Chapter 17
2. Re: Life in Another World Starting with the Grand Duke (3)
It was a ruined temple.
“A temple in the Frost Mountains… then it must be about 500 years old.”
“It’s basically a relic. Though it’s such a wreck it doesn’t even have a door.”
The temple that once shone nobly on the snow-covered mountain was gone.
Half of the building had collapsed, giving off a gloomy feeling. At the same time, it looked pitiful. One of the pillars supporting the temple had fallen, and as Selena said, the door was completely gone.
500 years ago.
Because of a fallen great wizard—whose name people avoided even speaking—the gate to the demon world was opened, and the first place of that tragedy was the Frost Mountains.
There was no way a temple in such a place could remain safe.
The first Emperor of the Elsaike Empire, who was also a great wizard, managed to close the gate, but the aftermath was severe.
Plants and animals corrupted by demonic energy turned into monsters.
Those monsters spread across the world as they reproduced and moved, but even after hundreds of years, the Frost Mountains remained a dangerous land the Empire couldn’t conquer.
The place most exposed to demonic energy for the longest time.
The origin of monsters.
No one could even imagine what kinds of monsters existed beyond the mountains. The Empire was already busy just stopping the monster waves that came every few years.
In the end, the Empire gave up reclaiming the Frost Mountains.
Naturally, the temple inside was abandoned forever.
At least, until Selena found it by chance and started using it as a midpoint base.
“I haven’t been here for about five or six years… but before I shut myself in the magic tower, I used to come often. I moved the magic stones from the mine here first.”
“Since you used this place, there must be quite a few things here, right?”
“Not really. I basically used it as a storage. I think I left a few books to read while recovering mana and some food, but they’re probably all rotten by now. Or eaten by monsters. Ah, I might have left some wine bottles. Those might still be fine.”
Inside the temple wasn’t very dark.
Through the broken roof, the faint golden-gray light unique to the Frost Mountains filtered in.
Selena looked around.
She thought monsters or animals might have used it as a base, but there were no signs of that. Thinking back, there hadn’t been anyone here when she first arrived either.
At that time, she had been too focused on dimensional travel magic and simply thought it was convenient. But now, it felt a bit strange.
Even back then, though she wasn’t in her right mind, she had enough sense to check if it was safe. She had searched the temple thoroughly, but found nothing except broken stones.
There was no magical tool emitting purification energy.
And if it were magic using mana, Selena would have noticed it long ago.
That meant the temple itself had some kind of power she couldn’t detect—something not based on mana.
Still, it probably wasn’t very strong.
After all, the temple had been destroyed by monsters.
It didn’t completely block monsters, but rather made them avoid the place.
Selena felt a bit curious but soon shook her head.
She planned to return to her original world through dimensional travel.
The secrets of this temple were something for someone in this world to solve someday—not for a reincarnated great wizard who still considered herself an Earthling, especially Korean.
Pushing away her curiosity, Selena walked toward where she had left the wine, following her memory.
It should be in front of the third pillar… inside the marble drawer that was still somewhat intact.
Creak.
She opened the rusted hinge.
Just as she expected, there was wine. Only one bottle.
She tilted her head. She usually refilled it before it dropped to two bottles. Maybe she had left it as the last one. Well, she didn’t plan to drink until she got drunk anyway.
She reached out, took the wine, and turned around.
Her mana was already about half depleted, so she was going to suggest to Geum Ga-yeon that they rest for a bit and drink some wine.
“Ga-yeon, let’s—”
“Sis.”
But Geum Ga-yeon cut her off, which was unusual.
Rather than getting angry, Selena felt confused. Geum Ga-yeon was normally polite unless something serious happened… and her face looked a little pale.
“When you scanned earlier, you said there was no one, right?”
“Yeah. Except for a few small animals, there was no one within a five-kilometer radius.”
“…Over there.”
Geum Ga-yeon swallowed dryly.
“There’s a person behind that pillar.”
…What?
Selena turned around immediately.
Mana surged around her. In an instant, a shield formed and covered both her and Geum Ga-yeon. The soft glow of the shield lit up the temple, brightening the shadowed area behind the pillar.
And then—
Selena saw a handsome black-haired man peeking out and staring at them.
“…!”
Despite the dim temple, the mysterious figure seemed to shine with a noble presence.
Deep, dark eyes that sparkled under the misty light.
Black hair with a faint blue sheen, as if woven from the deepest sea, and pale skin like white lilies. Even his smooth jawline stood out.
Selena hardened her expression and became alert.
There was no biological reaction. Could it be a ghost-type monster? Judging by the face, it looks like a charm-type… but monsters like that shouldn’t survive in the Frost Mountains. And there’s no way I wouldn’t notice a normal one. Could it be a Nightmare-class monster?!
Countless thoughts passed through her mind in an instant, but the conclusion was simple.
If it’s an unidentified charm-type monster, strike first.
First attack wins!
“Extepex Parotnum!”
Hoping to quickly defeat it, take the magic stones, and return to Earth to read web novels on her smartphone while eating rice cakes, Selena cast her spell.
A silver beam shot forward like a laser and pierced the target.
And—
Nothing happened.
“What?!”
Even a Nightmare-class monster should have taken some damage!
Could it be something like a sealed Demon King? Looking at his face, it would make sense!
Immediately accepting that possibility, Selena grabbed Geum Ga-yeon’s arm. It would be a waste of time and mana to come all the way here, but fighting an unknown monster at close range was worse.
But before she could teleport—
Geum Ga-yeon, who had been staring closely, spoke.
“Sis, wait! His face… feels familiar.”
“What? That’s impossible. How would you recognize a charm-type monster?”
“No, not a monster. That black hair, black eyes… I’ve met someone like that before…”
Geum Ga-yeon muttered uncertainly.
“…Could it be Grand Duke Ruhart?”
Why would the Grand Duke be here?
But surprisingly, she was right.
The man who was still just peeking from behind the pillar smiled softly.
“Yes, I am Grand Duke Ruhart.”
So it was really him.
That’s why the spell didn’t work—he wasn’t a monster, but a human.
Unlike Selena, who was dumbfounded, Geum Ga-yeon looked quite happy to see him. Considering they had only met once, it was surprising. It wasn’t just his looks—after all, she had seen the Emperor’s face many times over the past three years. It was probably the colors.
That black hair and black eyes.
…Well, to be honest, Selena liked it a little too.
In this world, black hair and black eyes were each common, but having both together was rare.
Seeing such a familiar combination calmed her nerves slightly.
Still, Selena was a great wizard who could separate personal feelings from business when needed. Her sharp green eyes glared at the Grand Duke.
“Why are you here?”
Her tone naturally ignored his noble status.
People of this world would be shocked to hear it, but Selena no longer cared.
She was leaving this world anyway.
If he had a problem, he could try to fight her for it.
