The Northwest wasn’t completely uninhabited . Some places hadn’t been flooded and were maintained as they were . As a matter of fact, the surrounding ice that melted and the rise in temperature allowed things to be planted in some locations, which brought some people here . Even now, there are villages and mid-sized towns here and there . The areas nearby the Imperial Capital in the East had undergone some changes . Because of elves and humans residing in the vicinity of the Imperial Capital and myself, the anthropoids’ lifestyles had gradually changed . They no longer lived in primitive ways . Further out, on the other hand, the anthropoids lived as their inherent nature guided them, so most of them were crude . Frankly, it was quite a scary sight to behold .

Although I ruled the North, authority’s influence in the remote location was too minimal . I was just an ordinary man in the area . The mountain we exploded wasn’t on this side . The warm breeze didn’t seem to reach the place, unfortunately .

The further we went in our target direction, the more nostalgic it felt . Ling Yue and I used to live in this cold all the time when we were in the war . The snowy mountains were on the edge of the continent . The cold winds blew the ice and snow that’d been acc.u.mulated for centuries onto our faces . The shape of the land had also begun to rise and sink as opposed to being level . The White Deer King was strongly against Mom grabbing her, so Dragon Mom and I rode on the White Deer King’s back .

Dragon Mom had her hip firmly up against me in her hugging position . Honestly, I thought that Mom’s body was truly useful . I felt warm with her hugging me from behind . Her body temperature was the same as a small fire . No wonder why I waked to find myself hugging the only warmth available . It was no wonder I was always clinging to Mom or the White Deer King .

It was late, but we’d reach the village tomorrow . As it was dark, we couldn’t see how the small village halfway up the mountain looked . What we should’ve been concerned about was where we were going to stay for the night . We hadn’t found anywhere suitable yet . Worse came to worse, I’d have Dragon Mom transform and curl up around us . The only problem was that there might be misunderstandings if we were seen .

There weren’t many people in the Northwest, but we’d seen multiple villages here, so that must be the most populated area in the Northwest . With my eyes on the fire in the darkness, I suggested, “Mom, there seems to be a small village up ahead . How about we go in and take a look?”

From behind, Mom nodded: “All right”

It was good as long as it was a village . Villages and towns were inhabitable . We’d be good once we reached a village . I didn’t ask that there was a bar . Even a stable would do . I just wanted somewhere to set up a tent . Fortunately, I learnt some basic anthropoid language from Ling Yue, so I was able to get across that I wanted a small place to stay .

I would imagine that was the outermost perimeter of the village the rabbit came from, or rather, its neighbour, which was located at the foot of the mountain . The closer we got to the village, the more signs that people once lived there sighted . There was also a small field with troubling stuff planted there . It didn’t appear as though the place could produce much stuff with agriculture . With that said, judging from the newly dug up land, it seemed that agriculture had begun to take off in the area . It must’ve been thanks to the rising temperature and flowing river that the village had begun to dip in agriculture .

As the original village chief said, it was impossible to plant crops in the area . The place relied on hunting to exchange with the nearby town .   I’d already pa.s.sed said town . Unfortunately, the town had been abandoned . It was just a ruin after being hit with a flood .

There was a lot of running water because of the melt, so even dredged waterways had floods every now and then, particularly when the ice and snow first melted . The strong currents poured down and almost flooded the entire Northwest . It had settled down a little, but I surmised that floods could still happen .

In the past, the North lacked finances and manpower in addition to people believing that there was n.o.body left in the Northwest . As a result, Freya didn’t pay attention to the situation in the Northwest . However, I felt the flowing river problem in the area needed to be resolved . Else, we’d have to set our development course toward the Northwest . As such, if the waterway wasn’t dealt with appropriately, the impact would be significant . That said, since the village still existed, that meant the village on the mountain should be safe . Subsequently, the dragon’s valley should’ve been all right .

The million-dollar question was, “Would the dragons still be living there?” Although the dragons needed to trade or whatever with the village, I figured they’d be able to survive without the meat . If they did need meat, the village at the foot of mountain would probably trade with the dragons .

I was cognizant of the fact that Dragon Mom was in a hurry at the moment, since we could find the dragons’ village once we ascended the mountain . Mom grabbed my chest and twisted it . Her body s.h.i.+fted toward the mountain ahead of us . I was aware that she wanted to travel there alone, but she hesitated out of consideration for me .

I was strongly against ascending the mountain . I didn’t have night vision, after all . Additionally, I didn’t know the situation on the mountain . It was scary to me . I was reluctant to go near snowy mountains, as I was once caught in an avalanche despite meeting Ling Yue through an avalanche last time . What, am I going to meet a cuter dragon if I go through another avalanche? I felt Mom’s touch on my back .  I didn’t think I’d meet a dragon cuter than Mom .

“Mom, you don’t need to rush . It’s dangerous to be active at night . Let’s rest for tonight, and then we’ll head up in the morning . I think the valley will be in sight by noon, so don’t worry, Mom . ”

I had to console Mom . It was highly probable that she’d sneak up the mountain alone at night, otherwise .

Mom nodded, but I felt that she was reluctant to wait . She was right at the door, yet she had to wait a night; that was just anxiety inducing . It took us approximately ten days to make our search there . Tonight, however, was the toughest night to get through for Mom .  I took hold of her hand . She should’ve understood what I meant . She clung tighter to my back .

The two of us arrived at the village entrance . There were a few people with sharp spears at the entrance . They raised their spears upon sighting us . I explained to them the purpose of our visit in simple anthropoid language . I was amazed I could make the rumbling sounds with my voice .

The anthropoids were surprised . They seemed to have never encountered people who came to them to ask for a place to stay . They turned around to shout and got the nod of approval from behind .

As we headed inside, a guard, who looked at me for a long time, asked, “Are you an elf?”

I lingered for a moment . It was hard to tell I was an elf, because I didn’t have their signature characteristics appearance wise; I didn’t have elven ears . Normally, people considered me a human from my appearance . I never thought a villager would be able to discern that I was an elf .

I nodded: “Yes, is something the matter?”

“The truth is our village chief is also an elf . Long-story short, a good portion of our villagers has elven blood running through them . Therefore, we feel an odd sense of familiarity to you . You are not a pure elf, are you? But you do have an elven lineage, correct?”

The furry anthropoid sure surprised me . I didn’t notice him having any traits similar to elves… I thought, “Is he really a hybrid elf? I, at least, have the slender physique of an elf, while this rough looking anthropoid doesn’t resemble an elf whatsoever . ”

“I’m a half-human and half-elf . ”

“Really? Nice, I guess . I say that, because pure-blooded elves tend to look down on us . ”

Despite the guard laughing with genuine joy, I perceived his smile laugh to be somewhat savage… He didn’t seem to be hostile, though… He led us up to a small house and said, “There used to be people living in this house, but not anymore, so you can stay here . How many days will you be staying for?’

“Just one night . I’ll be ascending the mountain tomorrow . ”

“Ascending the mountain?” asked the anthropoid, puzzled . “The snowy mountain?”

“Yes . ”

“Do you have some business there? There is nothing there . There used to be a village there, but everybody there left already, for the place was flooded . ”

“What?!”

I was shocked by the news . However, Dragon Mom, who was behind me, was a lot more emotional than I was . She pressed her hands onto the guard’s arms . She looked as though she was going to rip his arms off . She shouted, “What did you say?! What did you say?! What do you mean it’s flooded?! What did you say?!”

“It’s exactly as I said! I said there was a flood after the ice and snow on the mountain melted . The flood pa.s.sed by us and almost drowned us, too . The flood destroyed lots of homes . I think it flooded the entire village . While you may see ice and snow on the mountain, it has actually condensed . It is the condensed water from the flood…”

Dragon Mom’s expression looked extremely melancholic . I quickly grabbed Dragon Mom . With a smile, I said to the guard, “Please take care of my steed . Oh, right, don’t be too rude with it . She’s has quite the temper… I have to head out . I don’t think I’ll be back until tomorrow morning… Let’s go, Mom . ”

“What are you planning?!” The guard was flabbergasted after hearing what I said .

I pulled Mom out of the village by her wrist .