CHAPTER 147………………………………………..
Magic of Ice and Fire
He devoted himself wholeheartedly.
Not a single grain of mana from the precious magic stone he had painstakingly obtained was to be wasted.
Scrape, scrape, scrape—he drew a circular magic circle on the ground using the stone itself.
Cleanly. Without the slightest flaw.
“Aren’t you taking this a bit too slow?”
Leónis, watching from the side, nervously shook one leg.
“They might have already started the battle over there…”
“Calm down.”
Click, click—he filled the magic circle with magical symbols one by one, carefully and methodically.
Each scratch on the ground drew the mana out of the stone, letting it flow naturally.
The more mana left the stone, the clearer the magic circle became.
“Are you calm now? They even supplied the armor issued to the Imperial regulars!”
“The one called Lion’s Iron or whatever?”
“Yes! An artifact made directly by the Grimm family!”
“Then I guess it’s fine.”
“…What?”
“Zeras Grimm.”
Plop. He completed one side of the magic circle and rose to his feet.
Stretching his stiff back, he let out a long yawn.
As he lowered his arms, raised high above his head, he continued:
“That guy’s fake.”
“The one who used to be the head of the Imperial Academy and is now the Imperial Mage Captain is fake?”
“Yes.”
Leónis let out a bitter laugh as if speechless.
“Then you’re the real one?”
“What are you talking about? There’s also Icecrown.”
He grinned, tilting the magic stone in his hand.
“The real mage.”
The Outer Wall of Icecrown
The sturdy walls visible from the outside looked like a massive mountain.
“As expected… it looks solid.”
“Step back if you’re scared.”
Valeric stepped ahead of Alberto.
“I’ll show you we can take it with just our guys.”
“Don’t be arrogant, Sir Valeric. It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say the entire northern forces are gathered there. Acting recklessly could backfire.”
“……”
Valeric fell silent at Alberto’s words.
He was right.
Setting aside the walls’ height and strength, the defending forces above were far more numerous than expected.
Even though they had controlled information and advanced as quickly as possible…
“…The enemies are well prepared.”
“Right? Then let’s start with reconnaissance first…”
“The ones so eager to fight are surprisingly calm when facing the enemy.”
Saiphas interjected, chuckling.
“You’re not moths… so why charge headlong at the enemy?”
“If the Imperial Mage could help with strategy…”
“You think there’s time for that?”
Unlike the cautious tone of the others, Saiphas spoke playfully:
“Looking at that, I think your mind will change.”
He raised his staff high above his head.
Following the staff with their eyes…
“…?!”
“…!”
There was a woman on the wall, emitting a dazzling white light.
Even without being told, they knew who she was.
The infamous Northern Witch.
“That… is the legacy left by Balhar Ice Maker…!”
“The Snow Queen…!”
They swallowed hard.
A whirlwind of pure white snow swirled around her.
Unlike the tense Valeric and Alberto…
“That woman…”
Saiphas squinted and smiled brightly.
“So we meet again, interesting young lady.”
On the Walls of Icecrown
Cold wind whipped through the light snow, scratching the soldiers’ cheeks.
“Insane…”
“Isn’t this… too many?”
They whispered nervously, looking at the Imperial army beyond the walls.
The Imperial banners fluttered like dark red blood.
Their numbers were overwhelming.
The endless ranks below looked like a monstrous maw gaping wide.
“Huff…”
“Gasp…”
The soldiers’ breaths rose in white clouds.
“All of them… our enemies?”
“….”
No one answered.
No answer was needed.
Everyone knew.
They had to fight against those overwhelming numbers.
Even seeing the Imperial army arrayed so perfectly made their hearts sink.
Most of them were inexperienced soldiers, no matter how well trained.
Watching the Imperial army move with terrifying precision, they shivered in fear.
But not everyone was so shaken.
“Huh?”
“What? That’s it?”
“I thought there would be tens of thousands…”
The Ice Rock squad chuckled and joked.
“Scared… aren’t you?”
“Scared? Why? Because of those?”
“Those…? But they are the Imperial army…”
“Compared to the Snow Worm, they’re cute.”
“Exactly. Look at their appearance, look at the numbers—they’re nothing compared to that worm.”
“Sn… Snow Worm?”
“Ever heard of the calamity of the snow mountains? That’s what I mean…”
The Ice Rock squad excitedly recounted their exploits.
Watching them, Commander Gardner chuckled softly.
“Indeed… compared to a Snow Worm, this is nothing.”
“In fact, the same goes for us. Esric and Ronan aren’t here…”
Hagen, standing nearby, muttered but smirked.
“We have sturdy walls in their place. Unless they brought siege weapons, they won’t easily get over these walls.”
“True enough.”
The Ice Rock squad relaxed slightly.
They had faced even more desperate situations before.
“But…”
Hagen furrowed his brow and pointed to the center of the enemy lines.
“That… is definitely a mage.”
“Really? How can you be sure?”
“The robe and the staff.”
“…Are you joking?”
“No, I’m serious… they didn’t bring siege weapons, would they have come empty-handed?”
“…That’s…”
Gardner nodded in agreement.
“So that… is the substitute for siege weapons?”
“Could be.”
A reasonable conclusion.
“…I hope it’s not a mage like Esric.”
“Don’t worry. Where else would there be one like that…?”
Whooosh!
A harsh, cold wind blew from behind, cutting off Hagen’s words.
The sudden gust made them twist their bodies.
Whirling snow hardened in the air.
“W-what… what just happened?!”
“The weather is really… crazy…”
“Wh-what is that…?”
The air suddenly turned icy.
Sharp snow, whipped by the wind, stung like needles.
The soldiers ducked, and Gardner and Hagen turned as well.
Above them…
“…Sirina?”
“L-Lordess?”
Sirina passed by, radiating a snow-white light.
A blizzard swirled around her.
“<Opening sky, falling tears of winter, blooming frostflowers>.”
Sirina chanted the spell with dragon-like eyes flashing.
“<White-frozen terror, shattered cold>.”
Kiiing—the mana in her circle spun rapidly, burning away.
“<Upside-down crown of ice, snow pouring down inverted>.”
Sirina stretched both hands over the enemy gathered far below the wall.
“.”
Craaaack!
Blue ice formed in the air.
Sharp edges glinted above the enemies’ heads.
Both allies and enemies froze at the sight.
Everyone stood agape, watching silently.
A large-scale, indiscriminate high-level spell, only achievable at the 5th Circle.
“!”
As Sirina completed the spell, sharp ice surged downward.
Shiiik—countless shards rained on the enemy.
“Woah!”
“Insane…!”
“Unbelievable! What spell is that?!”
Watching the falling ice, the soldiers cheered.
Her single spell had shattered their fear.
“…So it exists.”
Hagen, who had been silent, smiled while watching her spell.
“A mage like Esric.”
With Hagen’s help, Sirina successfully reached the 5th Circle.
He confirmed he had been right and smiled.
Sirina, achieving her first high-level spell, also smiled faintly.
“.”
Red flames erupted from below the wall, spreading across the enemies’ heads.
Ice fell onto the fire curtain.
Siiik—the ice melted, steam rose, and a white haze formed.
Perched at the wall’s edge, Sirina looked through the steam.
…Blocked.
Not a single shard from pierced the flames.
…Who?
The dragon’s eye flashed as she searched beyond the haze for the source of powerful mana.
Finding him was easy.
“…?!”
The unexpected presence made Sirina widen her eyes.
“…Saiphas?”
Archbishop of the Eastern Church, killer of Eastern Karaime priestesses and musicians, awakener of the Eastern calamity.
Grit.
Sirina clenched her fists, teeth grinding.
The image of Naira, the Karaime priestess crying over the dead, flashed in her mind.
The previously excited soldiers quieted instantly.
Everyone held their breath.
“Look!”
Hagen shouted, extending his hand.
“The Snow Queen! She stands with us!”
Sling.
Gardner drew his sword, supporting the call.
“No matter how many enemies there are! As long as we stand, they will never breach the walls!”
The soldiers stiffened, gripping their weapons, eyes fixed on the enemies.
“Y-yes! Come at us then!”
“Think you’ll take us easily?!”
“Charge! You bastards! Charge!”
Morale surged skyward again.
Among the cheering soldiers,
“….”
Sirina glared at Saiphas.
Mana flowed from her dragon eyes, deadly enough to shred him with just a look.
…A monstrous girl.
Saiphas chuckled nervously.
The flames behind him reflected Sirina’s gaze, chilling him.
She had grown immeasurably stronger since their last encounter in the East.
…Thanks to the dragon’s eyes? Or…?
Saiphas clicked his tongue, thinking, then whispered sharply:
“…What are you doing?”
To the frozen Valeric and Alberto:
“You’re not attacking?”
“Ah… got it.”
“…We will.”
At his words, Valeric swung his long, thick spear, aiming at the wall.
“All units…”
His soldiers, already in formation, raised their long spears used for bear hunting.
“Charge—!”
