Chapter 16 – It Is the Magic You Chose (4)

As we got closer to the North Sea, the sea breeze blowing down the mountain range from Fudong Port pushed away some of the cold.
Members of the Hooksclaw Knights gave the squire a reindeer skin and instructed him to dry it in the sun.
Even though it was only at the beginning of the front line that faced Helzeb, Wivlett hid his mixed feelings as he watched the new recruits already leaving from exhaustion.

The sun will soon clear and the remnants of the demons will pour out——
Their weakness will soon return to their blood.

“Don’t say too much, Captain.”

As the new recruits were intimidated by his unappealing gaze, Hans, an old-timer, implicitly remonstrated.

“It’s not because the kids are weak that they fall ill. “The same thing happens to anyone who approaches that fortress.”

Hans pointed to the huge castle made of ice ahead——Roshiar’s Fortress.
Currently, there are a total of three access roads on the continent that border the demon world.
Among them, the Ravier Mountains on the border of Fenheim were blocked by the Hooksclaw Knights, and Lake Senrir was blocked by the Ice Snowmen and soldiers of the Rochear family.

An ice castle that shines so brightly that even the surrounding light sources are frozen and cold.
The ice and snow that gave off a stinging chill just by looking at it on the clock was not just ice, but a crystal of magic.

“Even so, it is the same. “It means that the remnants of the demons are going to break through that fortress.”
“Tsk, that demon statue? You are very worried. “Wouldn’t it be easy to investigate if we left it to Rochear?”

Even though the reserve unit was mainly composed of new recruits, the North Sea was not an easy land for them to come here with Hooksclaw in tow.
Nevertheless, Margrave Hubblet consistently insisted that the demons be thoroughly investigated.
He was truly an example of a knight who worked hard day and night for the kingdom, not missing even the slightest trace.

“… “If even one demonic stooge appears within the kingdom, the situation will spiral out of control.”
“That is correct. Since everyone has been tired of peace since the Great War, the damage will be great. Among the Grand Dukes, Roshyar is unique, and most of them did not even participate in small wars. Including former colleagues.”

If I had to point out, I was referring to Terra Ernesten. We Bullet also nodded his head.

“It would be better to leave him to live quietly.”
“Yes?”

A group of knights hurriedly erecting a windbreak wall against the cold coming from below the lake.
Hublett, looking at them, was lost in thought. The comrade he was thinking of now was not the Terra that Hans had mentioned.

— Wow, it’s so slippery in here. Eris, do you want to climb up? Then you will fall.
— Why do you always favor him, Louis? Look at that, Nova is getting annoyed.
— If you’re upset, ask Hubblet for a favor. I can only carry one person.
— I’d rather just fly away than be piggybacked by that old bastard. Fuck it. Hey Eris! If you like it, don’t piggyback on it and come here!

I don’t know much about Wivlett, who was born and raised in the kingdom, but being a Monarch saint seemed to lead a life in which her actions were quite restricted.
When asked what he would do once the war was over, Eris said he always wanted to travel freely.
Louis took special care of Eris, perhaps because he wanted to protect her.
Even cutting off her rotten toes countless times on the ice.

“I took on too much. It’s so strange that I haven’t gone crazy… No, it seemed like I was a little out of my mind at the end. “Even Terra couldn’t use her hands.”
“Terra? Well, I heard that most wizards with unique magic are insane.”
“Does that include me too, Hans?”
“Yes? Oh no! That… !”
“It’s a joke.”

Wivlett drew his sword and scratched the ice as he advanced toward Rochear’s fortress. His men couldn’t take it any longer anyway.

“I will meet Ice Snowball alone. “Please be ready for departure by then.”

***

Damn it! Damn it!

Little by little, cracks appeared in the lake where the sword passed.
The closer I got to the fortress, the stronger the chill that penetrated my body.
Hubblet clicked his tongue and lowered his sword in the air. The unique magic was activated and the cold air surrounding him was erased to white.

He didn’t know how long he had walked, but when the transparent castle walls rose to the sky, he finally breathed a sigh of relief.
He doesn’t seem to need to go all the way into the castle.
Because the owner was sitting in the middle of a frozen lake with a table and chair made of ice.

“What’s going on, Margrave?”

It was a hard, cold voice that seemed to have no emotion.
The woman, with her blue hair neatly combed, did not even wear a coat over her white and blue uniform.

The head of Roshoar, the ruler of the North, and one of the five Grand Dukes of Fenheim.

Half Demon Spear. Flowers of the North Sea. Frost-footed jailer. Empress of polar ice.

Ice Snow Gong (氷雪公).
Esthelle Sylvester de Rochoire.

Wivlett opened his mouth, looking at a single spear stuck in the quiet lake.

“I came because I wanted to ask you about the demon statue discovered near Addenbury.”
“I investigated, but the demon karma did not appear.”
“Is it possible that it was the work of a warlock?”
“You can’t deny it. But my role is to kill the demons here.”

She pounded her nails like it was none of her business.
There is no time to spend on research. It was an attitude that clearly showed Esther’s personality.
Half Demon Spear. Even if demons had sneaked into Fenheim, Roshoar was not a shield to protect anyone.

“Aren’t you worried that your younger brother is at Parenzia Academy?”
“Not really. “All I care about is whether I can completely purify Hel’zeb before I die.”
“I heard that you are also participating in a magic competition. Did you know?”
“What’s important is the result. A spear that is not sharp is useless.”

It seemed like she was made of ice from head to toe.
It would be pointless to talk any more. Hublett decided to finish her business and return to the Lavière Mountains.

“I will retrieve the demon statue and personally investigate it.”
“I will send you to the Knights headquarters.”

Fortunately, it looks like they will cooperate on this level. In that case, coming to the North Sea to increase the experience of new recruits was not all in vain.

“Ice Snowball.”

Before leaving, Hubblet asked as he looked at the castle walls, which showed no signs of melting despite the seasons.

“When are you going to get rid of all this unpleasant stuff?”
“When it melts, it smells. “It has the effect of creating a sense of fear, so I plan to leave it as is.”
“It’s a feeling of fear…”

Well, demons are not monsters that just look straight ahead and charge.

A dazzling red color that makes you think it’s made of ice.

This was the thought I had as I looked at the castle, beautifully decorated in blood, with countless deaths in its mouth.

〈Esdel Sylvester de Rocheire Gojimado: Ice Snow Orchid 〉

Even when you look in front of you, when you look up, even at the bottom of a frozen lake.

〈Little Ice Age ⌜Ice Age⌟〉

All over the world, there were corpses of demons who had fallen from Roshuar’s spear.

It certainly seems like he is out of his mind to create a hell like this and not even blink.
Wivlett didn’t even look back as he left Lake Senrir, which had become a puddle of blood.

***

The day of the magic competition.
The amphitheater, reminiscent of the Colosseum, was packed with spectators.
I checked Adela’s karma one last time in the back of the waiting room.

“How do you feel?”
“Are you okay.”

A Litweis test paper with a lighter color than red. This should be enough.

“Got it? Magic amplified by magical power can be used up to three times. “Use lightning, fire, and wind blows according to the situation, and never use any other magic.”
“I understand, Ms.”

You understand, right? Sometimes I feel uneasy about talking like that.

“Now, take the test paper because it’s yours.”
“…”
“Adela?”
“Just let the teacher take care of it. “Because you might lose it during the match.”

Okay? Then I’ll throw it away.
I gave Adela one last bit of advice and put her popcorn in her pocket.
She forgets it and enters the stadium.

Now I have to do my job too.

[Popcorn: 3 silver per bag / 5 silver for caramel popcorn]

Considering the high cost of Parencia, which costs 1 silver per loaf of crumbly bread, this was a fairly reasonable price.
In fact, students who spent a lot of money just to live at the academy only paid as little as a few silver coins.

— Here are two bags of popcorn!
— Ah, it smells good. Shall we eat too?
– Mister! Here~!

I wandered around while the six wizards gathered in the center of the stadium, waving their fancy robes, were introduced by the host.
Quite a lot of popcorn was sold in no time, and a fragrant smell filled the audience.

As I was walking around the stadium and looking around to see if there were more places left to sell, someone tapped my shoulder.
When I turned around, I saw a young man wearing a neat servant’s attire.

“Viscount Ruhilen wants to buy popcorn.”
“Okay? “Take a bag.”
“Hmm, I don’t have any cash on hand…”

Are you an asshole? Then why did you come?

Despite my dumbfounded expression, he steadfastly said that Darling wanted to eat popcorn.
So I looked around and saw that she was sitting in a VIP seat, which was far from the regular seats.
It seems that the way he is glaring in this direction and gesturing with his hand means that he wants me to come directly.

Guided by the attendant who came with us, we arrived at the bleachers that jutted out on both sides of the stadium.
It’s definitely a good place. I could see Adela and Liv slowly reciting the oath and getting ready to begin.

“Are you here, canteen owner?”
“Here’s popcorn.”

When I handed him a bag, Darling shook his head.

“I don’t want to eat that much.”
“Then?”
“Give me just one pill. “You pay the same amount.”

Are you kidding?
But she put the piece of popcorn I handed over to her mouth and really came out with 3 silvers.

“Then am I leaving now?”
“Give me one more.”
“Yes?”
“Buy one more pill.”

I gave away one more pill and received 3 silver.
Now that I was really about to go, Darling grabbed my sleeve again.

“One more.”
“…”

Tuk.
Jinglang.
Tuk.
Jinglang.

Several transactions were made whose intentions were unclear.

“It’s inconvenient to do business like this.”
“Then just buy the whole bag.”
“I don’t want to do that, so sit here.”

She sat aside and patted her chair.
And she even opened her mouth in this direction, indicating her intention to me, ‘Why don’t you give me some popcorn quickly?’
If it’s right next to you, you’ll take it out yourself…

Wajak, wajak.

As many times as she did, I sat in her seat and fed her popcorn.
I don’t know if I’ll be able to sell it all today.