After taking some rest for a while, Alter found himself facing a snowstorm.

He had almost eradicated all the monsters, but the climate in the northern region was changing rapidly.

Considering reports from other castles, it would not be long before the fog set in.

'... It's getting closer and closer.'

Alter instinctively sensed the presence of the Frost Witch.

The chill imbued within his own magic power was exposing the inevitable nature of fate.

It would only be a matter of time before he encountered the remains and legacy of the Frost Witch.

'Does she intend to never give up even in death?'

Alter recalled his mother, who had been recreated through remnants of consciousness.

Perhaps his mother had not intended to kill the Frost Witch.

If the Frost Witch disappeared, disaster would descend upon the northern region.

However, the great mage had exterminated the Frost Witch, and in the end, countless monsters started appearing.

'Mother must have... seen everything up to this point. She entrusted the Frost Witch to me.'

Through fate, Alter came to understand his mother's intentions.

In order to protect his father, the grand duke's house, and the residents of the north, she must have deliberately delayed the execution of the Frost Witch.

Perhaps even the time spent suffering under the curse had been arranged for this very moment.

'I received the Frost Witch's chill because of the curse. That's why the monsters can't attack me.'

From the outcome, Alter inferred the process, and only then saw the cause.

To save him, her child, and to one day fight back against the Frost Witch, his mother must have made secret preparations.

The price she paid was her own life, but she would have accepted it as a sacrifice for the greater good.

'She could have just explained everything... but that would not do. If she had made a mistake, the future could have spun out of control.'

Even a trivial word, an unintentional act could bring about great changes.

That was why his mother left the plan she made in perfect secrecy.

She had thoroughly constructed it so that the intended future would not become convoluted.

'I think I can do it now. That's how I feel.'

Though the snowstorm obscured his vision, his mind was as calm as ever.

Even as the Frost Witch gradually approached, Alter felt not the slightest fear.

He was simply aware that he needed to sever the Frost Witch's legacy with his own hands.

"Lord Alter, the weather's getting colder. Shouldn't we go inside?"

Brillie stood beside Alter and asked calmly.

There must have been some reason for watching the blizzard rather than just idly standing by.

However, to respond to the monster invasion, they needed to conserve their stamina.

"... I believe the Frost Witch will arrive soon."

"What? But the Frost Witch is dead, isn't she?"

"She lost only her physical form. Her magic power has not disappeared yet."

"Is that why you were out here?"

"Yes. Just in case, I intend to assemble the elite forces."

Alter looked out over the castle walls as he answered in a detached manner.

Normally, he would have had to face the Frost Witch on his own, but Brillie would not leave him unattended.

Yet, with Brillie's help, things might be finished a little more easily.

"Lady Brillie. The current Frost Witch is probably just a mass of magic power. If you can strike, you have to cut quickly."

"... I understand. As long as I strike swiftly, right?"

"If I fail to finish the job, you must step forward. Don't ever let your guard down."

"Yes. I will absolutely cut her down."

Brillie glanced at the sword hanging by her waist with renewed determination.

He asked her to slay the Frost Witch because he believed in her.

For that reason, she absolutely had to fulfill her fiancé's request and their long-held wish.

'If it's for you... I'll do anything....'

* * *

The Frost Witch was heading toward Goranmoche Castle, twisting the surrounding climate as she went.

A cruel cold assaulted from all directions, and snow fell endlessly.

She could have frozen everything in existence at once if she wished, but nothing short of that could satisfy her.

"Did you think I wouldn't find you if you hid? Heeheehee..."

With murderous intent, the Frost Witch hurried forward.

They must have let their guard down the moment she killed herself.

Moreover, she had threatened them into believing that child would die from the curse as well, so it was natural they would be shaken.

"I told you I would win, didn't I? No one can surpass me!"

Concealing the source of her magic power, the Frost Witch scrutinized Goranmoche Castle.

By now, the castle walls were buried in snow, and the soldiers struggled to endure the cold.

That child was probably clinging to his meager life somewhere beyond the walls.

"I'll kill you. I'll definitely kill you! By killing you, I'll prove I was right..."

"No, you're wrong. I've already seen through you, haven't I?"

"Urgh..."

The Frost Witch frantically looked around.

No physical form was visible anywhere.

Yet how had he found her first and was now calmly countering her?

"Did you think I would run away to avoid you? Why would I do that?"

"Y-You... You think someone like you can stand against me? Do you really think that's possible?"

"You lost to my teacher. Yet, after your cowardly suicide attempt, you tried to kill me. What are you trying to do now?"

Though the blizzard swirled around them, his voice rang out clear.

The Frost Witch tried desperately to locate the child, but she could not read the flow of his magic power.

Even though she knew he was somewhere in the castle, she couldn't pin down his exact location.

"... Are you looking for me?"

Only then did Alter withdraw the chill and reveal his presence.

Just as he had expected, the Frost Witch could not sense his existence.

Perhaps, she hadn't even been able to guess why.

"Hehe... Heeheehee... So you're the child. If only you hadn't existed..."

While fixing her murderous gaze on Alter, the Frost Witch unconsciously softened her intent.

It was as if Uriel had come back to life, drawing out even that hazy atmosphere.

But because of subtle differences in appearance, the hatred continued to well up.

"You killed Uriel! She threw away her life just to save someone like you!"

"There was a much easier way. If Mother had killed you first, she would still be alive even now. I wouldn't have had to suffer all those hardships either."

"You say that even though you don't know anything about Uriel? Haaaah..."

"You're the one who doesn't know anything. Why do you think Mother didn't kill you? Because she pitied you and found you cute? That couldn't be it. Who could ever like a monster like you?"

"Hrrgh..."

The Frost Witch unconsciously exposed the source of her magic power, releasing a fierce chill.

She was being toyed with by the very child who was alive only because of Uriel.

How could she kill him in a way that would erase him with the greatest pain?

"What can you do without a body? At best, you can just throw snow around and make things a bit colder. If you wanted to kill me, you should have looked after your own life first!"

"What do you know to dare talk to me like that!"

With her rage boiling over, the Frost Witch unleashed all her chill toward Alter.

No matter how skilled he was in magic, he would never withstand her frost.

The legacy of frost was still inherent within her.

"Die! Creatures like you must disappear! Only I can have Uriel!"

Convinced of her victory, the Frost Witch drew out her magic power.

Alter was already entombed in cold, unable even to resist.

He would soon either freeze solid or shatter into pieces of ice.

"... Don't you realize yet? You can't kill me."

Shaking off the chill, Alter calmly looked up at the source of the magic power.

The Frost Witch's magic power had not weakened, and depending on the situation, she could dodge or run away.

Therefore, he had to wait for a certain moment and end it in a single blow.

"How can this be? Why... Why aren't you dying! Why!"

Denying what was happening, the Frost Witch unleashed even greater, more vast magic power.

And so, a colder air surged towards Alter.

But Alter found it meaningless and merely drew in the cold energy.

"To think Mother died because of this... That's why I can't forgive you."

With his eyes blazing, Alter nullified the Frost Witch's chill.

Then he spread out his own high-density, condensed cold.

The Frost Witch tried to respond immediately, but her magic power's source was already starting to freeze.

"You... Don't tell me... the legacy of frost...?"

Only then did the Frost Witch peer into the root of Alter's chill.

That power had been passed down for generations, controlling the malice of the northern land.

The legacy of frost, once hers, now rested with Alter.

"If you disappear, perhaps even the northern region will become a little more peaceful."

"No... I can't die here!"

The Frost Witch tried to shatter the ice and protect her source of magic power.

But the freezing did not stop and only continued to encroach.

It was a fight she should have won—how had she been driven so far to the defensive?

"I must... bide my time for later..."

The Frost Witch abandoned only the frozen part and separated her magic power's source.

Though she would be more vulnerable for losing part of her source, at least she could avoid total annihilation.

Right now, she had no chance against one who inherited the legacy of frost and had to at least reclaim her magic.

"I won't let you escape."

Brillie quickly burst in and unleashed magic power into her blade.

There was a fair amount of distance, but it didn't matter.

As a master of swordsmanship, she simply had to demonstrate overwhelming skill.

"What is happening... Kyah!"

Just once, a brilliant flash streaked by.

At the same time, a slender arc of energy shot straight out.

The sword aura unleashed by her blade instantly shattered the source of magic power.

"No... I... still... can't die..."

"I shall annihilate you in Mother's stead. Fade away with the calamity."

"Ugh... Uuuugh... Kyaaa..."

The magic power's source turned black and immediately crumbled away completely.

The Frost Witch's voice was no longer heard.

The blizzard quickly stopped, and no fog could be seen.

Only a much gentler lingering cold now hovered around Goranmoche Castle.

"... It's over now, right?"

"Yes. It's over."

"Is it really over? She won't come back later, right?"

"Her body is already dead, and her magic power just dissipated. Even an undead couldn't be made without a corpse."

Witnessing the true conclusion, Alter was overcome by melancholy.

He had exterminated the Frost Witch, but the dead did not come back to life.

The tormented past had been spent as the price for seeing the future, and the lament over the curse remained engraved deep within his heart.

Would it be possible to be a little happier than before from now on?

'Now, I just need to return to the capital and have the wedding...'

-------------= Clacky's Corner -------------=

Unfortunately, there's still Yuria and the Crown Prince...

Among other things...

【ദ്ദി(⩌ᴗ⩌)】