I was initially going to ask for help, but when I found out it was Jaigia's guild, I didn' t want to go with them anymore.
My fangs have grown back to normal, though I don' t know why.
But who' d be stupid enough to get burned twice?
As for Istaf, he' s using my family to pressure me into marrying him.
If you think about it, because of what Istaf and BB said about not wanting me to see something scary, they' re still holding back and sizing each other up.
The two maids shielded me with their bodies and tried to persuade me to get back in the carriage.
Why would I refuse?
I was about to climb in, lie down comfortably, and pray that everyone else would go argue with the tree roots.
Go ahead and fight until it' s a complete mess. I' d sneak away in the chaos later.
But as I turned to get into the carriage, a familiar voice shouted over the noise.
"I don' t think Lady Calika would want to go with either of your guilds."
I spun around, and sure enough, it was him—Etos, with hundreds of main guild members, each clad in thick armor and carrying massive shields.
"May I ask what the [Iron Bastion] guild is doing here? Since the beast hunt is over, shouldn' t you take the shortcut back like usual?"
Some members of the [Radiant Fang] guild and Istaf' s escorts started redirecting their attacks toward Etos' s group as well.
"A newbie like you getting too cocky, huh? You might' ve risen fast, but you can fall just as quickly," one of them sneered.
But Etos ignored them and spoke directly to me.
"Lady Calika, you can hire me to escort you home. Just say the word."
…Does Etos not recognize me?
The look in his eyes back then and now are completely different.
Back then, he looked at me with disdain. But now?
It' s the look of someone in love, plain as day.
Didn' t he even suspect for a second that I' m the same Calika he insulted and slapped?
Then again, it' s not surprising. My hair color and appearance have changed so much I barely look like the same person.
What to say, Etos?
I hate you.
But when I spoke, I used a pitiful tone.
"I don' t have any money."
"No need to worry about that," he said. "If Lady Calika would go on a date with me for just one day, that' d be worth more than any payment."
Ugh, that gave me chills.
"Don' t get too full of yourself, newbie. Calika is to be my wife and mine alone," Istaf snapped.
"Lady Calika isn' t some prize for you male beasts to claim. Don' t you dare flirt with Lord Jaigia' s honored guest,"
another voice barked.
"Lady Calika, please grant me the honor of protecting you. Just say the word, and the [Iron Bastion] guild will stand against every guild in the world for you," Etos pleaded.
"Ugh… uh, well…"
I pretended to be conflicted, but go ahead—tear each other apart, all three sides.
Etos, I' m praying for a solid punch to your face.
"Lady Calika, come with us. If Lord Jaigia protects you, no one will dare touch you again," one of the maids urged.
"Calika, choose me, and you' ll be the lady of Granot, living in luxury with piles of gold and hundreds of servants at your command," Istaf added.
"The [Iron Bastion] guild is ready to stand and protect a beautiful lady like you, Lady Calika. We' d never let a single hair on your head be harmed. Please choose me," Etos insisted.
Jaigia' s and Istaf' s guilds were already going to fight anyway.
So I' ll choose Etos. If I don' t, they' ll have no reason to fight, and he' ll slip away.
A chance to slap him back? I' m not passing that up.
And if I pick him, those two guilds will probably gang up and crush him. But I' ll play the hesitant card a bit.
"Well… I…"
"Need help?"
"…Huh!? Who' s that!?"
Suddenly, an older woman with pale blue hair streaked with white, ghostly pale skin, and casual private clothes appeared beside me. I don' t know when she got there—even the maids didn' t notice.
"Ugh! Icefield Lera!"
BB was the first to gasp her title and name in a stunned tone.
"Pardon me, but does Lady Lera have business with my fiancée? If there' s anything you' re displeased about, please take it up with me instead," Istaf said, aiming his chains at Lera with a serious expression.
"Lady Lera, if you do anything to Lady Calika, I' ll have to attack you, manners be damned," Etos said, raising his shield with a grim look.
This Lera woman can make everyone this tense?
The maids tried to shield me from her, but they were trembling uncontrollably too.
"You' re having a hard time choosing a side, right?" Lera asked.
"Y-Yes, that' s right," I stammered.
"Then don' t choose anyone. Come with me instead."
"Lady Lera, Lady Calika is Lord Jaigia' s guest. Please reconsider whatever you' re planning," one of the maids pleaded.
"It wouldn' t be wise to take my fiancée, Lady Lera. Please rethink this," Istaf said.
"Lady Calika! Don' t agree to go with her!" Etos shouted.
Their voices were dead serious, and all three guilds turned their weapons on Lera, as if their earlier conflicts were trivial.
"By the way… who is Lady Lera?" I asked.
I' m not going with some stranger.
" 'Icefield,' " BB, Istaf, and Etos said in unison, which didn' t help me understand at all.
"Ever heard of the [Resonant Magic] guild?" Lera asked.
"!? You' re with the [Resonant Magic] guild?"
Lera nodded in response.
"I' ll go with Lady Lera."
The guild that once saved my sister, gave her first aid, and brought her home without ever asking for anything in return.
I agreed without hesitation.
"No, Lady Calika! Lord Jaigia is waiting to welcome you. Please come with us!" the maids begged.
"Calika, I can protect your family! Please come with me!" Istaf pleaded.
"Lady Calika, let me protect you instead of that ice demon!" Etos urged.
I ignored their pleas and the maids' attempts to persuade me.
The moment I took a step toward Lera, everyone—maids included—lunged at her.
"Phew~"
With a single exhale, everything around us froze in an instant, except for me and Lera.
Nearly five hundred people and their mounts turned into ice sculptures in various poses, their eyes darting around to show they were still alive.
"Incredible…"
I gasped in awe, but not for long.
Crack!
Someone broke free immediately.
Istaf was first, switching his black chains to orange ones that melted the ice on contact.
Close behind was the team leader from Jaigia' s guild, and a bit slower but using sheer strength was Etos, smashing his way out.
"Calika! Get away from that hag, now! I don' t want you caught in the crossfire!" Istaf shouted, commanding his chains to attack from nearly every direction, deliberately leaving a gap for me to escape.
"I' ll take you down if even one of those hits Lady Calika," Etos growled, turning his sword on Istaf, ready to strike if a single chain grazed me.
More people strong enough to break the ice started emerging, mostly fire mages.
I moved to step in and block their attacks to protect Lera.
But Lera raised a hand to stop me, then flicked her wrist upward.
In one motion, massive ice pillars shot from the ground, striking everyone who' d broken free from her freeze.
BOOM!
They were blasted into the air, soaring as high as a three-story building in an instant.
The fire mages used flames to propel themselves back, but Lera flicked her wrist again, summoning more ice pillars that sprouted from the existing ones, slamming into them and knocking them out midair.
Then she spread her hand, firing ice chunks at the unconscious ones. When the ice hit, it froze them again, ensuring they didn' t fall to their deaths.
Those who weren' t knocked out, she didn' t target, letting them crash to the ground. Some were badly injured and passed out from the impact.
Istaf used his chains to cushion his fall but still groaned in pain.
The main team leader from Jaigia' s guild hit the ground and bounced several times before stabilizing.
Etos landed firmly, unscathed, his body cloaked in a golden-brown aura.
Once they regained their bearings, they all charged at us again.
Lera swept her hand from left to right.
RRRUMBLE!
A massive wave of ice surged in the direction of her sweep, freezing everything before forming a colossal ice wall five stories tall.
"Let' s go," Lera said.
She extended her hand, creating an ice carriage right in front of us, complete with ice horses that moved like real ones.
Lera climbed aboard and offered her hand, pulling me up.
My eyes widened. From the outside, you couldn' t see inside the carriage, but once inside, I could see everything outside, even the ground.
Since it was made of ice, the seats were hard and constantly emitted a chilly aura.
But for someone like me, used to the slums' hardships, this was no issue.
"It might be a bit cold. Where should I drop you off?" Lera asked.
"The slums. My sister and little sister are waiting at home."
"Sure. Mind if I lie down for a bit? I' m old and get sleepy easily."
After I nodded, Lera rested her head on my lap and fell asleep.
The horses started moving as if they knew the way. As the carriage moved, it emitted a faint blue glow, letting me see everything around us.
I sat stiffly to avoid disturbing Lera' s sleep, leaving behind the shouts begging me not to go with her.
Thinking back on what just happened, this woman…
She' s insanely powerful.