Hacking the Game Didn't Go as Intended [Part Two]

CHAPTER 220: Rebirth - Dark Upheaval: Blaze & Frost

In the morning, the duo skillfully avoided the players combing through the frozen landscape and made their way back to the horses.

"Nice," Daisuke said triumphantly. "They didn't get eaten by monsters overnight. Talk about a lucky break."

As if personally offended by the nonchalant remark, his horse snapped its teeth just inches from his nose.

Tiphanna laughed.

"Not funny," Daisuke murmured with a hint of petulance.

"What can I say, it's rare to see you get flustered."

***

Upon returning to the city, Tiphanna wasted no time. She apologized to Josephine for causing her worry, then rushed into her workshop, eager to get to work. The furnace roared to life as she carefully stoked the flames.

After handing over most of the Glacium Heartwood and several other materials to the excited elf, she quickly retrieved a large metal tub and began filling it with a thick substance.

"Now that we've obtained the Glacium Heartwood," she explained. "It needs to be steeped in a rare thermal oil called Embermaw. It's extracted from a sac inside the bodies of fire-breathing monsters, particularly the Cindralisk Salamander. This allows the wood to store heat and burn longer. The downside is that the steeping process lasts for several weeks."

"Several weeks, huh?" Daisuke murmured. "That's fine. If I'm lucky, I won't have to deal with another armored—"

Before he could finish his sentence, he was abruptly yanked back by the collar. Lumielle, who had been waiting at the storefront since the crack of dawn, seized him with a look that said she had run out of patience hours ago.

Tiphanna spared them only a brief glance before returning her attention to her work. She placed a familiar dagger into the glowing crucible, her movements smooth as she shifted into her usual rhythm.

"Haxks! We were worried sick!" Lumielle exclaimed in a hushed tone, her eyes flashing with anger.

"...Speak for yourself," Lyndoria muttered from her corner, grinding her teeth in frustration. Curses! The spell didn't work after all.

"Rawrwu," Zephyr grumbled from atop his head, clearly sharing his own displeasure.

Daisuke shrank back, hoisting his hands in surrender.

"What happened?" Lumielle demanded.

Daisuke rubbed the back of his neck, remorse spreading across his face. "While hunting, Tiff and I—"

The princess growled, jade green eyes narrowing with disapproval.

Daisuke stopped and quickly cleared his throat, wisely refraining from using the nickname. "Tiphanna and I ran into some trouble, which led to us setting up camp in the mountains."

Lyndoria scoffed, her voice dripping with sarcasm. "Oh, is that all? Are you sure you're not leaving out any important details?" She smirked, clearly enjoying the opportunity to stir the pot, fanning the flames of misunderstanding.

Lumielle leaned in, her face inches from Daisuke's, delicate eyebrows crinkled, her cheeks puffed out. "Y-You haven't forgotten your promise, right?" she pressed with a blush, fingers curled into fists. "About helping me? About saving the kingdom?"

"Of course not," Daisuke assured her. "I just explained what happened. We were nearly flattened by a powerful monster and had no choice but to spend the night in the mountains."

"Th-Then... you're not... romantically involved with that woman at all?"

Daisuke's response was quick and firm. "We're just friends."