Debuff Master

Chapter 667

“Who are you?”

Surprisingly, Duchess Marie was very calm, even though she was in a situation that would make most people panic.

Why?

It was all because she was strong.

Her mana was being restricted right now, which meant that she couldn't retaliate against an attacker, but her firm fighting spirit was still alive. Her fighting spirit was the reason she survived the extremely hostile Arctic Pangea.

“Shh! Please do not be surprised. Certain circumstances have forced me to sneak in here, but please remain calm,” Siegfried whispered.

Ninetail gracefully descended the ceiling and landed on the floor without making a single sound.

“Geez... Why are you hanging upside down? You could have scared her,” she grumbled.

“T-That is...”

“Sigh...”

Siegfried did a somersault in midair and landed on his feet after getting berated by his own subordinate. Then, he said with a slight bow, “I apologize.”

“And who might you be?” Duchess Marie asked in a calm voice.

“My name is Siegfried van Proa.”

“Huh? Siegfried van Proa? Do you mean you are the king of the neighboring Proatine Kingdom?”

“Yes.”

“Why are you in my bedroom—”

“It would be difficult for me, a king, to seek an audience with a duchess of another kingdom, so I had no other choice but to do this.”

“May I ask why Your Majesty wishes to meet me?”

“I am here on Arnayan’s request.”

“A-Arnayan...? Are you talking about my daughter?” Duchess Marie stuttered, looking surprised for the first time. Then, she asked, “D-Did my daughter meet with Your Majesty?”

“Yes,” Siegfried replied with a nod. Then, he said, “She dearly misses you, duchess.”

“A-Ah...”

“She left the Arctic Pangea and came all the way to the continent in hopes of meeting you.”

“Arnayan... My precious daughter...”

“She is currently waiting in the Proatine Kingdom.”

“I... I see...”

“If you wish to, then you can meet her—”

“No,” Duchess Marie shook her head. Then, she said, “I will not meet that child.”

“Huh? Why not?” Siegfried asked, slightly flustered by her response.

“That child is a child of the Blanc Clan, and I have started anew. We will only end up hurting each other if we meet.”

“Hmm...”

“I apologize, but please leave at once.”

“Is it because of the arranged marriage? For your family?” Siegfried asked.

“Family?” Duchess Marie muttered with a faint icy smile. Then, she said with a hint of anger in her voice, “I have already been cast out by my family. I would have been a victim of honor killing if it weren't for the value I have for a political marriage.

“Honor killing?”

“A child of a duke marrying a barbarian and having his child is enough reason to be killed.”

“Ah...”

“So this is the only way I can keep living...”

“You can just run away, no?”

“Run away...”

“I saw your relationship by pure coincidence. He seems to lay his hands on you, so how come you have never thought of escaping? Why?”

“That is...”

Siegfried noticed that the duchess was hesitating for some reason. ‘There’s definitely something. What is it? Why would she leave the man whom she loves and her own daughter? It’s not like her life is better now... it’s actually the worst. I wonder what—’

‘Ah! That must be it!’ Siegfried had an idea as to why she hadn't been able to leave.

There were times when Siegfried’s brain would run so fast that he'd quickly figure things out by himself, and this was one of those moments.

“Duchess.”

“Yes, Your Majesty?”

“Does Arnayan... have a younger sibling?”

Duchess Marie dropped the handkerchief in her hand.

***

On a forest located five kilometers away from the Sirakusa Dukedom...

“No wonder. She could have easily run away, even if it was an arranged marriage. There was indeed a reason she decided to put up with it.”

“Yes, you're right,” Ninetail replied with a nod.

“I know the child has the blood of barbarians flowing in him, but how could he threaten his own daughter using his own grandson?”

“It is not that surprising though?”

“Really?”

“That is how nobles think. They only care about their family’s prosperity, honor, and power. They are willing to use their own flesh and blood if it means they could achieve their goals.”

“Who would have thought their noble status is nothing but a tower built on their evil deeds?” Siegfried said, smirking in sheer disbelief.

The events were pretty straightforward.

Duchess Marie was pregnant when she returned to the continent with Arnayan’s younger brother. It was the reason she was unseen for an entire year upon returning to the continent.

Surprisingly, she was married off to Duke Sirakusa right after giving birth, and her son, Arnayan’s younger brother, was being held hostage by Duke Ashenuna.

The child served as an insurance just in case Duchess Marie didn't commit to the marriage or attempted to run away.

On top of that, Duchess Marie had to wear a mana-restricting anklet as an additional insurance. She was strong, but she had to endure getting slapped and beaten by the weakling Duke Sirakusa.

These were the reasons she couldn't return to her beloved husband Nanuqsa and daughter Arnayan.”

“What should we do?” Ninetail asked.

Siegfried pondered for a while before replying, “We have to use all of our agents and put Arnayan’s younger brother in our hands.”

“After that—”

“We will rescue Duchess Marie.”

“Is Your Majesty aware that this could turn into a diplomatic problem if we get caught?”

“We just have not to get caught.”

“You are quite reckless.”

“Do you suppose the First Black Dragon, Inkarthus, awakening is better or having a diplomatic problem is better?”

“That's...”

“We have no other choice if we want to stop those Church of Osric bastards. We must bring Duchess Marie to Nanuqsa and convince the Blanc Clan.”

“Alright.”

“Mobilize all of our agents and assets. If required, place a commission with the Thieves Guild, too.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

Siegfried returned to the Proatine Kingdom after commanding Ninetail to find Arnayan’s younger brother.

***

Meanwhile, the Church of Osric was busy holding a ritual in the Glacier of Eon, located at the heart of the Arctic Pangea, in order to awaken the First Black Dragon, Inkarthus.

The one leading them was none other than the Savior.

Even the elusive head of the Church of Osric, the Savior, made an appearance in order to awaken Inkarthus. The Savior stood atop the Glacier of Eon and gazed down at Inkarthus, who was fast asleep.

Inkarthus’ body was around two kilometers long, and his entire body was sealed by a spell that had frozen him in this glacier.

The Church of Osric members were drilling holes on the glacier and inserting metallic hose into it. The hoses were pumping some sort of liquid coming from a tank.

The Savior continued gazing down and muttered, “The First Black Dragon...”

“Leader,” the Green Cardinal, Thermage, made a report regarding their progress.

Thermage was knowledgeable in the biology and chimera making, and he was the one responsible for all body modification done by the Church of Osric.

“Inkarthus is showing signs of activity.”

“Is that so?”

The Savior looked at Thermage, but his face was still covered by the hood.

“Yes, sir. I believe he will awaken very soon.”

“How long will it take?”

“Based on my calculations, he will awaken in about an hour.”

“How long will it take before he can move freely?”

“It will take at least seventy-two hours.”

“Why would it take so long?”

“Inkarthus’ body is too big, and he has been frozen solid for a very long time. Therefore, seventy-two hours is the earliest he could move even with the help of the solution I have made.”

“I see,” the Savior muttered. Then, he said, “Focus on awakening Inkarthus. Our lifelong dream will be realized the moment he is awakened.”

“Yes, sir!” Green Cardinal Thermage exclaimed in response and rushed to awaken First Black Dragon Inkarthus.

***

“Chieftain! We have received reports that the Continentals have set foot on our lands again!”

It had only been two days since Aryanan had been abducted by the Continentals, but there were already reports that they had returned to the Arctic Pangea.

Bam!

Nanuqsa slammed the glass in his hand on the table. After Aryanan was abducted by the Continentals, he had been drinking their hardest liquor, which was ninety-five percent Vodka.

“What? Those filthy bastards are back? They dare to step foot in our holy grounds?”

“Y-Yes, chieftain.”

“Continent... Continentals... Those damned bastards have always been a thorn on my side... I will kill them all... I want to kill them all...” Nanuqsa muttered under his breath, unleashing a fierce killing intent.

“Our scouts claim that they are the same group of Continentals.”

“The same group?”

“Yes, chieftain. The same group that abducted Arnayan.”

Nanuqsa stood up and asked, “Where are they?”

Swoosh!

His figure was leaking a fierce frost energy that contained his thick killing intent.

“C-Chieftain—ah...”

“Where is it? Where are those filthy Continentals?”

“Argh...! I-I will lead the way.”

“Gather all of our warriors. I will make sure not to lose those filthy bastards this time. I will rip them to shreds!”

Nanuqsa’s rage grew even hotter upon hearing that Siegfried had returned to the Artic Pangea. He knew very well that Arnayan did not get abducted by him, but he was an accomplice in helping her escape to the continent.

In other words, it was only obvious for Nanuqsa to be enraged, as Siegfried had helped Arnayan escape.

“I will make them regret coming back to this place...” Nanuqsa growled under his breath and swore vengeance.

A few hours later, Nanuqsa and his kinsmen surrounded the camp set up by Siegfried and the others.

“Come out! I suggest you come out now if you don’t want to get sliced up with that flimsy tent of yours!” Nanuqsa roared at the tent while wielding his battle axe, which had been passed down for generations in the clan.

The tent opened.

Nanuqsa gripped his battle axe in preparation to cut up the young man from the continent that helped his daughter escape the Arctic Pangea, but—

“...!”

The one who came out of the tent was not a young man but the silhouette of a woman.

Nanuqsa was baffled when a woman came out instead of a man, but he was stupefied upon recognizing the woman.

Thud...!

The large battle axe in his hand fell to the snowy ground.

“M-Marie...” Nanuqsa weakly called out.

It was her.

The woman who had abandoned him and their daughter fifteen years ago. The passage of time had changed her looks, but he knew without a shred of doubt that the distant woman was indeed her.

However, she was not alone. Aryanan, whom he thought had run away to the continent, was standing next to her. However, what shocked him the most was the child standing next to them. The boy had white hair and blue eyes, and everything about him resembled what Nanuqsa looked like when he was young.

“W-What in the...” Nanuqsa muttered and retreated a few steps.

The duchess—no, Marie approached him and hugged him tightly.

[Alert: You have completed the Quest – Melt the Frozen Heart!]

Siegfried was watching from the sidelines when a message popped up in front of his eyes.

However, there were still more system prompts.

Ding!

A new string of messages popped up.

[Alert: A new event has started – Strong One’s Teachings!]

[Alert: Learn from the Chieftain of the Blanc Clan, Nanuqsa!]

[Alert: You will be able to empower your skill, Absolute Zero, if you receive Nanuqsa’s teachings!]

Siegfried was granted the chance to partake in an event upon clearing the quest, "Melt the Frozen Heart!" The event was an opportunity for him to enhance one of his most powerful crowd control skills, Absolute Zero.