Chapter 168 – Flowers in the Snow (4)
It was like a dream, thought Anna. Last but not least, the most memorable thing about her is a flower made from the ice she herself bloomed.
I have no memory after that. You can only be sure. For Anna, at that time, even for a moment, she came to the point.
She knocked down the demon… The remaining sensations at the tips of her fingers are still unfamiliar.
‘Here…’
The closed eyes opened, and what Anna saw was a pure white snowy field.
North, territory of Kroychev.
It is an unforgettable scenery.
Although secretly despised as being more barren than anywhere else on the continent, Anna liked her hometown.
Isn’t her father, the land that Croychev has kept for a long time?
Actually, it hasn’t been long since they conquered the northernmost tip of the continent…
Anyway, Anna liked her hometown.
At the sight of her hometown she hadn’t seen in a long time, Anna smiled faintly, feeling nostalgic for her.
“Anna.”
Anna, who had been staring at the snowy horizon for a long time, heard her familiar voice. Anna felt very welcome. The Grand Duke was looking down at Anna warmly.
Her big hand wrapped around her shoulder. As if firmly supporting her so that she would not fall.
At the same time, the pure white scenery of the snowfield changed.
“Look.”
It is still snowing, and it is the same that the pure white snowy field spreads out to the end.
If only one thing has changed.
“… Hurt.”
“Okay.”
The Grand Duke replied calmly. Where his fingertips pointed, there were cracks carved into the pure white snowfield.
Very huge.
Anna’s legs trembled at the existence of a ‘scar’ that was not simply engraved on the snowy ground, but was engraved in space and looked like a crack in the air.
“Are you okay?”
“Yes yes…”
Is this why, is this why my father held me? Thinking to herself, Anna braced her legs.
Although my father won’t be disappointed in me just because I fall unseemly. Still.
“Take another look.”
After confirming that her Anna was standing upright in her place, the Archduke turned her anxious gaze from looking down at her to stare at her ‘wound’.
“What do you think that is?”
“… Traces left by the existence of the ‘grand’ class? Something huge… By doing something.”
Anna’s words faded. The words didn’t quite catch on. Is the martial art that unfolds from the body of a ‘grand’ class really a pure martial art?
Conversely, is the magic performed by the ‘grand’ class really just simple magic?
Not like that.
Simple classification, finesse, power… It was because he had overcome the barriers of all those things, that he was finally called the Grand Class—a Transcendentalist.
So Anna naturally muttered her words, as she did not dare to pinpoint one of the ‘something’ that would have left such a disregarded scar on the world.
“Half right.”
“What does that mean?”
Anna was puzzled. It is such a huge and indelible trace. Grand is grand, but what does it mean to be half right and half wrong?
“Two grand-class beings.”
Anna caught her breath. Anna, she said, was one of the people who knew better than anyone else that she was on this continent, about a ‘grand’ existence.
Because none other than her father—Archduke Kroychev was the Grand Master.
As such, she knew very well how far the power of one ‘grand’-class being could affect her.
“Are there two of you?”
In the history of the continent, it is extremely rare that more than two Grand Classes have existed in one generation. It would be nice to see that there are hardly any.
That is why the present generation, where two ‘grand’s exist, Nicolai and Scarlett, is called the most brilliant era in the history of the continent.
By the way, are there two such ‘grand’? You two fought here?
“When the hell…”
“It is a very long time ago. The ancestors of the ancestors… , Far more ancient than that. Before Kroychev became the sword and shield of the empire.”
It’s a really long time ago. Kroychev has existed since the time when the empire was a kingdom, and since then he has been a loyal subject and has been the sharpest sword.
Nikolai said to the stunned Anna.
“As long as we are not Kroychev of the Empire or the Kingdom, we are the Guardians of the North. There must have been a ‘Kroychev’ back then.”
Nikolai was speechless.
“Traces of Kroychev fighting ‘something’ more than a thousand years ago. That is what remains to this day.”
Anna couldn’t take her eyes off the ‘wound’.
That’s Kroychev’s play. He is the end beyond which he can reach… My God, the afterimage of the sword that has been etched in this world for over a thousand years…
Realizing that her heart was pounding, the grand duke smiled softly.
“Are you going to be satisfied with just that?”
“… Barely?”
Before Anna could say anything, the Archduke spoke her words.
“You have a talent that shines brighter than anyone else.”
“Even if you say so…”
I haven’t even mastered it yet. However, even if you talk about the Grand Class… Anna pursed her lips, and Nikolai chuckled.
“Look. Haven’t you already proven that?”
“… Yes?”
Nikolai gestured instead of answering. Anna, following his hand and averting her eyes, said, “Ah.” Exclaimed.
The landscape had changed.
The scene of the academy with lush greenery in the pure white snowy field.
Frozen demon. A flower that bloomed from that body. A new flower blooms on top of the blooming flower, and on top of that another flower…
A barrier of permafrost that circulates forever and indefinitely, even freezing time.
The form of a miracle that Anna unfolded for a single moment was in front of her.
“Yes?”
The voice of the grand duke laughing happily. Anna subconsciously nodded her head.
“——Ah.”
Immediately after, her world was shattered and at the same time, Anna’s eyes opened.
Dream.
It was a dream. Awake, Anna slowly turned her head. It was early evening.
‘What happened to the devil… ?’
“It’s all right, lie down.”
Suddenly, as she collapsed, she remembered the frozen demon she hadn’t fully identified. What if she did something wrong on her own and her seal was broken? Or, for some other reason… As she was about to sink into her troubles, her familiar voice reached her ears.
“Ah.”
“I’m going to wake up as soon as I open my eyes.”
As she trembled, Scarlett stuck out her tongue as she placed her arms around her and gently put her back on her bed as she tried to get up from her bed.
“Everything worked out fine. Savnak is dead. Although the guy summoned later ran away. You do not have to worry.”
“Ah…”
Anna, who was about to open her mouth to thank her, bowed her head instead as her throat choked. She must have been asleep for quite some time; she felt thirst burning in her throat.
“Now, here is the water.”
Thank you, Anna nodded again and took the glass. It must have been lukewarm water, but as she touched her hand, it cooled in an instant, her Anna’s face flushed with bewilderment. Why is this?
“It’s because I haven’t calmed down yet.”
Just as he said, a slight chill ran through Anna’s body. Her Scarlett, who looked down at her for a moment, took her water glass away from her again.
“Keep your head down.”
“Eh.”
Taking advantage of Anna’s panic, she grabbed her by the scruff of her neck, tied it gently behind her, and brought Scarlett’s glass of water to the corner of her slightly open mouth.
“Town.”
In the meantime, Scarlett exerted herself again, and lukewarm water passed over Anna’s lips and flowed down her throat. Gulp… Gulp… A few minutes later, her thirst had subsided somewhat, and Anna’s mouth opened.
“Persimmon… Yes, I do…”
“What. Take good care of yourself It’s going to last a while, since you’ve staged a miracle that doesn’t suit her body.”
A grunt, Anna made a sound of pain. True to the word, she barely opened her eyes, but it felt like her body wasn’t listening. It was difficult to even move her fingers, so it was difficult to guess how long it would take for her body to recover.
“Ah… The final…”
“I’m the top, you’re the second. The final itself is invalid, but instead, they say it is determined by the grades so far.”
Anna obediently nodded her head. She had no intention of being greedy in the first place. It is the common universal perception of Bachelor characters that Scarlett is out of the question, so if Anna is to be questioned, she may be the actual top.
“Yes…”
However, what was more important to her Anna was her promise to Scarlett than her own grades, so she waited, keeping an eye on her to see if her Scarlett would bring up her story about him.
Long time to do that.
“Then get some rest. I’ll come back later Sasha was very worried.”
“Ah…”
Anna, who had been hesitantly expecting that her Scarlett would speak out about her first, let out a pitiful sigh when Scarlett tried to stand up.
Are you leaving like this? So, when will we talk again? Maybe you forgot… ?
“Oh that…”
“Talk about it. Let’s get better.”
The moment she tried to catch her Scarlett somehow in her heart. Scarlett approached her and bent her waist.
While she said “Ah”, He cupped her cheek and pressed her lips to her forehead, whispering softly.
“So get well soon.”
“… Yes, yes.”
Drooling. Looking at Scarlett’s back as she opened the door, Anna’s face turned red.
“… Kyaaaaah!”
