Chapter 77

A faint, tingling sensation lingered near her nails.

(Did Siwell’s magic reject me?)

As Claudia narrowed her eyes, Noah gently took her hand.

"…Noah"

"Does it hurt?"

His expression was very sincere and pained, showing that he truly cared and was concerned for Claudia. Noah’s bony fingers, which looked like those of an adult, slowly traced Claudia’s smooth fingertips.

"If only I could use healing magic."

His ancestor, Reinhardt, was also not skilled in healing magic. The obsidian eyes that both Reinhardt and Noah possessed were attributed to the darkness element, which was incompatible with the light element of healing and protection.

(He looks like a sad puppy.)

Claudia chuckled and patted Noah’s head.

"It’s fine, Noah. It doesn’t hurt, and even if it were an injury, it wouldn’t be serious."

"But—"

Noah’s obsidian eyes looked straight down at Claudia.

"—You had a pained expression."

"……"

Claudia gently narrowed her eyes.

"I was just feeling lonely."

"…I’m here for you."

Hearing this, Claudia couldn’t help but smile.

"I know. That’s why I’m fine."

Two years ago, he promised to be with Claudia. She squeezed Noah’s hand, who kept his promise, and tilted the lantern.

"Let’s go upstairs. There might be a princess who can wake up among the others."

Together, they climbed each floor, checking one by one.

The second princess they found on the next floor had silver hair cut to her shoulders and a cool, beautiful appearance. From her, they could also sense Siwell’s magic, but it still rejected Claudia, and she couldn’t wake her up.

The third and fourth princesses were the same. Even when they reached the ninth floor and the eighth princess, the situation didn’t change.

"It’s no good. I can sense the flow of magic, but I can’t grasp it."

"Is it a barrier?"

"It’s similar, but strictly speaking, it seems different."

Noah looked at Claudia, who was deep in thought, as if protecting her with his gaze.

The sleeping girl in front of them, who looked about sixteen, was apparently the daughter of a duke, a relative of Louis. Six months ago, when she fell into a deep sleep, the rumors of the curse in this country reached Claudia’s ears.

"The girls of the Klingenheit royal family are always afraid. They don’t know when they might fall ill next."

"Knowing that it’s not an illness but a curse that makes them sleep like dolls…"

"…is probably limited to the king and a few others, and the caretakers who come to this tower to prepare the bedding—"

At that moment.

"……"

Noah pulled Claudia close, shielding her from behind. At the same time, ice began to form with a crackling sound in front of Noah, who summoned his sword.

"This is…"

Claudia also looked up at the ice block that quickly grew to reach the ceiling.

This was not just ice. It was a crude ice statue with legs, a torso, arms, and a head.

"An ice golem."

The moment Claudia spoke, the golem raised its arm toward them.

"It would be quite a shock if it hit us."

Claudia called out to Noah, who was standing with his sword ready.

"Wait a moment, Noah. I’ll cast a barrier spell on you."

"It’s unnecessary."

Noah said this as if it were nothing.

"—As long as I don’t get hit."

Then, he jumped into the golem’s range.

The arm made of ice blocks swung down at Noah from a height much higher than his own. A powerful blow came down as if to strike him.

Noah easily dodged the attack, weaving as he ran and simultaneously raising his left hand to cast a spell at the golem.

"‘Inferno’"

A circle appeared on the stone floor, and fire erupted with a roar. The golem hesitated for a moment but quickly stomped out the flames. Roasting the giant ice statue wouldn’t melt it instantly.

However, Noah’s aim was not there.

(Does this golem have intelligence?)

In the next moment, the golem suddenly looked up, as if realizing something. Did it realize that it had taken its eyes off Noah, focusing on the weakness of the flames?

Noah leaped from the stone floor and landed on the golem’s arm. The golem reacted quickly, trying to grab Noah with its other hand. Noah jumped again, easily evading it, and positioned his sword in front of the golem’s head.

Then, he slashed horizontally, as if cutting it.

The golem, whose head was blown off, lost its balance due to its unstable stance and toppled over with a loud thud. Noah landed on top of it, lowered the blade of his sword, and thrust it into the golem’s back.

Fine cracks spread from there, and the golem shattered into pieces.

"Good job, Noah."

As Claudia clapped, Noah readied his sword again.

"No, not yet."

"…Yes."

Claudia pointed her finger and twirled it. Then, something that had looked like part of the stone wall peeled off, revealing a person inside.

The golem had no intelligence and was being controlled by someone. Seeing the silver hair, Noah spoke the name.

"…Stewart"

"Ah…!"

Louis’s older brother, the master of the Ice Garden, Stewart, was sitting on the floor, holding his head.