Chapter 179: 179

Chapter 179 – Snow and Roxy

[Fai, watch out!]

Another big earthquake occured as we ran through the sewer that led to the underground city .

The ceiling of the sewer collapsed as a result .

The rubbles would fall on us, but it’s actually something convenient .

I changed the black sword into its shield form .

[Roxy, to me . ]

[Alright . ]

I held her hand and drew her closer to me .

The black shield protected us from the falling rubble and even set it aside .

[I’ll use the hole left from the collapse to climb up . ]

[If it is only that much, I should be able to climb up as well . ]

[Then let’s go!]

Balancing myself on top of the unstable scaffolding, I climbed up toward the opening from where the sunlight leaked in .

Snow was silent all the time, staring at the sky .

I’ve seen this kind of reaction before . It’s always like this when Libra was involved .

[Snow, once we get to the top part, can you evacuate alone?]

[No way! I’ll fight! Fight!]

The grown up Snow would likely be a force to be reckoned with . However, the current Snow that was hugging Roxy was stuck in her child form .

The current her was hard to work with . Perhaps due to her childish attitude .

[I will fight along with Roxy!]

She hugged Roxy even tighter while saying that .

How long have we separated that she changed this much!?

[Somehow, she became close to me after I treated her earlier . ]

[I like Roxy!]

Roxy was trying so hard to get along with Snow . She had been trying to lessen the distance gradually, and apparently treating the unconscious Snow gave the last push needed .

I’m happy for her . But if only this happens after we manage to overcome the crisis that is about to engulf Hausen .

[I understand . Then, Snow, please lend your power to help Roxy . ]

When I properly asked her for help, Snow’s eyes sparkled and she started making a big fuss .

[Leave it to me! I’m strong!]

[I look forward to working with you!]

[Un!]

Such a heartwarming scene with Snow . I could feel the tense air disappear and my heart relaxed .

The tremor on the ground intensified .

We continued to run, as fast as we could .

An alarm was ringing in Hausen . Stacks of black smokes were rising from all over the city .

[Fai, the evacuation seems to be delayed somehow . ]

[It seems so… I asked Mimir to help just in case… but I guess the population was a bit too big to complete the evacuation in such a short notice . ]

The hired warriors in the city also helped out in the evacuation effort . However, the sudden event might’ve caused panic among the residents . Therefore some of them may not be willing to listen to the warriors .

From time to time, I could hear screams echoing in the sky .

When I looked up to the sky, there were flashes of light .

Sound of thunder continuously cracked from the sky up north, each one always followed by a new rising black smoke .

[Is he… attacking from the sky?]

One wouldn’t be able to see it with naked eye . But Snow tugging at my hand proved that it’s true .

[Dropping those lights from the sky . He’s playing around . ]

[What? From the sky?]

[From a very, very high place . Where you can’t even breathe because there’s no air!]

Playing around, in a place so high there’s no air?

Realizing me tilting my head, Roxy attempted to make it clear .

[Look . Up there in the sky!]

[So it’s up there!]

That wasn’t a star . It’s something else .

Just when I thought so, it shone brightly .

Immediately afterward, a pillar of light hit a spot very near to us and caused a huge explosion .

[Roxy, Snow!]

I still had the black shield, so the explosion was nothing much . Being hit directly by that light is a different matter though .

I took a look at the place where the pillar of light had struck . Fortunately there was no one there…

If this is just playing around as Snow said, then what will happen if he’s serious?

Greed then talked to me via《Mind reading》 .

『What Snow said is correct . This is certainly bad . He’s currently beyond the atmosphere . Simply speaking, he’s attacking from such a ridiculous range that neither the black bow nor even the bloody ptarmigan can reach him . 』

Greed explained as I looked up into the sky once more .

The star-like dot was shining again .

『Snow might say that he’s just playing, but those lights are actually his power spilling out . He’s actually in the process of charging an attack . 』

Does that mean… there’s no way for us to retaliate?

I gave up stopping the door to His land from opening, and yet I’m now stumped by this .

Seto and Mimir were still in the city . While Eris, Myne, and Raine were underground .

Seeing me holding my head, Snow suddenly said .

[Then just fly up to the sky!]

She said while flapping her arms . Oioi, we are not birds, okay?

But Snow seemed to be serious . She stared at Roxy, then continued to speak .

[Roxy Heart, if you are ready for it, would you forge a contract with me?]

Roxy was surprised from receiving such an offer . And so did I .

Could it be that she’s regaining her true self? Is it finally coming out?

At least Snow’s words implied that she’s serious .

[Ready for a contract…?]

[It means becoming part of my family . Should you fail, you will end up becoming a creature called darkness . But should you succeed, you will step into Area E and gain new powers . ]

Roxy’s eyes opened wide . After all, she’s always been looking for a way to reach Area E .

[I… . . ]

She glanced at me, which I replied by shaking my head .

[Please do . Please forge a contract with me . ]

[Roxy! Don’t… . ]

[No . I have to decide now . Moreover, our time is running out . ]

[Very well . Then please come closer to me . ]

[Yes . ]

While light pillars kept raining down, Snow kissed the kneeling Roxy’s forehead .

[Uh… . . ]

Snow’s body turned into light particles and flowed into Roxy .

Roxy’s body was immediately enveloped in pale red light .

Did she feel as if something is wriggling inside her body or something? She was hugging her own body, giving me that kind of notion .

[Roxy!]

Right when I called out to her name, white wings sprouted out from Roxy’s back .

1, 2, 3, 4 . There were 4 wings sprouting out in total .

In addition to the wings, a white halo appeared, floating above Roxy’s head . And her blonde hair――there were now traces of Snow’s hair color along the tips .

Her current figure… looked nothing less like the angel told in fairy tales .

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The changes were so divine, it’s breathtaking . It’s not the time and place, but I was truly fascinated by her look for a while there .

[A, are you alright?]

Roxy slowly raised her head in response to my voice . A smile then bloomed in her face .

[There is no problem . Although it feels a bit weird to suddenly grow wings… is it not?]

[I think it’s pretty . ]

[If that is so, then good!]

Roxy looked happy . Accepting the changes so readily, I wonder if it’s really alright…

She’s originally a very positive person . I knew that full well .

I was so worried about what will happen if Roxy were to step into Area E . But looking at her stepping up so easily… I really can’t beat her after all .

『That doesn’t even look difficult . Am I right, hard-working-Fate-kun?』

[You…]

『I mean it . At this kind of timing――it’s good that we are able to borrow the power of a Sacred Beastkin like Snow . Besides, the Holy Knights naturally have good affinity with the Sacred Beastkin . The adaptation rate is very high . 』

[You should’ve said it earlier!]

『I just wanted to see and enjoy Fate’s natural reaction on this』

[You sick bastard . ]

Greed laughed loudly . Well, of course .

If it posed a huge risk for Roxy, Greed would certainly warn me ahead of time .

Snow was the same . I thought I knew them well already, but I guess I still have a long way to go .

Snow did ask if Roxy was ready though . She wanted to see if Roxy really had the resolve in her .