TSOMFL 03

Chapter 3

The ability I just used is called **“Freezing Skill.”**

As the name suggests, it is a technique that freezes anything completely.

At that moment, it felt like fresh air filled my chest.

The first power I used with my own will.

For the first time in my life, I felt alive.

Meanwhile, a female priest who saw what I did began to pray in a trembling voice.

> “Oh, God Leventos, please protect us…”

Then the male priest next to her hit her lightly.

“Hey, what are you doing? We need to capture Jenuiere first!”

At his words, the remaining priests in the underground lab quickly surrounded me.

I looked down at my bare feet.

‘If I can use my hands… what about my feet?’

Unlike the heroine, I don’t gather mana from the air.

My mana is created directly from the crystal engine under my heart.

‘Then… it should work, right?’

I stomped my foot on the floor.

*Thud!*

White sparkling mist spread from my toes.

*Crack— Crack—*

The floor split apart, and the freezing energy rushed toward the priests.

“Aaaah! Dodge it!”

“Leventos!”

“Aaagh!”

The priests couldn’t escape.

Some fell.

Some froze where they stood.

One by one—

they were all completely frozen.

‘Phew…’

I wiped the cold sweat from my forehead.

Then I walked past the frozen priests and stood in front of the heavy iron door.

I placed my hand on the cold metal.

> ‘Now… I can leave.’

For thirteen years, I never even thought about opening this door.

> ‘What kind of world is outside?’

I tried to imagine it—

but quickly came back to reality.

‘This is an underground temple. There must be stairs outside.’

And that means more priests.

‘It doesn’t matter.’

I lifted my head.

> ‘No one can stop me now.’

Just then—

“Mm… mm!”

The frozen priest with glasses moved his lips.

It seemed my freezing wasn’t perfect.

He barely managed to speak.

> “That door… you can’t open it… without a key…”

I ignored him and pushed the handle.

It didn’t open.

Locked.

“B-But… the key is in my pocket…”

I smiled and looked back at him.

His eyes were pleading.

“Jenuiere… let me go… your power isn’t perfect yet… you can break the ice…”

“….”

“If I don’t help you… you can’t escape…”

Now he was trying to persuade me.

Honestly… my heart wavered for a moment.

After all, he raised me.

But—

> ‘Don’t fall for it.’

I closed my eyes tightly.

Then I walked toward him.

“Good girl… yes, Jenuiere…”

But instead of helping him—

I opened the second drawer of a nearby desk.

Inside—

was the key.

‘…Got it.’

I grabbed it tightly.

Then I looked at him.

> “I’ve lived here for 13 years. Did you really think I wouldn’t know where you keep the key?”

“…Jenuiere! N-no!”

He struggled, trying to reach me.

But his frozen body couldn’t move.

I steadied my heart and walked to the door.

*Click.*

*Creeeak…*

The heavy iron door slowly opened.

At that moment—

fear filled my chest.

> ‘Can I really leave?’

I had never imagined this before.

But I already knew—

If I stayed, I would be used… and then die.

So—

> ‘I will choose my own fate.’

I remembered my past life.

I was loved.

And I know the future.

> ‘I can do this.’

Before leaving, I looked back at the frozen priests.

> “Stay frozen there forever… and repent.”

Blink… blink…

They could only move their eyes.

I stepped outside the door.

> ‘I did it.’

I escaped.

With my own power.

Was I still scared?

Yes.

But for the first time in my life—

I made a firm decision.

> ‘From now on…’

> ‘No door will ever stop me again.’

And just like that—

I stepped into the outside world for the first time.

—

I escaped the temple.

For the first time in my thirteen years.

‘Really?’

‘Did I really escape… this easily?’

I kept asking myself.

But when I opened the main gate—

cold air touched my cheeks,

and white breath came out of my mouth.

That’s when it felt real.

I looked at the wide white field and clear sky.

“…Yeah. I escaped.”

Then I looked up.

“Snow…”

The field was covered in pure white snow.

I stepped on it.

*Crunch.*

‘Cold.’

A memory from my past life appeared.

‘I used to make snow ducks with friends…’

I smiled slightly.

Then I looked into the distance.

A tall mountain peak stood far away.

‘They said there’s a big lake in that direction.’

The priest with glasses had told me that.

—

“Jenuiere, are you curious about the outside world? It’s dangerous. There are snowstorms. But if you go toward the mountain, there’s a beautiful lake. If the experiment goes well, I’ll take you there.”

—

I used to believe those words.

But now I knew—

they were lies.

Still…

> ‘The lake was real.’

I saw a large frozen lake in the distance.

I walked toward it.

The lake was frozen, but some parts were broken.

I knelt and looked into the water.

I wanted to see my face.

There were no mirrors in the lab.

Now—

I could see it clearly.

A small, dirty face.

“Eh… this is me?”

When was the last time I even washed?

My hair was messy.

My face was covered in dirt.

I looked like I came out of a chimney.

Anger rose inside me.

> “Those bad priests!”

I splashed water on my face.

Cold—but refreshing.

After washing, I looked again.

Silver hair like snow.

White skin.

Emerald eyes.

Exactly like the novel.

I stared at my reflection.

> ‘It’s certain.’

I am Jenuiere.

The villain.

‘In the novel, she had crazy eyes when she bullied the heroine…’

But right now—

I just looked like a normal child.

I hugged my knees and thought.

‘What should I do now?’

For thirteen years, I only followed orders.

Choosing my own path felt strange.

But in my past life—

I wasn’t like that.

I closed my eyes.

I remembered being eighteen.

At school, I once tried wood carving.

While others got bored—

I stayed until sunset.

I loved it.

My work was even displayed.

Someone bought it.

That feeling—

I still remember it.

> ‘I want to create something again.’

I looked at my hands.

> ‘With this power… I can do even better.’

Ice sculptures.

Yes.

I focused on my fingertips.

White mist appeared—

and a tiny ice bear formed.

A cute shape I liked before.

> ‘This is enough.’

> ‘I’ll improve this power… and create things that move people’s hearts.’

I tossed the ice bear into my mouth like candy.

It was freezing cold—

but I felt nothing.

Then I decided my next destination.

A small village near the lake.

‘They said there’s a village south of here.’

> ‘I’ll find ice sculptors there… and learn how to live.’

“Alright… let’s go.”

I smiled and walked forward—

full of hope.

…And soon after,

I learned how harsh life really is.

—

*Whoooooo—*

A violent snowstorm blew.

I couldn’t see anything.

‘Ahhh!’

I struggled forward, step by step.

The weather had suddenly changed.

Snow piled up to my knees.

Walking was difficult.

‘Forget the village…’

My goal now—

was the big tree ahead.

If I reached it, I could hide.

> ‘Just one more step!’

Finally—

I reached the tree and leaned against it.

‘…I made it.’

Tears suddenly filled my eyes.

I slid down and curled up.

> ‘It’s not because I’m cold.’

Thanks to my power, I wasn’t freezing.

But still—

> ‘I feel… sad.’

Maybe because I felt weak.

‘When will this storm end?’

I sniffed.

After a while—

the storm weakened.

Then—

I heard something.

*Crunch… crunch…*

A strange sound.

Like a beast.

I turned my head.

There was a cliff nearby.

I carefully looked down.

And—

my eyes widened.

> ‘What is that…?’

Several large wolves were running below.

At the front—

was a huge wolf.

And on top of it—

was a boy.

He had dark blue hair.

A strong body.

No shirt—

even in the storm.

And in his hand—

a long spear.

I frowned.

> ‘…Isn’t he cold?’

—

*(To be continued)*