Chapter 37

In the snow-blowing forest, two pairs of legs were busily moving.

Airi kept gritting her teeth, but Camelian Peony had a relatively relaxed expression. Camelian Peony even scolded Airi, who seemed somewhat anxious.

“If you move so hastily in the snow, you’ll only tire yourself out later. Calm down a bit and slow your pace.”

At those words, Airi turned around and snapped back irritably.

“Is this the time to calm down? That damn girl kidnapped Master! Aren’t you worried about Master at all?”

Airi was agitated. Her master, who had once faced death because of her, had been taken right before her eyes. And by that violent girl who killed people without changing her expression. Airi had always disliked Glacia. Her status as the master’s fiancée, the way she just stood there blankly at the master’s funeral without doing anything, and even after joining as a comrade, she never got angry or said anything to Airi.

The term “polar opposites” seemed to exist just for Airi and Glacia. To be precise, Glacia only reluctantly lent her strength to Airi, treating her as completely invisible in private. Especially when Airi, who wanted to get close, asked about the name of the hawk and touched Glacia’s falcon, Glacia reacted with unprecedented intensity and punched Airi in the face.

Users who witnessed this scene in the form of a “game” left reactions like these:

Title: Wasn’t Glacia’s Falcon Punch hilarious?

Content: She went berserk, threw a Falcon Punch, and then tried to stab her.

– Honestly, she just snapped at that moment.

– Falcon Punch, what a madwoman lol

– But didn’t Airi also go crazy and spam magic?

– Nah, but before that, Glacia called her a murderer and went off.

– Honestly, their conflict just exploded there…

– The Falcon Punch, the Northern special move.

Title: Normally, when girls fight, you expect hair-pulling, but…

Content: Glacia and Airi were literally trying to kill each other.

– Not that different, really. Grabbing hair to hit vs. grabbing hair to choke.

– Nah, that’s totally different…

– Was I the only one who saw yuri vibes there?

– Isn’t that the white chrysanthemum used at funerals?

– It’s not a catfight, it’s a deathmatch with those two…

Title: But if Glacia and Airi fought, who would win?

Content: Their bloodlines are pretty similar, right?

– Honestly, whoever’s in better condition wins.

– Their chests are so majestic…

– That’s just because both have big chests…

– Normally, Airi, but under certain conditions, Glacia dominates.

– Ah, thanks for the info.

Camelian Peony, watching the excited Airi, chuckled and urged her on. Airi’s reaction seemed quite cute to her.

“Werner really didn’t raise his disciple well.”

“What did you say?”

“He always taught you, didn’t he? To stay calm and rational no matter what happens. If you get excited, even things that could succeed will fail. At least Werner always stayed calm and rational no matter what.”

“He did, but… still…”

Airi felt wronged. With her master being taken right before her eyes, staying rational was impossible. Who knows what that violent girl might do to him? That monster-like girl who always deceives people with a fake expression. Airi wanted to head north as soon as possible and blast Glacia’s face with fire magic.

Camelian Peony wasn’t worried about Werner. She knew the relationship between Glacia and Werner well, and the current northern forces weren’t strong enough to handle Werner. Even if Glacia’s parents got involved, it didn’t matter. They would stop Glacia from going too far.

“Glacia… that kid has grown enough to kidnap Werner…”

Camelian Peony even burst into laughter.

“Huh… that kid has grown so much. The same kid who cried and threw a fit when Werner ran away is now using such bold methods. I’m actually impressed.”

“Camelian Peony… how can you be so calm when Master has been captured? He’s your precious younger brother, right? Don’t you hate that girl?”

Camelian Peony chuckled again, drew her sword, and lightly tapped Airi’s forehead with the hilt. It was more of a reprimand than anger or disgust. Of course, that didn’t mean it didn’t hurt. Camelian Peony began to lecture Airi, who was holding her reddened forehead.

“You’re saying interesting things. Of course, Werner is my precious younger brother and comrade. That hasn’t changed.”

Camelian Peony placed her finger on Airi’s forehead and said.

“But to me, you and Glacia are like nieces.”

“Nieces?”

“Yes, your father said so. We’re all like siblings, so we’re all family.”

However, Camelian Peony smiled a bit sadly as she said this. She remembered a child who had believed those words wholeheartedly and ended up hurt, causing her voice to tremble slightly.

“That child who believed those words… later became twisted.”

And though one of the people responsible for that was right in front of her, Camelian Peony chose not to mention it. She was considerate of Airi, who adored the master, and Airi hadn’t done anything particularly wrong. It was more the fault of the comrades who had been too busy to notice the child’s struggles during the hardest times. Of course, she herself had been wandering around searching for her parents and younger sibling, so she hadn’t been able to check on the child’s condition either.

“Camelian Peony, you’ve been saying strange things since earlier.”

“It might sound that way. It’s closer to my grumbling.”

“But I still don’t like that girl Glacia.”

“I think there’s no need to be so wary of such a cute girl.”

Airi tilted her head at Camelian Peony’s cryptic response. Seeing Camelian Peony’s ears twitch, Airi spread her mana like radar, sensing enemies around them. Sure enough, a group of about ten was approaching Airi and Camelian Peony. Their stealth skills were almost professional.

“Looks like the Duke is trying to show off by sending his lackeys. Like a child throwing a tantrum to show off new clothes.”

“Isn’t this a bit too brutal to be called cute?”

“You managed to detect the enemies. I was a bit worried you wouldn’t notice since their stealth skills are extraordinary… It seems Werner’s teaching skills are no joke.”

Even as the enemies hid and approached, Camelian Peony remained relaxed. Airi suddenly wondered how Camelian Peony had detected them. As far as Airi knew, Camelian Peony didn’t have the ability to spread a mana circle to sense enemies.

Camelian Peony, sensing Airi’s question, answered before Airi could ask.

“I guess I inherited my father’s excellent hearing. Especially in the snow, no matter how much you suppress your presence and sound, there’s always the faint sound of stepping on snow.”

Camelian Peony said this and drew her sword. Of course, she had no intention of killing them—they were the cute niece’s subordinates and soldiers of the land ruled by a precious comrade.

“Airi… I recommend crouching.”

Before the words even finished, Airi sensed a strange airflow and immediately crouched. And with a flash of light… Camelian Peony sheathed her sword. No one knew when it had been drawn, but Camelian Peony’s sword returned to its sheath with a clear sound. With a clang, the sword was fully sheathed…

The trees around Airi and Camelian Peony began to fall apart. Beside the shattered trees were those who had been struck by the sudden slash, now in tatters. They were all Glacia’s elite soldiers, but they were no match for Camelian Peony.

Camelian Peony smiled and said to them.

“I avoided your vitals, so your lives aren’t in danger. I have no desire to kill you.”

Seeing them, Airi naturally asked.

“But even if you avoided their vitals… won’t they die if left like this in the snowfield where monsters appear? You have a plan, right?”

At Airi’s question, Camelian Peony replied.

“Ah… right…”

Camelian Peony had a surprisingly airheaded side when it came to anything but swordsmanship.

Then, Camelian Peony whistled, and a black dot appeared in the blue sky. The dot grew larger and soon transformed into the shape of a dragon, landing on the snowfield.

Camelian Peony stroked the dragon’s head and commanded.

“Take those fallen ones and deliver them to the northern castle.”

Airi, who had never seen this dragon even before the regression, spoke to Camelian Peony with a slightly annoyed tone.

“Can’t we just ride it too?”

“Unfortunately, it can only carry the fallen ones.”

“And if we had ridden this dragon from the start, none of this would’ve happened!”

“Ah…”

Camelian Peony scratched her cheek awkwardly. She decided not to mention that she didn’t like Airi’s attitude and had planned to make her suffer a bit by walking through the snowfield.