Chapter 17
Chapter 17
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 17
Chapter Title: Northern Region
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"So, I hope everyone will perform their duties admirably in their assigned positions."
"Then, let us set forth to exterminate the wicked black mages and demons gnawing away at the empire!"
The emperor himself stepped out to read from the prepared script, after which the knight order—including us from the Holy Kingdom—mobilized.
Our objective: the complete annihilation of the black mages and demons entrenched within the empire.
"It's an honor to fight alongside you, Holy Knight Is."
"The honor is mine, Lady Adel."
With those words, I climbed into the carriage carrying Ariana.
True to the game's storyline, Adel had joined our saintess's party.
To restore order to the empire, we divided into four groups. The eastern region, rife with black mage sightings, was assigned most of the Holy Knights—including two of the Seven Virtues—along with the main knight order. The western front, swarming with the highest concentration of demons, went to the Sword Saint and a handful of Holy Knights. The relatively safer south received a moderate contingent of knights. And for the north, where Duke Polar Icicle was already handling things with relative ease, it was the knight order, Ariana, and me.
Adel was part of our group heading north.
'If everything goes according to plan, this'll work out.'
The northern region we were bound for—particularly Icicle Territory, guarded by the impregnable Northern Duke Polar Icicle—was an unforgiving land of extreme cold and harsh conditions.
This made it nearly impossible for black mages or demons of middling strength to survive. As a result, the demons up north were far fewer in number but possessed bodies much tougher than those elsewhere.
Under normal circumstances, a single swing of the duke's sword would wipe out most threats, keeping dangers to a manageable level. But what kind of world was this?
This was the world inside the game.
The knight order with Ariana and Adel arrives at Icicle Territory, defended by Duke Polar. Having already lost all her Holy Knights, Ariana suffers a mental breakdown from the shock and ends up providing only rear-line healing without much active contribution.
Since everyone trusted the duke to handle things on his own, no one blamed Ariana for holding back. But such complacency has a way of inviting disaster.
One day, the duke's daughter vanishes.
Duke Polar scales the ramparts to search for her, employing superhuman senses, but the effort fails.
While atop the walls, he spots a demon radiating an ominous aura—and notices a strand of snow-white hair, eerily similar to his daughter's, caught between its teeth. Enraged, a fierce battle erupts between them.
Having lost his daughter, Polar unleashes power beyond his usual limits; their strengths are nearly equal. The problem? Unlike the human duke, the demon regenerates its wounds rapidly.
Polar succeeds in driving it off but falls into a coma from his injuries. Ariana, blaming herself, spirals into panic.
In that moment, the protagonist must comfort her and help hunt down the demon.
But the protagonist—Ruin—has yet to repent.
I was worried things might not go smoothly, but with the incident that would have shattered Ariana mentally now averted, I trusted they'd manage somehow.
So, all I had to do was save one person.
"Is, is this your first time in the north? I hear Icicle Territory is so harsh that newcomers can freeze solid from head to toe...!"
"Haha, don't worry, Saintess. The empire provided ample support, so freezing to death won't be an issue."
"Is that so...?"
"Yes. No need to fret."
"Well... even so, I'll stay on high alert for any surprises! Everyone says we can just rely on Duke Polar, but putting it all on one person feels... wrong."
"Saintess..."
As she spoke, her eyes met mine—likely overlaying her image of my past self onto me.
Ah, Ariana really is an angel.
'Ruin, you're gonna become my biggest fan once I get stronger.'
Pulling that kind of nonsense against someone like her?
She's so lovable just to look at, I wouldn't dare lay a hand on her.
It might be a pipe dream, but I hoped Ruin would learn something from this northern campaign.
'Though he's still got a long way to go.'
For now, I had to step up myself.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ After a long journey by carriage...
"We've arrived! This is the Icicle family manor!"
At last, we reached Icicle Territory—the harshest environment in the entire empire.
The moment the carriage door opened, a bone-chilling wind sliced across my cheek.
'Fucking cold.'
Even with the cold-weather gear I'd received earlier, it was brutally frigid.
A gray robe etched with heat-generating runes and a single red gem that radiated warmth. These were the empire's finest insulated tools, yet even they couldn't fully ward off the chill of Icicle Territory.
'What about Ariana...'
I checked on Ariana as I helped her down, holding her hand.
"S-so c-cold...!"
"S-Saintess!"
Startled by her trembling form—arms wrapped tightly around herself—I quickly pressed my gem into her bosom.
"Th-thank you, Is..."
Her complexion improved slightly as she expressed her gratitude, but then she snapped to her senses and protested.
"Is! What if you get cold without this?!"
"Ah, I'm fine. Back in the slums, I'd sleep through winter without a blanket. Even in the snow. This much cold is tolerable."
A lie. It was fucking freezing.
Sure, my slum days had toughened me up a bit more than most, but that didn't change the fact that it was cold.
'No helping it...'
There weren't unlimited gems; numbers were fixed. Better me freezing a little than Ariana suffering like that.
Anyway, the Icicle family manor.
Arrival.
"Thank you so much for coming to our aid."
Guided by the servants into the manor, we were greeted personally by Northern Duke Polar Icicle.
A handsome middle-aged man with snow-white hair and steadfast black eyes. His icy demeanor was intimidating enough to cow most, but our Ariana was beyond cowering at that.
Besides, he wasn't posturing like the emperor to assert dominance; he genuinely welcomed us.
His face was stoic, but the servants bustling frantically inside betrayed his relief.
This stemmed from his gruff nature paired with a deep care for his people.
According to the game, he felt relief and joy at the saintess’s arrival—someone who could heal his followers.
"Not at all. Demons defy the Goddess's will by stealing innocent lives; we of the Holy Kingdom must never shirk our duty to subjugate them. For that, we are deeply grateful to you, Duke, for holding them at bay."
"I merely did what a sword-swinging fool like me could manage."
"Hee-hee, to think such a warm heart beats in this frozen land."
"Your words honor m—"
Their cordial exchange was interrupted by a cacophony from what sounded like the kitchen.
-Bang! Thud! Crash!
Ariana tilted her head curiously toward the noise, while Polar narrowed his eyes in evident headache.
I was just as puzzled, mirroring Ariana's reaction—when someone burst from the kitchen at blinding speed.
"!!"
So fast it startled me; I instantly drew my shotel and blocked Ariana's path.
-Crunch...
"Whoa, she's quick."
In the blink of an eye, a woman had grabbed my shotel.
"Kyaa!"
As Ariana yelped and stumbled back, I caught her with my left arm.
My shotel now aimed squarely at the woman.
"Who are you."
Nothing in the game mentioned an incident like this when Ariana met Polar, so I glared at her warily, fully on guard.
Snow-white hair like fresh powder, blue eyes... Wait, white hair?
Suspicion rising, I glanced at Polar.
He nodded slowly in confirmation to my questioning look.
I sheathed my shotel and asked the woman,
"Might I have your name...?"
"Carmen Icicle. That's my dad."
"...Huh."
Please tell me she didn't die to a demon for a reason like this.
"By the way, isn't the saintess's rack from a different order? It's fucking stacked."
"...You irreverent wretch—!"