Chapter 26: Eyes(3)

The process of building a snowman was incredibly simple.
Make a large snowball for the lower body, a smaller one for the upper body, and stack them.

‘It’s strange this custom doesn’t exist here.’

Contrary to Avalli’s thoughts, it had existed. Specifically, in ‘Tiara of the Snowy Mountains’, the second game in the [Sword and Magic] series, the most annoying monster was the Snowman.

Every turn, it inflicted the ‘Chill’ status effect, and three stacks of Chill resulted in ‘Frozen’, preventing any action for one turn. If a ‘Frozen’ ally wasn’t saved with a skill or item, the Snowman would shatter them on its next turn, resulting in instant death.

Perhaps due to the Snowman’s influence, people had an unconscious aversion to building things out of snow. In the North, building a snowman could even lead to accusations of witchcraft and a trial.

But this was the Eastern Great Forest, far from the North.
Although it snowed every year, it wasn’t like the permanently frozen lands of the northern mountains.

There wasn’t enough mystical energy or magic power in this region for a mere snowman to come to life. Especially since no one here had actually seen a Snowman, it was unlikely anything significant would happen.

Unless, of course, the snowman’s creator possessed an extraordinary amount of magic power, the kind found only in myths.

“All done!”
“Wow!”

Camelia gasped as Avalli brushed the snow off her mittens.

“We really made this? It’s huge!”
“Yes, we made it.”

Perhaps she had gotten a little carried away in front of Camelia.
A giant snowman, at least four meters tall, stood majestically before them. Of course, such a feat was impossible for a child, so Avalli had discreetly used ‘magic’ while Camelia wasn’t looking.

She used branches for the arms and decorated the face with pretty stones they had found by the river. For something made by two children—or rather, mostly by Avalli—it was quite impressive.

“…I wish I could take a picture.”
“A picture?”
“Nothing, just talking to myself.”

This snowman, imbued with her memories with Camelia, would melt away and disappear once winter ended.

‘Hans didn’t come after all.’

Was he busy, or was he too embarrassed to see Avalli alone? Well, it was his choice.

Despite that thought, Avalli felt a slight pang of disappointment.

“Shall we head back? It’s almost lunchtime.”
“Wait, Avalli unnie.”

Camelia ran up to the snowman, placed her hands on its large belly, closed her eyes, and started muttering something.

“Okay, done!”
“What did you do, Camelia?”
“I asked Mister Snowman to take good care of us.”

Avalli smiled gently at her innocent reply.

“Then I should greet Mister Snowman too.”
“What are you going to say?”
“Hmm, maybe I’ll ask him to always watch over Camelia.”

Avalli walked up to the snowman, closed her eyes like Camelia, and made a silent ‘wish’. Even though she knew it wouldn’t come true, she made a sincere wish for ‘Camelia’s dream to be realized’.

“Shall we go now?”
“Yes!”
“Hop on! Piggyback ride!”
“Aren’t you tired, Avalli unnie?”
“Unnie has infinite stamina.”

It wasn’t a lie or an exaggeration. Avalli could probably go for months without food or sleep.

Lucy’s assessment had been correct. Avalli was far beyond human.

Camelia, of course, oblivious to this fact, climbed onto Avalli’s back. The two walked away, leaving the giant snowman behind.

And a short while later—

[……]

A faint tremor reverberated through the clearing. The source of the tremor thought about the great being who had given life to a mere mass of snow. And about the first command that being had given: to protect the little girl with orange-red hair.

[…Threat detected.]

The being created by the divine one was, like her creator, extraordinary. Extraordinary enough to sense the dark malice approaching Asha Village from afar.

[Eliminate.]

The snowman vibrated more intensely and began moving across the snowy field. It was heading west.

At the entrance to Asha Village.

“Hans oppa, why didn’t you come? Do you know how long Avalli unnie and I waited?” (TL Note: Oppa is an honorific used by younger males to address older males.)

Camelia whined to Hans with a pout.

“…I was busy, and a visitor came to the village just as I was finishing up.”
“A visitor?”

Avalli tilted her head, and Hans nodded.

“Yeah, a traveling merchant. He got lost in the blizzard last night and somehow stumbled upon our village.”

Indeed, there was an unfamiliar wagon at the village entrance.

“I was taking care of his horse. Brushed off the snow and ice and put it in the stable.”
“You were busy. Good work.”
“…It’s nothing.”

He spoke curtly, but Hans was disappointed that he hadn’t been able to play with Avalli.

“So, where’s this merchant?”
“He’s at the Chief’s house. They’re discussing whether he has anything to sell to the village, and if there’s anything the village needs to buy. A merchant’s income depends on how often he can sell his goods.”
“I want to see the merchant mister!”

Camelia jumped up and down excitedly, but Avalli and Hans shook their heads.

“Go see him later, after the adults are finished talking.”
“Aw, can’t I go now?”

She whined, but there were some things even a cute pout couldn’t change. Seeing Hans and Avalli’s firm stance, Camelia quickly gave up.

“Then, you’ll call Camelia later, right?”
“Alright. Unnie will secretly call you later.”
“Yay! ‘Secretly’! Promise!”

Camelia nodded and then skipped back to her house. Watching her energetic form with a warm smile, Avalli turned to Hans.

“So, Hans, what are you doing now?”
“Nothing in particular.”
“That’s too bad. We can’t play together today.”
“…Yeah.”

Hans expressed his disappointment openly, as usual. Avalli feigned exaggerated surprise.

“You’re admitting it that easily?”
“If I don’t, you’ll just tease me.”
“You shouldn’t be so honest, Hans. It ruins the fun for me.”

What kind of twisted logic was that?
Hans narrowed his eyes at Avalli, and she awkwardly scratched her cheek.

“Anyway, let’s play together next time. Winter is long.”
“…Yeah, winter is long. Go ahead, I need to tend to the horse some more.”
“Okay. See you later, Hans.”

Avalli patted Hans’s shoulder and then headed straight back to Arsene’s house. She noticed a group of villagers gathered at Karls’s house next door, whispering amongst themselves. Their expressions were strangely somber.

“Mister Karls, is something wrong?”
“Oh, Avalli. You’re back already? Well, there’s a merchant in the village—”
“Hans told me.”
“Is that so? Well, it’s not something I would normally tell you, but…”

Karls glanced at the other villagers and then gestured for Avalli to come closer.

As Avalli cautiously approached the wall, Karls lowered his voice.

“A merchant came, but… something about him seems off.”
“Off?”
“He doesn’t look like a merchant. I’ve dealt with plenty of merchants, and his aura is completely different.”

If he wasn’t a merchant, then who was he?

“…I have a bad feeling about this. Arsene seems suspicious too.”
“So, they’re not actually discussing trade?”
“They’re talking, but… Arsene’s practically interrogating him.”

Karls’s words surprised Avalli. Could Arsene, a mere village chief, conduct an interrogation?

“Arsene has a duty to protect the village. Well, not exactly a duty… he’s the chief because he’s a responsible person.”
“Should I go in later, then?”
“No, there’s no need. It’s an interrogation, but on the surface, he’s just being hospitable to a guest. You said Lucy is sick. Envel must be busy, so why don’t you go in and take care of her?”

Avalli politely agreed and entered Arsene’s house.

“Oh, what a cute little girl. Is she your daughter?”

A man with a sly voice was sitting in the living room. The moment Avalli saw his face, she understood what Karls meant.

“…Avalli, go to your room. Stay with Envel and Lucy.”
“Whoa there. At least let her greet our guest.”

Avalli hadn’t met many people in this world, but the aura emanating from this man was fundamentally different from the villagers of Asha Village.

“You have no reason to—”
“Hello, Merchant mister.”

Avalli interrupted Arsene’s curt refusal with a bright smile.

“I’m Avalli, I’m staying with the Chief.”
“Oh, hello, Avalli.”

The man resembled a snake, and Avalli had the strange sensation of smelling blood. She hoped it was just her imagination, but… if Karls and Arsene’s concerns were valid, she wouldn’t stand idly by. Envel and Lucy were in the other room. And Arsene was somewhat aware of Avalli’s unusual abilities.

It should be fine, at least for a little while.

“What brings you to our village?”

Avalli asked the man with a bright smile. A mere snake couldn’t frighten her.

Nothing in this world could.