Chapter 31: Nice 3

“Oh my, this place is still the same.”

I exclaimed as I descended to the deepest level.

It was exactly the same as when I last visited a thousand years ago.

The pillars of ice were still elegant, and the icicles that flowed down from the ceiling shone beautifully like chandeliers.

The frost running down the walls was like delicate lace, forming beautiful patterns.

“Huh… But my labyrinth is prettier.

Of course, this place had its own beauty.

It was cold yet elegant, a very Prostia-like aesthetic.

Was it too restrained?

If it were my style, I would decorate it with pearls here and there, and hang some fluorescent jellyfish…

The only good thing is that Prostia didn’t make this place dark?

When I came here last time, it was so dark that I couldn’t see my dress shining at all!

“But why doesn’t she keep Rico here?”

I suddenly wondered.

Her gorgeous red petals would have been a nice accent in this cold space.

“Nice.”

My thoughts were interrupted by Prostia’s cold voice that suddenly came to mind.

“Huh-?”

I answered playfully as usual.

However, Prostia’s expression was unusual.

“Don’t mess with Rico.”

My head suddenly turned white.

What is she talking about?

“Oh my, what are you saying? I just…”

Boom!!!

Before I could finish my words, Prostia’s fist slammed into the ice wall.

In an instant, a vibration that was enough to shake the entire space spread.

Several icicles fell and shattered into pieces.

“Ugh!”

I screamed without realizing it.

The hand holding the hem of my dress trembled.

Prostia’s eyes had changed.

They weren’t the cold eyes I’d seen for thousands of years.

They were eyes filled with a real murderous intent, as if they were hunting down an enemy…

“I, I just wanted to dress up Riko because she was pretty and cute!”

My voice trembled.

I really felt wronged.

I just…

“Really…!”

A part of my heart ached at Prostia’s suspicious eyes.

How can you doubt me like this!

“How long have we known each other for this to happen…!”

My voice rose higher than usual.

We’d been playful and bickering a lot in the past.

We’d teased each other, and sometimes even gotten angry…

But I’d never been doubted like this.

‘Yeah, I just… I remembered the first time I saw Riko earlier.

Those beautiful flower petals and her elegant figure.

It was as if I had been excited when I first became human.

Prostia looked at me for a moment and sighed.

I understand.

Her eyes were still cold, but at least she had withdrawn her murderous intent.

But I was upset.

Is this the value of thousands of years of friendship?

“Let’s go up.”

Prostia took the first step.

I followed her, poking my lips.

The only sound that echoed in the quiet space was the hem of my dress brushing against the ice floor.

As we went deeper, it seemed that Rico and the bugs were watching us.

Then Prostia…

“Are you worried? It’s nothing, I was just having a small talk with an old friend.”

…Huh?

For a moment, I doubted my ears.

Who is that?

Is that the Prostia I know?

What’s with that affectionate tone?

‘No… She was spewing murderous intent at me just a moment ago…”

My disappointment doubled.

What is this, this is complete discrimination!

That cold ice princess is so affectionate.

And just a moment ago…

“Wait a minute!”

I suddenly made up my mind.

I’m going to resolve this injustice!

“I’ll decorate this place!”

Prostia gave me a suspicious look.

Again!

That look again!

Why do I look so suspicious?

At that moment, Rico showed a slightly trembling appearance.

It was as if he was excited, like a child waiting for a present.

How cute…!

“Can I decorate it for you?”

Rico quickly carved the letters with his roots.

Doubt again!

“Oh my! These are just decorative—”

“Yes! I like it!”

Even the handwriting was lovely.

As expected, this child will shine even more if you decorate it.

Prostia reluctantly nodded after seeing Rico’s reaction.

Ha! This discrimination again!

You were so cruel to me, but you immediately agreed with Rico’s opinion.

I excitedly started to cast my magic.

The pride of my deep-sea labyrinth, the colorful, shining corals.

Pearl-decorated seashells appeared as if dancing in the air.

Here and there, I placed a few luminous jellyfish…

Prostia looked at me with cold eyes.

“It’s messy. It doesn’t go with this place at all.”

“Uh… It looks pretty to me…”

Rico carefully engraved the letters.

Ugh… My pride was hurt.

Everyone in Desmere said that these decorations were pretty!

“Hmph!”

I grumbled and put all the decorations away.

Then I thought for a moment.

What could I have that would fit in this cold space and make Rico stand out?

‘Yeah… This is it!’

This time, I started making small flowers that resembled Rico.

Red petals and pitch-black stems…

I added a soft sheen to each petal.

They spread out all over the floor as if stars were embroidered on them.

Rico happily shook the petals.

“Wow! They’re so pretty!”

Even the bugs were happily flying around the pretty flowers.

Even Frostia’s expression softened.

That’s right!

Just as I was about to let out a sigh of relief—

“There’s nothing strange about these flowers… right?”

Flowers that resemble Rico!

They don’t have any abilities!”

It’s unfair…

It’s really so unfair…!

When did I ever do something so unbelievable!

Frostia gave me another suspicious look.

I could only sigh.

You said we were friends…

This can’t be happening…

However, seeing Rico happy gave me a little comfort.

It’s sad that Frostia is suspicious, but…

If such a pretty child likes her, then that’s okay.

But it’s still unfair!

I came because you called me!

At that moment, a black shadow flashed past me like lightning.

“Ugh!”

I instinctively grabbed the hem of my dress.

My heart raced.

It was an icicle spider.

It was called an ice spider.

I would have thought it was pretty if its body was shiny like transparent ice, but…

“But it’s still a spider!”

The spider that arrived in front of Rico tried to convey something by waving its forelegs here and there.

Its eight legs danced in the air.

It must have looked like an elegant dance at a royal ball, but to me, it was just a creepy sight.

“Ugh… Stop waving your legs like that…”

Rico seemed to be seriously watching the spider’s movements, oblivious to my feelings.

At that moment, a butterfly that looked like the leader butterfly gracefully flapped its wings and flew near Rico’s petals.

Its transparent wings glowed softly, resembling the embroidery on my dress.

It began to drink the sweet honey flowing from Rico’s petals little by little.

The sight of the flower and butterfly talking about something was just like a painting.

I stared at him absentmindedly.

“Oh my, they can communicate like that…”

I understood what Prostia had said.

Rico was truly special.

“It seems like a large group of humans have entered the upper layer.”

Suddenly, Rico’s roots began to carve letters into the ground.

The cute handwriting was still there.

‘Ah, that spider must have been a scout.’

I couldn’t help but exclaim in admiration.

Such systematic organization!

Even bugs are handled so well.

And the sense to use that disgusting spider as a scout!

“Ha. You’re fearless.”

Frostia spat out coldly.

The icy air felt even colder at her voice.

“Really. Weak ones…”

I had the same thought.

Humans are really…

It’s good to pursue beauty, but their lifespans are so short and fragile.

“Ah! Here’s my chance!”

A good idea suddenly occurred to me.

It seemed like this would dispel Frostia’s doubts.

“Should I clean them up? I can turn them all to dust with a single wave of my hand…”

Then Frostia will understand my sincerity, right?

It was also the perfect opportunity to give Rico human magic.

Was it killing two birds with one stone?

“Ah! No!”

Rico quickly moved her roots.

She looked like a flustered girl.

“I want to meet humans once…”

The sound of the roots scraping the ground seemed more impatient than usual.

This is cute too…

“Yes, we are here, so do as you wish.”

I felt resentment again at Prostia’s affectionate voice.

You made such a scary face to me earlier…

This is discrimination, after all!

At that moment, the leader butterfly and the other butterflies began to flutter.

The red butterfly that Rico had introduced as Cecilia remained still.

As if receiving a signal from the butterflies, numerous bugs flew out of the hole in an instant.

I couldn’t help but admire their orderly movements.

“Huh? Where are those kids going?”

“To watch over the humans!”

“Wow…”

He looks like a perfect commander of a corps!

He moves his subordinates so systematically.

“How long will it take for the humans to get here?”

I asked Rico.

It would take quite a while for the humans to get here.

“About four days on the upper floor, and another day on the middle floor… Maybe four days…”

Rico’s roots scraped the ground.

He looked like a scholar calculating.

“Then can I wait here too?”

Prostia gave me a suspicious look.

‘Really… When will this suspiciousness be cured?’

But Rico fluttered the flower petals happily.

“Yes! I’d like you to stay with me!”

That’s how the first day began.

Rico constantly communicated with the bugs.

They moved systematically as if they were playing chess.

“Oh my, look at that.”

I gently pulled on Prostia’s sleeve.

It was amazing how the bugs moved like shadows and conveyed information.

“I found out the number of humans. Knights… About 40 people?”

“Wow… That’s really amazing.”

I couldn’t help but be impressed by Rico’s information skills.

I feel sorry for Deiana, but…

The subordinate battle that took place in my head seemed to be Rico’s victory.

My subordinates can’t do that…

The second day.

The bugs’ movements became more sophisticated.

“They’re heading to the middle layer. But I told them not to show up.”

Rico’s roots confidently engraved the letters.

The butterflies that had eaten the honey disappeared into the darkness and reappeared repeatedly.

“It’s like they’re dancing.”

Prostia also had a satisfied expression.

“Huh! It was so cold to me…”

On the third day.

News came that the knights had entered the lower level.

“It’ll be soon…”

Rico’s flower petals trembled slightly.

Was she nervous?

Was she looking forward to it?

“Rico, should we decorate this place a little more while we’re at it?”

(Yes? Oh, yes! I like it!)

I started decorating excitedly.

This time, I’ve created a piece that even Prostia would fall in love with…

“Nice, that’s too much.”

“Ugh…”

My shoulders slumped at the still cold evaluation.

The last day.

Finally, news came that the knights had arrived at the entrance to the depths.

They were guided by the scent of flowers.

Through this passage…

“Oh my, you’re amazing!”

Then, a good idea suddenly occurred to me.

“Prostia-sama.”

I approached quietly and whispered.

Like a snake making a sweet offer.

Of course, I was a snake.

“How about we also get away and watch secretly?

If we were right next to them, the humans would only care about us.”

Prostia gave me another suspicious look.

‘Aww, really… I’m a little tired now, you know?’

I was hurt, but I held it in.

However, Prostia soon nodded.

She seemed curious after all.

“Riko, try talking to the humans.”

It wasn’t her usual cold voice, but a tone like a mother worrying about her child.

Really… Prostia has changed a lot.

(Yes!)

Rico’s flower petals fluttered happily.

She looked as excited as a child before going on a picnic.

We hid in the passage leading down to the deepest level, hiding our presence.

Here, we could clearly see Rico, but we could also avoid the humans’ gaze.

“So, what are we going to do, Rico?”

My heart began to flutter with anticipation without me knowing it.

It was as if I was waiting for a new performance at a theater.

When I glanced at Prostia’s expression, it seemed like she was feeling the same way.

The humans will be arriving soon…

What kind of appearance will Rico show me?