Moonlight Sculptor: Dad is a Legend (44)

Wade was enduring extreme cold on Hellfire difficulty level 6.

During the day, when the sun was up, he rode a sled and roamed the icy continent.

The bitterly cold wind felt like it was tearing flesh from his body, and at night, ice storms swept the surroundings.

Crack-crack-crack!

At night, Wade cut ice blocks to build an igloo and shivered inside it.

The cold was so intense that not only his hands and feet but his entire body trembled.

His right pinky finger got frostbite.

Life force decreased by 20.

Accuracy of skills using hands decreased by 7%.

His fingers and toes swelled to three times their normal size due to frostbite.

“I remember when Morata was cold on Royal Road.”

(Back then, it wasn’t this cold. This place is murderous cold. If you sleep even briefly, you’ll die.)

“True. But having gone through a similar cold helps me adapt. Back then, heating in winter was a luxury.”

He stacked ice blocks to build the igloo.

The entrance was made just narrow enough to crawl through.

If he stayed outside, he would freeze to death, so he installed a fireplace and lit a piece of wood he carried for sculpting.

That alone made the air a little warmer.

Still, the cold at midnight was so extreme that he almost thought he’d freeze to death.

Outside the igloo, the cold air howled, freezing everything.

(Master, no matter how hard Hellfire difficulty is, I don’t think you’re meant to overcome this extreme environment like this.)

“Why?”

(You can’t withstand this environment with just your bare body.)

“There was no info, so I had no choice. If I knew, I’d have brought materials to make warm clothes.”

Even when challenging Hellfire level 6, he had been advised to buy cold-weather gear using points.

Still, Wade endured as much as possible with just his body.

“Points are life. I have to save them.”

At a minimum, he needed to wear a hat, earmuffs, upper and lower garments, gloves, and boots.

Because cold-weather gear must be worn on multiple parts, many hero points would be spent.

Accessories like necklaces, rings, and earrings that repel cold required legendary points to purchase.

“These items will be useless once the frozen land exploration ends, so I must save as much as possible.”

Crunch crunch.

Until the sun rose, Wade stayed in the igloo making sculptures but was satisfied with roughly shaping them due to his frostbitten hands.

Viewers were watching this scene.

He had been setting new records in Roanoke since Hellfire level 4.

— What difficulty is this…

— Hellfire level 6. Birds would freeze to death mid-flight.

— Even penguins would all freeze to death, wow.

— But Wade is still alive.

— Thanks to the igloo.

— The Eskimos would envy that architectural skill.

— Extreme survival ability. Stronger than cockroaches.

— Cockroaches wouldn’t build igloos in the first place.

Wade’s livestream had a steady flow of viewers.

Since he had been the first to clear everything in Roanoke after Hellfire level 3, it was a hot topic.

KMC media also broadcast bits of it, with many viewers showing interest in Brittina of Hellfire level 5, making her very popular.

— She’s the prettiest person I’ve seen in Roanoke.

— If you have that kind of face as a kid, you’re definitely going to be beautiful when grown.

— Her beauty is already perfected.

— She’s literally a national beauty who brought a country to ruin.

— Even I’d draw my sword if I had a girl that pretty.

— I only heard her voice before because she had no eyes.

— Isn’t Rossar just a side character in Hellfire level 5? Brittina was the real star.

— True.

— I’m a fan of Wade, but I have to admit.

— The history of Delphiria Empire has changed. Brittina is no longer a villain.

Brittina became even more talked about among viewers.

When Wade finished Hellfire level 5 and received the final reward, a description about Brittina was shown.

You have survived as a gladiator without your right arm and both eyes.

Your actions defending the young slave girl, Brittina, stirred excitement among the arena spectators and proved your valor by winning a 100-person battle.

However, your achievements did not become widely known.

“Slave girls can be replaced anytime, right?”

“A swordsman’s sword must carry weight.”

“For such a skilled warrior not to go to the battlefield and risk his life for a girl is meaningless.”

The Delphiria Empire worships rough warriors, so saving a girl was undervalued.

As time passed, your deeds created surprising results.

The gladiator Rossar’s fame spread, and the girl he protected became a great figure.

Brittina reached the final wall with her sword.

Many knights and heroes tried but failed to surpass that high level.

She also reached the final wall again with her bow.

She became the continent’s greatest swordsman and archer, all thanks to you.

All sword and bow skill proficiencies increase 20% faster.

Sword and bow power permanently increase by 10%.

Two unique traits are granted:

• Physical Regeneration: Even if part of the body suffers permanent loss, it regrows quickly. Life force decreases slightly.

• Strong Will: Reduces intimidation symptoms when fighting opponents far stronger than yourself.

By defeating Duke Benhasmer, additional rewards are granted.

All stats increase by 4.

You earned 10 legendary points.

Physical regeneration is an incredible trait allowing recovery even if body parts are lost during battle.

Holy and healing magic can create similar effects, but being able to do it oneself was important.

There will never be a need to fight without arms and eyes again.

Of course, temporary loss is possible.

“I didn’t think that protecting her was the key to the reward, even though I knew she was a historical figure.”

Wade hadn’t expected Brittina to be the star in Hellfire level 5.

(Master showed compassion and cared for the young girl.)

“If I’d known, I’d have treated her better.”

Feeding her was easy enough.

Bringing her out of the arena was a kindness possible because Croc was abundant then.

Still, giving her the sword and money when parting felt like a waste.

(The history of Delphiria Empire has changed a lot. Negative phrases about Brittina have completely disappeared from royal history books. The succession war, massacre, and demon worship no longer exist.)

“That must have influenced Roanoke.”

(As the region of Delphiria Empire developed, your name became well known.)

Brittina’s villain record that darkened history books has vanished.

“What happened to Brittina after we parted?”

(It is judged she worked as a mercenary after parting with you.)

(Brittina Hermon’s name was found in mercenary registration records. Rumors say she fought with sword and bow in several large battles against monsters.)

Mercenary records and northern rumors show Brittina was an excellent swordsman.

(However, records disappear after she reached her mid-twenties.)

“She didn’t die becoming a skeleton somewhere, did she?”

(Unknown yet. Considering she mastered archery as well, she likely survived for a long time afterward. If players continue their activities, Brittina’s whereabouts might be revealed.)

AI Versa was collecting real-time data on the 100 million players, including personal info, data, and video records.

If players heard or met Brittina during adventures or talking with residents, Versa knew.

(One more news: An Hyundo has started Roanoke.)

“Master?”

(He logged in after seeing you.)

(He chose Extreme difficulty and cleared level 3.)

An Hyundo was breaking through Extreme difficulty at a terrifying speed.

At Hellfire level 3, Luria, whom Wade invited, stayed at Evaruk Castle instead of returning to her original city.

“Will Wade really clear Hellfire difficulty and come here to meet his daughter?”

Considering Wade at Hellfire level 3, there was at least some possibility.

He showed overwhelming toughness to watchers.

The situation at Evaruk Castle, where she stayed, was a mess.

“Hiring workers. 1 gold per day, meals charged!”

“Falcon Guild is recruiting warriors. Dungeon hunting allowed but all loot must be surrendered.”

“Below level 30. Farm work available. We provide food.”

In Roanoke, big guilds monopolized good hunting grounds.

If a newcomer appeared after some growth, they’d be killed to avoid sharing prey.

“Level 50+ hunting grounds controlled.”

“B-grade hunting grounds can be used with a fee or 60% loot tribute.”

“Check hunting ground lists. Don’t complain if killed for unauthorized use.”

There might be backlash for high fees, but level was power.

— At least the guilds here are humane.

— Yeah, they give other players chances.

— In Binom Kingdom, it’s total control, so this place’s good.

Newcomers who couldn’t rush early had to submit to hunting ground control.

If they refused, they’d hunt far from the city or discover their own hunting grounds or dungeons.

“The big guilds’ attitude is getting worse.”

Luria thought about the moment Wade finished creating his character after clearing Hellfire difficulty.

Compared to players who passed Nightmare difficulty, he must have had incredible, awe-inspiring strength.

“He’s going to be amazing.”

But she worried too.

“Isn’t there a high chance he’ll fight the big guilds?”

More than six large guilds had formed an alliance controlling Evaruk Castle.

From their perspective, Wade’s arrival would be problematic and likely lead to war.

In old Roanoke, the character would just die, but now they lose their life.

“I don’t think many players will side with Wade.”

It’s not the medieval age; risking life to resist guilds or lords’ tyranny was hard.

Neutral players rarely had power surpassing ruling guilds.

Besides, Wade had a critical weakness.

He may have amazing traits and skills but his level was low compared to long-time Roanoke players.

Players in big guilds created characters on the Hard difficulty and grew for over a year.

“Even if Wade comes, he’s a noob…”

A big level gap is impossible to overcome.

“Well, whatever happens will happen.”

Luria decided to build a relationship with Daye and live well to score points with Wade.

Considering Wade might appear after clearing Hellfire difficulty, it was a reasonable investment.

“I’ll take responsibility for food and living.”

She tried to help Daye, who was doing dishwashing requests.

“I’m fine. I’m over level 100.”

“What? Really?”

Daye was far higher level than her.

Level 100+ players were rare even in big cities.

“I’m on a special quest right now.”

A woman collapsed from hunger on the street.

Roanoke was harsh; nobody shared even a piece of bread with the fallen.

Daye started a quest by giving simple food to her.

The quest evolved to nursing her and doing various part-time jobs for her.

“This is the 6th chained quest now.”

“6th?”

Luria was surprised.

Chained quests were rare in Roanoke, and the further you progressed, the more info and rewards you got.

A 6th chained quest was very rare.