Chapter 259 : Did We Get Him?

Fwoosh!

The large white fox and the red-haired woman on its back ran through the snow-covered trees like a gust of wind.

The snow-covered trees passed by in a blur.

The moment the magical beasts noticed their presence and turned their heads, they disappeared from sight, leaving only a white and red afterimage.

Occasionally, a quick-reacting magical beast would spot them roaming freely through the forest and try to attack.

—Kwoooong!

The magical beasts couldn't even touch a hair on them.

The white fox nimbly dodged and ran through the forest.

Miho, who was running like a gust of wind, suddenly asked.

"Was it called Snowman?"

The Red Witch on his back answered.

"That's right. It was a magical beast that really looked like a snowman."

"Hmm. There are all sorts of strange things. A snowman."

"I know, right."

Scarlet grinned.

"It was a peculiar one. I've never seen a magical beast like that in my life. It was as if it were using magic."

"Magic?"

A magical beast that uses magic?

Miho's ears perked up.

"The arrangement of the mana, the circulation path of the circuit, and the way the formation worked were far from ours. It was incredibly unique. It was like seeing a magic that had developed independently in a remote place."

"Hoh."

"To be honest, I was a little shocked. To think that magic could be generated in that way."

Miho glanced at her.

"Was it that much?"

Scarlet answered in a serious voice.

"It's a monster. As expected of a special S-rank individual."

"Hmm. I heard from Ashuban that you silenced its blizzard just by snapping your fingers."

Scarlet nodded in acknowledgment.

"Maybe it was because it was born not long ago, but it had some clumsy aspects. So I was able to break through it easily."

Just as a swordsman trains by swinging his sword.

A mage grows through countless contemplations and research.

"If it's a creature that can think like a human, it could be a big problem."

Miho looked at her with puzzled eyes.

"Did you say a big problem?"

"Yes, that's right. If that creature regrets and reflects like a human, and through that, finds and acknowledges its own flaws and improves, and develops..."

"If it develops?"

"It could have become the worst magical beast in history. It would have been a matter of time before Maia collapsed, and even in the Holy Empire of Hilka below, the entire empire would have had to fight a desperate battle against it."

Miho blinked.

"Is it that much?"

"It's a 'what if'. A 'what if'. If it really had the mindset of a mage and continued to grow and develop over time... I can't imagine what would happen."

"Hmm."

"It's a bit of a shame that such a monster was born as a magical beast. If it had been born as a human, it could have turned the magical world upside down."

"That's high praise."

"It can't be helped. Anyone who has walked the path of mana even a little would be surprised."

Miho thought.

It seemed Scarlet had been quite shocked by her first encounter with the Snowman.

"Then wouldn't it be better for you to go over there now? I'm enough for that 'Half-Dragon' creature."

Scarlet shook her head.

"It's a 'what if'. The possibility is not that high. Besides, there were traces of human hands on it."

"Did you say human?"

"Yes. It's probably a type of ancient holy magic, and I suspect they are followers of the forgotten Demon God. Probably, that's the root. It seems the Dark Heaven Society that Ashuban was talking about branched out from there."

"..."

When a word he didn't know came up, Miho shut his mouth.

Regardless. The Red Witch muttered as if to herself.

"I didn't know there were still those who traced the remnants of the long-dead Demon God. I thought I had burned them all. They're more persistent than I thought."

"..."

"Is this also fate? The research I'm doing is also related to it. And Ashuban, who is trying to stop him, seems to be naturally entangled in it. Did Ketel intend all of this?"

Scarlet, who had belatedly realized that Miho had become quiet, smiled and lightly patted his head.

"Sorry. I talked too much to myself."

"It doesn't matter."

"If Ketel decided to leave it to him, then that's how it should be. If I interfere unnecessarily, it will only mess things up."

Scarlet, who had organized her thoughts with a light nod, said softly.

"We should leave that side to the master of fate. We have our own things to do. This side won't be easy either."

Miho snorted.

"How ridiculous."

"This side is also one of the forgotten remnants of the past. It's better not to be careless."

"I don't know if it's a demon god or a dragon, but I'll just tear it to pieces and be done with it."

"A wise answer."

Scarlet laughed lightly.

"Let's go. I have a feeling it's waiting for us."

"We shouldn't make it wait long."

Fwoosh!

The white fox cut through the winter-occupied forest and advanced.

* * *

"What. You said we didn't have time, right?"

"...That's true, but."

Everyone's gaze turned to the snowman's head that had fallen on the snowy ground.

The clueless Hartz muttered.

"Did we get him?"

To cast a magic spell that would bring even the dead back to life.

"Shut up, you idiot."

"What. Can't I even talk?"

"Even a dead person would get angry hearing that and come back from the afterlife."

Dofang looked at the Snowman, whose head had fallen off, and stroked his chin.

"There's no way an S-rank would end with just this."

"It's more likely that he'll get angry because his words were cut off."

At my words, Dofang nodded.

"Yeah. It's annoying when you're cut off. What did he say? A dick? Why is he suddenly talking about a dick? Does he want one? I can't give him mine."

"...Brother Dofang."

"Hmm?"

"Not a dick. A flower."

"Ah, was that it?"

Hud and Shushuruta looked at the lewd petty thief with contempt.

Dofang protested in an aggrieved voice.

"Hey, can't I even make a joke?"

By the way, why did this guy keep talking about flowers?

Did the Dark Heaven Society guys come and show him a flower?

"..."

Even though I watched with great tension, there was no significant reaction from the snowman whose head had fallen off.

Since high-intelligence magical beasts were cunning, there was a possibility that this was also a trap.

I couldn't approach it rashly.

I gestured to Schmidt with my eyes.

Schmidt, who had understood my intention just by my gaze, balled up some snow and threw it at the creature's head.

Thwack.

"..."

There was no particular reaction.

Seeing that, Linda also threw the vial she was holding at the Snowman's head.

"Hup!"

Clang!

The vial shattered, and the Snowman's head was covered in a blackish liquid.

Sizzle!

The black liquid bubbled, and the snowman's head began to burn.

Not to be outdone, Shushuruta also threw a dagger.

Thud!

Hudmilla also swung her whip and struck the head again.

I stared blankly at the Snowman's head, which had been hit by a snowball, covered in poison, stabbed by a dagger, and even hit by a whip.

Even after suffering that humiliation, there was no reaction.

Hartz muttered.

"...Did we get him?"

"I told you to shut up."

I asked Sorrow.

"Mr. Ice Mage. What happened? Give me your opinion as a mage."

One of the demonic swordsman's eyes turned blue, and Sorrow answered.

"I don't know. I don't see any particular traces of mana..."

I also asked the Heavenly Demon for his opinion.

"What do you think, Master?"

The Heavenly Demon answered in a rather indifferent tone.

[I wonder.]

"Hey, aren't you being too insincere?"

[What do I know? About magic.]

Just then.

Kiiing!

A light began to shine from the ground.

The eerie, red, flickering light pierced through the thick snow on the ground and announced its presence.

[Oh?]

"Get back!"

Before Sorrow could warn us, we instinctively took a few quick steps back.

But it was not something that could be avoided.

Kiiiiiiiiiiing!!

The earth vibrated.

The ominous red light instantly covered the entire valley and extended to the foothills of the mountain in the distance.

When I looked around, it looked like a huge magic circle.

It was different from a normal magic circle, which had a large circular frame and was full of metaphysical shapes and runes.

Not only was it not circular, but it was a grotesque magic circle that was twisted and wriggling as if it were alive.

"This is ridiculous..."

Sorrow muttered, as if in disbelief.

"You son of a bitch."

Only then did I seem to understand why this guy had been waiting alone here.

This damn snowman had drawn a hideous magic circle all over the valley.

It was a trap that could not be avoided.

And we had fallen into that trap.

The pointed mountain ridges that surrounded us felt like the mouth of a huge beast.

Whoooosh!

As if it had been waiting, the blizzard, which had been quiet, began to rage.

In an instant, it blew so hard that I couldn't see in front of me.

Like before, it was a wind that I could not control.

The blizzard was clearly serving its master.

'It's too late. We can't get out.'

Since we were already in a trap. It was better to stick together than to scatter, even if I didn't know what it was.

I quickly made a decision and gave the order.

"Don't move! Hold your positions!"

And then I shouted urgently.

"Sorrow! The way to break it! Tell me!"

Sorrow answered.

"I don't know! It's a format I've never seen before! I can't recognize it at all!"

"Damn it."

Woooong—

I gathered the moonlight in my sword and was about to pour it toward the center of the magic circle, but I couldn't tell where the center was, so I just randomly slammed it where the Snowman was.

KWAGWAGWANG!

But instead of the magic being broken, it began to wriggle even more violently.

The red, flashing magic circle made me feel as if I had entered the mouth of a monster.

"It's not working!"

I could hear the Snowman's voice, as if it were humming in my ear.

【You strangers who have come from the land of hardship...】

I said urgently.

"Sorrow, you son of a bitch! Are you even a mage! What kind of magic circle is this! Just spit out anything you know!"

"I told you I don't know... wait."

It seemed he had realized something.

Soon, I heard his urgent voice from beyond the blizzard.

"It's a mental magic! Everyone, keep your wits about—"

WHOOOOOSH!!

His words were swallowed by the fierce blizzard.

【I invite you... to my nightmare...】

With the guy's humming words in my ear as the last thing.

I was engulfed in the thick blizzard, and my vision turned all white.

.

.

.

WHOOOOOOOOSH!!

A huge blizzard was blowing in the valley.

It had already become a snowstorm that had spread white all over the valley.

The snow and wind that had spread white formed a barrier of their own.

Soon, a figure broke through the white barrier and came out.

It was a snowman with a dagger stuck in it, half-burned by something black, and one side caved in as if it had been hit by something, looking somewhat distorted and eerie.

Scrape... scrape...

The snowman, which had come out of the blizzard, left the white barrier behind and slowly advanced south.

Muttering something.

【Flower... a place where flowers bloom...】

Scrape... scrape...

The snowman headed south in search of flowers.

(End of Chapter)