Ice Witch (2)
Blindfolded and bound, kidnapped in this situation.
Like hell I'm just gonna take this lying down.
The moment my vision went dark, I activated Happy Moment.
In the frozen time, I pulled off the hood and looked at my captor.
Surprisingly, it was an elf man. Tall, with golden hair close to silver tied in a ponytail.
An elf kidnapping me—not orcs or goblins I had bad blood with, but an elf.
His eyes were narrow, giving his face a somehow laid-back look, but the way he was hooding me was fast and precise.
Judging him no one to underestimate, I hooded his face instead with the cloth he'd meant for me, then tied it with his ponytail.
Come to think of it, the girl who'd called me over seemed like an elf too.
I say "seemed" because her hair was braided on both sides, covering her ears like earplugs, so I couldn't see them.
But she had the same hair color as this elf guy, and her face looked a bit similar.
Plus, she was small—somewhere between elementary and middle school age, roughly.
Looked like his daughter or little sister.
Man, what an arrogant attitude, though. Even when she was talking earlier, she'd tilted her nose up like some noble lording over a slave or servant.
I rewound time and knocked out the now-blindfolded elf man easily. Then I drew my sword and pressed it to the back of his neck.
I didn't know if the girl was his daughter or sister, but she'd pay for raising such a bratty kid, Mr. Elf.
"I was even considering bringing you along unharmed, but that rock-headed bitch's... What!? What the hell just happened!?"
Of course she'd be shocked. In her eyes, the tables had turned in a blink—from her on top to her family at death's door.
"Guhhh! A trap!? Fooling me of all people!!"
Trap? I should be the one saying that.
I held my sword steady, aiming at the back of the elf's neck under my foot. He felt the blade and immediately raised both hands in surrender.
Taking her down too would be easy like this.
But I wanted to check something else first, so I pressed the edge against his nape.
Now what're you gonna do?
"You... you bastard!!!!
"Flocks in frozen time, scatter into cold air and become wings of frost!"
⟨ Ice Wings ⟩
With those words, six man-sized icicles sharpened like blades fanned out above her head like wings.
But that incantation sounded like something an elementary kid dictated back phonetically.
I couldn't help snickering while keeping my sword on the downed man—half amused, half relieved.
But the girl took it as mockery. Well, half of it was.
"You! Youuuu!! Drop that sword and beg forgiveness right now, or I won't forgive you!
"The flapping of my icy wings shall strike you down!"
⟨ Ice Wings ⟩
With the incantation, the icicles slammed down around me like stakes.
I didn't bother dodging. None came straight at me.
Just a threat. She was minding the hostage I'd grabbed.
Good thing. She wasn't some brainless noble with no sense of decency.
"Kiddo, you think that'll scare me? You guys attacked first. Apologize for your rudeness now, and I'll forgive you and let this guy go."
"...Grrr. Youuu!! You too!! I won't... I absolutely won't lose!!"
I'd offered peace, but the vibe said negotiations were dead. My words must've hit a sore spot.
I could've been nicer, more gentlemanly, but I was a bit pissed too, so sweet words weren't coming easy.
Still, I'd kept it pretty calm, all things considered.
Wait, is it the 'kiddo' that set her off?
"Flocks in frozen time, scatter into cold air and become wings of frost!"
"Flocks in frozen time, scatter into cold air and become wings of frost!"
"Flocks in frozen time, scatter into cold air and become wings of frost!"
⟨ Ice Wings ⟩
The brat rattled off the incantation three times in a flash, summoning a total of eighteen icicles.
Someone once said there are blockheads who suck at everything but stubbornly spam magic anyway.
And here she was, right in front of me.
This could get dangerous if I let it slide.
The onlookers who'd been watching us scattered in alarm.
I charged straight at the brat and shouted,
"Waters in frozen time, forged in chill into wings of death—become wings of my will!"
⟨ Wings of Will ⟩
Her level of magic was child's play. I seized control of the icicles with my will and lifted them high into the sky.
"Wha!? What... what's happening!? Why's my magic... control... W-wait... stop!!"
The soaring icicles soon plummeted around the hooded elf man.
Finally, he vanished, entombed in a massive cluster of them.
Good thing she couldn't see the carnage inside.
"Nooooooo!!!"
That should stop the brat from chanting again.
I circled behind her now powerless form and drew my hunting dagger to her throat.
"Eek!?"
The girl recoiled in terror from the dagger.
Not just scared—her whole body was trembling violently.
Some bad memory, maybe?
She seemed subdued enough, but better confirm.
"Surrender. Or else..."
"Sp... spare..."
Terrified, but even shaking, she showed fierce will, reaching out toward the ice chunks.
"I have to save Paranil..."
"Hey! Wait!!"
"No!! I won't!! Waaaaaah!!"
In the end, she burst into tears, shoved my arm away, and ran toward the ice pile.
In the scuffle, my sharpened hunting dagger nicked the knot in her right-side hair.
The braids covering her ears like plugs came undone, revealing her right elf ear.
"Wha... no way!?"
Her ear was sliced off halfway.
--- --- ---
Long story short.
"Don't cry. Cut it out! No one's dead."
I didn't want to spread the pain of losing someone precious. And killing a kid? Not my thing.
Though... she might not be a kid after all.
A voice echoed from inside the ice:
"Sis! I'm alive!! I'm fine!! Totally fine!!"
So this snippy one-eared brat sobbing next to me was the big sister.
I'd heard you can't judge elf ages by looks, but damn, not like this.
Anyway, time to wrap it up.
"If you don't want more punishment, isn't there something you should do? Stop testing my patience."
"Sis, apologize. We messed up! We went way too far with the prank from the start."
The brother at least had some sense. He knew what they'd done wrong. If she was even a year older as the big sis...
"...No."
This is insane.
I didn't know her real age, but she sure acted her looks.
"...Sis."
"No!! I hate it!! It's all Agnes's fault!! She tricked me!! Tricked meeee!! Waaaaaah!!"
"......"
Tantrum-level bawling. Too childish for words.
Still, her hands kept clearing the ice. Kinda admirable, in a way.
"Sorry about this, Kirgil. I'll apologize on her behalf. My sister's really sensitive about Agnes. She hates losing to her, so she pulled this mean prank."
"This spoiled big sis doesn't usually act like this?"
"Well..."
He trailed off.
Now I got why Agnes never even said this girl's name—she hated her that much.
I'd thought they were just frenemies when Agnes sent research papers to this "lop-ear." But no.
Through the chipped ice, the elf man's laid-back face emerged. He'd ditched the hood sometime.
He shoved aside the uselessly grunting lop-ear girl, told her to back off while he sliced the rest, and stay put.
I channeled [Slice] into Killgent's Oath and swung diagonally at the stake-like ice chunks.
Moments later, the upper halves of all the icicles slid down the clean cuts and crumbled away.
"Are you a warrior, not a mage, Kirgil? We hooded you thinking you were one..."
The elf man's full, unharmed form revealed, the girl threw herself at him in a hug.
"Paranil!! Waaaaaah!!"
"Yeah, yeah, sis saved me again. I'm good. Kirgil just scared me. No injuries at all."
Maybe 'cause elves live long together?
Human siblings are always at each other's throats, but these two had real bond.
"......"
No, wait—why am I getting all touched here?
Technically, I'm the real victim who should be crying and complaining.
I steeled myself and pointed my sword at the embracing siblings.
"Enough of that. Why pick a fight with some guy walking by? Spill it straight."
"W-wait! Kirgil! We messed up! Please, calm your anger!"
"Don't!! Paranil!! Don't kill him!! Ice..."
"Cast magic, and it goes right back at your brother."
"...Mmph."
She clamped her mouth shut like a doll.
Tears streamed like chicken shit anyway. Felt kinda bad, like bullying a kid—even knowing she was older.
Anyway, skip the tantrum queen and talk to the mature brother.
I turned to him.
"I'm Paranil, second son of Paraskarania Academy President Paradilan. This is my big sister, Vice President Parania."
"......"
I'd half-expected it, but hearing it confirmed felt bleak.
What the hell does an academy even do? Daycare for brats? Or are all mages like this?
"......"
Thinking back... yeah, they all kinda were.
Mages were all a bit childish, every last one.