"Welcome back to the City of Preservation, Belobog."
After the castle was built, Clara led Firefly along a snowy path for a while until they arrived at the gates of a city-state.
The moment Clara and Firefly reached the entrance, they were stopped by the city guards.
"Welcome back, you two. Please present your resident permits."
Seeing the appearance of the two girls, a wave of suspicion rose in the guard's heart.
With looks like theirs, they couldn't possibly be nobodies. Why had he never seen them before?
But this thought only lingered in the guard's mind for a moment. After all... no matter what, Clara and Firefly could only be citizens of Belobog.
Outside the Eternal Freeze, no life could possibly exist...
"We don't have resident permits."
Hearing the guard's words, Clara gave a faint shake of her head.
"No permits? Did you lose them while you were outside?" Hearing Clara's words, the guard didn't think much of it, assuming the two had encountered some danger outside that caused them to lose their permits.
That wasn't exactly a rare occurrence in Belobog.
Losing a permit was, in principle, grounds for arrest and a good, thorough reprimand. But faced with two such lovely young ladies... well, he could let it slide~
"Nope."
In response to the guard's question, Clara shook her head again.
"Huh?" Hearing this, the guard was clearly taken aback. No permits...
How could a citizen of Belobog not have a permit?
Puzzlement stirred in the guard's heart, followed by the dawning of one possibility.
"Are you from the Underworld?"
He asked suspiciously. If they really were from the Underworld, then he wouldn't be able to cover for them... he'd have to arrest them.
And then subject them to harsh interrogation—to find out exactly how they had come up from the Underworld, and how they had left Belobog to venture into the snowfields...
"Nope, not that either."
Contrary to the guard's expectations, Clara denied it once more.
"???"
"Then you... who are you?" By now, the guard's confusion and wariness were both at their peak.
It would be one thing if Clara was lying, but if she wasn't...
"Exactly what you're thinking," Clara said flatly, having seen through the guard's thoughts.
"We are not from Belobog. In your terms."
"We are from beyond the Eternal Freeze."
"Beyond the Freeze!" Hearing Clara state this outcome with her own lips, the guard's mind was instantly seized by shock.
Immediately, the man grew excited. Without even considering the truth of Clara's words, he hurriedly asked:
"How on earth did you survive beyond the Eternal Freeze?"
As a citizen of Belobog, born and raised within its walls...
It wasn't that Belobog was a bad place, but after living such a confined life for so long, many in the city yearned for what lay beyond the Freeze.
Yet, because of the extreme weather of the Freeze and the threat of the Fragmentum creatures, the idea of stepping outside Belobog and venturing deep into the frost could only exist in dreams and books.
And now, here were people who had walked out from within the Freeze! How could he not be excited?
Perhaps the citizens of Belobog could use this as an opportunity to finally step outside!
"I know you're eager, but let me say this first: don't be hasty." Watching the guard's excited demeanor, Clara let out a yawn.
"I think the most important thing for you right now isn't blind excitement, but to take me to your highest leader in Belobog."
"I will discuss the matter of the Eternal Freeze with her clearly."
"Right, right, of course." The guard nodded hurriedly upon hearing this.
"This isn't something I can decide. I can't just get an audience with the Supreme Guardian."
"Please wait here a moment, you two. I'll go and notify my superiors."
"Mm, go ahead." Clara nodded.
Seeing her nod, the guard promptly hurried off into Belobog to inform his superiors.
"Clara, what are you up to?"
Seeing the numerous Silvermane Guards around them, Firefly leaned her mouth close to Clara's ear and asked, puzzled.
"Mmm... You know, you could have just asked directly... You didn't have to go through all this."
Feeling the warm breath on her ear, a hint of shyness rose unbidden in Clara's heart. She took a deep breath and quickly composed herself.
"Isn't it obvious? It's pretty clear."
"What I'm doing now is seeking an audience with the leader of Belobog, the so-called Supreme Guardian they mentioned."
"Oh, oh." Firefly nodded blankly. To this day, she still had no idea what Clara was trying to do.
They'd just finished building the castle, and now they'd run straight here.
She didn't even know what the point of building the castle was...
'Are you wondering why I built that castle?'
'Are you wondering why we need to see this so-called Supreme Guardian?'
"Yeah, why?"
Having her thoughts read, Firefly asked Clara curiously.
"To better fool them, of course."
Firefly: ?
'We are people from beyond the Eternal Freeze, long secluded in our castle, cut off from the world.'
'And now, we have witnessed the determination of Belobog's people.'
'We have decided to emerge and offer them our aid.'
'To help them step beyond the Freeze.'
'And finally, to become legendary figures remembered throughout history.'
Firefly: ...
"Well, how do you like this little story of mine? Your Majesty~"
'If you don't like it, I can always make up another one~'
Firefly: ...
...
I have completed the author to TL pipeline, 2 chapters per day. 150+ chapters in advance on patreon.
patreon.com/intraneer
Give power stones please I survive solely off of number go up.