The Ice Witch (3)
“Um, I’m really sorry. I’m sorry again. I won’t do it ever again.”
Paranil bowed repeatedly, looking every bit the innocent young man.
We left the icicle-riddled mess behind and climbed into the carriage they’d brought. I told the coachman to circle the city.
Parania was still fuming, gnawing on her thumbnail while glaring daggers at me.
I glared right back, and she let out a “Hiiik!” shrinking away.
Scary, but she wasn’t backing down?
Paranil explained that they’d tried to hood me because they thought I was Agnes’s collaborator or disciple.
The paper I’d sent to the academy earlier had listed Agnes and Kirgil, so they figured we were close and planned to tease me about it.
The hood was because they assumed I was a mage. Most mages panic and can’t chant if their vision’s blocked.
They’d planned to cow me into submission, scare me half to death, make me follow meekly, then throw a surprise party…
“You expect me to believe both of you are kids? And I’m just supposed to nod and go, ‘Sure, got it’?”
“I have no excuse. But it’s true.”
“What’s so hard to believe! That boulder-headed girl won’t even look at me—she ignores me completely! Even when I’m right there, she talks like I’m from another world, calling me ‘that lop-eared bitch.’ If I can’t punish her, her disciple should at least feel my wrath!!”
“…Sounds like a whiny little kid taking out her anger on someone easy. Right?”
“Uwaaaah!! That tone, that arrogant attitude!! This guy’s Agnes’s too!! Like master, like disciple!!”
I get how Agnes feels now. Makes me want to ignore her too. Hell, I already am. I just don’t want to get tangled up with her anymore.
She was so irritating, flailing and yelling, that I shot her a glare.
“…Hiiik!!”
She tucked tail immediately. This is the vice president who turned a criminal into an ice shish kebab?
“…Um. It’s the first time my sister’s been this scared since Agnes. She’s not usually like this. Sorry about that.”
No need to apologize for her being scared. Just how far does this guy extend his apologies?
He looked worn out from cleaning up after his rude, scatterbrained sister’s messes for years.
I could see why he puts up with her so much.
“I’ve got my own party. I was planning to visit tomorrow anyway, so I’ll head out now.”
As I reached for the carriage door,
“Ah, no!!”
“What now?”
“Hiiik!! S-s-sorry. Really, I’m sorry.”
Finally an apology. But whether from shame or fear of meeting my eyes, she covered her face with both hands.
Like a kid peeking through fingers at a horror movie… It softened me a bit.
Damn, finding her a little cute made me hold back again.
“Truth is, I had so many questions for you. As a scholar, as a mage… I know it. Because you’re with Agnes, her research, analysis, interpretations—even her imagination—have advanced astonishingly. She wasn’t that level! I know better than anyone!! So…”
“So?”
“Hiiik!! I… I want… to learn from you too. That’s why… I wanted to kidnap you!!”
What an absurdly honest confession. Kidnap me?
Not cute enough to daddy-smile my way through that.
Listening to someone so far off the rails was irritating me again.
“…No, don’t get mad. I wasn’t going to hurt you. I’d have treated you great at home. I saw your skills earlier. If you want, I could make you a teacher—no, even academy president. Or if you’re the real deal, I’d introduce you to Father!”
Calmer now, she spoke with the dignified tone and posture of a proper noble. But her childlike build and face made it feel off.
Anyway, she was dead set on recruiting me somehow.
Something had been bugging me, though.
“Hiiik, w-what? Why are you staring? G-gonna hit me!?”
Not hitting—just checking the hair covering her severed ear. My hunting dagger’s sharp enough to plunge straight into a heart.
“Good thing it’s not cut too badly, and no slash wounds.”
I examined the stump. Clean cut from something razor-sharp. Who did this?
“…You’re not as spiteful as Agnes.”
She seemed relieved I was seriously inspecting it.
Where I’m from, mocking disabilities gets you called human trash.
“Twenty years ago, she took my place as hostage. The kidnappers cut off her ear to threaten Father.”
Her brother caught my curiosity and explained.
Explains why he adores her.
But how’d she get rescued?
“Agnes saved her back then. Crushed the kidnappers in an instant. So…”
That’s why she fears Agnes.
But Agnes is her lifesaver. Did she ever say thanks?
Nah, with her personality, she probably did.
Problem is, she probably overdid it, annoyingly so. Enough that Agnes never wants to hear her name again.
“……”
This twisted love-hate thing.
Only Agnes, who saved her lop ear, can get away with that insult. Anyone else, and she’d flip.
But she just insults—no real harm. And she exchanges letters with the academy often, I hear. Whether Parania’s fault or not.
Wait, hold up.
She did do something awful to me!
Thinking about their relationship keeps making me forget I’m the victim here.
Parania, sensitive about her ear, started re-braiding her loosened hair. Making another earplug? With that much trauma, phantom pain’s likely.
“Does that ear still hurt?”
“Huh? Uh… Not sure. Sometimes it feels like it’s there even though it’s gone…”
“She still complains sometimes in the mornings that the missing ear hurts. She’ll even try to scratch it. As you see, it’s gone. Probably the trauma from that day hasn’t faded.”
Her brother jumped in, sparing her the pain of recalling it.
Classic phantom limb pain. First time hearing it for an ear, but elf ears are long with different nerves—maybe.
If so, there might be a chance?
“…So that’s why you’re here.”
Twenty years ago, Ashu was still a child. No saintess yet.
So we were at the academy president’s mansion—Parania’s home. I’d called Ashu over. Or rather, made her come.
“Sorry. Any procedures I need to know?”
“The cathedral usually handles it… but this might be better. There are procedures, but it’s not the ritual itself—it’s the intent behind choosing and performing it. You wouldn’t think that far, Kirgil…”
Her chattiness meant she was a bit sulky.
Parania and Paranil sat tensely in the corner of the drawing room, giving us space to talk. But vanishing entirely might be best.
“Sorry, but could we have the room?”
They stepped out without protest.
“Sorry. Should’ve talked to you first before asking. I got ahead of myself.”
“…I know. That’s just how you are, Kirgil. No need to apologize. It’s you. Just… just…”
Ashu, who’d been eloquently venting her anger, suddenly trailed off.
I could guess.
She wasn’t scolding me. She was voicing the anxiety she’d been harboring.
I knew why.
“Ashu, I’m an adventurer.”
“……”
She’d been honest, so I had to be too.
Smart as she is, she’d get it.
Like the song: don’t try to grab—be a tavern instead.
Ashu looked glum at my words.
Lately, she’d been fussing over me, promoting me. Back home, they’d say she’s prepping for election.
She’s got politician—no, noble—vibes now.
But I still want to adventure.
“I know. It’s my selfishness… Still…”
Ashu’s voice cracked, trailing off. It hurt, but for her sake, I had to be clear.
I hugged her lightly and whispered,
“Ashu, will you join my adventure to disband the Darania Knight Order?”
“Y-yes… Yes!?”
A punny proposal like a tongue twister, but she’d get the meaning.
“You’re really… I forgot. I was the fool. From the start and now, you’re the guiding light leading me. I’m just a follower, your devotee. I’ll always chase after you.”
Ashu happily joined my “adventure” as a companion.
But when she flashed the Connection Ring while saying she’d chase me, I flinched a little.
Worried she’s solidifying her identity in a weird direction.
“Now I just want to finish this and get back to the inn.”
“…Yeah. Me too.”
Not a little tense—very tense.