Chapter 50
Translator: True Detective
Chapter 50. Empty House Robbery
Family reunions should usually be touching.
Father and daughter separated long ago reunite.
Daughter runs shouting 'Dad!', and father hugs daughter with wide embrace.
Camera zooms out slowly, touching OST plays, scene where audience claps.
Humanity's universal touching code.
But current situation is too far from such cliché.
First, location is demon realm contaminated by Abyss, father became monster, and about thousand drooling monsters are waiting around.
"Dad!"
Freya shouted.
That brave Freya swinging sword shouting spiritedly on battlefield returned to little girl in an instant.
"It’s me! Freya!"
Freya throwing twin swords away and running.
Knight of Cold── Grand Duke Valter is kneeling on one knee now.
Armor half broken by my slash.
But 'half' also means 'other half is fine'.
And wasn't it Northern common sense that kneeling beast is most dangerous.
"Dangerous, Freya! Don't approach!"
Leona shouted, but seemed not heard by Freya's ears.
She approached Valter with staggering steps pushing through snowfield.
"Let’s go home, Dad. Everyone waiting. I was protecting Dad's seat."
Knight of Cold's blue glint shook.
And remaining one eye visible beyond broken helmet.
Uncontaminated human eye illuminated Freya.
"Fre, ya……?"
Cracked voice.
But clearly human language.
Miracle happened.
Father recognized daughter. Overcame Abyss domination and regained humanity. Truly beautiful story.
Of course, no way this crappy work Dark Fantasy novel would allow such cheap melodrama though.
Very next moment.
Thump.
Something pulsed in center of Valter's chest.
Middle of sternum revealed through armor gap.
Red crystal close to tumor was embedded.
Rumble rumble rumble──
Once. Twice. Three times.
Every time pulsing black vein-like patterns spread in all directions riding neck and collarbone.
"Kuaaaaaaa!"
Amber pupil locked again.
Shattered ice armor started regenerating.
Frost spread along cracked parts forming new ice layer. Half of broken helmet filled with ice, helmet regained original form.
"Dad…?"
Human light disappeared, cold blue glint filled inside helmet.
Knight of Cold lifted frost sword.
Movement without hesitation.
High.
Towards daughter's neck.
Whoosh-!
Time slowed down.
Frost sword came down diagonally. Pale blue afterimage drew tail.
Freya couldn't move.
Slice-
Frost sword's trajectory cut few strands of Freya's red hair.
Red hair scattered on snowfield. Color same as father's.
Just before neck fell.
Clang──!
Hair's breadth.
My greatsword received frost sword's blade.
If little late would have seen Freya's head rolling on snowfield.
Father-in-law, no matter how cheeky Freya is, cutting neck is out of range of home education isn't it.
"Wake up, kid."
Loaded strength on greatsword.
Aura of Abyss flowed down blade colliding with frost.
Black wave and blue frost sparking at contact surface, shockwave spread circularly.
"Family meeting do in safe place."
Chaeng—!
Pitch-black greatsword struck frost sword's blade away.
Knight of Cold's arm bounced up, and I snatched Freya's nape like cat with empty hand.
Threw back just like that.
"Hero. Collect."
"Collect, word choice is short!"
Leona waiting behind received flying Freya. Nice catch.
"Let go! Let go of this!"
Freya struggled.
"Dad recognized me! Called my name just now! Oppa heard too!"
"Your father tried to kill you! Don't know seeing that?"
Leona dragged Freya to rear.
I aimed greatsword at Knight of Cold.
Grand Duke Valter, no Knight of Cold took stance again too.
After re-erosion, guy changed.
If earlier felt like putting monster power on human swordsmanship, now pure weapon.
Even trace of remaining emotion scraped away.
Humanity popped out briefly seemed to have backfired rather.
Wooooong-
Knight of Cold lifted frost sword.
Monster legion waiting receiving that signal started moving again.
This time monsters surrounded us from all directions.
Rational encirclement annihilation formation.
Thinking about it natural.
Grand Duke Valter was Guardian of North. General fighting monsters for decades.
That tactical brain is being used intact for monster legion command.
Situation twisted.
Expedition team tired, warriors' magic power revealing bottom.
Above all no way to 'save' Valter right now.
Would be comfortable if 'chop', but if do that Freya will regard me as enemy for life.
Uooooooo─!
Knight of Cold lifted sword.
Battle started again.
Monster operation became blatantly sophisticated.
Monsters used as shields earlier now injected with time difference in units of three, four.
Knock down, knock down doesn't decrease.
Isn't that foul. I am one but over there thousand.
Of course I can handle about thousand alone. Time is problem only.
But I am not alone.
Looking back, warriors formed square formation blocking monster offensive.
Holding well…… want to say, but honestly speaking level barely holding on.
Holy light spewing from Leona's Holy Sword maintaining core of formation.
Monsters weaken within range Holy Sword's light touches. Effect purifying Abyss erosion.
Thanks to that warriors can maintain combat still.
But light has limit too.
Leona's face becoming pale as pouring strength.
And more fundamental problem exists.
Warriors are getting tired.
What happens if magic power exhausted.
In this ash gray snowfield, in this environment where Abyss magic energy fills atmosphere.
Like water filling empty vessel, Abyss digs in.
Become like Grand Duke Valter.
That won't do.
Leona looked at my side.
Blue eyes visible between bloodstained silver hair.
She nodded.
I nodded too.
Only twice I agreed with Hero.
Once when catching Black Mammoth together. And now.
"All personnel, retreat."
"What? No! Dad is there! Where going! Dad is still alive! How turn back when he is there!"
Leona blocked in front of rampaging Freya.
"Move."
"Can't move. Look at your state. Hands trembling."
"Look what. I can go. Still fine."
"Don't lie. Just before magic depletion right. Eaten by Abyss if no magic. Want to become like your father too?"
Leona's sharp advice.
"That…… That is……."
"If you be stubborn here those people all die too."
Freya turned head.
Warriors were at end of gaze.
Warriors blocking monster offensive with whole body. Not letting go of shield even with legs giving way, filling empty spot enduring if comrade next kneels.
Comrades fought together, ate at same table, entrusted backs to each other.
"……Kuh."
Thump.
Freya kneeled.
Twin swords stuck in snowfield.
"Uaaaaaaa!"
She wailed striking snowfield with fist.
Desperate crying sound.
Watched that appearance silently.
I am Black Knight.
And making heroine cry is world's biggest sin.
Not decided whether Freya is heroine yet, but Black Knight unable to offer one comfort to crying girl is not Black Knight.
'Don't worry, Freya. Next time definitely will peel off that crude armor and bring father-in-law. This is not running away but strategic retreat. Prepare, make plan, definitely return. Only one thing you have to do until then. Becoming stronger.'
Wanted to offer these words to Freya.
"Next time will smash that crude fake armor. You may expect."
……90% evaporated.
But core lived. Probably.
Freya glared at me for a long time.
Expression is strange.
And.
"……Got it."
Sniffling nose rubbed eyes with sleeve.
"Understood correctly right?"
Leona looked at Freya as if dumbfounded.
"Got a bit used to that pitch-black bastard."
Retreat was swift.
Me and Leona stand in front. Freya leads warriors following behind.
That is all.
Principle of breakthrough is simple.
Strongest two open path, rest walk following that path.
Abyss black wave and Holy Sword white light.
Two colors advanced drawing non-overlapping parallel lines on ash gray snowfield.
Picture of darkness and light running towards same direction.
Not invading each other.
Not mixing either.
But resultantly making same path.
Hero and Black Knight shoulder to shoulder.
Composition original author would protest 'No such development in my novel' if saw.
But if protest should not have ruined romance in first place.
Like that we crossed Ice Wall of Lamentation again.
Escaping land of Abyss, ash gray sky cleared, familiar Northern white snowfield spread.
White snow. Blue sky.
Ordinary Northern scenery.
Being ordinary was this precious thing.
Warriors regained vitality noticeably too.
Sound of inhaling deep breath heard here and there like coming up to surface after holding breath long.
Now Frostgard is soon.
Tea Lucia will brew. Warm castle. Fireplace with fire lit.
Good. Organize inside head.
First report to Lucia.
News that maternal uncle is alive. Simultaneously news that encroached by Abyss.
Front half is good news and back half is bad news.
Still being alive is key.
If alive there is method.
Let's ask Eris for advice.
Eris looks low intelligence stat on outside, but might be unexpectedly helpful.
Of course would make fuss raging if say this to person herself.
Like that moving steps towards Frostgard direction, was pondering tonight's menu.
Shall make Braised Rabbit Lucia likes. Or since after battle Bear Paw Soup more hearty better.
Must do something for Freya too. Since shocked by father matter.
Meat. Northern people gain energy eating meat.
Boar Steak. Slice thick. Let juice flow.
Such leisurely thought.
Shattered moment Frostgard silhouette seen.
Thought was fog at first.
Because smoke rising over Frostgard wall looked like fog from afar.
But fog doesn't smell burning.
"……What is that."
Hole in wall.
Not one. Three places. No, four places.
Part of wall under repair collapsed forming debris pile.
Castle gate lost half of original form, one watchtower top cut off state.
Smoke still rising inside castle.
Traces of few buildings burnt. Debris scattered in square.
When jumped inside castle gate, first encountered was Brynjolf.
He was sitting leaning back on wall debris.
Bear skin cloak torn tattered, one arm splinted wrapped in bandage.
And people.
Wounded gathered near wall. Blood full here and there.
Warriors walking supporting each other. Warriors became mess.
Brynjolf lifted head.
"……Returned."
No energy in voice. Voice heard first time from Brynjolf.
"Aimed for gap troops missing in expedition."
Brynjolf said.
"Planned from beginning. Waited for us to go beyond Ice Wall then hit."
Freya clenched fist tight.
"Damage scale?"
Leona asked.
"Wall four places breached. Warrior casualties dozens. Civilian damage too."
Brynjolf turned gaze.
"Enemy elite monsters dozens. Including high rank individuals. And leading those guys──"
Stopped speaking for a moment.
"There was a witch."
Witch.
Heart beat one beat fast.
Eris?
"Used blue thorn vines."
No. Eris's thorn vines are crappy pink.
Then don't tell me.
Other executive of Thorn Society?
"…And."
Brynjolf's voice lowered more.
"Little Boss-nim and pink kid──"
Stopped. As if hating to complete sentence.
But knew without completing.
"Kidnapped."
Brynjolf dropped head. Winter Boar collapsed.
"Couldn't block. Have no face."
Surroundings became silent.
"……."
Freya opened mouth then closed. Words not coming out.
"Lucia…?"
Leona's hand holding Holy Sword handle turned white.
Kidnapping.
Said kidnapping.
Lucia.
And Eris as bonus.
I said I would return this novel's genre to Romance Fantasy.
Said would protect heroine, reach happy ending.
But now no heroine.
Look Lucia showed before leaving.
'Please return safely.'
Grind.
I ground teeth. Jawbone creaked inside armor.
Aura expanded explosively.
Over Frostgard debris, black wave spread circularly.
"Find."
Voice echoed out from inside armor.
"Definitely find… make pay price."
Guys disturbing my romance, regardless of genre all discard disposal.