Chapter 74
Chapter 74
I doubted my own ears.
Was this something that could even be said?
“…The Patriarch. No, are you saying Father can freeze the entire North?”
Was that even within the realm of a human being?
At that point, shouldn't it be considered godlike?
He had clearly reached the realm of transcendence, but it was still a story too unbelievable to accept.
“Does it sound like a joke?”
“…….”
“It is a joke.”
“Haha. Right? You were joking, weren’t you?”
“Maybe the entire North is too much, but the entire Winterbell territory? That’s doable.”
The Winterbell territory accounted for about one-third of the North…
Just then, while listening to Izumi Winterbell’s words, Arkan Winterbell cut in.
“Stop saying nonsense, Izumi.”
“It’s true, isn’t it?”
“…If he truly set his mind to it, even beyond the North would be possible.”
What the hell—was he being serious?
Not just the North, but even beyond that?
There was no way Arkan would lie about something like this, which meant the words he just said were true. In other words, if he wanted to, the Patriarch—Arkan—could turn the North, or even more, into a land of permafrost.
Of course, there would be risks that came with it.
“Is it only possible because Father is a Deus?”
Arkan looked at me with interest, then slightly raised the corner of his lips and slowly nodded.
“That’s right. It’s a stroke of luck only possible because I’m a Deus. If I didn’t possess Makina, affecting even beyond the North would’ve been nearly impossible. Even if I tried, I would have had to draw upon my core life force. But I’m a Deus with the Ice Makina. I amplify the power of the technique by channeling that force.”
“…That’s incredible.”
“You could do it too, once you become the Patriarch. The same goes for Izumi.”
He seemed to be implying that once someone became the next Patriarch, the Makina in his possession would naturally be passed down, and thus it would be usable.
But wasn’t that just his own misconception?
Not only I, but even Izumi Winterbell seemed to think the same.
“Haha. That’s only something you can do, Brother. Seriously, can you stop living like you’re not different from the rest of us? Even if we became a Deus, even if we could freely wield the Makina, how would that ever be possible…?”
“It is possible.”
“I’m telling you it’s not!”
The fact that even Izumi Winterbell, who stood on the verge of transcendence, said that, made it painfully clear how vast the gap between them was.
Arkan ignored her words and continued.
“Winterbell’s second ultimate technique, Permafrost, is all about power, range, and speed. It’s a technique the great-grand Patriarch personally created. As the name ‘ultimate technique’ suggests, once you learn it, you must never bring shame to the Winterbell name. Izumi. You will pass it down perfectly. If Ran Winterbell fails to master it completely…”
“If he fails…?”
Don’t tell me—was he going to say to take the technique back or something like that?
“There won’t be such a case. Make sure he learns it, no matter what it takes. By any means necessary. That is an order from me, as the Patriarch. Izumi Winterbell.”
“Yes, yes. As you command, Patriarch.”
“Then I’ll be off now.”
“Off where?! You said you’d teach me yourself!”
“Do you think the Patriarch’s position is easy? I’ve got a mountain of work piling up. Before I return, make sure Ran Winterbell has completed his training in the ultimate technique.”
With those parting words, Arkan left the training grounds. Izumi stared after his retreating figure with a look of disbelief, then let out a hollow laugh.
“He really is a mystery. He’s gotten so old, but I still don’t get him.”
“…….”
“Nephew, you heard him just now, right? He told me to pass the ultimate technique to you, no matter what it takes.”
“Yes.”
“It won’t be easy.”
---
About two weeks had passed since that day. I poured every moment into learning the ultimate technique. Except for minimal rest and meals, I spent the entire day swinging my sword, controlling aura, and training in the technique.
As Izumi Winterbell had said, mastering the ultimate technique was far from easy. Even I, who had a knack for handling magic power, found it incredibly complex—enough to leave me speechless.
Despite how it looked, the technique had a structure of very high difficulty, and I struggled quite a bit. Izumi’s method of instruction was to drill it directly into my body.
Thanks to that, I froze over several times. Time passed in a haze where I couldn’t even tell if I was human or an ice statue, but gradually, I began to internalize it.
I started to understand how to control the magical power, how to swing the sword, and what imagery I needed to draw in my mind.
I couldn’t say it was perfect yet, but I had grown enough to use the ultimate technique without issue.
It was all thanks to Izumi Winterbell.
She was a remarkable instructor, and a teacher.
Though her personality was free-spirited and unpredictable, none of that got in the way of her teaching me.
“Thank you, Aunt. Thanks to you, I’ve safely learned the ultimate technique.”
“Hahaha! Good. Now, from this moment on, you shall call me Master! Hahahahaha!”
“Are you sure that’s okay?”
“Why not? I taught you myself, so I’m the teacher and you’re the student, right? Hahaha!”
She wasn’t wrong.
Still, I couldn’t help but worry that I was ending up with too many masters.
“Old man Darkin’s your master, I’m your master, and you even received direct instruction from the Patriarch… I’m starting to think you might actually be the one with the strongest backing in all of Winterbell. Hahahaha!”
“……”
“Relax, will you? I’m just joking!”
“It’s all right.”
“I know well that you didn’t receive much support compared to the other kids. That’s why I made sure to teach you even more thoroughly. I’ll keep cheering you on. Ran Winterbell, you’re going to be a fine wolf.”
“Thank you, Aunt.”
“And don’t use Permafrost unless you really have to. I know you already understand that, even if I don’t say it.”
“Yes.”
“The power and range are still lacking. When you train on your own, focus on improving those two areas. Since even that uptight Arkan acknowledged it, you should know you've reached a certain level. But it’s still not fit for real combat. Keep honing it.”
“I’ll keep that in mind.”
“Then, have a safe trip. And don’t forget to bring me a gift when you come back.”
“I’ve learned a lot, Master.”
“Hearing you call me that makes me feel good.”
“I’ll be sure to bring back that rice wine you like.”
“I’ve raised a good student.”
At last, the training in the ultimate technique had come to an end. Izumi returned to her original duties, and I finished preparing to leave the family estate to carry out the mission Arkan had assigned me.
This mission was to eliminate a bandit group that had recently gained a notorious reputation in the North.
The name of the bandit group was Zephyr.
They were far too large in scale to be called a mere bandit group. Rumors had it that their leader was at least an Eighth Star-level powerhouse. Even among the lieutenants, there were said to be several Seventh-Circle mages and clerics capable of wielding divine powers.
It was an organization with far too many suspicious aspects.
To begin with, it didn’t make sense for them to establish themselves in the North if looting was their goal. The North shared a border with the Demon territory, and there was always the looming threat of an invasion. On top of that, the region’s harsh climate made it difficult to grow crops, so food wasn’t exactly plentiful.
‘If I were the leader of a bandit group, I would’ve headed South or West, not North.’
And yet, this group had chosen the North—despite being a newly formed organization. The fact that such a group, composed of such powerful individuals, had deliberately taken root in the North suggested there had to be another reason behind it.
‘The fact that they’re stealing in a place they know belongs to Winterbell proves they’re out of their minds.’
The Winterbell Family wasn’t so idle that they’d waste time on every random bandit group, but these ones had gone too far. They were rapidly expanding their numbers and indiscriminately looting and killing the residents of the North.
Winterbell interpreted this as a clear provocation.
That was why they chose Ran Winterbell—now a full-fledged member of the family—as the most suitable person for this mission. It was both a test and a judgment of my qualifications.
‘I need to produce results that will satisfy the Patriarch.’
I planned to wipe them out—without leaving a single one behind.
“Is everyone ready?”
“Yes, Young Master!”
“Let’s go.”
I departed from the Winterbell estate together with Cecil, Attica, and the gold-ranked mercenary group Harlan, who would soon become my own knights.
Clatter, clatter.
As always, our mode of travel was a carriage. It wasn’t the highest-grade model, but it was still of decent quality. A carriage I couldn’t have even dreamed of in the past was now readily available to me.
“Daddy! Daddy! Where are we going!?”
“We’re going to punish some bad people.”
“Can I kill them all!?”
As Attica, sitting on my lap, asked with a bright smile, Cecil scolded her.
“Attica. I told you not to use such vulgar words, remember? And haven’t I told you over and over not to kill people carelessly?”
“…You’re right. Sorry. But isn’t it okay to kill the bad ones?”
Cecil gave a small nod.
“That's right. This world is full of garbage that would be better off disappearing—for everyone's sake. You're free to think that way, but watch what you say. Attica possesses enough power to easily kill such vermin. But if she doesn’t learn to control that power properly, it could end up killing not just those vermin, but even innocent people caught in its wake.”
Attica listened to Cecil’s words with a serious expression.
“Okay.”
“I know you don’t want that to happen either, Attica. Not all humans are bad, and not all of them want to hurt you—you understand that now, don’t you?”
“Yeah. Daddy, Cecil, my big sisters, my big brothers—they're all human. They’re all kind, they play with me, and they make lots of tasty food.”
Cecil smiled brightly and gently stroked Attica’s hair, proud of her.
“That’s right. We’re all human. I hope you’ll grow up with a kind heart, Attica.”
“I’ll try, Cecil.”
Attica giggled contentedly under her touch and responded with energy.
“Fufu. Good.”
Attica was already strong, but she would only become stronger. Like Cecil, I too earnestly hoped that she would never come to see humans as mere insects—and instead live among them, as one of them.
Just then—
A voice called from outside the carriage.
“Young Master. May I have a moment?”
It was Camille, leader of the Harlan Mercenary Group.