The Northern Duke’s Daughter Will Never Fall

Chapter 77: What Is an Academy? (1)

The mace rose high into the air, slicing through with force, before crashing down with the same ferocity. 

A monster with eight legs, resembling an oversized spider, let out a shrill scream as its head was crushed.

The monster’s bodily fluids were acidic, making direct contact dangerous. 

Wolfgang deftly sidestepped the acidic spray from its shattered head, moving to its flank. 

With a swift kick of his steel greave, he sent the creature sprawling onto its back, its legs flailing helplessly. 

The exposed flesh of its belly, unprotected by its tough carapace, was brutally pummeled with the mace until the monster’s cries were silenced for good.

“Ashray!”

Wolfgang called out to his son, and from behind came Ashray’s energetic battle cry.

“Hyah-cha!”

With a resounding blow, a two-handed hammer smashed into the back of another monster. 

The tremendous weight behind the strike caused its back and abdomen to burst simultaneously, killing it instantly.

“You called for me?”

“Is it over?”

A fierce cold wind was howling around them.

The blizzard was so intense that even with layers of winter gear, the bone-chilling cold seeped in, making it nearly impossible to advance further.

“For now, the monsters seem to be taken care of. But something about this feels strange.”

Ashray removed his helmet, shaking off the accumulating snow. If left to freeze, it would damage the equipment when removed, so it was better to clear the snow whenever possible.

“Exactly. These things… they don’t usually appear around here, do they?”

Both Wolfgang and Ashray were full of suspicion about the current situation. 

The source of the anomaly was clear, but resolving it was proving to be difficult.

“Everything’s been off since that thing appeared.”

Ashray pointed toward a towering structure whose shadow loomed ominously through the raging snowstorm. 

Even amidst the blizzard, the tower’s presence was unmistakable. It had grown significantly since Ashray had first arrived with his troops.

“This isn’t going to work.”

The main problem was that they couldn’t get close to the tower. Though it appeared to be nearby, the closer they tried to approach, the further it seemed to recede. 

Worse, as they pressed on, the cold and the storm intensified to unbearable levels. Even with the best winter gear from the Miterien duchy, enduring the conditions was almost impossible.

To make matters worse, the frequency of monster attacks increased the closer they got. The northern lands were usually more troubled by nomadic tribes than monsters due to the harsh climate. 

Wolfgang and Ashray, when deployed, typically dealt with these tribes. But recently, monsters have become a greater threat.

It was as if the creatures were deliberately guarding the tower, growing more numerous and aggressive as the soldiers approached.

“At this rate, it’s hopeless.”

Wolfgang scowled at the distant tower. Despite his reputation as an undefeated and seasoned general, he had no immediate solution.

Even the imperial army had been called in to assist, but they had also failed to reach the tower. 

No matter how much progress they seemed to make, the tower remained elusive, always just out of reach. 

And the imperial soldiers, unaccustomed to the cold, were of little help despite their numbers.

“If only my sister were here, things might be different.”

Ashray collapsed onto a rock protruding from the snowy expanse. He couldn’t help but miss Astrid. 

If she were here, perhaps she could throw rocks at the tower with her strength that rivaled siege weaponry.

Since trebuchets couldn’t be transported through the snow, Astrid’s raw power could have been invaluable.

“…Alright, we’re retreating.”

Wolfgang, stroking his beard in contemplation, finally gave the order to withdraw.

Advancing further was impossible, and forcing their way through could lead to disastrous consequences. 

For now, the tower didn’t pose an immediate threat, so retreating to regroup was the wiser course of action.

Even so, as Wolfgang returned to the camp, he couldn’t shake his unease.

The tower’s rapid growth and mysterious nature posed a clear threat. If physical force couldn’t solve the issue, then perhaps it was time to seek help from magic—a bitter pill for someone from the Miterien family to swallow.

The Miterien family despised magic. To them, mages were cowardly—preferring to hide and cast spells from a distance before fleeing. To rely on such individuals for help wounded Wolfgang’s pride deeply.

But there was no time for pride. The tower was a growing menace, and it needed to be dealt with before it revealed its true purpose. If left unchecked, it could threaten the entire empire.

“Bring Ashray to me.”

Soon, Ashray’s voice sounded from outside the tent.

“Father, it’s me.”

“Come in.”

As the tent flap opened momentarily, an icy wind swept through. 

Ashray stepped in, his boots crunching against the polar bear hide carpet as he stood before Wolfgang.

“Sit by the brazier. It’s warm.”

“Yes, Father.”

Wolfgang had no interest in maintaining military formalities with his son. Even on the battlefield, they referred to each other as father and son. Pretending otherwise would have been absurd.

“What is it you needed, Father?”

Ashray held his hands near the brazier, sniffing as his frozen body began to thaw. The sudden warmth caused his nose to run.

Wolfgang, observing him briefly, tossed a few more potatoes into the brazier.

“Are there any cooked ones?”

“I ate them all. None left.”

“That’s a Shame.”

A few scraps of potato skin already lay scattered near Wolfgang’s boots.

“Ashray.”

“Yes, Father.”

Ashray, who had been gazing longingly at the potato peels, turned to look at Wolfgang, who cast him a brief glance.

“Go and visit Baizik.”

Baizik.

The name immediately brought to mind Baizik von Jorgien, Marquis of the Empire and master of the Magic Tower. Ashray was well acquainted with the man, having met him several times before.

The problem was the distance. Baizik’s domain was in the east—a considerable journey from the northern territories.

“Pardon? You mean the Marquis of Jorgien?”

Ashray frowned slightly at the thought of visiting a mage. It wasn’t that he disliked traveling, but dealing with a mage made him hesitate. 

While this expression could have been seen as impolite, Wolfgang chose to overlook it this time.

“Yes, that old man Baizik.”

“But, Father, isn’t the Jorgien Marquisate in the east?”

Being the master of the Eastern Magic Tower, Baizik’s presence there was only natural.

Wolfgang shook his head in response to Ashray’s question.

“No, he’s in the capital.”

“The capital?”

Ashray looked puzzled. Why would the master of the Eastern Magic Tower be in the capital, of all places?

“I received word a few days ago that he’s in the capital. To be specific, he’s at the Academy.”

“The Academy…”

“Yes, that Academy. The one where your sister, Astrid, is studying.”

“I see. Then, what should I say to the Marquis?”

“Hm.”

Wolfgang took a moment to organize his thoughts. He knew Ashray’s disdain for mages rivaled his own, and if he simply ordered his son to ask for help, Ashray would likely resist.

He needed to phrase the request in a way that Ashray wouldn’t object to.

“Ask him to help us destroy that tower.”

“…Understood.”

Ashray nodded reluctantly.

He didn’t have much choice.

Though not Wolfgang’s biological son, Ashray had been following him into battle for years. Despite Astrid teasing him for being bear-like with his broad frame and often mocking his strength as “just for show” after losing arm-wrestling matches to her, Ashray was a formidable warrior in his own right.

From a warrior’s perspective, Ashray knew the tower couldn’t be dealt with by brute force alone. 

He had been considering alternative measures but had struggled to find a way to convince his father, Wolfgang, a staunch opponent of magic, to explore those options.

“I’ll depart tomorrow, then.”

“No. You’ll leave tonight. Immediately. Give the order for the troops to begin retreating.”

“But, Father, it’s already night.”

Wolfgang glanced briefly at the tent’s entrance.

Though the heavy snowfall had made it hard to tell, it was indeed nighttime—a less than ideal time to begin a retreat.

“Order the retreat to commence tomorrow morning. But you, Ashray, will set out immediately. I’ll write a letter for you to deliver while you prepare.”

“Understood, Father.”

With those parting words, Ashray exited Wolfgang’s tent and returned to his own, clenching his fist tightly.

He was thrilled.

He would get to see his sister again.

The thought of seeing Astrid’s graceful figure filled him with pure joy.