Exploring the Castle
More than an hour passed quietly as they explored several maze-like paths. When they returned to the open-air castle with its doors wide open, Ruby's little face was filled with undisguised disappointment. She pouted, her emerald eyes scanning the newly completed "explored" markers on her magic map, her tone dripping with disdain:
"Hmph~ What ancient labyrinth from the Unified Dynasty era! It was hyped up so much, but all we found were some broken stones and lousy mechanisms? Not even a decent magic book! What a disappointment!" She kicked a loose stone slab at her feet, making a "clang" sound.
In stark contrast to Ruby's disdain was Frieren's almost overflowing satisfaction. She was carefully packing several fragments of stone tablets engraved with blurry ancient runes, a bronze compass with slightly damaged edges, and a crystal ball emitting a faint magical glow into her seemingly bottomless little suitcase.
Especially the crystal ball; she even picked it up and gently rubbed its cold surface with her smooth cheek, her emerald eyes narrowing into slits with happiness, and she made unconscious whimpering sounds like a kitten being tickled.
Ruby seeing this, Ruby immediately put on an "I can't stand it" expression, pinched her nose, and exaggeratedly took a half step back. "Ugh--! Frieren! It's filthy! It's all junk that's been sitting around for who knows how many thousands of years! It's covered in dust! Why are you rubbing it on your face?! It's so unhygienic!"
Seeing Frieren's delighted expression, as if she had "found a treasure," Lupa couldn't help but chuckle. Her heterochromatic eyes held a friendly teasing look. "Lady Frieren is always like this, so fascinated by these strange old things."
Lowell was fiddling with an oddly shaped bronze coin he'd found in a collapsed secret compartment, engraved with some kind of floral pattern he'd never seen before. Hearing Ruby's words, he looked up, smiled, and casually replied, his tone carrying his characteristic air of knowing a lot of obscure facts:
"Hmm... I remember these ancient coins with special markings are quite popular in certain secretive collector circles. Well, I guess it's because once you collect a certain number, you can exchange them for some unexpected good stuff, like 'Primogem' or something."
"Primogem?" Ruby blinked, her little face full of confusion. Then she tossed her red curly hair, put her hands on her hips, and said, "You're spouting nonsense again! Lowell, you're always saying incomprehensible things! Whatever, it's all useless junk anyway!"
"Haha, let's say that's true." Lowell chuckled noncommittally, tossing the coin to Frieren, who was watching eagerly, and watched her happily collect it like a child catching candy.
"I told you I'd put it in my space..."
"No, I want to keep it."
After a short rest, everyone's gaze returned to the silent, open-air castle with its doors wide open.
"Alright, the outside is all cleared up. It's time to go in and take a look." Himmel tidied his blue hair, his handsome face showing a serious expression of exploration, and took the lead in stepping into the huge doorway.
The castle's interior was even more dilapidated than it appeared from the outside. Towering stone pillars supported the unshaded sky, through which the cold wind, carrying snowflakes, whistled and echoed. The ground was covered with a thick layer of dust and snow that had accumulated over countless years, making it soft and spongy underfoot.
The remaining furniture—ornate carved wooden chairs, a toppled stone table, and huge fragments of tapestries—has been eroded beyond recognition by time and snow, covered with a thick layer of "snow dust," obscuring its original color and texture. Rather than being mere dust, it is more accurate to say that it has become one with the natural environment, like a ghost sleeping in a white tomb.
Surprisingly, the castle's front hall and several adjacent side halls were unusually "clean," with no traps or mechanisms as expected, aside from the decay left by time. Only a few scattered yetis wandered among the ruins, which were quickly cleared away.
"It seems... a little too smoothly?" Ruby her breath, her blue eyes filled with wariness as she held up her staff. This unusual calm was unsettling.
Just then, Frieren, who was walking ahead, stopped in her tracks. Her emerald eyes lit up instantly as she locked onto an object half-buried in the snow and wood shards in the corner of the hall—a treasure chest made entirely of some unknown white metal, covered with a layer of shimmering frost, and looking exceptionally exquisite!
"Treasure chest!" Frieren exclaimed softly, almost instinctively "floating" towards the treasure chest, her face filled with longing for "my treasure!"
"Wait! Lady Frieren! It might be a trap!" Ruby shouted urgently.
But it was too late. Frieren's hand had just touched the cold lid of the box.
Click.
With a soft sound, the treasure chest lid suddenly popped open, transforming into a gaping maw covered with fine, sharp icicles, which swallowed Frieren's upper body whole!
"Aaaaah! It's so dark! It's so cold! Help me, Lowell!" From inside the Mimic came Frieren's muffled, panicked, and clearly trembling cry for help. Her legs kicked helplessly outside, and a layer of frost quickly formed on her boots.
Everyone: "..."
Lowell sighed, and stepped forward with a "I knew this would happen" expression. "Is this an ice-type Mimic this time? How fitting..." He skillfully reached out, his fingertips releasing a wisp of magic, precisely destroying the Mimic's internal structure.
With a "poof," the Mimic opened its mouth, spitting out Frieren, who was covered in icy air and small ice shards. She collapsed onto the snow, hugging her arms tightly, her teeth chattering. "So, so cold... it's like an icebox inside..."
Lowell pulled her up, patted the ice crystals off her hair and shoulders, and said helplessly, "At least this time we don't have to wipe off the slime. After all, it's unlikely there will be any liquid at this temperature. We can just shake it off. It's... good news?"
Frieren sniffed, her emerald eyes casting a pitiful glance at the lifeless Mimic, and muttered under her breath, "I thought a treasure chest from the Unified Dynasty era would definitely contain a rare magic book... Liar..."
After this brief incident, the group continued deeper into the castle. The castle's interior was not complex, and the paths were exceptionally clear. The wind and snow seemed to converge in the central area of the castle, and the further in they went, the colder the air became, with even their breath appearing to freeze into ice crystals.
Finally, after passing through an exceptionally wide corridor lined with enormous Gargoyle sculptures on both sides, a massive, unusually tall and heavy door, cast from some kind of dark metal and covered with complex and ferocious reliefs of yeti that seemed to be struggling and roaring, stood before them.
The door was tightly shut, and a chilling aura and powerful magical fluctuations emanated from the cracks. The chill was not merely a low temperature, but also carried a sinister coldness that eroded life force.
Everyone expected the two Gargoyles to come to life and attack as usual, but they were clearly frozen solid.
Ruby stopped, looking up at the imposing gate, her emerald eyes gleaming with seriousness and eagerness. She cast her Flight Magic again, quickly ascending into the air to get a general overview of the castle's layout before landing back on the ground.
"Hmm... Based on observation, the innermost hall of the castle should be behind this door! The source of that ominous magic must be inside!"
Himmel slowly drew his longsword, the blade reflecting the pale sunlight filtered through the snow and wind from the open rooftop. His blue eyes were sharp as an eagle's, and a calm, confident smile, befitting a warrior, curved his lips. "Ah, always ready."
Eisen silently gripped his battle axe. The holy emblem in Heiter's palm glowed faintly. Frieren also abandoned her laziness, slamming her staff to the ground, her emerald eyes fixed on the doorway. Lupa and Linié held their breath. Lowell's eyes narrowed slightly.
"Alright!" Ruby a deep breath of the icy air, the gem at the tip of her staff shining brightly. "Then—break it! Blazing Truth - Flame Vortex - Assault Unleashed!"