Chapter 39: Isiel

Ugh, so cold!

I should have brought my coat...

I should just steal Morgana's cloak and go out. She won't be coming out anyway.

Morgana already wrapped herself in her cloak and became one with it...

She's quick when it comes to things like this.

Cooooold! It's so cold! So cold!!

The merfolk appeared, looking unusually pale!

You guys are struggling in the cold too. Come at me.

We're almost there, Ethan.

Phew... is this the end of the tumultuous journey?

Damn! The docks and the village are covered in snow.

This is strange... even though Isiel is known as the ice kingdom, this doesn't seem like a place that would neglect the docks to the point of being covered in snow...

Ahhh! It's so cold! I want to go back!

Thank you for saving us.

It's dangerous to go outside right now. You're lucky.

It's late today. We'll talk tomorrow.

...You, are you the Swordbringer?

Yes. I am the Swordbringer.

You seem more ordinary than I expected.

Queen Catherine, I formally greet you.

I am Princess Elizabeth Pendragon of the Britannia Kingdom.

I've heard that you too wish to align with the alliance.

We've secured alliance pledges from Cornwall, Cameliard, Mercia, and Elaia kingdoms.

If Isiel also joins the alliance, it will be a great help in the upcoming war with the empire.

I know. But unfortunately, even if we make an alliance now, we won't be able to help.

What...

The demon of the arctic has overtaken our country.

The demon of the arctic...?

We call it the Abyss.

So, the state of the kingdom is because of it...

Yes. This kingdom is cursed. It has become the Abyss's prey.

For now, stopping the Abyss is the priority.

Swordbringer, I've heard of your fame.

If you really are the legendary Swordbringer... won't you fight the Abyss in Winterich?

The Abyss, huh...

That thing devours people's minds. Then it erases everything with the bitter cold.

So, if I defeat the Abyss, we can form the alliance?

Hm, it's not something that can be easily defeated.

We've already faced a lot of insane things on our way here.

If you promise the alliance, we'll defeat it.

You seem confident. Deal.

Are you crazy, Ethan?!

You get up after being sick and start yelling like this?!

The Abyss is a demon of god-like power!

It's a suicidal act!

What are you so scared of? You've already taken down a Kraken and a dragon.

That thing isn't just a monster... it stirs your mind and freezes you to death in a blizzard!

That's why we came with our great Fairy Queen.

Oh, come on!

Is there really no way?

...With my current magical power, there's no way.

A monster of that level... I didn't realize it was like that when I so readily agreed to take it down.

But...

But?

If we channel magical power into the Holy Grail and use Eva to find the Abyss's weakness...

Then... maybe we can drive the Abyss away...

But we can't kill it?

For now, all we can do is drive it out of the country.

But to do that, we'll need someone with magic power on the level of Merlin or me...

I'll go.

Queen Catherine...

So if we channel the magic power into the Holy Grail, you can drive it out, right?

No, not drive it out, but we can at least make it leave...

That's right. Ethan can defeat it!

Hey, you...

There are many people suffering because of the Abyss, Ethan.

I can't just stand by and watch them.

Sigh... Alright. This time it's a god-level demon... this really will be a matter of life and death.