Chapter 331

"…So you're telling me this south pole is a place that cold?"

Minerva asked Han Su-yeong again, her voice carrying disbelief.

"Yeah. Probably the coldest place in the world. Where we were before doesn't even come close."

Han Su-yeong, having finally finished clattering through the boat's adjustments, nodded.

Yu Ji-hyeok had nearly collapsed from exhaustion, and Minerva too had built up no small amount of fatigue from the fight; with no good way to move, they'd ended up retrieving the boat they'd previously left behind.

"Mm… I can't picture it. Even at that time, I thought the cold would be the end of me, and you're saying this is beyond comparison."

Bandaged in several places, Minerva tilted her head.

In truth, bandaging her did nothing whatsoever, but seeing Yu Ji-hyeok's body wrapped in them, she'd clumsily followed along and bandaged herself the same way.

"Of course, if both of you went in dragon form, none of that would be an issue. But…"

"It's what comes after that's the problem. This Minerva understands well enough."

They had succeeded in sealing Venus away, but Yu Ji-hyeok had overdrawn his strength to such an extent that he had no choice but to spend several days flat on his back recovering.

In Minerva's case, even though it had been her own miscalculation, the wounds she'd taken in battle had been significant, and she too needed time to tend to them.

"On top of that, Juno was always the cleverest of the three of us."

Minerva said it and leaned her head against the side of the boat.

"If that creature has fled to this south pole of yours, then it must have set up something there beforehand. It may well drag into a long fight… and if it does, it puts him at a severe disadvantage."

At her words, Han Su-yeong nodded.

It was true that drawn-out fights were Yu Ji-hyeok's weakest area.

And from everything they'd seen and heard up to now, the Seven Calamity called Juno excelled at barriers, holding opponents down, locking them in, and laying curses.

In other words, its specialty was a war of attrition — chipping away at an opponent's strength bit by bit — which was to say, the worst possible matchup for Yu Ji-hyeok.

"We're going to have to go in fully prepared."

"That's right."

The bandages must have felt stifling, because Minerva worked a finger underneath them and scratched.

"And we must also think ahead to after the fight with Juno. He, for one—"

She broke off there and quietly closed her eyes.

"…You're human. Cold weather alone can kill humans. And in a weakened state, the danger is greater still. After fighting Juno he may revert to human form as he did this time, or either of you might take a fatal wound, or be cut off and left behind — none of that can be ruled out."

"Isn't dragging things out a bad idea, then?"

"It is. Moving swiftly in a fight matters above all else. But to be blinded by that and fail to read the situation properly is no different from trying to get yourself killed."

…Says the one who completely lost it the moment Ji-hyeok got swallowed.

Han Su-yeong kept that thought strictly inside her own head.

Unaware of the impure thoughts running through her, Minerva was staring blankly at the seabirds flying overhead.

"…At most a week before he's fully back on his feet, no? And you said earlier that the tool to hold Juno down would take that long to prepare too. There's nothing for it but to wait. If Venus's seal were to break it would be a nuisance, but Juno hasn't the strength left for that right now, so you can ease your mind on that count, at least."

"Mmm, still — you know that saying. Without the lips, the teeth feel the cold…."

At her words, Minerva gave a small nod.

It meant the worry was a fair one.

"Yes, you have a point. But it's a saying that doesn't apply to us."

Minerva said it with the certainty of no need to worry.

"Juno and Venus had similar reasons for joining hands, and yet not the same. The more desperate of the two was Juno. If Juno had been sealed first and Venus had been the one to come to its aid, we might well have had to face both again. Exactly as you fear."

Having finished her adjustments to a reasonable point, Han Su-yeong trudged over and dropped down beside Minerva.

She, too, was worn down from overspending her mana.

"But Venus… unlike Juno, her reasons weren't all that desperate. And I know that creature's character well. If she were freed from the seal, she'd choose to flee and hole up rather than seek revenge. The three of us, myself included, have spent half a lifetime fighting each other, and that — laughably enough — makes us the ones who know each other best. Which is why I can say it."

Bothered by a bandage that had slipped down over her brow, Minerva swept it back irritably.

"Juno thinks a great deal. But when it makes a decision, it doesn't hesitate, and it never does anything that puts it at a loss. Freeing Venus would gain it nothing. To free Venus, it would have to pour out at least three-tenths of its true strength, and the last battle already cost it nearly half. Having chosen flight and concealment to focus on recovery, it won't gamble on something like that."

Watching Minerva render judgment with such cool detachment, Han Su-yeong found herself surprised.

That was because, up to now, the side Minerva had shown her had been clumsy beyond words.

Mixing up dates, being unable to recite the times tables, insisting on wearing a dress even while sweat was pouring off her, and only moments ago not even knowing where the south pole was….

"On top of that, Juno and Venus genuinely can't stand each other. So there's no need to worry."

Done explaining, Minerva let out a languid sigh and added one more thing.

"…Is he all right?"

"Hm?"

Minerva murmured it as she gazed at the slapping waves.

"This Minerva doesn't know how to read a human's condition. Even taking on human form like this, I'm not human, so I can't understand it."

"Ah, right. Ji-hyeok is fine."

Han Su-yeong said it and waved a hand.

Having seen him sound asleep in the cabin only a moment ago, there wasn't a trace of worry in her voice.

"He's used that ability a lot in the past, but this is the first time he's used both at once, and for that long on top of it. Even so, with proper rest he always bounces right back, so… I think it's best if we head back to a town, get the rest done, and set out from there."

Minerva nodded.

When she closed her mouth, the flow of conversation naturally died.

For Han Su-yeong, the original Minerva from the future would have been one thing — but this one, sitting right here in front of her, was awkward enough that she didn't deliberately try to strike up more conversation.

For a while afterward there was no exchange between them, only the sound of the waves carrying through the surrounding air.

"May I ask one more thing."

"Uh… ask what?"

"You said the two of you came from the future."

At Minerva's words, Han Su-yeong nodded.

She already knew Yu Ji-hyeok had given her some account of their circumstances.

"That's right. Me and Ji-hyeok came from the future."

"…And you have to go back?"

"Yes. There are things left for us to take care of in our original world, and there are friends waiting for us."

Minerva quietly spoke.

"Could you not go back alone."

For a moment Han Su-yeong was certain she'd misheard.

"……What?"

"Only you, back to the time you came from. To the future. I asked whether you might not go back alone."

She hadn't misheard.

Now Han Su-yeong slowly turned her head to look at Minerva, as if trying to make out what on earth she was thinking when she said something like that.

"What's that supposed to mean, right now?"

"Exactly what I said. I'm asking whether he could not… be left behind in this world."

"Why?"

"That…"

Minerva broke off for a moment, then she, too, slowly turned her head to look at Han Su-yeong.

"…This Minerva doesn't know either. Why on earth am I saying something like this?"

"You…."

Han Su-yeong was about to flare up at what felt like Minerva mocking her when —

"And isn't it the natural thing. If I wanted him, all I'd have to do is take him. Just as I've done with everything else. Anything in the way I could trample and burn down. Venus, Juno…."

Reptilian eyes, pupils split vertically, slid sidelong past Han Su-yeong.

"You as well."

"……"

"But I cannot. The thought won't come to me. Because if I did…"

Biting hard at her lip, Minerva looked at Han Su-yeong and spoke almost pleadingly.

"He listens to you, doesn't he? Hm? If you say it, surely he'll accept it. So…"

Mumbling, Minerva turned her head away again.

Her eyes were fixed on the empty horizon out over the sea.

"I don't know what it is. I don't know why I'm acting this way. I don't know exactly how many years of time you've crossed. But with this Minerva's abilities… surely I could make you hold up across a few centuries, no?"

Having gotten that far, Minerva nodded to herself.

"…Yes, you stay with us too. Hm? All of us together. Centuries or no, there are many ways to extend a human's lifespan. This Minerva could see to that easily enough. So you don't go either — stay with me and him, the three of us together."

"……"

"Please, I beg of you. Hm? This Minerva is pleading with you. Please… please, persuade him. Please…"

At her rambling words, Han Su-yeong let out a small sigh.

And then, in a short, firm voice, she answered.

"I can't."

"…Why?"

Minerva murmured, as if she couldn't believe it.

It looked as if she hadn't, for a moment, considered the possibility of being refused.

"Why?"

"Minerva, that's—"

"Why, on earth, why."

Her voice began turning dangerous.

"This Minerva, I, am pleading with you this earnestly. This Minerva is saying she'll do anything, that I'll help. So why on you, without a moment's hesitation, so easily…!"

Her eyes had flushed red with rage, and a thin line of blood was running from the corner of her mouth.

The presence she gave off was so menacing that Han Su-yeong could feel her own skin prickling, pressed down by Minerva's mana.

Under a pressure that felt as if it were crushing her insides, Han Su-yeong forced the words out.

"You'd know better than I would."

She looked the Seven Calamity who seemed about to tear her apart on the spot straight in the eye.

"That's the natural order, the flow of things. Anyone who's gone against time has to go back. I shouldn't have to be the one explaining that to you, Minerva — you know it better than anyone."

What she said was true.

More than anyone, Minerva knew it was the natural order.

She also knew what happened to anyone who tried to defy it.

That was why Minerva could only glare at Han Su-yeong as if she were going to kill her.

Han Su-yeong glared right back, refusing to be the one to back down.

"The natural order isn't something anyone can defy."

She got the words out in a voice so cold and steady it surprised even her.

"Not even a Seven Calamity."

With that last line, Han Su-yeong turned her head away sharply.

Her legs, pressed down by that vast, savage presence, trembled, and her whole body shook — but her voice never lost its strength.

"…I'll pretend I never heard any of that."

She took a step forward and added,

"And if you really care about Ji-hyeok the way you say you do, why don't you think about how much harder you'd be making things for him by digging in your heels?"

Minerva slowly rose to her feet.

She was glaring straight into Han Su-yeong's back.

A mere human whose life she could take in an instant if she only made up her mind to — and yet she couldn't bring herself to even try.

She knew what kind of face Yu Ji-hyeok would make, and what he would say, if she did.

"…You, who talk to me about the natural order and tell me to know my place."

So Minerva quietly spoke.

Deep beneath her voice, a fury simmered that felt ready to burst out at any moment.

"What do you think of the fact that you stand in the position most at odds with the natural order, doing the very thing that defies it most?"

"……"

Han Su-yeong couldn't say anything.

Because it was true.

"You're right."

That was all she could get out.

"That's probably the reason Ahriman keeps pulling all these tricks on me, too."

Wanting to slip free of the natural order, the same as you, Minerva.

"I'm no different myself."

…Three days have passed since Venus was sealed.

Or so Su-yeong and Minerva told me when I woke up in bed.

Minerva had fully recovered as well, so we finished our preparations right away and set out for the south pole.

Five days have passed since Venus was sealed.

We arrived at the south pole.

The cold and blizzards were beyond what we'd imagined, so we decided to set up a hideout first.

The Smith of Yado came to us and handed over the last item we'd commissioned.

Six days have passed since Venus was sealed.

We couldn't find a single trace of Juno.

Eight days have passed since Venus was sealed.

We picked up a faint trace of Juno.

The search started gaining momentum.

Nine days have passed since Venus was sealed.

We found Juno and engaged it in battle.

Ten days have passed since Venus was sealed.

At long last, we'd succeeded in sealing Juno.

And….

How on earth did things end up like this.

I quietly thought it to myself, almost as a lament.

To my left and right, Minerva and Han Su-yeong were clinging to me like they were hanging on for dear life.

To be precise, they were sitting on my lap and holding on tight to my body.

Normally I would have played dumb, pushed down whatever flustered feeling was rising in me, and told them to let go — but right now I couldn't do that.

Both their faces were as pale as if they were about to pass out any second.

"……"

"……"

The two of them said nothing, only kept trembling.

I silently circulated dragon blood through my body, speeding it up to raise my body temperature.

At that, the two of them, still silent, started rubbing up against me and clinging closer.

"…Really pulled out all the stops to inconvenience us before going down, didn't it."

All I could do was quietly curse out the one who'd created this whole situation — Juno, already long since sealed away.