WeTried Translations
Translator/Editor: Mordor
Discord: https://dsc.gg/wetried
◈ Surviving the Frozen Dark Fantasy as a Genius Mage ◈
Chapter 3: Coins and Expedition Members
──────
“Eat up first.”
The village chief offered the meal with a gentle smile, but even pigs could read the room.
No, in some ways, they had more sense.
This was a world where men with nothing better to do got drunk and used their wives and children as punching bags.
But I didn't have a mom or dad, so that wasn't my problem.
As everyone watched each other warily in the tense atmosphere...
“Jimmy's revenge! Elizabeth, you bitch!”
I was the first to heap meat into an earthenware bowl and hurriedly shove it into my mouth.
“Jimmy's revenge, revenge! You pig bitch!”
Not to be outdone, Elena immediately filled her bowl with stew and buried her face in it. The village chief looked at us like we were crazy, but Elena and I paid him no mind as we drank soup and tore into bread and meat.
“Uwahahahaha!”
“Gkkangkkangkkang!”
It was delicious.
And warm.
Ah, yes. This was it!
The soup, with oil floating on top, was salty. The goat's milk was rich, and the wheat bread was soft. Now I understood why appetite was one of humanity's three basic desires.
“Fuck!”
“These crazy orphan bastards are eating everything!”
The others finally reached for the food.
But Elena and I had already cleaned out the tastiest, biggest portions.
“Urp.”
“Hoho! There's plenty, so get along and eat!”
Despite what he said, the village chief never refilled the food.
What a miserly old bastard.
Once the meal was over, the village chief looked us over.
“Did everyone enjoy the meal?”
“Yes.”
“Thank you for the meal, Village Chief.”
That subtle gaze seemed to say, You finished everything, right? Then it's time to work.
Just as expected.
“I called you here today to deliver important news.”
The village chief's voice rang out over the winter gale tapping against the wooden windows.
“Join the Expedition Party.”
“...!”
The moment he finished speaking, every face relaxed by food and warmth stiffened.
I thought, So it's finally here.
The Expedition Party.
This world was cursed.
Winter lasted all year, and every inch of land had frozen over. According to legend, the source of it all lay within the Frozen Tower, a mysterious labyrinthine structure. If someone conquered it, the curse would end.
Yet even a hundred years after winter descended upon the continent, the labyrinth had never been conquered.
So, by order of the king and nobles, talented people from every village and territory were gathered into Expedition Parties.
To bring light and the sun back to the world.
...That was the official reason.
In reality, society was just shoving people out to die.
Fourth sons and third sons who couldn't inherit the family trade anyway.
Even if they were told to farm, there wasn't much farmland in our village, so there was no great need for extra hands.
As for hunting, anyone without talent would only become a corpse.
‘The coming-of-age ceremony is over, so the odds of another mage appearing are low too.’
Most importantly...
‘The country gives supplies for every person sent to the Expedition Party.’
This was a world suffering such severe food shortages that even eating two potatoes a day was difficult.
They were selling people off.
Like the troops sent to Vietnam, or the nurses and miners sent to Germany, those elders who earned foreign currency and helped save their country.
Of course, the treatment here was even harsher.
“V-Village Chief...?”
Everyone had vaguely expected it, but hearing it said aloud was another matter.
“F-Father? Me too?”
Mauk, the village chief's son, was especially shaken.
He had never expected to be sent away with the Expedition Party himself, and asked again in disbelief.
For reference, the survival rate for people selected from an ordinary village was less than 5% by the time they reached the Labyrinth City.
Despite being the son of a powerful man, Mauk had been driven straight into danger.
Avoiding his late-born son's gaze, the village chief painfully shook his head.
“...It is the will of the village.”
“N-No...! Nooooo! Father! Please! Please!”
The village chief held the most power in this village, but he couldn't ignore the other local notables.
Bilbo's family over there raised several reindeer. There were hunters, as well as fire and earth mages. They all kept the village chief in check.
That was why he had to set an example as the ruler.
The other parents...
‘They want fewer mouths to feed since their kids are useless and didn't awaken as mages.’
Maybe nobles had ways around it, but commoners had no answer.
Kids talented at hunting had already become assistants to the Northern Hunters.
Elena should have become a hunter too, since she was an elf, but despite being one, she had no talent for hunting.
She lacked persistence, and more than anything, her hands shook.
‘This world really is fucking awful.’
Just because you lacked ability, you got sold off to die.
It was ugly and pathetic, but I decided to use my mage privilege.
“Even though I'm a mage, I still have to join the Expedition Party?”
Unlike those losers, wasn't I a chosen person?
Even if that had gone a little wrong.
Naturally, that didn't work on this sly old man.
“You have all only just come of age. Most of you won't endure the hardships of the field. Ian, as a mage, you must guide them.”
It sounded good, but what he meant was, You have neither fire nor earth affinity, so we don't need you.
Tch. So this was how it turned out.
Well, I had expected it. I had made preparations too.
‘Still, I know every threat filling this world.’
It would definitely be dangerous as hell, but if I used the knowledge of a veteran player, there was a way forward.
Just as I was about to nod...
Dinggg!
A clear sound rang out, and something suddenly flew before my eyes.
It was a copper-colored metallic object with different faces on each side.
That was...
‘A coin?’
The Coin of Fortune or Misfortune occasionally appeared at moments of crisis, important crossroads, or when opening treasure chests. In the game's setting, it was an object used by a god to test the fate of mortals under that god's protection.
“...”
No one else seemed able to see it.
Then it had appeared for me alone, which meant...
‘Does that mean I'm a god?’
[Heads/Tails]
‘Heads.’
[Heads]
I chose heads, and the coin stopped in midair with heads facing up.
Then words suddenly appeared before my eyes.
[Let's give it a shot.] [Favor]
[Fuck you, you murderous bastard.] [Hostility]
[Hehe, I'll take good care of the village chief's son.]
The last sentence in particular had a meaningful line attached to it.
[Hehe, I'll take good care of the village chief's son.] [99% Chance of Additional Reward]
‘This is exactly like when I succeeded at Coin Toss in the game and Insight activated!’
I cheered inwardly.
Seeing how this special coin moved according to my will, I really was the protagonist of this world.
Following Insight's advice, I rubbed my hands together and whispered to the village chief.
“I'll look after your son, Mauk, as best I can.”
“Hmm...”
He gave me a meaningful look.
The village chief called me aside and secretly shoved something into my hands.
“Take this. Please look after Mauk.”
It was an unremarkable staff made from the dried wood of an ancient dead tree.
Holy shit! A magic staff!
I got a magic staff just from running my mouth once.
It wasn't a good one, but anything related to magic was expensive.
When I held it, I even felt like my mind focused better.
‘This is the power of the coin!’
‘So it doesn't all have to be doom and death.’
Of course, since the coin had two sides, terrible disasters would strike if it landed on misfortune.
‘Then I'll just get every toss right.’
Didn't protagonists always win?
I was Ian, the great Triple Master genius mage.
“Gather at the village entrance in two hours.”
“...”
The faces of the kids summoned to the Expedition Party darkened completely.
Some looked ready to give up, their eyes carrying dangerous thoughts, but running away would be pointless.
Where could they run in this tiny village?
Outside the palisade, they would only freeze to death.
For reference, there were no soldiers from a castle or the country to guide the Expedition Party.
They simply had to reach the final gateway, where the labyrinth lay, by their own power.
It was like the Korean military in real life.
Whether you had a chronic illness or personal circumstances, they dragged you in first. Then, if you got hurt or died during service, it was, Yeah, not our son. Your kid.
“Elena!”
“Yeah.”
“Let's get ready.”
Other households might have had plenty to do, but as orphans, we had little to pack.
We layered thick quilted clothes stuffed with dried moss or fur. To keep the cold from seeping in through the snow, we wore straw sandals hardened with animal fat.
Elena carried a crude bow she had carved herself and a club.
I took the magic staff from the village chief, along with a little personal food and firewood.
I had prepared for this day by secretly saving potatoes from our rations and burying them in the snow to freeze.
It was for emergencies.
“What about yours, Elena?”
I was about to offer some advice to Elena, who would become my party member...
“I ate it all.”
But it was no use.
Elena's bag contained nothing but dry branches.
“What? You crazy bitch! I told you to save it!”
“What was I supposed to do? I was hungry. And as for food... we'll just procure it ourselves.”
Elena gave Mauk and his gang, who had packed their bags full, a meaningful look.
...Scary bitch.
Elena had a plan of her own.
‘It was reasonable too!’
We had been chosen for the Expedition Party!
Wow! Heroes meant to save the world!
When the orphan kids heard the news, they stopped farming and came over to us.
“Big brother... Big sister...”
I looked at the tiny children watching us worriedly, then smiled, patted their heads, and offered words of encouragement.
“Don't worry. In a few years, you'll be just like us.”
“Fuck!”
“Nooooo!”
“Not me. I'm going to become a mage or a hunter.”
“Life doesn't always go the way you want, you know~”
After offering the kids some encouragement, I headed to the village entrance.
“Our heroes are here!”
“Waaaaaah!”
“Stay strong! Drive off this shitty winter for us!”
People had gathered at the entrance and cheered for us.
They said things like that, but most of them were simply relieved and smug that they hadn't been chosen.
A few of the families who had sent children away were even smiling.
They were looking forward to the support the kingdom would provide.
‘These uncivilized Medieval Land bastards.’
As a modern man of culture and refinement, I vowed never to become as corrupt as them.
Still, our village was in better shape than most.
At least the village hunters had agreed to escort us as far as the nearby areas where there were no undead or monsters.
While the hunters prepared, the kids chosen for the Expedition Party and I each received a small bag from the youth association.
“Take it.”
Inside were a little food and water.
It was a kind of personal supply pack.
‘The amount is smaller?’
But when I felt the weight of the light bag, I frowned.
As far as I knew, people leaving for an expedition to the labyrinth were supposed to receive at least a week's worth of food.
But this was only enough for two days at best.
Fuck, these bastards...
‘They skimmed it because they think we're going to die anyway?’
Was this Medieval Land hospitality?
Every bit of gratitude I had felt vanished.
Now the villagers waving at us only looked disgusting.
“You eleven led by Ian, Elena, and Mauk.”
“Follow us.”
Woof! Woof! Woof!
The palisade that had protected us from the threats outside opened with a loose creak.
Beyond it, a rustling, completely white world of endless daylight welcomed us.
Sharp-looking warriors in fur armor.
Following the Northern Hunters and their fierce hunting dogs, we took our first steps toward the labyrinth.
“Waaah! Mom!”
“James! James! I'll definitely come back! Wait for me!”
The people chosen for the Expedition Party cried out for family and relatives, pouring out their feelings.
“See you later~”
You uncivilized Medieval Land bastards. Just wait and see.
My true feelings were shitty, but I waved too, wishing for my own safe journey.
Unlike me, Elena seemed to be venting all the discrimination and humiliation she had suffered as an orphan. She raised her middle finger at the villagers and cursed them out.
“Fuck this shitty village! Ptooey! Eat well and live well in this place that reeks of shit, you bastards!”
“W-What?!”
“How dare that rude orphan bitch!”
‘That idiot, seriously.’
I shook my head at her trashy mouth, then raised my middle finger at the villagers alongside Elena.
Footnotes:
Join our discord at https://dsc.gg/wetried
