The snow storm has passed and the sky is now clear. We've encountered an enemy unit en route, but in the end we came out on top. All that is left is to finish the mission.

After having rested and recovered from the battle, we continued onwards to our destination. Initially, I wanted to have the princess stay behind with Merida watching over her, but after insisting to us that she had recovered from what they call "mana drain", it was decided that she would tag along after all.

With the snow storm gone, we proceeded without obstruction, and by the end of our fourth day since setting off form the fortress, we arrived at our goal.

"My liege, I have confirmed that the enemy is located near the foot of the mountain."

"Good work, Michaela, any ideas on how they waited out the storm?"

To confirm that we are indeed at the right spot, I sent out Michaela to scout out the enemy location. Hardly a proper use for an angel, but I've got no one else who could do this job.

"They seem to have made shelters out of brick of snow."

Igloos, huh. Not something I would imagine [Demons] would go and build. I guess that proves it, they're intelligent, and not only that, they seem to have some kind of culture of their own.

"Princess."

"Yes?"

"I know this isn't exactly the best time, and I probably should have asked sooner, but where did the [Demons] come from?"

Back in Elysium Online, [Demons] were a class of monsters, just enemies to be defeated. It was said that they were born from the [Corruption], but not much was revealed about them otherwise. Having come into this world, I also just assumed that these [Demons] are just monsters out of nowhere. It didn't occur to me that there may be more to it, though it really should have.

"The [Demons] came from the [Corruption], a dark force that turns all living creatures it touches into their twisted form you see today. However, no one knows where it truly came from. It happened all so suddenly after all. Like a plague, the [Corruption] swept across the lands and the [Demons] began appearing everywhere."

"But the land of the Beastkins remained safe?"

"Yes, through the protection of the Holy Beast."

"Holy Beast? That's the first I've heard of it."

"That is true, isn't it? It's a shame that we never really had much time to tell you about this world even though we intend to have you protect it. Still, I'm sure you'll meet someday, with the Holy Beast."

"Hopefully we'll have some time after this. I'd like to learn as much about this world as possible, now that I'll be saving it."

"Sir Aurelius?"

"It's nothing, now stand back."

I have the rest of them move away from the area. They've done well bringing me here, and now, finally, I shall do what I came here for in the first place. With [Insight], I locate a spot where the largest amount of snow had accumulated, but also has the least amount of durability and would cause a great amount of damage if they were to come loose. In other words, from here, with the [Demon] encampment beneath us, I shall be causing an avalanche.

In Elysium Online, the [Snow Ligers] have a skill called [Mighty Roar], which is a roar so powerful it creates a shockwave all around it, knocking down and stunning players that are standing too close when the skill is used. The boss, [Alpha Snow Liger] has a similar move, one that is much more powerful and has a side effect of causing an avalanche within the stage the boss is fought in, which is set atop a snowy mountain just like this one. Timothy may not be an [Alpha Snow Liger], but if he uses his skill at the right spot, it should still have the same disastrous effects. Fearing that, I even told Timothy to not use that skill until I specifically say he could.

"Here should be good."

I had Timothy move to the ideal point where a collapse would send the snow on this entire side of the mountain tumbling down. Then, I take a deep breath and run through the sequence of action I will need to take in the next few moments within my head.

"Alright, do it!"

And with that command, Timothy unleashes the skill [Mighty Roar] on the spot, generating shockwaves that reverberates the surrounding and causing cracks across the ground. With the weight from all the snow concentrated on this point, the cracks continue to grow until the ground begins to shift and the whole thing commences its collapse.

As the ground beneath be starts to collapse, Michaela quickly take hold of me and with her wings spread wide, carries me up to the safety of the sky. At the same time, I use the [Dismiss] command on Timothy, turning him back into a card which automatically flies back to me before he could be taken away by the shifting snow.

A large body of snow sank away, flowing towards the bottom, going faster and faster as it went, carrying more and more snow away with it in the process, till eventually, it all hits= the bottom. For a moment there, as I watched from the sky, I felt somewhat guilty. I know very well that these [Demons] have intelligence and apparently possess some kind of culture. Yet, here I am, wiping a large number of them out in this one fell sweep as if they were pests. Still, if it meant that we're going to have to go into battle against each other and having to kill one another, then, though it may be cruel, with the utmost certainty, I'd much rather that they're the ones who die instead of me.

***

By the time we returned to the fortress, scouting reports already came in. The reports say that the enemy encampment has indeed been buried by the avalanche, something I have confirmed via Michaela, but along with that information came something startling. It would seem that amongst the [Demons] some have actually survived, including the Sorcerer Champion of the [Demons]. I didn't think anyone could have survived that, but I suppose if anyone could, it'd be a Champion.

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As I worried that what I, what we, have gone through the trouble of doing was hardly worthwhile, I'm told that the survivors were only a handful, and that it will take some time before they could gather the strength and numbers to fight once more, meaning that for now, this fortress will be safe.

During the debriefing session with the commander, I informed him of our encounter with one of the [Demon]'s Champions atop the mountain ridges. The commander took note of that, saying that he'll posts guards to watch their flanks in the future. I was a little worried since he didn't seem too concerned about it, but he said that there's only so much that can be done if the [Demons] came from that way, and that all he could do is prepare to receive them and hope that they never make it. However, he did note that it was good to know that there's someone as crazy as me on the other side, and now they won't be caught by surprise.

"W-was it actually that crazy?"

Thinking back, maybe it was, and most likely, I was only able to make it happen due to having Timothy to help us scale the steep slopes and [Heat Ward] to keep everyone warm. I wonder how the other Champion did it. Perhaps he found a [Demon] that's good at climbing just like how we climbed with Timothy's help? I guess I'll never find out.

The debriefing ends with one hell of a scolding for the princess and the soldiers who allowed her to tag along. It seem like the commander doesn't know about it, and for the soldiers to do this behind the commander's back, the princess must be quite well liked by the people. The scolding was so intense that even I was too terrified to step in, though I suppose that's not saying very much. In the end, it was only due to the princess' begging that the soldiers did not get court-martialed and were subjected to less severe punishments instead. All's well that ends well, I suppose.

After the debriefing, I returned to my quarters. It has been a long day, but before I rest, I decided to make use of the ink and paper I asked for earlier. There's much I need to take note of. The various "lesson" I have learned on this battle, I need to remember them as well as the various things I must relearn, such as my skills and how they behave in this world. I'll have to keep track of it all.

*Knock* *Knock*

In the middle of my writing, I hear a knocking upon my door.

"Who is it?"

"It's Merida, Sir Aurelius."

Merida, what does she want with me? Isn't she usually with the princess? Perhaps the princess sent her.

Without my thought, I went ahead and invited her in.

"What is it?"

"Yes... well, it's about taking the princess without your knowledge."

"What about it?"

"Do you remember, back on the mountain, I said that I would accept any punishment you have for me, didn't I?"

"I vaguely recall it, but..."

I mean, I doubt I would have won that fight with the Champion had it not been for the princess. So in the end, bringing her turns out to be the right choice after all. Though, I still think it's risky to bring her. I mean, if anything happens to her, wouldn't it be bad for the kingdom.

"Everyone else was punished aside from me. That would not be fair."

That's right, since Merida is under the beck and call of the princess and not the commander of this fortress, her punishment was left for the princess to decide, and knowing the princess, she probably let her off.

"Weren't you just listening to the princess' orders though?"

"I was, but as a vassal, by all means I should have stopped her."

"Then why didn't you?"

"She threatens to come after you on her own if I didn't, and so in the end, I thought it'd be better for her to be with the rest of us than alone."

"...... I suppose that kind of willfulness is typical."

"Of course, I should have stopped her, one way or another I should have done so, but because of my incompetence, I've caused everyone trouble."

"I wouldn't say there's much trouble. In fact, she even saved me. I couldn't have beaten the enemy Champion without her."

"Be as it may, I've still done something I shouldn't have, and a promise is a promise. I will accept any punishment you see fit, Sir Aurelius."

"Even if you say that..."

I'm rather troubled. Even if she said to punish her, I don't know a thing about what to do. No, actually, I have quite a few things in mind, and none of them are appropriate. Looking at her, her black hair and her pointy upright ears, I want to touch them, along with that bushy tail of hers. I'd like to caress it to my heart's content. However, I cannot, that's sexual harassment. But wait, didn't I just technically receive permission? She said to punish her as I see fit didn't I? Doesn't that mean I get to touch her as much as I want?

...

......

.........

What the hell is wrong with me!? No, don't tell me, now that my teenage hormones have awakened, my libido is on the rise as well? I guess it's natural, now that I'm a growing boy again.

"Hey Merida, why don't you sit down?"

I gestured towards the bed. For a moment, I can see Merida stiffening, but she offered no complaints.

"So it has come to this then. I suspect it would be the case ever since you went ahead and stripped in front of the princess."

"Ugh..."

I had forgotten about that, or rather, I have been trying to forget about that. I thought I was in a game at the time and was just trying various things out. Never for a second did I think that I had been transported to another world, that I was standing in front of real people. Ever since then, people have been saying that the summoned hero is a deviant behind my back and the maids at the palace kept giving me weird looks.

"Well, whatever."

"Sir Aurelius?"

I turned the chair at my desk towards the bed and sat down.

"Merida, do you think that it's possible for you to train me?"

"Huh?"

"After the previous fight, I realize how weak I actually am in a fight, so I thought some training would do me good. Also, I'd like to learn more about this world as well, and it'd be nice if someone could teach me about it."

All this time, I was satisfied with my role as a Summoner/Enchanter, but after seeing how the enemy Champion fought, I realized that remaining as I am won't do. I can't just rely on the skills from Elysium Online. In this world, it should be possible for me to learn new skills outside of what the Summoner and Enchanter class provides, and I am going to have to learn them if I want to better my chances of survival.

"So what do you think? Can you help me with that?"

"O-oh, of course, though I can't say it's much of a punishment."

"You'd think so, but I'm warning you, I am a slow learner. It's going to be a torture to teach me."

Merida chuckled. I don't think I've seen her do that before as she tends to be rather stoic.

"Very well then, I shall accept this ordeal. As for teaching you about this world, I'll put your request through to the princess."

"That would be much appreciated, thank you."

"You're always welcomed, Sir Aurelius. Now that's settled, I should be returning to the princess."

Merida then got up and headed for the door, and before she head out, she released a small sigh of relief.

"What, were you expecting something else?"

At my comment, her tail stood upright and rigid, and she turned towards me with a slight flush on her face.

"It's nothing! Good night!"

And then she left. But oh my, I can't believe I just went and teased her like that. I just had the urge out of nowhere. Is this some kind of youthful naughtiness? It's good to be young again and all, but I best get my act together, the ability to suppress and control urges are what separates men and beasts after all. But what if you're a Beastkin? Are they more beast than man, or the other way around? I suppose I'll be finding out in time.

***

End of Chapter 13