WYCFD 04

Chapter 4

“Monster?”

“Yeah. Are you a monster?”

“I am a creature!”

I answered without thinking, then blinked.

That demon—he understood everything I said.

The demon holding me, and that pretty demon too… something was strange.

“A creature, huh. The way you handle mana does make you seem like one. Who taught you?”

“No, is that really important right now? Now then, little lady. Who told such bad things to a child?”

“…?”

This was really strange.

The conversation kept going, but it felt unfamiliar.

So I tensed up, putting strength into my whole body, glancing between the two—then my eyes met the snowman’s bluish-gray gaze.

Even the way he blinked was pretty.

As far as I knew, there was only one thing in this world that sparkled and looked that beautiful.

“…Snowman.”

“Hm? The snowman said that?”

“I don’t think that’s it.”

The human in blue holding me and the snowman tilted their heads.

I pointed at the snowman and shouted.

“It’s a snowman!”

Not the kind of snow that barely piled up in the capital where our family lived—but the special snow that fell in this villainous territory.

The moment I arrived here, I saw that thick, heavy snow.

And the snowmen too.

The people here didn’t care even if a monster showed up—they just carved ice and made snowmen.

Snowmen that looked like they could come alive at any moment.

But now, right in front of me, a real snowman was actually moving.

“Did demons make it out of snow? Damn demons! It’s sparkling!”

I shouted loudly, staring without even blinking.

The snowman muttered expressionlessly.

“Sparkling, pretty. Quite generous with your praise. Is today my birthday?”

Was he asking?

“Demon, don’t you know your birthday? You’re stupid! I know mine!”

“…You’re very clever.”

“Khh—he says you’re stupid, hehe.”

“That’s right! I’m smart! I can do everything!”

I focused my eyes again, took a deep breath.

Then I clenched my fists, tensed my whole body, and shouted the most important thing.

“I am a snowman assassin!”

Completely forgetting that I was currently being held by someone.

And then I thought:

‘Right. Assassination rules!’

Ah—how could I forget?

‘It’s fine! I’ll just attack right away!’

I immediately began gathering mana in my legs.

The snowman’s eyes narrowed slightly.

And then—

“Hehe—huh, w-wait? Little one, that’s dangerous—!”

As if that was a signal, I kicked off the ground (“Ghk!”), hurled the poisoned needle hidden in my sleeve, and launched forward.

“I’m hunting the snowman!”

Thud.

And just like that, I froze midair—stuck against someone’s stomach.

Struggling, I shouted:

“Y-you! Pretty snowman demon…!”

“What a noisy assassin.”

“You damn snowman! You’re laughing! …But is your hair made of snow too?”

“The baby is even swearing.”

“Ugh—cough, cough! Stop talking so calmly and hold the kid for a second! My stomach—she definitely used mana! Hurry, I’m dying here!”

“I’ve got her.”

“My lord…?”

“Let go of me! Ngh!”

I shook off the two trembling arms holding me and threw another hidden poisoned needle.

“…You do quite a lot, in your own way.”

“Don’t just admire it…!”

The owner of those arms behind me collapsed to the side, whimpering.

The poisoned needle didn’t even touch the snowman.

I was reminded once again that the snowman was a mage—and a very strong one.

As always, I moved my mana to retrieve the poisoned needle.

“Oh?”

“Huh…?”

For a moment, the snowman’s eyes gleamed sharply like carved stars.

I stared into them while frantically waving my hand.

Something was wrong. The needle wasn’t returning.

“W-where is it?!”

I definitely threw it. It had mana infused in it—it should come back when I call it.

But it didn’t.

I swallowed the strange feeling rising up in my throat and shouted louder.

“Give me back my poisoned needle! You evil snowman!”

“…Goodness.”

The human in blue got up groggily, grabbed me again, and lightly patted my back.

“I had a feeling… this kid really came here as an assassin, huh?”

“Ugh… come back…”

I ignored them and desperately reached toward the poisoned needles floating in the snowman’s mana.

My small jellyfish-like hands wriggled in the air.

Then the demon behind me sighed and muttered:

“…Does ‘assassination’ perhaps mean attacking the heart? That seems possible.”

“Quiet. Capture her again.”

“…Mm, yes. Capture. Got it.”

Capture?

At that moment, I froze.

Images I had often seen underground surfaced in my mind.

Scenes of what happened when an assassin failed their mission.

‘That’s bad.’

The human in blue pulled me back into his arms, holding me the same way as before.

I couldn’t move at all.

Only then did I realize reality.

A complete failure.

“I need to become something useful to our head. Only then can I go back.”

Back to the nanny… and the researchers…

As I muttered, the snowman’s eyes twitched slightly.

I glared at him.

The snowman was looking straight at me. This creature would answer anything.

I blinked, then impulsively raised my voice.

“…Why is this happening?”

“What is?”

The snowman blinked slowly.

The stars in his eyes disappeared and reappeared.

I shouted again, as if spitting something out:

“I sent mana—so why isn’t it moving?!”

The snowman replied:

“Because my mana is stronger.”

I see.

I shut my mouth and stared at him.

He even continued:

“You’re just a novice mage, and I’m a great mage.”

“…Novice…”

It was a word I’d never heard before.

“More importantly, why are you carrying something so dangerous? You have no fear.”

“I—I’m not scared. I’m a creature!”

“This is something you should be afraid of, assassin.”

I suddenly realized that breathing had become easier than before.

So I stopped struggling and asked loudly:

“Then, snowman! Are my needles—and my hands and feet—all being held by your mana right now?”

“…What?”

“Huh? Your hands and feet too?”

“I can’t move! They’ve all been taken hostage…”

I thought it would loosen soon, but just like the needles, the snowman seemed to be holding them.

I had truly failed.

I looked once at the human in blue holding me, and once at the snowman trapping my poisoned needles in white mana.

Then I lowered my head deeply.

And hitting the blue-clothed man’s arm a couple of times with my fists, I cried out miserably:

“How resentful! How unfair!”

“Resentful…? No, more importantly—her hands and feet! I definitely took measures as soon as we entered, so why is this happening? I’ll call Teacher Shura right away.”

“Put her down here. And tell them to examine her while staying hidden again.”

“Yes, sir. I’ll be back.”

The human in blue left the room with a serious expression.

After placing me gently on a white lump on the head’s desk.

I sat there, slumped, and muttered bitterly:

“Just you wait. Next time, I won’t fail…”

“Do as you like.”

“Snowmen melt. Next time I’ll bring fire.”

“Hm. There are real ice statues outside, so that won’t work.”

“I’ll do it. …Huh?”

But only for a moment.

As I spoke, I looked down.

A strange sensation was coming from under me.

Between my legs, I saw a smooth white surface.

Soft white fur tickled me like delicate grass.

“…”

I shut my mouth.

Without realizing it, I wiggled my toes, then lightly bounced my hips a few times.

I got carried away and did it more—then suddenly flopped forward while sitting.

“Uwah—!”

“Don’t lie face down. Lie properly, assassin.”

Flip.

My body turned over.

I stared blankly at the spotless ceiling.

The feeling against my back erased all my thoughts.

…No!

I struggled against the strange heaviness weighing down my eyelids, trying to keep thinking.