Chapter 122

“Whew….”

It had been quite a while since they discovered Asies, yet their amazement showed no signs of fading. While I could understand their feelings, I wanted nothing more than to escape from this painfully cold place as quickly as possible.

“Hargran, the flames of Magmar.”

“Hmm? Ah, I was just about to do that!”

Hargran, who had been dazed, suddenly snapped back to reality.

“Hey! How long are you going to stand there like an idiot? Hurry and bring the bag!”

“Yes, Captain!”

Dwarves, who had been carrying bags much larger than themselves during the march, stepped forward. It was a special container for holding Magmar’s molten metal.

This ice crystal that trapped Asies could only be melted with Magmar’s molten metal, as it was even sealed by a dragon.

“You just need to sprinkle it on the crystal.”

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

No one had even mentioned who she was, yet they were already calling her a princess. I suppose they weren’t dwarves for nothing—dwarves had keen insight when it came to matters of royalty.

“It’s fine, just sprinkle it. If you don’t do it directly, it won’t melt anyway.”

Reluctantly and with uncertain expressions, the dwarves began to sprinkle the molten metal.

The boiling red molten metal touched the crystal. Sizzle—steam erupted. The ground melted away under the flowing metal.

Yet still, the ice crystal containing Asies showed no significant change. It was only melting slowly, bit by bit.

“Not even melting with Magmar’s molten metal? What the hell is this? Who is this girl, and how do you know she’s here? What in the world is going on?”

“It’s nothing special. The hill above this cave is actually a dragon’s nest, a dragon lair, and she is the treasure taken by the dragon.”

“Wha-what did you just say? A dragon lair?”

The dwarves stirred restlessly.

Even the humans, who were confidently boasting they could handle any beast before departure, turned pale at the mention of a dragon.

“Why are you acting like that? We should be friendly among draconids.”

“Do you think we can be friends with those reptiles who keep stealing the trinkets we make? Something felt off. That scrawny guy meant to sell us to the dragon!”

“Hey, that’s completely groundless. Sure, this place is a dragon’s lair, but the dragon isn’t even here, is it? It’s gone, and we’ll finish this before it returns.”

At that moment, I gave a nod to the dwarves who had paused their hands.

“What are you doing? Move quickly! Do you want to be dragon popcorn? You look plump and delicious, though.”

The dwarves hurriedly began pouring the molten metal again. The crystal was definitely decreasing in size, albeit slowly.

The solution brought from the heart of Magmar could barely melt it, so if anything else were used, it probably wouldn’t even make a scratch.

A cloudy smoke filled the cave.

Thanks to the intense heat, the cold began to dissipate.

It was a pleasant feeling, somewhat akin to being in a sauna, feeling cool yet warm.

As if pouring water into a burning house, the dwarves’ efforts to pour the molten metal started to slow down and eventually stopped. They had emptied all the molten metal they brought.

“We’re done pouring.”

“Good. Now we wait.”

The crystal melted away, becoming thinner. Strands of Asies’s hair began to flow down like cascading water, as if a frozen valley was thawing.

‘Be careful….’

I approached the crystal, avoiding the hole melted by the solution. Gently, I extracted the sleeping Asies and brought her into my arms.

Finally, Asies was in my embrace.

“Is she alive?”

“Of course. She just went into a forced hibernation.”

There was barely any sign, but she was definitely breathing.

Asies, who was just a foot away, slept soundly. It was a remarkable thing to witness, and I was left in awe.

Her long, delicate eyelashes cast shadows over closed eyelids. Her skin was so pale it was almost glass-like, transparent and smooth.

Her hair, white with a hint of blue, was as finely detailed as snowflakes, glowing cold like frost. She resembled a statue made of ice.

Matching her features, her body temperature was exceptionally low.

It felt as if I was embracing a block of ice.

Worry flashed through my mind, thinking, ‘What if she melts like this?’

“Hmm?”

As I continued to gaze at Asies, the dwarves too began to tiptoe closer, intrigued.

“What are you all doing?”

“Well, can’t we have a look too?”

I lifted Asies higher so they couldn’t see her.

“No. She will be my slave. If you see her too much, she’ll wear down.”

“Hey, you scrawny brat. You plan to make such a beautiful girl your slave? Did she commit some great sin in her past life?”

“She saved the world. Thanks to that, she’s meeting this kind master now.”

“What kind of brain do you have to be this shameless? Someday, I’ll crack that head of yours open.”

Ignoring Hargran’s remarks, I hefted Asies onto my back and draped Hargran’s coat over her.

“Now then, shall we return to a warm place?”

***

Cold.

Asies had carried this curse of absolute coldness her whole life.

No matter how many layers I donned, the chilling air gnawed at my skin, and whenever I warmed myself by the fire, the icy curse embedded in her soul reacted and released more cold.

It seemed to deny her the warmth that life should afford her.

Asies didn’t know warmth.

Neither physically nor emotionally.

Then, her eyelids twitched and slowly began to open. Her eyes, carrying the unique winter hue, revealed themselves to the world.

Her eyes were as calm and cold as a winter lake. There was no sign of stirring, nor even a hint of emotions escaping.

They merely reflected the world like a mirror’s surface with a lazy glow.

The first thing Asies saw after waking from her long hibernation was.

“Hello?”

It was Carami, gently smiling.

But that was not all.

“Oh, you finally awoke! Are you with us now?”

A small, stout voice brushed against Asies’s ears. When she slowly turned her gaze, she saw seven dwarves surrounding her.

“Your eyes are very clear, Princess. That blue suits you remarkably well.”

Urgdar said with affection in his voice. Hearing his words, the other dwarves leaned forward to get a better look.

“Get your face out of the way, Urgdar. I want to see too.”

“I brought her here, you bunch! You all get back!”

As Rocksar and Hargran quarreled, Ulbram smiled knowingly at Thorvar, who stood a step behind.

“My friend, didn’t you want to rescue such a lovely lady?”

“……”

Thorvar remained silent.

Hergen, the legendary blacksmith, was quick to catch on.

“Now that I think about it, I would have supported you from the start. Had a slave trader asked me, I would’ve jumped at the chance to help. Well, of course.”

Without any consideration for the princess just awakened from her icy slumber, the seven dwarves continued to intrude, desperately trying to make their presence known.

The huge bedroom was achingly messy.

Suspicious middle-aged men approached.

An ordinary woman would have screamed in shock, but Asies showed no reaction whatsoever.

“……?”

The ice princess, who didn’t even know how long she had been asleep, showed no sign of surprise. She merely blinked slowly and tilted her head slightly.

“Isn’t the princess surprised? You should leave; it’s disruptive.”

“You scrawny brat. By what right do you tell us to leave?”

“I am her master. I have an obligation to protect her from suspicious adults. So get out, now. Go on, get back to work, you blacksmith.”

“You little brat with a dry head…!”

In an instant, Hargran charged forward as if to grab my collar, but Ulbram stopped him.

“Come on now, let’s not do that. Let’s all step outside. It’s not like it’s just today, and it wouldn’t be good for the princess to be confused with all us old men crowding around her. Let’s wrap it up for today.”

“Tsk. Fine, I get it. Hey, princess! If that scrawny guy tries anything funny, yell. I’ll come running.”

The meister were almost shoveled out of the side room.

Only Asies and Carami remained.

“After all, you know what’s pretty.”

Each race has its own standards of beauty, and dwarves’ sense of aesthetics is significantly different from that of humans.

They prefer sturdy physiques and find beards attractive. Even female dwarves are not that different, except for their lack of beards. Long, tightly braided hair aligns with their aesthetic sense.

Thus, Asies’s slim figure with fine, long hair that might break at a touch is entirely the opposite of the dwarves’ standards of beauty.

And yet, here she was. It seems that beauty that transcends norms can exist across all races. Carami couldn’t help but smile at the fact that Asies was her slave.

Of course, the thought of needing to free her clouded her mind. But it was something to be done, step by step.

“Can you understand what I’m saying?”

“……”

“If you understand, please blink three times.”

Asies slowly blinked her eyes.

Once.

….

Once more.

….

And finally, a third time.

It took Asies an astonishing ten seconds to blink three times. It was a speed that could drive one to frustration, but Carami didn’t mind and continued to smile.

“Alright then. Let’s introduce ourselves. I’m Carami. I’m a slave trader and your master.”

“…?”

“The princess is my slave. I’m the master. Do you understand this?”

Still tilting her head, Asies slowly nodded. It was a reaction that left Carami unsure whether she understood or not.

“I’ve introduced myself, so now it’s your turn, princess. Could you tell me your name?”

Asies, blinking her eyes silently for a long time without any response. It was about a minute later.

“……Sies….”

Asies’s lips, which lacked pigment and bore a slight pink hue, parted slightly.

“Asies… Pree…Ana.”

“Good, Miss Asies. Who am I?”

“……Lami…?”

Carami wiggled her fingers.

“No, no. My name is Carami, and I am Miss Asies’s master. Who am I?”

“Lami….”

It seemed like she had been trapped in ice for too long that her mind had frozen too. Carami’s unexpected vocabulary lesson began.

“Let’s repeat after me, one by one. First, Ka.”

“Ka.”

“Good. Next, ra.”

“Mi.”

“Mi…?”

“……Lami?”

“?”

“…?”

The two faced each other, tilting their heads.

Did something go well?

“Who am I?”

“Lami.”

“…Just call me master.”

“Okay…… Lami.”

Carami squeezed her eyes shut.

It was around that time when she realized something was going terribly wrong.