EIITAB - Chapter 133 < Avalanche >
Even if it is Trampled and Broken
Hestia had decided to leave anyway.
She has no intention of reversing the decision, so she's sorry about this, but Martin had to endure it.
'It's strange that there is no news from Aslan. Something may have gone wrong, so we can't just keep waiting in the castle!'
She wanted to confirm with her own eyes that he was safe.
As Hestia turned her gaze away from Martin, Angela, with tears in her eyes, took a step forward.
There was a bundle of luggage in her hands.
"Princess, I really won't bother you. Just let me follow you. How can you possibly go to that rough and cold place alone?"
"Angela, I am not going alone. Sir Martin and Sir Jerome will be accompanying me, so why are you so worried?"
"Of course I'm worried! It hasn't been long since the Princess got up from her bed!"
"I'm fine, Angela."
Hestia lowered her eyebrows in embarrassment and stretched out her hand to wipe away her maid's tears.
Then she lightly hugged her body.
"Don't worry. I will definitely come back safely. I promise. Do you trust me? Huh?"
Although she was sweet, Angela's whimpers grew louder as she heard her firm voice saying that she would not be allowed to accompany Hestia.
But she couldn't be stubborn enough to follow her further.
After patting her for a moment, Hestia looked at the High Priest and Lady Philippa and opened her mouth.
"Please take care of the castle while I'm away."
"Yes, Saintess. I will do my best."
The High Priest bowed his head in a more polite manner than before.
If Hestia did not protect the castle, she would effectively have no one to protect those from the capital.
So is there any other way?
It was better to cooperate with the Kalathi people as much as possible and avoid being seen by them.
Hestia was not unaware of the calculation-filled inner thoughts of the High Priest.
That was why. As she stared at him, she didn't dare add another word.
"If you save others, you will ultimately save yourself as well."
"I will keep this in mind, Saintess."
Hestia completely lost her momentum with the High Priest and turned her gaze to Madame Philippa.
Unlike when she saw the high priest she had been with for a long time, her faith was even stronger in her eyes.
Even though it was not her request, Madame Philippa opened her mouth first to ease Hestia's concerns.
"Lady. Don't worry about this, just think about returning safely."
"Okay. thank you. See you again soon. Until then...... Please be very comforting to Angela."
"There are a lot of tears, but don't worry, she is more hopeful and courageous than anyone else."
Hestia nodded her head with a smile on her face.
In fact, she was also very anxious due to the magical beast's invasion that happened last night.
Just like yesterday, she thought that if she and Martin stayed in the castle and prepared for any possible attack, then, yes, everyone would be comfortable. She might be able to protect them for now.
'But I can't live like that forever.'
Ultimately, the cause must be eliminated.
Hestia turned around, biting the delicate flesh in her mouth hard as if to stop her from weakening.
"Let's leave now."
At her brief words, Martin and Jerome surrounded Hestia as if she were guarding her.
Just like that, the three of them left the castle together.
***
Snow Mountain was located close to Kalathi Castle.
While passing the barrier and running through the wide snowy field, Hestia, Martin, and Jerome occasionally encountered demonic beasts.
However, the number was not as large as she thought, and Hestia found that very strange.
But she had no time to worry, so she held the reins tightly. As if reading Hestia's inner thoughts, Jerome, sitting behind her, rolled his stirrups and made his horse run faster.
When the sun was at the center of the sky, the three people arrived at the foot of the snowy mountain.
"Do we have to climb a lot to get to the ice waterfall?"
"No."
Martin answered right away and watched Hestia for a moment.
He then added very carefully.
"If you have difficulty walking, we will take you there."
Hestia immediately shook her head.
"Aslan usually protects me a lot, but... In reality, I'm not that fragile.'
Then, fearing that the argument might be prolonged, she took the lead and started climbing the mountain, even though she did not know the way to the ice waterfall.
"Princess! Let's go together!"
Martin and Jerome, who stared blankly at her back for a moment, hurriedly followed her.
***
The slope of the mountain was gentle.
However, something unexpected caught Hestia, Jerome, and Martin in their tracks.
Seeing the scene unfolding before their eyes, the three people could not help but swallow their sleep.
"Whoa..."
'How did this happen...?"
Regardless of who went first, a heavy sigh flowed from each person's mouth as if they had made a promise.
Of the three people overcome by despair, Martin was the first to end the silence.
"I was also wondering why I didn't hear from His Excellency like this... There was an avalanche."
Martin muttered, crumpling his face as if things were going very badly.
Jerome was also chewing His lip hard and glaring in front of him without blinking his eyelids.
Because the only path to the ice cave was blocked by the fallen snow.
Hestia, who was unable to speak for a while, regained her composure after a while and asked a question.
"Lord Martin, is this the only way to the Ice Falls?"
"That's right."
"What are the odds that Aslan and his punitive forces are somewhere else?"
"It can be said that it is almost non-existent."
"Okay......."
Hestia trailed off and nodded her head briefly.
"It's good that we followed the Princess's words, If we hadn't come now and waited for the signal to come, the crew would have been isolated longer."
After Martin finished speaking, he nervously combed his hair as if he couldn't resist milling.
He then let out a long sigh and suggested to Hestia.
"First, go back to the castle. Since the three of us can't solve it, shouldn't we bring in more people to dig it out?"
"That takes too much time."
Hestia objectively examined the situation and shook her head.
Looking at the amount of snow piled up, it seemed like it would take several days even if dozens of people stuck to it.
"Lord Martin, how long do you think the people inside can hold out?"
"The inside of the eye is warmer than expected. In fact, it blocks the wind."
When the punitive forces left the castle, they also took emergency food with them.
They are very strong people who do not neglect training even in normal times, so even in such an isolated situation, they will be able to endure for a while.
Hestia, who had been listening to Martin's explanation with a calm face, quietly nodded her head.
"Let's take a look first."
She walked closer to the wall and examined the situation.
Then she stretched her arms towards the wall.
It seemed like the ice had just collapsed.
Hestia's frown narrowed.
'I can't just melt it in this condition.'
If she did that, it was clear that the strength underneath would disappear and another avalanche would occur.
Little by little, the snow should pile up and form a tight ball.
Yeah, like ice.
Only then will it be able to withstand the load when melted from below.
Hestia pursed her lips for a moment and looked at the white wall of snow blocking her path.
***
"Damn it."
Aslan's hot breath flowed through his harsh swear words.
There were beads of sweat on his forehead, but he didn't have time to wipe them off.
Sigh!
His black sword cut through the air with a flowing line and decapitated the demon beast.
The ice waterfall cave is before his eyes.
It was a short distance, less than a hundred paces, but Aslan and his punitive forces could no longer get there.
This was because endless demonic beasts were coming out of the cave.
It seemed that monsters were still being born from the bull-shaped corpse of a monster located in the deepest part of the cave, just as Aslan and the knights had seen before.
Since the enemy was rushing in without knowing any limits, he thought about retreating for operational purposes first.
However, the road they came upon was blocked by snow that had fallen from above.
He barely escaped an avalanche, but if things continue like this, he might end up thinking that he would have been better off being crushed by the snow.
There was no time to catch his breath.
Even the demonic beasts were so frightened that they attacked the subjugation team in a desperate attempt to kill them.
None of the punitive forces had the luxury of providing cover for their colleagues.
So now they were gritting their teeth and swinging their swords to survive.
Cut it down, cut it down again.
Aslan, Dean, Wharton, and the entire punitive force were getting tired.
Aslan thought as he let out the heavy breath that had built up to the tip of his chin.
'Shit. If things continue like this, I won't be able to last much longer.'
No matter how strong he is, you can't do anything if he is pushed around so ignorantly.
Since physical strength is limited, if he does not rest, he will eventually wear out.
Moreover, they had already stayed up for two full days.
They couldn't handle it if it continued like this.
That was the cold reality.
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