Ch.145145. Snow in Midsummer (2)

Snowflakes settled on the bridges of noses and foreheads of people cleaning up the battlefield. Faced with this sudden snowfall, everyone wore bewildered expressions as if dreaming. The snow fell heavily. From the dark void wedged in the daytime, snow glittering with the color of the sky descended.

“…What’s happening?”

“I don’t know either.”

People momentarily paused their work of clearing debris and bodies to look up at the sky. There was no way to determine the source of the snow. They could only vaguely guess it came from the pitch-black rift in the sky. People felt afraid of the darkness in that rift.

“How frightening. What exactly is happening right now? Why this sudden snow?”

“But strangely… it doesn’t feel ominous, does it?”

No one could deny those words. Though the darkness was profound, the snow wasn’t foreboding. Snowflakes caught in sunlight shimmered in various colors. Invisible prisms scattered and spread the light. The snow that settled on the ground didn’t melt immediately. The rift in the sky blocked the sunshine.

The snow gradually accumulated. People watched in fascination as it piled up. Though they knew the accumulating snow would hinder the cleanup of debris, they let it continue. It was as if everyone believed what was happening was just a collective daydream in the aftermath.

“What a strange thing to experience. Snow in the middle of summer.”

“Indeed.”

Snow piled up over debris, over corpses. Inside the castle, outside the castle. The comet had lost its core and simply turned into snow. The falling snow seemed to say the world would not end, but people didn’t know this. That news would reach them only after the snow had thoroughly blanketed the streets.

“It’s snowing.”

“I don’t think it’s a meaningless sign. This snow falls after the comet disappeared in such a way.”

Before the southern gate. Agnes was standing in the falling snow. Grand Duke Quenore stood one step behind her. The wind blew, making the Grand Duke’s black garments flutter.

“By the way, what are you doing here without receiving treatment?”

The queen narrowed her eyes as she looked at the Grand Duke. Beneath his bandages, Quenore’s skin would be mangled from the three gashes left by the lion. Though the bleeding had mostly stopped, that didn’t mean treatment wasn’t necessary. Despite his deep injuries, the Grand Duke had pushed his own treatment to the lowest priority. Thanks to this, Quenore had endured for two days with only the most basic first aid.

“I’ll survive without special attention. Other wounded need immediate treatment or they’ll die. Pain can be endured, but death cannot be avoided by gritting one’s teeth.”

“That’s your choice. As long as you don’t die, I won’t say anything.”

Agnes examined her own body. Her wounds were shallow. Deep, sharp pain meant fractures; broad, dull pain meant bruises; and pain like an icicle stabbing a burn meant lacerations. Agnes counted as she categorized the pain. Her talent, growing and blooming by the minute, protected her body.

“I’m ashamed to have no wounds after entering battle.”

“I’m grateful Your Majesty is unharmed.”

Quenore wouldn’t have been wounded if he had only protected himself. Agnes didn’t show her embarrassment. Without looking back, she conveyed her awkwardness through words.

“The person who should support the country was being supported by someone else.”

“People support each other. Don’t be ashamed of relying on others to overcome challenges.”

Agnes smiled bitterly. It wasn’t shame about relying on others. It was just a feeling of guilt. If the hero had failed to save them, she would have at least wanted to take responsibility, but the hero had never failed to save them. The queen thought this was fortunate, yet also sad.

“Very well. I’ll take it to heart. Even a monarch is human now.”

“You have never been anything but human, Your Majesty.”

Quenore’s words were straightforward. Agnes didn’t take the straightforwardness at face value. Quenore knew this as well. The conversation between sovereign and subject couldn’t progress into personal territory. Agnes stopped expressing her dissatisfaction and looked up at the sky. The black rift was still sprinkling snow.

“I wonder if there’s a way to know what happened to the comet. It’s frustrating to wait idly for two days.”

“We have no choice but to wait for the mages’ report.”

“I suppose so.”

It was just as Agnes sighed and turned around. On the way back to the royal city, he suddenly appeared standing there. Looking at that ash-gray hair with a little snow accumulated on it, Quenore and Agnes blinked.

“Hero Ilroy, I have returned after defeating the comet.”

Only after his lips moved did they realize he wasn’t an illusion. Agnes frowned as she looked at Ilroy. The hero appeared too calmly and reported too nonchalantly.

“How long do you intend to keep surprising me before you’re satisfied?”

“I apologize. I’m glad you’re safe.”

Ilroy bowed his head deeply. Agnes slowly walked toward him. Even with his head bowed, Agnes had to look up slightly at Ilroy. Ash-gray hair flowing down like clouds. Agnes, who had been quietly watching him, suddenly reached out her hand.

“Your Majesty—”

“Stay still.”

Agnes’s hand stroked Ilroy’s head. The hero’s body flinched like a frightened dog but stopped short of retreating. Flattery or not, she simply wanted to stroke the hero’s head at that moment.

“You saved the world. Once again.”

“It wasn’t me who saved it. It was everyone who protected this country alongside Your Majesty.”

“What I sought to protect was just a meager piece of land and a flag, while what you sought to protect was the world. Who would disagree that you saved the world?”

The queen spoke with a smile. Ilroy still kept his head down. The queen slightly removed her hand and placed it under Ilroy’s chin to lift his face.

“Thank you.”

“…I don’t know how to respond.”

The queen chuckled and waved her hand. At this silent dismissal, Ilroy bowed and turned away. Quenore Strope greeted the hero with a tired smile.

“I’ve repaid my debt, Ilroy. The warriors of the North remember you, every single one. But…”

Quenore glanced down at his palm where snowflakes were falling.

“I’ve incurred another debt, Ilroy. I wonder if I can repay what I owe you even if I spend my entire life. Just as I clear one debt, you pile on an even greater one.”

“Don’t think of it as a debt. I didn’t act with the thought of lending money either.”

“A person may forget kindness, but not debt. So please let me think of it as a debt.”

Quenore said with a bitter smile. Ilroy shook his head slightly, as if to say he wouldn’t press the matter further.

“Thank you for holding on, Grand Duke. I’ve already received more than enough.”

“Well, you may think you’ve received it, but I don’t think the repayment is complete yet.”

The Grand Duke approached the hero. Quenore tried to gauge the hero slightly, but the hero had already far surpassed what the Grand Duke could imagine. Beyond walls, beyond mountains, there was something even higher. From that distant place, Ilroy was watching without even gesturing.

“It’s good to burn with competitive spirit, but think about your body first, Grand Duke.”

Quenore retreated with an embarrassed smile. Ilroy who defeated the giant was a wounded warrior, but the current Ilroy was a mythical hero and everyone’s idol. The monarch was human, but the current hero, even to Quenore, was emitting an aura that made it difficult to call him human.

“Don’t go too far, Ilroy. You have to give me time to catch up. It seems I’m at the point where I need to ask you to teach me a thing or two.”

Ilroy didn’t say anything but smiled gently. He seemed to know well that even feigning humility would be disrespectful now.

“When you’ve fully recovered, I’ll come to the North. Let’s compete again then.”

“This time, please don’t create a reason for me to come south again.”

Quenore laughed as if joking. Agnes listened quietly to the conversation. Ilroy took in the sight of both of them and then disappeared, his footsteps leaving no trace in the accumulated snow.

==

“How are you feeling?”

George looked at me with half-open eyes. He was lying in bed looking quite ridiculous. His left arm, which had held the shield, was bound with splints and bandages. A couple of ribs were broken too, and there were too many lacerations to count. There were probably countless invisible microfractures as well. Poor guy. He seemed to have done everything possible at the front line.

“Terrible, but good. We won, after all.”

“You know how in stories, if someone mentions their fiancée before a war, they usually die in that war? You saved your life.”

“Is there such a story? First time I’ve heard of it.”

I smiled at George, who was staring blankly as if finding it curious. Since his condition wasn’t critical, George’s treatment had been pushed back in priority. His gaze lingered on me. I frowned as I met George’s eyes.

“What is it? It’s creepy.”

“…Nothing. You did well, Ilroy.”

There seemed to be nothing more to say. I didn’t have anything else to chat about either, so I stood up, pressing my knees. As I half-turned my body, George hesitantly spoke to me.

“Are you not injured anywhere?”

“If I were, would I be walking around like this? I’d be lying quietly in a hospital room like I did after the giant.”

Silence and exchange of glances. George gave me a look as if trying to see through me, but I maintained an expressionless face. I don’t know why such a question came up.

“Right. I shouldn’t be the one asking that when I’m the one moaning in a hospital bed.”

George muttered as he adjusted his pillow.

“I’m going to sleep. I can’t think straight because of the medicine.”

His eyes closed immediately, and a scratchy breathing sound could be heard. I left George’s room and entered the next room. The hero party’s headquarters was being used as a temporary ward. Every space except my room had been converted into patient accommodation, and the strong smell of disinfectant filled the corridor. I went down the familiar corridor, descended the stairs, and reached a room.

Before I could knock, the door opened by itself.

“…Hello.”

Marianne and Daphne were sitting on the bed, looking at me. Marianne was in a condition not much different from George’s, and Daphne was nursing her, their faces close together as if sharing some secret conversation.

“Come in and sit down.”

Daphne gestured. I entered the room with an awkward smile. The holy spear was leaning against one wall of the room, and Daphne’s belongings filled the previously empty furniture.

“How’s your condition? Getting better?”

“Yes. Not bad. I have many minor injuries, but nothing major.”

If anything was noticeable, it was the bandage wrapped around her head. Marianne rubbed her head as if sensing my intent gaze.

“It’s not a serious wound. Just a small tear.”

I couldn’t possibly trust her definition of “small.” But seeing her desperate attempt to hide the wound, I decided not to look under the bandage. Her silver bangs had been cut short and were fluttering cutely.

“What about Daphne?”

“I think I’m doing better than Ilroy. Have you been staying up all night again? Where do you wander off to, never in your quarters but suddenly appearing in the morning?”

I didn’t answer. There was no need to spread rumors about using “Wings” to travel around the continent checking on monster damage.

“Walking.”

Was it because most monsters had gathered in the royal city? The damage in other regions of the continent wasn’t that severe. Not to mention the North, which had led the monster subjugation, but even the eastern regions leading to the Holy Nation and the western regions seemed to have managed to fend off the monsters with difficulty. When night deepened, I would go to heavily damaged areas to see if anyone needed help.

‘…Who came here?’

And, most worryingly, Barktins. The coastal city I had worried about—whether it could withstand monster attacks while still not fully recovered—had suffered less damage than I expected.

‘Yes. Someone who didn’t reveal their name came and fought the monsters alone.’

The local official of Barktins said it was someone who covered their face and introduced themselves as a nameless mercenary.

“…If you’re going to make excuses, at least put some effort into it.”

Daphne responded with her lips protruding three feet. I thought I deserved the resentment. I pulled up a chair and sat down. We looked at each other in silence for a while.

“We somehow managed to defeat the sixth calamity too.”

Snow had accumulated on the windowsill as well. I nodded as I looked at the softly piled snow.

“One left.”

Was it “only one left,” or had all the previous calamities been warm-ups for that one time? I quietly traced my memories and frowned.

The seventh calamity.

Come to think of it, what was the ending in the original work…?

The thought of digging through my memories was interrupted by a knock on the door. Daphne silently waved her hand, and as the door opened, a welcome visitor appeared.

“Is there anyone who needs treatment?”

Isis scanned the room and fixed her gaze on me. Under the saint’s intent gaze, I couldn’t help but frown.