To put it bluntly, I proved to be utterly useless.
Kwaang!
“Aargh!”
Thrown aside with a mere flick of the witch’s hand, as if swatting away an annoying insect, I vanished from sight.
The stage was set for the showdown between the ‘Winter Expedition’ and the formidable ‘Witch of Winter’.
It was a spectacle that could only be described as a mythical resurgence.
Whoong! Whoong! Whoong!
Bianca conjured a massive flame at her fingertips, painting the sky with hellish hues. The flames scorched the earth, reducing the land to a marshmallow-like consistency.
“Haa!”
The Princess swung her sword, creating a deep dent in the earth with a single stroke. The shockwave, barely evading the witch, cleaved a distant mountain peak. The sheer surrealism of a two-meter-long sword severing a mountain was beyond belief.
Greechk!
Kyrie unleashed an arrow, pulled taut, flying in concentric circles, obliterating everything in its path. Even if missing the target, Kyrie’s arrows relentlessly pursued, as if guided by unseen eyes.
“Goddess, look upon your servant…”
Light descended from the sky, centered on the Saintess. Nobility and divinity radiated from her kneeling form within the holy light, connecting heaven and earth. Even beyond the light’s reach, I felt a swift healing of my recent wounds, vitality flooding my entire being.
Honestly, witnessing their full power left me in awe. I knew the ‘Winter Expedition’ members were formidable, but this display surpassed any prior expectations.
In the past year, Bianca’s magic had been limited to conjuring hot water or creating a fireball in jest. Kyrie’s arrows were reserved for occasional encounters with wild beasts. The Princess rarely unsheathed her sword against monsters, considering it trivial. The Saintess only invoked healing magic when tending to my injuries.
Mostly, injuries among the team were rare. This was the first time I saw them unleash their full potential.
“….heh!”
However, the witch opposing them proved equally formidable.
Bianca’s magical trajectories twisted instantly, forming an ice barrier that deflected the Princess’s sword energy, while Kyrie’s arrow, aimed straight at the witch, was effortlessly redirected.
Even in a 4-to-1 battle, the witch held her ground against all four.
Yet, my attention shifted from the intense battle to a different threat.
The witch gestured, redirecting Bianca’s magic towards the main castle of the Estel Duchy.
Kwak Kwa Kwa Kwa Kwam!
Bianca’s flame struck the castle directly, evaporating its core. As the structure collapsed, a thousand years of history crumbled before my eyes.
“….ah.”
Whoong! Whoong! Whoong!
The destruction of the Duke of Estel’s castle, a historic moment in my generation, unfolded before me. Though I wasn’t directly responsible, the weight of my heritage collapsed along with the castle.
My heart, witnessing the scene, crumbled as well.
“……”
“Oh? My mistake.”
While captivated by the devastation, Bianca’s voice nonchalantly spoke of a ‘mistake.’
Anger surged within me, the desire to confront her for such an error, but the situation didn’t permit such actions.
Perhaps due to successfully repelling all attacks, the witch’s demeanor shifted. Her fingers moved in an unfamiliar pattern.
Kwurrring!
Lightning erupted from her fingertips, soaring into the sky. A roar echoed, dark clouds enveloped the sky, and a cumulonimbus cloud crackled with electricity.
‘…absurd.’
I knew one thing for certain – the impending strike was perilous.
“Whoops. I’ve never used it on people, so I can’t control the power well. Then, good luck.”
The witch’s voice, seemingly lethargic, resonated. In an instant, she flicked her fingers downward.
Chreeeeng!
“…!”
Catastrophe itself rained down. Lightning, larger than most buildings, splintered into dozens of branches, descending upon us.
My God, I knew it was powerful, but had the witch’s might always been this overwhelming?
However, salvation arrived.
[I entrust my shield to the goddess who seeks righteousness.]
A voice echoed on the battlefield, reverent and powerful.
An overwhelming light poured from the sky.
“….ah.”
Behind Saintess Ariel, an entity appeared, appearing to look down benevolently upon all.
In that sacred presence, the urge to kneel stirred within me.
[All paths illuminated by the Goddess are the kindness and truth of those who keep her covenant.]
The sacred light from the Saintess Ariel became a shield, deflecting all principles of this world, protecting everything.
“Cain, what are you doing there! Do you want to die?”
The halo, however, didn’t extend to where I sat. Bianca, using magic, hastily tossed me into the realm of light just as a lightning bolt struck my previous location.
Kwa-kwa-kwa-kwa-kwak!
The place I occupied moments ago vanished without a trace.
“I’m going crazy. I’m really going crazy.”
Feeling pathetic and foolish, having mocked the witch just moments before, I realized that if she had decided, I would have been a corpse by now.
“You sit quietly behind that sneaky woman. Don’t die for no reason.”
Bianca scolded me, placing me next to Saintess Ariel.
As I prepared to return to the battlefield, she looked back at me.
“Hey! Have you forgotten something?”
“…?”
As I wore an expression of confusion, Bianca pounded her chest in frustration, resembling an uncivilized caveman.
“I just saved you! Have you already forgotten?”
“…ah.”
I recalled the recent rescue, but my expression remained grim. To express gratitude to someone who played a part in destroying the heritage of the Duchy of Estel seemed painful. Nonetheless, maintaining my civility, I acknowledged her.
“Thank you, I lived thanks to you, Bianca.”
Bianca’s complexion shifted, a mix of anger and embarrassment apparent.
“Mmmmm!”
She shook her head abruptly, glaring at me before turning her attention back to the witch.
As I watched Bianca depart, Ariel approached, tapping me on the shoulder.
“…well. Cain. It could be dangerous, so could you stay behind me? Please don’t go too far forward. You might get hurt.”
Her caring words translated to ‘don’t mess up and stay behind me quietly.’
It was a reasonable request.
“…then, I won’t hesitate.”
Pride didn’t safeguard my life. I quickly sought refuge behind Ariel, aware of my unsightly appearance.
****
The battle between the ‘Winter Expedition’ and the ‘Witch of Winter ’ unfolded over half a day.
Simultaneously, the Duchy of Estel, their battleground, lay in ruins.
The lord’s castle, now dust, and surrounding buildings shattered. Decades of cultivated farmland reduced to barren land, hideous craters pockmarking the estate.
As I, the head of the Duke of Estel, surveyed the devastation, the sky seemed to turn yellow.
“…I want to see my mother.”
A genuine yearning for my late mother surfaced in my words.
“Ughhh…”
“…..”
The battle concluded.
The ‘Winter Expedition’ and ‘Witch of Winter’ fought fiercely, yet neither emerged victorious.
Bianca, the Princess, the Saintess, and Kyrie lay unconscious on the floor.
The witch, though not senseless, showed no inclination to move.
“…..”
Unharmed within Ariel’s protective embrace, I stared blankly at the scene.
Maybe it was my chance. Wouldn’t this be the only chance to defeat that witch with her weakened state?
Sureureung!
Thinking so, I unsheathed my sword and advanced toward the witch.
“….ha.”
The witch turned her head, sensing my approach. However, she made no move to resist.
Truly, the witch seemed drained of power. For a moment, the situation felt like a comedy.
Even when I was included as a mere meat shield by the Emperor and higher-ups, I couldn’t have envisioned such an ending. No one could have anticipated ‘Cain von Estel,’ who couldn’t keep pace with the expedition, taking on the role of thrusting a sword into the heart of the witch.
“…witch.”
I gazed at the witch lying on the floor, panting.
With her snow-white hair and youthful beauty, she appeared like a young lady from an aristocratic family. Yet, she was also a witch– malevolent and responsible for the deaths caused by winter across the continent.
Chieee…ing!
I raised my sword, aiming for her heart. The intention to kill persisted, but I intended to make it as painless as possible.
We were the victors; she, the vanquished. She had to pay the ultimate price for her defeat. I didn’t even have the qualification to participate in the battle, standing trembling behind Ariel.
“Goodbye. In your next life, live a little better.”
Muttering these words, I thrust my sword toward the witch’s heart.
Right before my sword could pierce her heart, our eyes locked.
“…!”
Time froze.
Not metaphorically, but as if one second had fragmented into a hundred, the witch and I shared a profound gaze.
In that fleeting moment, where only she and I existed in the world, the witch licked her lips.
“…this time, you were here.”
“What?”
Befuddled, I attempted to ask for clarification, but it was too late.
Time resumed its normal flow. My sword continued its unstoppable descent toward its target.
Fu-wook!
My sword impaled the witch’s heart.
There was no resistance.
Blood spurted from her mouth, yet her eyes held no trace of resentment. She gently pushed away the sword lodged in her heart, and with a soft touch, stroked my bewildered cheek.
“Thank you.”
Saying this, the witch nestled into my arms.
The next moment, my vision blurred.
The world spun around me. Centered on the witch and me, the entire world seemed to transform.
Embraced by a dazzling light, my consciousness plunged into darkness as if someone had flipped a switch.
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