It all happened in an instant.

It was so sudden that it felt almost impossible to comprehend how things could escalate so quickly.

The fact that the train exploded was already a major issue. Our current means of transportation was destroyed, and, more importantly, the explosion created a loud noise.

The Dragon Slayer might come.

If we were far away, it might not matter, but this place didn’t seem too far from her nest.

However, more pressing than that was…

“Astie…!”

We had left Astie in the train, telling her to rest for a while. And of all times, the train exploded when she was inside.

Considering the intensity of the explosion, I could only think of the horrific possibility that she had been caught in the high heat.

No way.

To lose such an important character for the strategy so early…?

With its grotesque visuals that require activating Coward Mode, Snow Castle is an extremely difficult game where one wrong choice can block ten possible clear paths.

It’s not for nothing that people say it’s better not to start at all than to begin without properly planning your skill tree and item slots.

As the comments suggested, I might end up grinding for years.

But, more importantly…

‘I was too complacent.’

Even with Coward Mode and the horn, I hadn’t mastered even the basic self-defense techniques of the knight order, like Meditatio.

How could I, who can’t even protect myself, expect a girl who had just escaped slavery to take care of everything for me?

A girl who should be protected, not burdened.

My knees buckled, and I sank to the ground.

“…Tanton.”

Even Muyun called my name in a solemn voice.

So this really is a dark fantasy world, huh?

Even with Super Coward Mode activated, the gentleness only applies to me.

“…Astie!!”

“Yes, Master. Did you call?”

In the midst of feeling overwhelmed by complex thoughts and despair, I suddenly heard a voice I shouldn’t have.

“What…?”

“Huh?”

I wasn’t the only one confused—Muyun’s bewildered voice echoed as well.

The voice had come from right behind me.

Slowly, I turned my head in that direction, only to find Astie standing there with her usual expressionless face, looking down at me.

“Ah, ahhh! It’s the assassin maid ghost!”

“…Don’t worry. I’m alive.”

Even as I screamed in shock, Astie calmly reassured me, her breathing steady.

But how was she alive after the train explosion? There’s no explanation other than that she’s a ghost!

“What on earth…?”

“I’ve been with you the whole time, Master.”

“What do you mean?”

When I asked, Astie tilted her head in confusion.

“Hm?”

“Being by your side, that’s what a maid’s duty is, right?”

Hearing Astie’s words, I nearly lost my balance again.

Well, if she’s an important character mentioned in the community, she wouldn’t die so easily.

Recalling the actions Astie had taken yesterday, I knew she wasn’t an ordinary being.

So I found myself accepting the inexplicable.

In the end, I was relieved that Astie was safe.

But then…

“Damn it all!!!”

A piercing cry suddenly echoed in my ears, even more intense than when I thought Astie had died.

Following the source of the sound, I saw White Mask on her hands and knees in front of the train, slamming her fist into the ground.

I quickly understood why she was acting like that.

I had learned during our journey that she was a serious train enthusiast.

Especially the train we were on—she had shown so much affection for it, stroking the seats countless times.

And now, right before her eyes, the train she cherished had been blown to pieces.

“You dare provoke me, Dragon Slayer.”

As White Mask spoke those words, a loud thud sounded from behind us, as if on cue.

Muyun turned to look and then backed away in shock.

“Hmm, so you were here. I knew you’d come back.”

The Dragon Slayer had somehow made it to where we were.

It made sense for her to come check after hearing such a loud noise.

“You’ll pay dearly for the crime of assaulting my maids…”

She seemed ready to deliver some grand speech, but she couldn’t finish it.

She was interrupted by a slash flying toward her, which she had to block.

As the Dragon Slayer deflected the attack with her fan, a sharp, resonating sound pierced our ears.

The thin, crescent-shaped slash looked like a tear in the fabric of space itself.

It was the Meditatio technique that White Mask had demonstrated to Muyun when we first arrived here.

“You’ve gone too far this time, you damned Outsider.”

White Mask’s voice was colder and sharper than ever, full of menace.

Even the Dragon Slayer, an Outer God, seemed taken aback, letting out a small “ugh…”

But even so, the Dragon Slayer was still an Outer God.

“W-Where do you get off, blaming me?!”

Her irritated outburst made Muyun cover her ears, and White Mask lowered her stance as if preparing to resist.

…Even though her words were stammered, they still carried this much weight.

Perhaps taking the Dragon Slayer’s words as a signal to attack, White Mask quickly drew her sword and charged at her.

Thunk, thunk!

As White Mask’s sword clashed with the Dragon Slayer’s fan, a strange noise, like that of someone wearing squeaky slippers, filled the air.

It seemed absurd that a mere human could be on par with an Outer God.

But White Mask’s strength, gained through her extensive experience, was proving otherwise.

With her speed and strength momentarily surpassing that of the Dragon Slayer, the Dragon Slayer’s body was forced backward.

“Tsk…!”

The Dragon Slayer tried to hold her ground, but her balance wavered.

As a result, both of them tumbled off the cliff where we had previously defeated the drakes.

“Master!”

“White Mask! Tanton, let’s follow them!”

“Yes!”

Seeing Muyun take the lead, I grabbed Astie’s shoulders and spoke firmly.

“The station is still intact, so you should be safe there. Wait for us.”

“…Yes, Master’s orders.”

For some reason, Astie’s face showed a strange hint of distress as she replied.

I hadn’t seen her make such an expression before.

If her goal was to kill me in a place where no one else was around, there was no need for her to show this kind of face now.

Astie politely bowed her head and slowly walked toward the station.

Seeing her tiny footsteps, I was determined to finish the job and return safely.

Wait a minute.

Just as I was about to start running, I glanced back at Astie and noticed something odd.

Astie had suddenly dropped a stone—the train’s fuel—onto the ground.

Why was she holding that? She must have gone all the way to the front of the train to get it.

But I didn’t have time to think deeply about it.

The situation was critical, and every second counted.

Maybe she just picked it up by chance while running out.

I gave one last glance at her entering the station before following White Mask down the cliff.

When I landed at the bottom, White Mask was already engaged in an intense battle with the Dragon Slayer.

But even someone as strong as White Mask seemed to be struggling against the Outer God; parts of her costume were torn, and she was breathing heavily.

“Impressive. You’ve improved since last time. It seems the concept of evolution that mystics talk about isn’t just nonsense…”

“I don’t care what you’re babbling about. Shut up, you damned dragon head.”

“What, you’re still not satisfied with the pretty face I gave you? It seems I need to teach you manners all over again.”

White Mask, who couldn’t understand the Dragon Slayer’s words, cut her off before she could finish speaking.

Then, the two clashed again.

“Hiyah!”

Even with a terrified expression, Muyun seemed to be trying to compose herself and took a large swing with her axe, aiming for the Dragon Slayer.

It seemed White Mask’s earlier words had indeed inspired her.

But even in the midst of battling White Mask, the Dragon Slayer effortlessly blocked Muyun’s attack with minimal movement.

To their eyes, it might have looked different, but to me, it seemed like the Dragon Slayer was blocking Muyun’s axe with her fan while stopping White Mask’s sword with her free hand.

“…Damn it.”

“Attacking me together? How disgraceful.”

The Dragon Slayer sneered as something exploded from her hand, forcing White Mask and Muyun to be pushed back.

Thankfully, they were skilled enough to land gracefully on the ground, avoiding any injury.

However, continuing the fight like this wasn’t a good idea.

White Mask and Muyun both had their limits, and with the Dragon Slayer’s full power still unknown, it would be dangerous to engage in this fight recklessly.

「Human, are you in danger?」

Just then, Bell’s voice reached me.

Judging by the Dragon Slayer’s movements, even if I borrowed the Gardener’s power again, I’d likely be defeated due to my inexperience.

So, I concluded that it would be better to borrow Bell’s power instead.

I quickly placed the party horn in my mouth and blew it, and just like with the Gardener, I began to feel an eerie energy enveloping me.

And then…

“It’s the human!”

Once again, I felt something light land on my shoulder, and Bell’s voice came from right behind me.

But that wasn’t all.

Lick, lick, lick.

…I couldn’t avoid Bell’s playful surprise attack as she started licking my cheek.

The abilities I expected from Bell were speed and surveillance—these two.

How well those abilities would work for me would only be known after trying them out.

“Let’s go for a walk!”

As Bell shouted, I suddenly felt a lightness spread through my entire body.

It felt as if all the muscles in my body were aligning into the most efficient positions.

At the same time, the eyes of the Overseer materialized above my costume.

When those eyes collectively focused on the Dragon Slayer, it felt like my entire being was centered on her.

“W-What the…?! How can a mere human wield that power…?”

Taking advantage of the Dragon Slayer’s confusion, I leaned forward and burst forth, propelled by a surge of energy.

In an instant, I reached the Dragon Slayer and stretched out my arms, aiming to grab her horns.

Normally, I would have tried to communicate with her, fulfilling her desires or releasing the anchor that bound her to this world.

But…

“I hate those villainous young lady stories.”

Especially those annoying romantic fantasy heroines.

As adrenaline coursed through me, the world seemed to slow down, the falling snowflakes reflecting the world we inhabited.

I smiled at the Dragon Slayer’s panicked expression.