Chương 102: Boiled in Water [Shutark]

My hands and feet are cold, but my forehead is warm.

This is a sign of hypothermia.

Kraft stepped forward to assist Shane in examining Shutark, and his conclusion was the same as Shane's: Shutark's condition was critical.

Hypothermia during a blizzard is a terrible thing, and they need to hurry to find that sheltered cabin.

"I'll carry him on my back."

As he spoke, Kraft wrapped his blanket around Shutakl, squatted down, and carried him on his back.

Seeing Kraft's actions, Shane immediately felt a bit more favorably disposed towards the monk. Although he had struck him upon first meeting, his character was still quite reliable.

The group quickened their pace.

Finally, after walking for a while, Shane saw the outline of a small house in the distance.

The hut is very sturdy, with no damage to the doors and windows, indicating that it is regularly maintained.

Pushing open the door, the interior was very simply furnished, containing only a table and chairs and several very thick quilts; nothing else of value. Moreover, because no one lived there, the house was now completely frozen.

Kraft placed Shutark in front of the fireplace, trying to find a spark to start a fire, but after searching for a long time, he couldn't find one.

Philon immediately lit a small flame on his fingertip and threw it into the fireplace.

腾— The flames licked at the firewood, and the dim, yellowish light instantly brought warmth to the room.

Kraft was about to thank her, but Philon had already walked past him, deftly taking a soup pot from her backpack and starting to boil water and cook soup.

Kraft could sense that the little girl was angry.

Standing before the fireplace, Shane touched Shutark's forehead, his expression grave.

"No, his body temperature is dropping too quickly."

Kraft took out the Holy Scripture and cast a simple Healing spell on Shutark. The pale green light fell on Shutark, slightly improving his pale complexion.

Unfortunately, just a few seconds after the healing spell ended, the restored color faded completely.

The two exchanged a glance, realizing the gravity of the situation. The healing spell was too slow for Shutark. They had to reverse the rate of his hypothermia immediately, or the consequences would be dire.

Xia En glanced at the soup pot over Philon's side and had an idea.

"Kraft, can a hot bath quickly raise the temperature of someone suffering from hypothermia?"

"As a monk, I have never done this to hypothermic humans, but in the countryside of the northern countries, farmers do indeed use hot baths to restore the body temperature of hypothermic cattle and sheep."

"Then let's give it a try."

"this----"

"There's no time to hesitate. If any problems arise along the way, please use your magic to help him."

"it is good."

Xia En took a large pot out of his backpack.

This was a gift from the town hall when we solved the Upside-Down Land maze in Gostan City. It was the largest of the entire set of cookware, and we'd never had a chance to use it.

Shane and Kraft shoveled a large pot full of snow and started boiling water.

As the water gradually warmed up, Kraft continuously cast Heal on Shutark, but with little effect.

Philon and Frilian carefully tested the temperature in the pot. As per Shane's instructions, it had to be kept warm but not scalding.

"Mr. Shane, it's done!"

Upon hearing this, Shane immediately stripped Shutark naked and, together with Kraft, carried him and slowly placed him into the pot.

During this time, Frilian was curious and wanted to take a look, but Philon covered her eyes and dragged her aside.

In just a moment, the rising steam warmed the entire room.

Shane controlled the water temperature and kept testing Shutark's forehead, while everyone gathered around the large pot, waiting anxiously.

Finally, after simmering for half an hour, Shutark's face turned from white to red.

"Um----" The boy's eyes were still blurry. When he opened them, he saw four pairs of eyes staring at him.

He was stunned for a moment, then closed his eyes again, and when he opened them again, there were still four pairs of eyes surrounding him.

"you----" When he opened his mouth, his slightly hoarse voice startled him, but soon he discovered something even more surprising: he was completely naked and soaking in the pot.

"What's going on?!"

Shutark's voice suddenly rose eight octaves.

Xia En breathed a sigh of relief. Good, his voice was strong; he should be alright.

Kraft raised his hand and cast a [Disease Identification Magic] to give Shutark a quick check-up, then kindly explained, "You've lost heat in the blizzard; this method is necessary to quickly warm you up."

Shutark remembered that he had indeed felt very cold just now, and then he lost consciousness.

But taking a hot bath in public is just too embarrassing!

Shutark tried to shrink deeper into the pot, trying to get the water over his entire body.

"Who—who helped me take off my clothes?"

Xia En couldn't help but complain, "It's such a tiny room, does it make any difference who helped you undress? —" Kraft reassured her, "Don't worry, you're developing very well."

Upon hearing this, Shutark immediately breathed a sigh of relief.

To everyone's surprise, while Philon was busy covering Frillie's eyes, a voice from afar complained, "She's so small."

Shutark stammered on the spot, "W-where, where is it too small???"

The crisis is over.

The temperature inside the cabin gradually rose, and the group finally felt relieved.

Frillie immediately began to doze off.

Philen quickly put her to sleep.

Because of concerns about Shutark's health, the boy was placed in the spot closest to the hearth that night.

At night, after everyone was fast asleep, the only sound in the room was the crackling of firewood.

Shane slowly opened his eyes and glanced at Kraft not far away.

Sure enough, Kraft was awake too, and was watching him.

The two exchanged a glance, got up in unison, and quietly went outside the wooden house.

The blizzard has gradually stopped, and now all is quiet.

Shaun, wrapped in a blanket, stood under the cabin, waiting for Kraft to speak.

How did you know I had something to say?

"intuition."

Kraft smiled. If he had some doubts about Shane's stance at first, after rescuing Shutark and now facing him without any hesitation, he no longer had any initial doubts about Shane.

but.

"Did the demonic aura I sense really come from that jar?"

Xia En did not speak.

After a moment of silence, Kraft continued, "But don't worry, I will no longer try to attack you. Because at this moment, I sense the aura of the goddess. All those protected by the goddess are allies."

"Really? Maybe it's because I know a little bit of the goddess's magic?" Shane retorted.

"That's not all. As you probably know, we elves are a very magical species. We are close to nature and can sense the most subtle changes in magic. Just now, what I sensed from you was precisely this subtle change, a power that originates from the same source as the [faith in the goddess]."

"Shane, has anyone ever told you that you possess the talent of a monk?"

Xia En smiled and said, "That's what most people I know say."

"That's right. But this isn't a monk's talent; it's the goddess's favor. You are the one chosen by the goddess."

Xia En thought of the mad sage, Xia Er.

"If you knew how I was born, you wouldn't say that."

Kraft shook his head.

"Shane, do you believe in the soul? In the faith of monks, the soul is immortal, and death is merely a way to another world."

"You mean—the [place where souls rest]?"

"It is indeed a very beautiful and sacred place. I have seen its description in the Bible. It is a paradise for souls, but I am more inclined to think that it is the gateway to another world."

The gateway to another world?

This was the first time Xia En had ever heard this claim.

Volame's journal describes it as a gathering place for souls, known to the world as the Demon King's Castle, but Kraft says it is the gateway to another world— Xia En's gaze swept across the snowfield, looking further north. For some reason, he suddenly recalled that fleeting image: the colossal tree that blotted out the sky, and the barefoot girl whose face he couldn't see.

A somewhat absurd guess began to surface in his mind—

"Kraft, have you ever seen a huge, golden tree anywhere?"

"You mean the [Golden Tree]?"

>