< 138. Come, Spring (3) >
#138
“Just pick up the body yourself.”
“yes? Hey, Itargand. “The goal is to end the winter, so if possible, save it.”
The interrogator’s face hardened. If I had rashly killed the witch and the winter never ended, I wouldn’t have been in such trouble. However, Itargand did not even pretend to listen.
“noisy.”
Itargand raised his arm and aimed at the Winter Witch. The mana around her began to swirl around her and gather towards him. People who got up quickly took refuge in the hallway.
“Go quickly!”
“Ride, burn to death! “Hurry and avoid!”
There was no elaborate chanting or anything like that. A huge magic circle was created in front of Itargand’s palm.
It was the moment when the last challenger threw himself into the hallway. Kuaaaa!! Scarlet flames poured out from the magic circle like a torrent.
It was a power that far exceeded expectations. Screams and exclamations rang out sporadically.
“Huh!”
It seemed like the embankment had collapsed and water was bursting out. It was a splendor befitting its nickname of flowing fire. It seemed like this would be the scene that would unfold if the rivers or streams of hell overflowed.
“Whoa, the eyes…!”
“shit!”
For a moment, a blinding flash of light engulfed Juteca. People hastily covered their eyes, but the light escaped through the back of their hands. The flames that hit the dead wall began to flow back toward the hallway.
“Oh my god, put up a shield!”
Erzsebet shouted urgently. A translucent curtain was erected between the hallway and the open space. At the same time, the flowing flames attacked the defense shield.
“Huh…!”
Erzsebet gritted her teeth. The three-layer protective shield began to melt in an instant. The wizards who came to their senses belatedly chanted spells one after another.
“S-Stone Wall!”
“Mana Barrier!”
A variety of defensive magic was added to Erzsebet’s veil. Nevertheless, it was not enough to completely stop the flames. Erzébet, who was chewing his lips, closed his eyes tightly.
“Ugh, I didn’t want to use it if possible…”
It was a truly reluctant voice. Purple energy oozed out from her hands. It was a type of mana that could not be found in nature.
‘Auror.’
Ronan shrugged his eyebrows. Come to think of it, it was my first time seeing Erzsebet’s Auror. The purple mana that flowed smoothly was directly overlaid on the shield.
“This is…?”
“Oh my god, the shields are strengthening.”
People’s eyes widened. The magic that had collapsed began to recover. New stones filled up where the rock wall had melted. The incontinence covering the mana barrier was completely filled. The flames no longer came out. Ronan said, looking down at Erzsebet, who was concentrating.
“It was that kind of ability. Good?”
“Don’t make fun of me. “Ugh…I can’t believe it’s my ability to assist the flock.”
At first glance, he seemed like a very good auror, but he didn’t seem to like it at all. Actually, I was a girl who always wanted to be the main character. About a minute had passed like that. People tilted their heads as they felt the heat subside.
“Okay, is it finished?”
“I think so.”
There were so many overlapping shields that it was impossible to determine the situation. The wizards exchanged glances and lifted their defensive spells one by one.
The flames had died down. It was the moment when the thick rock wall collapsed. Whoa! A fierce fever swept through the hallway.
“Kyaaa…!”
“Damn, you did something so loud.”
Ronan clicked his tongue. Luckily she wasn’t seriously burned. The cold was not felt at all in the exposed space. Weak fires were burning here and there like puddles of water after a rain.
It felt like I was in a desert, with the hot, dry air prevailing. The frost that covered the walls and floor and the human-sized icicles that had grown on the ceiling were all gone. What happened to the witch? Ronan, who was looking around, laughed.
“Hah, what…”
There was not even a trace of melting visible on the blue pillar. The Winter Witch was still curled up, sleeping in the ice. Itargand stood blankly, looking at the intact ice pillar.
“No, you couldn’t melt it?”
“Nonsense. Even the dragon’s fire…!”
People began to murmur. The surrounding temperature was dropping rapidly again. It was because of the chill oozing from the ice pillar. Itar Gand, taking a deep breath, twisted his lips.
“Pretty good for a mortal.”
Itargand raised his arms again. This time it was both arms. The white-faced people cast defensive magic again.
Kuaaa!! Again, a torrent of flames poured out. Just by the sound, it was as big as the ship from before.
Soon the heat subsided and people released their shields. A scenery that was no different from before unfolded before my eyes. Itargand’s voice was heard through the dying flames.
“This can’t be happening…”
The ice pillar was still intact, only slightly melting. Even that immediately froze again. Ittar Gand was breathing lightly, probably from exertion.
Shock and despair were passing through people’s eyes. No one was happy that they still had a chance to become a hero. Even the fire of the red dragon, which is said to be the hottest, cannot melt that ice. Ronan muttered, spitting.
“You son of a bitch. “He made all kinds of loud noises.”
As a result, people in the islands are more likely to live wearing fur hats until they die. It was a moment when Ronan was looking at Itargand with disdain. A familiar energy caught my eye.
‘Is that…?’
It was very subtle, but unmistakable. Sparkling mana was blooming where the ice had melted. Ronan’s brows narrowed.
‘What the f*ck. ‘Why is that thing coming out of there?’
It certainly hasn’t been seen until now. What was revealed after the ice had melted even a little was that it was contained in the ingredients that make up the ice.
Fragments of memories floating in my head began to fluctuate. It couldn’t have been a coincidence. Only Nebula Clage can handle sparkling mana.
Moreover, the sword path of a person presumed to be the cult leader is engraved on the surface of the ice. A swordsmanship that is elaborately imitated as if provoking. A witch who was already trapped in ice when discovered.
The outline of the incident was gradually becoming clearer. Kaang! Itar Gand, unable to overcome his anger, struck the ice with his fist.
“Damn it!”
But no surprise occurred. He looked back at the interrogator and continued speaking through gritted teeth.
“I guess because I look like a lowly human, my output has decreased. Move her witch outside of her.”
“Well, that’s impossible. To prepare for any emergency, the witch sealed it in this juteca. To release it, her ice must be removed or the sealing masters must regroup.”
“Then I will burn you here!”
Itargand’s face distorted viciously. Her round eyes narrowed into a slender diamond shape. Sigh! A pair of giant wings grew out of his back. The interrogator screamed.
“Oh, no! “Rhodolan falls!”
“How dare you order me! I am Itargand the Flowing Fire!”
Itargand roared. The entire space shook as if there had been an earthquake. People froze in place without even thinking about running away. Ronan, who had been silently smoothing his chin, snapped his fingers.
‘So that’s what happened.’
The puzzle has been put together. He started walking straight towards the ice pillar. Asher asked in a bewildered voice.
“Ro, Ronan. Where?”
“Now I know everything.”
“what···?”
“That ice. “I think I can break it.”
Asher’s eyes widened. Ronan ignored Itargand and passed by and stood in front of the ice pillar. As he smoothed out his sword marks again, he twisted his lips.
‘Those bastards did it first.’
It was strange that the Winter Witch, who would normally appear several years later, had appeared now. In the past, she committed crimes in a thoroughly planned and proactive manner.
But the current witch did nothing but bring winter to the islands. Of course, this was also an incredibly evil act, but the way it was done was a little different. The fact that it was trapped in the ice at the time of discovery was conclusive evidence.
‘This kid also suffered.’
If Ronan’s prediction was correct, the witch herself would also be unable to escape from the ice. They probably used some means to bring winter and then sealed it inside.
Not only is it not enough to handle sparkling mana, but mixing it with other substances is something not everyone can do, even in Nebula Clage.
‘I never thought it was really a provocation.’
It was also not an illusion to get the impression of provocation from the sword marks. Ronan was able to realize this after careful observation. The sword marks left on her surface were the answer sheets that could break her ice.
If you cut along that line, the ice would definitely break. However, there were not many people who could reproduce those sword marks.
The ice pillar rising in front of me was like a letter of sorts. If you want to save the system, show up. There was no need to explain to whom the letter was addressed.
‘The savior is alive somewhere.’
Ronan laughed as he reached a conclusion. Now that I had figured out the answer, I had no intention of wasting time. Slurp! Ronan drew his sword and aimed the tip at his ice.
‘I don’t know if I can do the same.’
Although I vaguely remembered it, it was true that it was not enough to reproduce it. But it was different now. The sword, drawn in a messy manner, was transformed into an elaborate image in conjunction with his memories.
‘at once.’
Itargand was still rampaging and no one was paying attention to him. It worked out better. Ronan’s arm disappeared from sight. The blade, red with mana, glided like a dance across the ice.
The 1-second attack is a barrage of short slashes, the 2-second attack is shooting a comet from the tip of the sword, and the 3-second attack is like a storm. Hundreds of sword strikes, each with a different shape, were made in an instant.
“Hmm? Ronan?”
Karaka, who discovered him late, raised her eyebrows. When he blinked, everything was already over. Ronan, who had completed the swordsmanship, led the way. Crash. It was the moment when the sheath swallowed the roots of La Mancha.
Damn it! A huge crack appeared on the ice pillar that had always been slippery. Sparkling mana burst out like blood. Itargand’s eyes grew so big that they almost seemed like they would pop out.
“what···!”
“I’m glad to be alive.”
Ronan laughed. As cracks completely covered the surface, the ice pillar exploded.
Quaaaang! Neatly cut fragments flew in all directions. The trapped body of the witch fell forward.
