Chapter 71
Doyul let go of the black sword he was holding and ran towards Yerin.
He had a look on his face like he was about to burst into tears.
“Miss, are you okay?”
Doyul grabbed Yerin and clung to her.
“Oh my.”
Her voice, mixed with tears, made his head spin.
And the more surprising part was.
“Hey, even if you’re overwhelmed with emotions, showing your back to the enemy… what are you thinking?”
And to top it off, isn’t the sword just lying on the ground without a care!
But because Yerin seemed to know how much he was worried about her, she couldn’t bring herself to scold Doyul.
– You passed the test splendidly.
At that moment, a pleased voice was heard.
– Congratulations, you are indeed the contractor I chose.
It was Manyeonbingjeong.
“What is it?”
Yerin opened her eyes and glared at Manyeonbingjeong.
“What’s the point of this damn test?”
“…Wait, Miss.”
Doyul narrowed his eyes and stared at Yerin.
“A test?”
“Yes, that’s right.”
Yerin, who had stood up, replied bluntly.
“That damn spirit made me take the test.”
“A test, what kind of test is it exactly?”
“Well… that’s.”
Yerin was momentarily at a loss for words, as she couldn’t talk about seeing her past life.
At that moment, Manyeonbingjeong interjected with a satisfied expression.
– I wanted to know if you would settle for a happy past, or live in the present.
The text has a colloquial and authentic translation:
“……”
Yerin, feeling a prick in her heart, fell silent for a moment.
Manyeonbingjeong spoke with satisfaction.
– And you chose reality.
Damn, he’s acting like he can see right through people.
Yerin, pursing her lips, glanced at Doyul out of the corner of her eye.
“At least Doyul seems lucky not to understand Manyeonbingjeong’s words.”
Anyway.
After going through that damn test or whatever it was, it’s hard not to take the deal.
“So, does that mean our contract is now sealed?”
Manyeonbingjeong nodded.
– That’s right. Take a look inside your right wrist.
Yerin’s gaze trailed down to her right wrist.
There was a pattern engraved that looked like a snowflake.
The faint, pale light emanating from it looked quite eerie.
– It’s a symbol proving our connection.
Having declared that, Manyeonbingjeong subtly exerted force on Yerin’s shoulder, as if to convey the idea that even an ungrateful contractor like her would be a little surprised this time.
“Wait, this doesn’t come off, does it?”
But Yerin looked at Manyeonbingjeong with a troubled expression.
“Do I have to have this pattern etched on my wrist for the rest of my life?”
– Are you daring to express dissatisfaction with that pattern?
Manyeonbingjeong snapped.
– It’s a noble pattern that only the chosen contractor can obtain…!
“Okay, this is too noticeable.”
Yerin tilted her chubby face.
“I’d rather not stand out as much as possible.”
– …….
Interestingly, even with a wolf’s face, the expression of disbelief was clearly visible.
A moment later.
– Is it done?
The pattern on Yerin’s wrist disappeared.
“Oh, it’s finally gone. Thank you.”
Yerin waved her hand with a refreshing expression.
But Manyeonbingjeong still looked uncomfortable.
– My, my, I’ve never seen a contractee asking to erase the evidence proving they are Manyeonbingjeong’s contractor. How noble of a proof it is…!
Manyeonbingjeong didn’t stop grumbling.
Yerin looked at Manyeonbingjeong with narrowed eyes.
“No, it’s you.”
– W-what?
“You’re saying I’m your first contractee?”
– …….
Manyeonbingjeong flinched.
Yerin barely suppressed a sigh that was about to burst out.
Is it okay for the formidable Manyeonbingjeong, who is considered a great character in the original work, to act so childish?
‘Okay, okay.’
Yerin, inwardly shaking her head, glanced up at the cliff.
“Anyway, we have to get out of here now.”
The disappearance of both the palace and the Kamog was quite a situation.
The Ice Palace must have been turned upside down by now.
‘How many times have I worried the people of the Ice Palace?’
Of course, it wasn’t intentional, but still, she couldn’t say she had no responsibility in this matter.
Yerin felt a huge burden on her chest.
– Understood.
Manyeonbingjeong nodded slightly.
– Let’s go.
“Go?”
– Yes. Your young and fragile body won’t be able to climb to the top of that cliff.
Manyeonbingjeong smirked.
– I’ll grant you a favor just this once.
“Understood……”
Yerin bit her lip and endured it once.
But Manyeonbingjeong was relentless in gilding her own face.
– You are the first and last humans to ride on my great body.
“Yes, yes.”
– What’s with that sassy tone? I can’t even be grateful.
…I endured it once, so it’s fine, right?
Yerin didn’t endure it twice.
“Oh, you talk too much!”
– ……..
In response to Yerin’s sarcasm, Manyeonbingjeong finally closed her mouth again.
‘Finally, she’s quiet.’
Yerin chuckled and looked at Doyul.
“Let’s go, Lady of the palace.”
But Doyul didn’t hide her guarded expression.
“…What, what’s going on?”
Doyul, who had been watching Yerin and Manyeonbingjeong bicker, asked Yerin with a puzzled look.
“Is this really okay? That beast forced the lady to undergo a test, and why in the world would you believe that beast…?”
“Oh, that.”
…Where should I start explaining this?
Feeling a little overwhelmed, Yerin just left the explanation to Manyeonbingjeong.
“Explain.”
– What?
“Since you’re the one who caused this problem, the lady of the palace wants you to explain the current situation properly so she can understand.”
In addition, Yerin subtly pursed her lips so Doyul wouldn’t notice.
[If you say anything unnecessary, you’re dead. Got it?]
A technique that sends a voice to a specific person with added skill.
Whispering.
[By the way, if the lady of the palace doesn’t understand the current situation properly, then our contract is also invalid. Be careful.]
– ……..
At the casual threat, Manyeonbingjeong looked astonished.
And so, after many twists and turns.
– …That’s how it happened.
Manyeonbingjeong’s principle of not mixing words with anyone other than the contractee had long been broken.
Somehow, Manyeonbingjeong succeeded in persuading Doyul.
Just then, Yerin casually interjected.
“Now that the rough talk seems to be over, let’s get out of here quickly.”
“Oh, yes….”
Doyul shook hands with Yerin, looking bewildered.
At the same time, Yerin ordered Manyeonbingjeong.
“Hey, lie down.”
– ……..
Manyeonbingjeong began to worry if she had chosen the wrong contractee.
The two of them climbed onto Manyeonbingjeong’s body side by side.
Despite being made of ice, they didn’t feel cold, even though they were concerned about it being too cold.
Yerin casually reached out and grabbed the fluffy fur near the ice creature’s neck.
Manyeonbingjeong was furious.
– No, if you touch that, it undermines my dignity…!
“What do you want me to do then? How are we supposed to balance ourselves while you’re running? Are you suggesting we fall backward?”
– ……..
Unable to hide her dejected expression from Yerin’s triple attack, Manyeonbingjeong looked despondent.
Watching her, Doyul smiled bitterly.
‘Madam’s actions are truly consistent.’
Anyway, with that argument over.
Manyeonbingjeong took a leap and jumped up.
* * *
So Doyul and Yerin returned to the North Sea Ice Palace.
The palace was in chaos, like a beehive had been disturbed.
“Lady of the palace! Lady Doyul!”
“Where on earth have you been all this time!”
“We were so worried, we thought our hearts would melt!”
The attendants rushed out one after another.
And not only that?
They even embraced Yerin with open arms!
Even the strict and renowned Lady Kyuyul, who was not the palace’s martial arts instructor!
‘Incredible.’
Fortunately, Doyul was able to avoid the embarrassing situation of being lifted up due to his recent growth spurt.
Doyul stood by with his mouth agape.
Well, it was understandable since he had never seen Lady Kyuyul hugging a child like that before.
‘I’ve never been hugged like that by Lady Kyuyul either.’
It was because he had to maintain the dignity of the palace.
At first, Yerin felt guilty about worrying him, so she quietly held him in her arms.
“I, I can’t breathe!”
Finally feeling the threat to his survival, he managed to escape from Lady Kyuyul’s embrace.
The attendants raised their voices in unison to the two.
“We sent out a search party!”
“If anything had happened to you two…!”
Doyul, feeling awkward, gave an apologetic smile in response.
“Sorry for causing you worry. We both made it back safely, so it’s all good, right?”
But then the three attendants looked serious.
“That’s not what we want to hear!”
“Do you have any idea how worried we were?!”
The attendants were in such a frenzy that they had lost their composure.
However, there was a being that helped them regain some composure.
“By the way…”
The gaze of the finance minister turned to underneath Yerin’s knees.
There stood a small puppy with fluffy white fur right by Yerin’s side.
The fluffy fur was so adorable.
“What’s with the puppy?”
In response to that question, the other two guardians standing beside Ye-rin stared at the dog.
The dog suddenly made an angry expression.
“Arf arf!”
Despite its small size, the dog’s barking sounded quite fierce.
Hearing that arfing sound, the three guardians stood side by side with strange expressions.
For some reason, it seemed like that dog was protesting, “Don’t call me a dog!”
Is it just a misconception?
“Oh, that dog over there?”
Whether the dog barked or not, Ye-rin casually opened her mouth.
“Its name is Somi. I found it abandoned on the way here, and it looked so pitiful, so I brought it with me.”
“Arf arf! Grrr… Arf!”
In response to Ye-rin’s words, Somi, or rather, the perennial frost, couldn’t contain its anger and barked more fiercely.
Meanwhile, Doyul recalled the conversation that took place between Ye-rin and the perennial frost on their way to the Ice Palace.
– Naturally, shouldn’t I have the opportunity to praise my greatness to the humans of the Ice Palace?
Although the perennial frost had said that, Ye-rin firmly shook her head.
‘That won’t do.’
– Why not!
‘It’s just not going to happen.’
For some reason, Ye-rin was resolute.
‘Our contract will be kept secret for now.’
– Why!
Perennial Frost protested.
‘That’s how it is.’
Yerin smiled brightly, her eyes curving.
‘One should keep a hidden move, right?’
And looking at that smile, Doyul somehow felt a shiver down his spine.
How could this be expressed?
Like seeing a wolf pretending to be innocent with a sheepskin turned inside out?
But the more surprising fact was,
“…So, does that mean I am the contract holder’s hidden move?”
Those well-chosen words seemed to have hit the mark with Yerin.
“Exactly! Our eternal ice spirit is smart, isn’t she?”
Yerin nodded vigorously as if she knew it all.
“When I’m in a crisis, the one move that can turn the situation around! How about that? Isn’t it cool?”
Yerin lavishly praised herself.
Then, the demeanor of the eternal ice spirit subtly softened.
“If you put it that way… fine, I understand.”
Doyul was secretly astonished.
“Wait, I was convinced by that?”
When you mention the eternal ice spirit, it’s a noble spirit that appears only in the legends of the Northern Ice Castle. The sight of such a spirit being swayed by a few words of praise… it was indeed…
“A bit disappointing, though.”
However, the eternal ice spirit, unaware of Doyul’s true feelings, stood tall, alternately gazing at Yerin and Doyul.
Her deliberately refined expression to look dignified was evident.
Then, she added with force,
“Instead, when we’re alone, don’t forget to treat me with respect!”
However, even though she tried to look imposing, being a white fur puppy, she had no real dignity.
Anyway, with that kind of story, the eternal ice spirit decided to stay by the side of the two in the form of a puppy.
“Well, whatever… It should be fine, right?”
Doyul tried hard to think that way.
“Bark, bark!”
“Ah, noisy. Please be quiet.”
Of course, watching the white puppy jumping around and Yerin pushing it away as if annoyed.
“…I don’t really understand.”
Somehow, it felt like his efforts were in vain.
