Chapter 227
Chapter: 227
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>Translator: penny
>Chapter: 227
>Chapter Title: Air Raid (4)
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The northern canyon was a treacherous zone lined with towering cliffs left behind after the glaciers had melted away.
It was known to be advantageous for defense because the border with the Demon Realm was relatively narrow, but it was not a space that could be held single-handedly.
It was wide enough for massive glacier trolls ten meters tall to march in formation side by side.
Seongjin realized that standing foolishly in front of the fortress wouldn't allow him to block the entire army of ice monsters.
"Then I'll make it so they have to come block me over there!"
That was why Bingsoo No. 1, having smashed the lead ones, suddenly plunged recklessly into the middle of the glacier troll pack.
Boom boom thud!
Seongjin's flurry of blows, charging in like an arrow, threw the center of their formation into chaos. At that, all the monsters halted their advance toward the fortress and began moving toward Bingsoo No. 1 as their target.
'As expected...!'
Craaaack!
Shattering the heart of one in the rear ranks to draw the enemies even deeper, Seongjin quickly racked his brain.
As anticipated, the 25 glacier trolls each had a single registered 'Ice Heart.' And they were all being controlled by one handler.
The enemy controller had grouped all of them except the one captured by Bingsoo No. 3, manipulating them to react to a single target.
'...And it's not particularly skilled in close combat either.'
The glacier trolls surrounding Bingsoo No. 1 swung their fists in a mob, but their mindless movements were so simplistic they were almost laughable.
If it were Seongjin, he would have focused on controlling one to block the intruder.
In any case, the one controlling the ice monsters was surely nearby. Most likely at the rear of this formation.
So the more Bingsoo No. 1 pushed forward recklessly, the greater the threat it would feel, and it wouldn't dare advance carelessly toward the fortress.
Rumble rumble rumble.
The ice chunks scattered on the ground from being smashed began reforming and rising back up. As he'd heard from Orden before, unless their hearts were destroyed in one blow, they kept replenishing ice to recover their bodies.
And this entire area was blanketed in abundant ice.
'But that's the same for us!'
The moment Seongjin thought that.
Groooan.
The arm of Bingsoo No. 1, cracked from repeated heavy strikes on the enemy, repaired itself in an instant.
Swinging the forearm, now instantly coated in solid ice, full circle, Seongjin unconsciously curled up the corner of his mouth.
'Alright. Let's see how long you bastards can hold out.'
* * *
Screeech—
Those peering anxiously out from the fortress snapped to attention at the pitiful whine of the wolf pup.
Turning their heads, they saw the wolf pup, who had been licking the prince's cheek, suddenly tucking its tail and whimpering in fear.
"...His Highness is smiling."
Lady Claudia confirmed the prince's face, faintly smiling, and said so. Then she hugged her shoulders with both arms and shivered.
"Wow, it's just a smile, but why does it feel so chilling?"
As she said, even in the frigid Sigismund territory, the surrounding temperature seemed to drop noticeably.
'Well, it's not the first time we've experienced this while staying by His Majesty's side.'
Confirming the prince was still breathing steadily, Masain turned back and gazed worriedly at the canyon.
The glacier trolls were slowly retreating, led by Vince, but was that really all the enemy had prepared?
Even if so, hundreds of lycanslopes were still encamped in the distance. After the glacier trolls' formation collapsed, they hadn't approached further, merely glaring at the fortress with bloodshot eyes.
'Whether fast or slow, to fully force the enemy to retreat, we'll have to go out from the fortress eventually.'
Thinking that, Masain opened his mouth.
"As soon as the glacier trolls withdraw, let's wake His Highness. It's true that thanks to him, the fortress has passed the crisis, but we can't keep him in this state forever."
Then, Sir Sharon added with a sinister chuckle from the side.
"Heh heh heh. Yes, that state isn't good for Mores. If we're not careful, Holy Emperor Daddy might drop everything and come rushing back, right? That's how it is."
"......"
"Heh heh. Mores needs some kind of trigger. Someone to awaken his spirit in place of Daddy His Majesty? Indeed."
Sir Hans stared at Sir Sharon with a flustered face.
To an outsider, she was making irreverent remarks about both the Holy Emperor and the prince at once.
"I-irreverent..."
"It's not her words, so don't mind it further."
Sir Bruno, the captain, coldly cut him off from the side.
"Dragging others into it won't lighten the charge of irreverence you just committed, Sir Hans."
At those words, the elderly fortress commander bowed his head, sweating coldly.
To think a slip of the tongue in his old age would cause such trouble.
Meanwhile, Seongjin, having already dismantled half the enemy's ice monsters, had entered a trance-like state.
Thud!
Crack crack craaaack!
With each heart he shattered, his peak-condition senses sharpened vividly, and his expanded spirit soared endlessly.
[Your Highness...]
A faint thought, barely there, tickled his ear.
It was somehow familiar, and bitterly sorrowful.
[I must now go on a distant journey from which I may never return. A path I cannot tell to anyone. A world full of regrets, and the only one here who knows the real me is Your Highness. Please, those who remain...]
The faint thought cut off there.
But Seongjin found himself unconsciously responding to the unknown sender.
It's okay. Even if it takes a long time, you'll return here someday.
[...Repent, repent.]
[Bethelah. Only through a life of utter asceticism...]
And following that, a multitude of muddy thoughts assailed Seongjin's ears.
[Repent, repent.]
[Bethelah. Only through pain unto death...]
So noisy. Look at this! The entire northern region is overrun with your thoughts! How long do you plan to keep up this nonsense?
[Bethelah. And only when one fully reaches the side of repentance...]
Don't make me laugh. Want me to tell you the truth?
Even unto death, your suffering never ends. Only another eternal torment awaits.
As he mocked them thoughtlessly, suddenly a strong will pierced into Seongjin's ear.
[■■■ ■■!]
...What?
Seongjin tensed and listened closely.
Even though he couldn't understand the words at all, he somehow realized that voice was calling him.
[Are you really ■■■ ■■? Ah, I've finally found you!]
The moment the thought specified Seongjin, it crashed against him with intense will. The shock and joy emanating from it were so fervent it was burdensome to face directly.
[From the instant you arrived to find me, I've been calling you nonstop! No wonder there's no interference from the guardian—looks like the 'Rift' has opened now!]
Yeah. That figures.
Seongjin thought indifferently.
[Now's the chance. Hurry and return to us through this gap! We're all desperately waiting for you!]
Yeah. Maybe that's for the best.
This and that, it's all getting so damn annoying...
He'd thought that far when.
A voice like shattering glass suddenly invaded Seongjin's mind.
[Yi Seongjin!]
Splash!
Like cold water poured over him, his mind snapped awake.
[No! It was almost done! Ah, just wait a moment! Don't close the connection! ■■......!]
The voice rapidly faded, and Seongjin's vision cleared.
Grrrrrind.
Becoming aware of his hand gripped tightly, Seongjin realized Bingsoo No. 1's hand was throttling a glacier troll's neck hard.
'......!'
The one whose neck was gripped and hoisted up flailed its legs desperately.
And that was the only one still moving. Looking around, debris from utterly wrecked glacier trolls littered the ground—easily over twenty.
Sure enough, in the distance, three or four ice monsters were fleeing in panic.
Judging it pointless to lose more forces meaninglessly, they seemed to be attempting a tactical retreat.
Staring blankly at them, a ringing voice continued in his head.
[Whoa whoa! Yi Seongjin, know what I just found? Turns out the one controlling those things is... What the hell are you doing right now?]
The Demon King, who had left his mind briefly to scout around, had returned via the thought crystal.
And upon closely examining Seongjin, the Demon King freaked out.
[Hey! Are you insane? Why is your soul half-out of your body again? Your connection to your body is already unstable—what the hell are you doing? Hey hey, you'll really die like this!]
'......'
Around then, changes occurred in the enemy rear as well.
A great stir rose among the lycanslopes, and soon they began vanishing one by one beyond the canyon. The surviving few glacier trolls staggered after the pack.
'The one controlling the Ice Hearts must be hiding among the lycanslopes.'
Now what?
Reorganize the remnants and attack again? Or try to replenish the lost forces from the canyon?
As he pondered, the Demon King was jumping up and down in his head, making a fuss.
[Yi Seongjin! Yi Seongjin! Hey, Yi Seongjiiiin!]
'Ah, shut up.'
Still, thanks to this guy, he snapped out of it.
The strange oneness with Bingsoo No. 1, which had felt ever since, was gone. Feeling his body fully awaken, Seongjin slowly blinked.
"...Your Highness!"
"Your Highness! Are you back to your senses now?"
Masain and Lady Claudia's joyful voices came from his bedside.
Slurp slurp.
His face felt oddly sticky; Max had been licking it nonstop.
"Yeah, I'm fine. Give me a sec."
Seongjin waved off the wolf pup with his arm and replied.
Was it because he'd been Bingsoo No. 1 until just now? His limbs felt strangely unfamiliar.
As he slowly rose and tried to stagger forward, Masain, sensing his intent, quickly supported him from the side.
"Shall I take you to the ice wall as is?"
Seongjin nodded without a word.
Yes, the enemy had retreated for now, but he had to clean up the remnants.
Thus, peering out from the fortress, Seongjin focused his mind on the Ice Heart.
As his condition gradually recovered enough to stand alone, the sensation of controlling the Bingsoo reverted to the initial cumbersome method.
But there was no need to rush. Controlling the remaining Bingsoo wasn't hard; No. 2 was stuck to the ice wall, completely inactive, and No. 3 just needed to roll around holding a glacier troll down.
Focusing carefully on No. 1 and borrowing the Demon King's demonic sight, a hazy guidance window appeared before his eyes like before.
〚Glacier Troll has entered critical condition. Connection to existing Ice Heart forcibly released. Register new entity?〛
Ah, so you can acquire them this way too. Should've spared a few if I'd known.
Seongjin registered Bingsoo No. 4 with the Ice Heart without hesitation.
Releasing No. 4, which had been on the verge of shattering from strangulation, it hurriedly burrowed into the debris of its comrades to repair itself.
Rumble rumble rumble.
Next, Seongjin turned to the glacier troll held by No. 3. He bashed it outright and swiftly registered it as No. 5.
〚Registrable entities: 5/25〛
Good. Increased.
No chance of individual control, but as a group, they'd make decent forces.
Only then could Seongjin finally catch his breath and speak to the Demon King.
'So, why were you making such a fuss earlier? What exactly did you find?'
He tried to ask gently, feeling a bit grateful, but his words came out curt.
But the Demon King, who had been anxiously rolling around inside the thought crystal until then, shouted excitedly just from being asked.
[So, don't freak out! Turns out the one controlling those is a demonkin or a Demon Contractor!]
...That's an unexpected gain.
[I'm sure! It was beyond my movement range, but I definitely sensed demonic energy from there! Just one!]
Yeah. Being the Demon King's business, he wouldn't be wrong about demons.
'Then what's that demon's relation to Marquis Resiano? Allies? Or just a temporary alliance?'
From what Holy Emperor Father had said, Berseus Resiano of the Council of Six wouldn't openly collude with demons.
Which meant the demon had some separate reason to reach into the Demon Realm.
Lost in such thoughts, Seongjin's eyes caught a small window that had been flickering annoyingly for a while.
〚Entity 2 is fused with ice. Separate entity?〛
〚Temperature Scroll: Active (Ice Separation) -----/- Dormant (Ice Fusion)〛
Right. First, extract the people trapped in the ice wall.
Thinking that, as Seongjin fiddled with the scroll to adjust the temperature, another window appeared.
〚Entity 2 has fused with sufficient ice volume. If user does not specify separation location, entity will separate randomly within the ice.〛
...What?
A chilling premonition hit, and Seongjin's mind raced.
'Wait, hold on......!'
Come to think of it, wasn't the original spot of Bingsoo No. 3 deep inside the canyon ice?
'Did a window like this pop up back then?'
Maybe. There were so many unfamiliar windows at the time, hard to remember.
Anyway, back then he'd wondered how it got frozen deep inside.
'...After the glacier formed, if it melted into it this way? And separated randomly in the middle of the glacier?'
Orden had said it.
Glacier trolls, nowhere to be seen in other seasons, appeared out of nowhere in the cold winter to prowl the Demon Realm.
'If when temperature drops below set point, fusion automatically shifts to separation form?'
Seongjin had set the glacier trolls' maintenance temperature high, allowing them to move even outside winter.
That was why the ice monsters, which inflicted severe frostbite on mere touch, now emitted bearable cold even with people riding them.
'Then the enemy surely used the same method.'
Was deploying glacier trolls just to pound the high ice walls from outside?
'No! The most efficient way to collapse the ice wall is probably...!'
...Damn!
Seongjin turned to his group with a dismayed face.
"We're in big trouble! The ice wall base is in danger right now!"