The vast snow-capped mountains sprawled out like a painter’s white canvas, with snowflakes dancing in the sky.
As I exhaled, white breath began to escape with each puff.
Arriving in the north and stepping down from the ship, people with bear ears and thick fur cloaks appeared around us.
“Welcome to the Iron Blooded Land! Everyone!”
Their movements were in unison, as if several people were moving together as one.
Unlike the Imperial Guard, they resembled soldiers with spears rather than knights wielding swords, a muscular combat race.
‘Is this the guard protecting the princess who’s in the north? I’ve heard of them.’
It wouldn’t make sense if there weren’t soldiers guarding Sophia despite the presence of the Imperial Guard.
Everyone was wearing black uniforms adorned with bear symbols.
“Uhhahaha!! It’s really cold here!!”
“Licht… watch your step…”
Pina held my hand tightly, her warm grasp contrasting with my frostbitten condition. Does a good heart mean cold hands? What a bunch of nonsense.
“I’m fine now, Pina.”
I felt intrigued observing the sturdy northern folk living in such harsh terrain.
‘…This is the Iron Blooded Land, Caprostia.’
That crummy column guy said he was trying to live like the northerners by munching on chicken breast and hitting the gym in reality. Turns out, he really was insane.
I should avoid living like that. I’ll be perfectly normal by just being myself.
It’s common to become a beta tester to save your favorite character in the gaming subculture.
“Long live Caprostia!”
“Her Highness Coldheart is arriving!”
That’s when it happened. As they formed ranks and parted to make way, a single woman strode forward regally.
“Hello. I am Sophia Coldheart, currently leading the north.”
She, too, wore a black uniform and cloak, entirely cloaked in black. She looked just like the illustration that the northern duke’s husband had shown me.
“Thank you so much for personally coming to reinforce us from the Grancia Empire─.”
Sophia Coldheart.
The daughter of the Iron Blooded Duke of the North, known among the Ten Heroes, just like Pina, she bore animal ears.
A woman with bear ears and a tail, sporting a black ponytail.
Among players, she was more famously known as the ‘Northern Bear Girl,’ and upon seeing us, her expression turned to one of surprise.
“Pina…? I didn’t hear you were coming here.”
“…Hi, Soph.”
As she staggered in her high heels, almost tripping over a stone,
“Your Highness Coldheart!! Are you okay!!”
Using the spear she held for support, she gasped, clutching her chest. For her, someone of significant power had suddenly appeared.
“I-I’m… fine.”
“…”
The atmosphere instantly shifted. Seeing Sophia eye Pina strangely, even the northern guards, who seemed tough moments ago, began to look shaken.
“I told you not to call me that nickname… Pina.”
“But Sophie is Sophie.”
To summarize the duchess? She’s like that kid who always comes second in class. I’ve heard she can never surpass the royal family.
But I knew the empire and north shared a relationship similar to that of a ruler and his vassal, so it made sense that Pina and Sophia knew each other.
‘Then this must have slipped through the cracks of ignorance.’
The wrath brewed within as I conjectured the atrocities of the Demon Kings. Just leaving a friend behind seemed fine.
“How on earth did you get all the way to the north? Pina Grancia.”
“…Following a dumb puppy.”
With our hands still connected, Pina slightly lifted her arm to indicate that I was that “puppy.” Being a wolf is way cooler than just being a pup.
“You really haven’t changed.”
The northern duchess pressed her temples, visibly suffering from a headache.
Our Pina can be a bit eccentric. Standing closer now was the girl with the bear ears.
“So… is this Licht?”
Her icy blue eyes examined me. It was my first time meeting her face-to-face.
In the game, the north had planned to flee once Rufus inherited the throne.
“They say you’ve defeated the Demon King of All Knowledge?”
“Yes, Your Highness Coldheart.”
A woman gazed up at me, examining my features. If that column guy knew, he’d try to kill me, so I kept my eyes on the sky.
“Is that helmet for battle, Licht?”
“…That’s about right.”
Even if I told her I couldn’t take it off, she could still lift the mask like Pina. I should avoid anything that might turn into a flag.
A hidden powerhouse roaming around with their face concealed? It was easy to get tangled up with heroines. And it was a cliché that once someone saw your face, they’d fall for you.
Well, despite all this, I felt that because of my scars, she might dislike me. At least, I shouldn’t end up creating a harem or experiencing NTR.
“Alright. You’re in.”
Besides, I didn’t even know if this person was pretty. Our Pina was stunning after all. Ariel was too, while Sophia looked like a potato rolling around.
“You seem pretty capable. How about testing your mettle against the northern folks?”
In truth, my perspective was quite one-sided, making it hard to distinguish. Looking at the heroine World Cup posts in the game community, I couldn’t understand the appeal.
“Depending on the results, you might join our guard…”
The northern duchess couldn’t finish her sentence. Someone had interrupted her, donning a masterpiece that now blocked her path. Height and size increased in an instant.
“Don’t touch what’s mine. Sophia.”
The glass knight glared with golden eyes peeking from his helmet at the duchess. Master Drake sighed at the sight, “Oh dear…”
“Pina? You’re protecting a man now, huh? Unusual.”
Sophia watched the scene, her eyes twinkling with commotion. Ah, dang it. I hope this doesn’t become a flag.
“Your Highness, regardless, this is a public gathering.”
“But… but that bear first tried to take Licht away…”
Pina looked back and forth between me and the duchess nervously. Calm down, Pina. I’m not going anywhere without you.
“Princess Grancia, I dedicate my body and soul to the empire.”
“Oh, that’s real…”
“There won’t be a day I leave your side.”
“I see… Licht. I trust you.”
After hearing my firm words, the duchess dispelled her glass armor. Then came the shocking revelation.
“…Licht will join my guards. Don’t think you can just lay your eyes on him casually, Sophia.”
Pina, can you speak properly? Like last time, you seem to fit the role of a national princess after all. You’re quite assertive when you need to be.
Without my agreement, it was determined that I’d join the royal guard. When did she even think of such a thing?
Of course, if she wanted me to, I’d gladly welcome the idea. I have to obey our Platinum Wolf.
“But the royal guard is chosen by the Emperor, right? Pina.”
Sophia asked, resting her chin on her hand, as if trying to evaluate her choices. Much like that column guy, she must possess a strategic mindset.
“I don’t care. I can just name him Black Wolf at my discretion.”
“Your Highness, even so, that’s not how it works.”
Regardless, Pina remained steadfast in her principles. She returned to cling to my arm, winding her tail around my leg.
“No, Licht and I are connected. There’s no better talent for a guard.”
Don’t say things that could be misinterpreted by others. This is just a simple relationship of shared mana circuits, allowing us to know each other’s whereabouts,
[Pina, what are you doing? Lady Sophia might misunderstand.]
It’s just a basic relationship of using telepathy, so I’m not sure why she’s so clingy to me. Her affection level must be rock bottom; it was at 2 percent.
[Wait, are you siding with another girl? Licht?]
And without the presence of a true nameless saint, how could we weave a proper romantic narrative? Did something happen while I was out cold?
[..Licht, once we return to the empire, you’ll see.]
Crunch. The tail wrapped around my leg squeezed harder. Even if I’m a powerhouse specialized in defeating Demon Kings, this seems a bit excessive.
[Keep it up, and I’ll stop petting your head.]
[…]
No matter how I think about it, there’s no hint of a pink romantic vibe from Pina towards me. Should I have read more romance novels or something?
Pina Grancia is incredibly beautiful, and while it’s a game world, it’s practically reality now.
Having feelings for someone aimlessly won’t yield good results.
“Anyway… Licht is part of our empire. Sophia.”
When I mentioned petting her head, she curbed her remarks.
“Pina, people’s hearts are all swayed by money.”
Seeing this, the northern duchess sighed as if she couldn’t believe it. White breath puffed out, and something shiny flew toward me.
‘..An imperial gold coin?’
Just like during my shadow slash practice, pulling my sword from my waist was too risky with so many people around, so I caught the incoming coins with my hands.
“Unbelievable. I didn’t think you’d catch those. I honestly tossed them over.”
The northern duchess had tossed several coins at me as a test. Having rolled around under Master Drake for five years, this was a piece of cake.
“You really are a capable talent. Won’t you work for our Caprostia?”
The duchess smiled slyly, claiming the coins I caught as an advance payment.
Absolutely not. That column guy wouldn’t just break down our door and storm in, right?
“I decline….”
And because of you, Pina almost got hit too. Attempting to lure someone forcibly only left a bitter taste in my mouth, as I was about to voice my refusal when,
“Licht hates nutrient-depleted lands like yours.”
Pina Grancia said, wrapping her arms tightly around mine, resembling a large clump.
So soft. It felt like all the blood in my body was boiling. My reasoning was in chaos. Help me.
“But you’ve gained unnecessary weight, despite being a wolf.”
“Better than having not a single blade of grass like the north.”
In fact, compared to the empire’s princess, the northern duchess was quite flat. It was just like her comment about having nothing at all.
“Is that really so? Pina, aren’t they all just mesmerized by riches?”
“Hmph, Sophia. Licht is different.”
What does that column guy see in all this? Regardless of understanding preferences, I’d believe it if he said he was disguised as a woman.
“..That pervy dog probably likes it even more.”
That was not entirely incorrect. No, it’s because it’s you I like, Pina. It’s because I like you, no matter the size.
‘Not even something like Ariel or the Celestial Demon arouses any feelings in me.’
This is why that column guy keeps teasing me that I have a big-bust fetish instead of saintess fetish. If you’re that unhappy, just gather some real power.
“Then in that case, I’ll cleanly give it up. I’m sorry for testing you.”
After seeing Pina’s firm resolution, the duchess let out a subtle smile, as if it aligned with her expectations.
“For now, let’s head inside. Pina. Asha Aureus is waiting for us inside.”
As if she picked up on our bond, she nodded slightly and walked inside, her black hair flowing behind her.
