"So... someone stole your direct superior's underwear and put it on your head, so a Pyro mage like you ended up stationed on the snow mountain?"
"That's right. Damn it... If I find that cursed thief, I'll burn it to death!" The Pyro Abyss Mage, huddled next to the charcoal fire for warmth, looked extremely angry.
"Um... is there a possibility that..." Cid hesitated a little, "the underwear of your Prince Highness was stolen by you yourself?"
"Impossible, absolutely impossible! In my memory, I've never even gotten close to His Highness the Prince!" The Pyro Abyss Mage timidly wrapped itself tighter in its little blanket for warmth. "Let me tell you, human, just because you're holding me hostage doesn't mean you can talk nonsense..."
"Is there a possibility... that you took it while sleepwalking?" Cid tried to tell the Pyro Abyss Mage the truth.
"If I sleepwalk, wouldn't I know about it?" The Pyro Abyss Mage was utterly confident.
Cid fell silent.
The ignorant are innocent... Aether probably thinks that way...
To have a subordinate who sleepwalks, steals underwear, and dances little dances...
The fact that you're still alive is truly because Lord Aether is magnanimous...
"Sigh... Think about it, a powerful Abyss Mage like me, now exiled to the snow mountain... I'll probably be stuck here for the rest of my life..." The Pyro Abyss Mage looked as lonely as the snow.
"Uh... it shouldn't be that bad, right? At the very least, you should still have your organization?"
"To Hilichurl-mom with the organization—I've been exiled! In this goddamn place, aside from mint, I haven't even seen any Fatui!" The Pyro Abyss Mage angrily raised its little hands to express its dissatisfaction.
...
In short, the first member finally appeared in Cid's team: the Pyro Abyss Mage.
So now I'm playing Abyss Impact or something?
Damn it... If possible, I wish the one in my team was Yoimiya, that summer festival queen who could send me bandages...
Not this fire-furred fluffy next to me who might steal my underwear while sleepwalking and dance!
"Human, what's with that expression?" The fire-furred fluffy floated beside Cid. Its fire shield looked extremely weak, but that bit of heat composed of Pyro elements did indeed ensure the team's progress.
"I'm just wondering if you're male or female."
"Asexual. We have no gender."
"Hmm."
Cid continued advancing along the exposed steps.
"Speaking of which, human, what are you doing on the snow mountain?"
"I don't know."
The fire-furred fluffy showed a puzzled expression. "You're bored with nothing to do, so you came to the snow mountain to play?"
"It should be called training, I suppose." Cid came to a conclusion. "After all, a harsh environment does force people to become stronger."
The Pyro Abyss Mage labeled the unremarkable adventurer in front of it.
An adventurer enthusiastic about exploration.
Translation.
A birdbrain who's so idle he comes to the snow mountain seeking thrills.
"Hey, did you see that big tree over there covered in ice?" Cid looked as if he had discovered a new continent.
"I only see tree bark. By the way, let me remind you—those ice patches will automatically regenerate. An ordinary person without a Vision like you shouldn't even think about touching them."
"I want to try." Cid opened his backpack, which contained quite a few Crimson Agate marrow crystals.
Then Cid splashed half the marrow onto the ice.
The ice melted and did not regenerate.
But compared to the entire massive ice block, the amount melted was too little.
Through the ice block, Cid saw what seemed to be something like a core inside.
"What are you doing?"
"I found a goal to pursue while staying on the snow mountain."