Chapter 192 : Side Story 17
Side Story 17
She had been tracking signs of monsters when she finally came face-to-face with Goranmoche Castle.
A great many monsters had already been slain, and the area around the Castle was covered in their corpses.
Of course, more monsters would soon invade again, so humans would have to fight even more fiercely.
'Humans may fear my existence... but they never submit.'
For monsters, if you displayed overwhelming power, they would bow their heads in submission.
However, when humans faced a formidable enemy, they would only unite all the more solidly.
Therefore, when confronting humans, she always had to take a certain level of risk.
'I thought that after obtaining this power, I could become anything I wanted...'
She reflected upon her days as a human, and let out a hollow laugh.
Because she was not a noble, she was oppressed by those beneath her, and since she had nothing, she suffered from hunger.
It was such an unfair world, so it was natural that she longed for power that could overturn it all.
'Whether then or now, I'm still an outcast. The only difference is the reason why.'
She had always been the weak, forced to submit to those with authority and force.
Yet even after gaining this power and becoming the powerful, the outcome did not change much.
For them, she was still an enemy to be annihilated, treated as a monster.
"Huhu... I've changed so much, yet you people are always the same. Why am I the only one who has to lose out?"
Now a monster who had even lost her name as a human, the Frost Witch gazed down at Goranmoche Castle, gripped by faint hostility.
All she had wanted was to live happily, harboring only a small hope.
Yet they had driven her into a deadly situation, and in the end, forced her to become a monster who stole others' power.
"Looks like they're here. I wonder who is calling out to this power?"
The Frost Witch hesitated for a moment, then decided to wait a little longer.
Even if she went to all-out war with the humans and slaughtered part of them, she would not be able to win outright.
If she really wanted to finish it, she would have to use the monsters.
"I should at least go take a look at their face. If they're cute, I might let them off easy."
* * *
Uriel had long since been sensing a faint aura.
That feeling had grown stronger since earlier, making her certain that the distance had narrowed.
It was likely the power of the dragon, and it meant someone who had stolen that power was approaching.
'I expected things to go this far, but I don't know why they're coming this way.'
Uriel pondered for a while, then turned her thoughts onto herself.
A human who had inherited the dragon's bloodline, the process of reclaiming the dragon's power, the means by which someone had stolen it.
All things considered, it meant the other party was targeting her.
'It can't be just to return the dragon's power... so are they here to kill me?'
Uriel did not feel the slightest hint of fear.
For whatever reason, she believed she would survive this battle.
Of course, she could only see the outcome, not the process—she would have to go through that herself.
'They'll probably use the monsters to follow me in secret.'
Uriel looked along the walls of the First Outer Castle, identifying a particular spot.
That wall would surely be destroyed, and monsters would pour in through the gap.
She should inform the commander or head of the guard of this, but in the current situation, no one would believe her.
'Things will have to get more urgent before they listen to me.'
That was why Uriel calmly waited until the time came.
It would likely be easier to persuade the commander than the head of the guard.
She had once crossed paths with the commander by chance in the capital, but doubted he remembered her.
'What path will my fate pass through...'
* * *
While commanding his forces, Zair instinctively sensed danger.
There were more monsters now than before, and large monsters were repeatedly attacking the walls.
If it went on like this, part of the wall would collapse, and monsters would invade the castle.
'Should we fall back to the Second Outer Castle even now?'
Zair agonized endlessly but could not make a decision.
He could not recklessly abandon the First Outer Castle without certainty.
After all, the First Outer Castle still contained barracks and houses.
Furthermore, as the supplies and rations were stored there, he had to be cautious.
'For now, the walls still stand...'
"You have to get off the wall. Or else, the soldiers will die."
At those words, Zair immediately turned his head.
The great mage's apprentice was approaching him, casting magic.
"I appreciate your advice, but that's for me to decide."
"That wall will collapse soon. If you wait until then, you'll lose a lot of your forces even if you retreat. Are you really going to keep fighting?"
Uriel sensed a faint vibration from the wall as she watched Zair.
If they did not withdraw now, the northern army and the reinforcements would suffer heavy losses.
Therefore, if only briefly, they had to abandon the First Outer Castle and aim for a counterattack.
"I am the commander of this Castle. Even if you're the great mage's apprentice, you cannot interfere with my authority."
"Regret comes too late. Just withdraw for now, you can attack again after."
"When it comes to battle, I have more—"
Zair's speech was cut off as he was unable to withstand the sudden trembling, bending his back and legs.
In contrast, Uriel didn't move at all, only watching him.
"Think carefully. You can't afford to hesitate any longer."
With those words, Uriel promptly descended the stairs.
Zair watched her retreating figure before quickly examining enemy movements.
Large monsters had surrounded the First Outer Castle's walls, and the other monsters were rushing in without hindrance.
The vibrations in the walls grew in intensity, and even the soldiers' unrest could not be appeased.
'This doesn't feel right. Maybe we really do have to retreat.'
Zair reflected earnestly on Uriel's advice, eyes serious.
Ominous signs had appeared, and the great mage's apprentice had withdrawn without hesitation.
She'd fought with all her might up until now; could she really urge retreat without a reason?
"... Where is the messenger!"
"Yes, sir! You called?"
"Relay the command to all forces: abandon the First Outer Castle and retreat to the trenches!"
"Ah... I-I understand!"
As soon as the messenger left, Zair issued orders to his subordinate commanders.
Though surprised, they hurried into action.
However, Roden could not accept it and objected.
"Will you really abandon the First Outer Castle?"
"It's better than losing all our forces."
"If they break through, we'll take heavy losses. But shouldn't we hold the line?"
"With the enemy's onslaught rocking the Castle, if it collapses, neither of us will survive."
"...."
Roden hesitated for a moment, then set about controlling the forces.
Zair reconsidered his own decision while watching the soldiers withdraw along the retreat route.
'Let this be the right choice...'
* * *
Uriel watched as the wall was destroyed, secretly relieved.
In the end, the commander had withdrawn all forces to the trenches, and monsters quickly toppled the First Outer Castle.
But only part of it was destroyed, and it would easily be repaired later.
'Now she'll show herself, won't she?'
Uriel stood firm in front of the monsters, not retreating a step.
She only waited for the one who had stolen the dragon's power to approach.
'People around here would just get hurt...'
"So, it's you? I was curious what you'd look like..."
Even as the monsters advanced, they opened a path for her.
From that gap, a figure wreathed in icy energy emerged.
Uriel fixed her gaze upon that figure and felt certain.
"......."
"Hmm... Such a pretty face. No wonder I wanted to come over here."
The Frost Witch scrutinized Uriel with a cold smile.
Uriel had an exceptional appearance, in a league of her own compared to other humans.
Most of all, the Frost Witch could even feel her own heart trembling—she found herself wanting her.
"......."
"Did you come to reclaim this power? What is your relationship with the original owner?"
"......."
"No answer? You seem quite discontented."
"......."
"Aha... So you want to act prickly? Hmhm, that's not bad. It's no fun if someone's too obedient."
The Frost Witch drove away the monsters and stood alone with Uriel.
If the monsters dealt with the other humans, she could take her time and savor this.
Of course, she would win easily, but simply crushing her would be rather dull.
"You look truly unhappy. Is this the life you wanted?"
"That's what you want to know? If I had to answer, I'd say no. I never wanted a life like this."
"You could just give up that power, so why don't you?"
"I've already lost everything. If I lose this too, I'll truly be pitiful. Look at me—there aren't even any traces left of the human I was."
The Frost Witch moved her left arm, made of ice, overcome with hollow emotion.
Her right arm and left leg maintained their forms as ice.
Her skin had lost all color, and even her hair was shrouded in cold air.
She was no longer human, but a monster.
"Do you want this power? I could give it to you, but you'd have to meet my demand."
"......."
"I want you. I've always been alone, but finally there's something I want at my side. If you agree, I'll give you this power."
Consumed by twisted greed, the Frost Witch reached out with her right arm.
Whether this was simple whimsy or the wish to achieve her ideal, she couldn't tell.
What she felt was simply the desire to possess Uriel.
"I'm not your possession. That power is something you stole for yourself."
Uriel unleashed her mana and created hundreds of ice shards.
She fired them at the Frost Witch, her resolve clear.
"Do you really think you can win? Hihihi..."
The Frost Witch spread intense cold air, sweeping aside the ice shards.
Their difference in skill was obvious—her opponent surely knew this, too.
Yet why did she still come at her?
"Rebellion is nice, but you need some education. I'll take my time, make you mine."
"Someone who can't even manage her own feelings wants to possess something else..."
The moment she faced the Frost Witch, Uriel realized she was at a disadvantage.
The Frost Witch used the dragon's power to wield extreme cold.
On top of that, she controlled surrounding monsters—effectively using them as additional forces.
"Go ahead, struggle harder. Maybe if I break you thoroughly, you'll finally listen?"
The Frost Witch spread cold air, beginning to pressure Uriel.
Uriel strove to neutralize the cold, but could go no further.
As expected, she had little hope of defeating the dragon's power on her own.
"All you have to do is beg for your life. I have no intent to hurt you..."
"Roden, now!"
"Oh dear... on my way!"
Two shadows shattered the raging current of cold air and launched a surprise attack on the Frost Witch.
The Frost Witch was instantly struck by sword strikes, and stumbled backward.
The two knights watched the Frost Witch warily, moving to stand in front of Uriel.
"There's much I want to ask, but I'll save it for later. For now, we need to deal with that monster."