Above the mage!

Chapter 212 Another Climber

Shrouded in the night, Ellaheim exudes a tough temperament in the cold wind.

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

This is rare in other places.

There are few people in the streets and alleys, and the occasional footsteps echoing in the empty space add a sense of loneliness.

In this era of lack of nighttime entertainment, everything in the city usually comes to a long rest at night, and most people go to bed and sleep soundly.

But this is not the case in Ellaheim, where the night far outweighs the day. It has its own unique rhythm.

After all, in a place like this, if you go to bed as soon as it gets dark, you will have to sleep at least thirteen or fourteen hours a day.

Due to its climate and geography, Ellaheim has a very strong tavern culture.

As soon as it gets dark, the many bars on the street start to get busy.

Gode ​​walked on the icy, slippery and narrow streets, observing with interest the small city at the foot of the snow-capped mountains.

In fact, it would be more appropriate to call it a small town.

Because Ellaheim is really not big, there are not even any subdistricts, and the entire city is concentrated on one street.

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

Through the light, some figures can be vaguely seen.

From time to time, bursts of noise could be heard coming from the places where the lights were on.

The occasional sound of music brings some liveliness and joy to this city that keeps sobbing in the cold wind.

Those are pubs.

Gao De walked forward, carefully looking at the signs hanging on the buildings on both sides of the street.

After walking for about twenty minutes, when he was almost leaving the street, Gao De finally saw a target that suited his taste.

It was an old pub.

But below the pub sign, there is a black painted wooden board.

There were a few messy and sloppy words written on the wooden board: "Accommodation".

In the dim light, they appear hazy and blurry. If it weren't for Gaode's extremely high ability to see in the dark, it would be impossible to see these two words.

Apparently this is a pub with accommodation services attached.

Turning right from the main street and walking up a few dilapidated stone steps, God arrived at the main entrance of the tavern.

They were two thick stone slabs, the unusual material and weight ensured that they would not creak in the cold wind.

The slate door was covered with greasy grime.

Next to the gate, there are two huge flower pots that are also made by hollowing out stones.

There were no flowers, plants or trees planted in the flowerpots - ordinary decorative flowers and plants could not survive in such a place.

There were just two copper sticks stuck straight into the flowerpot, and a dried-up dead mouse was tied to the left copper stick.

On the copper stick of the flowerpot on the right is a dead poisonous snake.

"Snakes and Rats".

This is the name of this pub.

Gao De's mind moved, and without any movement, the slate door opened automatically inexplicably, just like the automatic door of the shopping mall in his previous life.

【Switch technique】

He walked in.

The biting cold wind was isolated by the thick stone walls of the tavern and dissipated a lot in an instant.

In front of the tavern was a yard, where some simple carriages were parked in a very random or messy manner.

There were cattle pens on both sides, with dozens of horses grazing on the dry and limited grass inside.

In the center of the courtyard is a three-story stone building that is extremely rare in Ellaheim.

Dim and 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 stone staircase leading downwards.

There were faint sounds of noise and laughter coming from it.

Yes, The Snake and the Rat is a rare underground tavern.

The name is quite appropriate, as poisonous snakes and rats both dig holes underground, Gao De thought to himself.

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

Gao De thought about it and stepped into the underground stairs.

Walking down the stairs for a few meters and pushing open an old oak door, a warm breath mixed with the aroma of wine and food hit him in the face, which made Gaode, who had just been walking on the freezing street, shudder all over.

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

Surrounding it are a bar counter, tables and chairs built with snow mountain logs.

Behind the bar, a winemaker is busy operating the ancient winemaking equipment.

The walls are covered with various decorations, including deer antlers, wolf heads, etc.

A fire was burning in the fireplace in the corner.

At this time, the tavern was already very lively.

Under the dim light, there were about forty or fifty people gathered there.

These locals, wearing heavy fur cloaks, gathered in groups of three or five, holding huge horn cups, and there was a large jug of bubbling golden barley beer on the table.

The sound of Godel pushing the door when he came in attracted the attention of many people in the tavern, who subconsciously turned around to look.

They saw a handsome young man and knew he was from outside the area. After looking at him for a few more seconds, they turned back.

"Another outsider has arrived"

Someone whispered something.

There weren't many outsiders in Ellaheim, but there were quite a few. Most of them were sailors, and they were all big and strong.

It is rare to see a foreigner like Gao De who travels alone, is not very old, and is not strong in build, so they took a second look at him.

Gao De ignored the scrutiny and walked to the bar.

"What's there to eat?" He touched his stomach and asked the bartender. The food on the boat was not satisfactory, and Gao De's mouth had been craving for a long time.

Behind the bar was a big bearded man who was wiping a horn cup with a yellowed towel. He exuded the tough temperament unique to the locals.

Hearing Gao De's question, the big man took out a clean ox horn cup from the side, scooped out a large spoonful of golden wine from the wine barrel, just filling the ox horn cup, pressed it on the bar with a snap, and then pushed it to Gao De.

"Dark beer and roasted venison, with a serving of codfish bread, totaling 3 silver and 6 bronze."

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

The big man quickly put away the four silver coins, fumbled in the drawer, and gave Gode six copper coins. Then he shouted to the kitchen in the back, "One serving of roast venison and sturgeon bread."

Gao De put away the money he got back and did not leave immediately. Instead, he asked again: "If you want to climb Dandong Snow Mountain, what do you need to prepare?"

Although it has [Adaptive], Gaode is not prepared to cross the Irving Raya Mountains nakedly.

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

"Climbing Dandong Snow Mountain?" The bartender looked at Gao De with suspicion, but did not say anything more. Instead, he replied, "First, prepare warm clothes and buy a waterproof coat."

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

"Then you'll need a pair of hiking boots," the bartender glanced at the shoes on Goder's feet and continued, "First, to protect your feet from the cold and moisture, and second, the snowy mountain roads are slippery, so hiking boots are needed to provide sufficient grip."

"I recommend you go to the old cripple's shop. His goat leather 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 stabilize your body on steep snow slopes. You should also prepare at least one crampon and ice axe. There are still many slopes on the Dandong Snow Mountain that are covered with ice and snow and difficult to bypass."

"You will also need a sleeping bag, a fire, a map, some easy-to-carry dry food, navigation tools, simple cooking utensils and fuel to cook food and hot water to replenish body temperature when necessary."

After finishing speaking in one breath, the bartender finally couldn't help but add one more sentence, "These external equipment are important, but if you want to climb Dandong Snow Mountain, the climber's own physical fitness is more important."

Obviously, he was doubting Gao De's ability.

Gao De pretended not to understand the bartender's kind reminder, and did not say that his goal was not only to climb, but to cross.

He picked up the large horn mug of dark beer and sat down at a small table next to the counter which was not occupied yet.

After sitting down, Gode reviewed in his mind the geographical knowledge about the Erwenlaya Mountains that he had learned in Seres College.

Dandong Snow Mountain, referred to as Danfeng, is the main peak of the Ewenlaya Mountains. It is located in the middle section of the Ewenlaya Mountains. The highest rock surface can reach a height of 9000 meters.

As early as thousands of years ago, there were already many climbers who challenged the Dandong Snow Mountain and successively opened up more than a dozen climbing routes.

This includes a complete northern climbing route into the North, which was discovered and pioneered by a 4th-ring wizard.

Gaode’s goal is this northern climbing route.

This is not easy, at least under current technological conditions. If it weren't for the existence of extraordinary power like magic, this would be an impossible thing.

Of course, for Gaode, who had just been promoted to a first-ring wizard, he mainly relied on his own expertise rather than spells.

"With the [Spark Technique], I don't have to worry about the fire problem. With the [North Compass Technique], I don't need navigation tools. The [Water Making Technique] means I don't have to worry about the water source problem.
"As for the ice claws, although I have the [Cat Claw Technique] that can be used as ice claws when necessary, it is only suitable for special situations. I'd better save my mana as much as possible. I still have to prepare one."

"Ellaheim is located at the foot of Dandong Snow Mountain. Given the geographical conditions and climate here, perhaps we can find spell formulas for [Ice Skating] or [Ice Walking]." God thought carefully and decided to walk around the city again tomorrow.

[Ice Skating] and [Ice Walking] are not rare spells, but more functional spells.

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

Just like you can find many shops selling "mountaineering equipment" in Ellaheim, it stands to reason that these two spell recipes should also appear here with a relatively high probability.

If he could master one of these two spells, he would be more confident in his journey across the Dandong Snow Mountain.

But if he can't find it, Gaode will not cancel his plan.

While he was thinking, the maid from the kitchen came over with a large plate of roast venison and cod bread and placed it in front of God.

Gao De, who hadn't eaten hot food for a long time, was immediately aroused by the strong aroma. As soon as the food was served, his eyes lit up.

Use a fork to pick up a piece of venison with a golden and crispy skin. Take a bite and the juice will burst in your mouth, blending perfectly with the local spicy seasoning, adding fragrance and warmth to the body.

The cod bread also tastes good. The outer layer of bread is toasted crispy, while the cod meat inside is delicate and delicious. The two complement each other and are very memorable.

"Nowadays, there are more and more young people who are ignorant of the immensity of the world. Yesterday, a young man came to climb the mountain, and today another one came who hasn't even grown all his hair yet."

“Is Dandong Snow Mountain so easy to challenge? Even the most experienced local guides cannot guarantee success every time.”

Just as Gao De was concentrating on eating, a few locals sitting at a few tables to his left seemed to have heard Gao De's conversation with the bartender, and they lowered their voices to complain to their companions.

"He didn't bring any weapons, and his clothes are so casual. He even asked for what to prepare for climbing. It's obvious that he is a rookie who has never climbed a snowy mountain before." Another one sneered.

"Yes, that brat yesterday was at least fully prepared, but this guy is just here to die."

"Not necessarily. This kind of rookie might be scared off as soon as he gets up the mountain."

"Those who drown are those who are good at swimming. On the contrary, it is these rookies who retreat quickly and survive. Those experienced climbers often reach the top and find that they can't hold on any longer. When they want to retreat, it is too late."

Although the locals lowered their voices, they didn't do it too softly, as if they wanted Gao De to hear them intentionally.

In addition, the locals had loud voices, so Gao De could hear the conversation between the people clearly.

Gao De was not annoyed by their ridicule.

Because what the other party said was right, he was indeed a rookie.

If it weren't for [Adaptation], he would never dare to challenge crossing the Erwenlaya Mountains.

That is not courage, but seeking death.

"A young man who wanted to climb the mountain just came here yesterday." He was more concerned about this sentence.

Although he is a rookie, Gaode still knows that most climbers who challenge the Dandong Snow Mountain travel in teams and can take care of each other.

It has been several years since we have seen someone like him climbing alone.

"He is most likely a wizard," Gao De said secretly.

Climbing the mountain alone means either you have something to rely on or there is something wrong with your brain.

Obviously, the former is more likely.

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

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

Thinking of this, Gode swallowed the last bite of codfish bread, then picked up the horn cup and drank the dark beer in it.

I have to say, this local specialty dark beer tastes really good.

It has a unique rich malt flavor with a hint of caramel and chocolate sweetness, a mellow and steady taste, and a certain sense of carbonation. The flavor is extremely unique.

Then, Gao De put down the ox-horn cup, stood up, walked to the table of locals who had just been cricketing behind his back, grinned and showed his white teeth, and asked:

"Can you tell me where the young man who came here yesterday is now?"

(End of this chapter)