Chapter 39

The Imperial Princess revealed that she was a half-breed between an Outer God and a human.

Thinking about that along with my crime, I started to feel dizzy.

Attempted rape of an Outer God.

It seemed the Imperial Princess knew about my crime and was trying to request something.

What on earth was she trying to request by making such a bombshell statement?

The Imperial Princess closely observed my reaction and slowly began to speak.

"One day, an Outer God descended upon the empire and fell in love with a human. That human was my father.

The emperor of the empire, now buried in snow, had relations with an Outer God and bore two children. I was born first, and the one born after me is the Outer God now called the Giant of the Snowy Mountains."

W-wait a minute.

An Outer God and a human had a relationship?

Her pointing gesture was directed beyond Rondan, towards the human-shaped figure towering in the snowy mountains where blizzards raged.

Wow... as expected of a dark fantasy, isn't the family tree too tangled?

To think the Giant of the Snowy Mountains is the Imperial Princess's sister.

What difference must there be for one to generate heat and the other to steal it?

"What I'm about to say is my request. Please stop the Giant of the Snowy Mountains, who destroyed the empire and plunged this world into extreme cold."

The Giant of the Snowy Mountains.

I recalled what the Gardener had said once.

"You're asking if you can defeat the Giant of the Snowy Mountains? Well, it's not impossible. But it's a matter of compatibility, you could say. The problem is that the Giant's abilities are too much for even most Greater Outer Gods to handle. If it comes to that, I'd be in the same boat. What you call Greater Outer Gods, if one disappears, the balance of the universe could collapse."

In short, it means I have to win with my own abilities, without the interference of Greater Outer Gods...

It was bewildering how casually she spoke of a task that was absolutely impossible for me right now.

So I was about to refuse, but her next words were enough to make me close my mouth, and I could understand why her face had turned red.

"Of course, I'll give you a suitable reward. You said I was pretty, didn't you...? So if the day comes when this hearth is no longer needed... you can have my body."

"..."

No, this is crazy.

I felt my blood rush in reverse at such a blatant statement.

Tanton, stop!

No, of course it was true that the Imperial Princess was beautiful!

But when I said the pattern was beautiful, it was just lip service, not an attempt to seduce her!

"O-or perhaps you prefer to do it forcefully, since it was attempted rape of an Outer God...?"

As she said this, the Imperial Princess's face turned redder and redder, becoming like a freshly picked tomato.

Then, as if acting, she made a pitiful gesture, wrapping her arms around herself as if to protect her body.

"W-wait a moment!"

Thinking that things would get out of hand if I didn't put on the brakes, I shouted loudly.

The Imperial Princess, who seemed to have already immersed herself too deeply, had tears welling up in her eyes.

Wow, this is really dizzying.

This really makes it seem like I was trying to force myself on her!

"Imperial Princess, please calm down a bit..."

"Or... perhaps you dislike this body after all. Even though I look like this, I'm confident I can raise a child well so it doesn't become a disaster."

No, no!

What, you're already thinking that far ahead?!

My head was spinning.

I felt completely drained, but I shook my head and tried to come to my senses.

I need to choose my words carefully!

If I say the wrong thing here, it'll be settled and I'll be charged with attempted rape of an Outer God and rape of royalty on top of that!

"...Imperial Princess, please calm down a bit. It's not a matter of liking or disliking. Your body is indeed very beautiful. But I don't think it's right to offer that body merely as a reward."

"...But when that time comes, I won't have any other way to repay you?"

"What's important about rewards and such? The hope of being able to save the empire alone is enough motivation to act. Above all, Imperial Princess, you are the one who must rule the empire."

Of course, I didn't think my current self could defeat that Giant of the Snowy Mountains.

But since the premise was laid out like that, I had to talk based on that, you know.

At my words, the Imperial Princess briefly had a blank expression, then chuckled as if something was funny.

"...No matter what I say, the conclusion is that your thinking is really unique. To think you'd refuse the 'Imperial Princess'."

"I just stated the truth."

"But if the empire is saved, there will be no place for me. My role will truly be over then. Should I really marry you then?"

Seeing the mischievous smile, I thought this Imperial Princess really likes to play naughty jokes.

"...Please refrain from such troublesome jokes, Imperial Princess."

"Fufu, I understand. But my request to you is sincere. I believe without a doubt that you can do it."

Seeing her smile filled with determination, I had a question.

"...But why me specifically? While it's an honor to hear the Imperial Princess's request, if we look at achievements in terms of ability, the Hunter is more capable than me."

"...Umm, don't misunderstand when you hear this, okay?"

What on earth is she going to say now?

The Imperial Princess cleared her throat with a fake cough.

"When I heard your crime, I thought it was an absurd charge. How could a human forcibly do that to such a powerful Outer God? It's true that Tanton is strong, but the difficulty of killing and capturing are on different levels."

The Imperial Princess said with a warm smile.

"So I thought. Maybe this person has a way to communicate with Outer Gods. If it was a misunderstanding, it explains all your achievements so far, doesn't it?"

"...I see."

So that's how it was.

So that's why she didn't think it was strange when she heard my crime, and rather tried to accept me as a knight.

From the beginning, this person was aware that there was an error in my crime.

Still, I wondered what kind of mental illness 'Laydan Tanton' must have had to try to do that with an Outer God.

Anyway, I thought she wasn't the head of a group for nothing.

"So I'm asking you, Tanton. I gained hope when I saw you. That you could free the Giant of the Snowy Mountains... my little sister."

I see, is it not possible after all?

Hearing her final words filled with sadness, various thoughts came to mind.

I don't know what the ending of Snow Castle is like.

I didn't play it to the end.

But I can tell that the Giant of the Snowy Mountains is the boss, and probably if it's the Hunter's way, he would take the approach of killing that giant.

That's how the Hunter would find peace, I guess.

But if that happens, in the end, the Imperial Princess who has been firmly holding Rondan together would become unhappy.

She sacrificed for others, but in the end, only the misery of her own sister's death would come back to her.

At least in my standards, that wasn't a happy ending.

I've played quite a lot of dark fantasies, but I didn't like that kind of bad ending.

"...It's an honor that you would make such a request of me."

"...Tanton."

When I reluctantly accepted, I could see the Imperial Princess's smile tinged with apology.

***

"Then I'll take my leave. It was an honor to meet you today, Imperial Princess."

"Thank you for your time. Take care on your way back."

After Tanton politely bowed and left, the door closed.

As soon as it closed, the Imperial Princess slumped into the chair as if all her strength had left her, and lay face down on the table.

"...Sigh."

The conversations she had with Tanton earlier.

As all of it came to mind, the Imperial Princess's face turned red and she covered it with both hands, even though there was no one to see.

"...What on earth did I say?"

The words he said about her being beautiful.

The Imperial Princess got up and went to the mirror.

A red, fleshy spider wriggling in the center of her collarbone.

It was curled up and stuck tightly to her body, looking very creepy.

She wanted to cover it with clothes, but because it would tear the clothes as if feeling suffocated, the Imperial Princess had no choice but to wear clothes that exposed her upper body.

So it was obvious that the domain's people would find it creepy.

In the first place, she was using part of her body to fuel the hearth's firewood, so even though she had excellent regenerative abilities due to Outer God powers, her body was weakened and she couldn't go out, which was a bigger issue.

But that man had looked at her with surprise from the beginning.

And the Imperial Princess couldn't miss the implication in his gaze as he looked at her with a reddened face.

He was quite handsome too.

The Imperial Princess, who had been twirling her platinum blonde hair with her hand, shook her head.

She thought the problem was that she got too excited because it had been a long time since she saw a person.

"...I must be feeling lonely these days."

The Imperial Princess's room where no one comes up.

She was happy recalling Tanton's figure who believed in her, but the Imperial Princess walked into the hearth with a bitter smile.

"...Will stopping the giant really solve the fundamental problem?"

***

'Please stop the Giant of the Snowy Mountains.'

The words the Imperial Princess had said kept echoing in my mind.

Anyway, to see the ending of this game, I had to do something about that Outer God, so my goal didn't change much.

But the Imperial Princess didn't ask to defeat it.

She asked to stop it.

"...A difficult task has been given."

I don't know.

Isn't that something to think about when the time comes?

The urgent thing right now was to get stronger quickly.

For now, I should go back to the branch and rest again.

Indeed, no matter how much a human body rests, it's never enough.

"Hey."

"...Hm?"

I stopped walking when I heard a voice from behind, and when I turned towards that direction, I immediately took a salute posture.

"...White Mask."

"No, you should call me differently."

What is she saying all of a sudden?

I was tilting my head and looking at White Mask when I suddenly found a rope tied around my wrist.

"...Huh?"

"Call me Master from today. Is your meeting with the Imperial Princess over?"

"Y-yes, but...?"

Why is this?

This atmosphere that feels like she's smirking behind the mask.

"Then that's good. Come with me quickly. From today, you are my subordinate and disciple. I'll teach you how to use your power."

"W-what do you mean...? Uh, uhhh?!"

"We're going to the station, which is under my jurisdiction, now."

The rope was gradually pulled, and my body was forcibly moved towards where White Mask was heading.

The place I was dragged to had a train, and I was thrown into it.

There was Muyeon, tied up and crying.

Only then did I feel that something was strange.

"Welcome to the railroad. We're heading to Geumgu now."