I Became a 6★ Gacha Character-Chapter 445: End of the Rainbow 5

Traveling further north with Han Se-ah proved more eventful than expected. So much so that anyone would suspect these were scripted events causing unnecessary trouble.

In the second village, carelessly mentioning supply raiding led to beatings, stonings, and beheadings mounted on poles. Between the third and fourth villages, broken wagon wheels brought the caravan to a halt.

Bandits (allegedly), broken carriage wheels, avalanche-buried roads, wandering monster attacks, peddlers trying to sneak into supply lines, sudden blizzard delays...

"What the hell is this bullshit? We just wanted to head north, why's every step of the way such a clusterfuck?!"

-At this point BB Games must be trying to stop Han Se-ah from reaching #1 lol

-BB Games = Demon King's Army conspiracy theory lololololol

-How does someone manage one incident per village, she really lives an interesting life lol

-As expected of a protagonist, attracting trouble wherever she goes lololololol

-At this rate when the quest ends will the knight order break through floor 60?

According to Olek, what should have taken four days took over a week, causing viewers' outcries to be drowned out by Han Se-ah's whining. Unwilling to admit her own incompetence, she insisted it was all due to events.

...But thinking about it, these probably weren't scripted events.

The bandits hadn't attacked us but were executed in front of us, no monster waves struck while we dealt with broken wheels, and the peddlers seeking safety and blizzards just caused delays.

This couldn't be an event - wasn't it just Han Se-ah's clumsiness messing up the quest route?

Though traces of House Wesley remained in the north and Roland Bretagne's past was woven in, the caravan's delays led to nothing eventful - we just arrived slowly.

"We should arrive tomorrow."

"That took quite a while."

Was this hardship from a 4★ character quest, or tragedy brought by streamer Han Se-ah's clumsiness? Most viewers blamed Han Se-ah's clumsiness.

I voted for Han Se-ah's clumsiness too. Setting aside Olek-Katie's subtle connection and my past, how else could a supply caravan following a simple route suffer daily incidents if not for her clumsiness?

After such an eventful journey, we finally reached the frontline.

"Here we are, young master!"

Following the merchant's call, I stuck my head out of the carriage into a biting wind. Unlike the domain which felt inhabited, here the savage wind clawing at our skin clearly marked this as pre-settlement territory.

Barracks devoid of any homely feeling. Clearly a place with no ordinary residents, just soldiers and mercenaries.

A harsh place populated only by soldiers, knights, mercenaries, and occasional mages shopping for monster materials. When beautiful women emerged from the carriages, men's eyes went wide. Meanwhile our companions stretched before shrinking from the cold wind.

"Finally arrived? The north really isn't peaceful."

"Lots of incidents in such a harsh place."

The merchant had confidently claimed it would take three days at most, yet we took almost ten - complaints were inevitable.

While Han Se-ah whined to viewers with exaggerated tears, our companions had just watched the caravan handle incident aftermaths, growing frustrated. Even kind-hearted Irene nodded with an awkward smile at comments about the lengthy journey.

Anyway, whether it was Han Se-ah grumbling for the camera or Grace complaining while stretching stiff muscles, they were rare beauties at this northernmost military camp, instantly drawing soldiers' gazes.

Fortunately, the soldiers must have served in the north long enough to recognize Olek and Alisa beside us. Their questioning looks about why beauties had suddenly appeared quickly changed to wondering why young master had come here, their eyes softening.

Well, no matter how full of youthful vigor and pent-up energy from military service, few would dare act inappropriately toward nobles.

...Though there's always one who does, hopefully none would appear here.

"Young master, since you mentioned heading further north, I've had the quartermaster prepare sleds. Take care and may you achieve your goals."

"Thanks as always."

As everyone dawdled getting off the carriage, stretching stiff bodies and coughing from the sharp cold air, Olek continued talking with the supply manager.

His quick efficiency showed why he'd earned the stern Margrave's trust. He'd prepared three dog sleds for our party of ten, and not knowing about our inventories, had stocked plenty of pemmican and solid fuel, appearing quite reliable.

Pemmican - preserved food made of powdered meat kneaded with fat. Though rarely eaten since magitech devices became common, it remained standard adventurer fare in the north. Being dehydrated meat powder mixed with fat, it wouldn't freeze solid, making it convenient for cold regions.

"Ah, here they come. Split five each between two sleds, and that large sled carries food and fuel. Please take care."

"Wow, these dogs are more like wolves!"

As creatures closer to wolf-dogs than Siberian huskies bounded over with lolling tongues, Han Se-ah rushed over excitedly while companions watched fondly. Thus began our northern exploration.

※

"First, we head northwest from here!"

"Drive that way, we'll follow!"

Leaving curious soldiers' gazes behind, our northern exploration began immediately. Having already wasted much time getting here, no one objected to Han Se-ah's suggestion to depart right away.

Eight dogs per sled. With beasts big enough to be called monster dogs rather than wolf-dogs, they effortlessly plowed through snow pulling sleds loaded with five people or what looked like 2m high cargo. At least without blizzards, we could converse between parallel sleds.

"Wow, never thought I'd ride a dog sled."

"Dogs pulling sleds. But aren't they too big for dogs?"

"They seem bigger than Kingdom dogs, maybe descendants of Dire Wolf monsters?"

Since none of our party members knew how to drive sleds, the retired adventurer trio took the reins while the rest split between sleds.

Though Olek and Alisa seemed to know how impressive northern sled dogs were, our companions were startled by dogs larger than ponies, chattering enthusiastically despite the cold.

How to put it - they say when three women gather, dishes break. With three women plus a female streamer, the endless conversation might surpass mere dish-breaking.

As I enjoyed what felt like simultaneously watching a gaming video and female streamer radio while browsing the internet through my hologram window, Olek sitting beside me tapped my arm.

"The nights are getting longer now! Should we set up camp early, Sir Roland?!"

"Already?"

Sitting behind Olek and Alisa as shields to browse comfortably, I glanced around to see the retired adventurers nodding agreement.

Though my internet clock showed it wasn't even 5 PM, there was no reason for pride in such conditions. When I nodded agreement, the dog sleds turned slightly toward distant rocks.

"Hey, where are we going?"

"Setting up camp!"

"Already?"

Han Se-ah questioned this too, having checked the real clock while chatting with viewers, but even she wouldn't ignore NPCs while playing hero.

We arrived at an enormous boulder oddly placed in the middle of the snowfield. In modern society it would make a perfect tourist attraction - quite impressive how it blocked the blizzards.

"Well then, let's start a fire. But um, the tents we'll sleep in..."

"Ah, here they are."

"Whoa, items from thin air?!"

"So those stories were true!"

"I'll handle cooking, could you pass the pemmican?"

The retired adventurers unleashed the dogs to rest, tossed them what looked like jerky pieces, and started pulling solid fuel from the luggage pile.

Though there was brief chaos when sleeping bags and tents popping from thin air startled them into tumbling in the snow, our first day in the snowfields passed peacefully.

They lit the solid fuel and filled pot after pot from inventory with snow. When pemmican hit the heated pot's melted water, oils sizzled down with savory aromas. Being noble food, it seemed tasty enough even just melted without extra ingredients.

Of course, by medieval standards of "tasty," Han Se-ah's disgusted expression was inevitable.

Thus passed our peaceful first night.

"Attack! We're under attack!"

Just the first night.