The Freed Slaves Are Obsessed

"It shouldn't be cold enough to freeze to death now."

After several days of work by Torvar, preparations were complete to fend off the cold and allow Ashies and me to share the same room.

First, the walls and floor were lined with insulation, and thermoregulating stones were installed in every corner. These stones detected cold and emitted heat as needed. On top of that, Torvar made a sleeping bag.

It was enough to block out most of the cold, though not entirely. A faint chill still crept in, much like sleeping in a tent with a sleeping bag in the dead of winter.

"Thank you. Thanks to you, I can sleep here now."

"Do you really want to go to such lengths just to sleep with her?"

"Obviously."

A night filled with a sentimental atmosphere, chatting warmly in the same room—what better way to raise intimacy levels?

"Why are you looking at me like that?"

"Someone like her, a slave to someone like you... There's no way a god exists in this world."

Hey now, I’ve done so much for my slaves—what more do you want from me? After all, her life is tied to mine.

Perhaps realizing that fact belatedly, Torvar awkwardly changed the topic.

"Still, you can’t live like this forever. This setup isn’t sustainable."

"True."

"I’ve been thinking of something that might work, though..."

My ears perked up at his words. If Torvar was proposing something for Ashies at this moment, I could already guess what it was.

"I was considering making a magical tool to control the cold. What do you think?"

As expected. This is the first main event in liberating Ashies: crafting a magical tool.

It’s an event triggered by increasing favorability with Torvar, who specializes in making accessories. Missing this opportunity would mean Ashies’ complete liberation would be out of reach.

However, certain conditions needed to be met, and it wasn’t my place to bring them up. Feigning ignorance, I replied, "That’s fantastic! Why didn’t you make something like that sooner?"

"Ungrateful brat. I only just thought of a way. And even then, I can’t make it right away. There’s a critical material I don’t have."

"What material do you need?"

"Lazulite. It’s a gemstone imbued with the chill of the tundra."

Lazulite, a gemstone that embodies the chill of the frozen tundra. Just as the saying goes, ‘fight fire with fire,’ an accessory crafted with Lazulite can suppress Ashies’ cold aura.

With it, we wouldn’t need to go through these elaborate measures to insulate the room.

"However, it’s an extremely rare gem. Its whereabouts are unknown, so it’s nearly impossible to find."

In the original story, you’d have to search high and low to obtain it. But I know exactly where it is.

"Lazulite, huh... I think I’ve heard of it before. The Northguards of Isengar supposedly have some."

"How do you know that?"

"I’m a merchant. If you want to survive in this business, basic information like this is a must."

Torvar gave me a skeptical look, but it didn’t last long. After all, without any information about Lazulite himself, he had no choice but to believe me.

"Then this speeds things up. Head to Isengar and get the Lazulite. I’ll see what I can do to control the princess’s cold."

"Understood."

"When will you leave?"

"I’ll head out immediately."

There was no reason to delay. The sooner, the better.

"I wouldn’t recommend going with just the two of you. Northerners, especially the Northguards, are naturally aggressive and hostile to outsiders. Bringing a dwarf along would be wise—they’re reliable."

"That aligns with my plan as well."

While Ashies alone could handle anything through sheer strength, having a reliable ally on our side wouldn’t hurt.

In the game, I went with one master craftsman and a few dwarf subordinates. Though Roxar, whom I beat in a drinking contest just yesterday, was an option, it felt wasteful to use my favor with him now.

"I don’t see anyone suitable to bring..."

"Me! I’ll go with you!"

Ferka, apparently eavesdropping, chimed in enthusiastically.

"Everyone else is busy, right? So I’ll volunteer to go! I can perfectly assist both Mr. Karami and my sister!"

"Don’t be ridiculous, Ferka. Do you even know what you're saying? That place is no joke."

"What’s wrong with me going? I can take care of myself!"

"Why expose a dwarf’s weakness to the Northerners? Stop spouting nonsense and stay home quietly. I’ll find someone more suitable."

Ignoring Ferka entirely, Torvar dismissed her with a wave. Ferka clenched her fists, trembling with frustration.

"Father is always like this! Whenever I want to do something, you tell me to stay home and do nothing! I’m a person, not one of your trinkets!"

"You insolent brat!"

Glaring fiercely, Ferka gave Torvar a shove and stormed out, slamming the door behind her.

"Who does she take after to act like this..." Torvar muttered with a sigh, shaking his head. Ashies tilted her head at me, unfamiliar with such heated family arguments.

"It’s just a typical parent-child dynamic."

Though their family is a bit peculiar, I had no intention of meddling. My priority was Ashies.

As for Ferka, she wasn’t my slave anymore, so there was no obligation to get involved.

They’d sort it out themselves.

A few days later, Torvar introduced me to someone who would accompany us to Isengar.

"Hey, string bean! Heard you’re headed to Isengar again?"

The berserker’s hammer, Hargran. It had to be him.

"Of all people, why you again?"

"It’s a job involving the Northguards, right? No one’s more suited than me. I know those guys inside out."

Why are dwarves such chatterboxes?

The same guy who flat-out refused to help wake Ashies now volunteered to join. The reason was obvious.

Hargran’s gaze drifted to Ashies. He knelt as if pledging fealty, addressing her with exaggerated politeness.

"Princess, you can count on me. I, Hargran, won’t let a single hair on your head be harmed."

He even attempted to kiss the back of her hand. But the frost clinging to her aura latched onto his fingertips.

"Yikes!"

Hargran recoiled, shaking his hand to warm it and melt the ice.

"Ha, ha-ha... Princess, your hands are quite cold."

What a clown. As if he could protect her. She’s several times stronger than him.

Still, Hargran was the best choice. Having a bold ally like him was an advantage, even if he was a nuisance.

With Hargran and a few dwarves in tow, we set off for Isengar.

++++

Our destination was Isengar, specifically the gorge known as Lake Fortress, home to the Northguards.

The northern region was infamous for its packs of savage beasts, so it made sense for them to settle in this natural fortress, also known as the “Divine Citadel.”

We were crossing the snowy plains with our supplies loaded onto sleds pulled by Frostwolves, beasts that combined the traits of wolves and horses.

I had ridden one briefly during our last trip to retrieve Ashies. Ordinary horses wouldn’t have stood a chance against the relentless blizzard, but Frostwolves were magical beasts. Their raw magic (魔力) made their horsepower (馬力) incomparable.

Of course, last time, as we neared the dragon’s lair, the Frostwolves had sensed the dragon’s presence and become too terrified to continue, forcing us to walk the rest of the way. But that wasn’t an issue now.

This time, we didn’t need to dismount. Travel was faster, but as expected, the cold was absolutely brutal.

Racing against the blizzard meant facing icy winds that slashed at us with bone-chilling intensity.

“Ugh...”

“Whining again, are you?” Hargran mocked, predictably.

Whining? At this rate, I’d freeze solid before we even arrived.

Even when we went to retrieve Ashies, the cold was unbearable despite wearing layers of bear-like clothing. This time was no better.

The dwarves, who naturally generated body heat, were fine with just a single thick garment. And Ashies—who was literally cold incarnate—remained unbothered, striding along in a short dress that left her legs bare.

That left me alone to shiver in the freezing cold. I clutched the thermoregulating stone in both hands, but it didn’t make much difference.

Ashies tilted her head as she looked at me.

“Cold...?”

“Ha, haha... Just a little chilly from the wind. But don’t worry, it’s definitely not your fault, so you don’t need to feel bad.”

“Wind...”

Ashies looked up at the sky. Her pale blue and white hair whipped violently in the icy gale as she gazed at the heavens.

Then, her hand rose slowly.

Her movements were deliberate, serene—like the moment winter holds its breath.

The white expanse of the snowfield stilled, following the elegant gesture of her hand.

Crack, crack, crack!

Transparent ice walls surged upward on either side of us. The howling blizzard shrieked as it was forced beyond the newly formed barriers.

“What the hell is this?!” Hargran exclaimed.

The rising ice walls merged above us, forming an archway. A tunnel of ice, sculpted by winter’s breath, stretched ahead.

Outside the tunnel, the blizzard still raged. It was like a battlefield of fierce snowflakes.

But within the ice walls, there was silence.

Inside the tunnel, it was eerily calm.

“This... What is this...” The dwarves glanced around in confusion before their eyes settled on Ashies. She, the creator of this massive ice tunnel in the middle of the snowfield, stood expressionless.

“No wind... now,” she said simply, her tone unflinching.

Damn. To think Ashies would go to the trouble of making an ice tunnel just for me.

Emotion surged within me.

It felt good to be her master.

This is why you raise slaves.

++++

The house left behind by Karami and Ashies.

From the moment they departed, Ferka had locked herself in her room and refused to come out.

It seemed she was sulking hard this time, and her silent protest dragged on.

Still, no matter how displeased a daughter might be, a father couldn't let her go hungry, could he? Torvar knocked on Ferka’s door.

“Come out and eat. How long are you going to wallow in there like a fool?”

“...”

“Ferka.”

No response from Ferka.

She was the type who, no matter how upset, would never skip a meal.

Suddenly, an ominous thought flashed through Torvar’s mind.

“I’m coming in.”

With a slight push, the lock broke effortlessly, and the door swung open.

Ferka wasn’t there. Her room was in disarray, as though she had hastily packed and left.

On the desk sat a single piece of paper.

“I’m off.”

Torvar grabbed the back of his neck, overwhelmed with frustration.