Ch.154154. The Giant of North Sweden

After confirming all the luggage was loaded onto the carriage, I slowly turned my body toward the academy.

Winter break had begun before I knew it.

I had planned to travel around the kingdom solving cases caused by evil spirits or cold cases buried by their actions, just like last summer.

But since Lucia Saint, the Saintess, seems to have found some free time recently and has been working diligently, I’m planning to head to Violene, the territory of the Bright family, for a formal meeting with the parents.

Erika Bright, who had checked the luggage in the same carriage, quietly approached me.

“Do you have any plans?”

“They’ll come with their heads bowed anyway, so there’s no problem.”

Hearing my words, Erika nodded but then looked at me with a subtle expression.

“It sounds like you have no plan at all?”

“…”

“That’s… unlike you.”

Though I didn’t bother to answer, that seemed to make her even more concerned, and now she wore a worried expression.

“Is something wrong?”

“No.”

After my firm answer, Erika seemed to back off for now.

“By the way, where’s Findenai? She’d normally be making the most noise.”

Erika asked about Findenai, perhaps trying to naturally change the subject. But unintentionally, she hit the mark.

“She left.”

“Left?”

I thought I was using my normal voice and tone. But was something different?

Erika’s expression twisted as she turned to face me. The concern in her eyes was strangely unsettling to me.

“Yes, she’s from the Republic of Clark, so she returned there.”

“…”

Erika, who had been staring at me, clenched her fist and bit her lip. Then, with her head bowed deeply, she said:

“Let’s go after her.”

I hadn’t expected that.

I never thought Erika would suggest chasing after Findenai.

“There’s no need to waste time catching a runaway maid.”

“She’s not just any maid!”

Erika’s shouting voice carried many emotions. Jealousy and anger, but mixed with sympathy and consideration.

Pushing aside her own feelings, she was telling me:

“I thought something was different about you, and now I know why. Deus, it’s okay, let’s go to Norsweden. The meeting with the parents is just a formality anyway, it’s fine to cancel it.”

“That’s absurd.”

“What’s absurd about it!”

“The Bright family is already preparing to receive us, and Darius has probably already departed.”

“But!”

“And I’ve also invited the Zeronia family.”

“What…?”

Erika involuntarily gasped as she asked again. Her expression showed she hadn’t expected that name to come up here.

“Of course, it won’t concern you. Don’t worry about Gideon.”

“No, the Zeronia family agreed to come?”

“They have to.”

The Zeronia family has been gradually backing into a corner. After reading my letter, as a Dark Spiritmaster, they must be burning with eagerness, unable to contain themselves.

They’ve probably already departed for the Bright family’s estate, their bottoms itching with anticipation.

My letter must have looked like a lifeline from an old fairy tale to them.

In reality, they don’t even realize that rope will become a leash binding them.

“Well… so you did have some plan after all.”

Erika, who had been at a loss for words, cleared her throat calmly and said:

“Anyway, we need to go after Findenai! She’s someone important to you!”

“You seem surprisingly attached to Findenai.”

At my calm response, Erika opened her eyes wide, then bit her lip hard before barely managing to speak.

“You…”

“…”

“I’m worried about you, that’s why.”

It was a statement filled with humiliation and shame. Though she didn’t want to acknowledge the weight that Findenai held within me, she was willing to accept it because she knew I needed her.

That kind of meaning.

What should I say to Erika?

As I was thinking about this and about to open my mouth—

“Professor!”

Aria Rius came running with her hand raised high. It seemed she came to say goodbye since we would be apart for the winter break.

“I’ll be going now! Thank you for your hard work this semester!”

“Yes, good job.”

“See you later!”

With that, Aria quickly left. Her steps were light, and the smile on her face was that of an ordinary girl.

“…She left so easily? It feels more like she’s looking forward to something rather than feeling sad.”

Beside me, Erika watched Aria’s retreating figure with suspicious eyes. As I remained silent, another female student approached.

“Deus!”

“…Yes, Princess.”

Since the break period meant returning to her position as a princess rather than a student, I welcomed Elenoa Luden Griffin as she called my name and rushed toward me.

“I’ll be going now! See you later!”

She too left with a bright smile and a wink.

Noticing her hurried steps, Erika crossed her arms and asked again:

“What’s going on here?”

“What do you mean?”

“No, both of them retreated too easily.”

“It’s the break, they must have a lot to do.”

Erika groaned at my answer, as if she had nothing more to say. She frowned, perhaps feeling like she was the only one who didn’t know something.

“What are you thinking about?”

“Nothing is confirmed yet.”

“…”

“But when the time comes to tell you, I will definitely do so.”

“Hmm.”

After my firm answer, Erika closed her mouth and backed off for now. I turned my body again to look at the carriage and said:

“Let’s get going.”

* * *

About a week after the start of Robern Academy’s winter break.

A rather unique scene was unfolding in the cold Norsweden.

Blazing flames.

Though the sharp cold had settled in Norsweden, at this moment, the heat of the inferno was being scattered by the wind, raging like a storm.

The streets were completely empty, as if it had become a ghost town, since all the people had already evacuated.

Only the crackling sparks flying from various parts of the city showed violent aggression.

And at the center.

The Doberman, who had single-handedly destroyed the city, was standing in the central square with his head bowed and eyes closed.

Clank, clank.

The heavy sound of armor spread solemnly. The Doberman, who had been closing his eyes, recognized it as a signal for battle and raised his head.

The armor he wore was decorated with thick animal hide unique to the north. Behind the tarnished silver armor hung a long black cape, with thick fur decorations around the waist and shoulders.

However, what stood out were the traces of soot and burn marks on both the armor and cape.

Thud.

Darius Verdi, the northern wall, carrying a greatsword on his shoulder, glared at the Doberman and opened his mouth.

“So you’re the one who did this to our homeland.”

“…”

“And you’re the one who planted bomb-type mines outside.”

The Doberman gave no answer. He simply raised his right hand and pulled the trigger.

Bang!

The bullet fired from the long-barreled bronze revolver quickly aimed for Darius’s forehead.

But Darius, in turn, widened his eyes and drew up mana from his entire body.

That was the end.

Darius didn’t even flinch.

His mana, cold like the northern chill, didn’t allow a mere lead bullet to reach its master.

“Thanks to you, I had to hurriedly return while on my way to attend my younger brother’s meeting with the parents.”

Fortunately, due to quick reports, the citizens of Norsweden had evacuated to the nearby territory of Count Helian, but the damage to Norsweden itself was not insignificant.

By the way, Count Helian had taken on the role of guarding the Norsweden mountain range in Darius’s absence.

“Helian…”

Near the Doberman’s feet lay Helian, dead with his eyes open and a bullet lodged in his forehead.

Having been left outside for a long time, the corpse seemed slightly frozen.

“I had quite a struggle thanks to your bullets and bombs.”

Because the Doberman had planted mines at every entrance to the city, Darius couldn’t bring in an army and had to infiltrate alone.

Since the opponent was also alone, he decided to break through by himself rather than create unnecessary casualties from the bombs.

The soot covering his body was created at this time.

“But it’s not enough to stop the northern cold.”

Clank.

The visor of his helmet came down to protect Darius’s eyes.

At the same time, the greatsword held in both hands lowered.

The northern giant crouched at the waist and took a large step forward.

Boom!

Leaving behind a sound like a bomb explosion, Darius charged forward.

Each of his steps heavily shook the ground.

Beep-beep-beep!

Another warning sound from the ground, followed by an explosion.

Kwaaaang!

It wasn’t just one or two.

An enormous amount of bombs had been planted near the Doberman, and they all exploded at once, creating flames and black smoke.

The Doberman slowly lowered his hand and put his revolver back at his waist.

Whoosh!

The wind blew.

A very strong one.

The gale of Norsweden.

“Ah!”

A sigh along with a mocking laugh pierced through the smoke.

The Doberman hurriedly tried to draw his revolver again, but it was already too late.

“Is this the flame of the Republic!”

The cape was completely burned, and the silver armor had already turned dark and murky.

But the owner, Darius, continued to step forward just as steadily and stubbornly as before.

“It’s lukewarm!”

The greatsword accurately aimed for and pierced the Doberman’s heart.