Ch.220220. Two-Way Traffic (2)

“Driver, please take me to Levrant Academy as quickly as possible.”

The driver, noticing how unusually urgent his young mistress’s request was, immediately brought the horses around, realizing she must be in quite a hurry.

Inside the carriage, the young girl engaged in a lengthy conversation with her maid.

The oversized sweater meant to emphasize her delicate frame and appeal to men’s protective instincts, along with Maria’s sorrowful tone in her request—a tone that suggested she had watched over her since childhood, perhaps even from when she was in the womb.

And then the conversation that branched into stories about school life.

Though they had moved past it quickly, if she were to replay their earlier conversation bit by bit, there would have been many things to be concerned about.

However, only one thing actually remained in Renias’s mind.

-‘Someone like that must be quite popular, right? Good character, excellent grades, and proven abilities—what’s not to like?’

“Ugh.”

What was it about those words? The moment Maria’s comment came to mind, Renias’s heart began pounding furiously.

She involuntarily lifted her bottom off the seat and clenched her fists.

Despite the carriage moving very quickly, she anxiously tapped her feet, seemingly still impatient.

With a forceful “Phew,” she exhaled sharply and brushed back her bangs that had fallen forward. Her brows were slightly furrowed as if something was bothering her.

She hadn’t checked the temperature, but that exhale was likely quite warm.

Well, her lips were slightly protruding, and her cheeks, though not exactly puffed out, were somewhat inflated. So it would be fair to say that the hot air heated within the silver-haired girl’s body had escaped through her breath.

But unlike earlier, it wasn’t because of any embarrassing thoughts.

“Miss, we’ve arrived.”

The carriage had finally reached Levrant.

“Thank you!”

“Miss? You might hurt yourself jumping from the carriage like that…”

“I’ll be fine!”

Renias was always a polite girl who made sure to express her gratitude, typically with a bright smile and a slight bow of her head, showing proper courtesy even to those of lower status.

But today was different.

The moment she heard they had arrived, she boldly flung open the carriage door, jumped out, gave a much more perfunctory response than usual, and dashed away.

***

The Academy was beginning to return to normal.

Since Pimpert hadn’t caused human blood to spray like a fountain across the Academy grounds, the recovery process was much faster.

Even so, the reality couldn’t be dismissed as merely having “fewer victims.”

Based on the fact that it had caused internal strife and nearly led people to kill each other, the Beholder summoned by the Holy Emperor was executed on the spot but was still designated as a Named Beast with the title “Pimpert of Distortion.”

The damage was severe enough to warrant such a designation.

Though no one had died, many were far from unharmed. Moreover, what was more devastated than bodies were human minds. The trauma was too overwhelming for immature mental fortitude to shake off, requiring considerable time just to return to daily life.

And it was obvious at a glance.

Students and faculty alike were missing from the Academy.

How many had dropped out? How many had changed their career paths, believing they could no longer fight on the front lines? How many still couldn’t return to daily life due to psychological issues?

If one were to estimate, the current military strength of the Principality had fallen even further.

The military forces lost during the Great Purge of Shit couldn’t be replaced. Even those who survived were unable to use magic as they once had.

In that case, it wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say that the Principality’s forces were essentially composed of Levrant Academy students—more current students than graduates.

“…”

Junon, feeling heavy-hearted, clenched his fist in frustration.

Dissatisfied that nothing had been resolved cleanly, he squeezed his fist so tightly that his veins bulged.

Approaching him was a former comrade who seemed relieved.

“We would all be dead if it weren’t for you.”

The sound of a sword clanking at her waist. Undoubtedly the Second Vanguard of Tembris, she delivered a heavy fact.

“It wouldn’t have just ended with death. We would have surrendered our magic completely and become food for the Holy Emperor, losing control of this principality. Isn’t it fortunate that didn’t happen? So unclench that fist.”

The swordswoman’s hand, covered in blisters, lightly tapped Junon’s hand with her scabbard.

He was about to tell her to drop it, but was taken aback by Senia’s clearly changed appearance.

The change was in her outward appearance—curiously, the hair color she had tried so hard to conceal.

“Oh, this? I’ve been telling people it’s magic cast by the Sirens. Maintaining the spell constantly drains my magic, so it’s not very efficient.”

“That’s not the issue, is it?”

“Well. Now that everyone knows the Holy Emperor summoned Pimpert, we need some good examples too.”

Senia nonchalantly turned her head, making her hair flow elegantly.

By now, Junon’s fingers had naturally extended toward Senia’s black hair, reflecting her familiar black pupils.

‘I see. I must be someone’s Calix too.’

To prevent negative perceptions, Senia had revealed that she was also a Calix of the Sirens.

He couldn’t help but touch it. That was the intention, after all.

“Compared to the past you know, how is it now?”

This time she asked quite directly.

If anyone had noticed how white his knuckles had turned when he clenched his fist earlier, excuses wouldn’t work, even if it wasn’t Senia.

Objectively, considering all aspects of the Principality…

“I might be overestimating, but I think if you hadn’t stepped up, we’d be cleaning up corpses right now.”

Her guess was accurate, as Junon seemed to think the same. This time, there was no evidence of the carnage that had occurred when friend and foe became indistinguishable throughout Levrant.

Even after miraculously defeating Pimpert, that place had been filled with rotting flesh of both lycans and humans.

But now there was no blood, no flesh, not even flocks of crows coming to feast.

None of these things could be seen.

“Think positively, senior. I… I came back thanks to you too.”

Charlotte, who had joined Senia, said the same thing as she took his hand.

She too had directly unleashed the beast within her small body to face the lycans, and if the battle had lasted any longer, she wouldn’t be walking around like this but would still be receiving treatment.

What the two were trying to say was clear.

They handled it well enough. That’s what they wanted to convey.

‘I’m sorry, but that’s not how I see it.’

One never knows what might happen until the very end.

Even if the major framework from before the regression didn’t change, variables were constantly emerging, requiring constant vigilance.

With a victim like Adel, there was no room for complacency a second time.

As if reading his mind, Senia struck right at the core of his concern.

“Ah, looking at him, I can tell he’s overthinking again. I don’t understand why you always have to be so negative.”

“I think I know what you mean. How should I put it? That… atmosphere of being constantly chased without a moment’s respite?”

“You hear that? If even Charlotte feels that way, you’re making a huge fuss. Even if you know what’s coming, things can change.”

Senia sighed deeply. Charlotte nodded firmly in strong agreement.

One drew her sword, showing how the magic had properly infused into the weapon.

It was a Shell-type magic armor.

The little girl also pulled out the artifact she never forgot to wear, slipping it onto her finger and spinning it like a hula hoop.

It was a sealing device to prevent going berserk.

“Professor Muniher made it for me. He says I probably won’t go berserk anymore. I might experience magic exhaustion a bit faster, but it’s fine since I can still use stimulants like ampoules or potions.”

“See? I got thoroughly beaten by Ronellion for a while. I think I was second after Michelle.”

The two confidently displayed their growth.

We’re preparing in our own way too. So don’t worry alone.

We won’t follow the same path as before.

That’s what they were answering.

“And you know, people aren’t consumables—they need to rest sometimes. You know that, right?”

“Huh?”

With a rustle, Senia held up a newspaper, blocking his view. The name of the top contributor to the Holy Emperor’s subjugation was written in large letters.

But focusing on the comment about humans not being consumables, another content in the newspaper caught his eye.

“Real Winter Parade…?”

Senia shrugged, indicating she didn’t know much about it either.

“Apparently they’re holding something like that. Since I was young… no, since I was in Korea, I never really liked snow. I’m not sure what it’s about, but apparently people here think snow is a good thing.”

“I’ll explain as we walk.”

Charlotte took the lead, her blue hair fluttering, while Senia pushed Junon, who was still standing there bewildered, from behind.

If asked what the biggest difference between the Artena Empire and the Ardelion Principality was, it would undoubtedly be the existence of the barrier cast by the Guide.

A barrier typically uses magic to impose restrictions or reduce the power of attacks.

But the barrier cast by the Guide wasn’t for such purposes.

Incredibly, it was a barrier that changed the climate.

It might sound impossible… but apparently it wasn’t.

“But even with such a favorable climate, there was a huge problem. Winter!”

“Winter? You mean the season winter that I know?”

“That’s right.”

The hexagonal barrier enveloped the entire Artena Empire, narrowing the large annual temperature variation to create a more livable climate, but winter was somehow the problem.

Why exactly, he didn’t know.

Junon glanced at Senia for a hint, but she shook her head too.

She didn’t know either. Apparently, Goden was the only one in Tembris who knew about this parade.

They arrived just in time at the place where the parade was being prepared.

Real Winter Parade.

If directly translated into Korean, it would be something like a “Prayer for Snow Festival” (祈雪祭), a bit different from a rain ritual.

But isn’t that a ceremony to pray for snow?

Snow is usually a nuisance—difficult to clear and causing roads to freeze.

Anyone who had lived as a Korean would think that, unless they still had a child’s sense of wonder. But… a festival? It seemed strange.

Yet everyone gathered at this place was united in wishing for snow.

People were hanging tags with their wishes on a huge tree, and winter sports equipment and toys like skates, sleds, and skis were lined up, ready to be used whenever snow fell.

‘Come to think of it… I think there was something like this last winter too.’

First year. Second year. He seemed to recall seeing this once each winter, back when no incidents had occurred.

“Winter should have snow, right? You can’t call it winter without snow. That’s why everyone wishes for it so much.”

The people of the Empire say that while living conditions improved after the barrier was created, they were dissatisfied that winter didn’t feel like winter.

The main reason residents migrated to the Principality was to experience winter with snow. Snow was that much of a symbol for them—something that made them feel like it was truly winter.

The reason for making wishes—the truly groundless belief that wishes would come true if snow fell.

But religion and faith are what humans lean on to escape reality momentarily.

Some people cling to their religion no matter how difficult things get. Some turn to their god even before losing their lives.

This small belief might be the pillar supporting the hearts of the Principality’s people.

It wasn’t strange at all.

“Oh, Junon’s face has finally relaxed a bit.”

“It must have been an interesting story.”

“Yeah, it is an interesting story.”

An interesting story indeed. Though it was a small superstition about snow, it didn’t feel bad at all.

Junon, lightening his complicated feelings a bit, tries to express his appreciation to Charlotte for bringing up this story.

In the past, Charlotte had always enjoyed having her head patted.

She probably still would. After all, what this child who had grown up too quickly wanted was the warm touch and praise of her comrades.

So Junon intended to place his hand on her blue hair and pat it.

But.

Just before his hand could touch Charlotte’s head, it suddenly moved elsewhere.

“”Eh?””

Not two, but three people.

All three of them let out a surprised sound.

His hand had moved to a silver rabbit who was somehow puffing her cheeks like a frog.