Northern Grand Duke

“This is… Frostguard, huh.”

Each step I took, my feet sank deep into the snow. The cold blizzard scratched at my face, but my gaze remained fixed on the towering castle walls in the distance.

The castle walls, carved entirely from a snow mountain, were impossibly high. A frost wolf banner fluttered above the gate. The emblem of a white wolf howling. With each flap in the wind, it felt as if I could hear the wolf’s cry.

“To think people can live in a place like this…”

Below the castle walls, a cityscape unfolded. Buildings made of ice stood in neat rows. The people passing through the streets were all wearing thick fur coats.

White smoke rose from various parts of the city. Stoves were set up throughout the streets, and people gathered around them, sharing stories.

“Even if Aris is pissed, she wouldn’t follow me all the way here.”

Aris is a dragon type… no, a dragon itself, so she hates the cold.

“Have I finally found a safe place…”

That was a funny joke. To use the word ‘safe’ in the front lines targeted by the Demon King’s army.

I raised my right hand. A cold chill wrapped around the back of my left hand. The magic sword ‘Twilight.’

A small smile spread across my lips. Now that I’ve got a proper weapon, I need to test it against a worthy opponent.

“The Four Heavenly Kings, huh… not bad.”

There couldn’t be a better test.

Defense forces were patrolling the city streets. They were all elite soldiers who looked to have plenty of combat experience.

Their weapons were unique in shape, with long handles and something attached to the end. One side was a sharp spear, the other looked like a pickaxe. Was it called an ice-breaker spear?

The conversation between the patrols reached my ears.

“I heard the Legion of Extreme Cold attacked again.”

“That’s the third time this month alone.”

“Don’t worry. We have the Grand Duke-nim, don’t we?”

It was a voice full of pride. The patrol’s eyes changed.

“Right. As long as the Grand Duke-nim is here, Frostguard is invincible.”

“I heard even the Demon King’s Four Heavenly Kings run away with their tails between their legs when they see the Grand Duke-nim!”

‘Kiara Frostguard.’

The strongest guardian of the North. A hero who faced the Four Heavenly Kings alone without a hero party.

Our party defeated two of the Four Heavenly Kings, but that was with the best possible members assembled.

To face a Heavenly King alone and come to a draw… that’s insane.

I walked along the castle walls, examining the defenses. Magic circles engraved throughout the walls emitted a blue light.

“You should have seen how awesome the Grand Duke-nim was back then…”

A merchant was telling a story to some customers.

“When one of the Four Heavenly Kings charged all the way to the castle gate, the Grand Duke-nim faced him with just a frost sword. And she was only eighteen years old at the time.”

“Really? She faced a Heavenly King at that age?”

“I can’t forget those eyes. Cold as ice on the outside, but with a fire burning inside…”

Fatigue washed over me. I turned my gaze and saw a cathedral.

“Might as well take a break here.”

Even in the desolate North, cathedrals are warm to heroes. Like a Pokémon Center.

*

As soon as dawn broke, a Frostguard escort came to find me. I was still rubbing the sleep from my eyes.

“Hero-nim, the Grand Duke-nim requests an audience.”

The sleepiness vanished instantly.

‘Did she already figure out who I am?’

Looks like my arrival yesterday was discovered. Well, it’s only natural. With this level of security, there’s no way they wouldn’t know.

I followed the escort to the castle. The massive building made of ice and stone exuded an aura of intimidation.

“Please wait here for a moment.”

Another escort greeted us at the main gate. The frost wolf emblem engraved on his armor glowed blue.

After a short wait, I was led inside the castle. An endless cold marble corridor stretched out. The wolf emblems painted on the walls seemed to move as if they were alive.

‘This castle itself is a fortress.’

Magic circles engraved throughout the corridor glowed faintly. Defensive magic was woven tightly.

“Before you meet the Grand Duke-nim, let me give you a piece of advice…”

The escort who was guiding me hesitated for a moment before speaking.

“Please refrain from unnecessary words. The Grand Duke-nim… is not very patient.”

When we arrived in front of the audience chamber, a massive ice door unfolded before my eyes. The moment I grabbed the handle engraved with the frost wolf, a chill wrapped around my entire body.

Beyond the widely opened door, a frost-like cold energy poured out. It was a chill that felt like it could freeze your lungs just by breathing it in. Of course, I’m fine though.

She stood in front of a huge map hanging on the wall. She moved ice markers one by one on the map, reviewing tactics.

“Hero-nim, welcome.”

Kiara Frostguard.

Silver hair that reached her shoulders harmonized with her pale skin. Ice-like, transparent blue eyes turned towards me.

The armor engraved with the frost wolf emblem added to her dignity. The white wolf fur draped over her shoulders fluttered slightly in the wind.

Kiara didn’t step back from the map. Instead, she picked up another ice piece.

“Perfect timing.”

She placed the piece on the eastern castle wall and continued.

“This is our current defensive line. As you can see…”

The gesture of coldly tapping the ice piece with her fingertip conveyed the dignity of a ruler. It was the very image of a guardian commanding the battlefield.

“The Legion of Extreme Cold is targeting this point. But…”

Kiara moved the piece to the center and gave a cold smile.

“I’m guarding this place. That’s enough.”

Her gaze swept over me. It felt like being grazed by an ice blade.

“For the Hero-nim to come all the way to this remote place, I’m both pleased and… puzzled. Perhaps… you’re running away from someone?”

A cold smile formed on her lips.

“Just… traveling.”

“Traveling? The hero who’s supposed to defeat the Demon King?”

Kiara’s eyes sharpened.

“Or… are you running away from something even scarier than the Demon King?”

“Does it look that way?”

“It’s not difficult to distinguish the eyes of a runaway.”

Kiara approached slowly. The chilling cold grew stronger and stronger.

“Here, where we fight the Demon King’s army every day… a runaway can’t survive even a single day.”

Kiara’s blue eyes focused on me.

“I don’t know what you’re running away from, but…”

She took a step closer. Ice crystals bloomed on the floor.

“This is not a place for you to hide.”

The meaning behind those words was clear. Frostguard was not a refuge for runaways, but a fortress for warriors.

“A runaway… that’s an interesting misunderstanding.”

“I came here to fight, Grand Duke-nim. Not to run away.”

“Ha. And so? What do you intend to fight?”

“The Four Heavenly Kings.”

Her eyes flickered slightly.

“An interesting proposal. So… the hero-nim will subjugate the Four Heavenly Kings? For the sake of our Frostguard?”

Kiara’s voice was laced with an icy chill.

“Not necessarily ‘for the sake of’.”

I shrugged.

“I’m bored, and I heard there are some good opponents around…”

The temperature in the audience chamber dropped sharply at my words. A dangerous aura flashed in Kiara’s blue eyes.

“Good opponents….”

“Well, I do have experience defeating two of the Four Heavenly Kings already.”

A cold smile formed on Kiara’s lips.

“I don’t enjoy fighting like you do.”

“No, it’s not that I enjoy it either…”

“We don’t enjoy fighting in Frostguard. We only fight because we have to.”

Kiara’s fingertip pointed to the eastern castle wall.

“Do you see that? That’s where we fought the Legion of Extreme Cold yesterday. There’s still blood mixed in with the ice.”

A strange emotion was laced in her voice.

“The Four Heavenly Kings are… good opponents?”

Kiara slowly turned her head. Her blue eyes shone coldly like moonlight.

“You wouldn’t understand. Because you weren’t raised here…”

Her gaze turned towards the empty air. As if she were tracing back to an old memory.

“Do you hear the sound of the wind? That’s not just a blizzard, it’s the screams of the dead. Those who fell fighting the Four Heavenly Kings for decades…”

Kiara’s voice trembled for a moment. But she quickly regained her cold expression.

“If you’re looking for opponents to fight, I’d recommend somewhere else. This place… is just a place to fight to survive.”

I must have touched a nerve. I could feel an old wound in her tone.

“Hero-nim, what we desire… is not victory. It’s just protecting what’s ours… that’s all.”

The ice piece in her hand glowed faintly. As if the souls of countless fallen warriors were dwelling within it.

Kiara slowly turned her body. The wolf fur swayed coldly.

“I heard Frostguard wasn’t this cold in the old days… Isn’t it because of the Four Heavenly Kings? If we just get rid of them…”

“Enough. Take your heroic tales somewhere else.”

“I was just trying to help…”

“You’re going to help us… save us from this terrible cold… Hero-nim. Perhaps you see us as… weaklings in need of help?”

Kiara’s tone was sharp. Did I just step on the pride of the Northerners?

“Our Frostguard has been holding off the attacks of the Four Heavenly Kings until now. Without your help. This isn’t the empire that cherishes you. Nor is it a weak country that needs the hero’s blessing. Don’t talk as if you know everything about this place just because you’re a hero.”

It’s not because I’m a hero, it’s because I know the original story….

“Help… then my sister too…”

Kiara muttered and stopped talking. Her eyes flickered for a moment. I didn’t miss the emotion that flashed in her blue eyes. Something… like an old wound.

“We have our own way. The status of a hero doesn’t work in Frostguard. Here, you’re just a warrior with a sword.”

She walked to the window. The castle walls were faintly visible in the blizzard.

Kiara’s voice turned cold.

“If you want to stay here, forget the title of hero. This is a place where we speak with skill.”

I’ve been solving everything with the name of hero until now.

The blizzard raged outside the window. The frost wolf banner fluttered fiercely above the castle walls.

“If you want to prove it…”

Her hand reached for the sword at her waist. The frost-covered scabbard glowed faintly.

“Tomorrow at noon, in the training grounds. Show me in person.”

Kiara’s cold gaze was still fixed on me. The pride of the Northerners was etched within it.

Challenge, or leave.

There were only two choices.