Cold Dove Hall.
Entering the hall, one immediately saw a giant, pitch-black crater several yards deep. Thousands of cracks on the ice bricks spread out like a spiderweb for over a kilometer.
More than half of the sixteen crystal pillars supporting the main hall had already been destroyed in the explosion. If Huan Xuezhi hadn’t used the Divine Crystal’s power to create substitute ice pillars in time, the entire Cold Dove Hall would have collapsed.
Seeing the terrifying aftermath of the explosion made Airi’s heart tremble slightly.
“No need for that expression. Cold Dove Hall will be repaired and look brand new in less than half a day. Since the Queen has ordered to see you immediately, please make do for the moment.”
The Snow Maiden glanced at the Ranger, who was secretly gulping.
The Imperial citizen’s self-detonation had instantly released immense heat, evaporating the vast majority of the cold air and ice mist within Cold Dove Hall.
Without the obscuring, hazy cold mist, Weilin and her companion could directly see the figure standing within the great hall.
Unlike other kings, there was no crown, no dragon throne, no phoenix robe. On Huan Xuezhi’s entire person, one couldn’t find any conspicuous characteristic expected of a monarch.
She simply wore a frosty, moon-jade white snow robe. Her exquisitely beautiful, jade-smooth face held an icy, chill coldness that seemed like a glacier that hadn’t melted since time immemorial.
Her ice-blue eyes watched the two from afar, calm and indifferent, yet giving a terrifying illusion that one’s soul was being invaded and all inner thoughts were exposed.
It was hard to believe that such an aura and presence came from a girl whose real age was only 16, and who, standing together… was even slightly shorter than Weilin.
Perhaps intentionally, the Illusory Snow Queen did not release the powerful, invisible might she usually did.
Weilin directly stepped forward, knelt on one knee, her expression slightly excited, and said, “Greetings to the Illusory Snow Queen!… It is truly wonderful that Your Majesty is unharmed.”
“Ah…?!”
Seeing Weilin kneel so readily on one knee, Airi’s brain short-circuited. She couldn’t react at all.
Because in the Ranger’s eyes, Weilin was a god-like powerful figure who could stand shoulder-to-shoulder with the Illusory Snow Queen… So how come she had none of the poise of a big-shot in front of Huan Xuezhi?
“In the presence of the Illusory Snow Queen, you still don’t kneel?” The Snow Maiden glanced meaningfully at the Ranger, reminding her in a low voice.
Airi: “………”
Even though she already knew Huan Xuezhi had frozen her heart and her temperament changed drastically, Airi was still shocked speechless when she actually faced her.
This was completely and utterly different from the Huan Xuezhi of three years ago—the one who traveled with her father, rescued her, encouraged her, and whose faint smile could make a hundred flowers bloom.
That was why the Ranger felt so uncomfortable.
Just as Airi came to her senses and was about to follow Weilin’s example of kneeling on one knee, Huan Xuezhi spoke indifferently.
“No need for formalities. Lega, you may rise as well.”
“Thank you, Your Majesty!” Weilin rose accordingly, then shamelessly added, “If Your Majesty would call me by my given name, Weilin would be even happier, you know.”
Huan Xuezhi: “…”
This kind of request from Weilin was truly… something Huan Xuezhi didn’t know how to answer for the first time.
“Does Your Majesty still remember this Demi-Divine Artifact you bestowed upon me three years ago?”
Elegy of the Wind God sang softly as it was drawn from the Ranger’s hand, a flash of cold light. As Battle Aura poured in, tangible wind vortices swirled around the blade.
Huan Xuezhi looked at the uchigatana, her delicate brows tilting slightly, a flicker of surprise appearing in her eyes. Then she shifted her gaze to the Ranger, who was trying hard to look serious but couldn’t suppress her expectant expression.
“…Are you, Airi?”
Huan Xuezhi murmured questioningly.
“The Illusory Snow Queen remembers me! Huan Xuezhi remembered me!” Airi was overjoyed… no, should say, so happy she could cry. Excitedly, she turned and fiercely hugged a completely bewildered Weilin, inadvertently giving Weilin a faceful of soft impact, her voice tearful. “I told you, how could Xuezhi forget me so quickly, wuwuwu…”
“Are you sick or something…” Weilin regained her senses and pushed Airi away with a backhand shove. “Can’t you be as reserved as I am?”
“…………”
Huan Xuezhi watched the two’s interaction below, momentarily speechless.
Only when they finally quieted down did her gaze fall upon the Ranger, commanding, “This is no place for you. Go back.”
“It’s not like Xuezhi doesn’t know. My family was long ago murdered by those noble dogs. Where would I even go back to?”
Airi had an expression that said she had nothing left to fear. “I’ll be honest with you. I was forced to wander after being exiled because I killed all those nobles to avenge my family. Now only you can take me in.”
Huan Xuezhi looked cold, her words ice-cold and piercing. “You should know the situation of the Snow Kingdom. No matter where you go, it’ll be better than coming to me!”
“Right, I know, of course I know!” Airi pouted, her eyes burning with fierce flames. Her powerful will actually gave her the courage to retort loudly to the Illusory Snow Queen. “…But I just can’t stand seeing that despicable Empire maliciously coveting my benefactor’s homeland! I can’t bear that another explosion like that might threaten my benefactor’s life! Even if my benefactor refuses me, I will always stand guard in Illusory Snow City. When the Empire invades, Airi is willing to swing her last blade, fire her last bullet, and spill her last drop of blood for the Illusory Snow Queen! Anyone who wishes to harm the Illusory Snow Queen must first step over my corpse!!”
A drop of kindness, repaid with a gushing spring.
And what Huan Xuezhi had given Airi—remaking her life, bestowing gifts, and that smile that charmed all living things… was far more than a simple drop of kindness.
Illusory Snow Queen, you once taught me how to smile, but have you yourself forgotten first…
The Ranger stared straight at the cold-faced Huan Xuezhi, her tightly clenched fists trembling uncontrollably, her lips pressed firmly together, her unshakable pupils shining with a conviction akin to faith.
“………”
The snow spirits swirling around her became slightly disordered. Xuezhi remained silent for a long moment, then finally averted her gaze. Her authoritative eyes suddenly landed on Weilin.
“…And what business do you have here?”
“To offer my loyalty, of course!” Weilin’s mind sharpened, and she immediately replied.
“What kind of loyalty?”
“The loyalty between a sovereign and a subject.”
“Why?”
Why… The Ranger had a perfectly justifiable reason that made even Huan Xuezhi’s refusal difficult. What about herself? She couldn’t just say she was once the top DPS responsible for destroying Illusory Snow, now transmigrated here to atone for her sins…
That would be absurd!
Weilin pondered briefly, then raised her head, her gaze profound, and replied clearly and loudly: “Because I fell in love with the Illusory Snow Queen at first sight.”
If there’s no reason, just find one.
“Impudence!”
Boom… The space rumbled with a dull tremor. A cold wind suddenly howled. The light air seemed suddenly pressed by several heavy glaciers. Countless strands of cold air, like tiny invisible swords, madly stabbed into their skin, releasing bone-chilling cold.
An ordinary person under such overwhelming might would have long been prostrate and trembling, soul frozen, unable to speak another word.
But the piercing ice wind only blew the girl’s flowing black hair. Weilin still stood as straight as a green pine tree. The cold that was unbearable for ordinary people seemed unable to even penetrate her Mana Barrier.
The Snow Maiden’s expression changed, too. She glanced sideways at Weilin, scolding in a low voice: “…Do you not wish to live? Change your words immediately!”
Airi’s heart was shaken to the point of being utterly terrified, her gaze bewildered and shocked. “Weilin, you…”
Weilin turned a deaf ear. She stared fixedly at Huan Xuezhi high up in the main hall, her smile calm and unruffled:
“If Your Majesty only needs a reason, I have given one. If Your Majesty dislikes it, feel free to cast it aside and pay it no mind. But the kingdom’s crisis is imminent. Your Majesty should select the worthy and capable, not abandon any chance to turn the tide. After all, one more person means one more source of strength. And I, alone, am an entire army…!”
Although she currently lacked any real combat capability, Weilin could easily handle the work of an entire logistics corps (army) all by herself…
No matter what, she needed to bluff first; what should come would come eventually.
“Your Majesty, Weilin definitely, absolutely cannot be a bad person! I dare vouch for this with my own life!… M-maybe Weilin truly does like Your Majesty… Anyway, please give Weilin a chance to serve you, I guarantee you won’t regret it in the future!”
The Ranger girl finally returned to her senses and urgently pleaded with the Illusory Snow Queen.
“Leave.”
The Illusory Snow Queen’s icy eyes were profoundly cold, her voice carrying unquestionable authority.
She couldn’t help but be shocked, couldn’t help but be angry… because her frozen heart, which even an Imperial citizen’s self-detonation right before her couldn’t shake in the slightest, had, for the first time, fallen into disorder.
Because… of Weilin’s words, spoken as if they were a serious matter, words that were nothing short of blasphemy.
Did Huan Xuezhi truly not want to accept the two?
How could she not want to… Although she couldn’t fathom Weilin’s true depths and real purpose, Huan Xuezhi could see that the girl’s incredibly sincere and clear gaze was brimming… with a fervent loyalty, a desire to serve her.
Airi even more so.
But how could she bear to?
…On the day the conspiracy erupted, the day the Empire and The Federation finally bared their fangs, the declining Snow Kingdom wouldn’t last long before being erased from history forever. If they joined her faction now, their only fate would be to die with her. There would be no exception!
#
“Why, Your Majesty…”
Airi stared blankly, her eyes wide, seemingly in disbelief. All the effort she and Weilin had put in had ultimately been met with a heartless order to leave.
“Her Majesty commands. Please leave first, both of you.” The Snow Maiden stood solemnly in front of Airi.
A flicker of disappointment passed through Weilin’s eyes, but no real surprise. Huan Xuezhi needed a little time to convince herself.
“Let’s go…” Sighing helplessly, Weilin grabbed the unwilling Ranger, intending to drag her away.
The Ranger hung her head, being pulled away like a puppet. The merciless shattering of her hopes left her dispirited.
“Airi, you stay.”
Suddenly, a distant, faint call came from within the hall. The Ranger halted abruptly, as if struck by lightning, and dazedly raised her head as if in a dream.
For the Ranger, no matter what Huan Xuezhi became, being able to be her sword and guard her side was the entire meaning of Airi’s remaining life.
Weilin also froze at the voice.
Though her own name wasn’t called, she felt genuinely happy for Airi from the bottom of her heart. Yet she pursed her lips slightly, feeling a bit regretful.
“…Weilin!”
She didn’t understand it. She couldn’t figure out how Huan Xuezhi had actually agreed to this request, one that risked royal dignity, and called her name.
“Your subject……… is here!!”
As if hearing a celestial melody, Weilin felt her spirit jolt. Without turning around, facing away from the Illusory Snow Queen inside Cold Dove Hall, she loudly responded.
“Under my command, one must possess the talent of a commander, the grace to lead subordinates, the spirit to inspire troops… I will have someone entrust you with a task. If you can accomplish it, it proves you have this capability. I will then agree. If you cannot, hmph…!”
The girl smiled warmly, the flickering smile in her eyes lingering, “As you command.”
Hmph, what are you hmph-ing for, you die-hard tsundere!
