Descent into the Underground City
I wrapped my arms around Scardi's waist and took to the skies. With a magician by my side, there was no need to run across the sky like some fool. We arrived comfortably.
Afterward, we entered the bath together, washed up, and soaked in the tub. It was spacious enough for two. "Your Grace," Scardi whispered into my ear. "What do you think tomorrow will bring?" Her embrace from behind amplified the warmth and coziness. It was thanks to her soft body.
The Northern Frontline Wall was always haunted by death. The stress reached extreme levels in such an environment, making a woman absolutely essential. The comfort of a woman's embrace. Her sweet scent. Nothing dissolved the anxiety built up on the brink of death quite like it. Plus, it helped relieve the intensely stimulated breeding instincts. That's why I held women close at night. The fatigue from embracing a woman was less than the stress it relieved—or so I'd judged. And it was effective in reality. I felt that effect anew right then.
"I don't know either. It's unprecedented, so we just have to watch closely."
"We've set things up so you can see outside from underground, so don't worry. And once you're down there, you'll be living in tight spaces..."
"It's fine."
The Underground City had been prepared steadily over a long time. There was plenty of space. Houses were packed close together, and being underground might feel confining in itself, but I'd done my best to mitigate it. Every family had room to stretch out and sleep. Still, she was probably worried about me, used to living in a grand mansion, having to do the same.
One-room apartments are familiar to me anyway.
Even as the Grand Duke, mine was about a two-room size. That was plenty.
"More than that, I'm worried about you. There won't be enough space for all your magical tools and artifacts."
"You've prepared a separate lab for that, so it's fine. If space runs short, we can expand it steadily."
Scardi tightened her arms around me. Her slender, snow-white arms revealed fairly toned muscles. She's grown a lot. When she first came north, she was a fragile girl. Now she was a full adult—and commanding a corps to boot. Watching her growth let me feel the flow of time.
"Um... Your Grace."
Just as I thought it was time to get out, Scardi hugged me tight and let out a sweet voice. A signal she wanted to be held. There was plenty of time, and I couldn't resist her strong temptation anyway. If things were urgent, maybe—but they weren't. So I turned, embraced Scardi, and mingled our hot passion. Lightly, for about an hour. Having expressed affection and desire without restraint left me a bit languid, but my body felt light.
"Let's go."
"Yes, Your Grace."
I stepped out of the bath with Scardi, her cheeks flushed red. We'd done hot things in the warm tub, so heat had built up.
"Hoo..."
Scardi fanned herself lightly with her hand, as if trying to cool off with the northern chill. Her constitution piled up mana too well around her heart—precisely her chest—generating excess heat. That was why she always exposed the tops of her breasts. We dressed and stepped out onto the balcony. We'd be parting from the mansion for a while.
"To the barracks. Everyone should be waiting by now."
"Yes, Your Grace."
I put my arm around Scardi's waist, and our bodies floated up. Flying got us to the barracks in no time. As we touched down, Allen and the knights pressed their sword-bearing right hands to their hearts in salute. Their eyes were as resolute as their crisp military courtesy.
They're all here.
I released my arm from Scardi's waist. Allen stepped forward from the front line. The knights relaxed their postures but stood straight.
"Your Grace. As you ordered, we've left all the gates open."
"Good work. Everyone ready to go?"
"Yes, sir. We've packed our gear and taken as many byproducts as we can carry. We can depart immediately."
"Right. Let's push a little harder, everyone."
I nodded and turned. Thunk, thunk. The knights replied not with voices, but by slamming their scabbards into the ground.
Our destination was a mountainside detached from the walls. Running at the knights' pace would take about an hour and a half. Scardi would follow in low flight.
"Depart."
I gave the light signal and kicked off the ground. The scenery blurred dizzyingly fast, fierce winds whipping around us.
Scardi clung to Northern Grand Duke Frey's shoulder. Floating in the air, she added no weight burden. The wind was dizzyingly fierce. The flapping of her clothes sent chills down her spine. It was too fast. Yet this was a moderate pace—for the knights following behind, so they wouldn't fall too far despite pushing hard.
...Your Grace.
Scardi buried her face in Frey's back. Her cheek burned against his sturdy frame. A kind, reliable, dignified man's back. The muscle texture she'd felt in the bath moments ago lingered vividly. It was embarrassing.
Northern women were upfront. Aggressive. Especially those on the frontline—they hid nothing about sex or men. Lives where death could come any day. No room for regrets. Like people with nothing to lose, living only for today without hesitation. As a northerner—and one saved by the North and Frey—Scardi showed her affection boldly. As a result, she became the sole woman to claim the Northern Grand Duke's love. It was joyful and an honor.
"Scardi."
Frey called after a long run. She lifted her head promptly. Even with wind plugging her ears, his voice came through clear.
"Yes, Your Grace."
"We'll arrive soon. We'll need magic to find the exact spot, so lend your strength."
"Ah, yes. Understood."
Scardi shook her head lightly in reply. The northern cold quickly cooled her overheated head. She'd lost track of time with her face buried, but it hadn't been boring.
Far off, their snow-covered mountain destination came into view. Jagged peak. Steep ridges. A terrain perfect for defending from above.
"Everyone, halt. Catch your breath for ten minutes, then we go. No tough paths ahead—just a bit more effort."
"Yes, Your Grace."
Frey stopped at the mountain base and regulated his breathing. The following knights halted for rest, their breaths only slightly quickened. Frey wasn't even panting. No sweat. Their daily monster-slaying built superhuman stamina.
Sniff, sniff. While resting, Scardi sniffed like a dog. The blood, guts, and fishy stench of magic beasts she'd missed amid the speed now seeped into her nose.
Everyone followed Your Grace's orders well.
The pre-evacuated people had scattered corpses and entrails in various spots and directions. They trailed southward in spots, long and scattered—to give the impression of fleeing toward the capital. Naturally, no one was here. It was remote.
"Moving out. Scardi, take the lead."
"Yes, Your Grace."
The group departed precisely after ten minutes. Not climbing the mountain, but circling it to find the entrance.
Found it.
After circling a while, Scardi stopped before a tree on the slope. It looked ordinary. The snow-disturbed ground matched other spots.
"Here."
Scardi channeled mana into her finger and poked the tree. Her mana—and that of select magicians and the Grand Duke—was the key. The ground beneath split sideways. Brown dirt clods tumbled down. A hidden diagonal slope emerged. Wide enough for two abreast. Depth plunged into endless darkness.
"In you go. Allen first, then follow at five-second intervals. Keep the safety distance to avoid injury."
"Yes, Your Grace."
Allen slid down the chute first. The steep angle made the descent dizzyingly fast—strong winds rushing past. Knights followed at exact intervals. Their numbers dwindled.
Frey and Scardi stood with backs to the tunnel. They'd enter last.
"Your Grace. You okay?"
Scardi glanced at Frey. She wanted to link arms but held back amid the tension.
"I'm fine. Why? You look tired."
"Yes. Fatigue was all over your face."
"Scardi sucked all my energy, so of course I'm tired."
Frey chuckled with a joke. Scardi's face turned beet red.
"Ahem! Ahem!"
"Cough!"
A knight on the chute cleared his throat awkwardly and slid down. The rest turned away, pretending not to hear. Scardi couldn't lift her head from shame, but she wasn't humiliated. If anything, proud. It announced she was the Grand Duke's woman again.
Finally going.
Frey blinked at the sky. Seeming dazed, his senses were sharpened to the extreme. He'd grown immensely strong, but guarding the North alone wasn't enough—he needed people. He could survive solo, but that wasn't his goal.
"Must be frustrating, right?"
Scardi lightly touched his shoulder, tickling.
"Dumb question?"
"No. How many regret decisions they've made? It's human nature."
"But shouldn't a Grand Duke rise above that?"
"I think not regretting is more dangerous. It means you're trapped in prejudice and stubbornness."
Is that so? It made sense hearing it. Frey nodded readily. Comforting and reasonable. Perfect justification for self-rationalization.
"Thanks. Feels better."
"No need. More importantly, will the magic beasts really head south? Or just roam their territory?"
"No idea. Been too busy blocking them."
Weak points. Specs. Plenty of combat knowledge, but much unknown. No time to ponder from dawn till dusk, fending off the mad swarms.
"Will we have that leisure now?"
"I think so. If they spread out wide, gaps form. We'll learn if they want to smash human civilization—or just target humans."
"Yes. I think so too."
Scardi nodded. Blocking waves at one wall was taxing, but luring them over vast land? They thinned out and weakened. If the center had fully supported the North from the start. Sent scouts into those gaps?
No. It would've failed.
The endless daily reinforcements. A ruling class never united. Just like the North's ordeals so far.
"Your Grace. Everyone's down. Just us now."
"Yeah? Let's go."
"Yes. One moment."
Scardi poked the marker tree again and returned. The open ground shuddered closed.
"You first. I'll be last."
"Yes, Your Grace."
Frey dropped Scardi into the chute first, then mounted last. Just before sliding, the ground slammed shut with a thud. Faint light vanished; dirt clods sprinkled down.
Whoosh!
Rollercoaster speed engulfed Frey. Dizzying. "Waaaah!" He grinned wide, yelling. Felt right to scream. Perfect straight drop—no turns, so plain but insanely fast.
"Ugh...!"
After a long slide, light poured in. Eyes stung like sunlight. Frey squinted, then surveyed. Vast high ceiling. Expansive space. The majestic sight of the underground city beneath the mountain welcomed him.