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I'm carrying too many types of items. I should lighten my bag first.

- You must be Level 110 or above to perform this quest.

...? I released them from the ice earlier. Why are they frozen again?

[Zeith]

Sigh, this is all because of you, idiot.

[Vrid]

But he really looked pitiful!

I was only trying to help him.

Who knew he'd freeze us in ice?

I'm the victim here, you know.

I don't know why you thought he looked pitiful, but that's not important.

We have to think about how to break out of this ice. *Groan*

I can't even move a finger because of the ice around me.

Yeah, we really need help.

Is there anyone who can help? oh! Hey, you!

Yes, who else? As you can see, we happened to get ourselves trapped in ice. It's a long story. I'll tell you all about it if you let us out.

That's a good question. Zeith, answer him.

...Stop dumping things on me!

I think we'll have to use fire.

Fire?

But I hate being hot, and fire could burn us to death.

But we need it to melt the ice around us. We'll be okay... I think.

So, mm... Our new friend...

I'm sorry, but could you find some dry twigs from heaps of dry soil in this cave? We won't need more than 10.

Argh, you're going to burn us to death!

They're having the same conversation they had before. Also, I don't think they remember me.

I already know fire won't work, but I'm just going to go along with their request.

We need 10 Dry Twigs. Check the heaps of dry soil inside this cave.

You brought all those dry twigs. Oh, we haven't introduced ourselves yet. have we?

I'm Zeith, and this is?

Ugh, you're going to burn us to death.

Sigh. This is Vrid.

What's your name?

They asked my name again, as if they didn't remember me. Something weird is going on, but I told them my name again, anyway.

For now, let's light the twigs and try to melt the ice. Why don't you try to melt the ice around my friend first?

Grr, why are you so evil?

No, don't! I'd rather die!

...Sigh. Alright, I'll do it.

Could you light the twigs and place them around me?

But let me remind you,

try not to place them too close to me.

I lit the dry twigs and placed them around him. Some time has passed, but the ice doesn't look like it's melting.

Maybe this ice is magical.

It's not melting.

Vrid, you haven't said anything. Come on, think of something!

Tsk, tsk. You guys are so simpleminded, thinking fire would melt ice like this. It's not working, is it? We need to think outside of the box. Let's try to beat the ice with ice!

We can use the cold energy from the monsters in this place to break the ice, I think.

...That's just outlandish.

...That's ridiculous.

How are we going to use their cold energy, anyway?

Just listen.

Vrid's Report: Furious Ice Titans!

According to my investigation, Furious Ice Titans are as tiny as specks of dust in the air.

They just look big because of the icicles growing on their bodies.

Imagine how uncomfortable and cold they must be!

I want you to liberate them from the icicles growing on their bodies.

Vrid's Report: Furious Gazetis!

According to my investigation, Gazetis were ice giants. They were so curious about this cave that they stuck their heads into it and had their necks shattered. Now they're roaming about the cave, looking for their bodies.

Aren't they creepy? Every time I look at them, they look like they're mouthing,

Please help them, so they don't have to look for their bodies anymore.

Vrid's Report: Furious Snowiers!

According to my investigation, Furious Snowiers were gentle creatures who loved to say hi to people.

They became bitter after being ignored too many times. Now, they pretend to be friendly,

but once they get close enough, they attack people. My heart goes out to them...

Zeith stared at Vrid with incredulity in his eyes.

Please teach them not to act so sneaky.

Vrid's Report: Hard Icicles!

According to my investigation, these icicles have gone through a lot.

Well, first of all, they were... Mm... Uh...

Vrid grimaced, sighed, and scratched his head. He then said...

Well, icicles are icicles. It's not like they have a life story, do they?

Finally, you say something that makes sense.

Berome

Maybe you should help them create their own story.

...Or not.

While you're at it, you'll absorb the cold energy released from them. Come back and hug us, and maybe the cold energy in you will crack the ice we're trapped in. Doesn't that sound plausible?

No. Not at all.

Everything you say sounds far-fetched to me.

But... Sigh, I can't think of a better solution.

We'll try your suggestion. Adventurer, could you hunt 10 Furious Ice Titans and come back?

We'll try your suggestion. Adventurer, could you hunt 10 Furious Gazetis and come back?

We'll try your suggestion. Adventurer, could you hunt 10 Furious Snowiers and come back?

We'll try your suggestion. Adventurer, could you hunt 10 Hard Icicles and come back?

No, don't hunt them! You have to help them!

Sigh, whatever. Please help them.

Please come back after hunting 10 Furious Ice Titans inside the cave.

Please come back after hunting 10 Furious Gazetis inside the cave.

Please come back after hunting 10 Furious Snowiers inside the cave.

Please come back after hunting 10 Hard Icicles inside the cave.

See, I told you!

This adventurer is now radiating a massive amount of cold energy!

...Isn't this guy just really cold?

Now, come hug us? no, hug me first. Then, light will flash as the ice around me cracks, you know, like in those fairy tales!

I hugged Vrid as he asked.

Light flashed!

No, wait. That was just the ice reflecting ambient light.

Nothing happened.

*Chattering his teeth* C-c-c-c-cold. Get off me! You're too cold!

I knew that was an idiotic idea! I shouldn't have listened to your stupid story! I shouldn't have followed you into this cave!

It's not stupid!

It's the truth!

Vrid's Report:

Secret of the Ice Cave!

Sigh...

According to my investigation, this cave used to be a subterranean kingdom, and it was entirely made of gold, like El Dorado!

Zeith rolled his eyes, but Vrid ignored him and continued.

The king was worried about the growing number of thieves, when a young warrior came in and drove all the invaders away. The king was overjoyed and gave the warrior his daughter's hand in marriage.

But it turned out his son-in-law was also a thief. He ended up running away with the kingdom's most valuable treasure.

The furious king froze the cave and summoned formidable monsters in it, so no one would ever dare invade his kingdom again. Tragic, isn't it??

Of course, I didn't come here for the treasures. We happened to be in the area, and I just wanted to check the place out.

That isn't what you told me the first time. I never believed that stupid story, anyway. I followed you in because I was curious. I totally regret it now.

Hah hah, now there's only one thing left to try. That is...

No more stupid ideas, please!

Sometimes the direct approach is best. Let's try to hit the ice until it breaks. Try Zeith's first, please.

So we're resorting to brute force. You want me to go first? Coward! Sigh... Please be gentle? no, hit me with your best shot!

...I can't believe it worked.

It worked because I'm a genius! You should be thanking me, Zeith!

*Snort*

Let's see how long you can gloat.

Let's leave him alone here

and get out!

What? Hey, wait! Wait! Come on, Zeith! I thought we were better friends than that!

...Sigh. You're lucky I'm too kind to just leave you here.

I'm still too stiff to move. Would you take care of him, too??

Now, we need to help Vrid. Please get him out of the ice.

Whew, thanks!

You're pretty good.

Thank you,

Let's get out of here.

I don't want to be frozen again!

Wait. We're warriors? we can't leave without making our enemy pay for what he did to us!

Revenge?

Do you want to get frozen again?

Sigh... This knucklehead touched something he shouldn't.

Come on, I was only trying to help!

Helping who? To me, that monster didn't look like it needed help!

Listen.

Vrid's Report: The Strange Lizard!

Like I told you earlier, when this cave was a kingdom, the king had a pet lizard. When the king froze the cave in a fit of rage, this lizard was also turned into a terrifying ice monster.

Now, he's roaming about the cave, yearning for his owner's love. Isn't that so tragic? I was only trying to give him the love he wanted, and he punished me for it!

Like I told you earlier, when this cave was a kingdom, the king had a pet lizard. One day, this lizard wandered outside of the kingdom to see the outside world, but ended up getting lost. The king was so angry at the lizard that he cursed him.

That cursed lizard roams about this cave, still wanting to go outside. Isn't that tragic? I was only trying to free him, and in return, he froze me in a block of ice!

His real name was? what was his name?? Ktulla-something. Someone once told me the lizard has been hired by the archpriests of Rachel to keep watch over a boy who is sealed inside this cave.

But that story was so unrealistic and boring that it's not worth remembering. A lizard is just a lizard, right?

If you ask me, that sounds the most plausible of all your stories I've heard.

Where do you get all this? And why do your stories keep changing every time?

Sigh, anyway, that lizard does exist inside this cave. If you want to see it, then press down on all 4 Orbs of Seal in the center of the cave within 30 seconds. That'll make it come out of hiding.

But that lizard is really strong. I suggest you fight it in a group.

I'm glad we've met you,

I hope we'll meet again.

They started to fade away as they bid me goodbye. Soon there was nothing left of them, as if they never existed at all. Was this all just a dream or something?

They started to fade away as they bid me goodbye. It seems this cave is stuck in an endless time loop.

But the events that take place inside it aren't always the same. Is it possible that spacetime inside this cave is still warping? Will I also be affected by that?

It really worked! Hey, Zeith! Are you alright?

See if you can break the ice around him. If it works, then please break me out of the ice, too.