Shota's Isekai NTR Adventure Chapter 2089: It’s colder

Following the stern warning issued by the flame elemental ancestors, I had little inclination to remain in that location for much longer.

Simultaneously, the crimson gem displayed far greater vitality than it had shown upon my initial arrival.

This improvement prompted me to administer only a swift dose of divine energy prior to my departure.

The flame elementals appeared eager for me to continue, yet they ultimately held their tongues. They had witnessed the toll that the previous days' infusions had taken on my strength.

Clearly, my efforts over this time were evident from the gem's prior weakened state.

With the crisis now resolved, it became difficult for them to voice any objections.

I had no intention of speaking up either, still unsettled by my exchange with their forebears. In that moment, I craved solitude to process my thoughts and had no wish to linger.

Yet upon emerging to the surface, a nagging sense of unease gripped me.

The surface terrain was undeniably frigid, but today's chill felt distinctly sharper.

This wasn't merely due to the underground warmth I'd left behind; an evident shift had occurred above.

This forbidden region embodied icy desolation, yet the cold now raged with unusual ferocity.

As soon as I surfaced, I hastily summoned my protective shield. Meanwhile, the waiting guards had wrapped themselves tightly against the biting wind.

Evidently, the wait had overwhelmed them with the intensifying frost.

"When did it change?" I inquired of Klein, who stood ready nearby.

He pondered briefly before replying, "Not long ago—a sudden plunge in temperature forced us to bundle up in haste."

His words made me furrow my brow as I pressed, "Precisely when did the temperature plummet?"

Klein seemed startled by the question but considered it carefully, then answered, "About an hour ago."

Once he spoke, his gaze fixed on me expectantly, yet I offered no response.

Deep in contemplation, I began aligning the sequence of events.

After a moment's reflection, the pieces fell into place—the timings matched perfectly.

Shortly after my encounter with the ancestor but prior to infusing the crimson gem with divine energy, the flame elementals conducted yet another ritual. Their aim was to gradually restore their homeland's life force, hence the periodic ceremonies.

I harbored no objections, as this aligned precisely with my original purpose.

Now, however, it confirmed my earlier hypothesis: these rites influenced the overlying terrain.

The reason we hadn't observed alterations in the rock elementals' domain was its subtlety. Their impact manifested as siphoning vitality from the surface, rendering it utterly lifeless.

For already desolate ground, discerning further barrenness proved challenging without visible cues.

Here, though, the escalating chill served as an unmistakable sign.

Evidently, what flourished below came at the expense of the surface above.

If this constituted creation, something seemed profoundly amiss.

After all, when I employed creation divine energy, no such extraction occurred—my creations materialized from nothing.

Admittedly, they drew upon my divine energy as foundation, but this wasn't mere transformation of existing matter.

This peculiarity surrounding the elementals' divine gifts from the gods truly defied expectations for authentic creation-attuned relics.

Were these blessings genuine, or perhaps a divine snare?

No—the ancestral divine energy these elementals wielded was undeniably real, and the gods themselves had guided me to them. Thus, the bond between elementals and deities appeared beyond question.

Still, an elusive discrepancy lingered, eluding my grasp.

"Is remaining here an issue?" I eventually asked Klein.

He blinked in surprise but shook his head, responding, "Our supplies are ample, and we can resupply as needed, so that's no concern."

After a brief hesitation, he continued, "But if the cold intensifies further, that's another matter. Magic and garb can only shield us so much."

Those gathered behind him nodded vigorously in support.

I concurred, well aware of magical protections' boundaries.

For the moment, though, I needed to complete my task here before resealing the site.

Apparently, my immediate recourse was to urge the flame elementals to halt further rituals. Without them, the surface chill ought to stabilize.

Convincing these elementals—who had glimpsed renewal through their rites—to cease would prove arduous.

Undoubtedly, this discussion loomed as a challenging ordeal.