Chapter 93: Ashes of Tears

“Master!!”

My voice echoed across the ice plains.

The head of the giant ice dragon whipped around toward me.

The moment its massive eyes found me, it felt as if the world had stopped.

It really is… Master!

Finally!

My heart pounded like crazy.

The moment I had dreamed of for three years was unfolding right before my eyes.

The body of the enormous silver ice dragon suddenly began to glow.

A dazzling light enveloped the colossal beast, shining as brightly as condensed moonlight.

I squinted, and through the light, I could see the dragon’s form gradually shrinking.

In an instant, the light faded, and a woman stood in its place.

Master!

Her silver hair fluttered in the quiet wind, and a moonlight-silver dress enveloped her perfect figure.

Her skin was as white as the first snow, and her pure white eyes were as translucent as ice crystals.

“Rico…”

Her voice echoed in my ears.

A sound like a piece of ice gliding across glass.

The moment I heard that gentle voice, something inside me crumbled.

“Ma-Master…! Waaaah!”

Hot tears burst from my eyes.

They streamed down my cheeks like a spring.

It felt as if all the emotions I had been holding back had exploded at once.

Pitter-patter-pitter-patter!

My small feet kicked off the ground and ran.

I threw my arms wide, and even with my vision blurred by tears, I ran with all my might toward that one person.

“Waaah! Master!! Waaah!”

My mind went blank, and I couldn’t speak properly.

Just a moment ago, I had been organizing what I would say when I met her… but only sobs came out.

Tears flowed so much that I couldn’t see properly, but only Master filled my vision.

Master opened her arms for me.

On her pale face, emotions I couldn’t read flickered.

I leaped into her arms.

My small body was embraced by the silver-haired woman.

I clung tightly to her waist and buried my face in her stomach.

“I, I was alone… waaaah… Master, hhh…”

I couldn’t even form proper sentences.

The words came out broken, mixed with sobs.

Then, her hand gently rested on my hair.

That cold yet soft touch slowly stroked my hair.

Mmm…

This feeling…

It’s been so long…

Is it the first time since I’m in human form…

But it’s the same touch I remember…

A shiver ran through my entire body.

Her touch was as cool and warm as ever.

I hugged her tighter and sobbed harder.

“At first, I thought something urgent had come up for you… or maybe something scary had happened…”

My voice came out choked with sobs.

“But… as time went on… I started to wonder if you didn’t like me anymore… if you had abandoned me… sob…”

The true feelings in my heart spilled out on their own.

The fear and loneliness of being left alone for three years.

How many questions I had asked myself.

“Thankfully, Mikel told me… that you and Nis had drunk the golden wine and were asleep… so I was on my way to Desmeer…”

Her face contorted.

That was… definitely guilt.

Flutter-flutter!

Miel flapped her wings softly on my shoulder.

Was she happy to see Master too?

Or was she worried because my emotions were so intense?

“Rico… I’m sorry…”

Master knelt down to my eye level.

She cupped my face with both hands and wiped away my tears.

“It’s never because I stopped liking you. I drank the golden wine with Nis and… I never thought I would sleep for three years like this.”

Her hand stroked my head.

A sense of stability washed over me as her firm but gentle fingers moved through my hair.

My chest warmed.

“Mikel told you that? Really… that’s a little bit of a relief.”

Her voice trembled slightly.

Though she had uncomfortable feelings about Mikel, it seemed she had softened a little knowing that he had helped me.

“But still… it’s true you didn’t stop liking me, right…?”

I was still anxious.

Had she really just been asleep, or had she truly abandoned me?

She smiled faintly.

Her smile was as soft and warm as moonlight.

Her hand stroked my head again.

“How could I ever not like you? Rico is my precious subordinate, and you’re the most special being to me.”

Heehee…

A special being…

Master always told me I was special…

When I heard those words, my tears stopped, and my heart swelled.

“Sniff… hehe… me too! I like you the best, Master!”

My voice rang out, and the corners of my mouth lifted.

Her hand slowly stroked my hair again.

This time, longer, more gently.

“I’m so sorry for leaving you alone, Rico… Thinking about how worried you must have been…”

Her eyes saddened.

Her silver hair came close, as if to cover my face, and she hugged me tightly.

Her embrace was as cold and firm as ever, but to me, it was the most comfortable place in the world.

In that sweet moment, the tears that had barely stopped began to flow again.

“Mmm… it’s okay… I’ve met you again, Master… waaaah…”

She patted my back, comforting me.

Nis watched this whole scene from a short distance away.

The usual Nis would have said something teasing, but this time, she was quiet.

Master slowly pulled away from me and began to look at me closely.

It was the first time she was properly seeing me in my human form.

‘What will she think…’

My heart pounded.

Would she like my polymorphed form?

What if she doesn’t?

“The Bugz in the labyrinth said you had polymorphed… but I never imagined you would be this beautiful…”

Her fingers traced my black dress, then my red-dyed hair, one by one.

Finally, she looked into my red eyes and smiled.

“My goodness, you’ve polymorphed so beautifully. The black and red suit your colors well… and your voice is so sweet…”

Her hand stroked my hair again.

The cool touch slowly descended from the top of my head to the nape of my neck, and I felt like my whole body was melting.

“Hehehe!”

My face turned redder.

My whole body warmed with her praise.

My crying had stopped, but I was trembling with joy.

“Master! I’ve learned so many things! Do you want to hear about them?”

My voice was filled with excitement.

There were so many things I wanted to boast to her about.

My experiences in the Heavenly and Demon Realms, my meetings with Mikel and Bellona, my SS-rank adventurer status that almost made me a national power…

She smiled and nodded.

And again, her hand stroked my head.

“Yes, Rico. Tell me all about your adventures.”

As her hand stroked my head, my heart felt completely at ease.

Three years of anxiety and loneliness vanished in an instant.

“First of all! I succeeded in polymorphing thanks to an orb a human mage brought!”

I started my story excitedly.

I was so excited that the words just flowed out.

I explained in detail how I got the orb from Ryandel and how the polymorph succeeded.

She kept stroking my head and smiling.

I can’t tell you how much I missed that smile.

“And, Master! I became Mikel’s apostle!”

This time, I was curious about her reaction.

Perhaps because Mikel had helped, her white eyes lacked the sharpness of the past.

“I was chosen at the temple in a village in Sia Kalt, and everyone was amazed to see me! With the power of an apostle, I even healed sick people…”

I excitedly told her about becoming Mikel’s apostle.

Her expression seemed a little complicated, but unlike before, it wasn’t so negative.

“I see… it seems Mikel helped you a lot. The important thing is that you’re safe.”

She stroked my head again.

It was a really pleasant touch.

“And my Bugz have gotten much stronger too!”

I started talking about the Bugz with a bit of pride.

Flutter-flutter!

Miel flapped her wings energetically on my shoulder.

She seemed happy that her story was being told.

“This is Miel, named when Nis came! She’s the smartest of the Bugz! Not long ago, she even wrote with my hair!!”

I pointed to Miel’s small legs and explained.

“A butterfly can write?”

She looked at Miel with curious eyes.

Receiving her gaze, Miel quickly flew to my head and started pulling out my hair.

Ouch!

《Yes, I can! Lady Frostia! Loyalty!》

What!

You knew how to use honorifics?

You call me a fool and speak informally to me!

I’m the master of the Bugz!

“Hoh… that’s truly amazing. Thanks to you, she’s become such a special being.”

After seeing Miel’s writing, she looked at Miel with surprised eyes.

Then, she carefully extended a finger and gently stroked Miel’s wing.

Miel glowed brighter with joy and flapped her wings proudly.

The little thing seemed to be saying, ‘Yes, I am that amazing.’

Mi-Miel, you little…!

You’re trying to leave my Bugz and become Master’s direct subordinate!

You’ll need some education later!

“And I’ve been to the Heavenly Realm and the Demon Realm!”

To prevent Miel’s escape, I quickly changed the subject, and Nis suddenly stiffened.

And her eyes met Master’s.

“To the Heavenly and Demon Realms…?”

Her voice suddenly became serious.

“Yes! I used one of Mikel’s powers, and I was suddenly transported to the Heavenly Realm. There, I met Mikel and Solaris, and Solaris told me I could return to the human world through the Demon Realm. So…”

Nis cleared her throat lightly.

“Lady Frostia, may I have a word with you for a moment?”

Master nodded briefly.

“Rico, can you wait a moment?”

“Okay!”

The two of them moved a short distance away.

Nis’s expression looked a little serious.

It must be about Bellona and the artworks…

Please…

I hope Master understands…

I strained my ears and caught a few words carried by the wind.

“…to teach such a cruel and terrible belief to the pure Rico…”

Nis’s voice was laced with anger.

“…what does it matter what happens to some humans? …your undead are just as disgusting and terrible…”

That’s my Master!

My thoughts of rebelling against Nis came back to me.

Artworks are much better than undead!

After a while, Master and Nis returned.

Nis’s expression was a little strange, but Master looked calm.

“Rico, continue your story.”

She stroked my head again.

“Yes! I met Bellona in the Demon Realm. She taught me something called the ‘Art of Murder’…”

Her expression changed slightly, but then returned to normal.

“I heard about that from Nis. To be honest, it doesn’t really matter to me what you do with the corpses of some humans. They are insignificant beings.”

Hearing those words directly, a sense of relief washed over me.

Unlike Nis, Master understood!

“But, Rico. I’m just grateful that you returned safely from that dangerous Demon Realm. It seems that evil god named Bellona took care of you?”

A subtle emotion was mixed in her voice.

It wasn’t complete gratitude, but I could feel a little bit of it.

“Yes! Bellona treated me like a daughter! We had tea and talked every night…”

A hint of longing might have shown in my eyes.

Even if her teachings weren’t understood by many, it was a precious time for me.

She placed a hand on my shoulder.

Her hand stroked my shoulder.

“You returned safely, and that’s enough. I’ll be with you from now on, so you’ll be safe.”

I can’t tell you how warm her touch was.

Not just the temperature, but a warmth that seemed to convey her heart.

“And this is the sword I journeyed with!”

I took out the sword emitting a red mist from my waist and showed it to her.

But suddenly, the sword began to tremble.

Vrrrr!

Huh?

What’s wrong with it?

The sword kept trembling, emitting more red mist.

A strange sensation was transmitted through my hand.

A trembling that felt like a mix of unknown emotions.

Could it be that the sword likes seeing Master too?

She looked at the sword and was lost in thought for a moment.

“This sword… it’s the sword of a subordinate of Nis who came to see me about 3,000… no, 4,000 years ago.”

Nis suddenly flinched.

“What did you say? The sword of my subordinate? Which subordinate?”

The sword began to tremble more violently.

Drrrrrrrrrr!

The vibration transmitted to my palm intensified.

Huh?

What’s wrong?

Could it be that it’s scared of Master and Nis?

Drrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr!!!

This is like… extreme terror?

My palm started to sweat.

“Aster… Asterisk? I think it was a lich with a name like that. He came to me saying he would follow me, but I just got rid of him.”

She said nonchalantly.

Nis’s eyes widened.

“Asterix! That runaway lich! He went to see you, Lady Frostia!?”

Nis shouted in surprise.

At that moment, the sword’s trembling suddenly stopped.

The red mist it was emitting also disappeared, and it became as quiet as death.

The sensation I felt in my hand also disappeared.

It was as if the wave of emotion that had been transmitted just a moment ago had been instantly drained away.

Only a heavy silence remained.

…?

Is it playing dead…?

Or did it faint!?

Like, its consciousness was cut off from shock!?

I looked at the sword closely, and unlike before, it seemed to have lost its vitality.

Like an empty shell with its soul gone…

“Lady Frostia, why didn’t you tell me something so important? I searched for that lich for so long…”

“Hmm? I completely forgot about it, but I remembered when I saw this sword.”

She answered innocently.

“Nis, this sword… should I give it back to you?”

I asked Nis carefully.

Nis thought for a moment and then shook her head.

“No. You keep it, Rico. That lich is a traitor… besides, that one…”

Her voice trailed off.

The sword was still as quiet as death.

It’s not really dead, is it…?

No, a sword being alive is strange in the first place…

Both Lotte and Crimson Bind…

Two of Nis’s enemies are mine!

I hope there won’t be any more…

Master stroked my head again.

The cool touch slowly descended from the top of my head to the nape of my neck, and I felt like my whole body was melting.

“Still, it’s a pretty good sword. I hope you use it well.”

“Yes, Master! I’ll use it well!”

A wide smile spread across my face.

“Then shall we go back to Sia Kalt now?”

She replied with a smile.

“Ah! Not yet!”

My carriage!

“Hmm?”

“My carriage is on its way here! My two human companions, Cecilia, Glacia, and Lotte are on it!”

And on the way back, I have to show her the surprise gift from the Kingdom of Jenes!

A rare…

A magnificent ice castle made of crystal and silver for Master!

She will definitely like it!

And there, Master and I…

Fumble, fumble.

I reached into the inner pocket of my dress and checked to see if the bra and panties I received from Mikel were there.

Hmm! They’re safe.