The Youngest Daughter Of The Great Wizard Of The Famous Swordsmanship [EN]: Chapter 179

179. Reunion in the Snowy Forest

April 27, 2024

Then, a space barely large enough for one person appeared before Rosette.

Inside, a landscape that felt both similar to and different from the forest where Rosette and Lucas stood was visible.

As Rosette reached her hand inside without hesitation, Lucas hurriedly grabbed her arm.

“Hey, hold on a second. You’re going in?”

Rosette replied as if wondering why he was asking such a question.

“Of course.”

“What do you expect to find inside?”

“If my guess is correct, the missing subjugation force will be inside.”

“What if you’re wrong?”

“Even if I’m wrong, nothing major will happen. Surely, a monster wouldn’t do something like this.”

Lucas still didn’t let go of Rosette’s arm. Rosette carefully placed her hand on the back of his hand and suggested.

“Oppa [term of endearment for older brother or male friend], if you’re scared, you can wait here for a bit. I’ll go quickly by myself.”

“That’s not it, you idiot.”

Lucas took a deep breath.

“It’s the opposite. I’m worried about you, that’s why I’m like this. I was the one who suggested that the subjugation force might have set up a barrier, but now that I see it, something feels strange. Who knows what might happen inside? And if I can’t properly protect you in an emergency…….”

Rosette smiled brightly.

“I’ll protect Oppa, so don’t worry.”

[Beep!]

Bbibi chimed in, ‘That’s right. So just follow our Rosette.’

Lucas glanced sideways at the situation inside before straightening his body.

“Still, just in case, I’ll go in first.”

“Okay. But if you’re going in, you need to hurry. The entrance is getting smaller.”

As Rosette said, the entrance she had barely created was shrinking from the edges.

“Alright. I’ll go in then.”

Lucas gripped his sword tightly and stepped inside. He went completely inside, surveyed the surroundings, and then gestured to Rosette.

“It seems okay. Come in.”

Holding his hand, Rosette went inside and asked Bbibi.

“Bbibi, do you sense Silver’s energy?”

[Beep! Beeeep!]

“Then guide us.”

Bbibi fluttered into the sky. Rosette and Lucas maintained a steady pace and followed Bbibi as it flew.

“But why didn’t you completely remove that barrier earlier? Shouldn’t you just get rid of it?”

“I couldn’t do that without knowing what was happening inside or who exactly created this barrier and for what purpose. Besides, completely removing the barrier would require me to use all my strength, and if I were attacked after using all my strength, it would be troublesome.”

“That’s true. Then let’s find His Highness and Hyung [honorific title for older brother or respected male] first and then think about it.”

[Beeeep!]

Bbibi, who was surveying the surroundings, began to pick up speed. Rosette and Lucas exchanged glances and then ran.

How long had they been running? The two were able to find a group of people confronting monsters.

Rosette quickly spotted a familiar face among them.

A man with silver hair that stood out even from afar.

Her beloved lover, Joshua Ernhardt.

[Beep!]

Beside Joshua, who was relentlessly cutting down monsters, Silver was tearing apart the monsters’ bodies with sharp fangs and claws.

Rosette quickly looked to the rear. She could see Daniel, protected by Lord Roten, under the relatively safe shade of a tree.

He was far away, so she couldn’t see his face properly, but Rosette could tell from the fact that he was leaning against a tree in this situation that Daniel’s condition was not good.

‘Still, it’s a relief. Daniel Oppa is still alive. Joshua, Lord Roten, and the others too.’

However, there was no time to be immersed in joy. The subjugation force was already exhausted, and the monsters were relentlessly attacking them.

“Kugh!”

Rosette, noticing a monster biting a knight’s leg, quickly chanted a magic spell.

Even though the subjugation force and the monsters were mixed together in confusion, it was not difficult for her to focus on attacking only the monsters.

Rosette blocked Lucas with her arm, signaling him not to step forward, and then cast her magic.

Suddenly, large tree roots sprouted from the bare ground and grabbed the monsters’ bodies.

While the monsters, their movements restricted, twisted their bodies and made bizarre noises, Rosette immediately prepared for the next attack.

“Everyone, get back!”

The knights, hearing the warning, moved away from the monsters. Rosette made sure of their safety and then cast an offensive spell.

With a bang, the monsters’ bodies caught fire. The monsters screamed in agony just from hearing the sound, trying to avoid the fire, but it was not enough.

The fire, hotter than any other fire, instantly burned the monsters’ bodies.

The monsters disappeared without a trace. If it weren’t for the acrid smell and the ashes flying in the air, it would have felt as if monsters had never existed in the first place.

Rosette raised her head and looked at Joshua, who was still gripping his sword tightly.

Perhaps because he had suffered a lot, his face was slightly tanned compared to the last time she saw him. His jawline had become sharper, and his face was filled with worry.

The clothes, which had been enchanted with defensive magic, were torn in many places, as if their effectiveness had worn out from the endless fighting. Wounds were revealed through the gaps.

A formless emotion welled up and climbed up her throat. Her vision blurred because of the tears that filled her eyes in an instant.

“Joshua…….”

“Just a moment, brat.”

Lucas grabbed Rosette’s arm, who was about to rush to Joshua.

“The atmosphere is a bit strange.”

“……Huh?”

“Those guys. They’re looking at us as if we’re monsters. Of course, so is His Highness Joshua.”

Rosette wiped away her tears and looked back at Joshua.

‘Why…….’

Lucas was right. Joshua, as well as the entire subjugation force, were wary of the two of them. They were gripping their swords tightly, taking a stance as if they could attack at any moment.

“Joshua…….”

It was the moment Rosette cautiously took a step forward.

Joshua, who was in the center, charged at her with a shout.

“……!”

Rosette instinctively raised her sword in its scabbard to block his attack.

Joshua swung his sword down at her. The force was so great that a huge shock came to both arms holding the sword.

Rosette was pushed back by the force and eventually tumbled to the ground.

“Brat! Good heavens, Your Highness! What is this……!”

Lucas, his face pale, rushed to help Rosette, but was suddenly blocked by a knight who charged at him with a sword.

Lucas also blocked the attack with his sword in its scabbard and shouted.

“Why are you all doing this? Are you being controlled by monsters or something? Snap out of it! Brat, get out of the way!”

Before Rosette could even get up, Joshua swung his sword down again. Rosette deployed defensive magic and crawled backward while sitting.

‘Why…….’

She couldn’t attack Joshua, so she tried to understand the situation while only defending.

‘He’s not being controlled by mind magic.’

Judging from Joshua’s attack patterns and expression, he was moving according to his own will.

Then why on earth?

‘Why is he attacking me with such a tearful face?’

Rosette quickly shouted at Joshua, who looked so distressed.

“Joshua, stop! Just listen to me for a second……!”

“Can it even imitate voices now?”

Rosette flinched without realizing it at Joshua’s voice.

She had never heard such a voice mixed with anger and contempt.

Even Joshua’s voice when he poured out words of anger when he first faced Rosette after turning back time was not this cold.

“Imitate? What are you talking about……. It’s me, Rosette!”

Joshua slammed the blade of his sword into the transparent wall Rosette had created and lowered his body.

“Yes. This one is definitely different. It really looks like Rose. I really want to let go of everything and embrace you. Even if you tear my body to shreds.”

“……?”

“But I can’t do that. Because I promised to protect Daniel safely. So please, disappear from my sight now.”

[Beep! Beeeep!]

Bbibi hurriedly flew over and pulled Joshua’s hair with both feet.

[Silver’s master! What are you doing to Rosette right now! Put that sword down right now! Are you crazy? If you touch a single strand of Rosette’s hair, I won’t let you off!]

However, even though Bbibi desperately tore at his hair and pulled at his clothes, Joshua didn’t budge.

‘He must be mistaking me for a monster right now.’

Rosette swallowed hard once and stood up from her seat.

“Look at me, Joshua.”

Joshua’s golden eyes, looking into Rosette’s eyes, trembled.

“You really can’t recognize me?”

“Rose wouldn’t be here.”

“No, I came to find Joshua. Because I was worried.”

Rosette continued calmly.

“I’m going to drop the defensive magic. I trust Joshua. You won’t hurt me.”

“Hey, hey! Brat, what are you doing right now!”

Lucas shouted at Rosette even while fighting the knights, but she continued her words.

“I’ll count to three and then I’ll remove it.”

“…….”

“One, two, three.”

As soon as she finished speaking, the transparent wall that had been blocking Rosette disappeared. Joshua stretched out his sword towards her as if he had been waiting.

Rosette looked into Joshua’s eyes without even flinching.

“Hey! Brat!”

[Beeeep!]

And Joshua’s sword stopped in front of Rosette’s neck. Joshua’s hand holding the sword trembled.

“I…….”

He clenched his teeth.

“I don’t think I can bring myself to cut you down this time.”

Rosette grabbed Joshua’s hand holding the sword and pushed it to the side. Joshua obediently dropped the sword.

“It’s really me.”

Rosette hugged Joshua tightly around the neck. Joshua leaned his body against her as if collapsing.

Rosette stroked Joshua’s disheveled hair and whispered.

“You can rest easy now. It’s okay now.”