Stardew Valley’s Farming Master

Chapter 301 Rome Stories February 21 New Share

As the elevator ascended, Leon could clearly feel the temperature rising. The chilly draft from before, which had felt so cold in the shaft, was nothing compared to the bone-piercing freeze of the fifty-first floor—it was practically a warm breeze now.

By the time he stepped back onto the surface, beads of sweat had begun to form on his skin without him even noticing.

When he first acquired the Frozen Soil Boots on the fiftieth floor, Leon had been fairly confident. But the moment he stepped onto the fifty-first floor, he learned what true cold meant.

The instant his feet touched the stairwell landing leading down to that floor, it felt as if every last bit of warmth had been ripped from his body. The biting cold pierced straight through his thin clothes, sinking into his very bones. The temperature was so terrifyingly low that Leon almost felt as if his blood had frozen and his heart had stopped—like he was one breath away from death.

If not for the Frozen Soil Boots shielding his feet and offering some relief from the stiffness caused by the cold, Leon doubted he would have been able to climb all the way back up to the fiftieth floor to catch the elevator.

That was the main reason he left the abandoned mines’ fifty-first floor without looking back. He was genuinely worried that, if he stayed there any longer, he’d end up half-frozen to death and trigger Nature’s Shelter, which would send him back to the surface.

Next time he went down, he’d have to prepare warmer clothes—but he suspected that no matter how many layers he wore, they wouldn’t be enough to withstand that kind of extreme cold. He’d probably need some special way to keep warm.

The first person who came to mind for a solution was Marlon, followed closely by the Hat Mouse.

Though Linus and the wizard Rasmodius were also options, Leon didn’t want to trouble either of them over something this minor.

Sure, they’d probably help—but not without a round or two of teasing.So unless Marlon or the Hat Mouse couldn’t help, Linus and Rasmodius were his last resort.

Since the Adventurer’s Guild was located just east of the abandoned mines, and Leon had just emerged from them, he decided to head straight to Marlon.

Having fled the mine in a hurry, he found he still had plenty of time. His watch read just past three o’clock. The Pelican Town Adventurer’s Guild branch opened at two, so when he knocked on the heavy wooden door, Marlon’s voice called from inside almost immediately.

“Leon, right? No need to knock—just come in.”

Leon pushed open the door and stepped into the guild hall. His eyes immediately fell on Gil, leaning against the fireplace, and Marlon, who stood behind the counter polishing a long sword.

“It’s rare to see you drop by the guild on your own. I’m guessing you’ve run into some trouble?” Marlon set the sword aside and looked at Leon calmly.

“I was mining in the caves today and managed to get the elevator working up to the fiftieth floor. But when I tried to go down to the fifty-first, the cold nearly froze me solid. I came to see if the guild has any special gear that can protect against that kind of cold.”

Leon explained his purpose.

“Looks like you’re making good progress—already into the icebound region,” Marlon said, giving him a nod of approval before continuing. “We do have that kind of gear, but it has to be brought in from headquarters. It’ll take about five days. Can you wait that long?”

“More than the wait, I’m wondering—how much will it cost?” Leon asked the key question.

After all, Marlon’s prices were notoriously steep. If a basic suit of armor started in the thousands, Leon could only imagine how expensive something that could ward off that kind of cold would be.

“That depends on whether you’re buying or renting. Renting is only 100G a day. Buying, though… with the coat, pants, hat, and boots, you’re looking at at least 8,000G. The set’s made from yeti pelts—not only does it keep you warm, but its defensive qualities are outstanding. It’s a rare piece of gear.”

“You can rent it?” Leon blinked in surprise. He hadn’t expected that.

“Sure. Since it’s not something you’d wear all the time—only in specific situations—most adventurers don’t buy a whole set for themselves. Renting solves the problem without wasting money on gear you’d rarely use. It’s one of the benefits the main guild offers to support adventurers.”

Marlon gave him a small smile. “And since you’re a guild adventurer, you’re entitled to that perk.”

“That’s great, then. Guild Master, please have a set sent here to our branch. Once it arrives, I’ll rent it,” Leon said with a nod.

“In fact,” Marlon went on, “I think you should also request an Ice Thorn Beast hide set for heat resistance. The mines are unpredictable. Floors forty to eighty are icebound, but from eighty-one to one-twenty, you’ll be in the lava region. The deeper you go, the hotter it gets. Past floor one-ten, magma is everywhere. Without heat-resistant gear, you’ll roast.”

“That Ice Thorn Beast hide set—can I rent that too?” Leon asked.

“Of course. That’s 150G per day, or 12,000G to buy,” Marlon replied.

“Then get me one of those too. I’ll need it sooner or later,” Leon agreed.

But he couldn’t help asking another question. “Since the guild has to borrow these from headquarters, how did you handle those extreme temperatures when you were mining, Guild Master?”

“I just endured it. For veterans like us, those temperatures aren’t too bad. You’re still young—once you hone your combat skills and strengthen your body, you’ll find the mines aren’t as harsh as they seem,” Marlon said calmly.

He made it sound casual, but Leon understood the subtext—he was still too weak and needed more training.

Still, that made him wonder: what about the miners under Marlon’s watch? Surely they weren’t all seasoned fighters.

Marlon didn’t hide the answer. “They’re not like us rough, empty-handed nobodies. The protective suits they wear aren’t just for extreme temperatures—throw them into outer space, and they’d still survive for three days.”

“Why three days?”

“Because without water, you die of thirst in three days.”

“…”

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