Chapter 4
Translator: True Detective
Chapter 4. Suspension Bridge
There is a term in relationship psychology called the "Suspension Bridge Effect."
It refers to the phenomenon where physical arousal felt in an anxious situation is mistaken for rational attraction towards another person.
People fall in love more easily with someone they meet on a shaking bridge. One falls for the person who saves them in a crisis. The intimacy of a couple who watches a thriller movie together increases.
In short, it means that fear and love are two sides of the same coin.
If so, there is hope for me too.
Look around.
All around is a white snowfield.
A white so malicious in its monotony that it stretches to the end of the horizon.
The biting wind scratches the cheeks, the snow flurries obscure vision, and the cold steals body heat.
On top of this, demonic beasts might pop out at any moment.
This place is practically akin to being on a shaking bridge 24 hours a day.
I glanced behind me.
The blonde girl following me diligently.
Lucia Von Astellia.
On the first day, it was five steps; now, it is four steps.
What does this signify?
A rise in favorability. Accumulation of trust.
If converted into numbers, roughly…….
……I can’t calculate it. I was a humanities student.
But I know the feeling. Isn't there such a thing as atmosphere?
There is also decisive evidence.
She is currently wearing my black cloak.
Actually, rather than 'wearing', the expression 'buried in' would be more accurate.
Her appearance with only her head peeking out from between the black cloak.
Cute.
Just as a cat is cute when it enters a cardboard box, Lucia is cute buried in my cloak.
Anyway, imagine it.
A date in midwinter.
A girlfriend shivering in the cold.
At that moment, the boyfriend indifferently but affectionately takes off his coat and drapes it over her shoulders.
'What will you do if you catch a cold?'
Thump thump.
Keuh… It’s over. Game over.
"K-Knight-nim…?"
Suddenly, a small voice came from behind my back.
Oho?
On the first day, she only screamed.
Today, she is attempting conversation first.
To speak first. Isn't this a sign of a massive increase in favorability?
It is the growth of a relationship.
She has finally begun to open her heart.
As expected, sincerity works even in another world.
"What is it."
I answered as softly as possible.
……I answered softly. According to my subjective perception.
"E-Excuse me… ahead…"
She pointed forward with a slender finger.
I turned my head to look where she pointed.
On the white snowfield, a white mass as big as a house was rearing its front paws and roaring.
Kuooooo―!
"Frost Bear!"
Lucia screamed.
Frost Bear.
One of the demonic beasts representing the North.
A creature too excessively large and violently ferocious to simply attach the noun 'bear'.
As the name suggests, it breathes frost.
But for me, it is a familiar opponent.
Over the past few months, while enduring in this northern snowfield, I’ve caught about six or seven of them.
What I laid out in the cave is also a Frost Bear skin.
Kuoooo!
The Frost Bear roared again.
Threat behavior. A warning that it will attack if we don't retreat.
"Knight-nim! It-It’s a Frost Bear! I’m telling you that’s a Frost Bear!!"
"I know."
"It’s not about knowing! An adult Frost Bear is a demonic beast that causes casualties even if a knight platoon attacks it! Besides, that one seems to be an alpha class among them! Play dead right now…… no, actually they say playing dead in front of a bear is useless… anyway, we have to run quickly!"
"Noisy. Be quiet."
"Heeup…!"
Oops. My words came out a bit strong again.
Originally, I intended to say, 'Do not worry, it is nothing special.'
But it’s not bad.
It worked out well. A supporting actor has appeared at the appropriate timing to play the role of the 'shaking bridge.'
Wuooooo-!
The Frost Bear kicked off the ground and charged.
Kugung. Kugung. Kugung.
Every footstep caused an earthquake.
The frost spewing from its snout froze the atmosphere, and the shockwave kicked up a blizzard.
"Kyaaaak! No! This time it’s really the end!"
Lucia screamed and slumped down.
It’s noisy, so let’s slice it first.
Seureureung-
Of course, the Frost Bear, not Lucia.
I drew my greatsword.
A 2-meter black iron greatsword. Black aura overflows on the blade.
First, the right front paw.
Seogeok.
The bastard's front paw fell off cleanly. The cross-section froze instantly, so not even blood splattered. Clean.
Kuo……?
Next, the flank.
Seueuk.
The sword passed through the bear's thick hide, fat layer, muscles, and ribs as if cutting soft tofu.
I don't even give it time to scream. Because that is manners.
Finally, the neck.
Thud. Roll roll.
The Frost Bear's head rolled on the snowfield.
The lump of meat that lost its head fell with a thump.
Amputation on the first strike. Suppression on the second. Confirm kill on the third.
It was a clean three-stage slash.
I shook off the bodily fluids on the sword and slowly turned around.
"……Eh?"
Lucia was frozen with her mouth wide open.
"T-That… that Frost Bear… so easily…?"
"Nothing special."
The words that came out of my mouth were short.
'For the sake of protecting you, this much is nothing.''I will eliminate everything that threatens you.'
Originally, I wanted to deliver such sweet lines, but it’s okay.
A man who shows with actions rather than words.
Wouldn't this bluntness rather be a charm point?
And the third day.
My suspension bridge effect theory entered an advanced course.
The location was a narrow and gloomy canyon.
The supporting actors appearing this time were of slightly higher quality.
A herd of Horned Deer.
And Northern Trolls.
Normally, these guys are species that do not associate with each other.
Since deer run away and trolls eat them.
But right now, they are surrounding us in harmony.
Furthermore, their appearance… is a bit very disgusting.
A feeling that they have deviated significantly from the providence of nature.
The deer's horns grew twisted like red crystals rather than bone, and four or six eyes were embedded haphazardly.
The trolls spewed purple miasma from their mouths, their skin festering to expose muscle fibers.
Evidence that this worldview, namely 'The Owner of the Thorn Crown,' drifted into the Dark Fantasy genre as it went into the latter half.
They were variants contaminated by the Abyss.
Grrrrr…Kieeeek!
The front and back of the canyon were blocked.
It’s a siege.
The quantity is roughly over thirty.
"Lucia. Back."
"Y-Yes!"
She came behind my back without complaint.
If it were three days ago, she would have run away screaming 'Hiek!', but now it seems at least enough trust has formed to follow my words.
Perhaps it could be a decision by elimination thinking, 'It is rather safer next to this monster.'
Well, it doesn't matter either way.
I stood as if completely hiding Lucia behind my back.
'Do not worry. I will protect you. I won't let them lay a finger on you, so please stay behind me with peace of mind.'
"Don't move. You’re in the way."
"Y-Yessir! I won’t even breathe! I’ll become non-existent!"
She listens very well. How commendable.
Now then, shall we start cleaning?
Kwang!
A blizzard exploded as I kicked off the ground.
I jumped right into the middle of the herd of demonic beasts.
Shuuuk!
I spun my body and swung the greatsword.
A 360-degree slash.
Three deer monsters charging at me were severed simultaneously.
Black blood pouring from the cross-sections. Torsos rolling while spilling intestines.
Kwajik!
My greatsword smashed a troll's head like a watermelon.
Continuing, I grabbed a deer by its horns and ripped them off, and kicked a troll charging from the right, shattering its spine.
Like dancing. Like waltzing.
A ball where blood, flesh, and bone scatter in all directions.
With every single movement of mine, three or four lives were extinguished.
What I paid more attention to than the battle was the safe zone where Lucia stood.
A sanctuary where the white snow remained untouched.
I shall not let a single drop of blood splatter on her.
That is the Black Knight's manners.
Puck! Kwajik! Chwak!
How much time passed?
The last one.
It was an exceptionally large troll.
So what if it's big. I just need to cut a bit harder.
Shuuuk!
I cut its calf. I brought the sword down on the neck of the bastard falling forward losing its balance.
Thud.
The head fell.
The torso collapsed.
The end.
The canyon became silent again.
All that remained were lumps of meat squelching on the ground and a landscape like an abstract painting dyeing the white snowfield in red and purple.
I swung the sword once to shake off the blood and slowly turned to Lucia.
"Nothing special."
Lucia was frozen in that initial posture, without blinking an eye.
Fortunately, her clothes were clean.
Amidst the sea of blood and mountain of corpses, her surroundings still maintained a pure white sanctuary.
What a romantic contrast.
The only pure existence in a world stained with blood.
And the black knight who protected her.
"It’s over."
"Ah… Uh… Yes…!"
Lucia was looking up at me.
The emotion contained in those eyes.
That must surely be overwhelming emotion that cannot be described in words, right?
It is certain that she is lost for words at the proof of overwhelming love.
We started walking again.
The endlessly stretching white snowfield.
Two sets of footprints embroidering it.
One is large and deep, the other small and shallow.
The rough northern snowfield felt like a cozy date course.
"Cra……"
At that moment, Lucia opened her mouth.
Oh? What could it be?
Reliable? Or cool?
What positive words start with 'C'?
"Crazy monster……"
Hm. There was that word too.