Elior Forest, the Freezing Forest, stretched endlessly, the temperature low and the ice and snow never melting.
"Phew, Lord Ren, are there really candidates for Royal Selection here? This must be a mistake." Ram was fully bundled up, looking like a walking marshmallow with a scarf and thick gloves, yet she couldn't stop shivering.
"Lord Ren." Rem also looked at Ren.
This time, Ren had brought Rem along. The two sisters seemed closer now and respected Ren even more.
"Inside, only those who aren't afraid of the cold can live here." Ren exhaled a puff of warm breath. He wore light clothing, seemingly unbothered by the freezing air.
"Phew, Lord Ren, don't expect me to do anything in this cold." Ram curled up tightly. Without Rem supporting her, she probably wouldn't have continued walking.
"Ram, you're way too afraid of the cold, and we haven't even entered the forest yet." Ren sighed.
"Phew, Lord Ren, we shouldn't even have come to a place this cold." Ram remained curled up.
"Who are you? What are you doing here?" A voice came from behind a large tree.
"State your purpose, or we won't be polite." Another voice followed.
"The Dragon Kingdom's Royal Selection is about to begin, and we're looking for candidates." Ren spoke first.
"Royal Selection? Sorry, that's not something we're interested in." A girl in a white robe stepped forward, accompanied by an elf.
"The Dragon Kingdom… perhaps a dragon can unseal this place." Ren tried the method he had used before. Whoever tried it would know its effect.
"Really?" Emilia looked intrigued, then seemed to recognize something. "Have we met before?"
"The scent of witches… you're from the Witch Cult? You're not welcome here." Puck stepped in front of Emilia, alert. He knew well who she resembled.
Ram continued shivering, silent, only giving Ren a long, thoughtful glance. She wondered how much trouble Ren had gotten into across all the places he had been.
The Witch Cult was infamous, and she herself now carried a trace of a witch's aura. Thinking of that made Ram feel uneasy.
"You can say that." Ren admitted openly.
Puck immediately cast his magic, not giving Ren and the others a chance, sending shards of ice flying toward them.
Ram stepped directly in front of Ren, unleashing powerful wind magic that shattered all the ice crystals.
The lingering force of her magic surged toward the two attackers, and then her body began to tremble.
"What." Puck quickly summoned two ice walls, finally stopping Ram's magic.
"Lia, you go first."
"Puck, wait a moment. Um, I feel like I've seen you before. Can you tell me?" Emilia looked at Ren and Ram, her lost childhood memories making her uneasy.
"Lia, the current Witch Cult is evil through and through. Don't waste words with them." Puck knew this too.
The group was connected to that exiled witch, so he couldn't let them near Emilia. He unleashed stronger ice shards.
Ren sighed inwardly. Why is it that wherever he goes, as soon as he appears, someone attacks immediately? Can't we just talk first?
Though trembling, Ram's magic was relentless. She used wave after wave of wind magic, and each spell was almost unfairly strong.
Puck struggled—if he didn't transform into his true form, he might not have a chance at all.
"Puck." Seeing him being blasted back, Emilia rushed to his side.
"Lia, this enemy is strong. You need to leave." Puck braced himself.
"Well, even though it looks like a life and death fight, can you at least hear me out first?" Ren stepped forward.
"Have we met before?" Emilia stared at Ren, seeking an answer.
"No. If you think so, it's probably because you encountered someone with the same aura as me." Ren shook his head, answering her question.
"Really?" Emilia looked a little disappointed.
"What are you doing here?" Puck stood in front of Emilia.
"She has the right to participate in the Dragon Kingdom's royal selection, so we came." Ren said bluntly.
"The Witch Cult wants to interfere with the royal selection?" Puck asked further.
"No, this is just my personal decision." Ren thought for a moment before continuing.
"The Dragon Kingdom worships the legendary dragons. They should be able to unseal this forest. I suppose there are still many people trapped in ice here."
This hit Emilia's soft spot. She desperately wanted the forest unsealed. "Can it really be done?"
"Lia!"
Ren said with certainty, "Of course it can. Even if the Dragon can't do it, that Sword Saint surely can."
"Wait a moment, Lia. They're from the Witch Cult. We can't let them take part in this royal selection." Puck, though a Great Spirit, knew quite a bit.
"The only purpose of me participating in the royal selection is to test my own abilities," Ren thought for a moment before replying.
"Just for that?" Puck couldn't believe it. To join just for that? It was insane.
"Yes, just for that. And Great Spirit, give up. Even if I approach with ill intent, you cannot stop me. After all, you cannot kill me." Ren waved his fingers.
"Cannot kill you? Then let's see if I can." Puck said this, but did not act, instead watching Ram warily.
Ram complained, "I'm already cold. Can someone stop giving me more work?"
"Rem can help sister," Rem said in agreement from the side.
"Rem, keep Ram warm. Now, let me explain properly." Ren stepped closer.
"Do not come any closer." Puck had already formed ice crystals in the air. If Ren took another step, he would attack immediately.
"I already told you, you cannot kill us." Ren's tone was full of arrogance.
"Heh, talk big all you want. Let these words drag you to hell." Puck launched his attack.
Ram saw that Ren didn't even dodge and completely gave up. She used wind magic, but it only made her colder. She was freezing and on the brink of collapse.
Ren snapped his fingers, offering no resistance as the ice crystals tore his body apart.
"Did we just… kill him?" Puck sounded uncertain, and when he saw Rem's confused expression, he realized it wasn't that simple.
"You see, I said there's no need to fight, right? Let's all sit down and talk." Ren's figure appeared not far away, watching Puck and Emilia.
"Ah~" At that moment, Emilia held her head and screamed. She had seen someone kill a resurrected being like Ren before, back when she was a child, and she hated him with all her heart.
"What did you do…" Puck lost his mind when he saw Emilia react, and he immediately used magic to tear Ren apart again.
"Before you accuse me of anything…" Ren hadn't even finished speaking when he was shredded once more.
"Just hear me out. I'm only interested in the royal selection. This is something we could solve by talking." Ren appeared again.
But Puck gave him no chance. Every time he appeared, he died again, only to revive seamlessly and continue speaking.
"Witch Cult, you're so annoying." Puck got angry and launched another attack, tearing Ren apart once more.
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