A harsh cold wind blew through a forest, sweeping the snow that stacked on the branches. It fell on the head of a polar war bear who sat on the ground while staring at the distant town.
The bear let out a cold snort before it walked away.
On the other side, in that distant town.
Jinmu stared at the sky above, narrowing his eyes as the light from the Morning Star flashed through.
"It's already sunrise. Senior brother Kai should be with us any mont now.", he spoke hoarsely.
The cold environnt was ssing with his body the longer he stayed in the northern glacial continent. The sa could be said for Lucan and Emi as well.
These three were born in a non-arctic region, unlike Olivia. If anything, they wished to finish this mission as quickly as possible and return to the paradise that was the academy.
They were in a dilapidated house whose quarter of a roof was torn open, giving them a view above. Then, a figure slipped past that hole, landing gracefully on the croaking wooden floor without making a noise.
Looking at the familiar short straight black hair falling to his chin in a crescent shape, the four students gasped in surprise.
Eluard, however, put his hands in front of his heart-shaped lips, gesturing for them to lower their voices and not attract too much attention.
The hearts of the girls fluttered, while the boys were amazed at how cool their senior brother's entrance was.
"It's finally about ti we et again with one another, my dear juniors.", Eluard let out his hands wide, "However, ti is short and we, particularly you, Olivia, are running out of ti so we'll spare the introductory session on another date and deal with this special task, shall we?"
They cald their minds and nodded to their senior brother's suggestion.
He then led them to the large wooden table and gently placed his hands on its surface.
"I have conducted so investigations earlier and found so traces of the Otherworld's activity inside Norva Assili."
Jinmu couldn't help himself but blurt out, "Then senior brother Kai, have you…"
Eluard understood Jinmu's thoughts and gestured at him to calm down.
"Yes, there are demonic creatures around here. I killed two of them."
Before his juniors would gasp at him again, he quickly added.
"However, their powers are miserable compared to the real challenge. I assu you are already aware of the demonic creatures' rankings back at the academy, yes?"
Fortunately, the four of them replied with a yes which made Eluard happy.
"Good, the enemy this ti is a little difficult. They are a karagero which ans that they are comparable to a master wizard or even a grandmaster magus."
"However, you don't need to worry about that, I will take care of the big guy for you, my dear juniors.", Eluard assured them.
Just as they thought they were relieved of a huge responsibility, Eluard's next words distressed them.
"Your objective this ti is to assist the warriors of Norva Assili against the wave of attacks from the angered divine frost dragon.", Eluard grimly narrated.
"The karagero I was talking about earlier planned to induce disorder in the Norva Assili by slaughtering a bunch of magical beasts in the Frozen Glades. This, in turn, made the divine frost dragon, Harrtugg Naaw, angry and is now planning to retaliate against the rciless killings towards the magical beasts under his rule."
"In response to the threat, High King Garron is now marching to this place as of the current and defend against Harrtugg Naaw's assault in person."
Jinmu felt that sothing was off with his senior brother's narration.
He raised his hand and asked a question, "Senior brother Kai, why would High King Garron personally co over and not leave it to his subordinates in finishing the task?"
Eluard clicked his tongue, anticipating that one of them would doubt his speculations. However, he had to remind them what they were coming here for.
"Jinmu, your special task says that the Otherworld has covertly planned out sothing so that the Siegfried Clan will dethrone High King Garron's rule in Norva Assili, right?"
Hearing his words, the four students jolted. They quickly opened their system panels and checked the special task's description again.
[ Special Task: Cold North ]
[ An ominous event is about to take place in the cold northern empire, the Norva Assili. The Siegfried Clan is on their way to dethroning High King Garron's rule from the people, covertly planned out by the demonic creatures from the Otherworld. ]
[ Requirent: Assist the High King in stopping the Siegfried Clan's plan. ]
[ Failure: High King Garron dies. ]
[ Rewards: Random Equipnt (Rare) x2, 100 blue magic crystals. ]
Realizing his mistake, Jinmu raised his head and saw Eluard's disappointed expression.
Despite this minor setback in Jinmu's performance, Eluard continued.
"Correct, the Otherworld plans to anger the divine frost dragon and have him attack the Norva Assili. This incident will force High King Garron out of his comfort zone because the demonic creatures will utilize the Siegfried Clan's ability in pressuring their target which will encourage the public to do the sa thing as well."
"High King Garron will have no choice but to comply with the Siegfried Clan's request. And that is where you co in, my juniors."
"Help High King Garron against the attack before sothing worse happens to him."
He looked at Olivia's shivering figure, knowing that the topic has greatly unsettled the poor girl.
"Olivia, I don't know if you will be moved by this, but your father might plan to die under the hands of the magical beasts so that you wouldn't avenge his death should he die under the Siegfried Clan instead."
"He doesn't know where you are right now but he doesn't want you to embark on the path of revenge because he is afraid you will kill yourself in the process."
"That is how I see things based on my investigations."
Olivia's heart softened, forming tears in her eyes after hearing of her father's wishes. She rubbed her face and replied to her senior brother.
"It's okay, senior brother Kai. I-I know that your words are ant to comfort , I-"
"Do not fully place your trust in , Olivia. You will have your chance to inquire your father about this later on. At that ti, you can let out your feelings however you wanted.", Eluard advised her.
This was all his speculations and not a definite conclusion. He had to remind Olivia to keep her emotions at bay for now.
However, it was better than nothing, and the pieces of evidence leading to this weren't that circumstantial either.
Eluard knew sothing that the students don't and that was the involvent of the undead essence in this incident.
That factor was what made him arrive at these thoughts.
Going back to the description of Eluard's version of the special task, the system reminded him that the afflicted beings had their strength significantly enhanced due to the presence of the undead essence.
Using that logic, Eluard concluded that since Erik Siegfried's strength has increased considerably, the Siegfried Clan can use him to influence other parties and gain their allegiance while intimidating High King Garron at the sa ti.
Now that weeks have passed since that incident involving Dartex, the Siegfried Clan should have been able to nurture themselves during that period.
High King Garron should have realized this and knew that his ti was running out.
"Alright, going back to the main topic.", Eluard waved his hands, "Jinmu, you will be leading your classmates in the defense. We will wait for High King Garron and his subordinates to arrive on these towns in the succeeding days."
"We won't act, not until he has arrived. Otherwise, the demonic creatures will notice our presence and strike us when we are unguarded."
Eluard reasoned that the demonic creatures will surely retaliate and flush out their existence should they prematurely defend against the first waves of attack by the magical beasts.
However, if they waited for High King Garron to arrive and act only at that ti, the demonic creatures won't have the chance to sneakily attack them.
Why?
High King Garron and his army of warriors will be nearby. The demonic creatures' appearances are way too distinct enough that the warriors will notice a bunch of suspicious figures suddenly entering the fray.
"The rest of the plan will continue after successfully defending against the magical beasts' attack. I will see you at that ti."
Eluard was about to leave when Emi spoke for the first ti.
"Senior brother Kai, may I request sothing of you?", her tone was like the weather, cold and dry.
"What is it, Emi?"
"Can you please investigate any other recent events of warriors returning to Norva Assili? I have sothing to do about that particular information.", she smiled.
Jinmu caught Emi's intentions and tried to warn Eluard but he was a second too late.
"This must be about serving revenge on your hotown village, right, Emi?"
Jinmu and the rest were dumbfounded.
'How did senior brother Kai manage to see through Emi's whims? And even knew her reasons for doing so?'
Little did they know that Eluard had long seen Emi's suffering right after he peered through their information when he t them yesterday in the academy.
He also knew that soone tried to ss with his academy and his students, the torn relationship between Emi and Olivia, and Lucan's…
Regardless, Eluard didn't talk about it that ti since the subject wasn't appropriate and he wanted Emi and the rest to open up first.
Since Emi discussed the issue now, Eluard won't back down and was eager to hear more of it.
He smiled and turned around, opening a teleportation magic formation below his figure.
"Your big sister is alive..."
Emi widened her eyes at the ntion of Akane being alive.
"...but not so well. I saw her the day before. And the one who holds her…"
"As a slave…"
"Is no other than Erik Siegfried of the Siegfried clan."
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