I had already betrayed so many things.
It seemed I had grown used to betrayal.
Did I really want to betray?
Did I really want to keep living like this?
No.
At least this time, I did not want to betray his expectations.
Lord Kirschtaria had placed great expectations on me.
If so, then I had to answer them.
Just once was enough. Even if it was only this once.
Let me live up to his expectations.
—I spoke thus to my own [fate].
I would not disappoint him.
Even if I had to wager everything, I would make it happen.
So—
Even if today was [Sunday], I would endure.
Even if I was swept into roaring flames like this.
Even if my body was scorched until it gave off a foul stench.
I would take this step forward.
Take
this step.
Whoosh—
The Scandinavian Peninsula, or northern Sweden in Proper Human History.
The domain of flame, Muspelheim.
[Fantasy Tree ■ㄧ Link.]
[Hehehe.]
[How familiar.]
[Look, Ophelia. Raise your head and look at me.]
[Behold my majestic visage.]
[Behold this coldness of mine, burning with fire.]
[That damned beast's Authority—I have taken it back!!!]
This time, Surtr spoke with his own mouth.
His voice was filled with excitement and violence, deafeningly loud.
But what deserved notice was—
Half of his body no longer burned with flames.
Instead, it was covered in solid blue ice.
Half solid ice, half flame.
That was what Surtr was now.
What he had devoured was Fenrir, the giant wolf that should have devoured the great god Odin.
And the Authority he had seized had likewise been stolen from that giant wolf.
Flame-burning frost?
Ah.
There was no sense of [reality] at all.
Perhaps such an absurd sight could only appear in an unrecognized history—in a