Chapter 372 – After a Fight

000

Several hours have passed since Freya and Cleon’s companions left the realm of the World Tree.

Yggdrasil was silently kneeling in front of the biggest tree in his realm-his body, praying his prayers.

Who can she pray to, who can be said to be the creator of this realm, that is, the god of this world?

Perhaps, even if it was a meaningless prayer that could not reach anyone, she was just calming her heart her, hoping for the safety of her precious daughter and others.

Contrary to her earnestness to her, the realm itself was much more peaceful than before.

Before Cleon came, she had lived under the invasion of the Thunder Lord for hundreds of years.

The inhabitants of the realm rejoiced when they heard of the defeat of the Thunder Lord and his limbs, but tried to hold a festival.

Yggdrasil told them, ‘Then, let’s open it after Freya and Cleon have returned safely’, and now the village is in full swing preparing for the festival.

The mother, the world tree, couldn’t shake off her slightly complicated feelings at the innocence of the villagers who were happy even though the battle hadn’t ended yet-

At least for the next few hundred years, the joy of not being invaded like before, I couldn’t complain about the greatness.

So, at least the brave men who had defeated the Thunder Lord were waiting for their safe return.

Light, until the sound of footsteps in the snow echoed behind her.

“You’re coming out of that castle, so it’s a big deal.”

Yggdrasil opened her mouth as she opened her eyes to the cool aura she felt behind her, without turning her body her.

“As you know, the main body is still held in the throne. This body is, to the last, an alter ego created with magical power. It is similar to you. Yggdrasil, the world tree.”

And return answer.

Standing there was a woman wearing a dress with long, shiny blue hair that seemed translucent.

Where her footsteps her land, a beautiful crystal of snowflakes blooms, which quickly melts and disappears due to the energy of the earth.

However, as far as the part where she stood still, the frozen ground could be seen not melting.

She is the one who told Amelia and Gray that they needed the power of the Thunder Lord’s hammer to return to their original world.

She was the Frost Queen.

She also had her name Whistle in the past, but her name was her as an individual was meaningless to her, who now lived only for her role her as the ruler of the realm-master of the throne given to her.

“Even so, your soul has always been in that cold frozen ground. Frost Queen.”

Yggdrasil knew it, so she called her by her title her, not her name her.

As Whistle nods her head, she tells Yggdrasil, who looks back at her.

“Yes. But if those children return alive, they will pass through here first. I just didn’t want to call them my last name again.”

“Because your realm is cold. To put it bluntly, it’s not a good environment to stay in. Are you that concerned about those children?”

When the Frost Queen did not respond to Yggdrasil’s words, Yggdrasil stood up from her seat and waved her hand lightly.

OK. From under the frozen ground where the Frost Queen stood, something like tree roots grew rapidly and rose up-

Soon, it weaves vines, and fixes them firmly. It took the shape of a chair for a person to sit on.

The chair appeared not only under her feet her, but also under Yggdrasil.

They, who are the alter egos of magical power, won’t get tired just standing there-

“It’s not like standing up and talking, so sit down. It’s the first time in hundreds of years that I’ve had a direct conversation with you like this.”

As Yggdrasil said, it was a long time ago that the two met face-to-face.

“Not really, I’m not here to talk to you.”

“Don’t be so cold. You’re in a ‘similar situation’, right?”

Despite Yggdrasil’s benevolent attitude to her, the Frost Queen did not let go of the cold aura that covered her, but as if she could n’t help it, she sat down on the chair she had created and looked at Yggdrasil.

“A while ago, a scream that shook the entire realm came to my realm. My realm is closer to the realm of the goddess of death than this. It will fly here soon.”

Then, at the words of the Frost Queen, who told her the truth in a calm manner, Yggdrasil blinked at her for a moment, then smiled happily as if he was relieved, and brushed her heart.

“That’s fortunate.”

“Yes… With this, the realm of the world of the goddess of death will lose the core that maintains its existence and will soon be demolished. This exile realm will be short-lived, but it can be said that peace has been obtained.”

The fact that following the thunder lord who took the lead in invading another world, the vampire Alessios, an existence like a time bomb that existed in this exiled realm, was subdued.

In other words, it was a story that Freya and Cleon would be able to return here soon.

Furthermore, until the owner of the realm that falls back into the realm of exile due to the twist of space-time appears, the residents of this realm can live in peace.

There was no reason Yggdrasil wouldn’t smile.

“—Even if that’s the case, now the only beings who can enjoy peace in this exiled realm are you and your children.”

“… Okay.”

The Frost Queen’s words were not sarcasm or anything.

It’s just that she was telling the truth.

Four of the nine realms were lost to the Thunder Lord and his young sage.

And, even the realm of the Thunder Lord by Cleon and his allies.

If you look at the realm of the goddess of death as a result, it can be seen as ‘self-destructed’.

The remaining area was an empty shell, where land did not exist and the entire area was made up of sea. No life remains here.

The realm of the Frost Queen, where only the queen and her throne Her, snow and ice exist.

The only realm overflowing with nature and life is now the realm of Yggdrasil.

“If you wish, you can swallow even my realm and sublimate into a higher being by using Mjolnir and the crystal power of the throne.”

The Frost Queen’s eyes met those of Yggdrasil.

Her green-eyed eyes remained unmoved by the Frost Queen’s words in her.

“Did my true heart come to confirm that? I wonder if I have the will to do so.”

“Yes. No matter how much you are the Holy Mother, the great mother of nature, and a peace-loving person. No one knows if you’re hiding your true feelings until the moment when it’s actually possible. Unfortunately, I’m not a god.”

The Frost Queen’s candid answer made Yggdrasil shut her mouth for a moment, then she just let out her wry smile.

“I don’t. I will remain in this realm forever.”

“It seems so. The small amount of shaking in that feeling is something you can trust.”

At Yggdrasil’s reply, the Frost Queen closed and opened her eyes, succinctly acknowledging the fact.

“Besides, if you say that. You’re the same, right?”

“…”

When Yggdrasil asked herself a question in her role her, her Frost Queen expression hardened a little.

“Me and you- this is a bit strange to say, but it should be said that they are not compatible. My earth’s magic that can keep it green forever. And the warmth of the ground–your cold magic that takes away life. You are the only one With the power of – If you draw both the crystal and the power of the throne, it is even possible to devour this realm.”

“Either side will be mortally wounded.”

Yggdrasil nodded at the Frost Queen’s reply.

“The winner is the one who has the will to fight and win. I don’t have that will, so if you just think about it, it will end with your victory.”

“Neither do I. I have no intention of leaving the realm, which can be called the tomb of the frost giants.”

Even if it was against the will of her benefactor who saved her own life.

The Frost Queen had no intention of returning to her original world her, leaving her her benefactor her behind her in this interdimensional rift.

“Then. For the time being, there will be only two realms left in this realm of exile. Frost Queen, if you don’t mind, how about staying in this realm? So alone, you might forget how to speak.”

Yggdrasil’s proposal of her, the Frost Queen simply shook her head and refused.

“A while ago, we said that our magic powers don’t match, so are you suggesting that? I can freeze your children. And—”

This is the first time she’s come here and she answers with a small smile.

“Even though you’re there, you’re not alone. Still, everyone’s souls remain in the crystal.”

“…I see. I made a mistake.”

Yggdrasil bows her head apologetically.

“If you say go outside… It’s possible for you too. Even if you don’t go out whole body by devouring all of your territory like a snake in that world. If you use the magic you’ve gathered, it will be possible to send that clone back to your hometown.”

“That is undeserved. Neither my body nor my alter ego intend to leave this place. This world is the place where I should be.”

At Yggdrasil’s reply, the Frost Queen shut her mouth for a moment.

After a moment of silence, Yggdrasil rises from her seat her.

“Let’s serve tea. Drinking tea, wait for the children to come back.”

“…Okay.”

001

The flash of light that covered my eyes disappeared, and the moment my vision slowly returned—

“Ss-aaaaa)”

And a high-pitched scream rang out.

Illenu’s voice jumped into the ears of Cleon, who was protecting his eyes from blindness by covering them with magic.

[Cleon! Run forward as it is!]

That voice and Illenu’s instructions.

Having grasped the situation to some extent, Cleon sprints forward.

“When to stop!?”

[──Now!]

As soon as Illennu’s voice started, Cleon suddenly stopped on the spot and stretched out his arms forward-

Plop right after! As the impact landed, I could see something light riding on my arm.

And- Cleon removed the magic that covered his eyes as he felt the light completely disappear.

It was to see Layla, limp, dropped on her arm.

She was back to normal, with no missing parts.

Red hair, white skin, fingertips and toes.

“Whoa…”

Cleon let out a sigh of relief.

“Ugh…”

Lila must have momentarily lost her mind from the shock of her fall her, and when she hears Cleon’s sigh her, she flinches and opens her eyes.

“…Cl, Leon…?”

“Seriously… If you’ve flown, think about how you’ll land.”

“…Ah. Yes…”

Cleon feels a bit suspicious about her attitude towards her Cleon in an awkward atmosphere.

And then-

“Lyla!”

Beatrix suddenly jumped toward Cleon’s direction her—no, to be precise, toward Layla, who was being held by Cleon.

He hugged her and buried her face in her shoulder her.

“Be, bea…”

[Oh… This is…]

Illenu looked at the two of them, then showed a stiff face as if he was a bit embarrassed.

Cleon, too, sees that the two people who were roaring until now have returned to a relationship she knows well, and she understands the inside story.

“Has your memory returned. Both of you.”

“Yeah. Totally. …The moment Alessios disappears with the monster.”

Lyla nodded her head and grabbed Cleon’s arm her, and Cleon nodded her head and lowered her Lyla to the ground.

[There is no need to seal the memories, so I returned. I’d like to say… But it was the power of the goddess of death that sealed the memories. It must be because almost all of that power has disappeared.]

“Ah… That’s right.”

Thinking that, Cleon looked back at the body of Illenu, who had been lying near the throne until earlier.

Then, there- I saw Illenu lying face down with not even a thread on her back.

[For a moment!?]

“Ah, sorry…”

“Huh? Ahh. Illenu’s body. Sorry, I thought I shouldn’t attack people somehow when using magic. Illenu was in the middle between a person and an object- so it was in the state of a corpse, so the body was left and only the clothes were burned.”

Hearing Layla reply, Cleon sighed, and Illenu ran amok behind Cleon.

“Cleon!”

Then, thump! The girl rushes towards Cleon with a shock.

It was Amelia who was inside the barrier.

In a tackle strong enough to hit her head against Cleon’s side of her, Cleon almost falls.

“… Amelia. Thank you for helping me earlier.”

When Cleon, who somehow stood there with her grown-up dignity, said that, Amelia stood still, holding her head as it was without raising her head.

“…Amelia?”

When Cleon calls her name once again—

Hearing only the sound of her soft breathing her, he saw her fall asleep holding onto Cleon’s body her.

“I fell asleep standing up…”

“Ahaha~ It seems that all the worries and tensions have been relieved, and the fatigue of the body has come all at once.”

Sif and the rest of the crew also approach Cleon.

“Everyone… I’m glad you’re safe.”

“Even if the guy who fought the most fiercely said that, he wouldn’t cry.”

At Freya’s answer her, Cleon just scratched his cheek as if he was in trouble.

[Ohhh! Cleon! It was a great dance! This Utgart, after all, to give this life to Cleon-sama, until this moment!]

And, Utgart flew in with a much louder voice, and the moment everyone was stunned to see Utgart clattering even the tongs in excitement.

Utgart’s rampage was to be stopped by Gray pressing him down from above and landing him on the ground.

“It’s a calming sword! Are you trying to kill Cleon!?”

“I think that guy can hold on to that tongs and hold on… Alright! Let’s fight with me this time!”

And, even Moose, who tries to attack Cleon as if the fight is not enough.

“What about Cassius and the maid?”

When Sif asked that question, Freyja put a hand on his chin and answered.

“Come to think of it- it disappeared during the battle. Did you say you were going to the mansion to get something…”

“Then, is it still the mansion? Okay, let’s tell them that the battle is over. You two must be tired too.”

At Cleon’s words, the party nodded.

At that time, Solina cautiously approaches Cleon.

“…Mr. Cleon.”

“It’s okay with Cleon. …Solina. Wilhelmina is-“

“Yes, I know. …Because I saw her disappear.”

Solina took a few deep breaths and bent her back.

“…Thank you, Mr. Cleon. Thanks to Mr. Cleon, everyone… Was able to settle the grudge between the villagers and Rhys.”

“…It’s you and Wilhelmina who made that possible. The two of you didn’t give up until the very end and created the opportunity to get rid of Alexios.”

Saying so, Cleon held out her hand to Solina.

“——The two of them, freed everyone.”

“…!”

Solina lifted her head upon hearing that.

So far, Ile presses Reese because of her own obstinacy of her. And she thought that she endangered the whole village and eventually became an undead in the dimension exile area.

She felt her heart choke at Cleon’s words.

And she takes Cleon’s hand with her trembling hand and shakes his hand with her.

Cleon gave Solina a small smile and turned her body her.

“Come on. Find His Highness Cassius and Emma…Let’s prepare to go back.”

The long fight is over.

What was left was, now it was time to settle the remaining minor issues to return home.