Chapter 263

Sirka was dreaming. It was a memory from a few years ago. The day she first met 'Cha Hae-In.' But as always, her dreams, regardless of their content, had one thing in common that never changed. It was 'color.' Sirka's dreams were always white. Because from the moment she was born until now, the world around her had always been white, and that was the only thing she knew.

Whoosh—!

A blizzard. A pure white snowfield. A life of struggle, running barefoot on the icy snow and fighting countless spirits. That was all Sirka knew of the world. But… It was from 'that day' that things began to change.

– Sirka! It's terrible!

– Spirits are attacking the village!

Sirka's nightmare, which seemed like it would last forever, began to change.

– The spirits have gone berserk!

– Everyone, grab your weapons!

One day, the spirits of the Echo Forest went on a rampage and attacked the village. While fiercely fighting their endless waves for days and nights. Seeing the old elves dying one by one by her side, Sirka also accepted her death.

Whoosh—!

– Look at the sky!

– A monster is descending from the sky!

– It's a dragon!

– Ah, why… 

Why did misfortune always come all at once? The moment she saw the giant wyvern plunging through the blizzard, Sirka should have felt that immense despair. But surprisingly, it turned into brilliant hope in an instant. From the moment a human, riding on the giant wyvern that suddenly appeared, stepped onto the ground.

– Where is this place?

From the moment she saw the tremendous magic power emanating from the human who immediately grasped the situation with sharp eyes even in the blizzard. And…

– Hey, I don't have any weapons, can you lend me something, anything? – Sirka inadvertently handed over her daggers to the woman who suddenly approached her and held out her hand. Two spare blades from her waist.

– Daggers… I miss those. – The human, as if suddenly remembering something, held the two daggers in a reverse grip and smiled faintly. And it was from then…

Whoosh—!

The human began to perform the 'sword dance' with her hair fluttering.

Kyaaaaaaaaaaaaa!

And right behind her, the giant wyvern roared fiercely and began to hunt the spirits too. That day, The village barely regained peace. Thanks to a stranger who appeared out of nowhere. But even though the battle was over, that mysterious person didn't leave the village and continued to meddle in their affairs.

– This won't do. I don't know where this is, but I need to take care of you guys first.

'Really…' Thinking back, she saw that this was a really strange person.

– Is everyone alright? All those who are injured, gather here! And you there!

– M-me?

– Yes, you. Can you bring me some bandages or medicine if there are any in the village? And has everyone eaten? Why are you all dressed so lightly? Aren't you cold?

'…Seriously.' The human was the one wearing the thinnest clothes. 

The sudden appearance, saving them, and then carefully tucking in their collars to keep out the cold wind. It wasn't funny at all. …Rather, she cried. Tears of relief, realizing that she had survived once again. And it was from that day. That the nosy stranger earned the nickname 'Cha Cha' and settled in the village.

'Cha Cha…' Stayed with the young elves who barely survived and became their family. Sometimes as a swordsmanship teacher.

– Sirka! Your waist! Lower your stance! You need a lower center of gravity to not fall over!

– What's a center of gravity?

– Ah, do I have to explain that…

She taught them tactics, strategy, and how to protect themselves. And sometimes like a mother.

– Kids, let's eat!

– Whoaaaa—!

– Sirka! You'll be in trouble if you eat first again! Eat with your friends!

– No! I already ate.

She made warm food and cozy clothes for them in the cold and freezing blizzard. And…

– Wow, Sirka! You look so cool with your hair braided! This will be good for your vision during battle, right?

– Hehe. Yes!

– The hair of elves is amazing. How can it be so beautiful and flowing, yet strong and durable enough to be used as a bowstring?

– Ahem. Jealous? Wait a little bit. When my hair grows longer, I'll make a bow for Cha Cha myself.

– Oh my, thank you. Then I'll have to make you a bracelet with my hair as a reward.

– Why a bracelet? That's useless in battle.

– You're so mean.

– Hehe. Just kidding.

…She taught them how to smile brightly even in the harsh cold. Thanks to Cha Cha, Sirka was able to learn a new color for the first time in her cold and harsh winter world where she had been trapped all her life. That color was warmth. If spring existed, she had no doubt that it would be this color.

"Sirka." A voice, strangely similar to that of Cha Cha, was calling from afar.

"You're already qualified." A voice similar, yet with an unusually low resonance, was calling her.

"So wake up."

'Wake up? What did that mean?' That voice reached Sirka, who was having a happy dream. And she instinctively realized…

Whoosh—!

'…!' That she was once again surrounded and targeted by hungry spirits, just like that day.

Whoosh—!

That she was on the verge of being devoured by the countless spirits that invaded the village, just like before Cha Cha appeared. The first thing that surged was the instinctive fear she felt that day. And the next thing that came to mind was Cha Cha's smile, always looking at her with warmth.

"Wake up and rule those spirits yourself." Someone's voice, calling out again, awakened Sirka's courage.

'…!'

Just like that day.

"Become a Monarch."

…Flash!

Sirka instinctively opened her eyes and saw Suho's face, which resembled Cha Hae-In. She asked with a dazed expression,

[…Where is this place?]

'If you're awake, take out your weapon.'

There was no answer. Instead, Suho's broad back turned to face forward, and a black shadow stretched long behind him.

Whoosh—!

[Using Skill: 'Monarch's Domain'.] 

And he shouted towards Sirka, watching Sillad hunting the spirits beyond that,

'Focus and look ahead! The former Monarch of Frost is showing you how to fight spirits! You should watch and learn directly instead of me!'

[…?!] Sirka was startled. He was right.

Whoosh—!

The dead Monarch was overwhelming the spirits with a tremendous aura. But at the same time, she realized,

[No. It's impossible. I'm still…] That her abilities were far too lacking to imitate that tremendous presence.

'Impossible, my foot!'

Slap!

'Ouch?!' Sirka's mind suddenly cleared as Suho's palm flew and struck her back without mercy.

A familiar sting. This pain was the sting of Cha Cha's hand, which she had been hit with countless times while learning swordsmanship. And it was also the sting of her mother's hand, which Suho had been hit with even more times. He said,

'Don't worry and just follow me. I've already learned the trick.'

[What? That power is completely different from what you wield, how can you?]

'That's why I said it's a trick. Use it as it is, even if it's lacking. Now, let's go!'

[W-wait…!]

Whoosh—!

He suddenly jumped forward, dragging Sirka with him. She was inadvertently thrown into the vortex of hungry spirits. Suho chuckled and said,

'Now, take out your weapon.'

[…Ice Tree Spear.]

Crackle—!

Sirka obediently followed the instruction, and frost formed in her hand, extending into the Ice Tree Spear. With a weapon in her hand, Sirka's body instinctively began to attack the spirits, following the movements she learned from Cha Hae-In.

'Good. You're fighting well.'

[This won't work…!]

'Then it's time. To learn the trick.' Suho's eyes flashed.

[Using Skill: 'Iron Body technique'.]

Whoosh—!

In an instant, black energy enveloped Suho's fists and arms. Sirka's eyes widened. She instinctively realized. This power wasn't an ordinary skill. That hard and strong black energy climbed up to Suho's shoulders and formed a giant armor. He reached out his enormous hand, grabbed a spirit, and crushed it.

Bang!

Suho, who crushed a spirit and made it explode, looked back at Sirka and grinned, revealing his teeth.

'This is power. The power that the Iron Body Monarch used.'

[H-how can you…?!]

'I learned it. It's your turn now.'

Crack! 

Bang!

Suho grabbed and crushed another spirit.

'One more thing.'

[Using Skill: 'Giant's Armor'.]

Whoosh—!

Suho's entire body was covered in armor. This was an ordinary skill, but Sirka already had a look of realization.

'Sirka.' Suho asked,

'If Sillad became a Monarch by fighting against the sudden bitter cold. Then what is the bitter cold to you?'

There was no need to answer that question. The cold winter was nothing to Sirka in the first place. If Sillad fought against the bitter cold, the same to Sirka was everything she saw from the moment she was born. Day and night, nothing but white…

Crack—!

Sirka's Ice Tree Spear pierced a spirit that was aiming for her. Yes, she knew…

She was still young and weak.

She wouldn't be able to rule all the spirits like the great former Monarch Sillad. But, She declared here,

[At least the spirits within my reach…]

Crack—!

The spirit pierced by the Ice Tree Spear froze.

[I rule.]

Crack—!

One by one. Sirka began to pierce and freeze the hungry spirits swirling around her.

Keeeeeeeeeeaaaaa—!

Amidst their screams and cries. Following Sirka's spear, all the spirits she pierced began to freeze. And that form was the giant armor that Suho personally showed her…

Crack—!

A cold and harsh dignity settled in Sirka's eyes.

[Spirit Armor]

Crack—!

And that armor gradually expanded its range, engulfing Sirka's entire body, as the number of spirits she killed increased. Just like the Iron Body technique and Giant's Armor that Suho showed her. As a result, her body was covered with a giant armor two to three times larger than herself. And…

Crack—!

She reached out a giant fist made of ice spirits, grabbed another one, and crushed it. Just like Suho showed her.

'Yes, well done. If you learned from my mother, you should be able to do at least that.' Suho chuckled.

[…Oh my god.] On the other hand, the former Monarch Sillad's eyes widened in shock. But it was only for a moment. He was filled with pride.

[Well, not a bad start.] Not spirit magic, but spirit domination. To succeed in her first step by imitating the skill used by the Iron Body Monarch, no less.

[No, it's more than excellent.] Yes. His choice was right after all. 

'See, Forest?' Look at that dignified appearance, not just using spirits for spirit magic, but dominating them, using them as mere materials to create weapons and armor. Wasn't that young elf much more like a Monarch than the high elf who just ran away from the cold winter?!

[Uhahahaha!] Sillad burst into laughter with genuine joy.

Ding!

[King of the Snow Folk and the Monarch of Frost, expresses his deep gratitude to his priest.]

[King of the Snow Folk and the Monarch of Frost, expresses his respect for his priest's performance.]

'Hmm?' Suho looked at Sillad, seeing the system messages that suddenly appeared.

Sillad was smiling with deep satisfaction. [Son of the Shadow Monarch. Do you remember what I said when I first met you? I originally intended to kill you instantly. But then I saw her. The Shadow Monarch's companion who became a mother to my young and weak tribe.]

The misery Sillad felt at that moment was indescribable. It was even more so because the moment he saw that, he recalled the face of his own mother, who died protecting him when he was a baby.

[I was grateful to your mother, so I decided not to kill you. But it's not just her anymore.] Sillad was still looking at Suho's face as he tore apart and killed another spirit.

Crack—!

[Thank you. For proving that my choice was right.]

Ding!

[Would you like to recruit 'Descendant of Frost' as a companion?]

[Y/N]

At that moment, another message appeared before Suho's eyes. And a new quest too.

[A quest has arrived.]

But Suho already knew what Sillad's request was.

[Please take good care of my descendant.]

Grin. With those words, Suho and Sirka, clad in black armor and spirit armor, simultaneously glared and crushed a spirit.

Bang—!

'Then step back. From now on, we're eating all the spirits.'