[Saintess and Maid. And the Stick.]
One hour into the subjugation party's search through the snowfields, trudging along with my new party members.
Fuck, I really don't wanna go.
I always felt it, but walking with this body was a real problem. It felt like I'd get winded just from breathing a little. Guess I gotta... exercise or something?
This pathetic sack of bones... In this state, I'd probably just drop dead mid-stride and no one would bat an eye.
And even if not... Why is this so fucking Spartan?
The pace we were keeping was insanely intense. Back in the search party, I had no idea. I didn't realize it was such a sweet gig.
What a honey pot that was, damn it.
No wonder the soldiers tagging along had acted like it was nothing. I'd been wrecked just from a few hours of walking.
And here...
Iris. That crazy woman's speed was way too fast. Her search pace was on another level entirely. For an orphanage-raised, malnourished twig like me, it was impossible to keep up.
Being an orphan sucks.
Ah, but I'm not an orphan anymore. I've got a crazy mom now. Fake orphan, technically.
Anyway. I've got my own issues.
The bigger problem was right next to me. Clack clack clack clack. The brown-haired woman chattering her teeth like mad. The possessed maid who called herself Aeria.
"...You okay?"
"Clack... clack... I'm... f-f-fine... fine."
She didn't look fine at all.
"No, seriously, why are your clothes so thin?"
"Th-there... weren't many... clothes given to me..."
"...Damn."
The ducal house was stingy as hell. Sending a maid out in this cold dressed like that?
Meanwhile, I've got this.
Korean street dog survivor here. Having endured two brutal winters—fucking two—I knew how to prep for this cold. Layered up like crazy.
But she clearly didn't know the drill. She was dressed like she was just stepping out for a neighborhood stroll.
"You incompetent mortal..."
"Uh...?"
"Nothing. Here, take one of mine?"
"N-no... I couldn't...!"
"Then why'd you take it?"
"Gasp!"
Her mind and body weren't on the same page. She'd snatched it the second I offered, then freaked out.
"H-how...!"
"Quit messing around and put it on."
She'd die like that. Her hands and ears were already bright red. Might turn blue soon.
I wasn't gonna freeze from shedding one outer layer—
Whoooosh.
"..."
Okay, it was cold. Should I take it back?
While I hesitated, Aeria had already grabbed my coat and thrown it on.
Ah, too late. Regret.
As I made an awkward face,
Hummm.
"..."
My head snapped around. I felt something.
"Halt."
Iris raised her hand and spoke. Then,
Clank. Shing!
She drew her sword.
"Battle stations. It's a monster."
The soldiers shouted at Iris's command. And at that moment, something came charging from afar.
Grrrrrowl!! Kyaaah!!
Monsters. Wolf-like beasts with horns. And behind them—
Ah, that guy again?
Troll. The Ice Troll that screwed me over before was barreling in.
I see that bastard a lot.
"Another Ice Troll."
"Why's it come this far..."
"Don't let your guard down. Save the chatter for after we survive."
"Yes!"
Iris calmed the soldiers and charged ahead. Her silver blade sliced through the air.
Splash!!
Kyaaah!!
Monsters collapsed, spilling blood. It was over in an instant.
Fast.
I could barely see it. Fantasy knights were insanely quick, beyond imagination.
She started massacring the horde. Then, seeing the incoming monsters, I realized something.
The search party really was a total cakewalk.
We'd only ever tangled with one Ice Troll and some wolves at most.
Here? How many is that?
At least five trolls. Man, they were ugly as sin every time. No wonder they're monsters.
Hmm.
"Ugh... Wh-what do we do? M-monsters...!"
Aeria stammered in terror, pressing close to me. There was a weird sensation.
Hm.
This sister's stacked. Instinct told me so. Her thin clothes made it even clearer.
Nice. Should I stay like this a bit longer?
"M-mage! The monsters...!"
"...Ugh, dizzy."
Whoosh! Whoosh!
She shook me like crazy. At this point, sensation be damned.
They'll handle it fine anyway.
Did I really need to step up?
That thought crossed my mind, but...
Well, whatever.
Perfect chance to test something.
Vrrrrm!!
I spun my Magic Circle. Mana surged as it rotated. I recalled the texture.
This time, a different spell.
Blade Sword.
The spell I'd memorized last time. This how you use it? Felt like Thorn Arrow. Just shaped differently.
Arrow was arrow-shaped; this was a sword. The finished blade looked about as long as my short arm.
Hmm.
Nice shape? Looked like a real sword. Could I touch it?
I poked the floating blade. Solid. Oh, magic feels like this? Neat, I prodded more.
Ah, not the time. Focused up.
The Blade Sword hovered. How to use it? Same as Thorn Arrow?
Just swing it or something.
I flicked my hand lightly.
Shiiiing!
The blade followed, flying toward an Ice Troll.
Slice.
Gurgle.
Its head came clean off.
Thud!
The headless troll toppled, its massive bulk hitting the snow. Iris's gaze flicked my way.
"Oh."
I'm fucked.
Ice Troll one-shot.
Feels totally different from Thorn Arrow.
Thorn Arrow was one-and-done. Blade Sword still floated.
Flying sword, insane.
I tried moving it more—
Wobble!
"Ack."
"M-mage!"
Vision blurred, I staggered. Mana depletion.
The flying blade vanished.
"Urk..."
Balance shattered again. Head spun.
Damn. What'd I do that was so big?
Huff... huff.
Senses dulled like last time.
Then—
Shimmer.
Mana scattered from the dead Ice Troll. I reached out on instinct.
Come here.
Willed the mana toward me, and it surged in.
Shoooo!
It soaked into me, clearing my dizzy head.
"Hah... haa."
Breathing steadied, barely.
"Are you okay!?"
Aeria's voice. Hearing and sight returned.
"...I'm fine."
I swallowed a groan. Close call, damn near died.
Regaining my wits, it clicked.
Now I know for sure.
The sensation confirmed it.
I can pull mana from monsters.
Took it from the troll. Refilled my meager reserves.
But... Can't from other monsters' corpses.
Not from Iris's kills. But...
From ones I killed, I can.
Felt it from magic-killed monsters. Hallucination? Nah, too clear.
Weird.
Can you even do that? Didn't refill fully, but topped me up nice.
Not bad.
I nodded. Found a way to recharge mana, whatever it was.
Didn't know if other mages could. Time to test more.
After hunting down all the Ice Trolls,
Clank!
Iris sheathed her sword.
"...Battle end. Secure the area."
"...Yes!"
Soldiers echoed her whisper. Then they sprang into action.
Rest break? Tents went up in seconds. Even cooking started.
Whoa, what? So smooth?
I got swept up, ended up seated with stew in hand.
"Mage, here."
"Ah, thanks."
People notice, so I played along. The stew was meh. Just filler food, I knew the taste.
Sip some and done.
As I ate,
"Oh."
Someone sounded troubled.
"It's snowing."
"Snow?"
Everyone looked up. Yup, flurries starting. Pretty.
"Damn, snow already?"
"Too early... wasn't it two days off?"
Soldiers paled. What? Just snow.
Then,
"Finish meals in 15 minutes. We return."
Iris spoke. 15-min countdown.
A nearby soldier muttered,
"Guess we'll be back soon."
"Yeah. Why now... Never pulled two days early before."
"True. Ice Trolls too—something's up north."
Tense vibes.
"But what are we even looking for?"
"Yeah, search, but no details."
"Heard it's a person."
"Person?"
"Yeah. A person."
"What person...?"
In the hush, a soldier whispered,
"They say it's the Saintess."
"Saintess?"
Aeria next to me flinched. She'd been holding a towel to wipe my spills, but froze at "Saintess."
Hm...?
Big reaction, impossible to miss.
"What Saintess out of nowhere?"
"Remember the priests from the Holy Kingdom last time? With the Saintess."
"Yeah, huge cleanup crew."
"Heard she vanished in the chaos."
"...What?"
Flinches. Flinches. Flinches. Aeria's reactions were striking every mention.
"..."
I pretended not to notice, though I clocked it.
Saintess. The Holy Kingdom's girl.
When I nearly died. The one I clung to, begging. Holy Kingdom's pristine goddess reborn. Their symbol.
Missing?
"We're searching for her now?"
"Not confirmed, but probably."
"Yeah, heard it was a person search."
"I thought it was just subjugation pretext... Guess not."
Flinches. Flinches.
"..."
Hard to keep ignoring the vibes.
...Fuck. Don't tell me.
Felt off. Hoped not, but...
"Hey."
About to ask Aeria—
"I-I'll do laundry!"
She bolted up and ran. Laundry? Towel was dry.
She dashed off.
"..."
Laundry in this cold? Bullshit. Soldiers ignored her.
I stood.
"Huh? Mage, where to?"
They noticed me instantly—unlike with her.
"Ah... gotta check something."
"Escort?"
"Nah, just hold the stew."
"Sure."
Left the chatting soldiers, followed her trail.
"What do I do...? Goddess...? Please answer...!"
Aeria knelt, trembling, hands clasped in prayer. The ghost above her still slept.
Maid praying to goddess. Sure. But...
...This.
Coincidences stack up, not coincidence.
She's the Saintess?
Aeria seemed like the Saintess. Paused. Why's the Holy Kingdom mascot maid-ing here?
Mid-questions,
Shimmer.
Huh?
Something felt off. Floating mana visible.
That.
Like from the troll. What now? Where's it leading?
Staring curiously—
What the.
Something at the end. Cloaked figure clutching robe. It thrust a hand at Aeria.
Mana gathered at its fingertips. No clue what, but bad vibes.
Body moved first.
"Get down!"
"Eh?"
Saintess turned at my yell. I dove, hugging her tight.
BOOM!!
Blast behind us. Dodged the unknown, barely.
"Fuck, cliffs are bullshit."
Of course I grabbed toward the edge. Screwed.
Gonna die? Not even a year in this romance-fantasy reincarnation?
No way.
Grimacing in panic—
Whoosh!
Something scooped us up.
"Relax."
Straightforward, sturdy woman's voice. With it, we plummeted off the cliff.