Versatile: Alternate World

Chapter 396 Expedition To The Frozen Region: Kokadokata The Sage Goblin Of Ice

"Welcome to the Frozens, adventurer. I can tell you are too confused about what is happening right now right? Don't worry and be at ease. I am not in a mood to fight and even if I am in a mood, I will easily delete you on this planet and send you to the cathedral in a snap, KEKEKEKE," the blue goblin laugh as his voice echoes all around the place.

Despite the goblin saying that I am not just someone who would trust someone immediately, especially if the guy like this goblin is suspicious as heck. Gobu is an exception since he was protecting his family before and we are the ones who intrude his place. As for him, he is someone that reeks of suspicious energy, and with all frozen monsters all around us, it will only make him look more annoying as heck.

"I guess being as an adventurer, it is normal for humans like you to be too cautious on us. But there is no need to be that cautious, to be honest. I may be a goblin but I can also tell you have a goblin as your follower, no? And I can also tell that you are here to fetch the Alpha Rodola Ore."

"Wha- how did you-"

"If you are as old as me, you would easily be able to know simple things hidden by the one talking to you. You can say it comes with the age."

"Who are you? What are you doing here?"

"I should be the one who should be asking that but since humans wanted to always be the last to introduce themselves, I will let this slide and do just that. Greetings once again, human. I am the one they call Kokadokata. I am mostly known by the world as the Sage Goblin of Ice."

Hearing his introduction, I instinctively step back from him. As someone who played through the game, I know the Sage Goblin of Ice. It was not some title that is just awarded to any goblins. It was a title given to the strongest sage goblin in the game and they are rumored to be as old as the gods themselves. Although no one can confirm the truth, it was said that he is capable of bringing ruin to the world if he wanted to do so. He can easily defeat the demons without any issues if he actually tried. The only problem with him is that...he is too lazy.

The Blue Goblin chuckled when he saw my reaction. "Based on your reaction, you know me enough to instinctively step back. Then I will not be delving myself any longer and explaining myself, right?"

"How come the Goblin of Ice is here? Aren't you supposed to be the strongest goblin that ever exists?"

"Why yes, I am indeed the strongest goblin in existence but I am too bored with staying at my base. I wanted to look around and find something fun to do. My whole body is dying in boredom when I saw a book detailing the Alpha Rodola Ore so I decided to check it out and see for myself what it was capable of and how different it was from the Normal Rodola Ore."

"So you are also after the Rodola Ore too?" I ready my sword.

"Ha, I am not that interested in obtaining it, I wanted to examine and check the thing for myself. According to the legend, it was strong enough to become a rival to the strongest metals and ores in existence. And as a sage seeking new knowledge, I am always on the hunt for new things that would give me interest. Besides, what would I do if I obtain it? I am not a blacksmith or a jeweler who is capable of processing the ore and even if I do, what would I do about it? My staff and my powers are enough and I don't need another trinket in my arsenal."

"Then..."

"You want it? Go ahead. However, the guardian that is guarding it is currently alive. I can kill it but I am not that desperate enough to do so especially since the monster is just guarding the vein and only attacks anyone who tried to get the ore. I already saw and examined it so I am no longer going to need it anyway. As for you, you are the one who should be wary about that since you need the ore."

"But still if you are done, why are you still here?"

"I plan to use it as my temporary lair for the time being as I got fascinated by the sudden increase of the monsters in this area. I heard that a young man named Arthur passed by in here and caused trouble that made the monsters affected and disturbed around here."

I might not be convinced but since he didn't show any hostility, I decided to stop being hostile to him, but I didn't turn down my guard and remained vigilant from him.

"If you are planning to go there without a plan, you are going on suicide route young man. I have a suggestion though. Sooner or later, the guardian of the ore will start sleeping while guarding the ore. That is the time you are free to mine the ore. Be careful though as that thing will immediately chase you the moment you are caught by it. I am not going to rescue you from it so don't even bother asking for help with me. We are both strangers and even though I am giving you some advice, it is not to my nature to help other people that have caused their troubles. If you wanted to get out of trouble, then you will be getting out of it yourself."

He has his points. He is not obligated to help me in any way. And even if he is very strong, I don't want to ask for his help. This quest is my quest and if I fail then so be it. I may sound so overconfident but I am not a braggart. Besides, I don't know how strong the enemy will be, it is up to my abilities whether the quest of procuring the elusive Alpha Rodola Ore will be successful or a failure.

"Thanks for the advice and yes, you don't need to help me. I am fine on my own."

After saying those words to the Blue Goblin, I continue to the last path that I have not explored and mapped yet.

....

As for Kokadokata who is watching the young man continue to the place where he saw the Alpha Rodola Ore is shaking his head.

"That weapon he is carrying. Perhaps the war is almost upon us. I thought things will not turn this way but perhaps it was just wishful thinking. I better prepare and tell everyone else to continue their preparation. If worse comes to worst, the world might be destroyed."

After saying those words, he returned to his seat and closed his eyes to relax for a bit. With old age does not come wisdom but suffering and back pain.

...

The final layout of the Frozens area is fully illustrated now on my map and the only lacking part is the hidden area. Despite being a secret area, I don't think it was a bit secret. The reason it was called like that was perhaps due to the people not being able to get out alive from that room due to the guardian. Whatever the guardian is, it must be strong enough that I don't know if they are troublesome enough.

When I am almost to the last area of the pathway, I can hear a low monster hum at the very end of the path. From the sound of its hum and the time of its delay, it seems Kokadokata is right that it goes to sleep once in a while. With the guardian asleep, the only way for me to get there is to get into the area without being detected.

I have some tools that I can use but it is not a good one and my stealth is also something I don't want to rely on because if it was that troublesome, then stealth is something that can be easily detected by this monster.

It is also possible for me to disable the monster temporarily and mine the vein before the enemy can escape but that is also not a good plan as that will be also quite risky. What if this monster is immune to all kinds of crowd-control skills.

Without any idea what this monster is and how big the monster currently surrounding the vein of the ore, I decided to transform using the abilities of the Druid into a bird. Without anything I can use to enter the place without being detected, this is my only choice. I also cast [Stealth] to myself and started flying.

Carefully flying above the ceiling, I look down to the ground and saw that the guardian of the Rodola Ore is a Venomous Devourer, a boss monster in the form of a snake, capable of swallowing the whole mountains if it wanted to.