Chapter 77: Snow Demoness
The Winterborn Group had sent an invitation to Leon and his party, then headed back home.
Their journey to their frozen lands took them some time, but at the very least, everyone safely returned home… Because of their spoils and mainly the lack of the dragon's head, the group hadn't been in a rush.
Of course, the snow women and others wore different clothes in their white lands. They no longer donned thick furs nearly entirely covering their bodies, but light and casual dresses that would freeze the bones of ordinary humans, for no sane human would wear such clothes.
Those were clothes for a hot summer, instead!
Yet, the snow women preferred these, for they no longer had to keep their coldness to themselves. In a normal environment, those girls needed thick fur clothes, not to coat themselves with warmth but coldness. The thick fur stemmed from mammoths and yeti monsters — those weren't intelligent monsters but beasts.
And that material produced so much coldness that the equipment made of these would be like a prison for species other than Winterborn.
"You've returned just in time." A snow ghost noticed the returning party and flew to their side, smiling. More snow ghosts followed his wake, soon swirling around Erika and others.
Those creatures could easily pass through terrains and hide in the white lands as though their forms were made from pure but intangible snow. Their features turned them mischievous and bothersome, so the Winterborn King had forced the entire species to work as guards in their cities and borders.
They usually asked many questions to find things to poke fun at others. But not this time, as the snow ghosts kept telling Erika and her party that they were lucky.
The snow woman parted her lips. "Winter Parade… Whose turn to bless us this time?"
Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇt"Snow Demoness!"
"The most beautiful snow woman!"
"The Winterborn Queen's favorite!"
"It'll be her first Winter Parade!"
That nickname caused a ripple in everyone's eyes, for that woman was too much of a question mark. No one wanted to associate themselves with demons, yet she named herself the Snow Demoness. To everyone's surprise, The Winterborn Queen accepted that and took her to the capital.
From that day onward, Snow Demoness worked alone, clearing all quests given to her from the royal guild. She became famous internationally as both a loner and an overwhelming woman. She never allowed anyone to come close to her, and her powers severely tortured those who tried to invade her personal space.
"She's so beautiful…" Even Erika couldn't stop herself from speaking her thoughts aloud, for Snow Demoness' Winter Parade had begun.
She lifted her eyes to stare at the woman climbing the invisible stairs to the skies. Unlike all Winterborn, Snow Demoness wore a strapless maxi black dress, revealing her snow shoulders and collarbone, with a shiny necklace with a blue bead threatening to sink into her ample cleavage.
Each of her steps on those long heels deeply resounded in the hearts of young Winterborn, for Snow Demoness was no older than hundred years old — many had imagined themselves becoming closer to that unapproachable girl, yet the glance of her narrowed and seemingly empty eyes instantly crumbled those dreams.
But as she closed her eyes, the hearts of the young crowd became filled with new hope, for they couldn't help but feel affectionate for the girl. With her eyelids shut, Snow Demoness' crimson cheeks, cute and reddened little nose, and soft pink lips turned her so lovely and in need of affection that no one could blame the mass for falling for her.
She seemed so lonely and broken.
Still, Snow Demoness began the Winter Parade as she seized the attention and took over the skies. It was a tradition whose purpose was to tame the wild snow. Winterborn did it in numerous cities and lands, but the capital's Winter Parade held the most importance, for it was the heart of their race and freedom.
Not everyone could dance above it… For many, it took hundred years of competition and hard work to get the honor of dancing in the Winter Parade in the capital.
And Snow Demoness achieved that in less than ten years. She had the honor of taming the wild snow and turning it into the power of the Winterborn Race.
That was precisely what the Winter Parade was for.
It always snowed in those white lands. Winterborn could use that untamed snow to their advantage… For commoners, it never snowed on streets, and snow never gathered in abundance on their roofs. But for guild members of the Winterborn Royal Guild and people with higher ambitions of leaving a stamp in the Freya World, Winter Parade and its fruits mattered more than their lives.
Snow Demoness took the honor of it and the most bountiful fruit for herself.
And she did it splendidly, for the whole capital turned even more captivating. No one could think of her as a demoness but as a snow fairy amidst swirling snowflakes that turned their capital more lively.
In the frozen castle and sitting on his throne, Winterborn King hovered his eyes on her. "Ballroom Dance… without a partner. She's missing someone deeply, just like you've guessed."
He slowly turned to his wife, who stood by the palace's balcony, holding the rails while staring at the Snow Demoness. The queen seemed captivated, too, gawking at the beautiful woman as though she were her daughter. Her eyes seemingly melted from affection and love.
"She used to be a human… But those broke her, unaware of the gift slumbering within her." The Queen recalled the girl with confident and sorrowful eyes, ready to cast away her humanity to no longer have any connection to humans.
The King retracted his eyes to the Snow Demoness. "In the far past, the female humans with her body type were known as The Queens of The Humanity's Rulers. The Human Emperor had Irene, who had turned into a succubus. With her help, he seized the demons to his side.
"You've helped her become Snow Woman… What will you do if a man with a peak humanity body knocks on our castle?"
"I'll ask you to deal with him." The Queen curtly replied without turning around.
Follow on Novᴇl-Onlinᴇ.cᴏmHer husband squinted his eyes.
He knew she'd force him to deal with whatever was about to come because of Snow Demoness. Of course, it wasn't like something had to happen, but if push came to shove, he'd be the one to take the brunt of it.
It sucked, but such a thing always happened with talented individuals…. Those simply drew attention and pushed forward the world to the next stage.
Thus, if Snow Demoness' appearance in their world meant that the peak humanity body had been born, then The King hoped that such a man either died early or had different principles than previous monsters.
It'd be best if he didn't have plans to conquer the world or something like that…
Humans had left many wounds already…
But then, his wife dropped a bomb. "During a tea with other queens, I've heard rumors about The Human Emperor. There are a few clues that he's back and doing stuff from the shadows..."
The Winterborn King literally froze from fear, then stood up. "Only one era held more than one peak humanity's body!"
"Yes."
"Damn it!" The man turned around and left the throne room.
"Where are you going?" His wife asked.
"I'm gonna play Ice Golf while I can."
"Now, I'm sure of it! You're addicted!"
"Blame the peace!"
"Return to my side! Those are just rumors! Darling! Darling?!"
The King shall play the game, and no one shall stop him. Even his wife can't!