Chapter 269

"The blizzard still doesn't look like it's going to stop."

"Yes..."

Outside the window, the snow continued to rage violently.

That said... inside the mountain cabin, the fire kept it warm, and there was no sense of discomfort.

Naturally, there was no need for the kind of event often seen in romance manga, like 'getting naked to warm each other up.'

"Mmm..."

"Is something wrong, Reina?"

"It's nothing."

If there was one problem... it would probably be that Reina was unusually grumpy.

Maybe she was upset that the ski trip had been ruined.

"It's a shame about today... but the trip has only just begun. Even if today didn't work out, there's always tomorrow."

"............"

At Clael's words, Reina gave him a reproachful look.

Clael tilted his head at the unexpected reaction... but there was nothing he could do about the weather. Reina would just have to give up.

"Yawn... I'm getting a bit sleepy. I'm going to rest for a while."

From past life experience... women sometimes get grumpy for no apparent reason.

At times like this, anything a man says is useless. All you can do is wait for the storm to pass.

Clael buried his face in the blanket as if to escape reality and drifted off to sleep.

〇 〇 〇

"Suu, suu..."

"............Clael-sama."

Waiting until Clael was fast asleep, Reina quietly scooted closer.

She carefully closed the distance so as not to wake Clael.

"............"

From up close, she stared intently at Clael, as if burning his image into her retinas.

She reached her hand out from the blanket toward Clael... but immediately lowered it.

"Mmm..."

If she touched his body, she would surely wake him.

Reina bit her lip in frustration.

"It's almost sunset... I guess that's it for today."

She was happy to be alone with Clael, but it wasn't like she wanted to cause trouble.

She had merely taken advantage of the sudden blizzard to bring him to the mountain cabin... but the fun ended here.

"It can't be helped. Let's save the rest for another time."

Reina stood up carefully so as not to wake Clael... and turned around.

Behind her, a door had appeared at some point. It was a teleportation gate created by Reina.

When Reina stepped through the gate... on the other side was a snowy mountain, right in the heart of the blizzard.

"GROOOOOOOOOAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!"

And then... there was the figure of a giant monster breathing icy breath in the middle of the blizzard.

A white dragon-like monster was spewing ice and snow from its mouth, stirring up the blizzard.

"Is that the ice dragon that lives in this mountain... what exactly is bothering you so much that you're causing a blizzard?"

"GROOOOOOOOOAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!"

"Thanks to you, I got to be alone with Clael-sama... but this is getting annoying. Please stop."

"GROOOOOOOOOAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!"

"......So you're not going to listen. Fine then."

Reina let out a quiet sigh at the dragon, who continued to spew ice and snow.

"That was a warning... and now, this is a threat."

"GROH!?"

The air around Reina changed.

Not only did the atmosphere grow colder, but even her appearance began to transform.

Her body began to shine white, angelic wings sprouted from her back, and in her right hand appeared a spear taller than she was. Covered in geometric patterns, it looked like a legendary weapon from mythology.

"Kuma!"

"Woof woof!"

And then... plushie-headed angels appeared around her, standing to protect Reina.

"Leave now. Otherwise..."

"GYAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHH!"

The ice dragon let out a scream-like cry and stopped blowing ice and snow.

Flapping both wings in panic, it fled toward the mountain peak.

"I might've taken it out on you a little... but it's almost dinner time, so let's go home."

Reina said with a sigh and watched the fleeing ice dragon off.