episode_0121

“Oh my… .”

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Even though quite some time had passed since they discovered Assis, the cheers never ceased. I understood their feelings, but I wanted to get out of this cold place as soon as possible.

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“Hargran. The Flame of Magmar.”

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“Huh? Oh, I was going to do that anyway!”

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Hargran, who had been staring blankly, suddenly came to his senses.

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“Hey! How long are you going to stand there like an idiot? Get your bag!”

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“Yes, Captain!”

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The dwarves who had been carrying bags larger than themselves throughout the march came forward. It was a special container containing the molten magmar.

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This ice crystal that imprisons Assis can only be melted with the molten magmar, since it was imprisoned by a dragon.

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“You can sprinkle it on the correction.”

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“If you do that, the princess inside will get hurt… .”

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I haven’t even said who I am yet, but they’re already calling me a princess. Anyway, I know right away that she’s a princess, so I’m not sure if she’s a dwarf.

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“It’s okay, just spray it. If you don’t spray it directly, it won’t melt.”

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The dwarves hesitated with uncertain expressions for a long time, then reluctantly began to sprinkle the molten metal.

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The boiling red-hot molten iron touches the crystal. Sizzle – steam shoots out. The ground melts as the molten iron flows down.

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Even so, the ice crystal that imprisoned Assis did not show any significant change. It was only melting little by little.

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“It doesn’t even melt in the molten metal of Magmar. What, is there something like this? Who the hell is this woman, and how did you know she’s in a place like this? What the hell is going on?”

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“No big deal. The hill above this cave is actually the dragon’s nest. It’s called Dragon Lair, and she’s the spoils the dragon brought.”

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“What, what is this skinny little bastard? Dragon Lair?”

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The dwarves are in an uproar.

The humans who were confident that they could handle any demon that appeared before departure turned pale when they heard the word dragon.

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“Why is that? People of the same class should be friends.”

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“Can we be friends with those reptilian bastards who steal the trinkets we made all day long! I thought it was strange. The rascal was planning to sell us to the dragons!”

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“Oh, that’s groundless. It’s clearly the dragon’s rare here, but you can’t even see the dragon’s nose. It’s away. If you take care of business before you come back, you won’t know.”

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At some point I winked at the dwarves whose hands had stopped.

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“What are you doing, hurry up and don’t move. Do you want to be a dragon popcorn? It would be plump and delicious.”

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The dwarves started to hurriedly sprinkle molten metal again. Little by little, the crystals were definitely shrinking in volume.

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Even the liquid from the heart of Magmar could barely dissolve it, so anything else wouldn’t have even scratched it.

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A smoky cloud fills the cave.

The cold is gone thanks to the hot air.

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It feels quite nice, like being in a sauna, with a cool yet hot feeling.

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The dwarves’ hands, who were pouring molten iron as if they were scooping buckets of water from a burning house, gradually slowed down and soon stopped. They poured out all the molten iron they had brought.

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“It’s all swollen.”

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“Okay. Let’s wait now.”

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The crystal melts and becomes thinner. Between the cracks, Assis’s hair falls out in wisps, like a frozen valley melting and releasing trickles of water.

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‘caution….’

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Avoid the hole that has been melted by the solution and approach the crystal. Carefully take out the sleeping Assis and bring her into the princess’ arms.

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Only then did Assis come into my arms.

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“Are you still alive?”

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“Of course. I was just forced into hibernation.”

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It’s very subtle, but it’s definitely breathing.

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Assis, who is sleeping soundly just a few feet away. It may be a new thing to say, but seeing the real thing right in front of my nose is truly admirable.

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Thin, long eyelashes that cast shadows on the eyelids. Skin that is so white that it is as transparent and smooth as glass.

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Her hair, which is pure white but has a hint of blue, is as delicate as snowflakes and shines as cold as frost. Like a statue decorated with ice.

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In line with its characteristics, its body temperature is extremely low.

It’s as cold as hugging a block of ice.

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I was so worried that I thought, ‘What if I hold it like this and it melts?’

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“Huh?”

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As I stared at Assis, the dwarves also lifted their claws and showed interest.

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“Why are you guys like that?”

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“What. Can’t we take a look too?”

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I lifted Assis a little higher so they couldn’t see.

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“No, you can’t. Because you are a woman who will be my slave. If you see it too much, it will wear out.”

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“Hey, you skinny bastard. You want to take that pretty girl as your slave? Did that girl commit a sin worthy of death in her past life?”

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“I saved the world. Thanks to you, I met this kind master.”

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“What could possibly be in your head that could make you so shameless? I’m going to split your head open someday.”

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He carried Assis on his back, letting the news of Hargran’s front porch flow out of one ear. He covered her with Hargran’s coat.

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“Okay, shall we go back to a warm place?”

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***

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cold.

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Assis was the name of a mountain man who carried a curse all his life.

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No matter how many layers of clothing you wear, the cold air seeps into your skin, and when you expose yourself to fire, the curse that has frozen your soul reacts and sends out cold air.

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As if he was not allowing life to enjoy the warmth it deserves.

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Asia does not know warmth.

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Physically as well.

Emotionally too.

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Assis’s eyelids fluttered once and then slowly began to open. His eyes, with their characteristic winter blue hue, revealed themselves.

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The walls are as calm and cold as a winter lake. Not even the slightest trembling, not even a hint of emotion leaking out.

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The eyes, which only show a languid light, blink a couple of times, reflecting the world like the surface of a mirror.

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This is the world that Assis saw for the first time after waking up from a long hibernation.

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“Hello?”

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It was Karami who smiled gently.

That wasn’t the end of it.

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“Oh, you’re finally awake! Are you awake?”

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A small, thick voice brushed past Assis’s ears. Slowly, she turned her eyes and the seven dwarves surrounding her came into view.

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“You are a princess with very clear eyes. The blue color suits you very well.”

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Urgdar spoke with affectionate voice. Hearing those words, the other dwarves leaned in to get a closer look.

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“Move your face over there, Urgdar. I want to see it too.”

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“I brought you, kids. Get out of the way, you all!”

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While Roxar and Hargran were bickering, Ulbram smiled as he looked at Thorvar, who was standing one step behind him.

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“Friend, why didn’t you try to save such a lovely woman?”

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“… … .”

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Thorvar is speechless.

Hergen, known as the immortal blacksmith, was quick-witted.

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“It’s late to say this, but I was actually in favor from the beginning. If a slave trader had asked me, I would have taken off my shoes and helped him. Well, that’s true.”

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The seven dwarves showed no consideration for the princess who had just woken up from the ice and kept sticking their faces out to make their presence known.

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A huge, messy bedroom.

Suspicious middle-aged men are approaching.

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A normal woman would have screamed in shock, but Assis showed no reaction.

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“… … ?”

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The Ice Princess, who doesn’t even know how long she’s been asleep, shows no sign of surprise. She just blinks slowly and tilts her head slightly.

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“Isn’t the princess surprised? Please leave, you’re disturbing me.”

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“You skinny bastard. What right do you have to tell us to leave?”

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“I am her master. I have a duty to protect my slave from suspicious men. So get out of here. Go do your favorite blacksmithing job.”

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“This bastard who hasn’t even dried his blood…!”

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Ulbram stopped Hargran, who was about to rush at him as if he was going to grab him by the collar.

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“Come on, let’s all go now. It’s not like today is the only day, and if the old people surround the princess, she’ll get confused. Let’s call it a day.”

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“Tsk. Okay, I get it. Hey, princess. If this brat tries to do something stupid, scream. I’ll come running right over to him. ”

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The masters leave the private room as if they were being kicked out.

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Only Assis and Karami remain.

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“Anyway, I know it’s pretty.”

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Each race has a different standard of beauty. In particular, the aesthetic sense of dwarves is very different from that of humans.

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They prefer thick builds and consider beards to be cool. Female dwarves are not much different, except for their beards. Tightly braided hair suits their aesthetic sense.

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In other words, Assis, with her long, thin hair like thread and her slender, delicate body that looks like it could break if touched, is the exact opposite of the dwarf’s aesthetic sense.

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And yet, it looks like that. Beauty that goes beyond the limit seems to transcend race. Karami can only smile at the fact that such Asies is her slave.

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Of course, just thinking about the process of freeing her makes my eyes go dark. But I have to do it one step at a time.

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“Can you understand what I’m saying?”

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“… … .”

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“If you understand, blink three times.”

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Assis blinked slowly.

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once.

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… .

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One more time.

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… .

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And one last time.

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It took Assis three times for a full ten seconds. It was so slow that it wouldn’t have been strange if he had been so frustrated that he was about to burst, but Karami paid no attention and continued to smile.

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“Okay. Let me introduce myself. My name is Karami. I am a slave trader and the princess’s master.”

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“… ?”

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“Princess is my slave. My former master. Do you understand?”

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Assis, who had been tilting his head repeatedly, nodded slowly. It was a reaction that left one uncertain as to whether he understood or not.

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“I’ve introduced myself, so now it’s time for the princess to introduce herself. Could you tell me your name?”

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Assis just blinked his eyes for a long time without any response. About a minute had passed like that.

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“… … CS… .”

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Assis’ lips, which were pale pink due to lack of pigment, opened slightly.

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“AS… …free…ana.”

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“Okay, Miss Assis. Who are you?”

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“… … Rami… ?”

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Karami snaps his fingers.

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“No, no. My name is Karamigo, and I am the owner of Miss Asies. Who am I?”

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“Rami… .”

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It seems that the accident has frozen because it has been in the ice for too long. Karami’s unexpected vocabulary lesson has begun.

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“Shall we follow along one by one? First, Ka.”

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“ka.”

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“Okay. Next is La.”

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“mi.”

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“mi… ?”

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“… … Rami?”

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“?”

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“… ?”

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Two people look at each other and tilt their heads.

Did it go well?

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“Who am I?”

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“Rami.”

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“… Just call me master.”

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“Yeah… … Rami.”

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Karami closed her eyes tightly.

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It was around that time that I realized something was more wrong than I thought.

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