The Ice Devil's Hologram

"Kuhahaha!"

"Heeheehee!"

By the time Geum Taeyang and Tteoksoon-i's red whirlwind of a combo was rampaging across the battlefield, the remaining ice soldiers had stopped moving.

They suddenly froze solid.

"Hm?"

Then, they wobbled—lost ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠their balance, and toppled over.

Crash! The ice soldiers shattered into pieces upon hitting the ground.

Tteoksoon-i and Geum Taeyang were outraged by the sight.

"Uwaaa! You cowards! Don't give up—fight to the bitter end!"

"Is that any way for honorable ice summons serving the Ice Devil?!"

...Why are you guys worrying about their honor?

Tteoksoon-i and Geum Taeyang huffed and yelled, but no response came.

"Cowards! You should fight until your dying breath! Is that an honorable suicide?!"

"Do you think you can face the Ice Devil in the afterlife like this?!"

...I keep telling you, they never claimed to be honorable.

The enemies hadn't killed themselves out of fear from Geum Taeyang and Tteoksoon-i's red whirlwind combo, of course. The Crying Priest must have taken out the white devil.

That explained why the mana-powered soldiers collapsed, their structural integrity weakened enough to shatter on ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠impact.

"Enough."

Whoosh— I deactivated Dark Chef and reabsorbed the darkness I'd released.

"That's enough. Come here."

I called the pair back.

Geum Taeyang returned still holding his shield high overhead, looking thoroughly disappointed.

Meanwhile, Tteoksoon-i, who'd been spinning like a top on top of the shield, finally slowed to a stop but wobbled dizzily.

She's gonna fall.

"Eek."

Thud— ...And she did.

I knew it.

Whine whine— Tteoksoon-i clung to his ankle, sniffling.

"...Geum Taeyang. Carry Tteoksoon-i back."

"Yes, sir."

Moonlit night.

We gathered in one spot, waiting for the Crying Priest.

While we waited, I praised their efforts.

"You two did great."

Their faces lit up with joy.

"...Thank you!"

"We'll keep doing our best!"

"Here, candy as a reward."

"Waaah!"

I handed out one piece to each.

"Candy from Master tastes the best."

"Me too. It's the sweetest in the world."

"Yeah?"

Since I'd taken them out anyway, I popped one in my mouth and crunched away. That's when snow started falling from somewhere.

"...Huh?"

A closer look revealed it was snowing right in front of my eyes.

Nowhere else—just a tray-sized patch directly ahead of me, fluttering down softly.

...What the hell is this localized freak weather?

"Magic?"

Suddenly, snowflakes drifted down before my eyes. As I watched the mysterious phenomenon, something pure white began forming in the snowy air.

"......?"

Amid the falling snow, it gradually took shape.

It soon transformed into a human face—a sharp-featured woman with two devilish horns, just like a devil.

Her eyes snapped open.

An icy woman glaring venomously at me.

"You...! Ruining my plans again. This time you brought the Crying Priest?!"

"......?"

"Hated Demonic Chef. So you've made it this far."

"......!"

The Ice Devil glared fiercely.

"Detestable Demonic Chef. Do you heirs always have to interfere?"

"......"

"That foul stench from your lineage persists."

"......"

"Planning to stop the Demon King's revival again?"

"......"

"But not this time! You wretched, repulsive— what the ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠hell are you doing?!"

Startled by her shout, I pulled my hand back from her holographic face.

"Oh, sorry."

The Ice Devil glared at me with blazing eyes.

"You... The Demon King's revival is near."

"...Is it?"

"Yes, Demonic Chef. You can do nothing. You'll be powerless."

"Hm..."

"You got lucky blocking my ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠plan today, but you won't stop the Demon King's revival. It's only a matter of time... Stop that!"

Another scolding came. Geum Taeyang and Tteoksoon-i, who'd been poking at her hologram curiously, yanked their hands away in surprise.

"...You and your minions. All idiots."

"What? Take that back right now."

I said with a hardened expression.

The Ice Devil snorted.

"Hmph. Loyal idiots, huh?"

"No, not that."

"Hm?"

"Retract your insult to me. I'm not an idiot."

"...You're serious?"

"Of course. I can't tolerate insults to myself!"

The Ice Devil looked taken aback.

"...Fine. I take it back."

"Thanks. And sorry for poking your face. They won't do it anymore either."

"Ahem. Understood. Then I'll continue."

"I'm listening."

Clearing her throat, the Ice Devil glared again and spat curses.

"You worthless, hated chef scum! Instead of that pathetic lineage, just pass on your booger!"

"......"

"...No demand to take it back?"

"Eh."

"Even after such an insult?"

"Not really? Keep going."

"......"

Stunned for a moment, the Ice Devil shook her head vigorously and continued in a rage-filled voice.

"The flow cannot be stopped. And the current flow is crystal clear."

"......"

"Demonic Chef!"

"What."

"Sever that hated lineage now and beg the Demon King's forgiveness! He might spare your life out of mercy."

I scratched my ear and asked.

"But why'd you seal off Harten?"

"Hmph. As if I'd tell the likes of you."

"Something important there, right?"

"Don't play games."

"Related to the Demon King's revival?"

"Blather on."

"Got it. Let me blather then."

I pieced together what I knew so far.

The Ice Devil said I'd ruined her plan. She'd asked if I intended to stop the Demon King's revival.

Connecting the dots, she'd set up some plan for the revival.

"Hm..."

Then I recalled what the desert old woman had said.

This world was all made of mana.

So the Demon King probably needed mana to revive too?

"......"

Eh, whatever. Worth a shot.

I probed casually.

"Gathering mana to revive the Demon King?"

"......! You... How did you...!"

The Ice Devil's eyes widened, mouth agape.

Oho, bingo.

Lucky guess.

"Something with massive mana inside?"

"Kuh...!"

"Mana from the eternal winter's chill?"

"The opposite! Scorching extreme fire energy— eep!"

The Ice Witch clamped her mouth shut, looking flustered.

My smile deepened in response.

"Oho. So you were collecting massive extreme fire mana in Harten for the Demon King's revival?"

"......"

The Ice Devil glared murderously.

"You...! Chef!"

"What."

"We'll meet again when the Demon King revives! I'll freeze you solid and offer you as a decoration to him!"

"Do what you want."

"You damn bastard! Count the days until the Demon King manifests in this world again!"

"You're so noisy."

"Tremble in fear! Be afraid! Darkness will descend upon—"

"Enough."

I swung my frying pan and erased the hologram.

Right on cue, footsteps approached.

Crunch—Crunch—

The Crying Priest walked up with an incredibly refreshed expression.

"Ahh— that felt great."

Her golden tears had already dried.

"Hura-nim. Are you alright?"

"Yeah. Did you take care of the Ice Devil?"

"Of course. Sent her straight to Yuphnel. You should've seen it, Hura-nim. She was thrilled."

"......"

I glanced at the still-solid ice wall.

"But the walls are still up."

"No harm in that. They block the blizzard. No need to remove them."

I nodded.

Then I noticed something in her hand.

"What's that?"

"Oh, this?"

The Crying Priest handed me a pure white ice shard.

"The Ice Devil's magic core."

"Oh..."

Strange ancient-looking script was inscribed inside the ice shard.

I examined it briefly and handed it back.

"I'll take the magic core to submit to the church."

"Sure. Makes sense."

You smashed her, after all.

"Here, take this instead."

Whoosh— A sharp, pointed white something. It felt cold.

"What's this?"

"One of the Ice Devil's horns."

"Ah."

It resembled the horns on the hologram Ice Devil's head.

But she had two?

"One horn?"

"Well..."

The Crying Priest scratched the back of her neck sheepishly.

"Using both together casts powerful ice magic. But I got too excited— er, focused on saving the day..."

"......"

So you smashed one while beating her enthusiastically?

"What about just one?"

"Should make small ice at least."

"Ooh! Ice maker!"

I inspected the white horn closely.

The description's tone was a bit annoying, but whatever.

Seemed like a perfect match for Cream Dragon's Horn?

"Ice shot!"

Pew— pew—

Ice formed at the tip and flew off nicely.

I nodded in satisfaction.

"Nice. I'll put it to good use."

"Haha, glad you like it."

The Crying Priest smiled softly as she pocketed the Ice Witch's magic core.

"Looks like my mission ends here."

"Already? Too bad."

"Wanted to escort you all the way to Harten, but I need to report back ASAP. Quest deadline's closing in."

She frowned at her quest window.

"It's fine. We're almost there anyway."

"See it?"

The Crying Priest pointed to one spot.

Under the serene night sky with its bright moon, smoke rose faintly in the distance where she pointed.

It looked like chimney smoke, warm and inviting as the coziness it promised.

"That's Harten."

"Not as far as I thought."

"You can make it alone?"

"Of course."

Our strange companionship—which started oddly but turned enjoyable—was nearing its end.

"Mind if I ask one thing?"

"Anything."

"You said you're a servant of the god."

"Yes. Merely one who follows Yuphnel's will."

"Then about that tteokbokki I made you... Was eating it all alone also Yuphnel's will?"

"...Yuphnel's will is my will, and my will is Yuphnel's will."

...So basically, you just did what you wanted?

"So devout."

"A bit, yeah."

And shameless too.

We exchanged knowing smiles.

"Hura-nim."

"Yes."

"Friend request?"

"Is that Yuphnel's will?"

"My will too."

"Sure."

One more name added to the friend list.

"See you next time."

"Yeah. Take care."

The Crying Priest bowed politely.

She bowed to Tteoksoon-i and Geum Taeyang too, then turned and dashed away.

Thus, the middle-aged Crying Priest with a girl's heart vanished through the broken ice wall.

"Alright, let's get going too."

"Yes!"

A full moon hung in the night sky.

Its light cut through the dark heavens, guiding us toward the village with its warm rising smoke.

We followed that pale moonlight.

Next destination: Harten.