Reincarnated as the Descendant of a Fallen Noble

Chapter 82

Episode 82: The Old Man of the Snowy Mountain. (5)Ka-ga-ga-gang! Ka-ga-gang!

Hardin deflected the ice spikes.

Wounds, both large and small, formed on the back of his hands, wrists, and face, with blood seeping out.

But still.

“Let’s go, let’s go!”

There was no fear or terror on Hardin’s face as he charged forward.

No—in fact, he even looked as if he was enjoying himself.

Where in the world did such confidence come from?

And right behind Hardin.

Woooooong!

“……”

Princess Medeia followed closely with a serious expression, clutching a sword glowing with an orange hue.

She didn’t even turn her head.

Step by step, she advanced, her eyes fixed solely on Hardin’s back.

It felt as if a massive shield had been placed before her.

Ka-ga-ga-gang! Ka-ga-gang!

The surrounding scenery and even the noise disappeared, leaving only the sound of Hardin slicing through the ice spikes echoing in the air.

Her grip on the sword tightened, and the resolve in her eyes grew firmer.

It felt like only Hardin, herself, and the ice giant beyond remained in this world.

Taat!

She stretched out her leg—and the distance closed.

Taaat! Taaat!

The more she extended her stride, the faster the gap narrowed.

The distance to the giant.

The final strike to put an end to this battle.

Just as the two of them reached the giant.

“Iiiiiiik!”

The old man’s elongated shout rang out, and at the same time, the ice giant extended its fist toward them.

In that instant, Hardin tilted his head slightly to the side.

Medeia flinched and frowned as she saw his face scratched and bloodied by ice fragments.

But she wasn’t shaken.

His eyes spoke clearly.

‘Go.’

Kki-gik! Kki-gik!

“Ura-cha-cha-cha!”

The blue blade Hardin thrust clashed with the giant’s fist, creating a metallic screech that pierced the ears.

The end of the giant’s fist shattered, and fragments scattered through the air.

Kaaang!

At the same moment, Hardin’s sword snapped and flew through the air, the broken blade grazing and slicing his cheek.

But Hardin didn’t even flinch.

Rather, as if he had expected this all along, he stood firm and shouted boldly.

“Now!”

Medeia didn’t miss that opening.

Without breaking her stride, she rolled her foot forward.

Tadat! Taaat!

Leaping off the snow, Medeia stepped on Hardin’s shoulder and jumped once more.

Her body soared high and shot straight toward the giant’s chest.

“Medeia… Princess!”

Beyond the wall of ice, the twisted face of the old man met Medeia’s gaze.

He quickly moved his hands, controlling the giant.

Spikes sprouted from the giant’s body, and its remaining fist swung toward Medeia.

However, Medeia's body surged forward even faster.

‘Hardin Daphne.’

She gripped her sword tighter.

A strike infused with light as fierce as the sun—drawn from all of her mana and forged through Hardin’s sacrifice.

As if pouring everything out, Medeia thrust both arms forward.

Kwa-ji-jik! Kwa-ji-ji-ji-jik!

The orange-hued sword pierced through the ice barrier of the giant and drove deep inside.

“Thanks to you.”

Medeia muttered quietly and clenched her teeth.

Immediately after—

Kwaaaang!

An intense explosion erupted with a burst of orange light, tearing the giant apart.

Thick smoke billowed as Medeia’s body was thrown back.

“Khuh!”

She barely managed to land using a rolling fall.

Biiiiiiii.

A ringing pierced her ears, and her vision wavered.

A flood of thoughts rushed in all at once.

‘Did I do it?’

What about Hardin Daphne?

What happened to the ice giant?

The smoke made it impossible to discern anything.

As Medeia turned her gaze around in confusion—

“Haeeek… haeeek… I’m so damn exhausted.”

To the side, she saw Hardin sprawled flat on his back.

He looked drained, but fortunately, his life didn’t seem to be in danger.

Medeia let out a long breath, the tension on her face easing slightly.

Soon, the smoke gradually dispersed.

“Cough! Cough! Couuugh!”

Where the giant had stood—on the deeply sunken ground—the old man could be seen slumped down.

His white robe had burned away, and half his body had turned into a charred lump, emitting a foul stench.

Seeing him cough up blood, it was clear he had sustained fatal wounds.

The fact that he was even alive was a miracle.

“Uhehehe… uhehehehe… Impressive, Princess Medeia. You broke through my defense.”

Had he resigned himself to death? Or did he still have composure?

The old man let out a hollow laugh and looked her way.

Medeia propped herself up using her sword.

‘I’ll finish this.’

Staggering.

Medeia steadied her sword and stepped forward one foot at a time.

She had to end that old man’s life.

And she wanted to know who had ordered him… to carve that name into her memory.

Cheok!

Medeia stepped right up to him, thrusting her sword toward his neck, and said,

“Answer my question. Then… at least I’ll send you off without pain.”

“…Hehehe, what could you be so curious about? Cough! Couuugh!”

“Who gave you your orders?”

Then the old man flashed a sinister smile and replied,

“Why ask me that? You already know the answer, don’t you?”

“……”

So it was as she suspected.

Medeia closed her eyes tightly for a moment, then opened them and raised her sword.

And just as the sword fell—

“Hey, no!”

Hardin’s shout rang out from behind.

Kwa-ji-ji-jik!

But it was already too late. Medeia’s sword had already sliced through the old man’s neck and struck the ground.

The light vanished from his eyes, and his body collapsed forward, lifeless.

‘It’s over.’

Medeia let out a deep sigh and dropped the sword she had been gripping to the ground.

She steadied her breath and released the tension in her body, closing her eyes tightly.

That’s when it happened.

“Princess… a battle isn’t over until it’s truly over.”

“…?”

A chilling voice echoed from below.

When Medeia opened her eyes and looked down—

The severed head of the old man was staring up at her with glowing red eyes.

‘What in the world…’

Startled, Medeia’s body froze.

“Uhehehehehehe!”

The severed head let out a maniacal laugh.

At that moment, the old man’s fallen body began to tremble violently.

Chwaaaaak!

It suddenly shot out dozens of tendrils like arrows.imes out of ten, Hardin and Princess Medeia must’ve done something.

But no matter how much time passed, Hardin didn’t show his face.

He was the type who’d claw his way back even if thrown into lava, but now that so much time had passed without a sign of him…

The cold wind chilled the sweat on his back, and an uneasy worry began to settle in Malion’s chest.

That was when—

“Th-they’re coming!”

“Huh?”

A soldier atop the wall pointed toward the snowy plain and shouted.

Everyone’s eyes followed the direction of his finger.

“Hy-hyungnim?”

“Princess!”

The two figures could be seen trudging slowly across the snow toward them.

“Hold on tighter.”

The silver-haired woman bent over and walking with effort was Princess Medeia.

“Ah, could you go easy? Just a little?”

“Are you sure you’re not exaggerating?”

“Exaggerating?! That’s rich coming from you! Who do you think got me into this mess?!”

“…I’m sorry.”

The blonde man carried on her back, his face scrunched with irritation, was Hardin Daphne.

Though he was covered in blood, his expression was still filled with fiery intensity.

‘What the hell? What happened?’

‘Why is Her Highness… carrying that guy?’

‘She even apologized?’

Just as everyone stared wide-eyed—

“Your Highness!”

“Hardin hyungnim!”

Lieutenant Benjamin and Malion.

The two of them rushed over as fast as they could.