Frozen Heart, Burning Heart (1)

Word that a hidden dungeon had appeared on the Floor of Beginnings had spread through every corner of the Tower, and yet, surprisingly, things were still rather peaceful.

That peace, however, was nothing but the calm before the storm. Beneath the surface, a vicious shadow war was already well underway.

And upon that treacherously thin ice of a peace, Zion—who was, in every practical sense, the cause of it all—was currently...

"Hwaaam."

"Kkyu!!"

"Did you sleep well, Fafnir?"

...sitting in the chapel, yawning. Her daily routine was simple. She woke in the morning and cleaned. If someone came to make an offering, she cast Recovery on them; if no one came, she went out to the fields to tend her crops. Fafnir tagging along at her side like a puppy was just a bonus. And if, in the middle of all that, he happened to get hungry...

"Fafnir?"

"Kkieeeek!"

"Alright, alright. I'll feed you, okay?"

"Kkyu!!"

At the sight of Fafnir making pterodactyl-like screeches and tugging at the hem of her habit, Zion smiled and pulled out a magic stone. Just like that, Fafnir dropped the hem of her nun's habit with an adorable expression, as if nothing had happened at all.

He ate fewer magic stones than he would ordinary meat, at least... but even so, he still demolished a considerable amount every day.

Good thing I secured a regular supply. Without it, I'd probably be running dungeons every single day...

"Um...?"

"Welcome. Lost little lambs are always welcome here."

Perhaps it was thanks to more than two months of playing the Saintess of Beginnings. Zion now even thought in polite speech.

Two people shuffled in through the door, looking awkward. Judging by their shabby equipment, they were novice adventurers. Zion immediately put on her customer-service smile. That alone was more than enough to steal the souls right out of the two beginners.

"Whoa..."

"...She's beautiful."

Cross-shaped pupils so beautiful they bordered on the divine. Skin as white and soft as snow. Faced with a face that could only be called peerless, most clueless beginners tended to lose their minds on the spot.

Zion played the Saintess to the hilt—gentle, benevolent, as if she hadn't noticed a thing.

"Might this be your first adventure?"

"Ah... y-yes!! That's right!!"

"I thought as much! May God's blessing walk with you on the path ahead..."

"Thank you, Saintess!!"

"If it wouldn't be too much trouble, might I ask a small favor of you?"

"Of course! Anything you need, just say the word!"

Fidgeting her fingertips together with an angelically bashful look—no adventurer alive could resist that.

...Just as planned.

But behind that harmless exterior, Zion wore the kind of rotten, smug grin you'd expect from a god who'd just found himself a new world, and opened her mouth.

"The truth is, the monsters that appear in the Dungeon of Beginnings have become quite a problem. There have been no small number of injuries, as well..."

"You even tend to the wounded..."

"She's an angel, no two ways about— ahem! R-right. So, shall we take care of the monsters, then?"

"I'd be so grateful if you would! Though I'm afraid I have nothing to offer but potatoes..."

"That's more than enough, Saintess."

"Please bring me the magic stones from the monsters you defeat! They must be purified, you see."

That was a lie, of course. She didn't even have enough magic stones to feed Fafnir as it was—why would she waste precious ones on purification? The reason she went this far was simply to establish a pretext that would, at the very least, look reasonable to everyone else.

And indeed, the two adventurers were so moved by Zion's heart that they accepted the quest without a moment's hesitation.

We can earn points with the Saintess and get a reward this insane besides...

Legendary NPCs really are on another level. I should come by often and build up affinity.

If you're a beginner, you absolutely have to visit the Nameless Chapel. The two of them had come after hearing that story... but they never imagined she'd hand out a reward of this caliber. That it was defense was a bit of a letdown, admittedly.

For beginners who weren't Rankers or veteran adventurers, though, defense was a precious stat that dramatically boosted survivability. Until they grew strong enough ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠to obtain it easily on their own, it would be an enormous help. That much was certain.

"I've been thinking."

"About what?"

"I think the Saintess really is an angel."

"What kind of bullshit—"

"Look. She asked us to thin out the monsters to save people, she purifies the magic stones, and she even loads us up with a fat reward."

"...Okay, that's not wrong."

The adventurers who'd received the quest headed toward the dungeon, chatting as if they'd been possessed. One by one, novice adventurers who felt they'd received an enormous grace from Zion began to multiply. All of them were moved by her goodwill and nobility—by how much she thought of others. The person in question, of course, had no such thoughts.

I can work them this hard for a few potatoes. No matter how I look at it, being an NPC really is the best.

Zion was, internally, delighted that the number of suckers she could exploit for a handful of potatoes was growing.

Only when the sun went down and dusk rolled in did Zion's daily routine finally end. The same was true of everyone else.

Ifrit, Floor Manager of the 1st Floor, had barely made it back after finishing her work with Rin. She looked thoroughly exhausted. Zion tilted her head. Coming back late recently, that expression... was something going on?

"Ifrit, is something the matter?"

"Why are you asking that all of a sudden?"

"Your face is pale. It's as if you're afraid of something..."

"I'm fine. It's nothing."

"It's really okay, Zion unni."

People who deflected like that were almost never actually fine... but she couldn't keep pressing. Ifrit, of course—and even Rin was forcing a smile, trying to reassure her. Their effort was touching enough that she decided to let it go this time. If it actually got serious later, they'd tell her then.

"Well then, shall we start with dinner..."

A chill of wrongness locked her lips in place. Only then did Zion notice the white breath spilling from between them.

Then the tightly shut door burst wide open, and with it came a vicious cold that froze her to the depths of her lungs. Sensing the ominous presence, Rin, Zion, and Fafnir had all been about to draw their weapons—and then they froze solid where they stood.

"You... how did you find this place...?!"

Thud. Thud. Thud.

The sound of a staff striking the frozen chapel floor. An ice staff so perfectly transparent it was beautiful. Then a pale-skinned man in a pitch-black robe revealed himself. How could she ever forget that face?

"El Roscadi...!!!"

"Is that any way to address your father."

"I've never had a father as disgusting as you!"

"You mean to fight here, then, with no regard for your friends."

Ifrit bit her lip at El's icy voice. Those words, as if he truly worried for her, were nauseating. The proof was right in front of her. If he'd felt like it, he could have frozen them all—herself included—in an instant. He'd fallen as far as 39th after a leg injury... but there was a time he'd reigned as Rank 7 in the Tower.

"Your flames cannot melt my ice. You know that better than anyone."

"...What do you want."

"It is time you came home."

She didn't need to hear what came next. If you want Zion, Rin, and Fafnir to walk away unharmed, do as I say.

Yes. This was a test. A way for that man to press his own values over hers... If she discarded her companions here, he would leave of his own accord—deeply satisfied that she had finally taken on the true shape of a High Ranker.

"..."

"Still you hesitate? I taught you to cut away companions of no use without mercy..."

"I'll come ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠quietly, so shut your mouth."

"...That is precisely why I cannot yet let you go. You are still a child who knows nothing. You need protection."

Crack.

At that last, last grating word, just as she was about to snap—something unbelievable happened. With a clear, crystalline sound like breaking glass, Zion—who had been frozen solid in her seated pose—opened her eyes.

"..."

"..."

"A rather rude brother has come to call, I see. Which is to say..."

"Impressive... I will grant you that. But your two friends remain, do they not. To undo the freeze..."

"Cure."

Shatter!!

A pure-white radiance erupted, so fierce it momentarily overwhelmed even the pitch-black dark that had arrived with the night. When they opened their eyes again, not only Rin and Fafnir but the chapel itself had been restored to its original state.

"..."

"Lost little lambs are always welcome here. So, Brother."