Alter couldn't help but falter for a moment after hearing those words.

Although he had steeled himself for this, when he actually faced the situation, all he did was waver.

Still, since Brillie herself must have reaffirmed her resolve, shouldn't he also respond in kind?

"Yes. I'll do my best so we can be together for the rest of our lives."

"Um... That..."

Even after receiving a definite answer, Brillie couldn't hide her shyness.

The words had come out without thinking, and she had never experienced a situation like this before.

Just how was she supposed to change this atmosphere?

"I feel like I should have brought it up first... but you beat me to it."

"It doesn't matter who says it first, right? As long as we both agree, what else matters?"

"I always thought it's usually the man who proposes. Does it not bother you?"

"I don't want to sit around hiding my feelings like other noble ladies, just waiting for a proposal. I have my own way."

"..."

Alter, on the contrary, took it as just being true to Brillie's nature.

Once Brillie decided to get married, it was only natural for her to act on it.

While he was still caught up in his worries, Brillie would just see things through in the meantime.

"Um... Since we're talking about marriage..."

Brillie changed the subject with some difficulty as she began to walk. Alter kept step with her, listening calmly.

"How should we handle... offspring?"

Brillie nervously clenched her skirt.

Eventually, she ended up bringing up marital relations to Alter.

Although it was an inevitable issue once they got married, all it did was fill her with unnecessary anxiety.

"I don't mind if it gets delayed, but the heads of our houses may push us. For now, why don't we try to buy some time?"

Considering Brillie's stance, Alter deliberately chose to postpone things.

Marriage is settled once you go through with it, but to produce an heir, they'd need to become physically intimate.

Either way, it would be quite a burden, so it was probably better to put it off for now.

"You don't have to be considerate of me. I'm... ready, you know."

"When you say ready... you mean you're prepared to have an heir?"

"If it's something that has to be done anyway... then even if it's now... well..."

Unable to confirm her stance outright, Brillie snuck a glance at Alter. She had no idea how he'd take her words.

Would he find it odd, or suspect she had some other agenda?

"If you become pregnant, you won't be able to use your sword for a while. That could dull your skills, too. I think you're at your prime right now... Wouldn't it be such a waste?"

With a serious look, Alter voiced his not-insignificant concerns.

Producing an heir required effort from both, but pregnancy and childbirth were things the woman had to endure alone.

Moreover, Brillie was at the pinnacle of her swordsmanship; getting pregnant would inevitably set her back, however it happened.

"..."

"Lady Brillie, I believe you can reach even greater heights than you are now. Even if we put off having children for a few years, it won't be difficult. So wouldn't it be better to dedicate yourself a little longer to the sword?"

"But..."

Brillie seemed hesitant, but couldn't finish her sentence.

The argument was so perfectly logical that she couldn't bring herself to refute it.

If she missed out on this moment, she might regret it for the rest of her life.

She had even earned a title in recognition of her skill—how could she turn her eyes elsewhere?

"I also need to study magic while carrying out my tasks for the time being. It's not like I can just leave the duchy, so Duke Illenat should understand our situation as well."

"All right. I suppose this way is best for both of us."

With lingering hesitation, Brillie reluctantly agreed.

At least once they were married, she could rule out the crown prince as a prospect.

Of course, spending the night together was the most certain way, but even then, the outcome wasn't guaranteed.

More than anything, she herself was unwilling to have an heir right now, so she found herself unconsciously agreeing with Alter's opinion.

'Is it really all right to do it this way...?'

Even as the worries spun in her mind, Brillie couldn't shake off her fears.

To throw away the methods she had pursued and the results she had built up—she might lose it all in a brief moment, and maybe never get it back.

Alter must have realized this as well, and that's why he was deliberately delaying the timing.

'Maybe I need to make a firm decision. If I don't....'

* * *

Alraune suppressed his murderous intent as he once again crossed the frontlines of the northern region.

The first expedition had failed, but this time, he was determined to accomplish his purpose no matter what.

With two strong companions in tow, there was no way the Frost Witch could escape death.

"Hey there... I'm amazed that people can survive out here."

Megarex, feeling the full chill of the northern reaches, let out a booming laugh.

After basking in peace for so long, both body and mind had become sluggish.

Even this cold was enough to stir up sensations that made him rather excited.

"It's a sacrifice for the sake of the many. Only by stationing forces here in the northern region can we fend off invasions from monsters and barbarians."

Ronit stepped forward resolutely, breath visible in the frigid air.

In the end, he had obtained permission from the holy emperor himself and was dispatched personally to the northern region.

Since the Frost Witch's misdeeds and the defense of the north had been cited as justification, even the other hierophants couldn't object.

"Such boring talk. Is it because you're with the church that you're so caught up in justification?"

"As a hierophant, I can't help but value justification. Weren't you, Sword Saint, also guided here by a sense of purpose?"

"Me? Didn't think that deeply, to be honest. I just followed my fate."

"... Do you have a connection with Uriel?"

"I couldn't say I don't. She did what I couldn't, after all..."

"Is that so. Very much like her."

Ronit took it at face value, not even questioning him. In the end, this expedition itself had been organized because of Uriel.

Who would've thought such a bond, beginning with Uriel, would last so long?

"Attacking a pregnant woman... It's rare enough to see such a monster."

"She is, after all, a monster. The term is quite apt."

"Then I suppose the Frost Witch's death would also be justifiable."

Megarex muttered indifferently, though his gaze was sharp.

He had crossed a great distance to kill the Frost Witch. He could not return empty-handed.

As befit his title as Sword Saint, he intended to bring an end to her.

"It won't be easy. In a place this vast, if she hides, she'll be hard to find, and she could escape again, couldn't she?"

"I think the great mage will take care of that..."

With faint anticipation, megarex glanced sideways at Alraune.

This expedition's sponsor and Uriel's acquaintance, his determination to punish the Frost Witch was clear, so he must have prepared something.

"This should do. Will this place suffice for a proper fight?"

"Everywhere is snow, so it's not exactly comfortable, but as long as there's room to fight, I'll give it my all."

"Is there a method?"

"I will forcibly summon the Frost Witch now. Prepare yourselves."

"...?"

"Ha... Forcibly summon? Now that is impressive!"

At last following his murderous will, Alraune began drawing a magic circle. Ronit, feigning surprise, gathered magic power in both hands.

Megarex gripped his sword hilt, taking a solemn stance.

'Frost Witch... did you really think mere karma would be the end of you?'

Alraune intended to expend considerable magic power to summon the Frost Witch.

The magic he had etched was a kind of subterfuge, expecting the Frost Witch would erase it eventually.

Therefore, he had set the summoning coordinates while considering the future, even factoring in distance and environment before devising this plan.

'I will avenge and release Uriel from her grievance. It's the inevitable result for what you have done!'

With the magic circle complete, Alraune began casting another spell. He was going to trap the Frost Witch perfectly, preventing her escape.

After that, he would support the Sword Saint and hierophant so they could deliver punishment.

"Show yourself! Wicked being!"

Alraune released the magic circle, immediately distorting the ground.

At the same time, as the circle seemed to warp, it dragged forth the figure of the Frost Witch.

Startled, she tried to react, but overwhelming magical power was surging toward her.

"Oh, so this is what she looks like?"

"...."

Megarex and Ronit rushed in together to launch a pincer attack. If they gave even the slightest opening, she'd escape with the blizzard.

Even if they couldn't finish her quickly, at the very least, they'd need to land a serious blow.

"Grrrr..."

The Frost Witch desperately scattered snow, trying to escape the situation.

But her feet were trapped by the earth, and the two humans closed the distance without hesitation.

Judging by the unusual energy they radiated, it was clear they were carefully selected powerhouses.

"Frost Witch! Didn't I say I would kill you with my own hands!"

Alraune drew up even more earth to bind the Frost Witch.

Having consumed a large amount of magic power on the forced-summoning spell, he couldn't actively participate in the fight.

In other words, he took this into account and recruited the Sword Saint and the hierophant for this purpose.

"Hyaaaah!"

The Frost Witch screamed as she tumbled across the snowy field.

The left arm she had recently regenerated was shattered, and her right leg was cut clean off.

On top of that, blood gushed from her abdomen, apparently having taken a direct hit from holy magic.

"Khug, kuhuk..."

Coughing blood, the Frost Witch immediately raised an ice wall. At the same time, she spread snow and mist to block her enemies' vision.

Though this was a fight she was destined to lose, the pain was unbearable.

"Did you think such petty tricks would work against me?!"

Alraune conjured a storm of flames, dispersing the snow and mist.

Megarex cleaved through the ice wall with a single stroke, and Ronit rushed through the gap in an instant.

A dazzling light flared from Ronit, followed by an onslaught of brutal punches.

"Did you destroy my bond of fate with your own hands?!"

"Kyaaaah!"

Completely caught up in holy magic, the Frost Witch's entire body was pummeled.

The inquisitor of the church, led by personal ties, confronted the Frost Witch.

Thus, unfinished resentment from the past was finally being released right here.

"Hmph!"

Ronit ceased his assault and stepped back. His hands, exposed to the cold, were slightly frozen.

But once he dispelled it with magic power, even that chill faded away.

"Ahh... Huhu... huhuhahat!"

The Frost Witch, writhing in agony, nevertheless let out a peal of laughter.

Her entire body was already crushed, movement completely forbidden. She simply watched them, confident in victory, just as she always was.

"Hehehe... You've lost! Do you really think you can defeat me?"

"What nonsense. Once you die, it's all over."

"If you kill me, the curse disappears. But... the curse is already fused with me. Do you know what that means?"

"No way..."

Alraune, face rigid, tried to restrain the Frost Witch. But she had already grabbed an icy blade and stabbed it into her own heart.

"If I die, the curse manifests just the same! That child can't escape death! Ahahaha!"

-------------= Clacky's Corner -------------=Damn it...What does that mean?【「(°ヘ°)?】

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