The Ultimate Lich King of the Multiverse

4/5

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"ROAAARRRRRR!!"

The beast charged at the girl with reckless fury—but with a single strike, the seemingly unstoppable monster fell dead in an instant.

"Hmm… Is that it?"

"Yes."

Ais flicked the silver blade with a sharp ting before smoothly sheathing her sword. As the enormous monster collapsed in the middle of the street with a thunderous crash, cheers erupted from the surrounding crowd.

Behind Ais, Loki yawned and rested her hands on her head in boredom.

"Well, that was anticlimactic. And it doesn't look like anything serious happened either… Feels like someone's been playing us."

Ais silently agreed. She had run all over the city to protect civilians, only to discover that the monsters hadn't actually harmed anyone. They had just wandered around the area like they were searching for something.

It felt less like chaos and more like a carefully controlled incident. As if it had all been orchestrated by someone.

"So is that all of them?"

"No… one more. A Silverback."

Of the nine monsters that had escaped, one remained.

For someone like Ais, a Silverback wouldn't last a second. So without another word, Loki began walking briskly, eager to wrap things up. Ais followed her quietly.

They gathered intel from civilians and tracked the Silverback to East Street.

"Huh? Looks like it's already over?"

The avenue was buzzing—not with panic, but with excitement.

Loki approached the crowd gathered near an alleyway, intending to ask what happened—only to visibly shudder.

"Why is it… so cold?"

"Hey lady, what's the situation? Where's the monster?"

As Loki asked a nearby resident, Ais silently stepped past them and entered the alley alone.

It had been mildly chilly outside—but the deeper she went, the more that chill turned into soul-piercing cold.

The alley walls were coated with a thin layer of frost, and crystalline snowflakes still drifted down slowly from above.

"Was it you…?"

She extended a hand and caught one of the delicate flakes, murmuring to herself.

Her thoughts involuntarily drifted back to the day she first met him—the boy who had, in a flash, overwhelmed her completely, leaving a mark on her soul.

This snow… was just like that day. It lingered deep inside her, unforgettable.

Ais didn't fully understand it herself. Ever since that encounter, she hadn't been able to stop thinking about him.

Maybe it was frustration. She had worked so hard to reach this level… yet she had been completely overpowered.

Next time I see him… I'll challenge him. I'll say what I need to say.

She clenched her fist, her resolve hardening.

She would soon set out on a journey to challenge her limits and reach Level 6. But before that, she had to confront Yoru.

If I don't overcome this shadow in my heart… I might not make it to Level 6 at all.

"Ahhh, it's freezing in here! I knew it—this crazy temperature's gotta be that kid's doing."

Loki casually strolled into the alley behind her, her voice whining.

"Still, if it was him, no wonder the fight ended so fast. Well, there's still time—how about we resume our date, huh?"

Grinning like a creepy old man, Loki crept closer, clearly aiming to grope her.

Naturally, she failed. Ais sidestepped with ease and countered with a swift chop to Loki's head.

"Oww oww oww! I thought we agreed—no violence!"

Loki sulked while rubbing her head. Ais, unimpressed, walked out of the alley.

After a moment, Loki hurried after her.

"Heeey, come on now. You do wanna continue our date, right?"

"No. I'm going back to train."

"Ughhh… why do you always go back to training? Lighten up once in a while!"

With that, Ais and Loki left the alley—leaving behind a curious crowd, still whispering about what had just happened.

◇

At the door to one of the guest rooms at the Hostess of Fertility, Syr stepped out and gently closed it behind her.

"She's fine—just passed out from exhaustion."

Seeing Yoru waiting anxiously by the door, she offered him a gentle smile.

The sun was setting.

Yoru had run into Syr while carrying the unconscious Hestia, intending to take her straight back to the church. On her suggestion, he brought her here instead.

The rooms here were far more comfortable than the cold, damp church basement. Maybe it really was time to move up and get a house of their own.

The monster rampage had finally calmed down. Thanks to the quick response from Ganesha Familia and the Guild, the damage had been minimized—no deaths, no injuries.

As for the culprit, they remained unidentified. No clues, no leads. Ganesha Familia and Guild members who had been attacked seemed to have had their memories wiped—as if a spell had been cast on them. And so, the incident concluded without a clear motive.

On the second floor, where the private rooms were, Hestia rested quietly while Yoru sat out on the wooden corridor under the fading twilight.

"I'm so sorry… It's my fault you got caught up in all this. If I hadn't forgotten my wallet…"

Syr hesitated before finally speaking, clearly embarrassed.

"It's not your fault, Syr. Don't worry about it."

Yoru smiled and shook his head. Syr still looked guilty, but eventually, her expression softened.

"Still… I got to see a new side of you, Yoru."

She giggled softly, her pale gray hair swaying as she leaned closer.

"That frosty dreamscape you created—it was beautiful. So breathtaking… I couldn't look away."

She whispered into his ear, breath warm and sweet, and Yoru's breathing grew slightly heavier from the closeness.

Syr seemed to notice his reaction, and with her cheeks flushed red by the setting sun, she smiled with a gentle, almost bewitching radiance.

"Looks like I still have a chance after all…

It's not like your heart only has room for Miss Riveria, right?"

With those words—just shy of a confession—Syr covered her face in embarrassment and fled down the stairs.

"U-Um, I need to get back to work! Please take care of Lady Hestia!"

Yoru stared after her, stunned—then let out a small laugh, shaking his head.

"So beautiful… Syr, you're like a blooming gardenia."

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FF92E

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