＜ 139. Come Spring (4) ＞
#139
Ice shards scattered. The body of the imprisoned witch leaned forward. Ronan, holding her with both arms, clenched his teeth.
“Wow, it’s terribly cold.”
It felt like I was hugging a block of ice naked. Even the thick coat couldn’t stop the cold seeping from her body. Seeing the witch’s face, Ronan shrugged his eyebrows.
‘Appearance is just plain.’
Evelyn was wearing the same black robe that Asher wore. A yellow badge was hung from the sleeve, symbolizing that he was a freshman in the Phileon Magic Department.
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Maybe it’s because she’s not grown up yet, but the feeling was quite different from the witches she’d seen in a previous life. She was just a cute girl. If it weren’t for the damn cold and bleached white hair, it was a face that would have charmed a boy from Phileon.“Hey, calm down.”
Ronan shook the witch’s shoulder. No answer came back. The little head shook like an accessory attached to the body. Suddenly, an ominous feeling crossed my mind.
‘Isn’t he dead?’
Ronan hastily placed her index finger under the witch’s nose. Fortunately, I felt a slight breath in and out. His body was also pale without blood, but there were no visible wounds.
“Damn it, I have a lot to ask you.”
However, it was difficult to see that he was in good condition when he continued to be unconscious. Ronan, who muttered a curse, took off his coat and put it on the witch.
“Uhhh.”
It’s a shame because itargand has raised the temperature. Otherwise, the ribs would have been frozen. While they were fastening the buttons one by one, Erzebet’s voice was heard from behind.
“Ronan-sama…?”
After that, the surroundings were quiet. Ronan turned his head. Everyone, including her, stood still as if they had taken root on the floor.
Itargand was also staring blankly at the shards of ice scattered on the floor. The silence lasted another thirty seconds. The inquisitor who had guided him jumped up and shouted.
“Uh, uh, the ice is broken!”
A hoarse voice echoed through the empty space. It was then that people opened their mouths. The murmur, which grew louder and louder, exploded in admiration.
“Hey, the witch’s shell is broken!”
“Oh my God, did you cut it with that sword?!”
“I, I haven’t seen either…!”
With all the fuss, they started discussing the miracle they had seen. It was not easy to approach because the witch was scary. Erzebet, who took a step slowly, stopped in front of the witch.
“…Evelyn.”
Erzebet touched the wound on her neck. It looked like he was biting his lips, so his emotions were complicated. After taking a deep breath several times, she opened her mouth.
“I didn’t see it at all. What did you do?”
“I just cut it with a knife.”
“Is that all?”
“ok.”
“··· Even after two years, you are still the same.”
Erzebet shook her head as if tired of it. This was also the case in the Tower of Dawn. Suddenly, loud footsteps echoed from the other side of the hallway.
When I turned my gaze, five or six people in bird-beaked masks were running towards me. Judging by his attire, he looked like an inquisitor like Karaka.
“···Oh My God. The report was true.”
The inquisitors who looked around were scattered and started their own work. Some started picking up ice shards and putting them in a box, while others began to scribble hard in a notebook.
The man who had been watching the scene for the longest time approached Ronan. The mask in the shape of an owl was impressive. He opened his mouth, looking at Ronan and the witch alternately.
“This is Special Inquisitor Ahja. Are you the one who broke the shell?”
“yes.”
Ronan nodded shyly. After a moment of surprise, the man asked the question again.
“What is your name and affiliation?”
“I’m Ronan from Phileon Academy.”
“okay. Ronan, you have done a great job. I just got a call from the system.”
“What’s going on?”
“They say the snow has stopped.”
Ronan’s eyes widened. He delivered the message that the snow that had been pouring for a year had stopped and the blue sky had been revealed. I didn’t expect things to be resolved so quickly.
Inquisitor Ahja gave a brief description of the process and the rewards he would receive. As the story progressed, the frequency of Ronan’s laughter increased. Perhaps because it was a big event, the scale of the compensation was beyond imagination. Ahja, who once again expressed his gratitude, continued.
“Perhaps sooner or later, you will receive a call from the Imperial Palace. I think you should wait with a relaxed mind.”
“Nimi, are you meeting the Emperor?”
“He is a hero who brought spring back to the island, so it is natural. No matter how bad it is, we will have dinner together.”
Ronan smirked as if he was stunned. He had never seen the emperor in person in his two lives. Ahja, who had delivered all the contents, pulled out a black rope from his waist.
“Then would you please step back for a moment? I will arrest the Witch of Winter.”
“Oh, wait a minute.”
“Why?”
“I have something to ask him personally. I think I need to calm myself down first, can you wait for me?”
Ahza’s face hardened. After five seconds of rigidity, he opened his mouth.
“…that is difficult. Evelyn Droja’s status is a true prisoner. We can’t leave a vicious criminal who knows what to do.”
“How could there be no way?”
“sorry.”
Ahza shook her head. In his strict tone of voice, there was a firmness that made it impossible no matter what.
It wasn’t exactly wrong to say, but it was also vague to say the least. How to convince me to do this was the moment I shook my head. Karaka, who approached with her back on her back, intervened between them.
“Heh heh, don’t bake it too hard, and let it get some air.”
“Inquisitor Karaka.”
“You are the hero who saved the system. Is there anything special about it?”
“Ummm…but…”
“If anything happens, I will take responsibility. As an interrogator, please.”
Ahza salivated. The attention of the interrogators who were in the midst of collecting information was focused.
Apparently, Karaka was a fairly high-ranking interrogator. After thinking for a while, Ahza nodded.
“···All right. I will trust the Inquisitor.”
“hahaha, don’t worry.”
“Please don’t take too long. I will go ahead and wait for you.”
Ahza shook her head and turned her back. After collecting the data, the interrogators left Zuteka. Karaka, who was looking at their backs, closed one eye to Ronan.
‘The old man.’
Ronan laughed involuntarily. Perhaps this was the best Karaka could do for her. Ronan, who gave the same wink, embraced the witch.
“You should lay it down first, right?”
“I think that would be good. If you go up a bit, there is an office, so go there.”
“like. Go there.”
I was unconscious, so I had no choice but to hold it and move it. It seemed that his body was much warmer than before because he was wearing a coat. Ronan, who suddenly caught the strangeness, shrugged his eyebrows.
“Um?”
Sua… The color of the witch’s hair was changing. The white hair, which was all white, was changing to a healthy brown from the root. Ronan’s eyebrows narrowed slightly.
“What, why all of a sudden?”
It was as if the snow had melted and the soil buried beneath it had been exposed. Was the curse even lifted? At that moment, Erzebet’s voice was heard from not far away.
“Asher, why are you doing this?”
“Um?”
Ronan turned his head. Asher stood still and Erzebet clapped in front of him. Come to think of it, Asher was nowhere to be seen even in the chaos from earlier.
“Are you okay? Asher!”
No matter what Erzebet did, Asher did not respond. There was no focus in the eyes staring into the air with a lost heart. Ronan frowned.
“Asher?”
****
“···hot!”
Asher opened her eyes. It was a mysterious feeling. I think I had my eyes open in the first place. Her blurred vision became clear, and Erzebet appeared with her face close to her.
“Huh?!”
Asher groaned and stepped back. Erzebet did not move. There was no change in the balance of the body, even though the posture was slumped as if it would fall over at any moment.
“Wow, here?”
Asher, noticing that something was wrong, hurriedly looked around. She wasn’t the only one standing still.
Ronan approaching this way holding a witch, people talking with their eyes wide open, and even Itargand standing still stunned. Everyone stood still.
“Well, what happened…?”
Time seemed to have stopped. I tried to remember how this happened, but I couldn’t remember. Obviously, I watched Ronan break the ice, but the next scene was cut off.
Then, a voice came from behind.
[Nice to meet you, kid.]
“Ugh…!”
It was a woman’s voice. Asher took a breath. It was true that if you were too surprised, you wouldn’t even scream.
It felt like my heart went down to my belly button. After taking a deep breath dozens of times, Asher slowly turned her head. A woman in a white dress was standing right behind him. She raised her hand and smiled softly.
【You are a very pretty child.】
“aah!!”
Asher burst out the scream she had been accumulating. Kudang! He almost bounced back and fell, hitting his butt wheel.
The woman giggled as if it was funny. Asher opened her mouth, barely holding back the tears that were about to come out.
“Who are you…?!”
【Who are you? That’s an interesting question.]
The woman smiled. He was a very beautiful person. Her white hair that fell down to her waist was like silk woven with snow. Everything was white except for the dull blue eyes and bright red lips.
At first glance, he looked the same age as Nabi Rose, but the atmosphere was bizarre and he couldn’t really guess. After thinking for a moment, the woman opened her mouth.
【I have a lot of names, so I’m going to call them my favourite. The cruelest season, the white land, or…]
For a moment, the woman pulled the tail of the horse. As she walked gracefully, she stood next to Evelyn.
【You may call me the Winter Witch like everyone else.】
“Awkward, the winter witch…?”
Asher’s face turned white. You know the face of the Winter Witch, what the hell is that? He said, pointing to Evelyn in Ronan’s arms.
“Hey, wasn’t that girl the winter witch?”
【Evelyn is just my vessel. Poor kid. Being captivated by some sort of monster and spending a year in the cold ice…]
The woman looked at the fainted Evelyn with pity. She continued, stroking Evelyn’s brown hair tenderly.
[Still, it wasn’t wasted time. Because this twinkling star has come to my arms. I can’t even compare it to Evelyn…]
“Bar, twinkling stars…? More than that, what’s wrong with me…”
[Ah, it’s not a big deal.]
The woman who stopped stroking came up to Asher. Squatting, she gently grabbed Asher’s cheeks.
[It’s really not a big deal…]
It was cold enough to make me want to scream, but my body didn’t move. Her chest was exposed through the draped dress. The woman who pressed her face close to kissing whispered softly.
【Give me your body…】
“yes?”
Asher’s eyes widened. It was then that Asher noticed that the hair of the grown woman was wrapped around her limbs. No matter how hard I tried, I couldn’t move. He hurriedly tried to chant the spell, but the hair that grew in an instant covered his mouth.
“Ugh! Whoa!”
【It’s ok, kid. it’s okay···.】
The woman, who whispered sweetly, gently embraced Asher. I felt a gradual loss of consciousness. Desperately biting his hair, he shouted with all his might.
“Lo, Ronan!!”
****
“···ah.”
Asher’s eyes returned to focus. He came to his senses and looked around. Erzebet’s face, who was clapping in front of him, brightened.
“What is it, are you awake?”
Asher did not answer. He muttered in a voice mixed with admiration as he moved his hands and feet to and fro.
“It’s amazing… I don’t think that old man Lorhorn was like this…”
“yes? Asher, are you okay?”
“yes. Okay.”
“…are you okay?”
Asher nodded her head belatedly. Erzebet tilted her head at the somewhat changed atmosphere. His tone of voice and his eyes seemed to have changed subtly.
“Yumma, are you okay?”
At that moment, Ronan strode closer. Evelyn had been handed over to Karaka. He said, pinching one of Asher’s cheeks.
“Why are you so quiet? What’s going on?”
“You are…”
Asher shook her head. Asher, who was quietly staring at Ronan, smiled wildly. He muttered softly as he hugged Ronan out of nowhere.
“My prince…”
“Hey, why is this bastard doing this all of a sudden?”
Ronan’s face was distorted like a rock. Erzebet covered her mouth with both hands. He hated the world and grabbed Asher’s shoulders and shook it off.
“Did you turn? ok?”
“You’re wild. Isn’t it something you can do?”
Asher said, puffing up one cheek. She was acting like a girl. Asher brushed her hair behind her ear and murmured a little.
“I think this is a good enough look. The snow is still very high.”
“I’m pretty sure it’s back.”
Goosebumps like chicken meat climbed up Ronan’s neck. Erzebet, who looked at the two of them alternately with contemptuous eyes, opened her mouth.
“This, this beast… how can you do this with Adeshan older sister… even Asher-sama…!”
“Erzebet. Shut up.”
Ronan shook his head. Asher still maintained her feminine attitude.
It was as if a part of his brain had frozen because of the cold. Physical treatment seemed urgent. As Ronan was about to roll up his sleeves, a voice came from behind.
“there. stop.”
“ok?”
Ronan turned his head. The Red Hatchling Itargand was glaring at him. The wings that were taken out were still not retracted.
“How did you do it?”
“What?”
“You broke the ice that even me could not melt. What trick did you use?”
“What is cheating? If you fail, go back quietly, wash your feet, and go to sleep.”
Ronan waved his hand like it was annoying. Itargand clenched his fist.
“···no. I do not understand.”
“Then what will you do?”
“I will challenge you to a duel. Now, right here.”
Itargand’s voice was low. Without a word, his body began to swell.
A tail reminiscent of a giant tree was growing. Whoo! Its mouth protruded and began to transform into a crocodile-like snout. Ronan spat out swear words as he watched the wings add red color.
“You’re not a pure crazy bastard!”
“Prove that you are stronger than me.”
No matter how many of the Red Dragons were just leaving, this was a bit harsh. Zuteka was vibrating. People started screaming and running away. The interrogators ran and desperately stopped him.
“Hey, Itargand! no!!”
“Shut up!”
Itargand roared. A few inquisitors, overwhelmed by Pierre, sank to their seats. He had already turned into a half-dragon.
‘I’ll do it really.’
Now their location was deep under the sea. If that immature dragon returned to its perfect form, there was a high possibility that the outer wall would collapse and be buried.
At this point, it was impossible not to see the blood. It was necessary to stop Itargand even by half-killing it. Ronan sighed and was about to pull the hilt.
Whoops! Something shot over Ronan’s head and lodged in Itargand’s chest.
“···uh?”
It was so fast I couldn’t see it properly. Everyone’s faces hardened. Itargand looked down at his chest and coughed up blood.
“Kuh-huh…!”
An ice pick the size of a street tree had dug deep into my heart. A shivering, seeping chill was spreading through Itargand’s entire body.
It was ice where I saw it a lot. Ronan slowly turned his head. Asher, who was reaching out as if aiming, caught my eye.
“Asher…?”
【Ah, that’s great after all.】
Asher muttered in a voice mixed with admiration. A crack-like smile appeared on his lips. Her bright red hair was dyed white from the root.
