Chapter 52
Translator: True Detective
Chapter 52. Father's Love
Lucia was kidnapped.
This one sentence repeated endlessly in my head.
Something that commonly happens in RoFan.
Development where heroine is kidnapped and protagonist rushes to rescue her coolly.
But reading it in text and actually being in position to go rescue were world of difference.
Becoming the party involved, finally realized how terrible this genre convention is.
Just imagining how much Lucia must be trembling in fear right at this moment, how many tears must be welling up in those rabbit-like eyes, makes my heart break.
Elder Brynjolf said Eri was kidnapped together as bonus though…
Well, that guy will survive on her own. Survival instinct alone is top tier.
Important thing is Lucia. My slender Princess.
"Find. Definitely find and make pay price."
Problem is next.
Said find but how?
Let's organize information.
According to Brynjolf's report enemy is witch handling blue thorn vines.
Knowledge of original work flashed through brain.
Snow White Witch and Seven Yetis.
Rank 5 among Thorn Society Seven Fingers.
"Is tracking possible."
I asked Brynjolf.
"Yeti footprints remain but……"
Yeti's foot is big. Very big. Worthy of being called Bigfoot.
Just need to follow footprints stamped on snowfield right?
But here is North. If blizzard blowing from beyond Ice Wall of Lamentation sweeps once, footprints are erased in an instant.
Impatience surged.
If Thorn Society bastards took Lucia to use as sacrifice, there must be time limit.
But no path. Don't know direction either. East West South North all directions are same snowfield, what to do.
It was then.
Bark! Bark bark!
Dog barking sound heard from afar.
Husky unit pulling Frostgard's pride sled.
Sled dog leader ran to me wagging tail. Was biting something in mouth.
It was tattered thorn vine flower crown.
"Why this?"
Item Eri gave as gift of affection in past.
Used to throw mainly as training disc for huskies, why biting and bringing it now?
I pulled flower crown out of husky's mouth.
That moment.
Zing.
Abyss magic power felt.
Minute pink magic power of Eri remained in flower crown.
"This is…"
Residual reverberation of magic power leading from flower crown resonated.
Pink magic power dotted line scattered on snowfield at regular intervals is revealed.
Sniff sniff.
Husky dug snowfield and sniffed nose.
Pink magic power crystal fragment half buried in snow. Breadcrumb size.
"Eri did it!"
Freya clenched fist tight and shouted.
Leona nodded small too.
I felt praiseworthy too. To think of this while being kidnapped.
'Eris, thanks to you hope arose. Was excellent judgment.'
"Quite smart cockroach."
Freya looked at me with suspicious eyes.
"That was compliment right? Not cursing Eri right?"
"Compliment."
My sincerity always hits language barrier like this.
First had to make plan.
Route to altar is secured. Problem was what is waiting in front.
Knight of Cold. Monster Legion. And Snow White Witch.
"I will draw attention of Knight of Cold and Monster Legion. Use that gap to infiltrate altar and rescue Princess and Pink Cockroach."
"Got it. I will definitely save Lucia."
"Saving Eri too right??"
"…Eri too."
Role division ended.
I am Agro Tanker, Leona is Stealth Dealer.
"Excuse me, I will try persuading Dad."
Freya took a step forward.
"Dad definitely recognized me. Called my name. So if I talk again definitely can overcome Abyss erosion."
Daughter's desperate wish. But reality is cold.
"Acting emotionally becomes dangerous again."
Leona's realistic warning.
"Thanks for blocking Dad's sword last time. If not my head would have really flown. But this is last time. Try talking last time, and still, still if not working……."
Freya looked at me.
"Then leave to Black Knight."
Was pleased inwardly.
Kid who used to jump in recklessly swept by emotion grew into warrior knowing to admit limit and rely on comrade. Seems leveled up from potato peeling level to about carrot peeling level.
Now sortie. Wanted to give warm encouraging words to reliable comrades.
'Hope do best in each assigned role. We are comrades. Let's trust each other.'
"If don't want to die don't make mistake."
Chilly murderous intent split blizzard.
"That pitch-black bastard. Don't know if that is cheering us or threatening us now."
Freya trembled shoulders brrr.
"Must be both."
Well anyway intent conveyed so okay.
We got on husky sleds each.
Direction pink breadcrumbs point.
Once again beyond Ice Wall of Lamentation.
We pierced through ash gray blizzard into center of Abyss.
Place finally reached following Eris's breadcrumbs.
Ancient Altar contaminated by Abyss.
Deep place beyond Ice Wall. Giant black stone structure soaring bizarrely in middle of ash gray snowfield.
Pagan altar where dangerous ritual is proceeding whoever sees.
Black sticky Abyss magic power was swirling visibly, and geometric magic circle flickering red light was engraved on floor.
In front of that altar.
And in front of that altar.
Knight of Cold was standing.
Without movement. Setting frost sword upright. Shining blue glint.
Part of Monster Legion was deployed around, and cold fog was swallowing the silhouette half.
Pink magic power trace led inside altar. Lucia and Eri are inside there.
"Met again, Fake."
I hung greatsword on shoulder and took a step towards Knight of Cold.
Leona checked detour route with eyes. I nodded minutely. Operation start.
As expected Hero is competent.
Left are me and Freya.
"I will try."
According to plan Freya took deep breath and stepped forward.
"Dad."
Knight of Cold's blue glint headed to Freya. Minute tremor.
"It’s me, Freya."
Tears flowed down cheek from Freya's eyes.
"Remember? Dad gave piggyback when young. Showed on wall, North's Aurora."
Hand holding frost sword flinched.
"Know what Dad said when I asked what is prettiest in the world? Said our Freya."
Summoning touching memories. Bond between father and daughter. Family reunion impossible to watch without tears.
"Hearing my words, right? My swordsmanship improved a lot too. Must come quickly and praise right? Huh? So let's go back now. Home. To place where warm fireplace Dad liked is."
Thump. Thump. Thump.
Ice armor pulsed.
Violently. As if cracking.
But.
Red light flashed on chest and stabilized soon.
Blue glint returned.
Frost sword aimed at Freya.
"As expected, not working."
Freya bit lip.
Cannot retreat like this.
If retreat here only remaining is blood splashing slaughter play.
Daughter knocked on door of father's heart.
Opening the gap of that door slightly opened is my share.
Because Romanticist Black Knight is guy wiping woman's tears, not making woman cry.
I stood in front of Freya.
'Do not worry. Daughter is being taken care of very well by me in Frostgard. Swordsmanship improved quite a bit, and eats well every day so may be relieved. So please come back now. Freya needs father. Not a person to be held by merely Abyss.'
"I have your daughter."
……Huh? Wasn't nuance a bit strange just now?
Anyway continue.
What I want to convey is story about how much Freya grew.
"Freya's body is quite flexible. Learned how to use waist certainly too."
Story of swordsmanship. Because upper body flexibility is essential to handle twin swords.
"Especially more lively at night. Appearance panting screaming is very good to see."
Praised result of night training. Highly appreciated knight's attitude training sweating!
"Relax. Your daughter is already mine. Kukuku."
……
Meant my precious pupil…
"Wh, What?! What saying in front of Dad right now you crazy pitch-black bastard!!!"
Freya screamed. Banged my armor with fist bang bang.
'I clearly only told story that taking care well. Puberty girl's sensitivity really unknown.'
I ignored Freya's resistance lightly and looked at Grand Duke Valter.
But miracle happened.
Crack─! Crunch──!
Crack started to form on ice helmet covering Knight of Cold's face.
Red crystal on chest pulsed insanely violently. Abyss pattern like black blood vessel tried to climb up neck but rather pushed back reversely by explosive power bursting from opposite side.
Amber pupil revealed momentarily piercing blue glint.
Contained there is…
Father's primal murderous intent towards guy who touched daughter.
"Kill you─!!!"
Knight of Cold roared. Blue glint cleared and human amber pupil bloodshot red with anger flashed momentarily.
'As expected father's love is great.'
To think pierce even Abyss erosion temporarily. Can't be not victory of paternal love.
Kwaaaang!
Knight of Cold stomped foot, ground froze and giant ice pillar soared towards me.
Pulled husky sled reins quickly.
"Depart. Full speed forward."
Freya's body leaned back at sudden acceleration.
"Kyaaaaaaack! What to do if start suddenly!"
She screamed and hugged my waist tight.
Kwaaaang-!
Grand Duke Valter climbed on Frost Bear's back and started chasing crazily.
Giant Frost Bear dug snow with front paws puck puck shaking earth axis.
Behind that Monster Legion flocked in droves.
Agro pulling great success.
"Riding such bulk only big bear. Dignity-less mount. As expected Northern transportation our husky is best."
I supported Freya with one hand, summoned greatsword in opposite hand.
"Fall if move. Stay still."
Rumble!
Giant ice pillar soared in direction of progress.
Huskies turned direction to left simultaneously.
Sled drift.
"Good judgment, dogs."
Bark bark!
Huskies barked triumphantly and accelerated.
Right after passing pillar grazing it, two monsters jumped up from under snow.
Drew greatsword horizontally.
One guy bisected, other guy crushed pushed by sword pressure.
"Shaking! Can't do a bit gently?!"
Gentle escape. Angry father-in-law chasing riding Frost Bear from behind, with what method.
"Get off if hate."
"……Will hold tight."
Freya tightened my waist harder.
Husky splitting wind. Greatsword splitting ice. Heroine holding my waist tight.
Isn't it scene becoming quite a picture?
This level is full score as chase scene.
Leona infiltrating towards altar entrance from afar looked back at me. Face looking blank.
Leona nodded, and started moving towards altar.
Guy always doing own job.
Right. Hero. Take care of Lucia.