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“Lady Victoria is a kind-hearted person.” Katezina, who was leading us along, began to explain their situation—for whatever reason.

“The Filma family is a count’s house that holds lands in the Holy Kingdom of Alveria, and Lady Victoria is the daughter of His Excellency the Count.”

Amid the quiet, white snow, only the sound of footsteps crunching through the snow and the dignified voice of a woman reached our ears.

“We have come to this distant land for a specific purpose: we needed a flower called the Snow Blossom, which is said to bloom only in the depths of this Eternal Ice Cavern.”

…I’ve heard of it. I believe it’s the raw material for a medicine said to cure all kinds of fevers.
With the development of various new drugs, alternative options have greatly increased. Nowadays, there’s almost no demand for it.

Not only does it begin to deteriorate immediately if taken outside the Eternal Ice Cavern, but it’s also difficult to handle.

“We assembled an expedition team and decided to venture into the Ice Crystal Cavern at the center of the Eternal Ice Cavern.”

Omitting certain details here and there, Katezina continues.

They had gathered skilled adventurers at Panadia Port and formed an infiltration team to enter the Eternal Ice Cavern.

That young lady was an outstanding mage enrolled at the Royal Academy in the Holy City of Alveria, and due to certain circumstances, she had come to this unexplored region herself, leading her retainers, to obtain the Snow Blossom.

Although they managed to obtain the Snow Blossom itself, trouble arose, forcing them to split into two groups, and she ended up having to flee with only her retinue.

“We exhausted our supplies during the expedition and lost comrades during our escape. …But as a knight who has served the Filma family for generations, I must do whatever it takes to bring the young lady home safely.”

Katezina stopped in her tracks.

In the silent, white world, a wind laden with snow chilled her cheeks.

“…If it’s food, we can lend some, nya. You’d get out of the snowfield in half a day’s walk, nya.”

I could tell Noche was tense at the faint hint of madness seeping through.

Maybe we should count ourselves lucky, as we have plenty of leeway. After all, our route simply cuts straight across the edge of the snowfield.

If it’s just the food stashed in the backpack Filia’s carrying for camouflage, handing it all over wouldn’t hurt that much. It would be far worse to get into a fight with the nobles at our destination (Alveria) while we’re still in uncharted territory.

“That’s good to hear. It looks like we’ll be able to fulfill our mission.”
“……”

But I don’t understand why she went out of her way to separate us from the rest of the group just to make that deal.

Katezina glances to the right of our path. I can’t see clearly through the blizzard, but… is there a hole in the snowfield?

“Frost Holes.”
“Nya?”
“They’re holes that appear here and there across this snowfield. They’re said to be the trails left by a giant ice worm, known as the Lords of the Eternal Ice Caverns. That’s probably true—after all, we found the Snow Blossom in one of its lairs.”

I have a bad feeling about this. Don’t tell me, the reason they were being chased by ice worms is because…?

“They’ll keep chasing any intruders who enter their territory. We’ll likely be pursued before long… but if there’s prey they fancy along the way, that’s a different story.”
“Don’t tell me, you?”
“…I do feel sorry about it.”

Katezina turned around, her eyes devoid of emotion.

At first glance, it looked like she was hardening her heart for her master’s sake. Unfortunately, I’d seen plenty of people like this in my past life. They were often researchers—troublesome types who hid their true feelings behind the pretext of *duty.*

She may be hiding her expression well, but her heartbeat betrays a faint sign of excitement.

“……How about this: we give you all the potions and food we have, and we’ll help you fend off any attacks until you leave the territory?”
“Alice?”

I throw out a proposal as a test—under *normal circumstances,* it would be a dream deal.

“I’m afraid I can’t accept that. Of course, the young lady would show mercy to orphans like you. But that very fact means there’s no guarantee you won’t target her. I can’t take on any unnecessary risks in this situation.”
“We wouldn’t do something like that, nya!”
“The words of lowly orphans, born and raised in squalor, aren’t trustworthy to begin with.”

Everyone would agree with that. Katezina, rejecting us with such plausible reasoning… sure enough, her heartbeat is gradually getting louder.

Given her lack of reaction, I assume it’s unconscious, but it sounds like she’s enjoying this.

“The bottom of that hole is also their territory.”

Four children who look like tender meat, right in when they were chasing a hard, unappetizing prey.

They’ll definitely come after us.

“…So, what do you plan to do?”
“Grrrrrrrrr…”

We’re not so clueless as to not read the room at this point.

Noche draws her sword, and Sufi lowers her stance and growls.

“Wind, aid my steps and carry me to the promised land—‘Wind Walk.’”
“Movement magic! Watch ou—”

The spell she cast was one to increase movement speed. Before the two could react to the warning, Katezina was already running straight toward us.

“Ah!”
“Guh!”

She grabbed the collar of my winter gear and forcibly tore me away from Sufi.

Sufi’s feet were caught in the deepening snow, and her movements were slowed by the winter gear. Even though Katezina was moving at a speed she could easily track with her eyes, she couldn’t keep up with Katezina.

“Wait!!”
“Wait nya!!”

Katezina ran through the snow while still holding onto me, coming to a stop near a vertical hole that looked to be dozens of meters in diameter.

…While I was trying to figure out what to do, she grabbed the collar of my winter gear and dangled me over the hole.

The whooshing sound of the wind pounded against my ears.

The height wasn’t that great compared to the size of the hole—maybe a few meters?

Probably because of the powdery snow piled up inside.

“Ah, oh no.”
“Alice!”
“B̲a̲s̲t̲a̲r̲d̲! What are you doing, nya?!”
“Drop your weapons and hand over your belongings.”

I’d become a full-fledged hostage—the situation was dire.

“You won’t get away scott free if you do anything to her, nya!”
“I will.”

Katezina drew her short sword from her waist and pressed it against my neck.

“Grrrrr!”
“…Even if we took this to court, the words of a noble and their retainer would carry more weight. That doesn’t change even in the East… Haah, but out here in the West, haah, a beastkin orphan’s complaint wouldn’t stand a chance.”
“She’s right. I don’t want to hurt you any more than necessary, so I’d appreciate it if you’d just obey quietly.”
“You…!”

That composure…

I can’t imagine the dog sled would be able to outrun an ice worm powerful enough to create a massive hole like that. Has she been using her own people as bait?

“Haah, wouldn’t the young lady be sad if she, haah, found out what you did?”
“You lot will kindly hand over your belongings to us and move on ahead. But unfortunately, you’ll be attacked by the ice worms and wiped out entirely… I’ll suggest to the young lady that she hold a memorial service for you all at the Alveria Beastfolk Cemetery—it’s the least I can do.”
“Koff, I see. So that’s the plan.”

I don’t know if she really hasn’t noticed or if she’s just pretending not to. Excessive loyalty isn’t much different from fanaticism.

“That’s ridiculous! Who’d believe that, nya!”
“The words of a noble and those of a commoner carry different weight. Even though I’m of low rank, I’m still a noble of Alveria—the sanctity of my blood is different from yours.”
“I don’t know what kind of family the Filma family is, but—koff—if I were told that a group of beastkin orphans were trying to extort money from a distinguished lord’s family for a mere favor… haah…well, I suppose I’d believe the nobles’ side.”
“…You’re surprisingly calm.”

I’ve got a pretty good idea of Katezina’s strength now. She’s not weak, but if we all work together, we can win. But just like she said, unless we wipe out everyone—including the young lady—we won’t be able to avoid being put on the wanted list.

That would be a huge blow right when we’re about to board a ship and head overseas.

“Noche, we’ve lost.”
“Guh, grr… gghh.”

The two of them hadn’t done anything wrong, but this time, we just had bad luck.

“…Filia, hand it over, nya.”
“Ugh…”
“That’s right, just do as you’re told. Your friend is important to you, isn’t she?”

As Filia set down her backpack, Katezina ordered her with her sword to stay away from the luggage.

“Go to hell, nya.”
“Indeed. I suppose hell is where I am going. If it is for my lady’s sake, then so be it… Step aside.”

She wasn’t the least bit fazed by Noche’s parting shot. Her tone was as if she were intoxicated with her own importance, but it was obvious she was looking down on us.

I can’t do anything right now, but the Filma family, huh… I’ll remember that. I’m the type to hold a grudge over this. Someday, I’ll show her what I’m made of.

“Ugh!”
“Alice!!”

Suddenly, a sensation of floating washed over me. It wasn’t until I saw Sufi, her face pale with panic, running toward me that I realized I’d been hurled into the depths of the hole.

The fall lasted only a few seconds. Hoping the snow was deep, I stretched out my limbs to break my fall.

With a soft thud, the snow absorbed the impact of my landing. Thanks to its lightness, I wasn’t buried very deep.

Just as I’d expected, the soft powder snow acted as a cushion. The moment I looked up, hearing the sounds of a struggle, I saw Sufi leaping toward me.

“……Ah.”
“Ah!”

Sufi, who had been gathering momentum, widened her eyes in shock.

I see. She must have panicked because she couldn’t see how deep the hole was or what the bottom looked like from over there. From where I was, it looked like even if she threw me in, I wouldn’t have gotten hurt from the fall, so I’d stayed calm.

Buried as I was, I couldn’t dodge in time, and as she crashed into me, I was pushed down and buried even deeper.

Thinking that this would do more damage than the fall itself, I blacked out from the impact.