The Sub-Protagonist Is Retiring

63 – 061. The Ordeal of the Cold-2

It was impossible.

Freehardt’s Ice Golem is a masterpiece made of high-purity ice.

It has a level of strength that cannot be destroyed unless it is a weapon made of Orichalcum.

However, the man in front of him not only stopped the golem with his bare hands, but also destroyed it.

‘What the hell are you doing… ?’

Since the Golem’s ordeal, thousands of humans have despaired and given up on life.

‘Though the strong-willed humans gathered their strength and managed to defeat the ice golems…….’

Bern passed the first test alone.

Against the Ice Golem, which has become much more sophisticated and powerful than it was in the beginning.

Grupade, who was watching the scene, couldn’t help but admire it.

‘Among Friedhart’s followers, there are humans…… No, it must still be a hasty judgment.’

Although it is said that he showed extraordinary strength, he has just passed one ordeal.

Even the remaining trials were composed of themes that had nothing to do with military force.

Even if he possesses extraordinary powers, there’s a chance he won’t pass the other trials.

“Hmmmm!”

Grupade managed his expression again and refined his voice.

He pretended to be as calm as possible and opened his mouth to Bern.

“Excellent workmanship, I saw it well.”

“Thank you.”

“But it is still too early to rejoice. There are two more difficult trials left.”

“I know. If it’s okay, can I move on to the next trial without resting?”

“It’s okay even if you don’t tell me.”

Damn-!

As the ice statue snapped its fingers, a large box of ice fell on Vern’s head.

The bottom of the box was open, and it was only used to confine his body.

Bern was also aware of that fact, so he didn’t make a separate gesture to avoid it.

“This trial will prove your wisdom and willpower.”

“Can you tell us what kind of ordeal it is?”

“I will put an extreme chill in the space you are in, so endure it to the limit.”

“How long can I last?”

“Five minutes.”

In a shorter time than expected, Bern tilted his head.

Grupade showed a meaningful smile.

“It might feel short right now. But once you experience it, it will feel very different.”

“Maybe.”

“Where and how long will that relaxation last?”

It was put into the box as cold air flowed out from the ice sheet, freezing it to the bone.

It started at Bern’s feet and crawled up his legs, waist, chest, neck and head.

Extreme cold that hardens soft skin and gradually stops blood flow.

‘It’s definitely not going to last even 5 minutes… !’

Bern felt his body stiffen.

Before he could take a countermeasure, the cold chilled him rapidly.

“If you get frozen, don’t worry. I’ll let you see the light of day again in 25 years.”

“Sorry… crab… do… !”

Berne’s body, which had been hardened like a stone statue, began to move slowly.

It was a slight movement at first, but it was getting faster little by little.

By the time three minutes had passed, it was moving as usual.

“25 Years is a long time for me, so I decline.”

“This is really crazy… ! How can you be so fine even in the chill of absolute zero?”

“Because I used triple magic on the edge before my body completely froze.”

“Triple magic?”

“Yes. We created a shield by using the elements of wind, water, and ice efficiently.”

After wrapping the entire body with a windshield, the moisture in the air is removed separately.

The water is then frozen with freezing magic to create an ice barrier that blocks the cold outside.

Bern explained a series of processes to Gryupade.

‘I never thought there was such a way… ….’

It was a completely unexpected method of destruction.

Although other elements were used, ice played a key role in the end.

Because only water and wind could never stop the cold of zero island.

However, using the concept of Lee Han Chi Han (以寒治寒), it responded perfectly with the same ice-type power.

Meticulousness that doesn’t make you dissatisfied with the fact that you used other elemental magic.

All the ice spirits, including Gryupade, nodded.

It was admitted that it was an excellent resource without disagreement.

“I don’t think I need to look any further.”

Crisp-!

The ice box that used to confine people collapsed.

The cold air that froze even the air disappeared, and Bern canceled its magic.

As the ice curtain broke, he stepped forward confidently.

“Until now, no one has reached the final ordeal. You are the first, so you can be proud.”

“Excuse me, would it be okay if I ask you something before we go into the next trial?”

“What is it?”

“Are the statues around… ….”

“They are frozen humans who failed in trials.”

“Is that so?”

“Don’t have unnecessary sympathy. They are the sinners who caused chaos in the spirit realm.”

“Yes.”

There must be some spirits among them.

Seeing that, Bern laughed as he brushed off the frost shards clinging to his clothes.

I was thinking that I was glad I didn’t end up like them.

“The preparations are complete. I would appreciate it if you could give me the last ordeal.”

“Kuhm!”

Grupade cleared his throat once and began to speak quietly about the purpose of the ordeal.

“Next, we will test your attitude towards ice.”

“Attitude?”

“To put it simply, it is a procedure to check if your heart is compatible with ice. Humans have different aptitudes for each element, and if you have a higher affinity for fire than ice, we will be in trouble.”

Vern nodded his head as he listened to Gryu Fade’s words.

There is nothing more unsuitable than a hot-tempered person who mainly uses ice magic.

If you become a believer in cold even though you have no aptitude for ice, you are going against the laws of nature.

“Then how is this ordeal going?”

“From now on, no matter what happens, never laugh.”

“…… Is that all?”

“I won’t be so easy this time either.”

Berne reacted in bewilderment to the strange content of the ordeal.

However, the trials he has been through have been dangerous.

I made up my mind, considering this time an ordeal comparable to that.

Gryu Fade confirmed Vern’s eyes and opened her mouth.

“What if the ice turns?”

“…… Yes?”

Quiz out of nowhere.

Although Vern was taken aback for a moment, she calmed down and thought about the problem seriously.

The moment I was trying to find an in-depth answer.

“The correct answer is round and round…… Pooh!”

Crack-!

With the release of Gryupade’s answer, laughter from the spirits was heard from everywhere.

The reality of the quiz was a gag, and the ice spirits were grabbing their stomachs after hearing it.

In a space overflowing with laughter, Bern was the only one with a serious face.

“A bunch of ice? Park Bing…! Ha ha ha!”

His expression was dyed in astonishment.

“Keukkeuk! What if the ice continues to die? Die… !”

“Stop it, fuck you!”

It was Vern who killed the ice in real life by crushing Gryupade’s head.

***

I harmed the king of spirits in a fit of emotion, but because I didn’t laugh, I passed the final ordeal.

I was able to receive a blessing from Freehard, but I wasn’t happy.

I never thought I would hear an old joke from the spirit…….

I felt guilty when I heard what humans had done to the spirits, but now I feel it’s okay even if the ice spirits perish.

‘Ehh.’

From nob le mt l dot com

Now, receiving the blessing of cold, a stamp is engraved on the back of my right hand.

From nob le mt l dot com

Numerous ice spirits were clinging to me and expressing affection, but I wasn’t in a good mood.

‘Something is wrong with this world.’

[This is the expression of a person who has awakened from an illusion.]

Both the humans who fuck the spirits and the ice spirits who joke around were the kind of people I didn’t want to get close to.

But since I became a follower of Freehardt, I should be friendly.

I felt resentful of my past self who came to the temple to receive a blessing.

“You passed all the ordeals brilliantly! Now you are also our compatriots.”

“Yes… ….”

“Why does it look like you hate it?”

“No.”

Haha, I passed the situation laughing out loud.

It is very difficult to manage facial expressions.

“By the way, you didn’t ask the most important thing! Why did you come to receive the Blessing of Frost?”

“Oh, I forgot to tell you. I came to receive a blessing to fight the red dragon.”

“Red Dragon… ?”

“Yes. As you know, no creature can withstand the red dragon’s fire breath.”

“But if you can use Mr. Freehardt’s coldness, you can withstand it……. Indeed, he was an extraordinary human being from the beginning. It would be absurd if a human who wants to fight a dragon can’t endure this level of ordeal.”

Gryu Fade nodded his head in agreement.

I liked that they didn’t stop me or ask me to think again.

Is it the feeling of being expected from the spirit king?

“Okay. I’ll give you some tempting information for those of you who want to fight the red dragon.”

“What is it?”

“If you go down from the snow mountain and head northwest, you will find a village where snowmen and snow women live. Let’s get their help, because they too have a grudge against the red dragon.”

“But if it’s a snow man and a snow woman, aren’t they also hostile to humans?”

“Tsk tsk!”

Grew Fade clicked her tongue and wiggled her index finger from side to side.

“Have you forgotten that you are a follower of Mr. Friedhart? Even though the snowmen and snow women are not formal believers like us, they are the ones who respect and follow Mr. Friedhart. If you show your proof, I will never neglect you. If so, report to me. I’ll make them myself from living ice… !”

Gryupade is threatening with his eyes shining fiercely.

He was showing off the power and dignity of a spirit king.

It was to the point where I doubted whether he was the King of the Spirits, who liked gags.

“Anyway, let’s move on now. As Master Friedard’s first human follower, I will personally give you a present.”

“Is this a gift?”

“Draw. It’s a precious gift, so don’t use it carelessly.”

A pendant placed on my palm.

Unusually, two small ice picks were embedded in a heart-shaped sapphire at the end of the necklace.

“It is a necklace created by the grudge of a man who failed to protect his lover during the ordeal.”

“Are you a bit reluctant to accept things with a story?”

“I understand that feeling, but I am giving it to you because it is something you need.”

Grew Fade looked at Renee with her squint.

Her as if to tell her.

“To tell you about the efficacy of the necklace, if you pull it out with an awl in the necklace and insert it into the hearts of two people, the two will be connected by the power of resentment. Then the two of you will be together forever until the moment you die.”

It was similar to the so-called contract of the soul.

An extreme contract in which if one of them dies, the person connected will also die.

It could be seen as a necklace version of such a forbidden contract.

“Even if we have such things, there is no use for them, so you can use them well or throw them away.”

It was undoubtedly a taboo, but on the other hand, it is also a romantic contract between a man and a woman who want to be together for the rest of their lives.

The reason you gave me this must be to push you to use it on Renee and lead her soul.

I nodded in gratitude and squeezed the pendant tightly.

[Are you planning to use it on René right now?]

‘No.’

To be honest, I had the intention of writing to Renée.

If you can’t even properly protect the person you love, you don’t think she’s worth living.

But I intended to use this necklace for other purposes.

[Then where are you going to use it?]

‘Of course… ….’

It should be used to ban the release of bomb women.

I have already been looking forward to the day I will return to the academy.