Chapter 10 — The Witch's Party

Snow continued drifting gently through the ruined plaza. It was a strange sight; only moments earlier, the afternoon sun had been shining warmly, yet now the air itself had frozen.

The civilians looked up in amazement.

"...Snow?"

"...In the middle of summer?"

Roland slowly pushed himself to his feet, wincing as pain spread through his bruised body. The two gigantic trolls remained completely frozen, their fists suspended above the shattered street while a thin layer of frost continued spreading across the pavement.

Yuki calmly walked past Roland, every step leaving delicate ice crystals behind. She stopped several meters ahead of him, her emotionless silver eyes studying the frozen monsters.

"...I apologize."

"...I arrived later than expected."

Roland let out a tired laugh.

"If that's your idea of being late..."

He coughed before smiling.

"...Then you probably just saved my life."

Yuki remained silent for a moment. Then the corners of her lips lifted almost imperceptibly.

"...I doubt that."

She looked at Roland.

"I've seen you survive worse."

Roland couldn't help smiling. Even after all these years, Yuki still spoke exactly the same way.

People who didn't know her often thought she was cold, but the former Bravers understood. She simply wasn't good at expressing emotion.

He still remembered the day Saki had teased her mercilessly because her face barely changed even while accepting an award. Yuki had become so embarrassed that she avoided cameras for an entire week.

Remembering it made Roland laugh quietly.

"What?"

Yuki asked.

"...Nothing."

"You just reminded me of something."

She tilted her head slightly.

"...I see."

Roland smiled.

She really hasn't changed.

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The sound of military helicopters echoed overhead as armored vehicles entered the plaza. Medical teams rushed toward the wounded civilians while soldiers secured the area.

The cadets Roland had trained only an hour earlier were already directing people toward safety.

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One of them saluted.

"Sir!"

"The civilians are almost completely evacuated!"

Roland nodded proudly.

"Good work."

The young cadet smiled with relief before returning to help the rescue teams.

Yuki quietly observed the scene.

"The response time was acceptable."

Roland laughed.

"Only you would call this 'acceptable.'"

She looked toward him.

"...There were injuries."

"...That is unacceptable."

Roland's smile faded.

"...You're right."

Both of them looked toward the frozen trolls.

Even trapped inside the thick ice, something felt wrong. The black flesh beneath the transparent prison continued twitching, and small cracks slowly appeared across the frozen surface.

Yuki narrowed her eyes.

"...They're resisting."

Roland frowned.

"So even your ice won't hold them forever..."

Yuki nodded once.

"They possess unusual regenerative properties."

"They differ greatly from King Cosmos' invaders."

Roland immediately remembered the crimson-haired girl.

"...Greed."

Yuki turned toward him.

"...Greed?"

"The Witch of Greed."

Roland's expression became serious.

"That's what she called herself."

He described everything: the goblins, the trolls, her impossible smile, her strange familiarity, and the way she spoke as if she had known him for years.

Yuki listened without interrupting.

Only after he finished did she quietly repeat the words.

"...The Witch of Greed..."

She had never heard that title before, nor had any military report mentioned anything similar.

Roland folded his arms.

"I don't know what she is."

"But..."

"...I think she has something to do with Taichi."

Yuki looked directly into his eyes.

"...Why?"

Roland hesitated.

He couldn't explain it.

There had simply been something about her voice, the way she laughed, her crimson twin ponytails, and how naturally she spoke to him.

"...Call it intuition."

He finally answered.

"But she knew things she shouldn't."

"Personal things."

"Things only my closest friends would know."

Yuki silently considered his words.

Then she nodded.

"...I will investigate."

Roland reached toward the side of his Braver suit and detached a small storage device no larger than a thumb.

"My suit records every battle."

He placed the USB drive into Yuki's hand.

"Our entire conversation is here."

"If anyone can analyze it..."

"...it's military intelligence."

Yuki carefully stored it inside a compartment on her armor.

"...Understood."

"I will personally review the recording."

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Nearby, the frozen trolls suddenly trembled.

CRACK.

A long fracture spread across one of the ice prisons.

Yuki immediately looked toward it.

"...As expected."

She calmly raised one hand, and several enormous ice spears materialized in the air.

Without hesitation, they shot forward.

BOOM!

The frozen trolls shattered into thousands of glittering ice fragments. Their enormous black bodies collapsed into pieces across the ruined plaza.

For several seconds, nothing happened.

Then the shattered black flesh dissolved into dark smoke.

Within moments, nothing remained.

Roland stared at the empty street.

"They..."

"...disappeared."

Yuki slowly lowered her hand.

"...No corpses."

"...No biological remains."

"Only disappearance."

Roland frowned.

"Just like Taichi..."

The words hung heavily between them.

Several soldiers approached and saluted.

"Colonel Horikita."

"The wounded have been evacuated."

"The area has been secured."

Yuki nodded.

"Continue collecting samples."

"Pay particular attention to any remaining black residue."

"Yes, ma'am."

The soldiers hurried away.

Roland watched them go.

"I have to admit..."

"I'm pleasantly surprised."

"I thought headquarters would spend more time hiding today's attack than actually responding."

Yuki looked at him.

"The government anticipated the possibility of another anomaly after the Crimson Braver disappeared."

"I was stationed nearby for immediate deployment."

Roland scratched the back of his neck awkwardly.

"...Sorry."

Yuki blinked.

"For what?"

"I wasn't talking about your father."

"I know he's one of the people making those decisions."

For the first time that day, a faint smile appeared on Yuki's face.

"It's fine."

"My father would probably agree with your criticism."

Roland laughed.

"That actually sounds like him."

Silence settled once more while medical helicopters continued flying overhead and the smell of smoke lingered in the air.

Yuki finally spoke.

"...Your injuries require treatment."

Roland glanced down at the cracked emerald armor covering his body.

"I'll live."

"You will."

"...But treatment is still recommended."

He smiled.

"...Still as stubborn as ever."

Yuki didn't respond.

Instead, she looked toward the western horizon.

"...Your family."

Roland blinked.

"What about them?"

"You should return home."

"They're likely worried after hearing about today's attack."

Roland's expression immediately softened.

"...You're right."

He imagined his little daughter running toward the front door the moment he arrived home. His wife would probably scold him for getting hurt again, then make tea while pretending she wasn't worried.

A warm smile spread across his face.

"...I should get going."

Yuki gave a small nod.

"I will continue the investigation."

"If I discover anything concerning the Witch of Greed..."

"...I will contact you immediately."

"Thanks."

Without another word, ice gathered beneath Yuki's feet. She launched gracefully into the sky, leaving behind a shimmering trail of frost that slowly disappeared into the clouds.

Roland watched until she vanished from sight.

"...Looks like some things never change."

He let out a quiet breath and began walking home.

Despite the pain throughout his body, he found himself smiling.

Soon, he would see his wife and his daughter, and for a little while, he could forget the monsters.

He had no way of knowing that Greed's "party" had already begun.