< 133. Unseasonable Winter (3) >
#133
“Do you know about the Winter Witch?”
“···what?”
Ronan’s eyes widened. The moment she heard the words “Winter Witch,” the fragments of her memories that had been floating around in her head came together at once. Untimely blizzards and snow beasts. frozen world.
It felt like a sneeze that had been on the verge of coming out burst out. Schlieffen shook her head.
“There is no way you would know. “This is exactly what happened last year.”
Ronan, who was shocked, stood blankly without saying anything. It seemed like the taste had gone away after waking up after sleeping for two years.
It’s nothing else but forgetting that incident. Ronan had already experienced the winter caused by her witch once.
“···Is the Winter Witch by any chance Evelyn or Evelyn?”
“It’s Eveline Droza. “What, did you know?”
Ronan twisted his lips. Although it was the same person, even if something was wrong, it was definitely wrong. Now was not the time for the Winter Witch to appear.
‘too fast.’
In her previous life, the Witch of Winter appeared when Ronan was at his peak as a punisher. It was normal for it to appear at least a few years later.
This timing couldn’t have been wrong. It was one of the most important problems that had to be resolved after the return. Schlieffen nodded.
“You are right. “Something happened three months after Evelyn entered Phileon.”
“Damn it, you enrolled last year?”
Ronan cursed. If she had entered last year, she would have been just a young girl no matter how old she was. She was also very different from what she remembered.
“okay. He was the top freshman in the magic department. I defeated the Lady of Acalusia in the entrance ceremony sparring. Until then, there seemed to be no problem…”
Schlieffen clicked his tongue. Even though he heard that Erzsebet was defeated, Ronan did not show any reaction.
Because the opponent was the Winter Witch. She was considered the worst criminal since the empire’s history began.
“Ibelin suddenly ran wild one day. He locked the three buildings of the magic department in ice and escaped. “Her damned snow started falling that night and never stopped.”
Schlieffen explained that she went into retirement after bringing winter to the islands. Although there was a difference in the fact that she committed a crime while she was a student at Phileon, her actions were similar in some ways to her previous life.
“What a bitch.”
Ronan suddenly remembered the Winter Witch from his previous life and was furious. Although the period of destruction was short, the severity of the situation was incomparable. At least the current citizens are given the freedom to leave the system.
‘It was literally a disaster.’
Citizens at the time were trapped in the system and had to choose between asana verbs. It was the result of a witch’s criminal actions that could not even be described as vicious. She knew how to use her powers to the best advantage.
‘Why did he do that?’
The motive for the crime has not yet been revealed. The first thing the witch did when she suddenly went crazy was to bury all of the empire’s major trade routes, including Romaira, in her ice.
The Empire took immediate action. The imperial army was mobilized and the renowned fire wizards from the Dawn Magic Tower were invited.
However, the witch’s strength was beyond imagination. The ice cannot be melted or broken by any means, and even if it is destroyed, it is created again. She turned her Lomaira Mountains into her own fortress and began her sit-in.
Those who were stranded froze to death in the snow. Violent snow beasts and frost spirits ran wild in the blizzard.
After about a month, hunger came to a system that had always been plentiful. The Winter Witch’s sit-in continued for over three months.
‘The situation is definitely better than then…’
The witch at the time died at the hands of Schlieffen. After numerous attempts, the young swordsman was able to drive the blade of wind into her chest. The decisive battle in the stormy mountains was talked about until the day the giants came down.
The witch whose heart was pierced turned into ice and exploded into pieces. Ronan still remembered the sound of the great ice cap collapsing. He drooled as he smoothed his chin.
‘History has changed. ‘Why?’
Even though I didn’t know the reason, I knew something strange had happened. That’s a pretty big surprise, too. Ronan, who had barely shaken off her memory, opened her mouth.
“Where is the witch now?”
“This is a place you are familiar with. “Rodolan, the Fortress of Screams.”
“what?”
Ronan frowned. This was another unexpected place. The presence of her witch in Dolan, her prison at sea, meant that she had already been arrested.
“It didn’t take long to secure a new recruit for the witch.”
In fact, Schlieffen explained that he captured a witch who had gone into hiding ten days after it began to snow. Ronan tilted her head.
“Then why are you being like this?”
“It was good to catch it, but what happened next was the problem. No matter what I did, I couldn’t break through that shell.”
“It’s a shell.”
“Yes… That’s why wizards and scholars from all over the continent are gathered in the islands.”
Schlieffen’s explanation continued. When she found the Winter Witch deep in a cave, she said, her body was trapped in a thick block of ice.
“Many powerful people were mobilized. “Aun Pillar, the Lord of the Dawn Tower, Sir Garud, the leader of the Imperial Knights, and even the Sword Saint Zaipa came looking for him, but they were unable to destroy his ice.”
“A thick chunk of ice…?”
Suddenly, an image crossed my mind. When she woke up after completing the ritual, she felt an impression similar to the crystal that was surrounding her. The crystal that seemed like it would never break fell apart as soon as she touched it.
‘Mine wasn’t ice, but perhaps…’
It was really groundless speculation, but I thought it might have something to do with it. It’s Lodolan. Ronan muttered and looked out the window. Students wrapped in fur clothes were walking around the campus.
‘Damn it.’
Ronan twisted his lips. This was definitely an issue that needed to be addressed.
Spring was a season when one had to doze off in the warm sunlight and scent of flowers. Winter was enough to wear a stupid fur hat and shiver from the cold.
“thanks for letting me know. There’s all sorts of shit going on.”
“But I think it will be resolved soon. They said that Navarre had agreed to a deal with the emperor. Perhaps one of her clan will come to melt the ice.”
Navardose’s clan was a red dragon. Well, if even the hottest fire on earth couldn’t melt the ice, there was really no answer.
“Anyway, if you have time, visit Lodolan. You have the talent to cut things that others can’t, so you might be able to break that ice too. “I was going to tell that story.”
Schlieffen concluded his speech with that. Rattling. The white cold wind was still beating on the window.
Ronan was organizing what he had to do in his head. Thump thump! Suddenly, a knock on the door rang from downstairs. Schlieffen’s eyes met hers, and Ronan shrugged her shoulders.
“It looks like a senior has arrived. “I called you.”
Ronan ran downstairs and opened the door. But it wasn’t Adeshan who was waiting. His eyes widened as he saw familiar faces.
“you···.”
The first thing that caught my eye was Asher’s hair, which was bright red like fire. Next, I saw Marya’s much more enlarged breasts, Braum’s dirty beard, and finally Ofelia’s surprisingly unchanged face.
“Ro, Ronan…! “I’m really back…!”
“Aser.”
Asher said, crying. Even though two years had passed, she had hardly grown any taller. Ronan frowned at her when he noticed her overgrown hair tied back.
The fact that her eyelashes were almost as dark as Adeshan somehow made her look more like a girl. Marya, who was standing behind him, slowly approached.
“Ha, it’s true. What made it so big?”
Marja laughed. Her lush, lion-like blonde hair had been replaced by a bob that reached down to her shoulders. Even through her thick fur clothes, I could make out her stocky body.
As she walked around Ronan and measured his height, she suddenly lowered her head. Her main voice came out from under her flowing hair.
“thank god···.”
Ronan sighed lightly. With just that one word, she could tell how much he cared about her. Ronan stretched out her hand and tapped Asher and Marja on the shoulder. Braum and Ophelia also added a word.
“Hahaha! You’ve become a warrior, Ronan! “Are you really the person who was locked up doing nothing?”
“You’ve become more adult…”
Braum’s eyes were also red. Ophelia’s pure white face had a smile that was hard to see. Huh! At that time, something black flew through the crack in the door. Ronan laughed.
“Sita.”
“Ttaaa!”
Sita spread her four wings and climbed onto Ronan’s shoulders. Her fluffy feathers tickled her nose. Ronan suddenly sensed something strange in her and frowned at her.
“But you, man, why did you get so big? “Did your sister feed you too well?”
“Pyeol~”
“Damn, they’ll eat people too.”
Sita was almost as big as a large dog. It’s no joke, the wingspan seemed to be a whopping 3m. It was surprising that there was no significant change in weight.
Ronan let Sita rub his face until he was satisfied. Iril’s voice was heard from the kitchen, saying that the meal was ready.
Ronan looked at each member in turn. Hundreds of words I wanted to say were lingering in my throat. Ronan finally selected one and opened his mouth.
“How are you?”
****
Ronan left the house after finishing his portion of stew. I don’t know if it was because I starved for two years, but my sister’s cooking melted as soon as it touched my tongue.
He was walking around the campus with his members. The evening glow between the clouds was coloring the snow. It was easier to talk thanks to the snowstorm that had subsided.
“Damn, senior Adeshan is the student council president?”
“huh. He was elected by an overwhelming margin last year. “He used to come to our club often, but after that it was hard to see him.”
Ronan laughed. I had mentioned something about the student council before, but I had no idea that I would be the president. Marya continued.
“I know because I also work in accounting, and I’m really good at my job. “It’s just amazing that such a meticulous person exists in the world.”
Adeshan said he was evaluated as the perfect student council president in all aspects. It seems like it was only yesterday that I was bullied in Nabi Rose’s class, but it was such a huge improvement. Marya said with a voice dripping with regret.
“It’s a shame. “She would have been able to unleash her powers much more if she hadn’t been the Witch of Winter.”
It was as she said. After winter hit the islands, Phileon Academy was going through unprecedented difficulties.
This could be seen just by looking at the number of new students being reduced by half. Ronan, who was walking while talking about various things, said goodbye to them in the main plaza. She said Asher stuttered.
“Well, see you later, Ronan. “You remember the location, right?”
“Of course, man. “Who do you think is a monkey?”
He decided to finish urgent business and then meet at the new club building. Marja giggled.
“You’ll be surprised when you see it. “It’s a good idea to come prepared with a change of underwear.”
“You’ve been bluffing for two years. “I saw it later, but let’s just say it wasn’t a big deal.”
It was questionable why Kratir had built something so great that it was making such a fuss. Separated from his associates, he moved to the Gallerion Hall, the main building of the martial arts department. The gray castle, which I had not seen in a long time, was covered with pure white snow.
“That’s good… I’d like to say hello.”
Ronan mumbled, touching his ears. He was visiting Butterfly Rose.
It was to say hello and ask for advice on visiting Rodolan. He was a person who was disappointed that I didn’t ask how he was doing during vacation, and if he overlooked it this time, he might really get pulled out by the ears.
Perhaps because it was the weekend, the Gallerion pavilion was empty. It wasn’t long before I started walking and a familiar door appeared. The huge double doors that reached up to the ceiling had the words “Arena 1” engraved in large letters.
Kugugu… The door opened with a sound like rolling rocks. Surprisingly, the light was on.
A woman sitting in the center of the arena meditating came into view. Bronze skin and dark green uniform. It was Ronan’s gift, Nabirose.
“Instructor Butterfly Rose.”
The Great Taedo Ursa was lying next to her. Ronan shook her hand happily. However, no answer came back. Even when Ronan came right in front of her, Butterfly Rose was just focused on her meditation.
‘what?’
However, the condition did not look very good. Cold sweat was running down my temples. There was a dark shadow beneath the closed eyelids.
It seemed like the constant chewing of my lips was not achieving the purpose of meditation. When she finally opened her eyes, she gasped.
“Hey!”
It was like someone waking up from a nightmare. Wow. Nabirose, who was staring blankly at the floor, gritted her teeth. As if burning hatred towards something. Ronan, who was waiting next to me, held out a canteen.
“Shit, are you okay?”
“······Ronan?”
Only then did Nabirose turn her head. Ronan frowned at her as he ran into her.
My impression was noticeably different from two years ago. The strong aura still remained, but the characteristic composure had disappeared.
Suddenly, Adeshan’s words that something had happened to Nabirose crossed my mind. Nabirose took the canteen and took a gulp of water.
“Hah… when did you come back?”
“Today. “Instructor, you don’t look good.”
“It’s because of my mood. “I’m glad you came back safely.”
Nabirose said calmly. It was visible that he was trying to act calm. She raised an eyebrow as she looked Ronan up and down her.
“···You’ve become stronger.”
Ronan neither confirmed nor denied. Nabirose emptied the canteen in an instant and threw it away. She slowly raised her body and picked up her stand.
“···Ronan. “Unsheath your sword.”
“yes?”
Ronan tilted his head at the sudden request. The seriousness of his voice did not seem like he was joking. Butterfly wiped her mouth with her sleeve and I pulled on the hilt of her sword.
“Let’s compete with me.”
