Chapter 47: All in the Blink of an Eye
It really happened in an instant. I couldn't believe how everything could go wrong so suddenly. The train exploding was disaster enough. It was basically our only way to get around up in smoke, but worse, the massive blast had made a ton of noise.
The Dragon Slayer might come. If it were farther away, maybe not, but this was pretty close to her nest.
But even more than that...
"Asti...!"
We'd left her inside the train to rest for a bit while we stepped out. Of all the timing, for the train to blow up while she was in there. With an explosion that big, the heat alone would've...
No way. Losing a key character for the strategy this early? Sure, her Super Coward Mode visuals were grotesque enough to make me want to install the actual coward mod, but Snow Castle was a brutally unforgiving game where one wrong choice could lock out ten different clear paths. No wonder they said starting without a solid plan—from skill trees to item slots—was worse than not starting at all.
I might have to grind for years, just like the comments warned.
But more importantly than that...
I got too complacent.
Even with Super Coward Mode and the Horn Flute, I hadn't learned basic knight protections like Meditatio. How could I, who couldn't even protect myself, dump everything on a little girl fresh out of slavery? A kid who needed protecting herself.
My knees buckled, and I collapsed right there.
"...Mr. Tantun."
Even Mu Yeon just called my name in a solemn voice. Was this really a dark fantasy world? Did Super Coward Mode only soften things for me?
"...Asti!!"
"Yes, Master. Did you call for me?"
Lost in a spiral of despair, I shouted her name—and impossibly, her voice rang in my ear.
"Huh...?"
"Eh?"
Mu Yeon sounded just as stunned. The voice came from right behind me. I turned slowly, and there she was: Asti, staring down at me with her usual blank expression.
"G-Gah! Assassin maid ghost!"
"...Don't worry. I'm alive."
I panted, staring at Asti as she stated it matter-of-factly despite my freak-out. The train exploded—how was she alive?! This had to be a ghost, right?
"How in the..."
"I've been by your side the whole time, Master."
"What are you talking about?"
I demanded, and Asti tilted her head like I was the weird one.
"Hm?"
"To stay by Master's side. That's a maid's duty, isn't it?"
Her words nearly made my legs give out again from sheer absurdity. Yeah, the community hyped her as a key character—she wouldn't die that easily. Recalling what she'd done yesterday alone proved she wasn't normal. Suddenly, it all made sense.
Just as relief washed over me at her safety...
"...Daaaamn iiiit!!!!"
A piercing wail shattered the air, worse than my own grief over Asti. Tracing the sound, I saw White Mask collapsed at the front of the train, hands clawing the ground.
Why the sudden meltdown? Then it clicked. We'd learned on the way here: she was a hardcore railfan. The love she'd poured into this train—the way she'd caressed every seat—it was endless. And now, her precious ride had blown up right in front of her.
"...You just had to touch my last nerve, didn't you, Dragon Slayer."
White Mask growled the words, and right on cue—thud—a heavy sound echoed from behind.
Mu Yeon whipped around, then recoiled in shock.
"Mm, so here you are. I figured you'd come back."
The Dragon Slayer had arrived, speaking casually. A blast that loud? Of course she'd check it out.
"How dare you lay a hand on my maids and get away with...!"
She started her ominous threat, but it cut short. A slashing attack hurtled toward her, forcing her to block.
Her fan deflected it with a resonant shriek that stabbed our ears—a slender crescent slash, like a rift in reality. The Meditatio White Mask had shown Mu Yeon our first day here.
"...You really went and fucked up big time, you goddamn Outer God."
White Mask's voice was ice-cold, sharper and more menacing than ever. Even the Greater Outer God Dragon Slayer grunted "Ugh..." in surprise.
But she was still a Greater Outer God.
"Wh-Who're you calling the aggressor here?!"
Mu Yeon clapped her hands over her ears at the irritated shout; White Mask crouched, bracing against it. Stuttering like that, and it still hit this hard? White Mask must've taken it as an attack signal—no room to lose here. She whipped out her swords and charged.
Pop-pop! Fan met blades with weird, slipper-like smacks. A mere human matching a Greater Outer God? Laughable. But White Mask proved her elite status—vice-commander level in the Outer God strike force. Her momentum edged her ahead for a split second, shoving the Dragon Slayer back.
"Ngh...!"
The Dragon Slayer tried to hold, but her balance crumbled. They tumbled over the cliff where we'd dropped the lesser dragon.
"Master!"
"White Mask! Mr. Tantun, we should follow!"
"Yeah!"
Mu Yeon leaped first. I grabbed the silent Asti's shoulders.
"The station's still intact—you can wait there."
"...Yes. If it's Master's order."
For some reason, her face twisted in subtle pain—new for her. If her real goal was killing me alone, she didn't need that expression now.
Asti bowed politely and shuffled toward the station, her cute steps making me vow to wrap this up quick and unscathed.
Huh?
A few steps in, I glanced back—just in case—and spotted something odd. A fuel stone from the train dropped from her hand to the ground.
Why'd she have that? No need to go that far ahead.
But no time to dwell. Every second counted. Probably just picked it up off the ground while running. Last glimpse of her entering the station, then I followed White Mask down.
Landing below, White Mask was already locked in fierce combat with the Dragon Slayer. But human versus Greater Outer God? Her doll mask was torn in places; she heaved ragged breaths.
"Not bad. You've improved since last time. Mystic scholars weren't lying about 'evolution' after all..."
"I don't know what bullshit you're spewing—shut it, you dragon-head."
"...I fixed your ugly mug nice and pretty, and you're still ungrateful? Time for a manners lesson."
White Mask cut off the Outer God's words mid-sentence—she couldn't understand them anyway. They clashed again.
"Yah!"
As if inspired by White Mask's advice on unifying her mind, Mu Yeon charged despite her fear, axe swung wide behind her back.
But mid-clash with White Mask, the Dragon Slayer blocked Mu Yeon's strike effortlessly—with her fan for the axe, empty hand for the sword.
"...Tch, damn it."
"Ganging up like cowards."
The Dragon Slayer detonated something in her hand, recoil blasting White Mask and Mu Yeon back. The pros landed smoothly, unharmed.
But dragging this out wouldn't end well. They had limits; we didn't know her full power yet—rushing in was risky.
"Human, dangerous?"
Perfect timing—Bell spoke up first.
Even borrowing the Gardener's power again, my inexperience would get me wrecked fast. Better to call on Bell's instead.
I jammed the Party Flute in my mouth and blew. That same subtle energy welled up, like with the Gardener.
And—
"Human!"
Something hopped onto my shoulder; Bell's voice barked right behind me.
Not just that—
Lick, lick, lick.
...I got ambushed by her excited cheek-licking frenzy.
Her powers, as I figured: speed and surveillance. How well they'd mesh with me? Time to test.
"Walkies!"
She yipped, and a light buzz surged through me—like my muscles snapping into perfect efficiency.
Surveillance eyes—deformed, Bell-style—popped open on my doll mask. They locked on the Dragon Slayer, nerves firing straight to her.
"Wh-What?! How's a puny human wielding that power...?"
Seizing her fluster, I leaned forward, loaded my weight, and exploded my legs forward.
I closed the gap in a flash, arms outstretched for her horns.
Normally, I'd talk it out, grant her wishes, drop an anchor to this world.
But.
"I hate villainess romance tropes."
And clingy romanceland protagonists even more.
Adrenaline pumped; time slowed. Falling snow framed our world like a spotlight.
I flashed a grin at the Dragon Slayer's panicked face.