Looking through a window inside the house I had created, I began to reflect on how empty and strange the [Kingdom] truly was.
There were days and nights inside the [Kingdom], which should mean that there was a star somewhere and that this world orbited it. However, the star I saw in the sky during the day and the moon I saw during the night felt as artificial as the thick fog that surrounded everything on the ground.
It truly made me feel like I was inside a video game world, in a placeholder area that I wasn't supposed to leave.
Worse, its emptiness made the [Kingdom] feel like a horror game. I had only stayed inside it during the day before, but cast under the darkness of the night, I grew wary of a monster suddenly jumping at me.
My house replaced the hut in the center of the grassland; however, it didn't help make the atmosphere any less ominous. If anything, it had the opposite effect.
Being by myself didn't make things better either. I could hear the wood creak, and I could almost make shapes from the fog, but every time I'd have to convince myself that it was all in my head.
Another oddity to add to the list was that the kingdom seemed to be in sync with both Earth and the world of the [Event], as the length of both day and night was the same in all three worlds.
Since that would be too much of a coincidence, I could only imagine that something was forcing time to run fast enough to sync the Kingdom with Earth and the world of the [Event].
It was hard to reach a conclusion with the little information I had, and since my Gift had features locked under certain requirements, I couldn't even see the full picture.
I could only hope that every unlocked feature would bring more answers than questions, since, if I were to summon more people in the future, I'd like to guarantee their safety inside the [Kingdom].
My house on Earth was already somewhat crowded, after all.
Licia: "You seem worried."
I was so distracted that I didn't notice her approaching.
Leaving the breakfast she had prepared on the bed beside me, Licia joined me by the window.
Miwen: "Hm? Sorry, I was just thinking about something."
Lots of somethings, actually.
Licia: "Is it about the execution?"
Miwen: "Nah. I believe Melissa won't have any trouble with it; it's also understandable why she would want to do it. The guy gave her tribe so much trouble after all."
If Melissa had killed the Angel Of The Night back in the cave, I might've gained some experience from it, since Licia helped a little in their fight, and we shared our experience gains.
Due to his high level, there was a good chance we'd have gotten one or two level-ups had Melissa killed the Angel right then and there; however, she prioritized her army's morale and decided to hold a public execution.
Even though I helped her get him, I didn't complain about her decision. I could see both scenarios helping her war effort, and as the more experienced ruler, I trusted her judgment.
Miwen: "Is Claire not coming?"
The sun had just risen in the [Kingdom].
Artificial or not, it was a nice sight.
Licia: "I tried waking her up, but she asked for a couple more... hours. If she comes to see you, it'll be at night."
I noticed that she'd wake up a little later every day, but from the way Licia talked, this looked like quite a jump from yesterday.
Miwen: "Perhaps she got tired from using mana to shoot at Mia and lighting fires in yesterday's arena..."
Licia: "Not at all. She has great control over her mana output, so she always shies away from mana depletion. It's just that..."
She stopped for a second, turning away from me.
Licia: "Since we aren't going to the Dungeon, we have a lot of free time, you know? So... We've been watching movies in your house until late at night."
She looked like a little kid confessing a bad deed to her parents.
Even though I didn't mind it, I put on a face and spoke sternly.
Miwen: "And that led to her being this tired ?"
Licia: "Well, she wanted to watch one more before I left, but I guess it didn't end up at just one..."
I couldn't get mad at her for that.
I've done the same plenty of times, with games, series, and movies alike.
Miwen: "If it's boring to you, feel free to go to the Dungeon. Just be careful, alright?"
While Licia sat on the bed, I opened the windows to let some fresh air into the room.
Before long, the house began to warm up.
Licia: "I don't like the idea of just the two of us facing the boss. We could win, but it's an unnecessary risk. What's more pressing is that you scold her when this ends, or else she's going to become a freeloader who doesn't work to earn her stay."
She shifted from child to mom pretty quickly.
Even though she was also sleeping a little late.
Miwen: "Alright, alright. I'll be sure to talk to her later, ok?"
Honestly, I didn't really mind a cute girl freeloading back at home, but... Claire was super strong. She brought a lot of power and experience to our party.
Also, it was always more fun to have her around.
Miwen: "I'll bring Melissa some gifts from the gacha. Do you want to come along?"
Licia: "As much as I'd like to share a cell with you, right now I'd prefer to catch up with the movies Claire watched without me."
She spoke so confidently and so casually that I was unsure whether she was being ironic or not.
The thought warmed my face a little, but then I remembered that we were already sharing a bed, and nothing had happened, so... sharing a prison cell also wouldn't lead to anything.
I departed from Licia while entertaining the idea.
The windows and the wood of the house I built inside my creepy, yet safe Kingdom faded from view.
Just as quickly, I found myself in the dark dungeon cell of the Snow White Wolves' fortress, where their chieftainess and her daughter waited for me.
Miwen: "Oh, so you're still alive? I was worried sick, you know?"
Mia: "...!"
It was cute how differently she acted with her mother around.
While clenching her fists, she bit her own lips, trying not to talk back.
It was impossible not to tease this cute wolfgirl when she was like this.
Watching her so flustered was a fair reward, too, considering her mother had essentially stolen a level-up from me.
Mia: "If I had the mark-"
She briefly closed her eyes, her tail lowering to the ground.
I wanted to ask her about it, but her mother interjected before I could.
Melissa: "Eh? If you came here to flirt, I can just leave you two alone."
I was pretty good at teasing Mia.
However, her mother was the undisputed champion.
The face she made was so cute, I could put it on a banner and proudly fight the entirety of Hamperlon as the Snow White Wolves' flagbearer, regardless of the cost of doing so.
But even though I appreciated Melissa for granting me such a blissful sight, I wasn't that easy to fool.
She clearly wanted to hide whatever Mia was about to say.
While I didn't mind her keeping a secret or two, given my help the last time, I thought it was about time we started being more honest with one another.
So, I decided to be as honest as possible.
Miwen: "No, thanks. I like having my head attached to my neck."
It's not that I wasn't tempted.
But between Licia and Melissa's offers, I felt like Licia's was better.
After all, she at least liked me enough not to punch me seriously.
Melissa: "Quite clever, I wouldn't expect less of my ally."
Miwen: "So you recognize me as your ally and yet you still keep secrets from me?"
Melissa briefly furrowed her eyebrows, while Mia silently held her own arm close to her body.
Mia: "..."
A second passed in uncomfortable silence.
Mia wouldn't face me, so I locked eyes with Melissa instead.
Melissa: "...It's not really a secret. I can tell if you'd like me to, but... let's just say right now is not the best time."
Miwen: "Alright. But then what about the dragon?"
Melissa: "...The dragon?"
That wasn't the attitude I was looking for.
I wanted to help her, and for that, I needed to know everything she knew.
Miwen: "I believed it was called the Dragon King of Frost, and the harpy said that you had a pact with it or something."
Melissa: "Colluded. He used the word colluded."
She didn't seem very pleased about it.
However, at least she wasn't playing dumb either.
Melissa: "And he was wrong, we never colluded with that beast."
Miwen: "I'll gladly listen to the story."
I pressed my back against the cell's cold wall.
A shiver went down my spine, but I toughed it out, crossing my arms and showing I was ready to listen.
Melissa: "Even though it's not worthwhile?"
Miwen: "Well, the girls have been enjoying some entertainment as of late, so I might be feeling a bit envious. I'm all in for a good story."
Melissa: "It's not a good story, but... All right."
Even if it wasn't worth it, just having her tell me something was already a good start.
Besides, I'd be the one deciding whether or not there was any value in it. And even if it was a trivial story, hearing Melissa talk should let me measure her truthfulness a little better through her speaking habits. That alone was worth it to me.
Since I left her no option, Melissa asked Mia to bring them a couple of chairs, and sitting before the prison bars, she began explaining.
Melissa: "So, to start with... The Dragon King of Frost, or as some call it, The North Dragon, is a beast of old, a mythical dragon that hasn't been seen for more than five centuries. Legend says he's responsible for the frozen lands in the north that stretch all the way to this very island."
I've noticed the frozen land on the map she gave me, but I thought it just meant we were close to the north pole equivalent of this world.
At first, it seemed strange to me the way the ice spread, but I wasn't an expert on these things, so I figured it just seemed odd because the only map I had for reference was Earth's.
Also, given how the ancient maps of Earth were pretty flawed, I figured theirs weren't a completely reliable source of the world's geography.
It just made sense for a tribe in the middle of nowhere to make some mistakes or exaggerations with their maps.
Melissa: "No one knows where the dragon was born, but the most accepted version of the legend says that he came from this island and traveled north, freezing everything in his path. On the mainland, they tell tales about how our tribe wanted to spread and made a covenant with the North Dragon, where he would freeze the entire continent so that we would be the only ones capable of living in it."
Miwen: "But you're saying that's not true?"
It seemed like a sensitive question to Mia, as she anxiously tapped her foot on the ground.
However, if Melissa felt the same, she was better at hiding it.
Melissa: "I can't be absolutely sure, but it's rather convenient to place the blame of a disaster on a tribe that rarely leaves their birthplace; it makes it quite hard for us to spread our version of the story, at the very least."
She spoke very matter-of-factly, though there was a hint of annoyance at being accused by others without any proof.
Miwen: "And what happens in your version?"
Melissa: "Well, the story we tell is that the beast came from the north, it was freezing everything in its way, so our people, who at the time had a small kingdom, were forced to migrate to avoid the dragon. This was normally impossible for most other races, but thanks to our ancestors being resistant to the cold, they managed to escape before the conditions became too harsh. Eventually, we couldn't migrate further, and upon reaching the shore, it was decided that our tribe would make a last stand."
Oh, so that's why the dragon had two titles.
I suppose those inclined to believe this second version of the story were the ones who began to call it the North Dragon in the first place.
Still, this was a big problem.
Since her tribe was the only one to escape, I could see why others would think they cooperated with the dragon.
And with such a small population, trapped inside an island, it'd be hard for them to convince the mainland.
Melissa: "That dragon could freeze an entire region by just approaching it, so even though our people managed to win and repel it somewhere else, we couldn't really inhabit the land anymore, so we arrived at this island. Even without ever touching this place, just by flying next to it, this island became forever covered in snow. My tribe can still live under these conditions, so it didn't take long for us to make this our home."
It was hard to determine which version was correct just by hearing the two versions of the legend.
Either one could be true, and just as likely, the truth could be a strange mix of both tales. Hell, for all I knew, they could all be entirely wrong or made up.
However, if I had to choose one to believe, it would probably be Melissa's.
While it had a harsh climate, the island was still habitable enough for humans to desire it for themselves. If the dragon had started its journey from here, it would only make sense for the island to have suffered the most from the frost it caused.
The idea that this was actually its last spot, and that it didn't come close enough to freeze it completely, made more sense.
Also, I couldn't see why the dragon would make a pact with the Snow White Wolves in the first place. In both versions, the Dragon King of Frost didn't stand to gain anything from its actions.
Even if I were to discredit all that, the biggest point in Melissa's favor was that her tribe lived on this island instead of governing the continent like their pact would have allowed them to.
If they truly had a pact with the dragon, their standing should be completely different.
Still, Melissa was smart enough to tell the story in a way that favored her without me noticing it, so I had to consider that as well.
In the end, without hearing the other side, I was slightly inclined to believe her at best.
Though there was one thing I was sure about...
Miwen: "I can see why you didn't want to talk about it. It's not really useful information."
Even if I could magically bring the dragon to the island, I doubt it would change anything.
Most likely, it would end with both her tribe and Hamperlon being frozen by it.
Melissa: "Maybe you should trust me more, boy."
Her lips curled into a slight, smug smile.
Miwen: "That will depend on what you have to say about my next question."
Since she was in a playful mood, I pushed my luck a little further.
Melissa: "If it's about marriage, I believe I'm a bit too old for you, but I can arrange for Mia to-"
Mia: "Mom! P-please..."
Even though I wasn't her target, I ended up being the one most hurt by it.
It was the first time I heard Mia talk back to her mom, and of all things, it just had to be about refusing to marry me.
Miwen: "It's related to Mia, but sadly, it's not about our marriage yet. What I want to know is..."
Still, I didn't let Melissa distract me.
There was a thought that wouldn't leave my mind ever since I first met Mia.