Chapter 40
Chapter 40
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 40
Chapter Title: Flower of the North Sea (11)
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How much time had passed since they faced each other—
The candles made from whale oil drifting in the North Sea had long since gone out. Ice formed on the stained glass crackled as it fell. In the center of the tall bell tower, only the faint breathing of the unconscious Adella filled the now silent space.
Tak!
Estelle moved first. She thrust the spear gripped in her right hand at Louis as if throwing it, while retreating backward.
The moment he snatched the spear shaft flying precisely toward his heart, an immense cold blasted out, blanketing the entire building in white.
Kwaaaang—!!
A powerful gust of wind enveloped the spot where Louis stood. In the blink of an eye, Estelle summoned a second spear and braced for defense as he charged bare-handed.
A massive shield coated in frost appeared ten paces in front of him. Without hesitation, Louis drove his fist into it.
Creeeak! Before the sound even rang out, Estelle anticipated the spell's shattering. But a high mage's battle wasn't just an exchange of single spells.
Before his hand even touched it, the shield split apart, its fragments forming another shield that divided the space between them.
The ice crystals floating in the air from the first impact of the Extreme Cold Wave danced in the sunlight. The magic circle projected from the tip of Estelle's spear reflected like mirrors on their sharp, transparent surfaces.
One, two—the blue-glowing magic circles instantly multiplied, reflecting off the ice shards scattering in every direction: front, back, left, right, all spaces.
And just as Louis's fist thrust forward—
Kwagwagwang—!!
A massive ice wall split the entire building in half. At the same time, the shock of it crumbling shook the whole of Edenberry's lord castle.
Thud, thump! Chunks of ice even larger than people now crashed to the floor.
"……."
A single exchange of blows. Estelle couldn't hide her astonishment. That man had nearly shattered her reinforced defensive magic—layered with enhancement upon enhancement through sheer physical power. In one hit.
"……Tch."
But Louis seemed to have taken considerable damage as well. His body wasn't invincible; the back of his hand that struck the ice shield had bones protruding.
From wrist to shoulder, the skin that absorbed all the impact was shredded with burst veins, and joints and ligaments snapped unnaturally.
Crack!
Yet Louis clenched his mangled fist again and advanced. Estelle scattered magic circles in the air and raised her spear once more.
The Roshiar unique archmagic was rooted in frost magic, but it wasn't mere ice or snow.
Magic is carving up the incomprehensible realm of grand sorcery with a biased gaze.
The world in Estelle's eyes existed solely to freeze.
Roshiar ice is not just a substance. Roshiar archmagic is not simply spells that create ice.
It simply freezes. Everything.
With eyes, eyes freeze; with touch, flesh freezes; with magic, even magic freezes.
Nothing that moves can exist before it.
Neither humans nor demons, nor their ideologies, grudges, thoughts, beliefs, roots, delusions.
Concepts, obsessions, lingering regrets, deliberations, resignations, sacrifices.
All obsessions of the myriad heavens and every spell born from their minds—nothing whatsoever.
Before Roshiar, nothing can move.
Thus—this man is no different.
The cold descended.
A biting cold descended.
As time passed, Louis's movements slowed. Frostbite dulled pain sensation, but the wounds already on his body were deep enough that they couldn't go unnoticed unless the nerves were ripped out entirely.
The air froze, the ground froze, everything froze—and his body could not remain unscathed.
Yet he did not stop.
Clang!
The fifteenth spear snapped in his hand. One hundred twenty spells under the unique archmagic shattered before his fist.
Estelle anticipated that if even one of Louis's attacks touched her, it would surely be the end.
But—
Kwang!!
The force striking the newly formed [Ice Shield] was weakening. Louis's body was nearing its limit.
He had advanced relentlessly, coming within mere steps of reaching Estelle.
But he could not pierce through the Snow Duke's magic to the end.
"……."
Behind the spiderweb-cracked shield, Estelle's serene eyes gazed at Louis, nearly frozen solid like a corpse.
Thick red blood dripped onto the white snow and transparent ice.
His eyes met hers, reflected in the strands of hair fallen over his face.
Creak—
Just as she thought his strength had run out, he began pounding the barrier with his head, determined to break through. Estelle hurriedly slammed her spear into the ground.
Kugung!!!
A transparent ice prison rose from the ground, fully enveloping Louis's body.
This wasn't enough. Estelle squeezed out her remaining mana and cast another spell.
Ssssk!!
He froze completely, hand outstretched. Only then did Estelle exhale the breath she'd been holding. She gazed at the half-destroyed building pierced through to the ceiling.
This vast chamber was the path she'd retreated step by step since the battle began. Louis had pressed her relentlessly, closing in right to her nose.
'It's over.'
Just as Estelle sighed in relief—
Creak.
Cracks began to form in the Roshiar ice that froze everything.
A few days after Louis departed, Pharenchia's damage was fully repaired without issue.
The city lockdown was lifted soon after, merchants began coming and going, and academy classes resumed.
Yet one student still hadn't returned to school, so Lehel Darad visited the estate personally, bringing the 80,000 gold she'd previously covered.
"I'm sorry. It seems the family head is unwell."
"How did she handle business these past few days if she's unwell? What's going on?"
When the butler blocking her asked, Bill replied awkwardly.
"She seems worried about Master Louis."
"Ah~."
Lehel twirled her finger. Darling must be anxious because Louis headed straight to the North Sea upon arriving in Pharenchia.
She knew he was strong, but apparently not the extent of that strength.
"No helping it, then."
"Shall I schedule an appointment?"
"No, I'll meet her now."
"Pardon?"
Lehel smiled and activated [Teleportation Gate]. Before Bill could stop her, she slipped inside.
"Let's see...... Wow."
She arrived in Darling Tokarev de Luhillen's bedroom. Not handling business, so she had to be here.
But the dimly lit room didn't match the Luhillen Viscount family, said to be the wealthiest in Penheim. It was stark, littered with clutter instead of lavish curtains, luxurious carpets, or jaw-dropping furniture.
A small bear plushie, a stained hair tie, clothes that didn't seem women's.
In the back, Lehel spotted something huddled under the blankets.
"Viscount? Still fatigued from the trip?"
She lifted the blanket. Darling was clutching the plum liquor Louis bought from the carriage.
"What business brings you."
"Returning your money. Barely got in past the butler."
"Leave it by the door."
"Worried about the boss?"
"......You could've followed with that fancy magic of yours."
Considering her usual demeanor, it was surprising. Like Pharenchia's lord Darling, Lehel as academy chairman had duties too.
Come to think of it, she'd lost both parents before adulthood. Louis might mean more than just important to Darling.
Lehel covered the blanket back and quietly set down the gold pouch.
"Viscount. Remember what I told you about Terra Ernisten before?"
Like Whitelett the paladin or Saint Eris, Great Mage Terra was terrifying beyond words.
Her achievements and status left all continent's mages in awe—crystal clear.
Terra Ernisten had more than one unique archmagic.
Like white or black magic, a single unique archmagic held dozens, hundreds of spells.
No one knew how many spells she could wield.
"She's very strong. More than you imagine."
"......Didn't you say you could win before."
"Not just me—all the archdukes would say the same. Because we have absolute confidence in the world we created."
Yes. It wasn't about numbers.
Magic is carving up the incomprehensible realm of grand sorcery with a biased gaze.
Sacrificing all else for the ultimate archmagic.
Lehel, who hadn't extended her lifespan like herself, might fear a young mage's talent, but never thought her own crafted unique archmagic would lose.
"But Viscount. I still don't have full confidence I could beat the boss."
Lehel recalled what she'd seen and heard of Louis.
"Because he's truly strong. Like he'd never give up, no matter the extreme situation, and win in the end..."
If Terra Ernisten was so perfect, why gift her unique archmagic to Louis herself?
"So don't worry too much."
Magic isn't strong. Humans aren't strong. Proven countless times through long wars.
"The boss will definitely return."
But heroes are heroes because they're strong.
That fact had never been broken.
Creak, craaack—!!
Cracks spread through the ice. The Snow Duke's pale face pales further before my eyes.
In our first clash, I judged her defenses hard to breach.
Her offense-defense integrated frost magic wasn't just about attack power—it excelled at disrupting balance or slowing movements.
So my strategy was to close in as close as possible. Of the twelve unique archmagics Terra implanted in my body, only two could be used without burdening it.
The first activated.
Craaackle—!!
Black Sun Fire Offering
Eclipse Solitaire
The sun dipped, darkness fell. The vanished light and heat gathered at my fingertips in an instant, spewing massive heat.
As I tore free from the ice, Estelle swung her sixteenth ice spear. The distance was closed to the limit—no more running.
Ssssk—!!
Lava-like heat pouring from my body clashed with her frigid cold, producing immense steam.
One chance. I grabbed and snapped the spear aimed at my heart, dodged the pouring ice shards, and reached for Estelle.
At that moment,
Puk!
The seventeenth spear pierced my lower abdomen. The wound froze—no blood flowed.
My fingers merely grazed Estelle's sharp nose.
"You barely grazed me once."
"......Cough."
"Didn't even hurt or itch. Is that all?"
Her arm lowered slowly. I smiled at her.
"What's so funny?"
"It's over, idiot."
"What?"
Magic End
Magic·End
Chaaang!!!
The spear in my gut shattered. The ice covering the floor melted away. Warm spring breeze from the gaping sky above drove out the harsh winter.
The end of magic. The ultimate move from the Great Mage Almanac, heralding a mage's end.
"Guh, ugh......!!"
Estelle clutched her heart and collapsed. Her body trembled intermittently as she vomited blood.
'Rips out the heart, huh.'
She'd made a magical one instead.
I headed straight for Adella without hesitation. Whether the Snow Duke recovered mana to remake her heart first, or died before—whichever came first.
If she died, a huge vacancy in Penheim, as she said.
Couldn't call out for a potion from outside—this was my judgment and goodwill.
Staggering to the coffin, I found Adella still lying obediently.
Like a fish in an icebox, encased in ice—now thawed into tank water.
Problem was, unlike fish, Adella couldn't breathe underwater.
I hurriedly scooped her up. Tense in case I'd need to press her heart again, but luckily not much time passed—she came to quickly.
"Cough, cough......!"
Doesn't wake during my deathmatch with the Snow Duke, but snaps awake right after. My guess: one of two.
She was aiming to side with the winner, or trusted me.
"Teaaacher......"
"Yeah. Valjean."
Fortunately, smiling at me, she looked every bit the imprinted duckling. A disciple, it seems.
Adella, in her beautiful dress, hugged in my arms, said,
"I-it hurts here... my heart. Feels like I'm dying."
"Checked it— not arrhythmia. Probably used too much mana before coming here."
"Was fine until earlier, then suddenly."
"Must've got hit by a flying ice shard in the fight."
"Doesn't seem like it."
Adella quietly shook her head. Then wrapped both arms around my neck and whispered in my ear.
"Didn't realize until now."
The Flower of the North Sea clung to me.
"Must be because I love you, Teacher."