Chapter 13
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 13
Chapter Title: Queen Falls for Baseball -3
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It was a story of a world hurtling toward destruction.
The Demon King's army ravaged the land everywhere, and people were plunged into despair.
But even in such a world, a small spark of hope remained.
A small village.
A nameless village hidden deep in the mountains.
"Master, are you alright?"
Elisian supported Seo Gi-hyeon.
Blood was flowing from his side, soaking the ground.
"I'm fine. Just a little further..."
"But..."
The two had barely survived a battle with the monsters.
Their bodies were covered in wounds. They needed treatment.
"Over there, there are people."
Elisian pointed.
The villagers were looking at them with worried eyes.
"Do you need help?"
A young girl approached.
The girl looked shocked at the sight of the wounded Seo Gi-hyeon and Elisian.
"Come this way! I'll treat you!"
After their brutal fight with the Demon King's forces, the two were battered and broken.
The girl hurriedly led them into the village.
"Village chief! We have injured people!"
"Bring them quickly!"
The villagers welcomed them.
They didn't ask questions.
Where they came from, or what kind of people they were.
They simply helped.
"Thank you."
Seo Gi-hyeon and Elisian stayed there.
Days passed. A week went by.
A month passed, and their wounds healed.
But they didn't leave.
They worked alongside the villagers.
Seo Gi-hyeon plowed the fields, carried water, and protected the village from monsters.
Elisian cared for the children and helped with cooking.
"Gi-hyeon, thank you again today."
"No problem."
"We're alive thanks to you two."
The people smiled.
They could smile even in despair.
Seo Gi-hyeon smiled along with them.
Elisian looked happy too.
'This place is wonderful.'
Affection began to grow.
Especially the children, who started following them around.
"Uncle Gi-hyeon! Teach me swordsmanship!"
"I'm not 'uncle'."
"Sister Elisian! Play with me!"
"Sure! Let's go!"
It was a cold world.
But this small village was warm.
Warm enough to make them want to stay forever.
But.
"Elisian."
"Yes, Master."
That night, after sharing drinks with everyone.
Seo Gi-hyeon and Elisian sat on the outskirts of the village.
"I don't think we can stay here."
"I think so too."
"Sorry."
"It's okay."
Elisian took Seo Gi-hyeon's hand.
"You have a path you must follow, Master."
"Yeah."
"I'll go with you."
"Thanks."
It was such a warm place, but they couldn't be tied down here.
They resolved themselves.
To leave this place.
The next morning, the two bid farewell to everyone in the village.
"You're leaving?"
"Yes. I think we have to."
"I see."
The village chief nodded as if he understood.
"I knew it. That someday you'd leave."
People gathered to see them off.
"Are you really going?"
"Yes."
"We'll miss you."
"Thank you, Gi-hyeon, Elisian."
The villagers said their goodbyes one by one.
The children sniffled, saddened by the parting.
The elders wore bittersweet smiles, and the young ones packed bags of gifts for them.
That's when it happened.
The girl who had first saved them came running.
"Wait!"
"Hm?"
"You'll come back, right? Right?"
Seo Gi-hyeon hesitated for a moment, then smiled.
"Yeah. Someday."
"And then!"
The girl blushed as she said,
"Bring something delicious!"
"Something delicious?"
"Yes! There's lots of tasty stuff in the city!"
There was lots of tasty stuff in the city.
That was true. Even as the world edged toward ruin, the cities were still functioning.
Seeing the girl's playful smile, Seo Gi-hyeon had no choice but to nod.
"It's a promise!"
"Got it. I'll bring some for sure."
"Really?"
"Yeah."
Elisian chimed in from the side.
"I'll help pick it out!"
"Thank you!"
The heavy mood of farewell lightened a bit.
"Well, we're off then."
"Yes! Be safe!"
"Come back soon!"
"See you next time!"
The people waved.
Seo Gi-hyeon and Elisian waved back.
With that, they turned away.
Leaving the village behind.
The parting was bittersweet, but for their sake, they had to continue their journey.
Seo Gi-hyeon didn't look back.
He felt like his resolve would waver if he did.
"Let's go."
"Yes."
The two left the village.
Leaving behind the place where they had given their hearts in peace.
Two weeks later.
"Master, we're almost there!"
Elisian said excitedly.
Her bag was stuffed with snacks bought from the city.
Candy, cookies, bread.
"That kid will love it, right?"
"Of course. Everyone will."
They had come to keep their promise.
The promise to bring something delicious.
"Hurry."
They quickened their steps.
They climbed the mountain path. Last time, it had felt steep because of their injuries.
But this time, their steps were light.
A familiar path.
The same one from two weeks ago.
But.
"...?"
The air was cold.
"Master, something's wrong."
"I feel it too."
Something was off.
The closer they got to the village, the lower the temperature dropped.
And then the village came into view.
No, what had been the village.
"This is..."
Elisian held her breath.
Everything was frozen solid.
The trees.
The houses.
The people.
The entire village was encased in ice.
"No..."
Seo Gi-hyeon ran.
Everyone was trapped in ice.
Even the girl's face, who had playfully asked for snacks.
"Master... over there."
"..."
In the center of the frozen village.
Someone stood there.
A white-haired woman.
Blue eyes and a cold expression.
At the heart of this devastation, the woman stood emotionlessly.
Ice surrounded her.
It was spreading from her feet.
"Did you do this?"
The woman slowly turned her head.
Her blue eyes fixed on Seo Gi-hyeon.
"I am Prostia."
A cold voice.
A voice devoid of emotion.
Clear like ice, yet holding nothing.
"The Ice Queen."
The ice spread further.
"Why? Why did you do this?"
Prostia didn't answer.
She simply stood there, expressionless.
"Answer me. Why did you do this?"
"..."
"What did these people do wrong?!"
"...What meaning is there in explanations?"
"What?"
"Everything in the world flows according to its natural course."
His voice cracked at those words.
"Freezing people to death is 'natural'?"
"I saved them."
"Shut up!"
Seo Gi-hyeon charged, swinging his sword.
Prostia didn't dodge.
She just stood there.
Slash-
The sword cleaved Prostia's neck.
There was no resistance. It was effortless.
Prostia's body shook.
Then it shattered into pieces. Like ice.
Grasping the crumbling ice shards, Seo Gi-hyeon muttered,
"Can you hear me?"
"...I'm listening."
Looking at that Prostia, Seo Gi-hyeon gritted his teeth hard.
Telling her to wait, for he would come to claim her head.
"That's what happened."
Elisian finished her story.
I set down my chicken.
"..."
My face twisted.
Froze an entire village to death?
Toyed with us using an illusion?
'And that monster became my ally?'
I couldn't understand it.
No, I couldn't accept it.
"Master, are you okay?"
"No."
Honestly, I wasn't.
I needed to think about how to process this.
That's when it happened.
"Sorry to keep you waiting."
Prostia was walking over.
She had already finished cleaning up the shop, her hands full of chicken.
"Here."
Prostia held out the chicken.
"Leftovers from the shop. Take it."
"What?"
I was bewildered.
This was someone who could casually kill a few people.
Yet the one before me showed no sign of that.
Why was she acting like this?
Elisian added an explanation for me.
"That."
"Huh?"
"The villagers."
Elisian said quietly.
"A few days after we left, a plague broke out. An incurable one."
"What?"
"So Prostia froze them temporarily."
"...?"
"After we finished our business, she found a cure and thawed them out... Guess you don't remember, huh."
Prostia nodded expressionlessly.
"I thawed them all later. Treated them too."
"..."
"They're still alive. The villagers."
I was speechless.
"Why'd you say it like that?"
"Like what?"
"Stuff like 'Everything flows according to its natural course.' You wouldn't even give a straight answer when I asked."
"Ah, right. Sorry about that. I apologized many times, but you really forgot it all."
Prostia fell silent for a moment, then spoke.
"Back then, I was deep in nihilism."
"Ni-Nihilism?"
"Yeah. Nihilism. I thought explanations were pointless. I was completely cold."
Prostia stared at me intently... then chuckled.
Suddenly, her slender arm was wrapped around mine.
"I'll explain during the game."
"Explain what?"
"How you made me warm up."
...Do these two just feel better twisting words like that?