Chapter 55
Translator: True Detective
Chapter 55. Breaking the Shell
Husky sled cutting through the snowfield.
Alpha Frost Bear chasing from behind.
Two knights riding respective mounts competing for supremacy.
In other words, the flower of Romance Fantasy, Jousting.
Of course with minor differences that it's husky instead of horse, Black Knight instead of knight, and the heroine is not the Princess but her cousin.
"Aaaaaaaack! Go slow!!!"
Freya's arms tightened my waist harder.
Why go slow?
The faster run, the closer the heroine clings to the knight's back, and the closer she clings, the softer sensation is transmitted, and each other's heartbeats are heard.
"This speed is basic."
"Not basic! Sled is floating! It’s in mid-air right now!!"
Exaggeration is severe.
Just floated slightly crossing one hill.
Landing also perfectly──
Bang!
"Kyaaaaaaack!!"
Landing success.
"D, Did we fly just now? Makes sense dog sled flies?!"
"Good dogs fly."
"Don't fly!"
Bark bark bark!
Huskies barked triumphantly. Will interpret as expression they can fly.
Rumble rumble rumble──!
Roar of ground splitting chased from behind.
Looking back, Knight of Cold was swinging frost sword on Frost Bear.
Ice pillars soared from all directions falling towards us.
"Left turn."
Screeeech-!
Huskies turned direction in perfect order.
"Ughhhk!"
"Northern Grand Duke seems to have a lot of anger."
"Of course! Don't remember what you said in front of Dad?!"
Remember. Said Freya is doing well.
"Just conveyed your current status."
"In Dad's eyes you would look like pervert villain kidnapping me!"
Unfair but okay. Misunderstanding can be resolved.
Let's attempt communication once more.
I looked back and shouted towards Knight of Cold.
'Father-in-law, I am taking responsibility for Freya. Feeding meals every day without fail, and instructing swordsmanship without missing a beat so please be relieved.'
"Kukuku… Freya is doing well by my side."
"How is human laugh sound 'Kukuku'!"
That part can't be helped.
Seems to be Black Knight's basic specification.
"Uooooooo-!"
Knight of Cold let out beast-like roar.
Kuaaaaaa!
Frost Bear roared together and doubled speed. Giant front paws charged tearing snowfield.
Failure again. Then one more word.
'While father-in-law was absent, I was always by side so Freya wouldn't be lonely. Will be so in future too.'
"Your daughter cannot escape my grasp forever now. Give up."
Crack─! Crackle─!
Crack spread on ice helmet covering Knight of Cold's face.
And.
"Ki… ll……"
Human voice?
"Kill you……!"
Penetrating Abyss erosion, Northern Grand Duke Valter Grombalt's will popped out.
Was touching.
To think regain humanity with just murderous intent towards guy who touched daughter even while soul encroached by Abyss.
Victory of paternal love. Human hymn indeed.
To prove grand premise of Romance Fantasy that love conquers all darkness like this.
Of course point that 'Love' is manifesting in form of murderous intent towards me bothers slightly though.
"Dad!!"
Freya looked back and shouted. Tears scattered in wind.
"Dad, it’s me! Freya! Hear me?!"
"Kill…… That pitch-black bastard……!"
Unfortunately seems Grand Duke Valter's consciousness is maintained by murderous intent towards son-in-law not love for daughter right now.
Anyway agro pulling is great success.
Far enough from altar. Earned time for Leona to infiltrate.
Time to move to Step 2.
Screech-
"Freya, take the sled."
I stopped sled suddenly. Blizzard splashed everywhere.
"Here? Now?"
"Remaining mobs are your share."
Monster legion flocking following Knight of Cold from behind.
Contaminated wolves and trolls were pouring mixed.
Number is many but high rank individuals not visible. Freya and husky unit can earn time sufficiently.
'Protect your assigned area. I deal with father-in-law. Trust me.'
"Don't worry. Keep hitting and will come to senses."
Isn't method a bit bloody?
But Freya nodded.
"……Please."
Well, intention seems conveyed. Communication is originally context more important than accurate words.
I got off sled and stepped on snowfield.
Knight of Cold riding Frost Bear was charging from front.
Earth axis shakes.
Saying to shoot horse first to cut general.
In other words means must knock down Frost Bear first to save father-in-law.
I concentrated Aura of Abyss on legs.
Sensation of explosive power charging in every muscle fiber.
Kuuung-!
And jumped.
Snowfield caved in deeply and my body floated in mid-air.
Soaring over Frost Bear's head.
Hairy giant face rushing from front filled front of eyes.
Gripped greatsword with both hands.
Struck down vertically.
Kwaaaang──!
Slash split center of Frost Bear's skull in straight line.
R.I.P. Frost Bear.
Put to winter sleep lightly today too.
Thump!
Guy's massive body slid by inertia, split to both sides digging snowfield.
Knight of Cold losing mount crashes from Frost Bear's back.
And rolled stuck in snowfield, then stood up raising one knee.
As expected Northern Grand Duke.
Fine even falling from bear.
Blue glint headed towards me.
Now full-scale 1 on 1.
Slide.
Unsummoned greatsword.
Today's goal is rescue not bisection.
Must not kill Grand Duke Valter. Must peel off ice armor, liberate from Abyss erosion.
Only two fists wrapped in black armor remained.
"Kuaaaaa──!"
Knight of Cold charged swinging frost sword.
Horizontal slash.
I tilted upper body shedding blade. Tip of frost sword grazed my black armor shoulder.
Screech-
Frost spread on armor surface with friction sound.
Cold. But just that.
With this level of chill would have to freeze for hundred more years.
Bang!
My straight punch struck Knight of Cold's breastplate.
Crack formed on chest part of ice armor.
Good. Working.
Just need to peel off armor piece by piece like this.
Knight of Cold staggered retreating, immediately struck down frost sword vertically.
I dodged stepping one foot to side, stuck hook in open flank.
Crack!
Left waist armor fell off.
"How is taste of punch kneading your daughter!"
Bang!
Right shoulder armor broke.
Training story. Story that corrected shoulder and arm angle directly when correcting Freya's posture, why coming out like this.
Anyway had effect.
"Ku…… Aaaaa!!"
Armor broke here and there.
Good. Keep pushing.
"Appearance Freya panting was very spectacle!"
I leaped once more, threw left fist towards his face.
Puck!
Huge crack formed on his ice helmet.
"Every nook and cranny of Freya's body, there is no place my touch didn't reach!"
Crack- Crunch!
But no leisure to care.
I poured blows continuously.
At one sadistic line Abyss scatters gradually, at one punch armor crumbles little by little.
Crack!
Fist. Again fist.
Puck-!
Abdominal armor caved in.
"Y, You bastard…… You bastaaaaaard!"
Finally Knight of Cold, no Grand Duke Valter screamed.
Father-in-law's fist flew.
I didn't dodge.
Puck-!
Painful. Quite good.
Indeed person called Northern Grand Duke, fist is quite spicy.
But. This is the end.
Counter.
I towards Knight of Cold's face.
'Father-in-law, please wake up now, father-in-law. Freya is waiting.'
"Die, old man."
Kwaaaaaang!!!
Bang!
Helmet shattered to pieces.
Face revealed beyond ice fragments.
Red hair.
Amber pupils.
Broad forehead and angled jaw.
Valter Grombalt's bare face revealed completely.
There was bloodshot human eye, not Abyss blue glint.
Crackle──!
Chest ice armor broke off completely.
And Grand Duke Valter's body fell back powerlessly.
Then.
"Dad!"
Freya ran over.
Kneeled next to father just like that.
"Dad, it’s me. Hear me?"
Grand Duke Valter's eyes headed slowly to Freya.
Lips twitched.
"Fre……ya……"
"Yeah, it’s me. Freya."
"That pitch-black… bastard…"
"Huh?"
"Ki…… ll……"
Thump-
Grand Duke Valter collapsed leaving that one word.
"Ahem."
To think first word shared properly is son-in-law murder declaration.
Indeed father-in-law is difficult existence.
Smashed all ice armor for now. Abyss erosion weakened considerably too.
But not complete liberation.
Because Abyss crystal embedded in chest still remained.
Grand Duke Valter was fallen on snowfield.
Ice armor shattered. Abyss blue glint turned off.
Instead bloodshot amber pupils were looking up at me.
Although human eyes wanting to kill me, anyway was human.
Grand Duke Valter who came to senses opened mouth.
"……Thank you."
Oh.
Father-in-law is expressing gratitude.
"Thanks to you could come to senses."
Can interpret this as being acknowledged as son-in-law right?
No, definitely so. Scene where father-in-law greets thanks to son-in-law.
Corresponds to previous stage of 'Marriage Approval' in RoFan terms.
Start is good. Very good.
But Grand Duke Valter paused for a moment, looked at me with strange eyes.
"……To say such words on purpose. Must have been shameful as a knight."
Mm?
"On purpose right?"
I turned head slightly.
Naturally disaster created by F-rank speech skill.
But result good, so let's think as strategy.
All was high-level strategy to stimulate father-in-law's paternal love.
"Dad!"
Freya kneeled next to Grand Duke Valter and reached out hand.
"Returned now right? Ended right?"
Tears flowed down jururuk. Finally child-like face.
That moment.
"Don't come close!"
Grand Duke Valter shouted sharply.
Freya's hand stopped in mid-air.
Reason revealed soon.
Valter's chest. Red crystal was still embedded in spot exposed by broken armor. Pulsation interval becoming shorter gradually. Like heartbeat. No, faster than heartbeat.
Broken ice armor fragments started regenerating crawling centering crystal.
Slowly but surely. Felt like watching video of broken glass attaching reversely.
Frost spread from Valter's fingertips, forearm veins dyed black again.
"……Consciousness returned, but body is still under Poison Apple's control."
Valter said grinding teeth.
"Consciousness is human but body is Abyss puppet. This crystal is supplying Abyss magic power forcibly. Can't stop regeneration with my will. If time passes…… will be encroached again."
Poison Apple, pretty design but ugly deed, typical Dark Fantasy prop.
"Is there method."
I asked.
Grand Duke Valter laughed lonely.
"Unless destroy Poison Apple doesn't end. Crystal already rooted in heart. If destroy heart stops together."
Wait.
"Method is only one."
Wait a minute.
"Kill."
……
Grand Duke Valter looked straight at me.
No fear in eyes. Resolution stands.
As warrior, as Northern Grand Duke, as Freya's father, eyes of person already concluded.
"No!"
Freya screamed.
"Just regained Dad! Just heard voice! Can't be like this!"
Valter called daughter with soft voice.
"Freya."
"Hate it!"
"Grew a lot."
"……."
"Became quite good at using twin swords too. Not retreating while shedding tears…… really resemble Mom."
Freya's shoulders trembled.
"Can entrust North now."
Valter's gaze headed to me.
"……Met reliable warrior."
Is this person shouting 'Kill. Pitch-black bastard' until just now correct.
"I can be relieved too."
Touching.
Touching but.
Frost spreading more from Valter's fingertips. Ice armor fragments crawled up to wrist.
Visible to eye that no time.
Freya's crying didn't stop. But expression started to change.
Bit lip.
Clenched fist trembling.
Nodded head.
And looked at me.
"……Okay."
Voice cracked.
"Dad wouldn't want to live like that either."
Northern person's reality acceptance.
Face tears not stopping while saying okay.
Visible trying to hide trembling chin clenching teeth.
I looked at that face.
Daughter becomes stronger using father's death as driving force. Rise as Northern successor embracing sorrow. Tragedy births growth, loss forges will.
Narratively excellent development.
In original work too eventually Grand Duke Valter sacrificed in this way.
Freya was same too. Protect someone at decisive moment, die at decisive moment.
Characters of this world were all made like that.
Beautiful tragedy.
……Beautiful tragedy?
To whom on earth?
Nothing beautiful to Freya.
Tears not stopping while saying 'Okay'.
Something boiled up inside.
'I said I would make this world Romance Fantasy.'
Romance Fantasy is world where father doesn't have to die in front of daughter's eyes.
World where don't have to lie forcibly 'Okay' while sad.
That is exactly RoFan's happy ending.
Zing.
Something reacted inside body.
Resolution to overwrite Dark Fantasy with Romance Fantasy.
That imagery dwelled in aura.
Wooooong-
I reached out hand summoned greatsword.
Greatsword's name came to mind naturally.
Abyss Sword.
Sword swallowing Dark Fantasy's darkness and digesting into Romance Fantasy's happy ending.
Another Abyss eating Abyss magic power.
I walked towards Grand Duke Valter.
"Said no method other than killing."
Valter nodded with resolved expression.
Good resolution.
But wrong.
Cannot acknowledge development where father-in-law dies.
'Do not worry. This son-in-law will definitely save you.'
"Kill you? Luxurious bastard. Won't allow even dying before I permit."
I held Abyss Sword in reverse grip.
Aimed sword tip towards Grand Duke Valter's chest.
Trajectory piercing exactly red crystal.
Sword tip touched crystal.
Kwaaaaaa-!
Black vein-like Abyss pattern stretched in all directions from crystal started flowing backward.
Abyss Sword dyed deeper pitch black. Scene of darkness swallowing darkness.
Grand Duke Valter's body changed.
Original skin color returned where black veins left.
From fingertips. Riding arms. Passing shoulders. To face.
Regenerating ice armor fragments crumbled like glass falling as magic supply cut off.
Every time darkness peeled off person revealed from underneath.
"Kuh……!"
Grand Duke Valter groaned painfully.
Crack──!
Crystal shattered to pieces like glass.
Fragments decomposed absorbed into Abyss Sword.
I pulled out sword.
Abyss pattern spread momentarily on my black armor surface then disappeared as if digested.
"How on earth……?"
Traces of erosion disappeared completely from Grand Duke Valter's body.
No blue glint, no black veins, no ice armor.
Original appearance of Northern Grand Duke Valter Grombalt was there.
"Do I have to explain method?"
Honestly I don't know principle well either.
But enough if result is good.
"Dad……?"
Freya's voice trembled. Expression unbelievable.
Perhaps momentary again. Perhaps encroached again.
Valter raised body slowly.
Freya ran.
Jumped into father's arms like child.
Thump.
Valter's weak body staggered at shock, but didn't fall. Wrapped daughter with weak arms.
"Dad…!"
Freya wailed.
Poured out her stories randomly.
That swordsmanship improved a lot. That twin swords 3-stage rotation slash possible. That can catch Frost Bear alone too. That can handle Combat Horned Rabbit up to ten too.
Sniffling snot even spitting out any words.
"While Dad gone I didn't cry once! Really!"
Was shameless lie not caring about own appearance wailing loudly right now, but so what.
Valter stroked daughter's head and said one word.
"……Right, our Freya doesn't cry. I know."
At that one word Freya's crying sound grew one level louder.
I stood one step behind and watched quietly.
'This is it. This is exactly correct Romance Fantasy development.'
Reunion of father and daughter. Tearful hug. Success accumulating one piece of happy ending.
After touching father-daughter reunion continued for a while.
We sat roughly on snowfield.
"So… what happened…? Why was Dad becoming Knight of Cold?"
As emotions subsided to some extent, Valter started explaining circumstances.
"Was patrolling beyond Ice Wall of Lamentation."
Serious voice. Dignity of Northern Grand Duke returned little by little.
"Woman was fallen in middle of snowfield."
"Huh?"
Freya's expression stiffened minutely.
"Was pale beauty. Black hair and skin white enough to be pale. Smiled like snow."
Ah, this development. Read something.
"Approached examining condition and supported her, she handed one apple saying thanks for saving. Was red and beautiful apple like jewel."
"……Don't tell me."
Freya's voice trembled.
"In North sharing food is expression of affection originally. So thankfully bit one bite… that suddenly dug into my chest and became crystal embedded."
In unknown territory beyond Ice Wall. Unidentified beauty. Handing suspicious apple. Bit one bite of that.
Suffered from Snow White Witch's Poison Apple.
……
"Agh, Dad!! Really crazy?! Why pick up and eat what suspicious woman gives!!"
Slap! Slap!
Freya bolted up and started hitting Valter's back.
"Hurts, hurts!"
"Hitting to hurt!!"
"Freya! Father dies!"
"Just die!!"
I crossed arms and nodded slowly.
Indeed. Grand Duke Valter was Romanticist too.
Might have quite common corner with father-in-law.
"Why are you nodding there!?"
Freya looked back at me.
I didn't answer.
Freya sighed deeply tearing hair.
"Really…… beyond saving."
Touching feeling of father-daughter reunion disappeared like melting snow.
But like this.
It was then.
Rumble rumble rumble──!!
Giant explosion sound burst from direction of altar.
We turned heads simultaneously.
"That is……?"
Blue light pillar was soaring high in sky. Magic power scattered on snowfield gathered rapidly centering altar.
Ground underfoot trembled shiver shiver, snowfield cracked crack crack creating crevasses.
Tremendous magic pressure stinging skin even though distance quite far.
"Must go."
Lucia. Leona.
And Eris as bonus.
Everyone is waiting.