Chapter 240: Aestrea Against The World (XVII)

CRRRAAAAAACK!!!

In an instant, a deafening roar erupted as the earth burst open, unleashing a blizzard so furious, so dense, it devoured light itself.

Walls of solid ice crashed up from the ground like mountains, breaking the forest apart as white spikes shot from every angle.

BOOM—!!

Massive slabs of ice fell from the sky like some kind of divine punishment coming from God itself.

The wind howled loudly, and the temperature plummeted below death.

Cecilia barely had time to raise her arms before she was swallowed in the burst, a shield of ribbons wrapping around her as Kagetaro threw his hand out.

But it was too late.

SHHHHHHRRRRHH—!!

The avalanche collapsed on top of them, ice shattering through trees, snow exploding upward in towers of white fire.

The sound was overwhelming; it was as if nature itself were screaming under Aestrea’s command.

And he didn’t seem surprised by his own power.

He simply stood in the middle of the storm, hair fluttering softly in the breeze, a single hand still raised in the air.

And as the final crack of ice echoed into silence, and the mist began to clear…

He lowered his arm.

“…I told you.”

He whispered into the cold.

“It ends now.”

Slowly, Aestrea turned around and walked back toward the snowbank where James and Derek lay, still unconscious, curled into the frost like children fallen asleep in the cold.

He knelt down beside them.

His hand moved gently, brushing snow from their faces, checking their pulses. His breath fogged the air, and for a moment… his gaze softened.

“Let’s go back

He reached down, lifting James over one shoulder and Derek over the other. Then, he shot towards the military camp.

Of course, it didn’t take him long to reach it.

“Phew~”

He entered the camp, and immediately, a few soldiers paused and stared at him as he walked in, carrying the unconscious forms of James and Derek like it was nothing at all.

No one said a word.

They just watched, wide-eyed, lips pressed tight.

Zeva was already there, waiting by the campfire, arms crossed, her long hair slightly damp with snow.

Her black scarf fluttered faintly in the wind, her emerald eyes narrowing the moment she saw him.

“Aestrea,” she called, stepping forward.

“What happened?”

He looked at her blankly for a second.

Then, he shrugged his shoulders.

“They irritated me,” he said flatly.

“So I knocked them out.”

“…Ah.”

“Of course you did.” Zeva blinked, and after a short pause, simply sighed.

With a snap of her fingers, a gentle magic circle flickered into the air.

Instantly, both James and Derek’s bodies were surrounded by a soft green light and floated upward, carried carefully by invisible threads toward a nearby tent.

She turned to him again, her expression growing more serious.

“Now… the Frost Elves,” she said, “actually retreated.”

’It seems that Eira’s parents managed to convince the Emperor after all…’ Aestrea nodded at her words.

But then, Zeva’s lips curled downward slightly, and she dropped the next piece with a quiet sigh.

“But in return…” she said, her voice calm but tense, “the Elven Emperor made a personal request.”

She looked at him directly.

“He wants to meet with you.”

Aestrea’s eyes widened, just a little.

“WHAT?!”

Aestrea’s voice rang out sharply, echoing across the quiet camp. A few nearby soldiers flinched, but Zeva didn’t even blink.

She just sighed, as if she had been expecting this exact reaction.

“Yeah, I had the same reaction,” she muttered, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear.

“But they were serious. They made it clear that they’d only back off if you agreed to meet them.”

His eyes narrowed.

“…And you accepted that for me?” he asked, one brow lifting slowly.

“Exactly,” she said, tapping two fingers lightly against his chest.

“When I saw their army… I was shocked. There were at least a hundred S-rank awakeners, Aestrea. A hundred.”

She shook her head, still looking a little stunned by the memory.

“People like that are supposed to be super rare. Like, once-in-a-generation rare. But there they were… standing in rows. If they attacked us, we’d be crushed in less than five minutes.”

Her eyes met his, serious now.

“I didn’t really have a choice. It was either accept… or risk everyone here dying.”

She paused, then softened her voice just a little.

“Besides, they only asked to talk to you. You don’t even need to do anything. Just show up. That’s it, right?” She tilted her head and gave him a small pleading smile, her emerald eyes holding his gaze.

For a second, Aestrea didn’t reply.

He just looked at her.

It was crazy to think that this was the same woman who had once kidnapped him because they had a promise to have sex after a battle.

It wasn’t quite rape… but not exactly consensual either. Either way, Aestrea ended up enjoying it, so yeah.

He furrowed his eyebrows slightly, exhaling through his nose.

’First, I make a deal with Gaia to protect the Dark Elves… and now I’m supposed to meet the Elven Emperor himself?’

“…Fuck,” he muttered, brushing his fingers through his hair with a sigh.

He closed his eyes, took a breath, then opened them again.

“…Whatever. I wanted to meet him anyway,” he said finally.

“So yeah… screw it. I’ll do it.”

Thud!

Before he could even blink, Zeva slammed into him with full force, wrapping her arms tightly around his waist.

Her soft, bare chest pressed against his, the warmth of her skin pushing through the fabric as she buried her face into him.

“I knew you’d say yes!” she squealed, squeezing him like a stuffed toy.

“That’s why I LOVE YOUUUU~!”

She yelled it loud enough for the whole damn camp to hear.

And unfortunately, they did hear.

Several heads turned, eyes widened, whispers broke out between soldiers and mages alike.

Aestrea stood frozen, arms still half-raised in awkward surprise as every single person stared at them.

His face twitched.

“…Zeva.”

But she didn’t let go.

Instead, her voice dropped to a sweet whisper.

“Baby…”

She slowly raised her head, her green eyes glowing faintly now, just enough to hint at that possessive streak hiding behind her smile.

“Why aren’t you saying it back?” she asked, voice gentle but dangerous.

Aestrea’s mouth twitched again.

He wasn’t afraid of her, but fuck, she was exhausting sometimes.

And if the situation wasn’t already awkward enough… it got worse.

Much worse.

Because all around them, the soldiers, who normally looked up to Zeva with fear and respect, were now staring at her, clinging to Aestrea like a love-struck girl in a drama.

Her bare chest pressed into his body. Her legs tangled with his. And she was shouting about love like she didn’t care about rank or pride.

At first, they just stared.

Then someone whispered.

Then someone chuckled.

And then… the whole damn camp exploded.

“SAY IT BACK, DUDE! DON’T LEAVE HER HANGING!”

“YEAH, BRO, DON’T BE A DAMN ROCK!”

“COME ON, MAN! EVEN I’D MARRY HER IF SHE LOOKED AT ME LIKE THAT!”

“SAY IT! SAY IT! SAY IT!”

A chorus of loud, rowdy voices echoed in the cold air, soldiers stomping their feet, laughing, even whistling.

Someone actually started clapping.

Another dude was crying into his scarf.

“True love, man! I believe again!!”

Aestrea’s eye twitched hard.

And then, Zeva leaned in closer, her lips brushing against his neck as she whispered one more time:

“Say it back…””

And just as his lips parted, about to say something, anything that would shut them all up…

“HEY, HEY, HEY! HOLD UP!”

Two very familiar voices cut through the noise like a knife.

Aestrea slowly turned his head, his body quivering slighly…

And there they were.

James and Derek.

Alive.

Covered in snow.

Both of them limping, dragging themselves into the camp, clothes wrinkled, hair messy, cheeks red from the cold, but grinning like idiots.

Derek pointed dramatically at Aestrea.

“You! I wake up with frost in my underpants, and this is what I walk into?!”

James followed up with a loud groan.

“We almost died out there and you’re busy getting hugged by Snow Witch #1 like it’s a honeymoon?! SAY IT BACK, DAMN YOU!”

“BE A MAN!” Derek shouted.

“SAY YOU LOVE HER!” James added, nearly falling over in excitement.

“KISS HER TOO!”

“MAKE IT PASSIONATE!”

“TONGUE, BRO, TONGUE—”

Aestrea stared at them before he blinked.

Then blinked again.

“…You two should’ve stayed unconscious.”

“AND MISS THIS?! NEVER!” they both shouted together.

Meanwhile, Zeva just smiled wider.

Her glowing green eyes sparkled with amusement.

“See?” she said sweetly.

“Everyone agrees.”

Aestrea exhaled deeply.

He was surrounded.

Outnumbered.

Out-hugged.

“…I hate all of you,” he muttered under his breath.

But even then, his hand slowly came up… and landed gently on Zeva’s lower back.

He wasn’t exactly a man who could easily express his emotions, but this time… it seemed that he would be forced to do so.

“I love you too.”

And all hell broke loose.

“YEEEEAAAAHHHHHHH!!!”

“LET’S GOOOOO!!”

“SOMEONE GET THE WEDDING BELLS!!”

“I’M CRYING!!”

“GODDAMN, THIS IS ROMANCE!”

And in the middle of the chaos, Zeva pulled his face down, her emerald eyes glowing brighter now, lips close enough to touch.

“…Then prove it, baby~♥”

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