Colin pulled the cork from the earthenware pot and looked at the liquid inside. At least it smelled like the real deal. ’Maybe Magic Potions in this world really don’t have an expiration date,’ he thought.

[Healing Potion]

[Effect: Restores 4-10 Life Value upon use]

Counting them up, there were six bottles of the Potion in total.

’Thinking about it, they were probably rations for those Skeleton officers. It’s a miracle they weren’t crushed in the avalanche.’

The last item was a Bronze Muscle Breastplate.

This piece of Armor was golden-brown, very close to the color of gold. The Armor itself looked a lot like the Bronze Muscle Breastplates Colin had seen in movies about Ancient Rome. Its surface was cast into the shape of detailed musculature, and the two armor plates protecting the chest and back were held together by leather straps.

At a glance, the area it protected seemed about the same as Colin’s Plate Armor. It didn’t have a Skirt Armor to protect the thighs or any Shoulder Guards.

[Centurion Standard Breastplate/Ordinary Magic Armor]

[Defense: 5]

[(Magic Effect Worn)]

"It looks like one of the Magic Items. You could probably wear and use it now, but the armor’s own Enchantment will need some maintenance before it works."

Ale squatted down and knocked on the surface of the armor. "The armor designs from that era were really strange."

"Can your[Repair Technique]fix it?" Colin asked.

Ale shook her head. "No, it needs a professional craftsman to repair it. It’ll probably cost a bit of money, too."

’This is the first piece of Magic Armor we’ve found, isn’t it?’

Colin gulped. ’And it looks like I’m the only one in the party who can use it.’

He looked at Ale and said, "In that case, we’ll take one Scroll and the Magic Armor. You can have all the Healing Potions and the other two Scrolls. Is that okay?"

"Got it." Ale nodded.

"I’ll make it up to you two with some stuff when we get back?" Colin said, turning to the other two.

After all, both items were things he could use. Since he was getting the biggest haul, it was only right to compensate the other two.

Kase said, "Then just treat us to a meal when we get back."

"Then I want a piece of cake. The kind from one of those pastry shops." Orelia licked her lips. "I saw those little cakes that look just like clouds. I’ve wanted to try one for a while now."

"You guys are getting the short end of the stick," Colin said.

"Didn’t you just say that Magic Items should be given to the most suitable person?" Ale asked, tilting her head. "So why are you saying they got a bad deal now?"

"That’s just Colin for you," Kase said with a laugh, waving his hand.

Orelia covered her mouth and giggled. "Mr. Colin is just a really nice guy."

Colin retorted, "When did you two form a united front?"

The Half-Elf watched them bicker and banter, nodding as if she only half-understood.

After distributing the loot, the group packed up their things and prepared to leave.

Just as Colin finished packing and was about to tie up his[Dimension Bag], Kase came over, dragging the Frost Giant’s large Axe.

"Colin, stuff this thing in your bag. I’ve got a use for it."

"You’re planning to use this?"

Colin stared at the ridiculously large Axe.

Honestly, the fact that this guy could even drag the Axe was surprising enough.

[Frost Giant Battleaxe/Ordinary]

[Damage: 3-21]

[Unbearably Heavy: Cannot be wielded by creatures with less than twenty Power. Creatures with less than twenty-three Power have -4 to hit when using it.]

’That Damage is terrifying.’

Even to him, the axe’s damage was frighteningly high.

’No wonder it shattered Kase’s Insect Shell Shield in a single blow,’ Colin thought, feeling a wave of retrospective fear. ’If I’d taken a hit from that axe during the fight, I’d probably have been chopped to bits.’

’But that Power requirement is no joke. Can anyone really use this thing?’

Kase flexed, showing off his muscles. "I ain’t a stupid weakling like before! Colin, I’m all better! I’m really, really all better now!"

Colin was genuinely happy for him.

He asked, "So what was that all about just now? I saw you were wearing some kind of armor."

"I don’t really get it myself, but I think my old man used to wear something like this." Kase grinned and patted his clothes.

"It looks a lot like an Ancestral Guardian."

Ale took out her notebook and flipped through it. "I remember that figures like this can appear among Dwarves or other Barbarians who worship their ancestors. They can also channel their rage to burst with Power. They use the heroic spirits of their ancestors lingering around them to hinder enemy attacks on their allies, and can even create a Shield to protect their allies."

"Wow, Mr. Kase has gotten so strong!" Orelia said, clapping her hands.

Colin, meanwhile, looked up at the Ancestor Stone.

’During the avalanche, a faint blue glow, just like the one on Kase, had appeared on that stone and the ropes... Maybe our survival wasn’t just pure luck. The ancestral spirits of this Orc Tribe must have played a big part.’

Kase looked at his three companions.

He opened his mouth, then closed it, looking like he wanted to say something but couldn’t find the words.

Finally, the clumsy Half-Orc spoke up. "No matter what, I... I really thank you all. If you guys ever have something you need to take care of, my axe will be there for you."

"We’ll definitely call on you then. Otherwise, we’ll have no one to take the hits," Colin laughed.

Orelia said, "But you can’t always be the one taking hits! If you always take hits, you’ll die, won’t you?"

Kase patted the Frost Giant’s Giant Axe beside him. "We’ll see about that! I don’t have a Shield anymore. From now on, I’ll be the one hittin’ others!"

After they finished chatting, they climbed onto the sled.

"Mush!" Kase commanded the sled dogs.

Just as the sled was slowly picking up speed, Colin suddenly saw a distant snowdrift shudder. Then, a Skeleton arm burst out from beneath the snow, spraying a few flecks of white.

’Huh? There are still survivors after all that?!’

’This is a fucking joke!’

"Go, go! There are still more of them!" Colin scanned the surroundings and, sure enough, saw many more Skeletons digging themselves out of the avalanche.

Kase shuddered at the sight.

’The ones crawling out now are probably all Centurion Level Skeletons. If we get surrounded, they’ll kick us around like a ball.’

The sled dogs hurriedly pulled them down the mountain.

Fortunately, the Skeletons seemed busy digging out their comrades and showed no intention of chasing them.

The group took the opportunity to slide down the snowy slope into the valley.

After a long time without seeing any sign of the enemy, Colin finally relaxed and sat back on the sled, letting Orelia tend to his wounds.

He hadn’t felt it in the excitement earlier, but when the Giant Skeleton had grabbed him, it had not only forced him to cut himself, but had also broken two of his ribs.

Ale, who had taken a direct hit from the Frost Gaze, still looked to be in relatively high spirits. She had extensive frostbite, but Orelia said it wasn’t too serious, probably because of her Dragon Species bloodline. A little ointment now and a Divine Art tomorrow would take care of it.

It was the same for Pepe, who had also been hit by the Frost Gaze. The loyal lead dog was now lying next to Colin, recovering.

Once his wounds were treated, Colin leaned back against the sled and settled into a comfortable position.

He drew the Hand Half Sword from his waist and glanced at it.

The weapon had finally calmed down completely. The trembling sensation in the hilt was entirely gone.

Colin caressed the smooth blade.

’And was the blood wiped off by the snow? There should have been some stains, logically speaking. How strange... I’ll think about it when we get back.’

He looked up at the sky again.

No snowflakes were falling now.

Everything around them was quiet. No animals passed by. Aside from the sound of the sled gliding over the snow beneath them, there was no movement, near or far.

"Oh, right. Kase, there’s something else I need to tell you," Colin said.