Chapter 112
Chapter 112
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 112
Chapter Title: 32-2. The Unmelting Heart of the North
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A massive snow-capped mountain filled our vision, white as if painted by a brush, under a sky scattering snowflakes.
White breath began to pour from our mouths with every exhale.
As soon as we arrived in the North and disembarked from the ship, people with bear ears and thick fur cloaks appeared around us.
"Welcome to the Ironblood Lands! Everyone!"
Their movements were precise, as if multiple people were moving as one.
Unlike the Imperial Guard, they weren't knights wielding swords but soldiers with spears, their muscular builds screaming battle-hardened warriors.
'The guards protecting the princess up here in the North, huh. I've heard of them.'
It would be weirder if there were Imperial Guards but no forces protecting Sophitia.
They all wore matching black uniforms emblazoned with bear emblems that caught the eye.
"U哈哈哈!! It's really cold here!!"
"Licht... Watch your step..."
Pine gripped my hand tightly, fingers interlocked. Unlike me with my poor circulation, her hand was warm. All that nonsense about kind hearts making cold hands? Total bullshit.
"I'm fine now, Pine."
I felt a sense of wonder watching these rugged Northerners who looked toughened by life in harsh terrain.
'...This is the Ironblood Lands, Kaprostia.'
That pillar husband guy said he'd live like the Northerners in real life—eating chicken breast and hitting the gym. Turns out that was real madness.
I shouldn't live like that. I'm plenty normal as is.
Being a beta tester to save your favorite character is common in gaming subculture, after all.
"Loyalty to Kaprostia!"
"Her Highness Coldheart approaches!"
That was when they formed ranks, clearing the center, and a woman strode out confidently from the middle.
"Greetings. I am Sophitia Coldheart, current leader of the North."
She wore a black uniform and cloak, head to toe in darkness. She looked just like the illustration her husband—the Northern archduchess's spouse—had shown.
"We're truly grateful that the Granasia Empire sent reinforcements in person—"
Sophitia Coldheart.
Daughter of the Ironblood Northern Archduke, one of the Ten Heroes, she had animal ears like Pine.
A black-haired ponytail woman with bear ears and tail.
Among players, she was more famous by her nickname 'Northern Bear Princess,' and the North's ruler now looked surprised as she gazed our way.
"Pine...? I didn't hear you were coming."
"...Hey, Sophi."
Because of that, she approached with the click of her high heels but nearly tripped over a rock,
"Your Highness Coldheart!! Are you alright!!"
barely supporting herself with her spear, clutching her chest in shock as she took deep breaths. Makes sense—suddenly, one of the empire's top powers shows up.
"I-I'm... fine."
"..."
The atmosphere deflated in an instant. As Sophitia eyed Pine suspiciously, even the Northerners who looked like guards began to stir.
"I told you not to call me by that nickname... Pine."
"But Sophi is Sophi."
To sum up the archduchess, she's like the eternal second-place student in school. The pillar husband said she always lost to the imperial family.
But since the empire and North have a king-vassal relationship of mutual support, it made sense that Pine and Sophitia knew each other.
'Then this must've been forgotten in the fog of ignorance too.'
Imagining the Demon Kings' atrocities only fueled the rage boiling inside me. They could've just left their friends alone at this point.
"How the hell did you get all the way to the North? Pine Granasia."
"...Following the dummy doggy."
Pine slightly raised our linked arms, emphasizing that I was the doggy. Being a wolf is cooler and better than a dog, though.
"You're still the same as ever."
The Northern archduchess pressed her brow, complaining of a headache.
Our Pine is a bit fourth-dimensional, yeah. Before I knew it, the bear-eared girl had approached right in front of me.
"So... this is Licht, huh."
Her ice-blue eyes fixed on me. First time seeing her in person.
In the game, the North only came later after Lupus inherited the throne and planned to flee.
"You subjugated the Omniscience Demon King, right?"
"Yes, Your Highness Coldheart."
The woman looked me up and down. If the pillar husband knew, he'd try to kill me, so I kept my gaze fixed on the sky.
"Do you wear the helmet for battle? Licht."
"...Something like that."
Telling her I can't take it off wouldn't help; I could just lift the visor like Pine. Better avoid anything that smells like a flag.
A hidden powerhouse hiding his face? Heroines would flock to that. And the cliché of falling for him upon seeing his face.
Well, whatever—with my burn scar, she'd probably hate it anyway. At least no harem or NTR bullshit.
"Good. You pass."
Plus, I wasn't even sure if she's pretty to begin with. Our Pine is such a beauty. Ariel too, while Sophitia looks like a lumpy potato.
"You look pretty capable. Wanna spar with some Northerners?"
Maybe my eyes are too loyal; hard to tell them apart. I'd never get those heroine world cup polls on game forums.
"Depending on the results, you could join our guards..."
The Northern archduchess couldn't finish. Someone equipped their masterpiece gear and blocked her path. Height and bulk increased in a flash.
"Don't touch what's mine. Sophitia."
The glass knight glared golden eyes from her helmet, warning the archduchess. Master Drake sighed "Oh dear..." at the sight,
"Pine? You wrapping up a guy? That's new."
Sophitia's eyes curved with interest at the scene. Ah, damn. Scared it'll raise flags.
"Your Highness, this is an official occasion."
"But... but... that bear tried to steal Licht first..."
Pine anxiously glanced between me and the princess. Calm down, Pine. I'm not going anywhere without you.
"Princess Granasia. I have dedicated body and soul to the empire."
"Oh, really..."
"I won't leave your side."
"Got it... Licht. I believe you."
Only after my firm reassurance did the princess deactivate her glass armor. Then came the bombshell.
"...Licht's joining my personal guard. Don't even think about poaching him, Sophitia."
Pine, you can actually speak properly, can't you? Like last time—she really is a princess of a nation. Assertive when it counts.
I was enlisted into her guard without consent. When did she even decide this?
Of course, if she wants it, I'd welcome it with open arms. Gotta obey our Platinum Wolf.
"But the personal guard is His Majesty's pick, right? Pine."
Sophitia propped her chin on her hand, probing with a question. Like the pillar husband, she's got a strategic personality.
"Doesn't matter. I'll just name him Black Wolf Guard myself."
"Your Highness, this is too much."
Pine wouldn't bend her principles regardless. She snuggled back to my side, linking arms and even wrapping her tail around my leg.
"No, Licht and I are connected. No better guard than him."
Don't say stuff that'll cause misunderstandings. Our mana circuits are linked, so we can sense locations, and
that's it—a simple telepathy spell relationship. I don't get why she's so clingy. Favorability's rock bottom, Love Meter at 2%.
She's not some Nameless Saintess, so no proper romance buildup like in the game. Did something happen while I was down?
Squeeze. The tail around my leg tightened. Even as Demon King counter, this is overkill.
No matter how I think about it, there's no pink romantic vibe from Pine liking me. Should've read more romance novels.
Pine Granasia has beauty that doesn't match me at all, and while it's a game world, it's basically reality now.
Liking someone on a whim won't end well.
"Anyway... Licht belongs to our empire, Sophitia."
At my no-headpat warning, she finally toned down her words.
"Pine, people's hearts all move for money."
Watching her, the Northern archduchess sighed in disbelief. White breath puffed out, and something shiny flew toward me.
'...Empire gold coins?'
Too many people around to draw my iron sword like for Shadow Slash practice, so I snatched all the incoming coins by hand.
"Beyond expectations. Catching these too. I threw them for real."
The Northern archduchess had tested me by tossing coins. I've trained under Master Drake for 5 years. Child's play.
"You're definitely talented. Won't you really work for our Kaprostia?"
She grinned foxily, calling the coins an advance. Hell no. The pillar husband would tear down my door in real life.
"I must decli—"
And you nearly got our Pine hurt. As bile rose at her forced seduction, I started to refuse,
"Licht... hates barren lands like you, with no nutrition."
Pine squeezed my arm hard, pressing it into her massive softness as she spoke.
So soft. Blood boiled all over. Reason screaming. Help.
"Says the wolf who's gained unnecessary weight."
"Better than the North with not a blade of grass."
Compared to the empire's princess, the Northern archduchess was flat. Barren chest, like her words.
"Really? Pine, everyone goes blind for money."
"Hmph, Sophitia. Licht's different."
Why does the pillar husband like this stuff? Even if tastes are personal, dressed as a guy? Hard to believe.
"...Perverted doggy likes this more."
True, but. No, it's because it's you, Pine. Even if big, it's the person I like.
'To begin with, Ariel or Heavenly Demon? Nothing there.'
This is why the pillar husband teases me that it's not big-boob fetish but saintess fetish. Jealous? Grind more real skills.
"If that's your will, I'll back off cleanly. Sorry for testing you."
Seeing Pine's firm resolve match her expectation, the archduchess softened her expression slightly.
"Let's head in first. Pine. Lady Asha Aureus is waiting inside."
She nodded subtly, as if grasping the connection between me and Pine, then turned her black hair in the wind and stepped inward.