"What are you doing out here? It's snowing you know."
"Yun?" The woman turned her back to her back. "When did you come back?"
"Yesterday…we can save that later. Let's head back."
To his surprise, the woman shook her head.
"No…never mind. I…I want to stay a little longer."
"Why?" He remembered she told him once that she hated snow because she couldn't stand the coldness.
"…I like it now…I met him because of snow." Her face now shined in blissful with sweet smile hanged on her face.
"…'Him'?"
"Oh my! I forgot to tell you!" Her small face brushed up with pink now. Yun had a bad feeling about it. "I…I'm going to marry next week!"
"What?"
"You heard me!" His response made her even fluster but she let it away with a smile. "So…will you come to my wedding party?"
...
"Yun!"
Yun turned to the voice as they're about to set out after some preparations. He was wearing a sleeve less sweater and long thick pant to keep warm. The same went for the others, though they're on the long sweaters and long pants. Roze had once commented his sleeve less sweater was insane in the weather like this.
"Corona?"
His adopted daughter, the little Corona wore in light purple thick sweater with a big ribbon on top of her head ran toward him. She was informed by Yun himself that he had to go on a job regarding the snow harpies when he back to their home in Villnore.
Corona was his friend's daughter…or more to say, Corona was the daughter of his love one, however, she was married with another guy and both of them went missing now...he had reason to consider they're dead. As a friend and also as the one he once loved, Yun adopted little Corona and gave her the best he could.
That's what Ulrika heard from Roze and the others.
Ulrika had once visited this little girl, but this girl totally pissed her off. Know what? Her bad mouth of course! Ulrika couldn't believe there's someone as cruel mouth as Chloe!
"I forget to tell you one thing Yun!" Little Corona pointed her finger to her adopted father. "You have to come back to me, no matter what! You get it?"
Looks, what kind of attitude she had as a child!? Ulrika almost burst out her furious. This little brat even said 'I don't talk to a stupid.' to her! The furious swelled up inside as she tried to press it down.
"Yeah…you don't have to tell me. I will come back to you." Yun rubbed her head before he went with the others.
"A promise, you get it!?" Corona shouted behind. Ulrika caught a glimpse of tear dropping out from the little girl's eyes.
W-What? Am I seeing thing? Ulrika completely blinked. The little figure soon vanished in front of them as the snow blew again, blurting her view.
"That girl is bad mouth, but she is kind inside and always worries about Yun." Roze spoke quietly beside her.
"Huh?"
Pamela floated nearer to them. "Yes, she is a cute girl, don't you think so?"
"Pamela, I didn't say anything about cute or something like this. And, I don't think anything cute about her at all." Roze retorted back. Though he knew the girl for quite some times, it didn't mean he could consider Corona as cute type. "None of us could ever escape from her bad mouth."
Talking about that brought up some miserable memories of Pamela with the girl. Her shoulder dropped. "Yeah…she said I'm disgusted when I'm holding the teddy bear around…"
Ulrika burst out a laugh. Now I get it! At least I'm not the only get that kind of treatment. "What about you Jerktown?"
"W-What!?" Roze grimaced. "T-That's none of your concern!"
"I want to know! Tell me! Tell me!" She tugged his sweater not letting him got away from this.
"I know! She said Roze is a jerk, and 'You think you're cool? You're but a jerk!'!" Pamela held her fist up.
"Pff…!" Another laugh burst out from Ulrika. She couldn't hold her laugh anymore and laughed until tear squeezed out from her eyes corner. "Even a brat sees that…serve you right Jerktown!"
"S-Shut up Pamela!" This big mouth…and… "Stop laughing chick!" His face completely in red like burned, which made Ulrika started another laugh after seeing that on his face.
"…Don't you think you should teach her the proper manner of addressing people Yun?" Sighing as she overheard the three of them, Anna face palmed remembering what the girl once said to her.
Dropping his shoulder in tiredness, Yun stroked his flaming-like hair.
"I know…but I just can't do anything on this."
"I think she wanted your attention over her." Jess tapped her finger on her chin when a possibility hit her mind. "She wanted your company, to stay by her side as much as you can."
"Huh? But I give her money…"
"Money is not everything." Roxis adjusted his spectacle.
"Yeah Yun! As a father you have to care her not only in fact of matter, but in the fact of spirit!" Nikki added. "She is but a little girl. She needs love more than anything…right Roxis?"
"…Why ask me?" Roxis tried to pull back his arm that was now leeched by the beastman. "But regardless, I agree with you."
"Oh…I know you're the best Roxis!" Nikki stroked her face on his arm making him jumped up.
"…Love more than anything…?" Stretching the back of his head, it seemed this really made him a headache.
"Think it slowly." Roze clapped his shoulder but no more explanation was provided to the mercenary. Of course, he had to search it for himself for the sake of Corona and himself. Well, he didn't quite understand as well, in fact.
"More importantly, you have to tell her not to call other stupid the first time they meet!" Ulrika added it at the end, and making everyone couldn't hold their laugh anymore, and burst out into a laugh. They could have imagined that would happen when they meet! "H-Hey, what are you guys laughing at!?"
It's no more snowing at the mountain now however; the first thing that came to sight was all the white color they could find. No green leaves, no blossom colorful flowers, not even an animal here. They're all white covered under the snow. Nikki told the party all the resident here had escaped since the day those snow harpies seized the place.
With the help of Roze, Ulrika finally brought herself up to the middle level of the mountain. Exhaling deeply as her breathe became visible, Ulrika rubbed her palms to get some warmth. She took a look to her surrounding, found nothing but only snow.
"…Hey, where's your sister Enna?" She asked the shorter boy beside her.
Enna, after some introduction, Ulrika got to know that the girl that ran to the mountain by herself was actually his sister Et. Apparently Et was his name and Enna was her sister's name in fact, but for some of the reason, Et took his name and Enna ended up took this name. Oh poor Enna…
"How am I supposed to know?" Enna seemed annoying to everything linked to Et. He shot Ulrika a frustrated glare. "…Stupid sister…how many troubles she wants to give me…?"
Strangely, Enna reminded her brother and sister. Unlike them, Enna was coming with them even though he kept complaining about how troublesome his sister could be. Ulrika believed her brother and sister would never do that for her, though they barely connected with each other.
He can be cute when he grumbling… Ulrika giggled as she thought.
"What are you laughing at?" Throwing a suspicious glare to the blonde, Enna crossed his arms wondered what's wrong with the girl.
"No, it's nothing!" Giving out another giggle, Ulrika took a big step forward and clapped hardly on his back when she passed by him.
"H-Hey, it's hurt…!"
Not wanting to be left behind, Ulrika ignored the blue haired boy and walked to the group which everyone was discussing something as she made a funny face to him, gesturing him 'Faster'.
"…So Nikki, you take the lead." As Ulrika and Enna were there, that's the first thing they heard from Anna.
Nikki rose up her hand. "Yeah, leave it to me!"
Leading the group, Nikki brought them up to another cliff. Following the path, though it's barely visible, Nikki was completely without any problem in leading them as if this place was her territory. For some of the time, she would stop and open up her ears to hear, or sniffed before they proceed forward.
"…So, this is the ability of the beastman." Ulrika was impressive since this was the first time she met with real beastman.
"Like a dog, like a cat." Roze nodded and commented. Though he had to say, Nikki was useful and reliable as comrade.
"I-I just try to make sure we won't get lost!" Nikki exclaimed as her face burned in red. "And I am not a dog!"
"So you're a cat?" Pamela tilted her head.
"Nikki sure is a cat!" Jess answered for Nikki. "Just take a look at her ears and tail!" She then grabbed the beastman's tail and squeezed.
"Nyyyyyaaaaaaa!"
Immediately Nikki jumped up and struggled to let go of her poor tail. Her hair was all stood up and made her looking like a fluffy cat. Pamela let out a squeak, exclaiming how cute she was in this look.
"Jess, I told you never grab my tail-"
"Nikki, don't shout!" Her voice's gone when Roxis suddenly covered her mouth using his palm. "You should never shout when you're in the snow mountain!"
"Hmmm…" Nodding her head, Nikki's face burned up in red as she looking at Roxis with her puppy eyes. Her ears and tail also dropped down. Slowly, she leaned against Roxis as if she was melted in his arm. "R-Roxis…"
Feeling something was wrong in that voice, Roxis sweat dropped as he quickly pulled back his hand and stepped back a few feet.
"A-Ahem…let's moves…"
"Heyyyyy!"
Before Roxis finished, another voice broke in. Knowing who the voice this was, they all turned their heads to see the pink haired and big breast girl waved her hand at them on the small cliff opposite their position. Immediately a bad feeling swelled inside everyone of them. Enna was the first snapped toward the new coming voice.
"Don't shout, stupid sister!" As if letting out his anger, though he was telling his sister not to shout, but he was the one that shouting now.
"Oh my." Pamela widened her eyes.
My god… Aeon let out a sigh.
"Hey Enna!" Anna also shocked by the reaction from the boy.
"Great…" Yun could only say this.
"What is it?" Tilting her head aside, Ulrika asked the baron beside her. However, the baron was not listening to her. Instead, he was more worried on what would happen the next second.
"Don't-"
It seemed his warning couldn't make it in time.
"Ooi Enna, Roze~!" She exclaimed loudly. "Are you here looking for me!?"
As they watched the big breast girl ran down the cliff and toward them, they felt the ground underneath was shaking and rumbling. While balancing their position, at the same time the rumbling sound became louder and together with the thick pure white snow pouncing over to them.
"What the hell!?"
"Waaaaaahhhhh!"
"Stupid sister-!"
The last one sure was coming from Enna. Some of them exclaimed, some of them cursed and some of them…of course were running!
"That's why I told you guys not to shout!"
"There's no time for this-"
"Shit!"
Okay, now there's no time to check whose voice belonged to. Exclaiming while trying their best to escape from the thick fallen snow, they all went separated. Ulrika ran toward the cliff side; almost fell as she noticing the cliff in front. She managed to break however, the rumbling made her lost balance once again, and resulting slipping.
Hearing the scream from the blonde, Roze immediately ran to her direction feeling an urge pushed him over. When he came to realize, he already stretched out his hand. Feeling he wouldn't make it in time, he leaped forward.
Seeing the hand in front of her eyes, Ulrika almost mistook it when she saw Jerktown was trying to save her. A warm feeling swelled inside her and urged her to reach out her hand too. When their hands finally touched each other, the thick snow pounced on them just in time and pushed them off the cliff. The heavy momentum almost let go of their hands, and to avoid this, Roze pulled the blonde to his embrace and circled with his arms.
Before everything turned to black, Ulrika heard a voice—more like a whisper, yet it's strong in will and firm.
"I'll protect you…I promise."
"W…p…wa…p!"
Feeling someone tapped her face, Ulrika used a hand to wave it off. As the light piercing into her sight, she grimaced and, even so unwillingly, she opened her eyes. First she saw a blur image with radiant blue. It made her felt nostalgic like she had seen it long time ago. Again the person tapped her face, telling her to wake up.
"Wake up already! How long you're gonna sleep now?"
"Jerktown…?" The blur image slowly turned clear. She realized the radiant blue was the reflection of his hair.
"…Are you feeling alright?" Roze didn't know he was holding his breathe all the time until she was finally backed to sense. "Good…you wouldn't know if you'll never wake up by sleeping in this place."
For a moment, she completely blinked before she got the message from him. Taking a look to her surrounding seeing only white color, she finally realized they're still in the snow mountain. Her breathe was visible everytime she exhaled.
The memories flew back to her mind let her caught up what had happened up until now. Yeah…I remember we're having snow slide…Urgh! It's all because of that big breast woman!
"…Where's everyone?"
"No idea." Roze looked up to the cliff they were before they fell down. Fortunately it's not that high or else they might have done. "Looks like we have to walk all the way back to that place." The others must be somewhere around there…if they're lucky enough.
After some checking on her body to see if there's any wound, she only found some scratches. It wouldn't be a big deal so she just let it be. Bringing herself up to her feet, Ulrika stretched her body a little before further moving.
"Well then, let's get going!"
With that, the two of them started to walk all the way Nikki leaded them to. The snow slide caused some of the places changed their looks, and they're having hard time to recognize them. It's made them got lost a few times, mostly because Ulrika claimed the paths that she picked were right, and insisted Roze to trust her woman instinct.
"Woman instinct…" Cursing for god knew how many times under his breathe, Roze decided he would never trust woman instinct especially this chick.
Feeling the tease in his tone, Ulrika felt heat rose up to her cheek. "W-What!? My instinct always work…in the most important time!"
"Whatever…" Rolling his eyes, he decided not to respond any of her words. It would not make him hear the end of it, for the sake of his poor ears.
Ulrika, on the other hand, totally ignored his annoying face, or rather she didn't aware of it, and it would never bother her.
"Hey Jerktown, I heard that celebration will soon hold in Villnore right? What's that celebration for?" She saw the preparation town people worked on before the snowy storm struck the town. Since the preparation was needed to be proceed in order to meet the date of the celebration, that's why they're so anxious in taking down the snow harpies.
She saw the baron shifted his gaze to her in suspicious as if she had said something weird. Without knowing the reason, Ulrika looked back at him and gave him the same expression.
"…You don't know at all?" Sighing, how's her early life in her village anyway? Why she seems completely know nothing? "There's a day we're celebrate the creation of Land of Renaissance as to memorize the rebuilt of this nation…how can you be so ignorant?"
"I-I'm not!" She immediately retorted. "It's not like we could celebrate like that judging from our situation…" Especially after she moved to the forest, she was more like blocking from reaching everything. She didn't seem to remember their village had celebrated anything in her memories.
"…People will eat and play on that day until the next day morning. There's a dancing party at night. Everyone gather at the square hall and dance or sing…" I never took serious on the celebration though…he thought as he explained the activities would hold on the celebration through out the day.
He only participated when the time his grandfather was still alive. Even so, he barely took serious in it. After that, no matter how hard Lily tried to drag him out on that day, he would ignore her and locked himself at home. To him, it's better to have some rest rather than trapped in the crowd.
"Dancing party? Wow…I want to take part on that!" Ulrika sure she wanted to be a part of it. Eat for free? Sure she wanted a piece of it! "I want to go! I want to go!"
Taking his hand to climb up to the cliff, they're almost there to where they were before. Following behind the baron, the two of them took a small slope before them and headed to the next cliff.
"…Whatever you want, but first we need to settle this." Roze knew the chick would ever miss this chance. He just gave her a shrug.
"Oh hey Jerktown, why don't you-" Running forward to catch up with him as she wanted to tell him something, she happened to kick some stone on the ground along with tree trunk, making her stumbled and tripped. "Waaaah!"
Hearing the scream, Roze turned back to see her, and saw the blonde tripped over to him as he was unable to take the sudden weight that added on him, he caught her and fell to his back.
Okay, they're just tripped down. It's nothing hurt at all, consider Roze had shielded her from hitting the ground. But that's not that important for now, as they-
"…"
"…"
Blue met with green when they're so close almost touched each other. Fluster and embarrass showed in their eyes as they didn't know where to drop their gaze on. For Ulrika, all she saw was the radiant blue that she mistook as light the moment she opened her eyes, and now it's so close to her until she was melted into it.
As for Roze, he never thought once he would be this close to the chick. Watching her emerald orbs just an inch in front of him had made his heart beat on race. He could hear them became faster and faster. He swore, never once he was so close to a girl in his life, not even Lily.
They dare not to move, even just a little. For what?
If I move now, will I…will I happen to touch his lips…? Her heart was on race too. She could feel her cheek was burning…like they're truly burning! W-What should I do…!?
As if their bodies were glued, none of them dare to move or parted from each other. Not knowing the reason behind, but they enjoyed it now. Well, if excluded the race they had in their heart.
"…W-What do you want to tell me just now…?" Trying to lighten up the situation as well as to clear the embarrassment that surrounding them, Roze spoke up.
"Oh that…" Her voice was so soft and timid. Roze felt like he could melt in it. A part of him sure was melted in it, he knew. "I…I want to ask…if you want to join me on the celebration…"
"Umm…I…" Having no idea how to answer this since he thought he'd pass like he usually did, but now he had a feeling he couldn't reject her.
"C-Can you…?"
Her emerald orbs lost their shine as if she knew the answer through his hesitation, telling him how disappointed she was. It grasped his heart and made him felt bitter in his mouth.
Damn…w-why she has to make those eyes so adorable!?
"…I'll think about it." That's all he could say now.
But that's enough to cheer her up.
"R-Really?" Immediately her eyes shined in excited. Roze wouldn't know how much he'd like to see her in that.
Still, they remained unmoved. Ulrika felt his breathe was so hot when they brushed against her face. It's cold in this place however, it's so hot in between them.
"Hey Jerktown…"
"Hmm?" His heart skipped a beat when she called him.
"I…um…" Ulrika had no idea what she's trying to tell him, but she felt she had to say something. Or else…or else…I might end up lean down…her face went burned again by the thought.
Feeling her face leaned closer, Roze widened his eyes. Words couldn't express how shock he was, yet he was feeling a little happy about it. Just a little more…a little more…
"Oooiiii Roze!"
"Ahh!"
"Hff!"
Immediately the two of the love bird (wait, what!?) parted from each other's embrace and Ulrika made quite a distance away from the baron. Roze suddenly felt empty in his arm like losing something precious. With that, he cursed lightly at the girl that running to him.
"Roze!" Pouncing on the baron, Et took Roze into her embrace and hugged tightly.
"H-Hey!" Widening her eyes, Ulrika almost choked at the scene. "W-Who are you…Oh! You're the one who caused the snow slide!"
"Hmm? Who are you?" Et only tilted her head.
"Let go of him! You big breast woman!"
"You're meant…we're lover!" Et announced her right.
"WHAT!?" Another screaming, but now was from the blonde. "You…and she…?"
"No, that's not true!" Quickly pushing the pink haired girl off from him, Why am I always getting into this kind of stuff!?
"We always play together, aren't we? So you're my lover!" Et tackled the baron, not letting him got away from this. "You're jealous? Then we can play together!" This time she was talking to the blonde.
"J-Jealous?" Without reason, Ulrika's cheek went red again. "I am not! And who want to play with you! No way no way!" Stamping her foot, she turned back not wanting to bother with this 'lover' anymore.
"Hey!" Sighing, Roze could only watch her walked away. "…Et, I can't believe you always drag me into this."
"Hmm?" Obviously, the pink haired girl didn't know what he was talking about.
"I'm sorry big brother, we're not able to stop her…" Instead, Enna was the one to apologize for his stupid sister.
"That's just too bad." Roxis adjusted his spectacle, a hint of red across his face as he stole a glance to the female doctor beside him.
"Oh Roze, you're such a big boy now!" Nikki tapped his shoulder. She was too, stole a glance to Roxis.
"W-What…?"
"That's just too bad~ just a little more~ Oh my!" Covering her reddened face, Pamela let out a squeak like a child. "You see it Aeon? They're just…so sweet!"
Yeah I saw it…unbelievable…
"I agree with Pamela…never mind Roze, you'll have your chance!" Jess tried to encourage the baron however, to Roze, that's was more than an encouragement. "Hm? Anna?"
Anna stared blank at them, eyes losing focus and seemed mumbling something.
"Roze and Ulrika…and Et is his lover…?" Some pictures ran across her mind and finally her face burned. "Roze…how can you…? No, you should only marry with one of them! As a man, you should never hurt the girl!" Saying while pulling out her katana, Roze sweat dropped when the blade was waving to his direction.
"W-Wait! I totally have no idea what you guys are talking about!" Dodging the properly fatal strike, he exclaimed. "Don't tell me you guys saw it…?"
"Yes we are!" They all answered in unison, and that made his face burned in embarrassment. He could have died in this!
He face palmed. If there's a hole somewhere around here, he would like to hide in it…why the hell they have to peek…?
Seeing the others through the chink of his fingers, he found something wrong with the total of them. Checking for one more time, he knew what was wrong with it.
"…Wait, where's Yun?"
Upon that out, everyone looked at each other. Only Anna was able to answer him.
"We can't find him after the snow slide." She showed worry with hand grasped on her katana as an old habit. "I'm sure he is somewhere here. He's a tough man anyway."
No matter how, he's still worried about the mercenary. But indeed like Anna said, Yun was not someone would get beat down by the snow. He must be somewhere around here.
"So, should we continue on our way?"
"We just saw the Snow Harpy Queen. Perhaps she's not around. This will be the perfect chance for us!" Nikki raised her fist. "Come on guys, let's strike their base!"
"I agree with Nikki. We should eliminate the amount of them before the Queen back." Roxis concluded. Everyone nodded in agreement.
"Okay then, let's go!"
"…I'm sorry Yun… I beg you, please take care of Corona!"
"…Don't tell me you're going to look for him."
"He must be alive, I trust him…I want to look for him!"
"Enough of this! He's dead, you know it!"
"No, he's not! He won't leave me, he won't!"
"Then what about Corona?"
"I can't live without him…please Yun, please take care of her before we're back…please, you're the only one I can rely on…"
"…"
…
"…What the hell…"
Pulling himself out from the thick snow, Yun exhaled deeply to release the freezing air in his body.
"…You're just such a cruel woman, aren't you?" He sniffed, raising a bitter smile. "Knowing that I'll help you no matter what…"
What the hell he remembered her in the time like this? Perhaps the snow reminded her, or perhaps he missed her so much? No, it must because of the snow. Yun knew the woman that once occupied him had long gone. She was not his since he never told her his feeling. Part of this was his fault so he won't angry with her. However, he couldn't tolerate when she decided to abandon Corona just to look for him. They all knew that he wouldn't be surviving under the avalanche, but she refused to accept it.
Clenching his fist, he tilted up his lips however, he wasn't smiling at all.
"…Now it's pissed me off."
"Alright, I'm good to go!"
Slamming her hammer to the harpies that currently without their Queen to defend them, Nikki felt she had revenged for her harpies friends. Who told them to seize other's base like that!
Roxis struck with his cards against who tried to escape. To him, it's better to take down as mush as they could before the Queen back. Though they heard the Queen was strong, and she had s special ability that could kill a group of human within a minute if she wanted, they wouldn't know before they faced her, so eliminated as many as they could for the time being was the best choice.
Anna wielded her katana like she was dancing with the fearful speed. Pamela just floated aside as she watched Aeon did her jobs. Sometimes Pamela would cheer for her mana. As much as went to Et. She swung her chakrams and threw them to the harpies, making them flied and screamed. Laughing filled the air as she kept moving in between the harpies. Enna used a giant machine arm as his weapon and slammed his enemies. That machine arm was from his hand, and it could release missile. Jess stayed back and acted when necessary. Roze and Ulrika on the other hand was much like the others, trying on eliminating the enemies before they finally fought the Queen.
Before they approached the harpies' base, Nikki had briefed them the information about the Snow Harpy Queen. Though she was too, having no idea what kind of ability the Queen might have, but considered the Queen could even bring the snow, they could much imagine what that skill might be.
"It's so funny!" Et exclaimed as she threw her chakrams.
"Why I have a feeling like we're bullying the weakling?" Jess tilted her head as she commented their situation. Well, it's looked like they were.
Anna paused for a moment. "…I hate this." Furrowing her brows, she didn't thought about it until Jess mentioned. Now it's looked like they're truly bullying a bunch of bird creatures.
"…Just don't think about it." Roze dropped his face. He didn't like it too.
"Oh hey look! The Queen is back!" Everyone looked over when Et screamed out. There's a pure white harpy along with two harpies that similar with her by her side. It seemed the scene shocked the Snow Harpy Queen, judging from her expression.
"What are you human doing in my base!?"
"I could have asked you the same question!" Nikki stamped her feet. "How could you simply lurk into others' place and then just kicked them out like that!?"
"That's just because they're weakling!" The Queen retorted back.
"…But you cause us a big trouble in our town. Sorry but we can't let it be." Roxis pulled out a card and ready for battle.
"Fine, that's lots I have to settle with you human!"
The Queen's two servants, the maiden waved their wings and brought the freezing wind to the team. The strong wind not only froze them, as well as brought up ice pillars from the ground. Some of them managed to dodge and some of them blocked it. The Queen too, joined her servants. Strong and freezing wind almost benumbed them from moving further.
"Oww…it's cold!"
"Damn…the three of them!" Nikki warned her friends. "Watch out guys, that's the snow maiden! They have similar ability like the Queen!"
Figuring the harpies would be a trouble for them, Nikki busy handled the rest of the enemies that were so excited when their Queen was back to save them. She threw out a seed-like thing to the ground as she slammed the hammer. Back to the seed, it grew up to be a big tree. Nikki slammed on the tree and a bunch of spiky fruit dropped down. Those harpies all cried for their life when they got hit by them.
"Guys, I got your back!" Nikki smirked.
Anna shifted her katana, forcing herself to move under the strong wind. She dodged a few times when the ice pillars emerged. Slashing her katana creating a shockwave from the ground up to one of the maidens, though the maiden dodged her attack, it managed stopped the maiden from bringing the wind temporarily. As the wind turned slightly weak, she immediately jumped up to the maiden and slashed.
"I'll help you." Flicking the cards form his hand, Roxis backed her up with multiple cards threw out once in a time. Because of the wind, he missed a few times but Roxis was a learning type. He quickly learned from the mistake and changed his tactic.
While on the other hand, Enna fired his missile to another maiden. The explosion caused the maiden stunned a bit and that made her stopped from creating the wind. Et quickly followed up and swung her chakrams. Then she turned her chakrams into a bow, locking on the maiden and shot. No enemy could escape out from her Lock-On Arrow.
Upon the freezing wind struck them, Ulrika quickly used her skill Element Barrier to create a barrier-like shield to reduce the damage they might receive. Pamela shielded Jess in case necessary, as well as the healer whenever the team needed help.
With the wind turned out to be weak, Roze charged to the Queen. Slashing down the Sword of Light, the Queen was fast enough to dodge. She struck back with her sharp claws while the baron shifted his sword to block it. The Queen didn't let him got away. She chased up and clawed him. Leaping when he was forced to land, he flicked his sword and pushed the Queen back.
I hope Yun is here…Roze cursed when the thought flashed across his mind. He wouldn't know how well the mercenary's skill could be until this moment…no, he always knew it, but he only realized when they came down to this. If he is here, thing can turn better with his skills…
Roze admitted Yun was good partner when they down to fight. Among those he knew, Anna, Vayne, Yun and Flay were the best fighter in the nation. Though the doctor rarely fought, Roze knew how well his skills went. Flay, Roze didn't have to mention as everyone knew it already. Anna, on the other hand, was the only female fighter he recognized as the best. However, none of them could match his style as well as Yun.
How is he now? He couldn't stop from worrying his friend. No, I have to concentrate on the battle!
Shaking off the thought, Roze took a quick turn as he aimed his sword to the Queen and shifted it when the Queen ducked; he quickly gave her a sharp cut on her legs. The Queen let out a painful cry. Grimacing, the Queen flied back to the sky to avoid any touch with the baron.
"No way!"
Ulrika swung her whip releasing the green energy to strike. The light kept chasing the Queen and burned her pure white feather. Smirking as Roze glad the blonde made it in time; he again jumped up to the sky.
Tackling the maiden, Anna kept her none-stop attacking with the cards from Roxis supported her from behind, they dodged the ice pillars while continued the attacks. Jess would throw a bomb when she found the great timing to do so, and managed to distract the maiden even more. Ordering her mana around, Pamela let Aeon sucked the life essences from the harpies and released it to heal the team.
Punching the giant machine arm when he filled the empty place his sister left of, Enna pushed the maiden to the ground. Not wanting to miss the fun, Et threw out her chakrams. As the chakram hit the maiden, she followed up and struck with another chakram on hand. Pushing the maiden to the sky, she leaped, throwing out the chakrams and quickly vanished. The chakrams were more like flying sword that shuttled back and forth. Enna sweat dropped as he saw the maiden being tortured like a doll. At last, it seemed the maiden couldn't take it anymore.
Taking a look to her two servants, the Queen went crazy as they're beaten down by the human.
"Why you human…I won't forgive you! Take this! Freezing Tornado!"
A strange strong wind along with the snow blew down to the team. As the team in the center, the snowing storm circled up like a tornado up to the sky, trapping them within it. It's not only storm. In fact, the wind was fast as if some knives when it turned. Lots of ice needles gathered up from the ground and stung them.
"What…?"
"Ouch…it's hurt!"
"Hey, the wind cut me!" Someone exclaimed.
They could barely open their eyes as the ice needles might hurt. Not more than a second, they could felt their bodies were all in small scratches, and some clearly seen cuts on legs and arms. Even Jess tried to heal; the scratches would form the next second.
"…I can't open my eyes…!"
"Enna, missile!" Anna shouted.
"…No way, can't lock on!"
"Me me me, let me try!" Et lifted up her bow and shot. However, under the storm, Anna really had no idea whether to where her arrow aimed.
"Whoa-!"
"Oh my!"
"Stupid sister!"
Just like what I expected…Roze leaped back as he heard the similar sharp voice he had heard during the fight with the crazy woman. Luckily it's not Enna's missile…
Exclaiming filled the air. The unlucky one like Ulrika, Pamela and Enna almost became the targets of the Lock-On Arrow rather than the Snow Harpy Queen. The storm blew away the arrows and the worst was, they didn't know where the girl was aiming at all since they couldn't see the Queen.
"Stop that Et!" Anna regretted to give that order. She wouldn't expect Et would act by herself. "Stop that at once!"
"…I don't think you should use that in the circumstance like this." Roxis shot the big breast girl a dead glare. He caught a glimpse where the female doctor rummaged something in her bad. "Don't use the bomb Jess!"
"Huh?" Blinking as her name being mentioned all of the sudden, Jess almost dropped her bag. She quickly grabbed it back. "W-What!?"
"I said don't use the bomb unless you want to eliminate all of us!" Roxis repeated.
Finally catching the message from the noble, Jess nodded back. "Y-Yes!"
"But what should we do!?" Nikki covered her face using her arms, but that only making more scratches on her arms. "The wind is getting faster! And we'll die by getting cut!"
"…So this is the special ability of the Queen?" Roze cursed. The only way to break this was only from outside. "Like hell!"
Taking a look at the blonde, he secretly relieved to see she was still hanged on there. Though he saw some cuts and bloods on her arms and legs, but everyone else was the same now.
He opened his eyes tried to find the Queen however, only the tornado storm in sight. Cursing, Yun, where are you!?
Smirking, the mercenary saw everything from the upper cliff. Stretching his arm for a bit, Yun took a step forward when he readied his claws.
"…So that's the Snow Harpy Queen?" Snorting, he dashed straight to the Queen ignored the other harpies that still around.
Alerting as the Queen sensed the danger approaching, the other harpies shielded her as the sharp claws almost cut through her. Gasping at the scene, the Queen widened her eyes in disbelief.
The other harpies' cry snapped her out from the deep shock. Looking at the intruder, she had a feeling she was looking at the raging flame. Something was different with the human in front. She again stunned her eyes met with the intruder's.
Without speaking anything, Yun again struck out. Not giving any chance for the Queen to react, he first emerged the flame pillars. Like before, the other harpies shielded her and ended up got burned. Not over yet, Yun emerged another flame pillar. The Queen warned her harpies and waved her wings to block the flame. However in the next second, she saw the intruder was nowhere to be found anymore.
"I'm here."
Like a whispering, it shocked the Queen as she tossed her head to the voice; only saw the intruder raising his huge claws—unknown to when the claws had turned to be the huge one—her body was ripped opened. Scary red as if it would melt her, the Queen screamed in pain.
Landing, Yun went to check if the Queen was dead. He shot a glare to other harpies as a warn 'Leave this place', and then he shifted his gaze to the tornado the Queen created.
The tornado slowly turned weak and revealing his friends that were trapped within it, Yun released an exhausted sigh. He crossed his arms and back to his usual playful behavior.
"What are you getting yourself into?"
"…Nice timing Yun." Roze could only raise a bitter smile, knowing full well his friend was teasing.
Putting the katana into the sheath, Anna took a slight bow to show her appreciation.
"Thanks for saving us."
"…Hey, heal first." Yun grimaced at the scene. "It's hurting my eyes with all those wounds and bloods on you guys."
Blushing, Anna coughed to cover her embarrassment. Jess quickly healed with Pamela and Ulrika's help.
Yun looked up to the blue sky, a smile formed on his face. No more the pissed off face, but a rather peaceful smile.
You're dead in my heart since the day you decided to marry with that guy. I hate you chose him but not me…I might still hate you now, but not because you don't love me, it's because you left Corona like that when she needed you the most. I mean, how can you left your child when you know she needed you more than anything. But at the end, you chose him instead of your child. That's what I can't tolerate.
So…goodbye my love.
Sorry for the late update. Okay, I have made a romance (is that called romance?) scene between Roze and Ulrika. This is included in the plan in the first place when this story came out. Weird? Dislike it? Tell me in your review.
And the fight with the Snow Harpy Queen…I think that's a little offs the line. I think it's a bit weird with the special skill the Queen has, but because I can't find other skill other than Freezing Wind she used in the game, so this is how it's come up. Though…I still feel a little weird…and I'm sorry Yun has taken the role of defeating her in this chapter. There's might some more typos in this one, since it's night time,Ii'll just let just let it be. I'll come back to check later.
Anyway, if you really feel something odd in this chapter you can always tell me. See you in next chapter then!
