Chapter 15
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Translator: Wjin
Chapter: 15
Chapter Title: Frozen Lake Assault
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15.
"I'll go with you, so fight without a care. If you collapse, I'll carry you out on my back."
"Reliable."
Their eyes met over their tightly clasped hands.
It was hard to believe they'd only known each other a few days—the trust between them ran deep.
"Hang on, what about me?"
Gerard and Eloise turned to Morgana at the same time.
Far from the Blue Hole's entrance, Gerard came to a stop and gripped Eloise's shoulder.
"Wait here."
"But you said we'd go together."
"We're here."
He draped his robe over her shoulders.
"It'll only take a moment."
Eloise tilted her head.
In the heart of the solidly frozen lake, there was nothing.
Literally nothing.
'If only more memories would surface.'
This time, only the hole's location and outbreak time had come to mind.
She had no idea why her recollections were so patchy.
But that thought didn't last.
Crack!
A short, sharp sound rocked the silent space, and the ice began splintering with a jagged groan.
Dozens of magical beasts erupted from the cracks, charging straight at Gerard.
"Wh-what?!"
Eloise pointed at his back.
Gerard turned with a grin, as if he'd been expecting it.
Seeing his broad back, Eloise's anxiety melted away like a lie.
As he began casting, a crystalline pillar glowing with bluish light burst up from beneath the lake, shattering the ice.
The ice beasts smashed into the crystal pillar and broke apart. Water sprayed and shards flew in all directions.
It was a one-sided massacre by Gerard.
He raised a dense forest of crystal pillars, caging the beasts.
Trapped in what was little more than a prison, the beasts screeched grotesquely.
Then Gerard unleashed a torrent of fire from above.
The flames devoured the ice, melting the beasts in one go.
Thick steam billowed up.
Eloise's mouth fell open just a bit.
His magic was spectacular yet efficient. Above all, it was overwhelming.
It felt like watching a flawless, tightly woven performance—Eloise was awestruck.
But after the awe, worry crept in.
'Does he fight like this every time? Pouring out massive spells? What about his body? Is he really okay?'
No way.
She could almost see the heavy burden weighing on his shoulders.
Unthinkingly, Eloise grabbed Gerard's shoulder.
At that instant, the lake below the ice churned, and an ice monster at least five meters tall exploded upward.
Splashhh!
Water and ice chunks sprayed everywhere.
Gerard whirled around and pulled Eloise into his arms.
Thanks to him, not a drop touched her.
"Th-that...!"
Unlike mages who could size up a beast's rank at a glance, administrative types like Eloise usually hadn't a clue.
But Eloise in her second life was different.
She'd handled Rainbow Hole cleanup support for years, along with reports and paperwork.
So she knew most hole-spawned beast types and the damage they wrought.
Reverse-engineering that let her gauge ranks.
"It's a Rank 3 beast!"
Beasts were classed from 1 to 10.
Lower numbers packed more punch and savagery.
Rank 3s typically showed up in Rainbow Holes, which outclassed Blue Holes in difficulty.
Or in the toughest Blue Holes.
Facing that giant alone right now?
As Eloise muttered, Gerard wrapped her in a shield spell.
"Don't freak out too much. Stuff like that's common."
Not common at all.
That beast could jack a Blue Hole's difficulty straight to mid-high tier in seconds.
And sure enough.
Kuuueeeek!
The beast bellowed hideously and gaped its maw. A carriage-sized ice boulder plummeted from the sky.
Each time, geysers erupted from the lake.
The ice under Eloise's feet wobbled ominously.
Tsk. Gerard scooped her up and rocketed into the air.
Eloise reflexively clung to his neck.
For a split second, a pleased chuckle tickled her ear—or was it her imagination?
He wouldn't smile with that monster raging below.
"Stay put here."
"M-me, alone? In the sky?!"
"Exactly. And I'm a mage."
Meaning he could park her safely.
His hand flashed as he murmured low.
A plush, cozy cloud enveloped Eloise—a sofa conjured just for her.
"Be right back."
Gerard vanished in a blink.
Boom! Boom boom!
Ice clashed with fire.
Thunderous blasts and blinding flares lit the scene.
Eloise clutched the cloud sofa's backrest, staring down.
Her heart clenched.
While brutal combat unfolded below, she lounged in serene skies, feeling small and useless.
What can I even do?
'I want to become a healer soon.'
So she could mend Gerard's exhaustion.
Grant him comfort and peace.
'Nothing else matters.'
The battle pressed on fiercely.
Thankfully, even to clueless Eloise, Gerard dominated.
Unlike the beast's desperate lunges, he floated midair with casual poise, casting away.
Each fiery flash lopped off chunks of the beast.
Like ice under a virtuoso sculptor's chisel, its body dwindled smaller, smaller.
Soon its deep-blue core lay bare.
Black veins encased it like a heart—grotesque, despite being a gem.
Eloise, used to pristine gems, shuddered.
'Does he smash that and pull it out?'
As if reading her, Gerard forged a sword in his grip.
Flames licked its blade, roaring high.
He charged with the blazing sword, and steam surged across the entire Blue Hole.
Choking heat clogged her throat; vision fogged.
Sounds cut out.
Eloise strained through the haze for Gerard.
"Gerard? Gerard!"
Was the beast coiling for a last strike?
Had he taken the hit?
Her heart plummeted.
Then Gerard emerged, drenched head to toe.
"All done."
But Eloise couldn't reply.
Frozen in shock, she gaped at him.
More precisely, his soaked shirt.
"Eloise? That rattled you?"
"......"
"Let's head down first. Infirmary's best."
Even then, she didn't budge.
Core shattered—the Blue Hole would crumble soon.
Time was tight to grab Eloise and Morgana and bolt.
Growing impatient, just as Gerard opened his mouth again.
Her lips finally parted.
"The magic..."
Eloise's voice quavered faintly.
"How far has it..."
Tears welled in her eyes.
Damn. Gerard glanced down at his torso.
Through the wet shirt, stark traces of magic poisoning stood out.
He'd ditched the waterlogged jacket mid-fight and forgotten.
She'd been staring at this the whole time.
No wonder a newbie froze up.
'Yeah. First time seeing it.'
Bitterness soured his mouth. He smiled wryly.
"It's nothing."
"How can it be nothing?!"
Suddenly, Eloise snapped her head up.
Her eyes flashed, and she seized his collar.
Off-guard, he tumbled helplessly into her embrace.
"Eloise, you're getting wet...! Ugh."
No chance to shove her off.
Eloise's bare hands roamed his exposed neck, cheeks, earlobes—caressing everywhere.