Lady Freira's Primal Rage

I was plastered flat in the snow, practically crawling through a trench.

I'd nearly passed out from what the Grand Duke's lady had just done.

Kraaaah! Freira!!

I'd trusted her!!

Was this how it felt to have a free 1-star common character turn out to be a legendary 5-star powerhouse?

...Calm down.

Kirke shouted up at the ramparts with an ecstatic expression.

"What are you? ...Did you just use witchcraft? How? And what the hell was that circle size?"

"…."

Freira didn't answer. She simply slid down from the ramparts nice and slow.

The ringworm twitched, and Freira's fingertips brushed its skin.

"Shatter."

Crack.

A fissure split across the worm's body. The next instant, it exploded into pieces like a lie.

The problem? The section of rampart where Freira had been standing also shattered. She nearly took people with it.

"…."

"Ah—first time using witchcraft, huh? Can't control your power yet."

Kirke clapped brightly.

"That's not how you do it."

The witch's lips moved.

"Transform. Harden. Seize."

The rampart chunks fused together. A massive rock fist clamped Freira and dragged her before Kirke.

Same witchcraft, but the experience gap was huge.

"You. Your face looks familiar."

"…."

Kirke eyed Freira closely, then lifted her necklace. The deep blue ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠glow lit her cleavage.

"…Frost's Promise."

"Hands off."

"…Ah. Aha. Ahahaha! So that's it?"

The hostility buried deep in the witch's eyes diluted. Now her face mixed longing and delight.

"You're sister's daughter, huh? My niece?"

"I said hands off."

"Whoa, look at that venomous glare. Just like sis."

Kirke ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠clapped as she spoke.

"It's fine. I'm merciful. Even if Euterpe betrayed us for those earthworms, I won't hold it against you. Our blood flows in your veins."

Freira's face hardened sharply. She'd touched a nerve.

"First, let's pluck out those venomous eyes! Your limbs are so scrawny—can you even walk properly? I'll chop 'em off and replace with machines! Yeah, yeah, I've got tons to tell you. Like what kind of witch sis really—"

"Die."

Pfshk. Blood sprayed from Kirke's mouth.

"Die. Die. Die. Rip apart and die."

Freira spat the words without breathing. Her whisper brimmed with primal hate. Unrefined witchcraft shredded Kirke wildly.

"Ha. Niece. Don't know your name, but... time to sort the pecking order."

The rock fist crushed Freira tight. The lady's face twisted in agony.

"I'm. Showing. Mercy. See? Me! Noble Kirke, Euterpe's sister!"

"Pardon the interruption in your family spat."

Krunch.

An electric saw burst through Kirke's chest.

"Ow, it hurts! It hurts!!"

Good. That's the point.

I'd crawled through the snow for this moment. Gotta land the finishing blow.

"…Hamel?"

The lady's twisted face relaxed in an instant.

"What, this tin can bastard butts in on niece discipline... Mmph!?"

Freira yanked her hand free and clamped Kirke's mouth. Instinct kicked in.

Witchcraft's a cheat. Unlike magic or miracles, it casts with short words.

In other words, shut the mouth, and it's useless.

"Miss Freira."

"Y-you're alive... Explanation later. Kill this bitch first."

There it was. Pissed-off Freira.

Not for nothing the Frost Witch's daughter.

I pressed the chainsaw to her throat, and Kirke thrashed with tears streaming.

"Miss. I'll handle it. Blood relation and all—you shouldn't watch."

"Yeah. No."

Freira pulled her feet from the rock fist. Then stomped my arm hard.

Krzzzzzzt—

The witch's head sheared off mid-incantation. A grotesque noise burst from Kirke's mouth.

"Haa, huu. Dead."

Freira looked relieved. Talk of her mother was her reverse scale. Irreversible once that witch named her.

Kirke died, and the rock fist crumbled to debris. I swiftly caught the collapsing Freira.

She'd barely formed a circle yet spammed witchcraft—no wonder.

It's fine. Freira will pull through.

Half-demonkin, not "may be."

"…Hamel. I'm cold."

Inherited her mother's immense power, making this half-human weak to cold too.

Freira's green eyes looked up at me, swirling with emotions. So much to say.

"…Glad you're alive."

Just that.

The lady stroked my cheek as she said it. The halo spinning behind her head faded slowly.

"Hamel. I did ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠it. Made the circle."

"Knew you would."

"…Yeah. …How'd you know?"

"Because you're you, miss."

"…What're you…saying."

Her voice faded. Freira fell asleep in my arms.

Freira woke. She blinked drowsily, then bolted upright.

"Ow!"

Muscle pain everywhere, probably. Ulrich, sitting beside her, grabbed her hand quick.

"Don't push yourself."

"Father? I…"

"Glad you're safe. You did something incredibly dangerous."

Ulrich's eyes welled up again. Former Swordmaster, my ass. Menopause is scary.

"Freira. My daughter. You subjugated the Witch of Transformation, Kirke."

Freira clenched and unclenched her fist. Still sinking in.

"…No. Wasn't me. Making the circle, using witchcraft—all because I was furious."

"Why?"

Knew it'd involve ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠her mother.

"Thought that bitch killed Hamel."

"…Grown attached, huh. I'll step out."

"Huh? Step out of what?"

Ulrich slipped out with a sly smile. Freira sat stunned.

"Who's there?"

"Miss."

Surprise.

"Kyaaah!!"

Thud thud thud thud.

Freira flailed at my chassis in shock.

"Ow, my hand hurts!!"

"Arcanium alloy, miss."

"Wh-when'd you get here?"

"Since you mumbled my name in your sleep."

I'd been sitting primly on the bed's far side.

Freira glared. Lips pursed tight—properly pissed.

"…Hamel. Be honest. Did you fake your death on purpose?"

"Mm."

"Why? To make me form the circle?"

I nodded slowly. She grabbed my shoulders and shoved—didn't hurt a bit.

"I hate you. …Jerk."

Freira's merciless to enemies.

Infinitely lenient to those she sees as "hers."

I flashed a dad-smile without answering, and she bit her lip, trembling.

"Jerk, I said! Jerk!!"

"Miss. Is the Grand Duke's daughter throwing a tantrum right now?"

"Wh-when did I throw a—!"

She flung her arms wide, and the blanket slipped down. Her slender frame showed through the thin nightgown.

"…C'mere. Hug me."

I wrapped her tight, and first-snow scent wafted. Freira mumbled into my chest.

"Hamel. Promise."

"Yes?"

"Never do that again."

Mental shock must've been huge. Maybe I'm more than a cherished pet.

No more fake deaths, looks like.

"Sorry for worrying you."

"One-time pass. My heart nearly dropped…"

Freira grumbled, then glanced down at herself. Felt off.

"But I was drenched in witch blood—why am I clean? …And different clothes."

"I washed you thoroughly. Changed your clothes too."

"…Huh?"

Why the wide-eyed shock? We're close enough for that. Liege-vassal bond.

Don't worry. I'm involuntarily neutered.

"……How was it?"

"How was what, miss?"

Thud thud thud. A hand shot from under the blanket and punched me.

"Am I… kinda… scrawny?"

"Slim, yes."

"…Bad?"

"Doll-like beauty, I think."

Freira went quiet. Whatever I said, she hid under the blanket, gesturing only.

"Miss Freira?"

…Nod.

"Coffee?"

Shake shake.

"Then I'll take my leave."

Shake shake shake shake!

"…Shall I stay longer?"

Nod nod!

Vocal module broken?

I spent the day with silent, blushing Freira in monk-mode.

The Grand Duke's lady stuck to me like gum.

Imperial Capital, Baltgard. The Palace.

Amid ice-cold tension, Second Imperial Princess Selene reported.

"The Witch of Transformation has been subjugated in the Karstein Grand Duchy."

"…Good. Excellent. True servant of the Empire."

The throne's occupant smiled. Golden hair streaked white here and there.

Selene stayed tense. She'd seen that fake smile countless times.

Emperor Solaine von Baltgard.

Empire's worst tyrant. Would kill his own kids to cling to power.

...He did.

Like with the First Princess.

Selene lifted her eyelids slightly. The Emperor still propped his chin, smirking.

"Lucky, no? No treason charges in the duchy. You went undercover yourself, Selene."

"…My apologies."

"But odd. Can't find the holy sword anywhere. …Karstein Grand Duke hiding it? Selene, your thoughts."

Her mouth went dry. As she pondered, the Emperor burst laughing.

"Kidding. Why so tense!"

"…My apologies."

He saw the Grand Duke as a thorn. No pretext? Must irk him.

"Grand Duke's lady took down the witch?"

"Yes, Your Majesty."

"Heh. God's grace, then. Girl too frail for the Academy—how?"

Selene quietly weighed possibilities. Freira Karstein, Frost Witch's daughter. Awakening anytime? No surprise.

But…

The raven intervened.

Guiding the magitech squad to the Frostworm zone. Spotting her inquisitor disguise instantly.

Probably induced the lady's awakening somehow. Played to automaton strengths in the subjugation too.

Public name… Hamel. Capable one. Prep next contact soon.

Curious about gender, but later.

A doubt flickered.

The 'promised lantern' First Princess mentioned before death… Could it be that Hamel?

As Selene mulled, thunderclap words hit her ears.

"Time for a reward. To the Karstein Grand Duke's lady."

"…May I ask what reward?"

"A ball, Selene. Nobles can't resist. Timing's perfect."

Imperial ball.

Where houses scheme and plot. But insiders knew.

Emperor hosted when he wanted to drown someone.

...Target this time: Karstein lady.

Selene stayed deathly silent; Emperor eye-smiled.

"You attend. Tell her the throne praises her."

"……."

"Selene."

"……I obey."

Frame Freira.

The princess sighed inwardly. No escape. Must obey in his face—he'd watch.

I die, revolution ends. People suffer under him forever.

So cling to life. Don the mask, act defiant.

...For the masses.

Selene cursed herself.

Freira Karstein would sacrifice innocently.

...Wish the raven catches on.

Fat chance.