novelzi Chapter 135: Snow Globe (3)
Chapter 135: Snow Globe (3)
Chapter 135: Snow Globe (3)
Home Woo and Genuine Jin—Kim Woo-Jin. I spoke my true name to the giant. It had been so long since I’d last said it aloud that it felt almost foreign to my ears.
The giant smiled, looking down at me in silence. His stillness wasn’t threatening; instead, it carried a warmth.
"Human, this place is neither a prison nor a cradle. It is a grave," the giant spoke, addressing the unvoiced question lingering in my thoughts. "A grave prepared for me."
I remembered reading about the giant's design ages ago, probably while going over the game’s storyline.
A species that had traversed continents and seas, reaching the farthest corners of the world. A sage beyond human understanding, one who knew all and saw everything. To him, humans were nothing more than ants.
And yet, he had not crushed me, thanks to his wisdom and kindness.
"Human... Your presence reveals that there are realms beyond this world still shrouded in mystery to me."
“... Is that so?”
"Yes," the giant said, his voice echoing through the depths of my soul. "Your entrapment here is the result of my failure to properly conceal this grave."
I held my silence.
"The way out lies here, and I can open it at any time. Yet, even then, I know you would not leave alone."
There was no need for me to answer his inquiries. The giant had already read my thoughts and given me the answers I sought. Still, one odd word in his explanation caught my attention.
“By failure, are you saying it was intentional rather than a mistake?”
The giant smiled once more and said, "Indeed, I have long foreseen that such a meeting would come to pass. When one has lived for thousands, even tens of thousands of years, encounters like this become inevitable."
“... How fascinating.”
The giant’s wisdom went far beyond human understanding; he had mastered this world. Maybe he had seen my arrival coming, grasping that I was someone from Earth now woven into this game's world.
"The time for answers has not yet come. Every human endeavor unravels the moment it reaches its end—just as we giants, too, bowed to the relentless march of time..."
In short, I had to forge my own path. I nodded; nothing about this was new. Ever since becoming Deculein, that was simply how things were.
“This cliff spans thousands of feet, with currents that shift unpredictably. As the boundary of a world I have shaped, it will be nearly impossible for any human to withstand. Climbing back up will prove as arduous as the descent,” the giant declared.
Crack—!
I dismissed his warning and drove the Wood Steel into the icy wall, carving out footholds to grip as I climbed.
I turned to the giant and said, "I will return, and I’ll bring my companions with me."
The giant's lips curled into a faint smile as he closed his eyes.
***
Meanwhile, Gindalf guided Epherene toward an odd-looking, cylindrical winged vessel—a small aircraft.
“Step inside,” Gindalf said.
"... Inside here?" Epherene asked, her voice tinged with hesitation.
“That’s right. Take the back seat.”
Epherene hesitated but climbed into the back seat, muttering, "This doesn't feel very safe..."
Vroom~
As soon as she secured the helmet, the aircraft surged into the sky.
“Wait—ahhh!”
The aircraft shot through the Floating Island's orbit, the intense air pressure making her lips tremble.
“Oooooh— Aaaaah—”
“Hahaha. Enjoying the ride, are you?” Gindalf said with a chuckle.
“Gaaaaah—!”
“Quite the thrill, isn’t it?”
“Wooooooah—!”
... At last, they reached one of the smaller islands surrounding the Floating Island, known as the Inn.
“We’ve arrived! How was it? Quite the experience, wouldn’t you say?” Gindalf said, with a warm chuckle.
"... That was the worst, no cap," Epherene grumbled.
“Hmm, no cap, you say? What an odd phrase. These youngsters do have a way with words these days.”
“No cap, it means it wasn’t fun at all... Ugh, my mouth feels weird,” Epherene muttered, shaking her head as she pressed her fingers to her chapped lips, wincing at the sting left from the aircraft’s vibration.
“Well, that’s to be expected for a first-timer,” Gindalf remarked as he pushed open the door to the Inn.
Jingle—!
Gindalf stepped inside, the bell above the door ringing softly. Epherene lingered outside, her eyes scanning the scenery around her.
“... Wow,” Epherene murmured.
The dock stretched out, lined with dozens of small aircraft poised for takeoff. Beyond its edge lay a vast emptiness, not a cliff, but an endless, yawning abyss.
“Quickly, get inside. It won't be safe if the wind starts to blow,” Gindalf called out.
"Oh, okay!" Epherene said quickly, rushing inside the Inn. “Oh?”
Though its exterior was grand, the inside was unexpectedly plain and quiet. Rows of tables filled the area, and the menu featured an array of enticing dishes.
“Epherene, this way,” Gindalf called out, raising a hand from his seat.
Beside him, the pink-haired woman winked and greeted, “Ah, there ya ah.”
“... Mage Rogerio?” Epherene’s eyes widened.
Ethereal-ranked mage Rogerio was picking her teeth with a toothpick as she fanned herself with a magic thesis and replied, “Yup, that’s right. Been a hot minute, huh? Go on, grab a seat.”
“Oh, okay,” Epherene replied as she took a seat beside Gindalf, her eyes drifting toward the thesis in Rogerio’s hands.
“... Ah, this?” Rogerio said, noticing her look, then shrugged. “It’s all the rage on the Floating Island. Everyone’s got these badges showin’ how many pages they’ve read. If ya ain't keepin’ up, ya can’t even join the conversations.”
“You are writing a novel?! Let me read it! Please hand it over to me!” Epherene beamed, reaching out with both hands.
***
Four more weeks had come and gone, and Sophien decided there was no point in waiting any longer.
“Your Majesty, I must object. This cannot be allowed,” Keiron objected, his stance firm against her decision.
“Hmph. How dare a mere knight object to the Empress in such a manner?” Sophien remarked, her lips twisting in disdain as she glared at him.
Even so, Keiron remained unshaken and continued, “Forgive me, Your Majesty, but my duty is to protect you, no matter the circumstances—”
Sophien recited a spell of wordcraft. In an instant, Keiron’s body lost balance, but he quickly regained his footing, gripping his sword with unwavering resolve. Letting go was not an option; he knew all too well that Sophien favored methods that guaranteed absolute death.
After all, this was the very reason she hadn’t hurled herself off the cliff. If that crevasse turned out to be a magical void of endless descent, she would remain trapped forever, unable to trigger regression.
"Keiron, if you believe taking that sword away will stop me, you’re sorely mistaken. I've smashed my skull against rocks before."
Keiron held his tongue.
“Why are you so agitated? We’ll meet again eventually,” Sophien added.
Keiron stood still, rejecting his master's command. He had become a statue, encased in a Defensive Mana Barrier so powerful that breaking through it seemed almost impossible.
"... You stubborn fool. I’ve considered it thoroughly, but there’s no way out of here, whether I choose death or not. Starving or suicide—it’s all the same in the end."
Keiron didn’t respond. Frustration building, Sophien found herself struck by a sudden thought, one that sparked her curiosity. She wondered if her spell of wordcraft could make it happen.
“... תעשה חרב.”
With a single syllable, magic took shape. Her voice surged with mana, weaving through the snowflakes, sharpening them as they merged into a blade, as pure and sharp as steel—an Ice Sword.
“No, Your Majesty!” Keiron cried, advancing swiftly to snatch the sword from her grasp.
With another spell of wordcraft, Sophien made him lose his footing once more and ordered, “Enough of this obstinance.”
"Your Majesty, I must insist that you stop."
"That’s enough. This is where it ends for now. Until we meet again, Keiron."
Just as she was about to draw the Ice Sword across her throat...
“... Just as I expected, Your Majesty,” came an unexpected voice from nowhere.
Startled, Sophien and Keiron glanced around, but found no one. They searched every direction—east, west, north, and south—yet saw nothing.
“You have mastered the lesson admirably.”
The voice continued its praise. Sophien glanced up but found nothing, only the dazzlingly bright sky. It wasn’t coming from the sides or above, so that left only one option. Sophien peered into the crevasse, a small, disbelieving laugh slipping from her lips as she shook her head.
"Fortunately, I arrived just in time."
It was Deculein. He had climbed up from the depths of the endless chasm, using the Wood Steel as handholds. Keiron let out a quiet sigh of relief.
Sophien’s eyes narrowed, irritation flaring within them. She replied, "... Not too late, you say? I’ve been waiting long enough."
“My apologies, Your Majesty,” Deculein replied.
“Hmph. And yet, if there's still no way out, my only option is suicide. Now, tell me, what did you find down there?”
Deculein adjusted his clothing, his limbs thawing naturally due to his Iron Man body, and said, “I have found a way out of this snow globe. However...”
Then, Deculein observed Sophien intently, his Sharp Eyesight evaluating her condition. Her tolerance for the cold would be key.
“The cold will be relentless.”
"Worse than death? If the cold is unbearable, then I’ll simply die, and that will be the end of it," Sophien said.
“No, Your Majesty, I cannot allow you to die,” Deculein declared, drawing the Snowflower Stone from his coat. Though it was a small fragment, he infused the power of Authority with Iron Man into the stone before pressing it to Sophien.
This would offer her some protection, at least for the time being. Yet, one concern remained...
“Keiron,” Deculein addressed, turning toward the knight who stood close by.
Deculein thought, Could he endure it? In these depths, the cold is more brutal than anyone can imagine. Even a knight renowned across the continent would struggle without the aid of his attribute—
“I have no fear,” Keiron declared.
“... Very well,” Deculein replied, nodding as his eyes locked with Keiron’s. The knight held his ground, both men standing firm.
Sophien observed them, her face a blend of irritation and resignation.
Deculein continued, “... We will proceed at once.”
"Wouldn't it be wise for you to take a rest first?" Sophien asked.
“Resting would be pointless; we have no supplies left."
“In that case, we move forward—”
The moment she agreed, Sophien's body moved involuntarily. The Snowflower Stone lifted her onto Deculein’s back.
“... Explain yourself,” Sophien said. The situation was strange and completely unexpected. Now clinging to Deculein’s back, she added calmly, “Well, go on then.”
She was simply asking for an explanation, her voice betraying not the slightest hint of embarrassment.
“You must stay as close to me as possible to shield yourself from the cold,” Deculein replied.
“That’s not a valid reason. I don’t feel cold right now.”
“It grows colder the farther we descend. You’ll see for yourself soon.”
“What?”
“Your Majesty, place your trust in Professor Deculein,” Keiron said, his lips curving into a faint smile that Sophien found irritating. “He’s the one who climbed up from the abyss. We have no option but to rely on him.”
Sophien clicked her tongue in annoyance. This situation was unfamiliar to her, and frustration creased her face. Still, laziness got the better of her, and she gave in; arguing simply wasn’t worth the effort.
“Fine.”
“Yes, Your Majesty. We will continue onward.”
And so, carrying the Empress on his back, Deculein began their descent into the abyss.