

"Ah.

Come to think of it, it might be a bit cold, a cold sweat."

"Little sister, would you like some tea?"

"Yes. I will accept it."

The tea Uranus picked was a huge success.... I will have some too.

After a short rest, we continued to climb. After a while, I defeated a reappearing Slime. I should actively deal with the monsters I can defeat, but I am really unsatisfied. Slimes that don't run away at all are too weak.

Well, I don't think they will let me deal with flying monsters... If I intercept them when they get close, I should be able to defeat them, but everyone will continue to be in danger before they get close. Such monsters can only be entrusted to Uranus.

Climbing up the gentle slope, we advanced on the bumpy ground.

──Your skin becomes noisy, and signs appear in the surroundings. Several white things move in my field of vision.

"Everyone use 'Kneading' for defense! Save Aisha!"

"Yes!"

While answering, I hit the white mass that suddenly pounced on me with my Sword. There was not much reaction, and the white rabbit that was hit turned into a card.

The rabbits attacked Meleoron and Seam respectively—grabbing them with both hands and knocking them down by colliding with each other. Uranus seemed to have cleared 2 of them, and there were 7 left. Before I could pick up the card, I cast my gaze at the rabbits flying around. It was not as fast as a Marimochi, but it was very fast.

Four rabbits jumped up at once──just before they were about to jump off the ground, when they stopped moving, I cut them down with my toes. The rabbits turned into smoke Together.

Out of the corner of my eye, I could see Uranus's fingertips brushing past the rabbits dancing in the air.

When surrounded by a large amount of smoke, all signs disappeared.

"717: Whip Rabbit"

G-Rank Card, limit 730.

Snow rabbits attack in groups, jumping and colliding.

It bounces freely, so it is difficult to catch.

I received the card chosen by Uranus and checked its contents. Hmm, I think it's about G-Rank, but it's a different kind of annoyance than the Cyclops that also attacks with numbers.

"Is this card not enough?"

"Yeah. This one only sells for 600 Jenny, and I'll be carrying it for a while, so I don't need two pairs.

... It's just a nuisance, it's a Child Demon. Not at all."

Uranus muttered with dissatisfaction and put the gloves back on. I see... when wearing the gloves, the subtle techniques of my fingertips are blocked, which is a problem. Is it possible to remove them all at once? I usually have to wear them... but if my hands go numb, that defeats the purpose.

As I put the card into the Binder along with the "Book," Meleoron stroked Cheadle's head and said:

"I'm glad you don't have to be so nervous.

You wouldn't get hurt being hit by a rabbit like this, would you?"

"No...

Aizuratama bares its fangs, but that is the power that makes it ridiculous.

If you let your guard down because of its cute appearance and physical attacks, you will get hurt.... You didn't explain?"

"Uh.

Ah, you explained it to me. Something like that."

Yes... even if I explained it in advance, that's how it is. I understand the feeling of only wanting to explain it just now.

In the process of doing this, the cards I didn't Collect returned to the rabbit monsters one after another after 1 minute. Of course, there was no sign of movement either.

"..."

"What's wrong, Cheadle?"

Uranus asked Cheadle, and Cheadle tilted her head. Is there something bothering me?

"Hmm, I think the cards have been resolved.

No one touched the monster that was just defeated when it turned into a card, right?

But after one minute..."

"Ah, what about yesterday?

That was when the item was in card form from the beginning and the player picked it up.

Touching an item, defeating a monster, or meeting the conditions for card creation—once the card is created, it will be released after 1 minute.

Well, my explanation wasn't enough."

"Phon"

"After defeating it, you must immediately pick up the card and put it into the Binder."

"Hmm, if there are many monsters, there will always be some leftovers."

What is it? Last time there were many people, so Collect was easy, but this time it's difficult.