"ROOOOOOOOOAR!!!"
The beast attacked the girl relentlessly, but in a single blow, the seemingly invincible monster was killed instantly.
"It's over?"
"Yes…"
Ais sheathed her silver sword with a sharp clang. Seeing the fallen monster, the surrounding citizens erupted in cheers.
Loki, standing bored behind Ais, put her hand to her head and sighed.
"That was anticlimactic. And there was no serious damage… I feel like someone tricked us."
Ais agreed with Loki.
They'd rushed to prevent casualties, only to find the monsters hadn't harmed anyone. They'd simply roamed around the arena, seemingly searching for something.
It felt like someone was controlling everything.
"Is that all?"
"No… there's one left."
Of the nine escaped monsters, only a Silverback Gorilla remained.
Ais could easily defeat it. Loki, already bored, started moving; Ais followed.
They followed eyewitness accounts to East Street.
"Huh? It's over?"
The street was lively, filled with excitement, not fear.
Loki approached a crowd gathered near an alley, shivering involuntarily.
"It's… so cold."
"Ma'am, where's the monster? What happened?"
While Loki questioned a resident, Ais walked into the alley.
The chill intensified as she went deeper, a bone-chilling cold.
A faint layer of white coated the alley walls; glittering frost still fell from the sky.
"Did you do this…?"
Ais reached out, catching a frost flake, muttering.
Her thoughts drifted back to their first meeting, the instant invasion of her body, the near-soul-crushing cold.
It was exactly like the falling frost, leaving an indelible mark.
Ais didn't understand her feelings; since that meeting, she'd been preoccupied with him.
Perhaps it was defiance. She'd worked hard for her power, as a Level 5, but she'd been utterly defeated by him.
Next time, she'd say everything. She would challenge him!
Ais made up her mind.
She was about to attempt her Level 6 advancement, but she wanted to face Arthas first.
She felt she couldn't advance without overcoming the shadow of his frost.
"Whoa… it's even colder in here. That brat did this."
Loki sauntered in.
"If it's him, it's not surprising. Let's continue our date."
Loki smirked, trying to grope Ais.
Ais easily dodged her, delivering a hand strike.
"Ouch… I said no violence."
Loki mumbled; Ais left the alley; Loki followed.
"Ais wants to continue our date, right?"
"No, I'm going to practice."
"What… practice again? Don't be so serious."
Ais and Loki left, leaving the curious residents discussing the events.
...
In a room at the Hostess of Fertility, Syr emerged.
"I'm fine, just exhausted."
Seeing Arthas, still worried, Syr smiled.
It was dusk.
While returning to the church with Hestia, they'd encountered Syr, who suggested taking the unconscious Hestia here.
The tavern's rooms were far better than the church's basement; buying a house should be a priority.
The Monsterphilia incident had subsided. The Ganesha Familia and the Guild had minimized the damage; no one was killed or injured.
The perpetrator remained at large. The attacked Ganesha Familia and Guild members remembered nothing. The incident ended with the perpetrator's motives unknown.
Upstairs, Hestia slept peacefully. Arthas sat with Syr on the wooden veranda as the sun set.
"I'm so sorry. I forgot my purse, and you were caught in the chaos…"
Hesitantly, Syr apologized.
"It's fine. It wasn't your fault."
Arthas shook his head. Syr apologized for a long time, finally relaxing, smiling. Arthas felt relieved.
"But the incident showed Mr. Arthas's cool side."
Syr chuckled, her light gray hair swaying.
"The beautiful frost… so cool… I was captivated."
She leaned closer, whispering in his ear. Her nearness made Arthas's breath catch.
Noticing his reaction, Syr stepped back, her face flushed crimson in the sunset.
"It seems… there's a chance. Mr. Arthas's heart isn't only for Miss Riveria."
After this near-confession, embarrassed, Syr hurried downstairs.
"I'm going to work. Please take care of Hestia."
Watching Syr flee, Arthas was stunned, then chuckled.
"Beautiful, Syr… like a gardenia."
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