A Fitting Repayment
“No reports from the sea area yet?”
“Not yet.”
“Hoo…… This is just great…… Now it's time to leave……”
Karin Samakal finished preparing for the next tribute hunt, even though her body hadn't fully recovered.
“The Ice Palace Lord commands you to depart at once. For now, it would be best to……”
“No helping it, then.”
She had waited all night without sleep, her face haggard as she nodded at Jeo's words.
“Let's go.”
“Yes, Little Palace Lord.”
Bam—!!!!
It was then.
The hall's door burst open violently.
“Who……?!”
Jeo shouted, his hand flying to his sword.
But at the sight of Adel standing in the doorway, he rushed over without hesitation.
“Daran!”
Seeing her brother slumped limply over Adel's shoulder, Karin asked him.
“I-is he okay? What happened?”
Her voice mixed joy and worry as she questioned Adel.
“Well, he made it back alive, at least. Lucky, right? No need to go hunting while injured.”
At his words, Karin touched her own side, her face flushing as she nodded.
“Daran will be fine. He's just asleep. Could you bring something to drink? Something strong.”
As the weary Adel sat down, Karin personally fetched a bottle of the Ice Palace Lord's liquor from the cabinet and handed it to him.
Gulp—
It looked like clear water, but the sharp aroma and burning heat finally chased away some of the North Sea's chill.
“Hoo……”
Adel exhaled the liquor’s warmth and said to her,
“I've contracted with the god of the Dark Sea.”
“Really?! You must've had it rough. So now we just need to find Polar?”
Delighted by the good news he'd brought, Karin sat down in front of him.
“Well…… Polar is gone now. Her treasure was found in the Abyss ruins, and her light power was absorbed by the Abyss.”
“Then what happens? We need Polar's power to heal Mother.”
“Probably impossible. The light power does have healing effects, sure. But mixed with the Dark Sea's power, it's transformed to fit the Abyss's nature as a vessel.”
Adel pointed to Daran's wrist as he spoke.
Two bracelets—one silver, one black—were fitted there.
“Its combat aspects have been strengthened, so the healing ability is either gone or too weak to matter.”
“Then what do we do?”
Karin asked in a trembling voice.
“It's not hopeless.”
It was then.
Adel pulled out the North Sea's Ice Crystal.
“……!!!!”
The moment she saw it, Karin couldn't hold back her shock.
“Th-this is……”
“That's right. Kiransha's treasure.”
“Why do you have this?”
“You know Rania Temir, the Ulan's White Shark, conquered the Garam Archipelago, right?”
At Adel's words, her face twisted.
“No way…… The Ice Crystal was with the Archipelago King?”
“Yes. I don't know how it was acquired. Even the North Sea doesn't know why Kiransha's treasure vanished in the first place. But it was definitely in his reports.”
“You…… You've had this from the start and didn't say anything?”
“Wouldn't have changed anything.”
“……What?”
“Having the Ice Crystal doesn't summon Kiransha. Normal treasures hold divine power intact, but this one doesn't. You have to infuse it with divine power instead.”
Adel pointed to the pendant on the Ice Crystal.
The heavenly jade inside glowed faintly yellow.
“The North Sea's prime minister can use a mid-tier winter god's blessing, right? But that's nowhere near enough divine power.”
“Then……”
“That's why we had to raid the Abyss temple. This is like the final bastion.”
Adel pushed the North Sea's Ice Crystal toward Karin.
“I've put my own divine power inside the crystal. But it's still not enough. We need another high-tier god contractor.”
She understood what he meant.
“Daran Samakal will fill the gap. Once Kiransha descends, have him heal the Ice Palace Lord.”
“So that boy really became the Abyss's contractor.”
“Having absorbed Polar's power too, he'll be stronger than other high-tier god contractors.”
“……I don't know how to repay this.”
Karin clutched the pendant in both hands, her voice shaking.
“No big deal. Just grant me one request.”
“What is it?”
“Give me the Millennium Crystal you were going to use for the ritual.”
Her face hardened at his words.
The Millennium Crystal, like the lost North Sea's Ice Crystal, was one of the Ice Palace's noble treasures.
“……You saved the Ice Palace Lord's life. That's the least we can do. I'll tell Mother myself.”
“Thank you.”
Adel nodded with a quiet sigh of relief.
Good. I was worried she might hesitate. With this, maybe we can stop the mana explosion in the White Night Lab.
“Will you see Mother?”
“No, it's fine. The Ice Palace Lord is prouder than anyone. She'd struggle to accept help from the desert.”
“Ahem……”
“Plus, if she learns she was tricked by Makullan despite good intentions, she'll tear him apart.”
“What do you plan to do with him?”
At Karin's question, Adel grinned.
* * *
“Here.”
Adel tossed the deep blue—almost indigo—crystal.
“Th-this is……!!”
Makullan, waiting anxiously at the inn, caught the Millennium Crystal and his eyes bulged.
“You didn't run off. Impressive.”
“……How could I, with that scary sister glaring at me? Haha. Come on, bro.”
“Cut it. No 'bro.' Just call me by name.”
Adel waved him off.
“As I said on the way back, your role starts now. We're trading this with the Ivory Tower.”
“Don't worry. No one does deals like me.”
Makullan rubbed his fingers like he was handling gold and smirked.
“We're leaving now. Quietly. The Little Palace Lord will handle the palace guards.”
“Why? You saved the Ice Palace Lord's life. They should be rolling out the red carpet.”
Kasla asked.
“Protecting her pride by not flaunting our merits creates more debt than boasting.”
“Hmm……”
“Raiding the ruins was necessary for us too.”
“Still, we got too little. Kiransha's treasure was the Ice Palace's originally, but Polar and Abyss ended up as North Sea assets too, right?”
“Who says?”
“……Huh?”
“I will follow Adel.”
It was then.
A figure appeared behind Adel.
“Daran! You're awake!”
Makullan shouted toward him.
“The North Sea will resummon Kiransha. If Daran stays, he'll clash with him for sure.”
“So you're taking him with you?”
At Harun's question, Adel nodded with a cryptic smile.
“First, we detoxify the Ice Palace Lord's death qi. I told him to refine his divine power here, ignite the heavenly jade flame, then find me.”
Kasla frowned slightly.
“Find you on his own? Adel, do you trust him? Even if he wants to follow, the Ice Palace Lord won't allow it.”
“Exactly. Even if Kiransha and Abyss don't get along, they're both gods. She won't let that power go.”
Heila was skeptical too.
“Well, it's his choice…… But breaking free might be better than a mismatched high seat.”
At Adel's words, Daran gave a wry smile.
Keep mastering Ice Palace secrets, and it'll just eat away at his body in the end.
“……Sister said to give you this.”
Daran pulled a small scroll from his bosom.
Inside the scroll he handed over was, astonishingly, the essence of Ice Palace swordsmanship.
“……She really said to give me this?”
“Yes. Sister copied it herself. The Ice Palace secrets aren't that secretive, actually. Even the Ice Palace retainers learn the basics.”
“Hmm……”
“Water falls from the sky as rain, rises from the sea as waves, sometimes becomes ice—the source is one, but it branches endlessly,” Daran quoted.
“Same with Ice Palace secrets. It depends on interpretation.”
He seemed to know what was written inside.
“Piercing that essence is true enlightenment. Only Mother succeeded among us.”
“I get it. Gain enlightenment if you can.”
Adel tucked the scroll away.
“Lucky. I thought we'd miss this without meeting the Ice Palace Lord……”
He said.
“Next time, debating Ice Palace essence could be fun.”
“I'll be different by then.”
“Don't disappoint.”
Daran nodded at Adel's words.
“Hand over treasures, hunt beasts, even offer 100 tributes—did you think you could mock the North Sea and escape as you pleased?”
It was then.
Clank—! Clank—!! Clank—!!
The friction of armored footsteps on the stairs echoed, and Ice Palace knights swarmed the corridors, surrounding the entrance in an instant.
Click, click.
The footsteps halted in unison, replaced by the light tap of shoes ascending the stairs.
“Oh no……”
Daran looked at Makullan with a flustered expression.
His face was already pale as a ghost.
The Ice Palace Lord entered through the open door.
Krishan Samakal.
She fixed her cold gaze on the two.
Karin Samakal stood behind her.
“You dared deceive me?”
“F-forgive this sinner!!”
Makullan slid forward and prostrated himself at Krishan's feet.
“Not content with that, you took the Ice Palace treasure crystal so casually, and even copied the essence to give away……”
Gulp—
Daran Samakal's throat bobbed.
“You must crave death.”
“I'm sorry……”
“Mother, please calm down. Daran made a mistake, but it was all to purify your death qi.”
Even Karin spoke cautiously against the icy chill.
“Are you the one?”
“I greet the Ice Palace Lord.”
Adel gave Krishan a light bow.
“I heard from Karin. Haien's eighth son, right? Indeed…… I've heard the rumors.”
“Thank you.”
“You conquered the Abyss ruins…… Is that true?”
“Mother! He only helped us! I opened the Rakon sea area entrance!”
“Yes. I knew and still asked him. All sins are ours!”
Daran and Karin stepped forward, shouting in Adel's defense.
But Krishan's response was unexpectedly calm.
“The sin I'm asking about isn't that.”
“……Pardon?”
“Dungeons have no owner—the first to conquer claims them. I didn't even know the sea ice had melted, so I have no claim.”
“What does that……”
Her unforeseen words left them bewildered.
“Karin, as you said, the Millennium Crystal is a North Sea treasure, but worthless to me. You could give it on your own. And the Ice Palace sword essence is known to all, so not important.”
She continued.
“Is that fitting repayment for the one who saved my life? Will you skimp on hospitality for a benefactor?”
“……!!!”
It was the last thing they expected.
“Invite him to the Ice Palace. We'll open the treasury, and I'll personally teach him the new sword essence I've realized.”
Adel couldn't help but chuckle at that moment.
It was proper recompense.