Above the mage

Chapter 212 Another Mountaineer

Under the cover of night, Ellaheim exudes a tough aura in the cold wind.

The snow-capped mountains of Dandong bring a biting chill to the city, but also give it a cold and lonely charm.

This is rare in other places.

The streets and alleys were deserted, and the occasional footsteps echoed in the emptiness, adding to the desolation.

In this era lacking nighttime entertainment, as evening falls, everything in the city enters a long period of rest, and most people go to bed and fall fast asleep.

But this is not the case in Euraheim, where nighttime far outweighs daytime; it has its own unique rhythm.

After all, in a place like this, if you go to sleep as soon as it gets dark, you'll need to sleep for at least thirteen or fourteen hours a day.

Due to its climate and geography, Ellaheim has an extremely rich tavern culture.

As soon as it gets dark, many of the taverns on the street start to get lively.

Gaode walked along the icy, slippery, and narrow streets, observing the small city at the foot of the snow-capped mountain with great interest.

Actually, calling it a small town would be more accurate.

Because Ellaheim is really small, it doesn't even have subdivided districts; the entire city is concentrated on one street.

Only a few places on this street still have lights on.

Through the light, some figures could be vaguely seen.

Occasionally, bursts of noise could be heard coming from these lit areas.

The occasional bursts of music brought some liveliness and joy to the city that was constantly howling in the cold wind.

Those are all taverns.

Gao De carefully examined the signs hanging on the buildings on both sides of the street as he walked.

After walking for about twenty minutes, almost leaving the street, Gaode finally saw the destination that suited his needs.

It was an old tavern.

But below the tavern's sign, there was a dark wooden board hanging.

The wooden board had a few messy and illegible words written on it: "Accommodation".

Under the dim light, the characters appeared hazy and blurry. If it weren't for Gaode Maps' highly adaptive dark vision capabilities, it would have been impossible to make out the characters.

This is clearly a tavern that also offers accommodation.

Turn right from the main street and go up a few dilapidated stone steps to the front of the tavern.

They were two thick stone slabs, unusual in material and weight, ensuring they wouldn't creak in the cold wind.

The stone door was covered with greasy grime.

Next to the gate were two enormous flowerpots, also made by hollowing out stones.

The flowerpots don't contain any flowers, grasses, or trees—most decorative plants can't survive in such places.

There were only two copper rods stuck straight in the flowerpot, with a dried-up dead rat tied to the left rod.

On the right, a dead venomous snake is coiled around the copper rod of the flowerpot.

"Snakes and Rats".

That is the name of this tavern.

With a thought, Gao De made no move, and the stone door opened automatically, just like the automatic doors in the shopping mall in his previous life.

【Switch-on technique】.

He strolled in.

The biting cold wind was kept out by the tavern's thick stone walls, and dissipated considerably.

In front of the tavern was a courtyard, where some simple horse-drawn carriages were parked haphazardly or rather, in a messy manner.

There were livestock pens on both sides, with a dozen or so horses grazing on the dry and sparse fodder inside.

In the very center of the courtyard stands a three-story stone building, a rarity in Ellaheim.

Dim, yellowish lights flickered inside the stone building.

The stone building is the inn attached to this tavern.

Next to the three-story stone building, there is a downward stone staircase.

Faint sounds of commotion and laughter could be heard drifting out from within.

Yes, the "Snake and Rat" tavern is an extremely rare underground tavern.

The names are quite fitting, as both snakes and rats do indeed burrow underground, Gaode thought to himself.

Compared to the three-story stone building, this underground tavern is the owner's "main business".

After thinking for a moment, Gao De first stepped onto the underground staircase.

Walking down these steps for a few meters, and pushing open an old oak door, a warm atmosphere mixed with the aroma of wine and food wafted out, making Gao De, who had just been walking on the bitterly cold street, feel a jolt.

This is a large tavern that can accommodate hundreds of people. The interior space is quite spacious, with a floor paved with large stone slabs in the center.

The surrounding area features a bar counter and tables and chairs built from logs from the snow-capped mountains.

Behind the bar, a brewer was busy operating the old brewing equipment.

The walls were covered with all sorts of decorations, including deer antlers, wolf heads, and so on.

In the corner fireplace, the flames were burning brightly.

At this time of day, the tavern was already quite lively.

Under the dim lighting, there were at least forty or fifty people gathered inside.

These locals, dressed in heavy fur cloaks, gathered in small groups, holding huge horn cups, with large jugs of bubbling golden barley beer on the table.

The sound of Gao De pushing open the door when he entered caught the attention of many people in the tavern, who instinctively turned their heads to look.

They saw that he was a handsome young man, and knowing that he was from out of town, they looked him over a couple more times before turning back.

"Another out-of-towner has arrived."

Someone whispered something to each other.

In Ellaheim, there weren't many outsiders, but there were still quite a few. Most of them were sailors, all of them big and burly.

It's rare to see someone like Gaode, traveling alone, young, and not particularly robust, from out of town, which is why they took a second look.

Gao De ignored the scrutinizing gazes and walked to the bar.

"What do you have to eat?" he asked the bartender, rubbing his stomach.

The food on the ship was not very good, and Gao De was already craving it.

Behind the bar was a burly man with a full beard, wiping a horn cup with a yellowed towel, exuding a rugged charm unique to the locals.

Upon hearing Gao De's question, the burly man took out a clean horn cup from the side, scooped out a large spoonful of golden liquid from the barrel, filled the cup perfectly, slammed it onto the bar, and then pushed it to Gao De.

"Dark beer and roasted venison, plus a complimentary cod bread, totaling 3 silver and 6 bronze."

Gao De reached into his pocket, rummaged around, and then took out four silver coins and placed them on the bar.

The burly man deftly pocketed the four silver coins, rummaged in the drawer, gave Gao De six copper coins in change, and then called out to the kitchen behind him, "One serving of roasted venison and sturgeon bread."

Gao De carefully put away the change, but instead of leaving immediately, he asked, "What do I need to prepare if I want to climb Dandong Snow Mountain?"

Although it has "adaptive" features, Gaode Maps is not preparing to traverse the Irvine Mountains without any modifications.

If people do not respect nature, nature will punish them.

"Climbing Dandong Snow Mountain?" The bartender gave Gao De a suspicious look, but didn't say anything more. Instead, he casually replied, "You need to prepare warm clothes first, and you also need to buy a waterproof jacket."

"If you encounter rain or snow on the mountain and don't have a waterproof jacket, your body won't be able to stay dry, and you'll quickly be at risk of hypothermia."

"Then you'll also need a pair of hiking boots," the bartender glanced at Gao De's shoes and continued, "Firstly, to protect your feet from the cold and moisture, and secondly, because the snowy mountain roads are slippery, hiking boots need to provide enough grip."

"I recommend you check out the old cripple's shop; his goatskin hiking boots are the best in Ellaheim."

"In addition, trekking poles can provide you with support and balance, reducing the burden on your legs. Ropes and hooks can help you secure your body on steep snow slopes. You should also prepare at least one crampon and one ice axe, as there are still many snow-covered slopes on Dandong Snow Mountain that are difficult to bypass."

"You'll also need a sleeping bag, a fire starter, a map, some easy-to-carry dry rations, a navigation tool, and some simple cooking utensils and fuel to cook food and get hot water to keep your body warm if necessary."

After finishing his speech, the bartender couldn't help but add, "These external equipment are important, but if you want to climb Dandong Snow Mountain, the climber's own physical fitness is even more important."

Clearly, he was questioning Gaode's capabilities.

Gao De pretended not to understand the bartender's well-intentioned reminder, and would never say that his goal was not just to climb, but to traverse.

He picked up the large horn-shaped mug of dark beer and sat down at a small, currently empty table next to the counter.

After sitting down, Gao De mentally reviewed the geographical knowledge about the Erwin Laya Mountains that he had learned at Cyrus Academy.

Dandong Snow Mountain, also known as Danfeng, is the main peak of the Irwin-Rayja mountain range. It is located in the middle section of the Irwin-Rayja mountain range, and its highest rock surface can reach 9000 meters.

Thousands of years ago, Dandong Snow Mountain already had many mountaineers who challenged it, and more than a dozen mountaineering routes were created one after another.

This includes a complete mountain route into the North, discovered and pioneered by a 4th-circle mage.

And Gaode's target is this northern mountain climbing route.

This is no simple matter. At least under current technological conditions, it would be impossible without the existence of supernatural powers like magic.

Of course, for Gao De, who has only recently been promoted to a first-ring mage, he mainly relies on his expertise rather than magic.

"With the [Spark Technique], I don't need to worry about the fire source; with the [Northward Technique], I can skip the navigation tool; and with the [Water Creation Technique], I don't need to worry about the water source."

"As for ice claws, although the [Cat Claw] spell can be used as ice claws when necessary, it is only suitable for special situations. It is still necessary to conserve mana and have one on hand."

"Aylaheim is located at the foot of Dandong Snow Mountain. Given the geographical conditions and climate limitations here, we might still be able to find spell recipes for [Ice Skating] or [Walking on Ice]," Gaode thought carefully for a moment and decided to explore the city again tomorrow.

[Ice Skating] and [Walking on Ice] are not rare spells; they are more of a utility spell.

Ellaheim is undoubtedly one of the places where these two spells can best exert their functions.

Just as you can find many shops selling "mountaineering equipment" in Ellaheim, logically, these two spell recipes should also have a relatively high probability of appearing here.

If he mastered one of these two spells, he would be even more confident in his journey to cross the Dandong Snow Mountain.

However, if it cannot be found, Gaode will not cancel its plan.

As he pondered, a waitress from the kitchen brought over a large platter of roasted venison and cod bread and placed it in front of Gao De.

Having not had hot food for a long time, Gao De was immediately whetted by the strong aroma, and his eyes lit up as soon as the food was served.

Pick up a piece of venison with a fork, its skin roasted to a golden brown and crispy, and take a bite. The juices burst in your mouth, blending perfectly with the local spicy seasonings, bringing a warm sensation to your body while adding a touch of aroma.

The cod bread was also delicious, with a crispy outer layer and a delicate, fresh cod filling. The two complemented each other perfectly, making it an unforgettable experience.

"There are more and more young people who don't know their place these days. Just yesterday, a clueless kid came wanting to climb a mountain, and today another kid who hasn't even grown his first hair yet has arrived."

"Is Dandong Snow Mountain so easy to conquer? Even the most experienced local guides can't guarantee success every time."

Just as Gao De was engrossed in his meal, a few locals at a table to his left seemed to have overheard his conversation with the bartender and whispered a few complaints to their companions.

"He didn't bring any weapons, his clothes are so casual, and he even asked what he needed to prepare for climbing. He's obviously a newbie who has never climbed a snow mountain before," another sneered.

"Yeah, at least that kid yesterday was well-prepared, but this guy is just coming to his death."

"Not necessarily. A newbie like that might get scared and come down as soon as he gets up the mountain."

"Those who drown are usually good swimmers. It's the newbies who retreat quickly and survive. Experienced climbers, on the other hand, often reach the summit, realize they can't go on, and by the time they want to turn back, it's too late."

Although the locals lowered their voices, they didn't lower them too much, seemingly intentionally so that Gaode could hear them.

In addition, the locals tend to be loud, so Gaode could hear their conversation clearly.

Gao De was not bothered by their sneers.

Because what the other person said was true, he really was a newbie.

If it weren't for [Adaptive Technology], he would never have dared to attempt to cross the Irvine Mountains.

That's not commendable courage, it's courting death.

"A young punk who wanted to go hiking just came yesterday." It was this statement that caught his attention more.

Although he was a novice, Gaode knew that most mountaineers who challenged Dandong Snow Mountain went in teams so they could look after each other.

You don't see anyone like him climbing the mountain alone for several years.

"He's probably a mage too," Gao De thought to himself.

Going up a mountain alone means either you have something to rely on, or you're out of your mind.

Clearly, the former is more likely.

In this world, the greatest reliance for an individual is clearly magic.

Since this person is also preparing to challenge the mountain climbing alone, Gao De is almost certain that the other party must have a lot of functional spells suitable for mountain climbing in his spell repertoire.

Thinking this, Gao De swallowed the last bite of cod bread, then picked up his horn and downed the dark beer in one gulp.

I must say, this local specialty dark beer tastes pretty good.

It has a unique, rich malt flavor with a hint of caramel and chocolate sweetness. The taste is mellow and smooth with a touch of carbonation, making it an extremely unique flavor.

Then, Gao De put down his horn cup, stood up, walked over to the table of locals who had just been chirped on by crickets, grinned, revealing a set of white teeth, and asked:

"Could you find out where that young punk you mentioned who came yesterday is staying now?"

(End of this chapter)