Chapter 16: The North – 1

“So, I hope everyone does their best in their respective positions.”

“Then, let us depart to wipe out the vile black mages and demons who are eating away at the Empire!”

After the Emperor personally came out and read the declaration, the knights—including us from the Holy Kingdom—set out.

The goal is the complete eradication of the black mages and demons settled in the Empire.

“It’s an honor to be with you, Knight of Isles.”

“The honor is mine, Dame Adele.”

With those words, Ariana entered the carriage.

Just like in the game’s storyline, Adele had joined our Saintess’s party.

To restore order in the Empire, we split into four groups.

Most of the paladins, including two High Priests, and the main force of the knights went east, where black mages had been frequently spotted.

To the west, where demons were most concentrated, the Sword Saint and a small number of paladins were dispatched.

In the south—relatively safer than the other regions—a moderate number of knights were stationed.

As for the north, where the Grand Duke of the North was managing things relatively well, Ariana, the knight order, and I were assigned.

Adele was included in the order heading north with us.

‘As long as everything goes according to plan.’

Our destination in the north, specifically the territory of Icecle—guarded by Grand Duke Polarr Icecle, known as the Iron Wall of the North—was a place of extreme cold and harsh conditions.

Because of that, neither black mages nor demons of average strength could survive there.

However, this meant that the demons who did inhabit the north were fewer in number, but had far more powerful physiques than those in other regions.

Usually, just a single swing of Grand Duke Polarr’s sword was enough to wipe them out, so the danger was kept under control to some extent.

But this world… this is a game world.

Ariana and Adele’s order arrived at the Icecle territory guarded by the Grand Duke.

Having already lost all the paladins under her command, Ariana, in shock, could no longer fight on the front lines and instead stayed behind to heal.

People trusted that the Grand Duke would handle everything on his own, so they didn’t criticize Ariana for this.

But such carelessness always leads to disaster.

One day, the Grand Duke’s daughter went missing.

Polarr climbed the ramparts to search for her, using his superhuman senses.

But in the end, he failed to find her.

While standing on the ramparts, he saw a demon with an ominous aura.

Caught between its teeth was a strand of snow-white hair that looked just like his daughter’s.

Enraged, Polarr clashed with the demon.

Having lost his daughter, Polarr unleashed strength beyond his normal limits, making their power nearly equal.

But the problem was that the demon, unlike the human Polarr, could rapidly regenerate from injuries.

In the end, Polarr succeeded in driving the demon back but fell into a coma.

Ariana, blaming herself, fell into a state of panic.

In that situation, it’s the protagonist’s job to comfort Ariana and help defeat the demon.

But the protagonist—Luin—is still unrepentant.

I was worried about how things would turn out.

Still, now that Ariana wouldn’t suffer another emotional shock, I believed we could somehow pull through.

Then all I needed to do… was save one person.

“Ace, is this your first time in the North? I heard rumors that the Icecle territory is so harsh that people new to it can freeze completely solid…!”

“Haha, don’t worry, Saintess. The Empire has provided us with plenty of support. At the very least, we won’t be freezing to death.”

“Is that so…?”

“Yes. So there’s no need to worry too much.”

“Then… ah, still, just in case, I’ll always remain alert and ready for anything! People say we can just rely on Grand Duke Polarr, but relying on just one person like that feels… wrong. It’s too much pressure.”

“Saintess…”

The way she looked at me as she spoke… it seemed like she was seeing a reflection of my past self.

Ah… Ariana really is an angel.

‘Luin, I’m going to get stronger and beat the hell out of you.’

How could you act so cruelly… to someone like Ariana?

Someone is so lovely that you don’t even dare to touch her.

It might be an unrealistic hope, but I really wish Ruined could learn something during this northern expedition.

‘Well, he’s still got a long way to go.’

For now, I still have to step in myself.

***

After spending a long time riding in the carriage.

“We’ve arrived! This is the Icecle family estate!”

At last, we arrived at the Icecle Territory, said to have the harshest environment in the Empire.

The moment the carriage door opened, a freezing wind—sharp enough to tear skin—brushed against my cheek.

‘Holy crap, it’s cold.’

Even though I had already received some gear to help with the cold, it was still freezing like hell.

A gray robe engraved with a temperature-raising enchantment, and a red gem that radiated heat.

They were the Empire’s best anti-cold gear, but even that couldn’t completely block out the chill of the Icecle Territory.

‘Ariana…’

I looked at Ariana, who had stepped down holding my hand.

“I-it’s so c-c-cold…!”

“S-Saintess!”

Seeing her trembling with her arms wrapped tightly around herself, I quickly placed my heated gem into her hands.

“Th-thank you, Ace…”

Looking a bit better, she gave me a grateful smile, but then suddenly snapped out of it and looked at me.

“Ace! What are you doing giving this to me?! You’re cold too…”

“Oh, I’m fine. Back in the slums, I used to sleep through cold winters without even a blanket. I’ve even slept in falling snow, so I can endure this much cold.”

That’s a lie. I’m freezing my ass off.

Sure, maybe my time in the slums made me a bit more numb to things than others, but that doesn’t change the fact that I’m cold.

‘Well, what can you do…’

It’s not like we have a bunch of those gems—just a fixed number.

If Ariana’s suffering from the cold that much, it’s better that I deal with a little more discomfort.

Anyway, the Icecle family estate.

Arrival complete.

“Thank you so much for coming to help us.”

As we were guided into the estate by the servants, the Grand Duke of the North, Polarr Icecle himself, came out to greet Ariana.

With snow-white hair and firm, dark eyes, he was a handsome middle-aged man.

His cold, ice-like demeanor was enough to intimidate anyone, but our Ariana was far from someone who would shrink back from that.

And besides, if he had tried to overwhelm us with pressure like the Emperor, maybe it would’ve been different, but instead, he sincerely welcomed us.

His expression was blank, but the servants inside the mansion were frantically busy.

That alone showed that, despite his blunt exterior, Polarr truly cherished his people.

According to the game’s description, he felt both relief and joy at the visit of the Saintess,
who had the power to heal those who followed him.

“It’s nothing. Demons are wicked beings who defy the will of the Goddess and steal the lives of innocent people. There’s no way we could sit out when it comes to hunting them down. We’re deeply grateful to you, Grand Duke, for holding them back all this time.”

“I only did what I could—wielding my sword is all I know.”

“Fufu, in such a cold place, I see there’s someone with an endlessly warm heart.”

“It’s an honor to hear you say tha—”

Just then, during their warm exchange.

BANG! THUD! CRASH!

From somewhere far off—presumably the kitchen—a series of loud crashes rang out, cutting the conversation short.

While Ariana tilted her head and looked toward the source of the noise in curiosity,
Polarr narrowed his eyes, looking like he had a headache.

I, too, looked toward the kitchen with confusion, and that’s when it happened, someone dashed out from the kitchen at incredible speed.

“!!”

Startled by the sheer speed, I immediately drew my shotel and stepped in front of Ariana.

Claaang…

“What the—fast, huh?”

In the blink of an eye, a woman had grabbed my shotel mid-swing.

“Kyaa!”

Ariana nearly fell back in surprise, but I caught her with my left arm.

Then I pointed my shotel right back at the woman.

“Who are you?”

There was nothing in the game about what happened when Ariana met Polarr, so I raised my guard and glared sharply at the woman before me.

Snow-white hair… and blue eyes—wait, white hair?

A sinking suspicion crept in, and I turned toward Polarr.

My gaze asked, “Could it be?”

And slowly, Polarr gave a slight nod.

I withdrew my shotel and asked the woman in front of me.

“Are you… by any chance, your name?”

“Karmen Icecle. That guy’s my dad.”

“…Hm.”

Please, please let the reason she died in the game not be what I just witnessed.

“Anyway, the Saintess’s last name is different?
It’s seriously fine as hell.”

“…You irreverent wretch—!”