Chapter 30 : Cemetery of the Snow Kingdom
"Lonis, summon the weapon for me."
"Eh?"
"When I tell you to summon, you summon. So much nonsense—do you want to be disciplined?"
"Wuu..."
......
Lonis silently recited the incantation, and the crimson giant hammer appeared in Elucia's hands.
The hammer that looked like it weighed several hundred kilograms seemed as light as a bamboo stick in Elucia's hands, lifted with ease.
A black shadow flashed by, Elucia's form changed back to that of a young girl, then she gripped the heavy hammer tightly and smashed it forward.
Boom!
The door sealed by ice and snow melted just like that.
The solid ice turned into stream-like water flow, gurgling on the ground... and this scene left Lonis stunned.
"This is..."
"Heh heh, now we can use the hammer to break open all the ice-sealed doors of the entire Snow Kingdom. How about it, Lonis? Is there anywhere you want to go?"
"Somewhere I want to go..."
"Whether it's the quest hall or the palace lounge, both are fine."
"Wuu..."
Hearing Elucia say this, Lonis's heart jumped.
The quest hall was the place she visited most often when she became a hero in her previous life. It gathered many adventurers from all corners of the world, though most of them were mediocre in ability—only she could complete S-rank quests.
Therefore, whenever she went to the quest hall, she would receive admiring gazes from other adventurers, and the receptionist ladies would often look at her with hearts in their eyes.
The palace lounge was the same. Because it had huge floor-to-ceiling windows where one could enjoy different vegetation in the palace garden throughout the four seasons, she loved to rest there at the time.
Whether nobles or aristocrats, all held her in awe and respect. Often some noble young ladies would send flirtatious glances her way—it was truly noble and comfortable.
How different from now, being kept by Elucia as a slave maid, pet doll, and weapon rack!
(Eh... wait, Elucia?)
......
Lonis remembered that back then, in order to meet that princess, she had put in tremendous effort... not only dressing up handsomely, but even waiting in the lounge for a whole day and night just to catch a glimpse of the princess's beauty.
But the princess seemed to be avoiding her and never appeared.
From that day on, she had made up her mind to save the world...
After all, what's the big deal? It's just a princess, right? Watch me save the world and become the king's designated prince consort, then you'll become my wife!
Though this thinking was somewhat absurd, it also encouraged her past self to keep moving forward.
And now...
If that princess was indeed the former Elucia.
Then hadn't her current self also achieved her wish in a roundabout way?
......
Lonis's heart jumped, while Elucia frowned and snorted coldly:
"Hmph, since you're so indecisive, then let me decide."
"Eh..."
"Follow me, don't dawdle."
......
......
Lonis never expected that Elucia would bring her to the very back of the palace.
There was the back mountain of the Snow Castle, originally with a platform at the mountaintop from which one could overlook the vast snow realm.
But now, many tombstones stood here in neat rows.
They were covered by snow, seemingly forgotten on this snowy peak for a long time.
"This... this is..."
Lonis looked around in shock. From the text on those tombstones, she vaguely saw many familiar names.
Like that receptionist from the adventurer's guild, whose tombstone read that she died at age 23. Though she had no combat ability, she managed the association's affairs perfectly, never making a single mistake in her 5 years of service.
Like an old general who left a deep impression on Lonis. He defended the country for years but lived in a very modest house, distributing the kingdom's rewards and surplus wealth to the destitute.
Of course, Lonis could also find the names of bishops, noble young ladies, the king, and queen on other tombstones.
(What... is going on?)
Lonis turned around to find Elucia standing to one side with a very calm expression.
This black-haired girl neither offered tributes nor knelt in worship, just quietly standing there as if everything around her was unrelated to her.
Was it really unrelated?
No...
Lonis felt that although Elucia maintained her calm now, her heart must have remembered many things.
Unlike herself, an outsider, Elucia had grown up in the palace since childhood, living under the gaze of these people.
So seeing everyone dead, she must be especially moved by the scene, right?
......
The silver-haired girl opened her mouth, wanting to say something... but Elucia spoke first:
"Lonis, I know you have questions to ask."
"Eh?"
"But knowledge doesn't come without a price. If you want to know about the past, you need to pay something."
"Pay... something?"
"Yes, this is the principle of 'equivalent exchange.' Miracles don't happen for no reason..."
At this point, Elucia raised an eyebrow and showed a mischievous smile: "And as a slave maid, what you can do is let me play with you. Answer one question, and you have to let me play with you once."
"What?!"
Lonis's body trembled, and she "turned pale with fright" as she protected her chest: "Play with... means..."
"Of course it means being played with by me as a maid! Of course, even if you don't agree, you'll still be played with by me. It's just that this kind of playing requires your cooperation."
"Elucia!"
Lonis's face flushed red. What kind of situation was this? She had originally been immersed in the sadness of remembering her homeland, unable to forget for a long time.
But now, Elucia's single sentence made her emotions uncomfortable... actively cooperating with Elucia to be played with by her was too embarrassing.
No matter what excessive things were done to her, she couldn't resist. Even if it was extremely shameful and uncomfortable, she could only thank Elucia for her "favor."
But...
Lonis couldn't ignore the past. Not only did she want to know about Elucia's affairs, but she was also nostalgic for her hero life.
Did those people truly live in this world?
Was everything she did as a hero meaningful and valuable?
What was the underground world about?
Why did Elucia become her companion?
......
So Lonis spoke:
"I understand. If I'm going to be bullied, then so be it... But Elucia, you can't fool me. You must tell me the truth."
"Hmph, when did it become a maid's turn to give conditions to her master?"
"Eh?"
"But well, since you're an idiot, I won't deceive you~~ Ask whatever you want."
"Then..."
The silver-haired girl clenched her fists and took a deep breath: "Those NPCs I met in the dream world—are they real humans or virtually created characters? What relationship do they have with these people now lying under tombstones?"
......
......
Lonis asked firmly.