IACGD 04

Chapter 04

Clémen watched silently. Ice that didn’t melt easily even near her—how fascinating.

But then.

“That’s enough.”

She brought her palm down like swatting a bug. In an instant, the ice melted, turning into flowing water.

“Cool… But did you mean to do that, Lord? Was it… intentional?”
“Who freezes things just for fun?”
“That’s true…”

Clémen nodded. It was as if she understood his mind. Strange. That single nod gave her an inexplicable feeling.

Zephyrus tilted his head and glared at Clémen.

His crimson hair—rare in the North except by a fireplace—shifted with her movement.

It looks soft enough to touch.

Unconsciously, Zephyrus thought that, then slammed the desk. Ice cracked and flew up, only to melt instantly.

“Stop wasting time. Speak—why did you climb the mountain?”
“Wha—? Is this an interrogation?”

Clémen laughed, a high, tinkling sound, then composed herself, placing both hands on the desk.

“Here’s what happened…”

The day after Clémen arrived in the village.

She had planned to go see the village chief first.

“The chief had a prior engagement today. So I thought I’d introduce the village first…”

Ruby trailed off.

Rora and Lu clung to Clémen’s sides, their faces drowsy.

“Rora, you have to stay put.”
“I was going to bring her… Lu, are you okay?”
“Uuuh…”

Lu looked as if she might slide off like rice cake on a hot plate. She was sleepy, which made leaving impossible.

Ruby scooped Lu into her arms.

“Rora, come here. You’re not going out today.”
“Why! I need to show off the stove!”
“Tsk!”
“Hngh…”

Ruby quelled Rora’s tantrum with a sharp look, and Rora pouted sheepishly.

“Sorry, I can’t leave the kids alone.”
“I understand.”

It was only natural for a parent. For Ruby, who worked at the lord’s estate, a day off was precious. Time to spend with the children was rare.

Watching Rora wave her hands tearfully from Ruby’s arms, Clémen chuckled quietly and wandered the village alone.

Ruby’s hand-drawn map was thorough, almost all essential information included.

“Here’s the leather shop… probably don’t need to know more.”

Even in extreme cold, Clémen wouldn’t wear thick clothes. She wandered around in light indoor wear while everyone else was bundled up.

“Ah?”

A rough, worn leather jacket flew toward her and struck her face.

The culprit: the leather shop owner.

“Hey! Who do you think you are, making me clean up corpses! Get out!”

He waved a broom at her, his gaze sharp and wary.

It was a familiar look: annoyance or avoidance, like most people Clémen had met.

“Uh, here—this is yours back.”
“Huh! Bringing back trash, now that’s a first! Take it and go!”

Clémen looked at the jacket curiously. It was worn, but still usable.

“Ah.”

She met the shop owner’s gaze, seeing caution, suspicion, and a faint trace of sympathy.

Gentle, good people.

Even as snow melted around her, the concern in offering clothes made her smile.

“Thank you!”

She stepped forward. Warmth spread out from her in a soft rush.

“Wh-what… are you trying to ruin my business?”
“Ruin it…?”

Clémen pretended to nibble, almost getting whacked with the broom.

“Haha! See you next time!”
“Don’t come back!”

With a friendly farewell, she moved on.

Her destination: the mountains.

They looked similar to the mountains she had gotten lost in just two days ago.

At first, it seemed easier than the desert; she could orient herself quickly. But obstacles prevented a straight path, unlike the desert.

After wandering, running out of food, and growing disoriented, she finally found the path after three days of hunger, fainted in excitement, and was discovered by Ruby.

Yet she returned to the mountains for one reason:

Northern mountains, dark coniferous forests with hardly any sunlight, felt far cooler than being in the village.

And fewer people meant fewer things to worry about.

Clémen laughed as she wandered. The snow melted wherever she went, leaving soggy ground.

This is a bit unpleasant.

Mud stuck to her bare feet. Leaves hidden under snow pricked her soles.

“Ugh.”

She shook her foot. The water instantly rose as white steam, drifting away. The leaves dried and crumbled under her step.

“This works.”

Her walk lasted quite a while. Never before had she strolled so freely, smiling at every step. The long stretches of snow between the trees seemed like a path made just for her.

Suddenly, a terrifying roar pierced her ears.

A tree toppled in the distance, the ground shuddered slightly.

Hmm… maybe I should go back.

Clémen paused. The monster’s rampage sounded alarmingly close.

A wrong turn could land her under falling trees.

Then she heard human voices, the clanking of light armor.

Then…

Her decision was quick. Instead of running, she positioned herself in the monster’s path.

Thump! Thump! Thump!

The monster came into view.

She stepped forward, brushing past its side with her hand.

“Kkyeok?!”

That was enough. The heated monster collapsed.

“Whoa.”

Unexpected. Desert monsters didn’t fall that easily. This heat would normally only slow them down.

She figured the others following could handle it.

Life doesn’t go according to plan.

Clémen dodged the fur monster’s green blood sprayed by a knight’s sword, waving awkwardly.

“Hello?”

A knight peered from behind, jaw dropping.

A barren path extended like a long tail, snow on the conifers disturbed by the monster, disappearing without a trace.

“Are you… a Fire Spirit?” Gwen asked cautiously.

Clémen thought they wanted to believe she was a Fire Spirit.

Indeed, snow melted where she walked, monsters fell, and snow disintegrated from the trees.

It was understandable they might think she wasn’t human.

But unlike the books’ description of beings born from and living in fire, she was just a person.

“No, I’ve said it several times, but they won’t listen.”

Whether she truly was a Fire Spirit didn’t matter.

Zephyrus mulled over her words. The vocabulary was limited, but he got the gist. Reports from the knights would confirm the story anyway.

“Wait… I was just thinking. This feels strange.”

Clémen’s expression was peculiar.

“Even though you know the lord freezes everything around, he let me in…”

If things hadn’t gone their way, she might have frozen earlier.

“If I were unlucky, I could have frozen to death?”

Right. Zephyrus fiddled with his fingers.

“My apologies. The knights’ zeal put you in danger.”

His voice sank, heavy with gloom. If it had happened, he might not have endured either. The knights’ devotion was understandable, but this must never happen again.

“Then please, grant me one request.”
“If it’s something I can grant.”
“Let me work here.”