Alraune continued forward, relying on the mark and the guide.

Occasionally, snow would fall, but it was never enough to block their path.

If anything, it was so unusually peaceful that his suspicions only deepened.

"... It really must be the Frost Witch."

"The Frost Witch has probably been watching us for a long time."

Standing in the middle of the snowy field, Alraune glanced around.

The snow-covered mountains were shrouded in thick mist, and beasts like rabbits or foxes appeared only fleetingly before vanishing again.

They hadn't even encountered a single predator or monster, so it was only natural to be certain that the Frost Witch must have intervened.

"It's about time she tried some deception, isn't it?"

"What sort of deception are you talking about?"

"For example... perhaps she'll try to fool us with the weather. If she's the Frost Witch, wouldn't she attempt to turn it into a blizzard?"

"Wouldn't it be better to send monsters after us than to change the weather?"

"That's another method. A powerful monster might rule over the weak ones..."

Alraune considered every possibility, yet felt no particular fear.

Neither the climate nor the monsters of the northern region could threaten him.

On the contrary, unless the Frost Witch personally intervened, they would only keep pressing forward.

"Wouldn't dragging out time be to our disadvantage?"

"On the contrary. It'd play to our advantage. We can return to the castle and come out again if necessary. But the Frost Witch can do nothing except hide."

"Have you considered the time and distance it takes to go to and from the castle?"

"Would I have come all this way if I intended to give up after a single try? I'm not returning to the capital until I get the answer I want."

"... You really are unusually persistent for a Great Mage."

Without even complaining, Erze checked the direction indicated by the mark.

She didn't completely understand what Alraune was thinking, but his intent to break the curse was unwavering.

Perhaps, having taken Uriel's child as his disciple, he felt responsible for them.

"If I weren't persistent, I wouldn't have earned the title of Great Mage."

"I thought Great Mages were supposed to resolve things all at once."

"A Great Mage can't be perfect every time. It's because we're imperfect that we strive on, and as time passes, we get closer to perfection."

"If you told that to someone else, they'd hardly understand. Most would just think you're babbling nonsense."

"No living thing can be perfect. Life itself is but finite, so how could we ever yearn for infinite longing?"

"Have you been skipping your magic lessons and just listening to this weird babble somewhere?"

"What is called truth is always strange by nature. We feel awe precisely because it is unattainable. Even if you realize the truth, you may never actually achieve it."

"... It was my mistake to even try talking to you."

Looking irritated, Erze reluctantly fell silent.

He didn't mean any harm, but he had a tendency to spout long-winded, almost nagging explanations.

And with the way he carefully laid out his logic, it wasn't easy even to object.

"Hm... It seems the real movement is finally starting."

Suddenly, Alraune moved swiftly, overtaking the guide.

He conjured flames, shaped them into an arrow, and fired.

"Kieeek..."

"Hurk..."

Something white was struck by the flaming arrow and collapsed.

Alraune peered out briefly and then began to survey his surroundings warily.

"What just appeared?"

"A werewolf. It was probably trying to ambush us."

"I guess in the north, even the monsters are white."

"By my standards, it's weak. It's likely half-starved, or perhaps running from a predator."

"Are you saying the Frost Witch is the predator?"

"We need to judge separately from the Frost Witch."

"Saying it like that, nobody will get what you mean—"

"Uoooooh!"

A monstrous roar echoed from beyond the hill.

The guide had already identified the source, and Erze could not help but look quite flustered.

In contrast, Alraune displayed a calm demeanor, merely waiting for the enemy to appear.

"Th-there! It's a yeti! A yeti is coming!"

"A yeti... You mean that really dangerous kind of monster?"

"Yes! I believe it's spotted us and is heading this way!"

"What are you going to do? Isn't that thing super dangerous—hey!"

"GRAAAH!"

A hulking form took shape through the thick fog.

Its entire body was covered in white fur, and its arms and legs were exceptionally thick.

It was essentially a huge beast, the kind that ruled over the northern wilds.

"That creature's hide is so tough, neither spears nor swords will work. You'll have to use magic power to kill it!"

"Well, do something then! Are you just going to stand there all day?"

"Ugh... ughhh!"

The yeti, having spotted the three humans, immediately began to charge.With each step, it left deep, wide footprints in the snow.

At the same time, the ground trembled, as if an earthquake were beginning.

"... Noisy thing."

Muttering just a word, Alraune effortlessly released magic power.

Instantly, the icy surface seemed to twitch, and then mounds of earth erupted from the ground.

The mounds swiftly wrapped around the yeti's ankles and completely trapped it.

"GRAH!"

Trapped by its left ankle, the yeti crashed down.

Simultaneously, its ankle bone was crushed, and its face was driven into the ground.

Even knowing the Frost Witch had orchestrated this, Alraune remained calm.

"Grr... GRAAAAH!"

As the yeti's body shuddered, sharp spikes suddenly burst through it.

It was earth-element magic; dozens of spikes relentlessly pierced the yeti's flesh.

The creature howled in agony for a moment, then went entirely limp.

The enormous monster moved no more, already growing cold as a corpse.

"Haa... haaa..."

"Wow, damn... If you were going to do it, why not sooner!"

The guide and Erze both gasped in shock.

But Alraune, solemn-eyed, only looked toward the direction from which the yeti had charged.

"How long do you plan to stay hidden, Frost Witch?"

"... Heh, so you knew?"

A mocking voice came as a gust of wind surged nearby.

It swirled about and then formed a shape.

Raising his magic power, Alraune did not strike first.

"Do you remember me?"

"I remember you. You're the human who lived after meeting me."

The Frost Witch slowly advanced, keeping her eyes on Alraune.

Her form was humanlike, but her arms and legs shimmered with a translucent glow.

Parts of her body were made of ice, yet moved flexibly.

Even parts of her face and hair were frozen, but strangely, the effect wasn't unnerving.

"Were you the one who cursed Uriel Astille?"

"I did curse her. She wouldn't have died if she'd just stayed put."

"... I see. I'd suspected as much. Was it a curse to cause her unborn child's stillbirth?"

Alraune had already deduced the general truth behind the curse.

Combining Erze's opinion with his experience as a Great Mage, he concluded that the target must have been Alter Radiant.

In other words, while Uriel was the direct target, the curse's repercussions affected Alter Radiant.

"She threw away her own life for a single child. If she'd just stayed as she was, nothing would have happened."

"..."

"Uh..."

Erze instinctively sensed the turbulence of magic power and glanced nervously sideways.

Though Alraune didn't visibly react, his magic power raged violently.

Surely, Uriel's death was about to bring out Alraune's true character.

"She was mine, but I gave her freedom. Even if she wasn't at my side, as long as she was happy, that was enough. But she mustn't lose her original form. She must remain just as she was."

"So you cursed her just because she got pregnant?"

"Once she had a child, her belly swelled up, right? I hated looking at it."

"Huuuu..."

Barely restraining a surge of fury, Alraune glared at the Frost Witch.

Since receiving the title of Great Mage, he had never once lost his temper.

But perhaps, just this once, he could let his emotions run wild.

"So I only meant to get rid of the child, but—wouldn't you know it—she died herself to protect it. How could she be so foolish?"

"Erze. What's the situation?"

"If you kill that lunatic, you can break the curse."

"I see. Just as I thought."

Coldly answering, Alraune spread his arms wide.

He had just analyzed the Frost Witch's magic power and understood the close connection it had with the curse.

Erze had reached the same conclusion, so now all that remained was to carry out the procedure to break the curse.

"I'll postpone breaking the curse for now, for future purposes. Erze, take the guide and stay behind me!"

Unleashing his magic power, Alraune began to manipulate the airflow around him.

Erze quickly pulled the guide away.

It had been decades since she'd seen Alraune truly angry.

Back then, even Uriel couldn't restrain him; who now could possibly stand against the Great Mage?

"I will—absolutely—kill you!"

* * *

Alter became aware of a strange sensation in his left chest.

It was over his heart, but it wasn't his heartbeat that had changed.

It was just an inexplicable feeling, and he couldn't help but find it odd.

'Are they fighting the Frost Witch? Is that why the curse is reacting...?'

Though puzzled, Alter reluctantly accepted it.

The curse inscribed on his heart was intricately tangled with the Frost Witch.

So depending on her state, he might feel a secondary effect.

'I guess killing the Frost Witch is what'll break the curse.'

He made a tentative judgment and forced himself to ignore the sensation.

Alraune had once mentioned that the curse could be broken by the Frost Witch's demise.

Perhaps Alraune was now certain, which was why he planned to confront her directly.

'Still, it would have been better to take the Sword Saint or a Holy Apostle along.'

While he had his worries, Alter didn't underestimate the title of Great Mage.

Even the previous Great Mage had fought dragons, and his achievements were now lauded in history.

Alraune inherited that same honor; surely he wouldn't be easily defeated.

'For now, I need to keep studying magic while preparing for the wedding...'

Looking out the window, Alter spotted a carriage approaching the mansion.

It was a rather splendid carriage, one he'd seen several times when traveling between the imperial palace and high society gatherings.

Most likely, the Crown Prince was riding inside.

'If the Crown Prince came all the way here, it must be to meet the Duke of Illenat. The only topic around this time would be...'

As he considered the Crown Prince's purpose, Alter soon drew an obvious conclusion.

Brillie had attended the founding anniversary banquet at the palace and slain a dark mage there.

Could the Crown Prince have been smitten with her after seeing that display?

'Is the engagement talk starting again? If Duke Illenat is persuaded, there'll be nothing Brillie can do...'

-------------= Clacky's Corner -------------=I feel like Alraune will die...It's just a feeling, but...【(⩌‸⩌ )】

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