Chapter 8
Whooooosh…
On the outskirts of Rosebrook.
A faint bell rang somewhere beyond the blizzard.
Soon, a black silhouette appeared across the endless white snowfield.
It was a snow sled bearing the crest of the Chesswind family.
The hunting dogs pulling it were so thin that their ribs were clearly visible.
But the man riding the sled looked even worse.
The tips of his fingers had turned completely black from frostbite, and the others who had traveled with him had already died long ago.
Each time someone passed away during the journey, their body had to be buried beneath the snow to lighten the sled. Only their gloves or a few belongings that could identify them were kept.
Even their tears froze the moment they fell, forcing them to grieve silently as they struggled onward.
Nathan, Logan’s aide, gritted his teeth while tightly holding the dogs’ reins.
Thankfully, the sun was still up, allowing them to travel in heavy winter gear.
But once the sun set, everything would become impossible.
He had to find shelter before then.
After dark, no one could survive outside.
[Welcome to the Port City of Rosebrook.]
At last, the sign marking the city’s entrance came into view.
Tears gathered in Nathan’s eyes.
Logan had warned him that the world was about to end and told him to go to Rosebrook ahead of time.
If only he had listened…
None of them would have had to suffer through such a desperate journey between life and death.
Still… thank goodness the Duke prepared dog sleds and well-trained hunting dogs.
Nathan had once participated in the Northern Exploration Project.
Back then, he had spent plenty of time riding dog sleds across the snowy north, something rarely seen in the southern continent.
“Are you someone who values principles?”
That had been the very first question Logan asked when they met.
Nathan answered that he valued flexibility more than strict principles.
Normally, when speaking with nobles, one was expected to value etiquette and rules.
Nathan had thought he had made a mistake.
Instead, Logan liked that answer.
“Serving me is the same as serving Lady Everhart. Never forget that.”
At the time, Logan and Lady Everhart had no real connection.
Later they attended the Academy together, but even then they barely interacted.
Yet Logan always spoke as if they were already destined to become engaged.
He’s probably at that mansion with Lady Everhart… no, Duchess Chesswind by now.
Nathan had never imagined the two would actually get married.
Even a week before the disaster, Logan had warned him again to leave for Rosebrook.
Unfortunately, a message from the royal family arrived.
They questioned Logan’s marriage, since the Chesswind family had announced it in the newspapers before officially informing the royal court.
It was something almost unheard of.
At the time, Nathan believed he was making the right decision.
He thought he was using the flexibility Logan always praised by handling the more important matter first.
But when the disaster truly struck…
He realized he had been wrong.
If I get to see the Duke again… the first thing I’ll do is apologize.
But before that… I have to survive.
Nathan clenched his teeth and urged the hunting dogs forward once more.
After all the commotion settled down…
Logan and I sat across from each other at the table again, quietly drinking tea.
Thankfully, nothing seemed wrong with my body.
Well…
Other than the fact that I could now directly use the Red Stone’s abilities.
I looked at the teapot, then pointed my finger toward the tiny tea candle underneath it.
Snap.
A small flame burst from my fingertip and instantly lit the candle.
“Wow.”
I felt like a real magician.
What in the world is this?
Winterstones weren’t supposed to be absorbed into a person’s body.
People always had to carry them around, and many survivors complained about how inconvenient they were.
But mine had been absorbed.
And now…
I could use its power as if it were my own.
It also seemed that the more Red Stones I absorbed, the stronger my abilities became.
“…Ha.”
Logan rubbed his face in confusion.
“I’ve never seen anything like this before.”
I understood why he was so confused.
Even after experiencing ten regressions, this was completely new to him.
I recalled the different kinds of Winterstones.
If I absorb all of them… am I actually going to become a real mage?
As the ridiculous thought crossed my mind, another question appeared.
Are there any side effects?
I looked down at both of my hands.
My whole body felt pleasantly warm.
Actually…
Almost a little too warm.
“Eve, do you feel anything strange? Any discomfort?”
“Not so far.”
Only then did Logan finally let out a relieved breath.
He kept checking my hands and my complexion.
Before I realized it, his face had moved so close to mine.
Well…
Even if the world was ending, weren’t we being a little too innocent for a newlywed couple—
Squeak! Squeak!!
Right then, the baby squirrel suddenly started making a fuss.
Both Logan and I immediately jumped apart.
The squirrel was standing at the greenhouse entrance.
It faced the door, chattering as if something outside was bothering it.
“Chippy, what’s wrong?”
Chippy was the squirrel’s name.
I knew it from the novel.
Logan hadn’t named it.
The author simply mentioned it during the narration.
The funny thing was that whenever someone called it by its real name, the grumpy little squirrel instantly became well-behaved.
Just like now.
A moment ago it had been glaring at us in annoyance because we were sitting so close together.
Now it politely folded its tiny paws and looked up at me with innocent eyes.
Anyone seeing it for the first time would think it had always been such a well-mannered squirrel.
Then it gently tapped the greenhouse door with its tiny paw.
Tap. Tap.
Logan watched it quietly before speaking.
“I think it’s trying to tell us something’s outside.”
Could it be someone from the Chesswind family?
Agreeing with him, I opened the greenhouse door.
Chippy obediently stepped aside.
As the guardian of the greenhouse, it couldn’t leave its boundaries.
It simply peeked its head outside and watched us.
After leaving the greenhouse, I looked around the village chief’s garden before turning toward the front gate.
Suddenly, Logan stepped in front of me.
“Wait. Someone’s there.”
He immediately drew his greatsword.
His eyes turned cold.
Actually, it wasn’t just his eyes.
Even the atmosphere around him changed.
I knew it came from his overprotectiveness, but standing beside him now felt dangerous enough that I quietly backed away.
Just then—
Knock. Knock.
Someone knocked on the front gate.
“…Is… is anyone… there…?”
It was an extremely weak voice.
Huh? That voice sounds familiar…
It reminded me of Marcus Winston Rutland, the senior from the Academy who always flirted with me using cheesy lines.
“That voice…”
At the exact same moment, Logan muttered with obvious displeasure.
That confirmed it.
“You thought so too, right? That’s Senior Rutland’s voice.”
“I’ll check.”
As expected, the overprotective Logan walked ahead alone.
Click. Creeeak…
He opened the front gate.
Two unconscious men collapsed on the ground outside.
“It really is Senior Rutland!”
I hurried around Logan and reached toward Marcus.
But before I could touch him…
Logan casually grabbed Marcus first, lifting him like a sack of potatoes.
“What if he’s carrying some disease? Your health is weak. Stay twenty steps away.”
I was speechless.
“Don’t you think you’re treating people like germs a little too much?”
“Eve, to be precise, he’s the one being treated like a germ by me.”
He looked at Marcus with cold eyes before continuing.
“Everyone except me is a potential murderer as far as you’re concerned. Remember that. Trust no one.”
After spending so long living with only Logan and Chippy…
I had almost forgotten.
His darkened personality had become way too extreme.
Shaking my head, I looked at the man lying beside Marcus.
“That’s Senior Rutland’s aide. Let’s bring him inside too.”
Logan stared at Marcus and his aide with an irritated expression.
Then he let out a long sigh and carried both of them into the mansion.
He dropped the barely breathing pair in front of the fireplace like pieces of luggage before starting a fire.
Despite always looking annoyed…
Whenever someone asked for help, Logan still did it.
He had always been someone overflowing with compassion.
Someone who would gladly lend a hand to those in need.
If I can absorb Winterstones and freely use their powers…
Maybe Logan won’t have to live in constant fear anymore.
Maybe… he can become the kind, compassionate Logan he used to be.
And if that happens…
Perhaps he won’t become the novel’s villain…
Perhaps Crown Prince Aiden won’t have to kill him.
While those thoughts crossed my mind…
Marcus slowly opened his eyes.
THIS IS THE END OF CHAPTER 8
