Chapter 12: Snowfall (3)

“Oh no, young master!”

“Ugh, enough!”

I scowled deeply and glared at Baron Hessen.

He was drenched in cold sweat, practically begging, about to burst into tears.

“Why would you climb such a dangerous snowy mountain?!”

“Are you ignoring the knights of Battenberg? Or me? It’s the latter, right?”

“I-I’m just worried about you…”

I couldn’t help but laugh bitterly at his words.

‘Worried? My ass.’

“You’re scared you’ll be blamed if something happens to me.”

Sure enough, the baron shut his mouth tightly.

Since yesterday, I’d noticed he’s the type whose emotions show plainly on his face.

“Stop the useless worrying. Just go back and send supplies.”

“As long as you’re in Hessen territory, I cannot return. I already instructed a soldier to deliver supplies.”

His face practically screamed, “So stop doing this nonsense and go back!”

“Anyway, Aaron and I are climbing the mountain.”

I made it clear and left his tent.

Aaron, who had been silently standing by, finally spoke up.

“…Young master.”

“What is it?”

“Did you know that Young Master Moritz recently fought evenly with a mid-tier knight?”

Huh? What was he talking about now?

“No. Why bring that up?”

“I just thought you should know,” Aaron said meaningfully, staring at me.

“So what? That thug has Battenberg blood too. It’s not that strange.”

As I looked into his oddly serious eyes, I suddenly realized—Right. This guy’s a mid-tier knight now too.

Is he going to try and stab me for underestimating him? I couldn’t help but tread lightly.

After all, I knew he’d eventually earn the nickname “Spear Demon”—a name given because once he picked up a spear, he couldn’t see anything else.

“Go get ready to climb.”

“Are just the two of us going?”

“Yeah.”

I thought he’d argue that it was dangerous, but surprisingly, Aaron just nodded silently and disappeared.

‘That guy’s acting weird today.’

I turned my head, watching the unusually off-looking Aaron leave.

Well, as long as he protected me on the mountain, that was enough.

***

Later…

Aaron’s preparations were fast and flawless.

Curious about Richard’s real reason for climbing the snowy mountain, he hurriedly packed.

‘It’s clear. Young master has a hidden motive.’

Looking at Richard staring up at the mountain, Aaron felt certain.

This wasn’t just a simple hike.

Today, he would uncover a piece of Richard’s true self.

“Let’s go.”

They began their climb, trekking up the snow-covered slopes.

Occasionally, monsters and beasts appeared, but Aaron quickly dealt with them.

Richard grimaced as he watched blood stain the pure white snow.

For someone who had lived a normal life and now become Richard, it was a disturbing sight.

‘I could get used to this with enough battle experience… but why take the hard road when there’s an easier one?’

He glanced down at the cooling monster corpses, then to the marking on the back of his hand.

The mark had faintly dimmed.

The hesitation he felt during battle meant he lacked the qualification—the mark was judging his worth.

‘So that’s how it evaluates me…’

Even though it dimmed, Richard smiled.

He was starting to get it.

‘In the end, I just need to fight well and grow stronger fast.’

His old mana insensitivity?

Already overcome through faith—a ridiculous yet powerful force.

‘I have to get stronger fast.’

As Richard muttered to himself, he noticed Aaron looking at him.

“What are you looking at?”

“…Nothing.”

They kept climbing.

As the sun began to set, Richard suddenly felt a presence watching them.

“Keep going. They won’t show themselves yet.”

Aaron tensed at the rising sense of danger.

Richard quickened his pace.

“Do you know something?”

No response.

Eventually, they reached the summit, and the watchful gaze grew heavier.

At the same time, Aaron sensed a magical disturbance—like a barrier.

“Aaron. See that big tree?”

Richard pointed to a large, leafless tree.

“This isn’t the time to talk about trees…”

“Don’t you think it’s strange for a tree to be up here on a snowy peak?”

That’s when Aaron realized something was off.

“Don’t bother guessing. That tree is the core of the barrier. You can break it with your mana.”

“…!”

Aaron was stunned.

A mid-tier knight like him hadn’t noticed this barrier.

If it was that well-concealed, it had to be a high-level one.

‘And yet Richard knew?’

Even more shocking—he seemed to sense mana.

Richard pressed him.

“It’s cold. Hurry up.”

Aaron obeyed.

He approached the tree, drove his spear into it, and released his mana.

The air echoed with groaning sounds, and cracks spread along the tree.

‘The barrier… it’s collapsing.’

Richard had been right.

Filled with confidence, Aaron shouted:

“Haaah!”

Crash!

The tree shattered, and the surroundings transformed in an instant.

Aaron’s jaw dropped at the sight.

“That’s…!”

A palace.

A grand, icy palace now revealed before them—something no architecture of this era could ever achieve.

“Let’s go in.”

Richard wrapped his coat tighter.

His true goal lay within—a monster inside the palace.

***

Inside the Ice Palace.

“Phew—!”

White breath escaped in clouds.

Inside the ice palace, it felt twice as cold as outside.

They moved cautiously.

“What is this place…?”

Aaron was in awe.

Everything, from the floor to the ceiling, was sculpted from ice—delicate and beautiful.

“Young master, how did you know about this place?”

“Don’t ask. You wouldn’t believe me.”

Aaron’s face twisted oddly.

He’d been looking at me strangely for a while now.

‘No point telling him. I’m done being treated like a lunatic.’

“Let’s move.”

“Huh?”

I gripped my sword tightly.

We were in enemy territory—no room for distractions.

As we stepped into the main hall on the first floor, ice statues all around us began drawing swords.

Guardians.

Artificial beings created by skilled mages to protect their domain.

Which meant the owner of this place was no ordinary magician.

‘Originally, this place was ruled by a powerful mage. But that mage is dead now—someone else guards it.’

Aaron stepped in front of me.

“It’s dangerous! Please step back—”

“These guys are fine.”

Thwack!

I drove my sword into a guardian’s neck.

Since I’d never used a real sword to kill before, attacking ice constructs felt less overwhelming.

Plus, these ones were weak—old and clunky, easily handled by even a low-tier knight.

‘Just aim for the neck.’

After defeating around twenty guardians—mostly handled by Aaron—we stood before a staircase to the next floor.

“Is it over?”

Aaron was undoubtedly talented—already a mid-tier knight at his age, and close to becoming a high-tier one.

We cleared the second and third floors quickly.

Though the guardians grew stronger, they were still no match for Aaron.

‘This is still just a warm-up. The real threat is ahead.’

The lord of the Ice Palace.

The one I’d only seen from behind a monitor screen. I warned Aaron:

“Don’t let your guard down. The next one’s dangerous.”

“Yes, I can feel it too.”

Ahead was a huge door, emanating chilling air.

“I’m freezing to death…”

The cold was intense—like being trapped in a freezer.

My fingers were going numb.

“If it’s too much, I’ll go ahead. Please wait outside.”

Aaron, sensing my weakness to the cold, offered to go alone.

“That monster inside… it’s at least 3 stars. You should really retreat—”

“It’s 4-star.”

His eyes widened.

A 4-star monster was no joke—even for Aaron.

“You should go back. We’ll need a full hunting party to handle this without casualties.”

He wasn’t wrong.

There was no need to risk our lives here.

“Just discovering this monster is a huge achievement. You’ve already done enough—”

“It’s too late. You think it doesn’t know we’re here?”

As if to confirm my words, the giant ice door creaked open.

“…!”

Aaron tensed, steeling his resolve.

Gripping his spear, veins popped on his hand.

“I’ll buy time. Please leave the palace!”

He spoke firmly, not wanting me to argue.

I nodded silently, and he turned toward the now-opening door.

‘Alright, time to get ready.’

Of course, I had no intention of retreating.

Watching Aaron’s determined back, I turned away.

On the floor, the ice swords of the fallen guardians glimmered with cold energy.