SWNOVELXO Chapter 82.1
Northern Counterattack (1)
The body I had possessed, Arad, was non-combatant by nature. Thus, in this otherworld filled with wilderness, savagery, magic, and curses, strict adherence to a safety-first and risk-averse approach was essential for survival.
If I were still on Earth, things might have been different, but in this world, caution was paramount.
‘Looking back now, I can’t believe I did something so reckless.’
Driving the Golden Carriage into the Abyss of the Demon Realm—that past version of me must have been insane.
“……”
Mary remained silent, likely worried about Arina, who was still at the Palace of Glory.
“It’s all right, Mary.”
To reassure her, I firmly clasped both her hands.
“!!”
Startled, Mary raised her head abruptly.
“Her Highness will be safe. Didn’t we also equip her with magical armor?”
I continued, looking directly into her gray eyes.
“Believe in her, Mary. Believe in Her Highness, and in those who will protect her: the Spring Grand Witch, Sir Balzac, Sir Sun, and the northern knights.”
As I spoke, her eyes began to tremble ever so slightly.
“And finally, believe in the magical artifacts I created.”
Internally, I couldn’t help but evaluate the texture of Mary’s hands as I held them.
‘So many calluses? Did she train with a sword? She’s not just a simple female mage but a magic swordswoman! Impressive.’
It was also the first time I’d held Mary’s hands for such an extended period.
‘Wait a minute… Did the Snowfield Grand Witch in the game ever use swordsmanship?’
Mary’s traits seemed slightly different from her original portrayal, leaving me puzzled.
“Yes, I’ll believe in you.”
Perhaps my sincerity had reached her.
Mary lowered her head deeply as she spoke, her ears noticeably red under the factory’s magical lighting.
I was about to release her hands when I realized I couldn’t.
‘Hmm…?’
It wasn’t me—it was Mary who was holding on tightly this time.
***
Inside the Palace of Glory, High Tower
In the private quarters of the Northern Grand Duchess, Arina Rune Renslet.
Creaaaaak
A secret passage, known to only a handful of individuals in the High Tower, opened slowly.
Eleven figures, cloaked in pitch-black robes and wrapped in bandages, entered the Grand Duchess’s quarters one by one. Their eyes glowed with a sinister green light.
Ding-ding, ding-ding
Only one among them, a gaunt witch emitting the sound of bells, stood out with a different appearance.
Step, step, step
The dark sorcerers surrounded the bed where Arina lay.
The bed held a beautiful woman with azure hair, deeply asleep, oblivious to the world.
“They said her core was gravely injured. It appears to be true.”
“No matter how strong her protective wards were, she’s incredibly vulnerable now.”
The dark sorcerers muttered amongst themselves as they began casting spells.
Chi-iiiik!
Purple, green, and red orbs of magic, vile to behold, condensed in the air.
“This is the moment where the chain of vengeance finally breaks.”
“At last! The bloodline of our two enemies will be extinguished forever.”
Without hesitation, the accumulated malice was unleashed toward Arina.
It was a strike infused with acid, corrosion, and destructive curses.
Boom!
The bed where Arina had been lying vanished without a trace.
“……!”
Despite achieving their objective, the dark sorcerers showed no signs of joy.
“It was a decoy?!”
They belatedly realized the truth—it had been an illusion.
“A fake this intricate…?”
The illusion was so detailed that it seemed alive, exuding not just the appearance but also the faint sensations of mana and even a soul.
Whoever had crafted it had lavished unnecessary care on every detail.
Clap, clap, clap
Suddenly, the sound of applause echoed from the doorway.
Hwaah—
A fresh, mana-infused scent wafted through the air, accompanied by the figure of an elderly witch emerging from the shadows, replenishing mana through an IV-like device.
“Isabelle.”
One of the dark sorcerers called out the elderly witch’s name upon seeing her.
“It’s been a while, Isaac.”
Isabelle, too, recognized the uninvited guest.
“So, you’ve found a way to overcome Haran’s interdiction. Interesting.”
Isaac’s gaze shifted from Sun’s shield to Isabelle’s smoking pipe and her mana IV.
“Think whatever you like.”
Isabelle saw no reason to correct Isaac’s misconception.
“Isaac, this isn’t your real body, is it?”
“A woman who knows better than most what a lich’s life vessel is shouldn’t ask such a silly question. What’s your angle?”
“Oh, nothing much. I just think I might know where your life vessel is.”
“Hah! You’ve figured it out?”
“Somewhere inside the White Serpent, Jormungandr, correct?”
“……!”
“Did you think we witches spent all this time merely tending to crops?”
Isabelle continued calmly.
“I’ve already given orders to prepare for an expedition to the extreme north once this matter is settled.”
“You think you know where in the extreme north it is?”
“If the White Serpent isn’t in the Demon Realm, the answer is obvious.”
“Hmm…?!”
“Soon, we’ll exterminate both you and the White Serpent. That will end this long curse and grudge.”
“You think that’s possible?”
“It won’t be easy. But it’s not impossible.”
“Ha-ha-ha! Even if it were possible, you won’t live to see it.”
Isaac sneered at Isabelle’s proclamation.
Ding-ding
At the same time, the sound of bells resonated nearby.
It came from the skeletal witch, Haran, as she began to move.
“……”
Seeing Haran’s mummified form caused a crack in Isabelle’s otherwise composed expression.
Though she had steeled herself thousands of times, facing it in reality was profoundly unsettling.
“Just as I know where your life vessel is, Isabelle, I know yours as well.”
Isaac smirked, watching Isabelle.
“Life vessel? I’m no lich, Isaac.”
“Not a lich, but close enough, aren’t you? Even for a high-ranking witch with fey blood, living for over 200 years is absurd.”
“……”
“Haran, this mummified form, is undoubtedly your life vessel.”
Isaac stepped back, letting Haran advance.
“Hah…”
A long puff of mana-infused smoke escaped Isabelle’s lips.
“Honestly, I welcome this. It’s almost like a dream come true. Unlike someone else.”
Her response came two beats after the smoke dissipated.
Step, step, step
Simultaneously, senior knights of the High Tower and Frost Knights emerged from between the windows and walls, aiming their weapons at the dark sorcerers.
Each wore pauldrons embedded with magic stones.
Thud, thud, thud.
Clank, clank, clank.
Balzac and Sun stood protectively on either side of Isabelle.
The strongest forces of the north, who should have been scattered across the region, had gathered in one place.
“Uhuhuhu…”
Realizing he had walked straight into a trap, Isaac began laughing maniacally.
“Attack.”
Isabelle’s cold voice cut through the room.
Whirrrrrrr!
Pababababang!
The first to react to Isabelle’s cold command of “Attack” were not the knights but the dark sorcerers.
To be precise, they moved just before Isabelle uttered the word.