Northern Grand Duke (2)

The snowstorm of the Snowy Mountain stopped. Frostguard’s training grounds were covered in frost.

The Frostwolf Knights surrounded the training grounds. Armors engraved with the white wolf emblem shone in unison.

Even ordinary citizens gathered in droves to see the outsider who would duel with the Grand Duke.

“I’m still not used to this cold, you know.”

She slowly drew her sword. Instantly, the surrounding temperature plummeted. Ice crystals bloomed in the air.

“This is the Frost Sword ‘Wintersbane’. It’s one of Frostguard’s symbols, imbued with the will of the successive Grand Dukes.”

I also summoned the Holy Sword. The warm light of dawn spread out.

[Ha! You’re going to pit that icicle against me?]

‘Shut up.’

“Indeed, the famous Holy Sword. But here…”

Her sword gleamed.

“Neither Holy Sword nor Hero has any meaning!”

The duel began. Ice crystals bloomed with every trajectory her Frost Sword drew. Dozens of ice blades shot out with a single slash.

It was the Ice Sword Technique inherited by the successive Northern Grand Dukes. Frostguard’s inherited martial art. A deadly swordsmanship resembling the fangs of a Frostwolf.

‘Cold.’

I barely managed to block it with the Holy Sword. The warm light of dawn melted the frost.

Kiara’s sword gleamed again. This time, a downward strike from above.

Giant ice pillars rose along the trajectory drawn by the Frost Sword.

“Are you trembling?”

“No, I’m observing.”

I focused on defense. Evading and blocking with minimal movement. It was to grasp the characteristics of the Frost Sword.

“Ha! You said you weren’t a runaway, right? But are you just going to keep dodging?”

Kiara’s sword moved as if dancing. There were dozens of variations in a single attack.

“I’m still warming up.”

I moved as if gliding on the ice. Adjusting the distance while melting the frost with the light of the Holy Sword.

Kiara’s gaze sharpened. The chill emanating from the sword intensified.

“Warming up… I’ll take that as an insult.”

Her sword moved again. This time, imbued with an even sharper chill.

The ground froze with every step Kiara took.

Frostguard’s history, her mental image, dominated the natural chill.

The Holy Sword Dawn shone. My arm, which had been paralyzed by the chill, gradually regained sensation.

“I’m starting to feel a bit warmed up now? It’s less cold than before.”

I took a step forward. The light of the Holy Sword grew even more intense.

“Show me more, the fortitude of the North.”

“Not yet!”

Kiara’s pupils wavered. My relaxed attitude seemed to have touched her pride.

The Frost Sword slashed through the air. But this time, I blocked it easily. My body, adapted to the chill, moved naturally.

“Is this all of Frostguard?”

In that instant, the fur draped over Kiara’s shoulders rippled. Her blue eyes gleamed like a wolf’s.

“How dare you…”

A cold aura exploded outward.

The wolf fur draped over her shoulders trembled.

The fur began to move as if alive. It transformed into the form of a giant wolf, imbued with frost, rising from behind Kiara.

The giant Frostwolf, Fenrir.

“No way.”

Frostguard’s guardian spirit materialized. A giant wolf with blue eyes guarded Kiara’s side.

[This is getting interesting, isn’t it? Let’s cut down that mutt too!]

The Holy Sword spoke in an excited voice. Wait, is it really a Holy Sword? Even if it’s a Holy Sword, is its essence still a sword, so it likes cutting things down?

Keureureu-

Fenrir snarled and charged. The chill of the Frost Sword and the wolf’s frenzied attacks formed a perfect harmony.

“Haa!”

Kiara’s sword gleamed, and Fenrir’s claws tore through the air. Double and triple attacks continued relentlessly.

But blocking them wasn’t difficult. It was actually becoming more fun.

I evaded the attacks with minimal movement. When Kiara’s sword passed by, I blocked the chill with the Holy Sword. When Fenrir’s claws approached, I stepped aside slightly.

“Hero-nim, you seem to have plenty of余裕 (yeoyu, leeway).”

Kiara’s voice turned cold.

The Frost Sword slowly pointed towards the sky. The Frostwolf circled around her, howling.

“Frostguard’s pride… I’ll show you my full power.”

The surrounding temperature plummeted. The will of the successive Grand Dukes resided in the Frost Sword.

In that instant, the space froze. A chill swept through that made it difficult to even breathe.

‘This is…’

An Ice Sword Technique that materialized her mental image. Frostguard’s guardian, Kiara’s will, dominated the surroundings.

In an instant, the surrounding space completely froze. A pain as if my lungs were freezing with every breath washed over me.

“The tenacity of the North… the will of the North….”

Kiara’s Frost Sword rotated and slashed through the air.

Ice crystals bloomed as if dancing with every step she took. Frostguard’s history, her mental image, unfolded.

“That is the fang of the Frostwolf!”

Her sword shone in the raging blizzard. Like a wolf howling under the moonlight, the cold swirled.

“Indeed… the title of Hero isn’t just for show.”

I barely managed to block it with the Holy Sword, but the chill climbed up my arm. Even as the light of dawn melted the ice, the chill created by Kiara’s mental image continued to surge in.

“Eueup…”

The light of the Holy Sword tried to melt the chill, but it was not enough. Should I take out the Demon Sword? Should I sweep them all away?

‘No, I don’t think it’s necessary to go that far.’

The characteristic of my aura is ‘harmony’. My gray aura accepted and adapted to the chill.

The light of dawn and my aura began to adapt to the cold created by Kiara’s Ice Sword Technique.

The white slash emitted by the Holy Sword collided with the absolute zero chill. But the world was no longer cold.

“Is that enough?”

After blocking Kiara’s ultimate move, a question suddenly arose.

She was definitely strong. But….

‘She drew with a Heavenly King?’

Something was strange. I don’t think she’s that strong.

[Haru-nim, finish off that icicle!]

“Why bother?”

Kiara’s Frost Sword once again emitted an absolute zero chill. But this time, I pushed it back even more easily.

‘There’s no point in winning here…’

It wouldn’t be wise to tarnish the Grand Duke’s reputation in the Grand Duchy. In the first place, this is a duel, and if I really wanted to win, I would have taken out the Demon Sword.

I needed her help to fight the Heavenly Kings in the future.

“Grand Duke-nim. Let’s… stop here.”

I sheathed the Holy Sword and took a step back. Kiara also lowered her Frost Sword. Fenrir slowly returned to being fur.

We confirmed each other’s strength. There was no need to force a victory.

“I’ve seen the power of Frostguard. Truly befitting of the guardian of the North.”

I deliberately raised my voice. So that the surrounding knights and citizens could hear.

Kiara’s blue eyes turned to me. Her gaze was still cold, but a hint of bewilderment flashed across them.

“It is because of this power that Frostguard has been able to stand as the last bastion of the North.”

The surrounding knights relaxed. Armors engraved with the Frostwolf emblem shone with pride.

“The will of the Frost Sword and Fenrir that protect the Snowy Mountains… indeed, it’s enough to make even the Heavenly Kings hesitate to invade.”

Her expression subtly wavered. Did she react to the word Heavenly Kings?

“I’ll propose it again. I’m certain that if we combine our strength, we can defeat the Heavenly Kings and end this cold winter.”

Kiara’s gaze sharpened. Did she notice my intentions?

“Hero-nim. I’m sorry, but my opinion remains unchanged. We don’t need help. Just as we have until now…”

But I ignored her words and turned to the people.

“Everyone, proud citizens of Frostguard.”

I raised my voice. Towards those who filled the training grounds.

“You have endured well until now. In the eternal winter, in the threat of the demons…”

I paused for a moment and looked around. Everywhere my gaze reached, eyes starved for hope sparkled.

“But now, things can change.”

I turned my head towards Kiara. I met her cold blue eyes.

“I, the Hero, have seen it myself. The Grand Duke-nim’s power. The will of the Frost Sword and Fenrir…”

A small cheer erupted from the surroundings. The knights’ armors shone with pride.

“I have already defeated two Heavenly Kings. So I know.”

I raised my voice even louder.

“With the Grand Duke-nim’s power… with Frostguard’s power, if our strength becomes one…!”

A small commotion spread among the citizens.

I paused for a moment and looked at the citizens.

“Your will! That strength that has not been broken even in this cold!”

The training grounds were filled with cheers. Kiara’s expression twisted complexly, but it was already too late.

“Frostguard! Now is the time to counterattack! If we are together… we can end the eternal winter.”

It was the final blow. The citizens’ hope, the knights’ pride, and Kiara’s choice.

Her blue eyes wavered. She seemed to have noticed my strategy of driving her into an unavoidable choice.

But it was already too late. Because the surrounding atmosphere had completely changed.

“I need time to think.”

Kiara’s voice rang out coldly. But it was already too late.

“The Hero-nim is right!”

A knight stepped forward. Armor engraved with the Frostwolf emblem shone brilliantly.

“We need an opportunity. Grand Duke-nim!”

Another knight agreed. One by one, voices grew louder.

“If the Hero-nim and the Grand Duke-nim join forces…”

“Now we can also face the Heavenly Kings…”

“A new era for Frostguard…”

A citizen’s whisper was heard from the edge of the training grounds.

“Will it finally end? This eternal winter too…”

“We’re not afraid of the Heavenly Kings either!”

Hopeful murmurs spread among the citizens. Their gazes turned to Kiara. Eyes full of expectation and longing.

It may not mean anything to Kiara that I’m a Hero, but to ordinary people, the Hero is still a symbol of hope.

“Hoo…”

Kiara let out a deep sigh.

The citizens’ expectations piled up one by one. Their hope, their desperation, their earnestness, began to bind Kiara.

Complex emotions flashed across her face.

A situation where she wanted to refuse but couldn’t. The public sentiment was already on my side.

“Hero-nim. Was this what you were aiming for from the beginning?”

Her voice was as cold as ice.

“I was just…”

“Fine.”

Kiara cut off my excuse and extended her hand.

“Let’s work together. The Heavenly King hunt.”

“I look forward to working with you.”

I took Kiara’s hand. A cold body temperature was transmitted.

“Likewise.”

Her tone was polite, but her gaze was still sharp.