in the north (2)
Departure date for field training.
We woke up a little earlier than usual and left the villa, feeling the sweltering heat and headed for the train station.
Summer is near and the days are getting hotter, but the fundamental problem is our clothes.
Last year, I was thoroughly prepared for the harsh cold of ice and snow hell.
I haven’t even taken out my hat, gloves, or scarf yet, but I’m sweating.
Likewise, Medusha, wearing winter clothes, brushed off Ethel.
“Swap with Laurie for just one day… It would be much cooler to be with him.”
“Is it possible to block the heat too? It’s because you’re ignorantly dressed.”
“Anyway, there’s Persia.”
When I said that, Persia blew out the cold as hard as she could.
The other students who watched it burst into laughter… but sooner or later, they will envy us when they arrive at the Ice and Snow Hell.
With that certainty, I headed to the special room, and Eolin rushed towards me.
What is the role of the instructor for this field training?
I thought so and hugged her.
“Are you going to the Ice Citadel too, Professor?”
“Yeah. I’m your guide, so take care of yourself!”
It looks like they are coveting the special room we occupied.
It doesn’t take up much space anyway, so it’s not difficult.
As I entered the room, I found the waitress waving through the window.
She said she would follow me to the Ice Citadel, but… I persuaded her all day and barely stopped it.
No matter how much you think about it, it is not a little bit taking a vassal for field training.
As I was waving at her, Elena, who had taken over the other side, loosened the chest of her thick fur coat a little.
It was a little embarrassing to look at, but it’s hard to say because I wore it so much because of me in the first place.
“But what kind of war are you guys going to?”
As Eolin muttered, laughing at the sight of us heavily armed, Elena’s expression darkened.
I also made up my own mind and took off the cloak I was given a long time ago.
Persia, who sensed the unusual atmosphere, asked with a bewildered voice.
“Wow, wasn’t it our field training?”
“That’s right. But it’s actually an ice and snow hell…”
“Why ice and snow hell?”
Persia is unable to grasp the situation alone in the room.
Medusha let out a small sigh and twirled her tail with her fingers.
“Persia. If you were Russell and his crew, what would you be doing now?”
“Bah, traitors? Of course I’m going to get down on my knees and beg my master for what I did wrong…”
“Oh my… that was a very difficult question for you.”
Medusha, who gave Persia honey chestnuts and lamented sincerely, explained it a little more easily.
Eolin on my lap slowly wags her tail and nods as if to pat her chin.
“Currently, Russell and his crew have lost most of their power. In this state, we have no choice but to replenish our forces to continue the fight. However, even if we summon reinforcements from the capital, we will only be defeated by Eshas like last time.”
“Ummm… I understand.”
“Okay. So, where should I call you this time?”
The train departs with the horn sounding while the story is being told.
Medusha’s Pass is heading south to the window on the left… that is, the Duke of Beltern.
Then Persia naturally turned her head towards it.
“Of course, the South is out of the question. It is stably ruled by the Duke of Beltern, and the power is quite strong. At the most, there is a high probability that it will be subdued in an instant.”
“Then what about the east?”
“It’s not very attractive either. First of all, it’s too close to the South, and Collingwood specializes in summoning spirits… No matter how many people you summon, you can’t beat Ethel and Laurier. Besides, the distance from the capital is relatively short. .”
Again, the unclean Medusha’s gaze moved forward.
We are currently crossing the capital.
This train is an express to the north, but it will travel west along the way.
The end of a long stretched line. Medusha, who remembered Fort Westwall, continued the explanation.
“The situation in the west is definitely better. First of all, it’s easy to avoid people’s eyes because of the large amount of land. However, as it is also a border area, there is a high probability that it will be suppressed quickly. “
If you apply the elimination method here, only the northern part is left.
In addition, the Ice and Snow Hell is a very easy place to summon compared to other provinces.
Its magic sight has a deep history in its own right, and dangerous monsters are even sealed here and there.
However, Persia shook her head, remembering the majestic majesty of the Ice Citadel.
“But the Ice and Snow Hell is blocked off by an ice fortress. An invincible fortress that has not been breached for hundreds of years.
“It’s not. Ice Citadel is a building to prevent the monsters of Ice and Snow Hell from coming out… If you go through another dimension, it’s easy to enter.”
Of course, you can enter at will, but not when you leave.
It must be very difficult to break through the defense of the Ice Citadel and escape from the Ice and Snow Hell.
However, if successful, it can cause great confusion.
As Persia said, the Ice Citadel has not been drilled once since its completion.
The first and last fortress that divided the kingdom from ice and snow hell.
If it breaks through, the northern monsters will pour out throughout the kingdom.
I added a little while recalling the story of Ice Castle.
“Besides, Russell didn’t come home right after graduating from the academy and went to ice and snow hell. He already knew the geography of that place.”
“Ah… that would be a bit dangerous.”
“Yeah. Maybe I’ve been preparing for a long time.”
Ice and Snow Hell is a land that is too wide to manage properly.
Now that I’ve been to field training, I can help with the search if Christine’s father wants it.
Eolin, who was rubbing her face with my hands, fell asleep.
As there was still a long way to go until the final station, I decided to close my eyes.
The next time I opened my eyes, there was a white snowy field outside the window.
After going to the bathroom, wondering if there was any eye mucus on it, I changed my outfit.
The students in the next carriage were stunned to see the snow piled up in early summer.
I mourned the boys in summer uniforms and wore the Persian wool scarf that Elena had made.
“Hey. We’ve finally arrived. The train journey is so boring… heh heh!”
As if he had slept enough on the train, Eolin, who was about to get off the platform first, leapt into the brutally cold air.
Checking Professor Cat’s amazing jumping ability, catch the back of the neck.
When I put it in my cloak as it is, I become as calm as a doll.
“Yeah, it’s an artifact, too. Well done, El Cloud. Will you continue to be like this until the end of the field training?”
“You’ll feel better if you go inside the castle.”
While Elena hurriedly sews the buttons on her coat. The wagons from the fortress began to transport the students just before the burial.
Ethel, who made the surroundings a little warmer, snorts as if she doesn’t like it.
“It snows all year… It’s a damned land.”
“It’s because the space is distorted.”
“Beep…”
Letty, who had been deceived by Tangerine Rice Cake’s blackmail, showed her face out of my pocket and cried anxiously.
I blocked it and looked up at the rapidly approaching Ice Citadel.
It looks magnificent as ever.
I left in the morning, but it’s already night and the crescent moon is hanging on the stone bastion.
We were able to face the Ice Castle before long after we shrugged in the cold wind.
An uncle who greets you warmly as you go up the steep stairs.
I politely greeted him and handed him the gift.
“It’s been a long time since I’ve seen you, Lord. Here’s my return for your help last time.”
“Uhm? Oh, what all these things…”
The corners of Seongju’s lips, who smiled happily, curled in satisfaction.
What I put down is Essence of Ice and Essence of Fire.
Naturally, it was prepared by asking Ethel and Laurier.
There are so many cold attribute summons in Ice and Snow Hell, so there is no need to explain the usefulness of the essence of ice…
The essence of flame will be a convenient and powerful fuel.
This should be enough to cover the tuition I borrowed last time.
I didn’t want to receive special treatment anymore, but since Elena is a party, there is nothing I can do about it.
The Ice Castle should treat us even to pay homage to the royal family.
While Persia saw the lord and trembled. The servants came in with their prizes.
Although the name is a supper to welcome the royal family, alcohol rather than food is the main character.
I rolled my tongue as I recalled the northern liquor I drank last time.
“Welcome, Her Majesty Princess Elena. Then let’s go inside.”
“Okay. Can I drink that drink again?”
“I, Seongju. What should we do during this practice?”
Eolin, who escaped from my arms just then, took off her shoes and stretched on the floor of the room where she had to climb.
Seongju laughed at my question and poured clear alcohol into everyone’s glasses.
Medusha, who had been eating for a while, drank it coldly, pretended not to have received it, and took another drink.
“Isn’t it too urgent? Before we even started drinking…”
“I don’t know what else Russell is up to.”
“I know. I have a good memory of his visit here.”
The person who informed Russell’s visit in the first place was Seongju.
He pointed it out secretly and opened the paper door on the side of the ice and snow hell and showed it.
It’s already night, but the snow everywhere reflects the moonlight, so I can see quite well.
Under the far-off fall, the rough and curved land stretches out endlessly.
“But, as you can see, the ice and snow hell is so wide that it’s difficult to conduct a search operation realistically. No matter what the traitors do over there, we just need to protect the fortress. There’s no need to spread out our forces and be defeated.”
“Hey, so we can help with the search…”
Seongju shakes her head while smiling as if she is proud when she reaches out her hand from me first.
The tongue soaked in alcohol vomited an unexpected truth.
“Even so, I can’t ask the students to do such a dangerous job. Leave the northern duties to the northerners.”
Well, I wanted to ask you what took me to the ice and snow hell last time, but…
In fact, at that time, Christine, the successor of Seongju, followed.
Nominally, I was the assistant, but in reality, Christine was the escort.
From Seongju’s point of view, it was as safe as possible.
“Then what are we doing here…”
“I don’t have enough staff at the house of the summons, so please help me.”
“Cow, the house of the summons?”
When everyone panicked at the somewhat unfamiliar words, the castle lord points to the bottom of the castle.
If you live in this lord’s castle, it will be a pretty important facility.
After all, it’s a bit of a nuisance for me, who is just an outsider, to take Elfriede and Elena with me.
Aren’t they the descendants of the Duke of Beltern and the royal family, respectively?
If two people suffer even a small wound here, political problems may arise.
In the end, I accepted his order without further objecting.
“All right.”
“Okay. I don’t have to thank you. Maybe that’s a lot harder.”
“hahaha…”
I trembled slightly at the sound that didn’t sound like a joke.
After exchanging drinks until late, we went to the guest room we stayed in last time and went to bed.
You’ve been drinking for quite some time, but you don’t have to worry about a hangover by switching to a drink on the way.
The Ice Castle separated me and the party very naturally… However, I couldn’t even make the summoned beasts stay in a different room.
Eolin, the lead professor, came into my room before I knew it.
Maybe it was because I was used to sleeping, so my eyes didn’t close quickly.
While waiting for Suma in the dimly lit room, Eolin, who was lying horizontally, gets up without a sound and leaves the bedroom.
Are you going to the kitchen to get some late night food?
In order not to disregard such thoughts, he puts on a cloak, puts on a hat, and even casts a temperature maintenance spell.
‘Where in the middle of the night…’
Eolin jumps out of the window before I can even say the question out of my mouth.
The window that spewed out the magic cat slammed shut again.
I thought I’d ask tomorrow, so I finally surrendered myself to the suma attacking me.