Chapter 58
Discovered
The murder had been completed in an instant, almost absurdly swift.
I let out a sigh as I looked at the two bodies staining the transparent seawater red.
Yes, there had never been any intention to let them live.
Ernant must have ordered that not a single witness be left alive, as he would want me brought here secretly.
Even those who brought me… were not to be spared.
At any rate, watching perfectly healthy people turn into two corpses was not exactly entertaining, so I frowned as I observed the scene.
One of the guards, who had created the corpses with his sword, approached and bowed politely.
“Are you all right? I worry that those ignorant fools might have committed some breach of etiquette while escorting Sir Shnestern.”
“The breach of etiquette was committed by His Majesty himself.”
“….”
“You instructed them to bind and kidnap me in this manner.”
It was a statement worthy of execution for treason, yet I spoke it without hesitation.
If Ernant had ordered me to be ‘imprisoned’ on the island, these guards could not harm me recklessly anyway.
As expected, the soldier pretended not to hear my remark.
“Please endure a little discomfort. His Majesty will be here shortly.”
“…His Majesty?”
“His Majesty holds you in high regard. He intends to bring you to a quiet place to persuade you.”
“….”
“If you promise to behave until then, we will release the restraints on your arms and legs. Excluding the ability-sealing item, of course.”
The item sealed around my neck could not be removed with a blade.
It was literally an object containing the power of a seal.
Only with the help of an awakened person possessing the ability to nullify such power could it be undone.
In other words, even if my limbs were freed, I could not remove this item from my neck on my own.
The guards’ offer to free my hands and feet was thus a meaningless act of generosity.
“Understood. I will behave.”
Since I could do nothing while bound, I promised the guard in hopes of being freed.
The guard nodded to his subordinates behind him, signaling them.
They quickly approached and cut the ropes that bound me, freeing me.
My body was free, but I still could not fight them.
My abilities were still sealed.
I would need to take advantage of any lapse in their vigilance to escape.
First, I had to find out the location of any ships hidden somewhere on the island.
I quickly assessed the situation in my mind and asked the soldier,
“When will His Majesty arrive?”
“He will arrive within three days.”
“Until then, there must be a place to stay, right? I’d rather not camp on the ground.”
“Follow me. There is a villa on the eastern side of the island.”
The soldier spoke and began guiding me, with other guards following closely—not exactly as an escort, but to prevent escape.
Slightly annoyed, I was about to voice it when the guard ahead suddenly stopped.
“And one warning.”
“…?”
“Do not attempt to escape. And even if you try, do not go west.”
I understood the first warning, but the second puzzled me.
West?
“Why? Is there a ship suitable for escape there?”
“No.”
The guard’s reply only deepened the mystery, as he added,
“There is something dangerous enough to threaten your life… in the west.”
“….”
Dangerous, huh.
It was a statement that sparked my imagination.
Unless an evil witch resided there, it could be a wild beast or a monster.
Or perhaps they were lying to hide the location of a ship.
“Then I must absolutely avoid it. Noted.”
Hearing my response, the guard resumed walking.
Eventually, we arrived at a small villa on the eastern side of the island.
After losing Yulia, the squad hardly spoke.
Her absence as vice-captain and supporter had stolen the conversation.
Crunching through the snow, they crossed the winter landscape, eventually reaching the Winter Queen’s domain.
“That… looks like a castle. Made of ice.”
Karl was the first to speak.
Oscar, hiding behind nearby rocks and looking in the same direction, added,
“There are ten ice golems in front of the castle. They guard it like soldiers.”
Maximilian muttered,
“Getting in is going to be difficult.”
Like the squad, the guards in hiding nearby were equally grim-faced.
It was their first time seeing so many monsters, and a structure created by abilities.
As everyone’s expressions darkened, Martin quietly spoke to Oscar,
“Oscar, check the cliffs behind the castle. Any monsters there?”
“No. Nothing at all. It’s a sheer cliff.”
The Winter Queen’s ice castle sat atop a cliff, leaving nothing behind it.
Thus, the ten golems were confined to the front.
After pondering Oscar’s report, Martin suddenly spoke to the group,
“We’ll need a diversion operation.”
When asked for details, he continued,
“Karl, Maximilian, and Raimont—follow me. We’ll climb the cliff to infiltrate the castle from the rear.”
Raimont narrowed his eyes, displeased.
“…The cliff? It will be icy and slippery, almost impossible to climb.”
“Have you forgotten my ability? I can melt the ice on the walls. Once melted, climbing will be easy.”
“But… why only the four of us? What about the others?”
“The others will engage the golems at the front, drawing attention so the Queen won’t notice us. We’ll begin the attack around sunset, by then we’ll reach the bottom of the cliff.”
Martin looked over the rest of the squad, adding,
“Draw their attention carefully. If the Queen notices us while climbing, we’re dead. Our lives depend on you.”
Raimont immediately questioned,
“Four of us? We’ll face the Queen after infiltrating—shouldn’t there be at least seven?”
“No, four is enough. More would increase the risk of detection.”
“….”
“Anything else to say?”
Unable to meet Martin’s cold gaze, Raimont finally bowed his head.
“No.”
“Then no dawdling. Let’s go.”
Martin led, followed by Raimont, Karl, and Maximilian.
To climb the cliff behind the castle, they first had to descend to its base.
Fortunately, moving quickly meant they could reach it before nightfall.
By sunset, they arrived at the cliff’s base.
“Phew, climbing that will be tough.”
Looking at the seemingly high cliff, Karl murmured first.
Martin observed silently.
Feeling something odd, Karl was about to ask Martin what was wrong when Martin spoke first,
“Think it’ll be hard?”
“Uh… yes. It seems tough for me. It might be nothing for the Captain…”
“It’s fine.”
“Excuse me?”
Martin calmly explained,
“You and Raimont won’t be climbing. You’ll die here.”
“…!”
Raimont instantly realized the situation and drew his sword.
Before the sword even left its sheath, Martin’s halberd swung vertically at Raimont’s neck.
Thud—
With the heavy sound of bone and muscle slicing, Raimont’s head was severed.
It happened in an instant.
Karl froze, staring blankly at Raimont’s head rolling in the snow.
