Sang did indeed have something he wanted to say. Strictly speaking, the conversation in the room right after he had awakened last time had never truly ended before it was interrupted by the others.
By the same token, Snow Hill had also had words she wanted to share at that moment.
The topics they each wanted to discuss were different. Sang wanted to talk about Orcus’s final words; Snow Hill wanted to discuss the strange power of the youth.
“Orcus’s last words have been gnawing at me…”
“You mean the part about the True Ancestor owing a wish to someone named Inu?”
“No… you have it wrong…”
“I do?”
As Snow Hill posed the question, Sang had already maneuvered his wheelchair to the windowsill, stopping just a few steps away from the ice-blue figure. His expression turned serious as he said, “Yes… While the matter of the True Ancestor and the Hill Family’s First Generation House Head does intrigue me, I’m far more concerned about your choice right now…”
That was right!
In his final moments, the old man had posed a choice to Snow Hill. He had left the position of Family Head and the ownership of the Soul Weapon in her hands, letting her decide for herself whether to inherit them.
Even as he spoke those words, the youth felt a bit embarrassed. They sounded rather sappy, and it felt odd to say something like that… after all, this was her own decision to make.
However, her poker face gave no hint of the youth’s inner turmoil…
Though she couldn’t grasp the nuances of his internal monologue, she instantly understood the meaning behind his words. A complex expression crossed her face as she replied, “I’m still thinking it over…”
“During the few minutes I was inside your Channel, I could actually sense your emotions… You don’t like any of this… right?”
Snow Hill had repeatedly professed her desire to uphold the Knight’s Way, yet deep down, she was simply a girl who loved books and flowers—that much, Sang was certain of. Though it had been vague, he had truly glimpsed the landscape of her heart back then: a serene flower garden, far removed from the world, where a solitary ice-blue silhouette sipped tea while reading a book.
That was the life she truly yearned for.
Snow Hill glanced at Sang, her eyes still as calm as still water. She shook her head and said, “You’re wrong. Nothing like that exists…”
“You’re the one who demands honesty from others but refuses to speak your true feelings…”
“Before he passed, Father told me that I always let reason overpower emotion, so I live a weary life… Sang, I want to tell you the same: you always let emotion overpower reason, so you easily lose yourself. Don’t do that anymore.”
“What? Why are you suddenly lecturing me!?”
Snow Hill offered no further reply. Instead, she walked toward Sang step by step. After donning her knight’s boots, she transformed back into that 1.87-meter-tall female giant? No—her frame was far too slender to call her a giant. Suddenly, she reached out and gently placed her hand on the youth’s head.
Sang jumped in surprise, his cheeks flushing slightly. “What are you doing?”
“Sang, you weren’t tall to begin with, but now you seem even shorter.” There was actually a hint of playfulness in Snow Hill’s tone.
At those words, Sang bristled, swatting her hand away in dissatisfaction. He turned his face aside and explained, “Idiot, of course I’m shorter sitting in a wheelchair!”
“But… even if you stand up, you’d only reach my chest…”
“I’ll definitely grow taller! Taller than you! Absolutely!”
Sang was a very cautious sort of person, but that didn’t mean he lacked pride—especially in front of women… The True Ancestor didn’t count. In the youth’s mind, and in the minds of other humans, she had long transcended the realm of mortals. Gender seemed irrelevant to her.
She herself had said she didn’t care about such things.
From a rational perspective, Snow Hill was a genius: she loved reading, had vast knowledge across many fields, and was incredibly learned. From an emotional standpoint, when it came to personal feelings—especially matters of romance—she was a complete idiot.
At this moment, she still didn’t quite understand why Sang was upset. After mulling it over for a bit, she continued, “Sang, regarding whether to inherit the Family Head position, I promise you this: I’ll think it over some more. I won’t rush into a decision.”
As she spoke, Snow Hill lowered her gaze with a faint smile. A ray of soft light filtered in from the window, making her row of ice-blue lashes flutter delicately.
Gazing at her like this, Sang seemed to foresee the future.
She was just saying she’d consider it again to placate a child.
In her heart, the answer was already set.
After this incident, even a fool could see it—compared to Hesos, Snow Hill was far more suited to become Family Head. Only in her hands could the Soul Weapon unleash its true power.
“Oh, right—there’s one more thing?”
“What is it?”
Snow Hill spoke again. “I don’t know what agreement the True Ancestor and the First Generation House Head had, but since Father said those words on his deathbed, they must hold meaning… Once you return to the Central Region this time, you should regain your freedom… So, I want to dissolve the Knight Oath between us…”
“Why!?” Sang exclaimed in agitation.
He truly admired this woman from the bottom of his heart, seeing her as the greatest light in this faithless world. He had finally become her knight, bridging the gap from distant dream to tangible reality. Why was she suddenly asking him to give that up now?
Everyone had been unconscious for a week—you only woke up half a day before me—and somehow, you’ve figured everything out?!
“Sang, if you remain my knight forever, you’ll have to stay in the Northern Region forever… I know—you have other people you want to see. You don’t want to stay in the North indefinitely… So, dissolving the Knight Contract is the best choice.”
“Uh…” The youth was at a loss for words.
Despite everything that had happened, deep in his heart, he had always been thinking of his friends back in Kaen Town—especially Luna, Adolf, and Sister Lilian. If he truly regained his freedom this time, he would definitely head back home rather than return to the North again.
In this world that revered the Knight’s Way, the Knight Contract was more sacred than vows of eternal love. It was a lifelong, unwavering companionship.
He couldn’t uphold such a lofty promise.
Sang fell utterly speechless. Even without the True Ancestor, he couldn’t stay by Snow Hill’s side forever.
He was truly caught in a dilemma.
Another long silence stretched between them.
Seeing the youth fall quiet, Snow Hill didn’t dwell on the previous topic. Instead, she shifted gears to break the silence. “Sang, let’s talk about something else—the matter of that mysterious power of yours. I have no idea what exactly happened, but during those few minutes, we did share the same Channel. You gained the Ice Power passed down through generations in the Hill Family…”
“Yeah… I even came up with a name for this power!” Sang could tell Snow Hill was changing the subject, but he went along with it, feigning excitement as he said.
“What name?”
“Layer of Power!!! What do you think?”
At that, a flicker of helplessness passed through Snow Hill’s cold, peach-blossom eyes. She let out a long sigh and said, “Your naming sense is a bit too ahead of this era…”
“Um-hmm~” Sang loved seeing expressions other than her usual poker face. He didn’t mind her teasing at all—in fact, he rather enjoyed it. It reminded him of deliberately provoking a girl in school just to get scolded.
The next moment, Snow Hill seemed to think of something and continued, “But…”
“But what?”
Her tone grew a touch sterner as she replied, “But I suggest you avoid using that power as much as possible from now on. Leaving aside the side effects on your body, it caused significant damage to your brain and consciousness… Hufer was already prepared for the possibility that you’d end up as a vegetable…”
This was Snow Hill’s earnest advice.
Sang wasn’t a fool; he knew his own condition better than anyone. He nodded and said, “Got it. I’ll try not to use it…”
“Sorry, it seems nothing has gone the way you wanted…”
Yes.
Indeed.
Whether it was the Layer of Power, the inheritance of the Family Head position, or the matter of being her exclusive knight… Snow Hill had shot them all down.
Sang felt inexplicably dejected, yet he was powerless against every one of those issues.
That afternoon, the two of them stayed in the library the whole time. She read her books, while he watched her.
