Reborn As An Extra In My Own Novel-Chapter 53: Rouge Icicles [1]

(Back to the present)

The air crackled with intensity as Matt, Anica, Reni, Amy, and I stepped through the doorway.

It felt like my mind had gone blank for a moment, somewhat akin to the sensation I experienced upon entering Nefertari.

The system echoed in my mind as the space beyond the door illuminated.

[Master Kaiser Vanguard, Welcome to the Tier Six Dungeon: Rouge Icicles]

[And The World Wept In The Cold Winter Morning]

The area lit up as Anica, who led the group, slipped on the ice beneath us. No, it wasn’t merely ice, it was a river that had been frozen solid.

A shiver ran across my skin as I gradually coated myself with mana. The others followed suit, and we all simultaneously donned the trench coats draped over our shoulders and buttoned them.

The atmosphere felt unnervingly quiet, broken only by the sound of dying trees crashing to the ground. Everything was enveloped in ice.

And the incandescent sun of the world did not shine brightly. Instead, it mourned, freezing the land in an unyielding frost.

Calling this weather "cold" would be a gross understatement, and I knew it... ’Damn, I think I might freeze.’

I glanced at the group and quickly regained my composure. The situation was far more manageable for someone like me, someone with ice affinity and talent, than for those with no connection to it.

Matt’s azure flames enveloped him, while Amy’s conjuration created an additional layer of skin for her... But.

I sighed, removed my overcoat, draped it over Reni’s jacket, and walked ahead of the group. I didn’t want to see her smile or the redness in her ears, already inflamed from the cold, deepen further because of her blushing.

Still, I heard her faint whisper. It was soft, just enough for only me to hear. "Thanks, darling."

"Tch"

"Kai, where are you going?" Anica asked, stepping closer to me.

"Hmm... Let me scout the area. Deerheart’s lab can’t be far from here."

Matt and Amy nodded, while Reni didn’t even glance at me, her gaze fixated on nothing.

Anica tugged at my sleeve. "Let’s go together. This place is dangerous."

My expression darkened. "I know."

According to the information the president had provided, most professors’ labs were located within orange gates.

This was intended to prevent any explosions that could endanger the students, but they soon discovered it was a double-edged sword, as professors could do whatever they pleased inside the dungeon.

I glanced at Anica, whose eyes glowed as she expanded her zone.

I didn’t need to use my zone to assess the terrain, but since I needed to locate Deerheart’s lab, I expanded mine as well, activating clairvoyance simultaneously.

The reach of my sight now spanned nearly the size of a small city, though fully expanding it drained my mana rapidly.

"How much can you see?"

Anica’s voice interrupted my focus slightly. Since I had completed the scan, I turned to her. "I think I can see the lab, but there’s a problem."

Her brows furrowed. "And what is it? Something we can’t all handle?"

I nodded. "Yes. There’s a horde of monsters, and this dungeon contains a Chronicle."

Anica paused, thinking. "That’s troublesome. Do you have a plan?"

"For now, no." I turned, casting a glance at the group. "But let’s discuss it with the others first."

I clutched my side slightly as a gust of wind swept over us.

To the east lay the labs. To the south was a camp filled with soldiers.

The north held nothing but a wasteland, and my zone couldn’t even pierce the western area, let alone perceive what was on that side. freewebnσvel.cøm

’It would be best if we meet the soldiers first, but...’ I narrowed the gap between me and the group. ’... I have to account for the variables.’

------

When I reached the group, who had begun setting up a tent using the billow bags we’d brought, Matt approached me while Anica stepped aside.

"So, what did you see?"

I ruffled my hair. "Not much. The lab’s in the east, an army to the south, a wasteland to the north, and gods know what in the west."

Matt’s eyes narrowed slightly, his brow lifting. "Isn’t that good news? Then why the grim expression?"

"Well, there’s a bunch of Drifters in the eastern area blocking our path."

Matt stroked his chin. "Why not join the army and use them to pass through?"

"That’s what I’m considering too."

"I wouldn’t recommend it." Reni walked up to us, struggling to keep her footing on the ice. "Even if we ignore the fact that we’d waste nearly a week reaching them."

Matt and I frowned as she continued. "Those men are about to be attacked by zombies, and they’ll turn into them. By the time we arrive, there’ll be enough zombies to overwhelm us..."

"That means we’d have to rest even if we won, and still face the monsters there. And if a stronger monster shows up..." Matt swallowed hard at the thought. "We’re lucky to have a Seer among us."

She turned to me with a mischievous smile. "Anything for darling."

I facepalmed as Matt’s expression turned to shock. "Kai." His eyes widened further, then he quickly covered his mouth with his hand.

"Don’t you dare say anything. Emoji."

"Emoji?" Matt echoed, following behind me as Reni chuckled lightly.

For now, I had to formulate a plan using Reni’s vision as our anchor. But I couldn’t deny it...

My gaze drifted to Reni, who was laughing with Matt and Anica like they weren’t inside a life-or-death dungeon.

"She’s really useful," I whispered, just as a presence crept into my awareness.

"Who is?"

I jolted, falling from the tree root I was sitting on. "Jesus, you startled me."

"Who is that?"

"Nothing, never mind," I replied to Amy, who had sat beside me on the same root.

She shivered slightly, exhaling into her gloved palms before rubbing them and pressing her legs together.

I felt sorry for her. She must’ve been freezing in just a skirt, and I couldn’t exactly take off my trousers to give her.

’Oh, that still exists.’

Something Neko-sensei had given me before I left her yesterday. ’She could’ve just told me it would be cold.’

"Here." I handed Amy a thick red winter scarf, and she smiled brightly.

Her ears and face flushed crimson beneath her round glasses. "Thanks, Kai."

"Yeah," I replied, my face on the verge of turning red.

I covered my face with one hand and turned away. ’Damn, what’s wrong with me?’

It felt like I had become a ball tossed back and forth between Amy and Reni, and they knew precisely how to hit where it hurt.

Something brushed against my back, and I was sure Amy had turned away as well. A hand gripped my shirt. I could barely feel it, but there was no mistaking the warmth of a person.

The hand lingered for several seconds before Reni noticed us and approached, anger boiling in her eyes.

Amy quickly stood up, trying to act nonchalant, stammering as she spoke to Reni, who narrowed her eyes and glared at me.

I exhaled a cold breath, gazing up at the sky. "Times like this, I miss Hari..."

My expression darkened. "Don’t die on me, okay?"