Chapter 173: Snow Spirit
Link: https://ncode.syosetu.com/n7583de/
Author: Hirukuma
Translated by Zzonkedd
Edited by Gumihou
“You are a general of the Demon King’s army?”
“Indeed, the Left Arm General rescued me moments before I was captured and killed by humans. I have been by his side ever since.”
Saved at a moment of crisis? Well, I guess it’s normal for anyone to be loyal to a saviour who saved them in the nick of time, but who is to say that this loyalty was deserved? Isn’t the timing too perfect? The King of the Netherworld is the scheming type, so gaining a loyal and powerful ally through a timely ‘rescue’ was not out of the question. Best to keep an open mind against such possibilities.
However, regardless of whether it was through coincidence or a scheme, there is no way to know one way or other unless the Ruler of the Netherworld decided to reveal this himself. Regardless of the circumstances, she was still saved from being hunted by humans.
Which meant that it would be impossible for us, as humans who had just met her today, to persuade her with words.
“His commands are everything to me. You are all obstacles to his great plans.”
“Please stop!”
Sulrim ignored Kikoyu’s pained cry as she extended a hand, letting a gust of wind and snow blast through the air.
Kuroyata grabbed Kikoyu by the shoulders and, together with Botan, they dived behind my <Barrier>.
The world went silver-white once again.
<Points decreased by 10>
<Points decreased by 10>
<Points decreased by 10…>
The blizzard brought not only snow but golf ball-sized ice bullets too. The noise of ice shattering against the <Barrier> was deafening. Even so, with plenty of points on my side, I could endure this much damage.
“This is nuts. We’d be frozen solid the moment we step into this snowstorm,” Hyurumi muttered.
Should I check if Hyurumi’s little quip is correct?
I dropped a bottle of tea into the dispenser and used <Telekinesis> to send it halfway out of the <Barrier>.
A few seconds later, I pulled it back. The bit that had been exposed had frozen solid. If <Barrier> was deactivated now, my comrades would all freeze to death. Well, almost everyone.
“Kikoyu, could all Snow Spirits create such intense blizzards?”
“It varies between individuals, but a Snow Spirit’s power increases dramatically upon reaching adulthood. It is rare to see such a powerful storm. I think she is especially capable.”
“How long can she maintain this? Surely she can’t keep this up forever?” Hyurumi said.
Kikoyu frowned thoughtfully. I have a bad feeling about this.
“If this was outside, it would be difficult for her to maintain the storm, but since we’re indoors, her storm can’t collapse or go anywhere. Also, the cold strengthens a Snow Spirit’s power. It is possible for her to maintain this storm for two or three days.”
Evne though I have quite a lot of points, do I have enough to keep the <Barrier> up for several days? A quick calculation later… ah, looks like it’s impossible.
“Hakkon, how long can you hold out?” Ramis asked me with slightly anxious eyes. Well, it was right for her to be concerned. My feelings were showing through oddly flickering lights.
Hold on, let me give it another go.
I have just a little over a million points, considering the rate of decrease, which is about 10 points per second… woah, I usually only suffer -1 point per second, she must be doing some serious damage outside.
Uh, let’s see. 10 points per second is 36,000 points per hour times 24, that’s 864,000 points in a day. Just a little over a day? If that woman doesn’t suddenly started throwing something big at us.
“O-ne day”
“May-be”
“One day is good enough to get us some breathing space!” said Ramis cheerfully.
“That’s only if that woman doesn’t increase the damage,” said Hyurumi.
“No matter what, we cannot leave everything to Master Hakkon,” said Mishael.
No worries Mishael, I consider it my responsibility to protect everyone.
“But, we’ll freeze the moment we step outside.”
“Hevoy should give it a try-.”
“I’ll give this a pass.”
Hevoy and Shui were fooling around despite the situation. It is a relief to see that their relationship appears to be on the mend.
“I shall try speaking with her again.”
“N-o”
I immediately protested. Botan and Kuroyata appear to agree with me as they both held Kikoyu back.
“What is it? I will be fine in the snow.”
Snow Spirits and Snow Children may be fine against extreme cold, but those flying hail stones are a different story.
Not to mention, I don’t that that the enemy’s general, Sulrim is someone we could just talk around.
You will have to use force to get these people to listen to what you have to say, but thinking that you can solve this issue through a non-violent discussion is basically courting death.
I get that she has some sympathies for this woman and wants to resolve this issue through a discussion rather than a fight, but I refuse to let her die for such a futile mission.
Perhaps we could sympathise with them, but that doesn’t mean we should die for their pitiful situation.
“He-re”
Kikoyu approached me and placed her hand on my body.
“”As a fellow Snow Spirit, blizzards are nothing to me.””
Even so, Kikoyu is not an adult yet. She doesn’t have the power to fight against an adult Snow Spirit.
“”That may be true, but it would not be a problem.””
How could she respond so confidently? It doesn’t feel like she is bluffing… Does she truly believe that she could handle whatever is coming? In this situation? What’s the reason for her confidence?
“”I thank you for your concern. However, I wish to stop her. She is who I would have become, had I never met Mister Field. Because I have met Mister Field, I am who I am today. Had I met the Ruler of the Netherworld first, surely I would have been the same as her…”
Kikoyu too had been hunted down for her mysterious body condition. That was how she met the person who reincarnated as a field, Mister Field.
Because of this encounter, both her body and soul were saved. That is why she is where she is today. Is she comparing her own situation with Sulrim’s?
“”It would be a lie to say that I do not sympathise with her. However, that is not the only reason. Please, trust me.””
From the serious look on her face, it did not look like she had given up on herself. There was a strong will in her eyes.
Does she have some sort of plan or something? Should we just let her go?
“”Mister Hakkon, what time is it now?””
Caught off guard by the abrupt question, I turned my attention to my internal clock.
Um, let’s see… the time is… in less than a minute, it would be midnight. Well, the desert is much colder at night, but would fighting that woman during the day make much of a difference?
I was in the middle of projecting my thoughts to Kikoyu when she suddenly turned and leapt out of the <Barrier>.
“I’m off!”
Without arms to hold her back, I was unable to stop her from plunging into the white world.
She got me! She distracted me and took advantage of the opening… Damn it, I can’t disengage the <Barrier>, and without legs, I can’t follow her.
Am I supposed to just sit in silence waiting for Kikoyu to be killed?”
“Kuwaa-! Kuwakuwa!”
“Bwoooo—”
Kuroyata and Botan were holding their position without an ounce of urgency between them. Even though they were the ones who dragged her back in just now… for some reason, they are sitting on their hands now, watching silently after Kikoyu’s retreating figure.
The very picture of tranquillity.
Just what is going on? Did something happen in those few crucial minutes?
These two were the ones who had been with her the longest. Perhaps I have no right to say anything as a semi-outsider, but I can’t help but worry… Gah, I’m really worried!
The rest of the party did not seem to have noticed that Kikoyu had suddenly disappeared. They stood there in silence, silently watching the blizzard.
Ahh, how frustrating! Even if I did manage to inform them about Kikoyu’s great leap outside, it’s not like they could do anything. It would just make them worry needlessly.
“Hm? Isn’t the blizzard moving a bit oddly?”
At Hyurumi’s remark, I started paying attention to the blizzard too.
Did the wind just change its direction?
In fact, the constant hail shattering against the <Barrier> had disappeared too. The blizzard was still raging on, but it was not fully directed at us. Had that woman switched to attacking Kikoyu?
“Hmm… It seems to have lost some momentum,” Hyurumi muttered.
I telepathically flicked the snow off the <Barrier> and the world outside came into view.
Sulrim was still generating blizzard through her hands, but her gaze was not directed at us. She was staring at someone else, who also had their hands stuck out. In fact, now that I am paying attention, it looks like the blizzard is being countered by another blizzard of equal force.
Who could it be?
The figure wore a short white coat with slender arms and legs sticking out, in fact, her white coat looked a lot like Kikoyu’s, if a little bit tight. Come to think of it, she also has flowing white hair.
This woman was so breathtakingly beautiful that I could not help but mentally scream into the void. Her thin eyebrows arched gracefully over eyes that glittered like embedded black crystals. She looked to be in her early 20s.
Despite having never seen this woman before, I felt a distinct sense of familiarity. As though I have known her for a while.
“Who is that? Um, she looks like she’s the same race as Kikoyu, right?”
“It’s possible, but why did she start fighting against that woman?”
“Do you think she’s here to help?”
“That’s a bit too convenient, right? Not to mention, she is also wearing the same shoes as Kikoyu…”
If Hevoy said so, there is little chance that he is mistaken.
The only thing I could think of is…
“Master Hakkon, her energy felt similar to Kikoyu’s, only magnified to an incredible degree. What could this mean?”
So, that woman is… Kikoyu?
I see, she has grown up in such a short time… WHAAAAAAAAT?!
[Gumihou: Okay, saw that a couple of miles away.]
Kitchennovel.com has a new Membership System!!
Please click on the table below to check it out~
Naturally, you can also choose to support us through Patreon or tip us via Kofi~!
Don’t forget to leave a comment at novelupdates too!
