Chapter 22: End of Expedition and Vacation

Grace, who had washed herself with warm water, came to the place where the ice crystal was stored, still dressed in her usual white armor due to the ongoing expedition.

“Have you arrived, Your Grace?”

“Have you figured anything out?”

She directed her question to the mages who had been studying the ice crystal retrieved from beneath the lake.

Standing next to Grace was Elaine, the captain of the guard, and I stood beside her, allowing me to naturally listen in

and observe the proceedings.

“This chunk of ice is determined to be a mystical mineral referred to in historical records as Ice Crystal.”

“Ice Crystal?”

“Yes, it contains powerful cold energy and magic. Remarkably, it does not melt under heat as long as its inherent

magic remains intact. Moreover, when infused with magic, it enables the wielder to manipulate cold regardless of

their mastery of magic and amplifies the power of ice magic for those adept at it.”

“Oh?”

Grace raised an eyebrow, intrigued by the mage’s explanation.

“So, is this Ice Crystal the reason the crystal lake was frozen?”

“That seems highly likely. Since Your Grace retrieved the Ice Crystal, the lake’s hole has not regenerated.”

“Indeed, it was particularly cold near this thing even underwater.”

Grace stared at the Ice Crystal for a moment before asking another question.

“Why was it that we never knew there was an Ice Crystal at the bottom of the crystal lake before?”

“The crystal lake has always been a region rich in magic. It is speculated that the combination of the cold

environment and the abundant magic might have naturally formed the Ice Crystal.”

“Hmm.”

“Discovering this Ice Crystal is truly a stroke of luck. While it was submerged in the lake, its magic was rapidly

depleting as it continuously froze the water. If it had been left untouched, the Ice Crystal would have disappeared or

significantly shrunk within a few months.”

Ah.

That explained why the Ice Crystal’s size differed from what I remembered.

In the original novel, the Ice Crystal was discovered several months later. By then, it had been constantly draining its

magic like a tirelessly running motor to freeze the water, and the monsters drawn to the crystal lake, like the Silver

Sabertooth, had been further depleting its magic.

“What are the potential uses for this?”

“We need to study it further, but… given its affinity for ice magic, it seems better suited for weapons rather than daily

utilities. For instance, it could be processed into a weapon capable of emitting freezing waves to defend fortifications

from a distance.”

“Perhaps a magic sword imbued with the crystal?”

“What about crafting a staff specialized in ice magic? The North has an abundance of ice mages.”

As expected of northern mages, their first thoughts were about weapons. These firepower enthusiasts.

Among their ideas, the concept of a magic sword had also appeared in the novel.

From my perspective, the Ice Crystal could make an excellent freezer since it didn’t require electricity and wouldn’t

melt as long as it had magic. But in the frigid North, where no one would think of using it as a refrigerator, the

suggestion was far from practical. Even if it were profitable, the crystal’s size—more like a large boulder—would limit

its commercial potential.

Since my initial intention for the crystal was also for weaponry, I silently agreed with the mages’ opinions.

“Very well, we’ll discuss that further once we return. We’ve subdued the monster and identified the anomaly of the

crystal lake. This expedition is now officially concluded. Sir Gunter?”

“Yes, I’ll begin the preparations for withdrawal.”

“Sir Elaine, notify the guards about the retreat.”

“Understood.”

“Will there be any issues transporting the Ice Crystal? Its size can be managed with a cart, but its emanating cold

might harm nearby life.”

“If we wrap it in a large cloth inscribed with protective magic circles, it should block the cold.”

“I see. If that doesn’t work, I was going to ask Luke to stay next to the Ice Crystal to radiate heat and suppress the

cold. But it seems unnecessary.”

Excuse me? Me? Next to that thing?

Surely, that was a joke?

Judging by her expressionless face, it wasn’t.

I inwardly thanked the mages for coming up with a solution.

“Well then, let’s head home.”

With Grace’s declaration, the expedition against the Silver Sabertooth officially ended.

On the journey back, my position remained next to Grace. Since Elaine was by her side, it was only natural.

Still, I was very satisfied with this arrangement.

Being beside the Grand Duke was far better than being used as a human hot pack next to the Ice Crystal.

“Oh, by the way! Have you heard about the special leave from Sir Elaine?”

“Special leave? No, I haven’t.”

I recalled her mentioning something about “just wait until the leave,” but…

Could it be that the leave also applied to me?

“The greatest contributors to this battle are undoubtedly the two of you. I’ll grant you a five-day leave. Rest well.”

“Thank you!”

A life lesson learned from a previous existence was to never refuse bonuses or pocket money.

Considering this leave was two days longer than the three days granted last time, it clearly showed how grueling the Silver Sabertooth expedition had been.

Grace also summoned Ki and awarded him and the third squad three days of leave.

Even Ki, who was always brimming with enthusiasm, accepted the break without complaint.

Due to the nature of the escort unit’s duties, taking leave was difficult, so they had to rest properly when the opportunity arose.

Of course, if it were Ki, he’d likely spend his leave training to build his stamina.

‘I should also focus on training during this leave.’

With 40 days remaining until the promised deadline, there wasn’t much time to achieve the necessary level of skill.

‘Did Elaine’s “we’ll see” actually mean she’d work me to the bone during the break?’

That thought was intimidating.

Last time, just two days of training with her had left me with a nosebleed. If this time it was five days…

‘Hmm… Still, I’ve laid the groundwork for the Snowcold Sword and magic. Now it’s just about building on it. Elaine probably won’t push me as hard as she did back then, right?’

A burning smell wafted in.

It was the sound of my optimism going up in flames.

“But you’ve endured much hardship for the sake of learning and experience in this expedition. Do you feel it was worthwhile?”

“Yes, it was incredibly valuable.”

And it wasn’t just a polite answer for social niceties.

I gained the Ice Blessing and changed Elaine’s future.

I also had magic lessons from Elaine, confirmed the performance of Obsidian, and improved the Snowcold Sword technique through practical use.

During battles with monsters, I finally grasped the elusive thread of the Flame Sword technique.

When I killed Wolffang, the buffs born of crisis and a beginner’s luck had likely played a part.

For now, I still needed to rely on the Obsidian as a magic-boosting item to properly execute the Flame Sword, but I had still acquired a powerful finishing move.

‘And I even got a magic potion.’

Given that most knights only began learning magic after passing their qualifying exams as apprentices, I was several

steps ahead by wielding the Flame Sword, receiving magic lessons from a veteran knight, and consuming a rare blue

magic potion.

Grace, satisfied with my answer, turned her attention to Elaine.

“Sir Elaine, regarding the matter we discussed previously, I think it’s time to proceed. When you take leave

consecutively as you have been, it creates gaps in our operations. But we can’t exactly deny you leave either.”

“Are you referring to selecting a vice-captain for the escort unit?”

The escort unit’s leadership consisted of the captain, Elaine, followed by squad leaders and vice-squad leaders.

Below them, other knights or senior soldiers handled administrative roles, but Elaine was the sole figure overseeing

the entire escort unit.

“Since you’re currently doubling as a squad leader, we need someone to reduce your burden by managing the whole unit.”

“Do you have a candidate in mind?”

“It would make sense to select one of the squad leaders as vice-captain. Excluding yourself, that leaves three: Squad

Leader Loron, Squad Leader Ki, and Squad Leader Weasel.”

Weasel, being a new leader still adapting to the escort unit, had a low chance of becoming vice-captain.

Among the remaining two candidates…

‘Hmm… Ki as vice-captain seems… unlikely.’

It’s not that he’s a bad person or incompetent, but he’s more suited to fieldwork than management.

Like one of those police officers in dramas who prefer swinging bats over using guns.

‘On the other hand, the rival candidate…’

Loron was practically already acting as the unit’s caretaker, filling in for Elaine during her absences and managing

administrative duties with precision.

However, his rigid and overly formal nature made him less personable with his squad compared to the other leaders.

While Ki’s third squad exuded fiery energy under his leadership, Loron’s second squad had a stiff, somber

atmosphere.

Elaine’s serious expression indicated she shared the dilemma.

“Who do you have in mind, Your Excellency?”

“As per Northern tradition, the decision should be made through competition.”

“Competition, you say…”

“Yes. Whoever wants the vice-captain position must prove their worth by winning a trial. If you want the title, you

must earn it.”

True to the North’s meritocratic values, Grace’s suggestion of a trial was straightforward.

It might be harsh, but throughout history, competition and tests have always been the most fair and transparent way

to select the best candidate.

“When I return, I’ll consult with the squad leaders to gauge their willingness to participate and report back.”

“Do so. Once a squad leader becomes vice-captain, there will inevitably be changes in the unit’s structure.”

Logically, when a squad leader vacated their position, their vice-leader would likely be promoted to fill the role, with

the ranks below shifting accordingly.

But in the North, where meritocracy reigned supreme, nothing was guaranteed. Hierarchy could change at any

moment based on skill.

‘Whichever squad wins, it’ll be interesting.’

The discussion was irrelevant to me at the moment, so I half-listened while speculating who might become the vice-

commander.

“Wowwww!”

“Long live the Winter Lion!”

“The warriors of the North are amazing!”

As the Northern Army returned victorious from the Silver Sabertooth expedition, the streets were filled with citizens

celebrating their triumph, just as they had gathered solemnly during their departure.

Unlike their somber departure, the returning soldiers waved their hands at the cheering crowd, shouting in joy and

sharing the moment of triumph.

Grace, too, wore a gentle smile as she made eye contact with the citizens.

The escort knights, however, as always, maintained stern expressions, scanning their surroundings vigilantly.

After all, assassination attempts during parades were common, both in history and in fantasy worlds, and no one wanted a celebration to turn into a funeral.

Although I knew Grace wouldn’t die in a place like this, knowing the future didn’t mean I could relax.

I joined the others in keeping watch while something caught my eye.

A familiar face appeared in the crowd.

It was Bill, the blacksmith and owner of the weapon shop.

He had his usual hearty grin but with a sharp glint in his eyes, as if silently asking, “Did you bring back anything

interesting this time?”

‘He’s really hooked after getting a taste last time.’

Bring back something? Of course, I did. A very big one.

I discreetly motioned toward the back of the parade.

Bill’s head turned sharply, and his already large eyes grew impossibly wider.

He must have spotted the massive wagon at the rear of the procession.

Though the magical fabric covering it concealed the ice crystal, the sheer size of the unfamiliar load must have

piqued his curiosity and imagination.

‘Yes, use that excitement to craft another masterpiece.’

Seeing Bill’s delight brought a smile to my face.

After the victory parade, Grace gave words of encouragement to the Northern Army and officially dismissed the troops.

The escort unit transitioned to their regular duties as Grace returned.

The first and fourth squads, who hadn’t participated in the expedition, resumed guarding Grace. The third squad,

granted leave as a reward, prepared to head home.

The second squad, which had been on standby, decided to rest today before returning to work.

Like the third squad, I was also granted leave, and despite the envy of my seniors and their curiosity about why I

received five days off, I headed home.

“Stop.”

“?”

I had just packed some clothes from my dorm and was stepping out of the escort barracks when someone called out to me.

It was Elaine, dressed in casual clothing.

She seemed to have just handed over her duties to the squad leaders during her absence and started her vacation.

“Let’s go.”

“To where?”

“To your home, of course. Where else? Unless you want a drink?”

“No, I’m abstaining.”

And I planned to stay that way.

“Whose home are we talking about?”

“Whose home? What do you mean?”

Huh?

Something about this conversation felt off.

“Oh! You haven’t organized your place yet. Last time, you were too busy with the Frost Sword training during your

leave. Perfect timing. We’ll take care of it during this break.”

“Take care of what? My home?”

“Don’t worry. As you saw last time, I live alone, and there’s plenty of room in my house for your belongings.”

Uh, no, something was definitely wrong here.

Something was happening.

“You won’t need separate bedding, will you? The bed is big enough for two.”

Elaine chuckled softly, having seamlessly shifted into her “perfect partner” mode for the holidays.

As I looked at her, I couldn’t decide whether to mourn the loss of my independence or celebrate my sudden upgrade

to living with a wealthy older sister.

“There’s nothing urgent today, so let’s go. I want to relax.”

Elaine grabbed my arm and pulled me along.

“Oh, and one more thing.”

“???”

“Remember what I said? About settling things during leave?”

“???”

“Don’t worry. I’ll let you sleep tonight so you’ll have energy for tomorrow.”

“……”

Before, I never understood why married men would tremble when their wives teased them.

Though I wasn’t married yet, now I understood.

That dazzlingly beautiful smile aimed at me suddenly felt terrifying.

I should’ve never teased her.