[TKOSINM] 280 – Blizzards and The Snow Spirit

“It will not be dangerous. I just feel like I have to go meet him.”

“…is it a spirit?”

Noel, noticing something about Irene’s words, asked carefully, and Irene nodded. Noel sighed and let go of Irene’s wrist. There was nothing he could do as long as it was related to the spirits.

His expression was strangely hardened, but Irene, who was thinking only of the snow tree, did not notice it.

“Then I will go. Sleep first.”

“Yes...”

After reassuring Noel and putting on a simple shawl, Irene, who was about to leave the room in a hurry, hardened.

Noel hugged her from behind her. His breath fell on her neck as his head rested in the nook of her shoulder. He then kissed the dip. Irene’s eyes widened at Noel’s sudden action.

“Noel...?”

“I feel like I put too much burden on you alone, so your heart is heavy.”

“... That’s not.”

“I don’t have the great abilities like you, so I can’t be of much help, but don’t forget that I’m always waiting for you behind the scenes. When you are exhausted and struggling, I can stay by your side.”

Helplessness.

A sensation that he had forgotten engulfed his body. He was so insignificant that it was painful that he could not help her. Compared to the lengths that Irene did for him.

This unbearable helplessness consumed him to the tip of his toes. How long would he have to be like this?

He just wanted to do whatever he could, even if it was just telling the truth.

“... that’s not.”

Irene released Noel’s arm and turned around. Her olive-coloured eyes looked straight at him. Her determined face was resilient as if nothing could break it.

“Noel, you are my strength.”

“...”

“Without you, Noel, I wouldn’t have been able to do anything. You are my strength just by being yourself. To me, you are a greater being than God.”

“Is that so…”

“Of course! So don’t say you’re not confident.”

Such words weren’t lies. She was firm and unwavering. Seeing that, Noel smirked. He, too, received comfort from her like this.

“All right. I will keep that in mind.”

“Of course. I’ll go out and come back soon. Will you wait?”

“Of course, see you later.”

When Noel smiled, Irene felt relieved too.

Before Irene left the room, she abruptly kissed Noel’s lips.

Oh. You are too daring.

Even so, she was worried about whether the kiss was too sudden.

But after a moment of worry, Irene, who had left the main building, raised her head.

It was snowing, but the shape was strange. It was snowing only around the mansion where Irene was staying.

“Snow...”

As Irene muttered her name, a blizzard began to fall.

The sight of the pure white snow fluttering like a dance, was a sight to behold. It was as if white petals were blown away by the wind.

Standing in between them, Irene struggled to look around. After a while, a familiar voice was heard.

[Irene, my Contractor.]

A shrill voice rang out. As she turned her head toward the direction the voice came from, the flying snow began to clump together. Before long, the figure of a girl in a pure white dress formed. When the girl who looked like a small statue opened her eyes, it was filled with life. Looking at the girl, Irene muttered blankly.

“Snow...”

[Finally, we met. My Contractor. Irene.]

Snow, who flew in front of Irene, fluttering her snowflake-made wings, and smiled brightly. Looking at her still, Irene carefully opened her lips.

“Is it really you, Snow…?”

[Yes, I missed you.]

The soft porcelain coolness fell gently on the back of Iren’'s hand. However, after a while, Snow became terrified and retreated behind her.

[This energy..., On?]

[It’s been a long time. Snow.]

A wind blew from somewhere, and the image of On appeared. Seeing the artificial pale silver-grey, Snow frowned openly.

[On stole my Contractor again. How annoying]

[I’m not a good person.]

[If you don’t like it, break the contract]

[No! I don’t want to!]

[Irene is mine! Get out of my way!]

[You’ve done that to Rivena, and you’re stubborn again?]

[Hmph.]

Irene rolled her eyes at the conversation. It seemed that the two spirits were at odds. At first glance, Snow, who had a meticulous personality, and On, who was indifferent, seemed like a polar opposite.

Seol inflated her cheeks to show off her ownership as if she were disapproving of On’s existence and then dug into Irene’s hair. Irene trembled once she felt the chill in the back of her neck.

[Irene, do you like me? Do you like me?]

Snow asked in a hoarse voice. The temperature decreased as Snow showed interest. Irene, who was suddenly confused, widened her eyes and finally made a choice.

“Snow...”

[...!]

[Pii.]