Chapter 538 - Snow Fox Clan's Hidden VIllage (1)

"Are you sure this is the last time you met a snow fox beastkin?" Nell looked around, but she could only see snow and cliffs.

"Mm, I'm pretty sure of that. However, the last clue I got about the Snow Fox Clan's hidden village isn't here. Do you want to go to Fevia Village for that? It's not far from here. Maybe twenty or thirty kilometers beyond the mountain the snow. I hope the village is still there." Luna patted her chin and looked towards the south.

"Eh? What do you mean by that? Fevia Village is the Snow Fox Clan's hidden village, isn't it?" Nell questioned that with doubt.

"Eh? Did I ever say that? Fevia Village isn't Snow Fox Colan's hidden village, but it's an ordinary settlement with a population of no more than one hundred and fifty beastkins. That village occasionally changes places to follow the village chief's orders for various reasons. Even so, the village in question is still in the vicinity of this snow mountain region." Luna blinked her eyes a few times in slight surprise. She immediately explained in a bit more detail to avoid any misunderstanding.

"Hmm..." Elysia squinted her eyes as she looked into the distance with her sacred eyes active.

"Should we need- hmm?" Yuuki was about to say something, but she swallowed it back when she noticed Elysia.

She fell silent, and the others also fell into silence for some reason. Everyone also turned their heads and tried to find out what Elysia was looking at.

Unfortunately, they didn't understand what Elysia was observing with those shining eyes.

Elysia deactivated her sacred eyes and blinked a few times. After that, she reported the results of her remote observations to everyone. "I't just a glimpse, but I'm sure that I saw a white fox beastkin about a hundred kilometers to the northeast. Somewhere on the snow mountain over there. The one that is covered by the blizzard. Let's check that out first."

"Is- Is that true!?" Yuuki widened her eyes. She didn't expect that this search would be so fast just because Elysia was there.

"I only caught a glimpse of him before he went to take refuge in the cave. Whatever it is, let's go there to find out. He might return to his clan's hidden village." Elysia nodded confidently at her claim.

"Well then, that's been decided. Let's go there." Luna dropped her fist onto her open palm before she returned to the carriage.

Rhea glanced at the snow-covered hurricane for a moment. She squinted her eyes with her magic vision. It was very far away, and she needed extra care to notice the existence of a beastkin in a cave.

However, she wasn't sure if it was a snow fox beastkin or just a random beastkin covered in a lot of snow.

'Master Elysia's eyes are truly extraordinary.' Rhea muttered in her mind and went to follow the others to get into the carriage.

After that, they flew away in the direction Elysia pointed. Yet, they did not land or approach the beastkin in the cave. They just floated a few meters above the mouth of the cave in a blanket of invisibility.

"Wow, he's a white fox, isn't he? He is just using a cheap disguise. So, I can confirm that he is one of the Snow Fox Clan! How did you find him from that far away, Ely? Not to mention there's a blizzard here." Sylvia clapped her hands and put her hands on Elysia's shoulders with a big smile on her face.

"Hehe, I already told you~" Elysia gave a wink.

"Uhm, he is indeed a snow fox, but what are we going to do now? What would happen if he only had the same fate as me four hundred years ago?" Yuuki twiddled her fingers as she looked into the cave with her magic vision.

"I have a different opinion. I can't explain it, but he doesn't have that lonely or melancholy aura like when we first met you, Yuuki. With how he was dressed and theose equipments, I believe that he was out on a mission and stuck here because of the blizzard." Rhea raised her hand for attention.

"I see... So, we can use him to guide us to the Snow Fox Clan's hidden village?" Yuuki loosened her shoulders.

"Wow, that's not quite effective. I can explain why, but allow me to state my idea. So it's like this--" Elysia was raised her hand and instantly got everyone's attention. She then explained her idea, which she thought would be very effective in the current situation.

"Okay, I'll do it." Yuuki clenched her fists firmly. She readily agreed without a second thought since it was Elysia who proposed.

"We'll support and help you from behind, Yuuki. I'll talk to you via telepathy, but make sure you only reply to me via the same channel. Make sure to be as natural as possible. You're a lofty snow fox wandering around, understand?" Elysia checked Yuuki's appearance up and down as she emphasized several essential points.

"Understood. Therefore, allow me to excuse myself." Yuuki gave a slight bow of respect.

After getting a nod from Elysia, Yuuki immediately got out of the carriage. She landed a hundred meters from the mouth of the cave and walked over at a leisurely pace.

Yet, she suddenly felt cold and shivered. She hugged her body reflexively.

Yuuki forgot that she was a snow fox who couldn't stand cold temperatures, and she wasn't wearing her special white robe either! Fortunately, the cold only lasted for a moment because a mysterious yet invisible warmth suddenly enveloped her entire body.

Yuuki then looked up at the sky with a grateful look. Even though she couldn't see the invisible carriage, she knew that many eyes were watching her every move.

At that moment, a male snow fox was trying his best to make a bonfire with makeshift tools. With some effort, he finally managed to create fire to burn the firewood.

*Tack*

"Phew... Finally the bonfire is ready." The vibrant male snow fox wiped his non-existent sweat with a happy smile on his face.

*Growl*

A rumbling sound suddenly sounded from his stomach. He forgot that he hadn't eaten since last night.

"Ugh, I'm so hungry. I'm too engrossed to finish my mission as fast as I can... But, yeah! Time to grill some frozen meat." The vibrant male snow fox stroked his belly. He then rummaged his Space Bag and took out some frozen meat, and grilled them.

After a few minutes, he immediately devoured the half-cooked meat because he was already so hungry. He then looked out of the cave. "I wonder when this blizzard will end. If it's like this, I can't see the road and the direction properly. I seem to be lost. I hope no one follows me. But, I'm confident in my disguise. Yeah, nobody's gonna know that I'm-" He clenched his fists full of confidence.

He then devoured all of his food like a wild beast. However, a strange voice suddenly sounded in his ears. He went silent tight away and stared intently at the mouth of the cave with complete vigilance.

*Tap* *Tap* *Tap*

The sound of muffled footsteps on the thick snow sounded closer and closer. He didn't know who it was, but someone was clearly heading to this cave.

"A wild beast or a beastkin? Could it be that it came to this cave because it also wanted to shelter from the blizzard like me?" The vibrant male snow fox marveled in a whisper-like voice. He took out his white dagger and took a defensive stance.

Even though he was confident in his abilities, he was nervous because he didn't know who was approaching yet. By the time the unknown entered his scanning zone, it was a two-legged beastkin.

"..." The vibrant male snow fox was stunned at once when he saw a figure who had just arrived at the mouth of the cave.

It was a flawless beauty with long, snow-white hair and skin as beautiful as sparkling silk. She wore a fancy bluish-white fancy dress in this blizzard as if the cold air had no effect on her at all.

The vibrant male snow fox seemed to fall into a stupor to witness such outstanding beauty. Yet, his focus quickly fell on the fox ears on the beauty's head and the tails on her lower back.

"!!!" The vibrant male snow fox was alarmed, but not for something with negative repercussions.

'Yuuki, looks like he has realized something. Enter stage two now.' Elysia conveyed her order via telepathy as she promised.

'Understood.' Yuuki didn't need to question anything because she trusted Elysia so much. She only glanced at the man in the cave with a flat expression, then she continued her steps again.

It only took no more than three seconds for the vibrant male snow fox to run out of the cave. "Please wait a moment, young lady! You're a snow fox, right? But, why can't I remember someone as beautiful as you? Not to mention, you have a high rank..."

The vibrant male snow fox stared at the beauty's seven tails once again.

"..." Yuuki didn't answer and continued walking away.

"Err... Excuse me, I'm talking to you. It's very rude of you to ignore me. Would you like to take shelter in a cave while waiting for this blizzard to subside? Hey, I have no ill intentions. Uhm, young lady, do you can you hear me? Hello?" The vibrant male snow fox continued to talk while following the girl.

"I don't know you. Please don't follow me. I'm on my way to the village." Yuuki answered flatly without turning around.

"!?" The vibrant male snow fox widened his eyes to hear that soft yet lofty voice. Apart from that, he also felt a little relieved.

Even so, he decided to run after the beauty and stood in front of her.