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Chapter : 46. The Bait and the Trap
It was a dark night where the moonlight hid behind the clouds.
The night on the snowy mountain, with winter’s chill fast approaching, was unbearably harsh for Serapia.
“Haaah…!!”
The cold pierced through her fur coat, making her body tremble involuntarily. Her fingers felt like they had turned into ice.
Even her breath froze white in the air, offering no warmth at all.
Her nose and ears were red and numb from the cold. Her legs grew stiff, each step forward a struggle.
And yet, she continued to push herself forward, climbing the snowy mountain, following the path Adrien had carved.
“Wish… we could go… together…”
If only.
But Adrien was already far ahead, seemingly indifferent to Serapia’s presence. He was now vanishing from sight.
Trying to keep up with him was agonizing.
Normally, she would have collapsed long ago.
‘Thank goodness… I’ve been working out…’
Her consistent training, all in hopes of getting closer to Adrien, was finally paying off.
“Huff… Huff…!”
Still, poor stamina was poor stamina.
Panting heavily, Serapia finally reached the summit of the snowy mountain.
Adrien, who had arrived earlier, was already preparing camp.
He cleared away the thick snow and ice with his bare hands, flattening the area to make stable ground.
The bitter cold wind blew from all directions.
To block the freezing wind that cut into the skin, Adrien built windbreaks using rocks and snow mounds from the surroundings.
He moved not just skillfully but like a seasoned expert.
Even mercenaries who’d roamed battlefields for decades wouldn’t be this good.
‘A-Amazing…!’
Serapia couldn’t help but be impressed.
While she stood in awe, Adrien had already created a small space in the center for a fire.
He took out some wood from who-knows-where and carefully lit it.
The flames wavered on the verge of going out, but soon roared to life.
The darkness vanished in an instant.
Adrien noticed Serapia.
“Come warm yourself.”
“Y-Yes! Thank you!”
Serapia quickly sat in front of the campfire.
The warm flames began to ease her shivering body.
As she held her palms near the fire, warmth wrapped around her entire body.
While Serapia warmed herself…
Adrien brought out dried meat and finely ground grain powder.
He scooped some snow into a kettle from who-knows-where and began to boil it.
Before long, with swift and efficient motions—
A delicious, steaming stew was ready.
“Eat.”
“Thank you for the food!”
Serapia eagerly took the dish filled with stew.
At once, she brought it to her mouth.
“Mmm…!!”
Her eyes widened at the taste.
“It’s so good!”
Truly, it was delicious.
Even though it only contained dried meat and grain powder, the taste was rich and smooth like something served at a fancy restaurant.
“If you want more, help yourself.”
“Yes!”
She nodded energetically.
Adrien returned to finishing the rest of the camp preparations.
It felt like they were on a journey together.
‘I love this…’
It was so nice.
When would she ever again get to eat food made by Adrien himself?
When would she share such time with him again?
No matter how she looked at it, she was glad she had chosen to become the bait.
‘I wish this would last forever…’
Serapia truly wished these moments would continue.
* * *
Serapia devoured the stew like a starving child.
Though it was a plain stew with just dried meat, her agility had reached a whopping 33.35.
With her [Metabolic Acceleration C+] passive skill giving her a constant +15% boost, even food tasted exponentially better.
With a bit of exaggeration, it could make even garbage edible.
“It’s seriously so good, big brother!!”
For her, turning stew into gourmet cuisine was no big deal.
But watching Serapia enjoying the food so much—
‘…Damn it.’
Suddenly, an intense irritation flared up.
Even if it was for hunting a Lycanthrope… what was he doing?
Serapia—The Frost Sovereign.
The greatest enemy of the Allied Forces.
The witch who took the hero Ian’s left arm.
The screams of those who died by her hands still echoed in Adrien’s ears.
Those who were struck by her cold didn’t just freeze like statues.
Their blood and bodily fluids froze solid.
It was as if razor-sharp blades of ice formed throughout their bodies.
Their frozen corpses were shredded, and their deaths were agonizing.
There is no organ that functions without blood—he could still vividly recall the torn-apart corpses of his agents.
Hearts, brains—all shattered.
Their bodies had turned a ghastly blue, as if covered in a layer of thin ice.
Some had tried to run, but their frozen limbs had locked them in place.
That’s how the Special Forces members died—desperately.
All of it—Serapia’s doing.
The absolute master of frost, she wielded a cold so otherworldly that even Ian’s arm had been lost to it.
Not even a Saint’s miracle could heal the damage—it was that horrific.
The Frost Sovereign, Serapia.
Among the six lords serving the Emperor, the Allied Forces called her their greatest foe.
* * *
Serapia suddenly froze mid-bite.
A sharp, murderous glare pierced her whole body.
Lowering her bowl cautiously, she met Adrien’s eyes.
His eyes were fiercer than the last time—worse than when he choked her.
She glanced nervously, then slowly set her bowl down.
She wanted another helping…
But something told her she shouldn’t.
Adrien continued to glare at her as if he would kill her.
No, it wasn’t just a look—it was clear intent.
He was going to kill her.
Something barely held him back, but if given the slightest reason—he would.
She thought they’d grown a little closer.
She was happy just being near him.
“…Tch.”
…So why did he hate her so much?
Suddenly, Adrien threw everything down in frustration and stormed off.
She wanted to stop him—but didn’t have the courage.
Fortunately, Kai arrived at that moment, running into Adrien outside the camp.
Kai had left later, due to dressing in disguise, and had just arrived.
“Where are you going?”
“I told you—I can’t stay here.”
“But you said it would take three days before the Lycanthrope reacts.”
“I did.”
“Then can’t you stay for just today?”
Adrien didn’t answer. He just looked at Serapia.
Panicked, Serapia lowered her gaze.
“If the Lycanthrope shows up, send a signal.”
That’s all he said before leaving the camp.
Kai watched him go, puzzled.
“Did something happen between you two?”
“Eh? Ah, no, nothing at all!”
Serapia waved her hands frantically.
It was true—nothing had happened.
Kai didn’t press further and took a seat.
Crackle crackle.
The only sound was the campfire.
Then—
“It’s not too late, you know.”
Kai spoke softly.
“This operation is too dangerous. More importantly—”
“No. I have to do this.”
Serapia cut him off, showing firm resolve.
Maybe that conviction got through to him, because Kai said no more.
“Then, please promise me just one thing.”
She looked at him.
“Promise me you won’t use your powers, no matter what happens.”
“…Okay.”
“Even if my life is at risk, you must not use them.”
“……”
“Promise me.”
“…I promise.”
Serapia nodded slightly.
Only then did Kai seem relieved.
Silence fell once more.
This time, it was Serapia who broke it.
“By the way, Sir Kai.”
“Yes?”
“I’m sorry to say this but…”
She slowly looked him over.
His long golden hair, falling to his waist, glowed like the sun in the firelight.
Soft, shiny, and flowing—every time it shifted, glimpses of his face appeared.
Too beautiful to believe he was male.
His white, porcelain skin gleamed.
His lips shimmered in soft pink gloss.
And his deep blue eyes, framed by lovely lashes, looked divine.
“You’re really, really pretty right now!”
She suddenly understood why the maids were so excited.
Why they begged to be the ones to help with the disguise.
“If you wore a dress, you’d look even more beautiful!”
It wasn’t a joke.
Kai, in disguise, looked like the most stunning woman on the continent.
Yet he lowered his head, clearly embarrassed.
Usually cold and stoic, now he was red-faced and speechless.
Serapia, playful now, crept closer.
And then—
A massive gust of wind swept past Serapia’s face.
* * *
A deadly instinct rang in Kai’s core.
But by the time he realized it—it was too late.
“Eh…?”
With a dumbfounded sound from Serapia, something struck Kai.
It had moved without any detectable bloodlust.
Even his sharp senses couldn’t react in time.
A large, brutish hand grabbed Kai.
Only then could he see his attacker.
A being that looked like a fusion of beast and man.
Over six meters tall—its presence alone was suffocating.
With sharp brown fur, iron-hard muscles, and a wolf-like face.
Its glowing red eyes held not madness or hunger—
But pure, disgusting lust.
And in that moment, Kai knew.
The Lycanthrope.
The beast of desire… had arrived.
Grrrrrrr…
The Lycanthrope pulled Kai closer, eyes gleaming with vile anticipation.
Why it went after Kai and not Serapia was unclear.
But perhaps it was a blessing.
Had it gone after Serapia, Kai would’ve had to watch her die.
The Lycanthrope sniffed Kai, then tilted its head in confusion.
It sniffed again.
GRAAGH?!
Realizing Kai was male?
Its face contorted in horror.
Crack!
The grip on Kai tightened viciously.
“Ghhhk…!”
…Incredible strength.
If he hadn’t protected his body with aura, he’d have exploded on the spot.
BOOM!
The Lycanthrope hurled Kai away. He slammed into the ground, pain flooding through him.
His whole body felt shattered.
But gritting his teeth, he forced himself up.
His mastery let him endure it.
And as he rose—
Screeches and howls erupted.
Kai saw them.
Monsters surrounding the area.
In other words—
The Lycanthrope hadn’t come alone.
‘You… knew…?’
He knew it was a trap—and still came.
Because he was confident.
Confident he could kill everyone here.
We had laid the bait.
They had laid the trap.
The Lycanthrope grinned.
It isolated Kai and bared its disgusting lust toward Serapia.
Kai had seen it firsthand.
This was not something Serapia could endure.
“A… Ah…”
Crushed by the vile pressure, Serapia trembled.
She was imagining what was about to happen to her.
The more she shook in fear, the more excited the Lycanthrope became.
It unleashed its lust even more.
Kai had to stop it.
But surrounded by monsters—he couldn’t move freely.
Adrien… was nowhere to be seen.
He had said it would take three days for the Lycanthrope to react.
Adrien was far away.
No time, no strength to signal him. Even if he did—it’d be too late.
A perfect trap.
“Run!!”
Kai shouted—but Serapia didn’t hear him.
She couldn’t.
The Lycanthrope wasn’t stopping.
It ignored Kai entirely, moving toward Serapia.
And then—
A red mist of blood burst from the Lycanthrope’s massive body.
A figure had struck it.
Like a black wolf, it bit into the Lycanthrope’s side.
…Adrien.
Adrien reached again, tearing at its shoulder. The Lycanthrope buckled—Adrien grabbed its neck—
SLAM!
He drove it into the ground.
Only then did it scream in pain and struggle violently.
But it couldn’t move.
Adrien crushed it underfoot, his eyes flashing.
“It’s been a while, you filthy beast.”
His crimson eyes bore into the Lycanthrope.
So many emotions swirled there—
Hatred, joy, rage, thrill.
And… ecstasy.
Kai saw the storm of emotion rise within Adrien—
And realized:
“…Even then and now, that disgusting lust of yours never changes!”
Adrien had laid a trap, too.
