Chapter 18
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 18
Chapter Title: Reunion After 500 Years
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Half a day had passed since leaving the fortress. The world was blanketed entirely in white.
"Ugh, it's cold... This weather is freaking insane."
I grumbled as I pulled my coat collar up tight. Even with magic maintaining my body heat, the chill seeped into my bones.
This wasn't just simple cold. As Killian had said, that "eternal winter" energy was burrowing into my skin.
"Living stuck in a freezer like this? Tough bitch."
That was when it happened.
Snap.
I heard the crunch of snow underfoot. A faint noise almost drowned out by the wind, but it couldn't fool my senses.
'Alright, you've come.'
I kept walking as if oblivious. In this white snowfield, anyone buried in the snow or camouflaged would be hard to spot with the naked eye. They were hunters who exploited the terrain perfectly.
But their opponent was me.
Black Magic: Invisible Hand
Splat.
"Gurk!?"
The wolf beastman's body halted mid-air as it lunged.
"Quick-tempered, aren't you? I was just gonna ask for directions."
I slowly turned around. The guy dangled in the air, thrashing helplessly.
"L-Let me go! You cowardly mage!"
"You're the coward for trying to backstab me. And that's what you call an ambush?"
He struggled, but he couldn't break free of the black magic. I swung my hand, slamming him into the ground.
Boom!
"Gaaah!"
His body crashed into the snowfield, kicking up a blizzard and cracking the ice beneath. As he groaned and tried to rise, I immediately pinned his solar plexus with my army boot.
I stomped down on his solar plexus with my boot the moment he tried to get up.
"Sit."
"Keurk...!"
"I'm asking questions. Just answer. No barking."
I looked down into his eyes. The wolf beastman glared back with a mix of fear and murderous intent. He hadn't fully grasped the situation yet.
"You know the area around here well, right?"
"Kill me! I'd rather bite my tongue and die than give info to a filthy human! The White Wolf Tribe never submits...!"
Thwack!
"Agh!"
My fist smashed into the back of his head.
"Talkative. Asking again. You know the way?"
"I said I don't...!"
Thwack!
This time, I kicked him. The wolf beastman's head snapped to the side.
"You really don't? Brain shaken, memory fuzzy? Want me to fix it?"
"Ugh... Y-Yeah, I know..."
"Good boy. Now guide me from here to the Tower of Silence. Where the White Witch... Erendel lives."
"The Tower of Silence!?"
His face paled the instant the name left my lips. A terror deeper than the pain from my blows filled his eyes.
"You're insane! That's the land of death! The White Witch's domain! You'll die if you go! Frozen into ice shards, trapped forever!"
"I know. With her temper, she'd do it. That's why you're guiding me."
"No way! Kill me here instead! I'd rather die honorably as a warrior than enter and face the witch's curse!"
He squeezed his eyes shut, refusing to go even if it killed him.
Hoo.
She must really scare him. For a beastman to fear it more than death.
But he picked the wrong guy. I'm a master of intimidation.
Shing.
I drew the demon sword from my waist. Black-red demonic energy rose, heightening the wolf beastman's senses.
[Keeeaak!! It's a beast!]
"Eek!? Y-You're a demon!?"
"I get the witch scares you. But you think I'm not scary?"
My eyes glowed red.
"Go to the witch, you freeze to death? Don't come with me, and you're jerky meat right here."
I flashed a grin.
"Peel your hide for my rug, resurrect your corpse to lead the slaughter of your tribe. Honorable death then?"
I whispered in his ear.
"Choose. Quick freeze or boiled in demonic energy, soul ripped by black magic to slave away?"
"You... demon bastard!"
"Thanks for the compliment. Your answer?"
"N-No...."
"No? As in, no?"
"I'll guide you! Just guide, right!?"
"Should've said that sooner."
I released his neck and kicked his butt.
"Lead. Navigation."
"Navi-what?"
"Just guide properly. Deviate, you die."
The wolf beastman grimaced, staggering to his feet. He glanced back nervously several times before trudging ahead in resignation.
"This way... follow me..."
I whistled and followed. The blizzard intensified, but with a sturdy local guide, no worries about getting lost.
How long had we walked...
In the distance, the silhouette of a massive tower perched atop a sheer cliff came into view.
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"Ov-Over there... you'll really die!! I can't go! I'd die first!"
The wolf beastman screamed, flattened face-down on the ground, pointing ahead warily. Beyond the swirling blizzard in the valley.
"One more step, your blood freezes! White Wolf warriors aren't cowards, but pointless death? Pass!"
"Got it, man. My eardrums are gonna burst."
I kicked his butt.
The wolf beastman yelped and fled on all fours without looking back.
"Tch, worthless sack of meat."
I straightened my clothes and looked up. Through the blizzard, a tower precariously atop a sheer cliff loomed.
Tower of Silence, right?
Flashy name. The tower was encased in ice, surrounded by a raging storm of blue mana.
"Whoa, damn."
A dry laugh escaped me. Was that a house? More like a demon king's castle.
Not just architecture. It was mana shaped into signs screaming 'Humans Keep Out' and 'Trespassers Will Die'.
How much hell from humans to fortify her home like that? Social skills not just lacking—deep in the negative.
Chuckling wryly, I stepped past the boundary.
Vmmm-!
The moment I crossed, the ambient mana vibrated. Automatic defense detecting an intruder.
Krunch!
Without warning, a thick blue bolt from the sky struck at my head. This must be the curse of evil spirits Killian mentioned.
Lightning Magic: Chain Lightning
But I didn't dodge. Black magic and lightning? I could handle those.
Lightning Magic: Chain Lightning
Fwaaah-!
Blue mana surged from my palm. The falling bolt collided with mine, tangling mid-air.
Zzzzt! Boom!
Sparks flew, scorching the snow black, but not a singe on my coat hem. I dusted my hands and kept walking. Then the ground rumbled.
Rumble rumble rumble-
House-sized boulders rolled from the cliff. Gravity magic accelerating siege-engine-mass attacks.
"Gravity magic useless in practice, my ass. She's spamming it here."
I drew my sword.
My swordsmanship was simple.
One Kill.
Focus mana into a single strike severing head from body.
Slash!
A sharp whoosh cut the blizzard. Red trail in the air, boulders pouring overhead split in two.
Thud! Crash!
Split rocks crashed beside me into the snow.
The welcome party continued. Ice spears raining, fireballs from sky, razor winds. Etc.
But results same. Slashed, smashed, devoured through.
"Wow..."
I was impressed.
"Using auto-magic this strong just to shoo merchants?"
Tempting. Wasting this overwhelming talent, this insane magic skill on clearing snow? Criminal. Neglect of humanity, national loss.
'Gonna take her. Drag her back, make her pull all-nighters.'
How far did I walk? Finally at the tower's front, the last trial awaited.
Vmmm.
A massive dome barrier centered on the tower. Close up, skin-prickling high-density mana.
"Hah..."
Absolute defense repelling physical attacks and magic interference. The barrier that blocked even the Demon King's assaults.
I poked it with the demon sword. Clang, clang like metal on metal.
"Barrier as tight-assed as her personality."
[Smells tasty!]
Levatein vibrated wildly in my hand.
"Quit whining..."
I took a deep breath. Drew mana from my dantian, circulated through my body. Heart pumped black mana to forearm, wrist, sword tip.
Vrooom-!
Sword vibrated, spewing crimson aura.
"Open the damn door."
I slammed the sword down without hesitation.
KABOOM-!!!
Earth-shaking roar. Sword devoured and twisted the barrier's mana array.
Shatter!
The blue dome shattered, scattering.
And that instant. A chilling, sharp voice flew from the tower's darkness.
"Which lunatic smashes someone's front door!!!"
Long golden hair, golden eyes, pointed ears.
Despite 500 years, she retained her early-20s youthful, saintly beauty.
Former hero party member, ex-Imperial Chief Mage, High Elf Erendel.
She glared, staff loaded with deadly ice magic.
"You? Which brain-dead mutt dares touch my barrier? Your brain a decoration in your skull? Neurons on strike? Brain wrinkles moldy, warning signs invisible?"
Her venomous tongue unchanged. No, sharper with time's weight.
"I said I'd kill intruders! Think my words mean nothing? Ears decorative, you worthless parasite!!"
"Still got that mouth on you. Don't you age?"
"Shut up! No time for chit-chat—prepare your last words! I'll flash-freeze you as a stupidity exhibit!"
Erendel raised her staff to unleash magic. But...
"Huh?"
Her gaze fixed on my face and the humming red demon sword. Her fierce expression slowly froze.
Erendel's pupils shook like an earthquake.
"You..."
Her staff-holding hand trembled.
"You... you...!"
Erendel backed away. Face pale to translucent. Makes sense—500-year-old comrade returned.
"Ka... Ka..."
"Yeah, Kasian. Somehow ended up back..."
"Ka... Counter Explosion!!! You bastard! Mocking the dead with illusion magic?! Think I won't notice!?"
"Huh?"
Flash.
The world went white. No time to stop her. Compressed mana hit critical point right in front of me and detonated.
KABOOOOOM-!!!!
Deafening blast, massive mushroom cloud blanketing the snowy peaks.
Our reunion after 500 years.