081. If You Want to See Me Once
Snow poured down in sheets. It was a blizzard.
Feet sank deep into the drifts, making every step a grueling effort. The wind howled like a razor-sharp blade, freezing everything in its path.
On that frozen wasteland, Gillian Aint left his tracks behind.
Huuu—
A plume of white breath escaped his lips.
Woof! Woof! Woof!
The sled dogs came to a halt. At the end of their furious barking stood a pack of ice trolls, eyes gleaming with hunger for fresh meat.
Gillian hefted his axe high. A grin split his face, while greed flickered in his eyes.
“That’s money right there! Be careful not to spill a drop of blood!”
“Yes, sir!”
The White Eagle Raiders roared in unison and charged, weapons raised.
Boom!
Monsters clashed with men—and ridiculously, the humans emerged victorious.
The trolls screamed as gouts of blood and chunks of flesh sprayed everywhere.
“Kuhahaha!”
Gillian led the vanguard, swinging his massive axe like a windmill to sever troll necks. Crimson blood stained the pristine snow.
His vivid red aura of destruction mingled with the gore.
Click.
In the blink of an eye, all fifteen ice trolls turned from corpses—no, from trash—into money. He slung his axe back over his shoulder.
“Load every last one onto the sleds. Don’t spill a single drop of blood! If you do, I’ll replace it with yours—got it?”
“Our blood ain’t worth a dime, boss!”
“But it’ll sure improve my mood.”
“Kuhahaha!”
The corpses piled onto the sleds. Sure, they’d have to walk now, but no one complained.
They pressed on across the snowfields. Every monster that lunged out only added more weight to the sleds.
“Blue Rock Tribe in sight!”
“Finally!”
Gillian whistled sharply. As they neared the tribe, a welcoming party emerged.
“Welcome.”
“Thanks for the warm reception, Chief.”
“We’ve prepared a feast. Come on in.”
“Much obliged.”
The festival kicked off with the whole tribe joining in. They slaughtered snow sheep for roasting and set out jugs of liquor made from sheep’s milk.
“To the eternal alliance between the White Eagle Raiders and the Blue Rock Tribe!”
“To the alliance!”
The revelry lasted through the night. White Eagle Raiders mingled sloppily with the tribesfolk.
Thoroughly buzzed, Gillian offered the chief a bottle.
“Chief, let me pour you one.”
“Much appreciated.”
Clink.
After exchanging drinks, Gillian leaned in and whispered.
“You made the right call.”
“...I still wonder if I did.”
“Of course you did. You know better than anyone. This godforsaken snowscape has nothing worth eating or living off. The environment’s shit, and monsters pour in every damn day. But we can’t head south for better land—not with those empire bastards blocking the way like rabid dogs.”
“True enough, but...”
“We might die fighting or freeze to death, but we shouldn’t starve. Not you, not the tribe, not future generations.”
“Ahem, fair point.”
But.
The chief hesitated.
“Our opponent’s a Demon King.”
“You know as well as I do—back in the early days when Demon Kings first descended, maybe they were absolute. But not now. Even then, it was just the fear of the unknown.”
“Can’t deny they’re strong, though. You think we can control her?”
“We’re not controlling her. She’ll sink into her own quagmire.”
He’d done his homework for this plan. Gillian knew more about the Frost Tower and its Demon King than anyone.
“First, Demon Kings don’t leave their towers.”
Except for kidnapping royalty, but that wasn’t for battle.
“Second, they don’t come down from the top.”
“I know that much. But if she learns your plan, will she stick to the rules?”
“She will. It’s not just rules—it’s canon.”
He’d faced plenty of demons and knew their fanatic obsession. It was a faith they’d die before breaking.
“But...”
“Sure, she’ll pull some countermove. That’s why we need the tribes’ help—for contingencies. And so my homeland’s people won’t starve, at least.”
“...At this point, with everyone already committed, what can I say? I’ll just trust you.”
“Yes, sir. I won’t let you down. The Frost Demon King will become the farmer supplying us with monsters.”
“One more round.”
The drinking dragged on.
“Using the snowfield barbarian tribes, huh...”
Gillian Aint—she’d never seen him in person. But she had watched him and his White Eagle Raiders from the tower’s summit as they invaded.
Over two meters tall, muscles harder than steel, and that brutal red aura. He embodied the northern barbarian.
If those types allied with the snowfield barbarians, even Reina couldn’t take it lightly.
“My lady. Gillian Aint and the White Eagle Raiders are heading for Blue Rock Tribe territory.”
“They’ve also made contact with several other tribes already.”
Her adjutant, Nina, entered with reports in hand.
“Berge was right after all.”
Reina Sordain cared little for external politics or continental affairs and kingdoms’ interests.
But within her domain—the snowfields—she wielded overwhelming influence.
She’d long subjugated the monsters as kin and unleashed frost demons to manage them.
The entire snowfield wasn’t fully hers, but no one escaped her reach entirely.
Thanks to that, the White Eagles had caught her eye.
They’d never suspect the monsters were spying.
“Nine tribes siding with Blue Rock... How many warriors if they all mobilize?”
“Over twelve hundred.”
“That’s a lot.”
The northern tribes were all barbarians, not mere humans.
Superior physiques by birth, exceptional aura affinity. Every one a natural warrior. A force not to be underestimated.
“With Gillian Aint and the White Eagles joining, it could get dangerous.”
“This lady won’t yield to that.”
“But he didn’t seem intent on reaching the summit.”
Yes, that was the problem.
If they climbed to kill her, she could just crush them.
“But that doesn’t mean there’s no way.”
If they gathered forces to test her, she’d smash them.
“I’ve shown mercy until now.”
She’d heeded Jason’s advice and avoided provoking humans.
Ignoring the northern tribes was part of that. The Jespain Empire watched the barbarians guarding their north against snowfield monsters.
But if they crossed the line first...
“Time to make an example.”
“Who shall we send?”
“...Relay to Duke Arman.”
Who to pick...
“Target here. The day after the White Eagles leave the tribe.”
Reina jabbed a spot on the snowfield map: Blue Rock Tribe, where the Raiders were likely camped.
“Tell him to show them exactly what it costs to betray this lady’s mercy first.”
“Understood.”
Reina exuded faint killing intent. Nina bowed her head.
While the northern snowfields thirsted for blood, the snow-blanketed mountains were losing their tension.
“...When the hell are they coming?”
Yawn.
Berge stretched with a lazy yawn.
『...They’re still preparing.』
Granada’s report didn’t sit well.
They’d already positioned cannons in prime avalanche spots and scouted monster habitats for luring.
Yet two weeks later, the enemy hadn’t budged.
“How long do those bastards plan to prep?”
『They’re extremely wary of you, my lord.』
“Why?”
Berge hadn’t shown his hand publicly.
He’d repelled Hillun Kargil’s hero party, but it was billed as them self-destructing before the Erjest Mountains.
They’d never found the tower, after all.
『...Well. Apologies, but...』
After hesitating, Granada spilled everything. In short, his own actions had spiked their caution.
“That’s all? If you didn’t spin some tale, they’d suspect you instead.”
Direct routes were impossible now, but better than Granada drawing heat.
He’d fed them just enough harmless info.
Still, their deduction was spot-on—proof of sharp minds.
『Thank you.』
“So they’re coming eventually. If they’re that scared, they should just give up climbing altogether.”
Unlike the mountain standoff, Hotenwork was arming up with magic gear. Word was magic hounds—chimeras—were multiplying, so ascent was inevitable.
『Yes.』
“Feels like sitting next to a bomb that could go off any second.”
He hated it. Especially the passive waiting and worrying.
Then Granada broached cautiously.
『Um, my lord. One more thing.』
“Out with it.”
『Didn’t you slay the Beast Demon King in Tartarus with Rozel Charnt?』
“Yeah.”
『Hillun Kargil and I were there too.』
『And Rozel was a hero backed by Akan.』
“Cut the circling—get to the point.”
『Yes. They asked about you. I said you’re doing well, but they want to meet you once.』
“Me?”
Have they lost their minds?
A prince and princess wanting to see a Demon King?
No, that didn’t add up.
“Not Demon King me, but pale me?”
『Yes.』
“Why?”
『They witnessed your mana that Rozel brought back. Stories spread through her and the Crimson Flame Raiders.』
“...And it connected like that?”
『Yes. Unexpected bonus: Rozel’s holed up researching your mana day and night.』
“Figured as much.”
That obsession and mania she showed him wasn’t trivial. A mage’s curiosity ignited by phoenix mana—natural she’d experiment.
The issue was what she’d uncover.
If Rozel gets stronger, she’ll be a headache.
She’d survived to the end last time, torching demons.
Need to check her progress. And Akan Kingdom...
『My lord?』
Granada’s voice snapped Berge from his thoughts.
“...What’d you say?”
『Especially Ravinia Akan—she’s very interested.』
“Ravinia...”
Pre-regression, the one who’d forced his first prince kidnapping. Her room still haunted him.
Getting tangled with her is trouble. Best avoid.
Common sense. But Akan’s core strength was Ravinia.
Without her chimeras, no real worry.
Chimeras as a necessary evil against us?
News to him. He’d thought they were just mad science.
Don’t want to deal with Ravinia Akan, but...
Demon Kings sometimes had to do the unwanted.
“Granada.”
『Yes, my lord.』
“Tell them I’ll go.”
『...Pardon?』
“If they want to see me once, they will.”
He needed intel on Ravinia Akan and her chimeras.