Chapter 32

I yelled and clapped three times to the sound. But probably because the slogan was rusty, no one responded to me. But thankfully, the children’s attention was focused on me. I took advantage of the momentum to quickly add.

“Who I am or who you are that doesn’t matter. The issue right now is that you are the ones who are on your way to destroying very rare severed objects!”

“…..”

“Have ye no sharp needles or mallets? Is that how your master told you to break the ice?”

I only asked out of curiosity, but it was clear that the children thought I was reprimanding them for their behavior and lowered their heads.

“No. ……”

The child who had initially pointed his wand at me instantly lost his temper and squirmed in response.

He then pulled something out of his pocket.

“Actually, before we left, the merchant master left this for us ……”

The child pulled out sharp pins and mallets that were the right size for them to use.

The other children followed suit holding up the tiny tools they held.

“But that ice is just too thick! These tools won’t even break it!”

“Besides, the ice is enchanted, and after a few minutes it will automatically return to its previous state!”

“I thought we could use magic and solve this thing as fast as the merchant master ……”

The children did nothing to hide their downtrodden mood. I sighed and held out my hand towards them.

“Give me that.”

I took the mallet and the sharp needle and walked towards the huge block of ice.

The children followed me curiously.

‘It’s true what the kids say. .

The area where the small hole had just been identified was gradually refreezing and returning to its original state.

I stared at the ice slowly returning to its original state.

Watching until the process was completely over. I noticed that the hole didn’t completely return to its original state.

‘I might be able to get to it if I use the right method’

I turned to question the child in the lion mask.

“Do you have hot water?”

“There is! We can conjure some up with magic!”

“Can you sprinkle some around the relics? But be careful not to touch the edges of the relics, I’m afraid of hurting the severance.”

He nodded vigorously and took out his wand and pointed it at the ice.

“Water Magic!”

Water oozed from the tip of the wand.

Some time later.

“Okay, stop for now. Start again when I tell you to spill.”

“Good!”

Instead of counting the kids again I chose to do it myself.

The surface of the ice melted a little from the hot water.

Placing the tip on the ice and double-checking that it wouldn’t rub against the box, I then pounded down hard with the mallet.

A long trail of cracks formed around the box.

I knocked a few more times, knocking a piece of ice off the edge.

Once again the corner of the box was visible.

I didn’t move on, just observed.

It was just as I had presumed.

Since it was so a

“…… There’s only one way to take out that severed item unharmed.”

“What way?”

“A frontal attack.”

I declared cruelly to the children whose eyes were sparkling.

“What I mean is that we should slowly deepen the ice with tools and hot water instead of forcing it out with magic.”

“Uh…ah ……”

Disappointment at not being able to use magic was obvious to them. They probably thought they could easily holy shatter the ice with magic.

“But since it’s just been dug up and refrozen it will be a little slower than before.”

“So we should continue in the same place, right?”

“That’s right.”

I nodded.

“Lion Mask and I will continue where Harmony just was first, and the others will take over after us, okay?”

“Good!”

Facing the eyes that were betting on me, those shining eyes, I had the feeling that I had become the king of children.

At the same time, this was familiar territory and I was a little excited.

Along with the kids who answered loudly, I officially started plating ice together.

Honestly, this method is also something I’ve read from books, and I haven’t actually tried it myself.

‘And to think, I thought I’d be doing this in college to the point where I’d get bored.’

Thinking about that, I gave a bitter smile.

I never thought I’d be doing the things I wanted to do in the real world in a game.

“Now, chisel this place. Don’t use the sharp end towards the box so you don’t leave scratches on it.”

“I want to try!”

“Me too!”

Instead of being reckless as expected, those children showed caution and carefulness in the process.

After that, I don’t know how long it took.

Thanks to our efforts, half of the box was no longer encased in ice. Meanwhile the children were exhausted.

I expected water to pool on the ground from the melted ice, but even so, the place was much cleaner than the exhumation site.

Maybe it’s because the powdered ice that fell retained its magic, they didn’t melt easily.

“Ah, my back ……”

As I switched from a crouching position to a standing position, I felt tingling all over my body.

It seemed the kids felt the same way. They whacked their hands lightly on the sore areas while complaining in whispers.

“I’m tired ……”

“Me too.”

One of the kids looked towards the severance and shouted out.

“But we’re halfway done!”

“You’re right!”

With their excited words, I cast my eyes to the relics that didn’t suffer any damage and smile.

“Well done!”

“It’s all thanks to Auntie!”

“Right! All thanks to you telling us the method!”

The children who gathered behind me began to applaud.

‘I clearly did tell them that I’m not an auntie.’

Although it was sad, I had no choice but to smile and clap together as I wore a mask.

Just then.

“Who are you.”

An icy voice that gave me goosebumps came from behind me.

I froze in place, my hands still resting in mid-air, maintaining the clapping position.

Too engrossed in digging with the kids had made me completely forget what I was here for.

“What are you doing here?”

Like a robot in need of oil, I turned around mechanically to face him,

Not far away, stood a man wearing a rabbit mask.

“I’ve enchanted this side, so ordinary people shouldn’t notice or be able to get in here.”

Through the holes dug in the mask, I could feel the icy coldness of those navy blue eyes.

As he spat out the words, he reached his hand towards me.

His wand facing me. It was nothing compared to the wand the child had just used to point at me.

“Judging by the mask on your face, you’re a wizard?”

The top of the wand glowed slightly with white light, as if it was ready to strike at me at any moment.

I swallowed, trying to think of how to reply.

I can’t just say ‘I’m here to break the hidden quest’.

What should I do in this situation?

‘ Or should I just take the mask off? Show him my true face?”

I hesitated.

[Favorability 9%]

The progress bar of favorability flickered dangerously.

‘Favorability -1%’

‘Favorability -2%’

‘Favorability -2%’

‘Favorability -1%’

Reading the small words above the progress bar, my entire body fell into a deep cellar.

‘What the hell? What was that?!!!”

[Favorability 3%]

‘No! Please don’t one!”

The favorability that was still at 9% suddenly plummeted.

Not only that, the progress bar that had stopped at 3% continued to flash as if it would drop even further.

I bit my trembling lower lip.

”There’s no penalty. The system didn’t mention that there would be a penalty when I took the quest! Why?’

It’s a good thing I’m wearing a mask.

If I didn’t have a mask to cover my face, I’m afraid I would have instantly burst into tears when I saw the drop in favorability.

Wynter stood motionless, waiting for my answer.

“I advise you had better quickly explain to me how you came in here.”

“That’s because …… because ……”

My head had gone blank the instant my favorability dropped.

Until now, I had never experienced such a thing as a drop in favorability.

Because I was still in the stage of shock, for a moment I couldn’t say anything back.

My mouth was open and closed, but I couldn’t make any sound.

“We’re the ones who brought her in!”

Seeing that the situation was tense, the group of kids crossed over to stand in front of me and defend me.

“Since this auntie seems to be very experienced in digging up excavated objects, we asked her to come in and assist us!”

“Right!”

“We’re ahead of schedule thanks to her help! Look, Master Merchant!”

The children covered for me while pointing at the icicles behind us.

After confirming the direction the children were pointing, Winter’s pupils widened slightly for a second. He then said to the children in a serious voice.

“Haven’t I told you many times not to let outsiders come in this side?”

“But this aunt said she’s a guest, not an outsider!”

“Plus the questions you came up with are just too hard ……”

I didn’t expect the kids I’d just met less than a few hours ago to take my side like this.

But now was not the time to say thank you, nor was there time to be thankful.

Winter’s cold ice-colored-like eyes upon hearing the word ‘guest’? They shifted.

After a few moments of darting his eyes between me and the Dispensary, he lowered his wand and bowed to me in apology.

“I’m sorry for being rude to the people who help the children, after all, this is not a place where people can just walk in and out. I apologize.”

Other than Ikris’s false apology, this is the first time I’ve heard an apology from a Raider subject.

No one had ever apologized to Penelope.

However, it wasn’t that I felt particularly happy after hearing him apologize for his rude demeanor.

I just realized how pathetic I was.

Overjoyed at being able to dig up relics and knock down a few chunks of ice, and pathetic for not having any real contact with archaeology in reality.

As well as, dreading the whole death thing.