Chapter 34: Confession in the snow-capped mountains?

Description

The gale howled, carrying freezing grains of snow as the outlines of the mountains gradually blurred behind the falling drifts.

Branches were bent under the weight of the heavy snow, and the mountain paths had long since vanished.

The snow reached past their knees, and everything was silent, save for the wind and snow churning wildly in a world of white.

This was Anis’s first impression upon seeing the snowy mountain. Due to the heavy snow blocking the passes, she had been forced to land her broom prematurely.

Gazing at the endless white stretching to the horizon, she felt the stinging sensation of ice crystals whipped by the cold wind hitting her face. Every breath felt like a blade slicing through her lungs.

The temperature seemed even lower than the last time she had visited.

Anis could clearly feel the mana within her body being suppressed bit by bit by the blizzard.

Her once fluid mana flow had become as sluggish as freezing water. She tried to use her mana to sense their direction, but the only response she received was chaos, as if the entire mountain was silently interfering with her judgment.

“Watch your step.”

Sherry’s voice rang out beside her. She was walking directly in front of Anis. Although the snow had already buried half of her body, there was no trace of fear in her eyes.

She drew the knight’s sword hanging at her waist and swung it forward with a concentrated burst of sword qi. The freezing energy whistled as it blew the waist-deep snow to either side, carving a path for the two of them.

“Let’s go. This snowy weather is the best time to harvest Frost Lily of the Valley. No matter how hard or tiring it is, we have to overcome it.”

Anis pursed her lips, fixed her gaze on the ground at her feet, and continued forward.

After they had arrived at the mountain, Sherry had maintained a deliberate distance from her, never making any attempt to get closer.

Calm and serious—this was her true self.

As they moved forward, Anis gradually realized something. Sherry always walked ahead, taking the first step into the smooth, untouched snow before letting Anis follow in her footprints.

In this way, Sherry alone would bear any potential risks.

The constant distance between them made Anis feel ‘just safe enough.’

Even when Anis deliberately slowed her pace to increase the gap, Sherry would simply adjust her own stride, maintaining that invisible line of distance.

‘What on earth is she trying to do? Is she really just here to pick flowers?’

Anis grew more and more puzzled. The cold made her thoughts sluggish, and her body heat was continuously draining. Even though she wore her thickest robe, she could barely withstand the terrifyingly low temperatures of the snowy mountain.

In contrast, Sherry was still dressed in a single layer of white clothes and a short skirt with white silk stockings. Perhaps worried that Anis would lose sight of her, she had only added a black scarf around her neck.

“Wa-ah—”

Sherry, who was walking ahead, suddenly lost her balance. She slipped toward Anis along with a mass of soft snow!

They were currently on the side of a cliff; this slide could potentially render all their efforts from the past half-day wasted!

“Watch out!”

Anis opened her arms and caught the youthful girl, but she had underestimated the force of gravity!

The two of them tumbled backward together. Anis quickly pulled out her wand and used magic against the snowy slope to provide some friction!

At the same time, Sherry drove her knight’s sword deep into the snow. With the double resistance, they finally managed to stabilize themselves.

“Are you alright?” Anis asked with concern. In her arms, Sherry was panting heavily, looking like she had just escaped a disaster.

“I’m fine. Thank you.”

Sherry stood back up with Anis’s support, looking back at the long, thin trail they had left behind, which looked like a ski track. “However, that little slip just wasted a few hours of our hard work.”

“It’s fine as long as you’re okay.”

After Anis said those words, Sherry visibly dazed for a moment. Then, that mischievous smirk appeared on her face once more. “Is Anis actually worried about me?”

“Eh? I… I am not!”

Realizing what she had said, Anis felt her body suddenly grow a bit warmer despite the freezing winter day.

“Hehe~” Sherry took a step back. “Alright, no more teasing. It’s getting late. We need to find a way to spend the night on the mountain.”

As dusk fell, the wind and snow grew even more violent. The sky and the ground merged into one, and their visibility was reduced to the absolute limit.

They found a rocky cave that provided a meager amount of shelter from the wind and snow. Sherry pulled fire-starting tools from her bag with practiced movements.

Anis used her wand to light the bonfire and sat to one side. Watching the firelight reflect off Sherry’s profile, a complex emotion rose in her heart.

*Crackle—*

As the flames danced, Sherry used a branch she had found to skewer several marshmallows. Once the skins turned a light toasted brown, she handed them to Anis.

“Eat some.”

“Thank you,” Anis replied in a slightly cool tone. She took the roasted marshmallows and put one in her mouth. The sweet flavor flowed down her throat, providing a small measure of comfort in the freezing dark night.

Sherry sat opposite her across the fire. She watched the quiet girl enjoying the roasted marshmallows and called out softly, “Anis?”

“What is it?”

Anis’s response carried a hint of wariness, but she knew in her heart that Sherry currently possessed no hostility.

“Can I ask you a question?”

“Go ahead.”

“Why are you always avoiding me?”

Such a direct question left Anis unsure of how to answer for a moment.

Sherry continued her interrogation. “Also, was your goal in adopting that cat just to intentionally annoy me?”

“Why would you think that? Mimi is just a poor little thing that accidentally ate magic crystal ore. Isn’t it perfectly reasonable for me to want to give it a home?”

“Was your goal in adopting it really not just to use it to keep your distance from me?”

“…”

‘How can she be so pushy?’

Anis suddenly realized that if she chose to answer, she would be falling right into Sherry’s trap.

Thus, an answer surfaced in her mind.

“Then let me ask you—did you choose to give me that ruby necklace as a gift just to get closer to me?”

“That’s right!”

Sincerity shone in Sherry’s eyes. “I need Anis’s help. That necklace is my most precious treasure. Is that not enough to show my sincerity?”

“You say you need my help, but specifically for what?”

“Guh…”

Sherry looked as if she had been choked by a marshmallow and suddenly fell silent.

Anis pressed her advantage. “Since you need my help but refuse to tell me the specifics, it’s hard for me to believe that these thoughts are coming from your heart.”

‘Perfect!’

In this way, she had not only shifted the topic but had also turned the tables!

However, Sherry suddenly stood up and walked over to Anis with a flushed face!

The words she spoke next caused Anis’s face to flush as well.