VIP Chapter 289: The Winter of a Beast-Eared Maid (3) (3k)
—Late Autumn—
Standing in this mountain forest, Iaar always remembers the afternoon of late autumn when she first came here with the Young Master. Although when she asked him just now, he acted as if it wasn’t important and had no recollection.
That day, the ground was covered in thick fallen leaves, the sky was a somber white, and there was nothing in the air except for occasional birds.
“I… I really didn’t want to come out. I was almost finished reading this chapter today.”
On that day, the Young Master was called out by Aunt Susan for some exercise, forcing him to put down his half-finished magic book, making him exceptionally dejected.
He walked slowly, lagging behind, kicking pebbles as he went.
Then…
As soon as they stepped into this place, he, walking at the end, encountered a monster.
What kind of monster was it?
Iaar remembered it clearly; it seemed to be just a lone cub of a Phantom Ice Wolf.
She wasn’t as “strong” as she was now, nor did she have such powerful weapons. She hadn’t even been training with the Young Master for a week. She was just a small maid who had gone from being scrawny to slightly “healthier.”
Back then, even if she encountered such a weak monster, posing the lowest level of danger, she would likely have to fight it bare-handed, and might not even last a few blows.
She only remembered the scene that still pained her when she looked back.
The small Will swung the dagger in his hand, but he was half a beat too late, and its claws sent the dagger flying.
The frail Will immediately raised his staff with his other hand, muttering incantations as he aimed for the monster’s vital spot. However, the fireball coalesced a moment too slowly, and he was thrown back a distance by the impact of their collision.
Finally…
The powerless Will sat on the ground, panting. For him at that age, casting spells so quickly after physical exertion had already consumed a large amount of his strength.
He wanted to stand up, using his arms to support himself on the ground, but his feet kept slipping, and he sat down again.
“Ha… ha… ha…”
Unable to even recover his breath, he closed his eyes slightly and lay down in her arms.
—Beginning of Winter—
Iaar lowered her shield. In this familiar place, she once again felt that the event from her memories was “approaching”—
Her ears heard the footsteps of approaching monsters.
Her nose caught the scent of those nearby.
Her mind understood that the Young Master was likely facing monsters now.
It’s okay.
She turned around.
She was no longer the person she was back then. She knew very clearly that this was the purpose of her existence by the Young Master’s side—
The Young Master, who since childhood had been so frail that he would get winded from the slightest exertion.
The Young Master, who, after training his magic, would often exhaust his magic power and lie in bed needing her to wipe his sweat.
The Young Master, who, when attending school, would often get injured and need her to lick his wounds with her soft tongue.
All of this was etched into her memory, her reflexes, her mind.
If he were ever in danger, she would unconditionally block his path.
Whether it was training herself to adapt to high temperatures, teaching her the Ancient Magic “Ice Array,” which represented the pinnacle of defense, or making herself a reliable vanguard in the team, she knew, she understood, she realized the most important thing…
Whenever the Young Master faced enemies, it was when he needed her the most!
Whenever the Young Master was in grave danger, it was when he needed her the most!
Whenever the Young Master was seriously injured, it was when he needed her the most!
These were all things Will had told her.
So, so, so—
At this moment, just an ordinary monster, crossing the distance, rushing towards the Young Master at top speed, blocking in front of him as he sat on the ground, then swinging her shield to shatter its skull—just doing this would…
While Iaar felt danger, felt anger, felt worry… she also felt—
Joy.
The thought of the weak Will being able to be shielded behind her, sitting softly on the ground, watching her stand tall, and being able to turn back and say, “Leave the rest to Iaar to protect, Young Master”…
She could feel a surge of joy.
Just like the joy she felt when she protected the Young Master from the witch’s attack.
Just like the joy she felt when she rescued the Young Master from the evil Empress.
Just like the joy she felt when the Young Master praised her for needing his protection.
Because this was where the Young Master needed her the most, and it was also the important reason why the Young Master wouldn’t abandon her. Moreover, it was the deepest bond between her and the Young Master over these years!
“It’s okay, Young Master, please leave the rest to Iaar…”
—Winter Solstice—
*Swish.*
In the dazzling sunlight, the once frail, uncoordinated, and slow-reacting boy, the moment the beast pounced, with a speed Iaar couldn’t even follow, drew his dagger and fiercely severed the beast’s claw.
Young Master, since when did you have such speed and power?
*Boom.*
The next second, the once frail boy, whose magic casting speed was slow, raised his beautiful staff, aimed at the beast’s head, and a fire that illuminated the entire mountain forest, along with its body, evaporated it on the spot.
Young Master, since when did you have such efficient and powerful magic?
“Looks like a piece of cake.”
Then, the once powerless boy, who would always be panting and collapse on the ground after dealing with such dangers, now stood calmly and easily, dusting off his hands. He was spotless, and his breathing was no longer rapid.
Young Master, since when have you been able to handle these difficulties with such ease?
“Young… Young Master? Are… are you okay…?”
As Iaar asked, she already had the answer in her heart.
She didn’t even need to ask. Looking at the Young Master’s undamaged clothes, his composed expression, and his confident, happy smile, she knew—
He.
Perfectly.
Without anyone’s help.
He could achieve victory against the monsters that once harmed him.
He even won beautifully.
He said this with a very happy smile.
That kind of smile was different from the smiles he shared with her during their time together. It was a smile of genuine joy from feeling his own growth.
“Yes, I can handle monsters of this level myself…”
—Deep Winter—
Yes.
Since when?
It certainly wasn’t when Carver told her the Young Master didn’t need her…
It certainly wasn’t when the Young Master disappeared with Mr. S…
It definitely wasn’t when the Young Master was able to lead everyone and establish a team…
It was from the moment she fell in love with the Young Master, who continuously moved forward, led everyone forward, and possessed his own firmest goals and ideals…
She knew that one day, the small, weak, and powerless him would grow to be self-reliant, no longer needing her by his side for everything.
She should also have known that the Young Master, who happily wrote letters about dungeon experience to Mr. S every day; the Young Master, who was overjoyed when he discovered a new piece of magic at school; the Young Master, who always enjoyed every dungeon exploration and led more teammates forward…
He truly wouldn’t grow up forever needing only to be by her side, served only by her, like when they first lived here.
No need for anyone to remind, repeat, or hint…
This was a very obvious fact laid out before her—
He. Can. Solve. Everything. Himself.
He. Does. Not. Need. Your. Protection. Anymore.
“Iaar… what’s wrong? You don’t look quite right? You…”
Will leaned closer to her, bending slightly, reaching out to push aside the hair that had fallen over her eyes as she looked down, gazing into her gray eyes.
“Why are you crying?”
“Iaar… crying… crying?”
“Are you worried I’ll get hurt, so you started crying in a hurry?”
Will didn’t seem to grasp the real reason for Iaar’s tears. He gently wiped away the large drops falling from the corner of her eyes with his finger.
“Don’t be afraid. See, I’m standing here with all my limbs intact? Nothing’s wrong. Don’t cry… although you do look quite cute when you cry.”
Compared to before, he seemed to have learned some ways to comfort girls, his thumb slowly wiping away her tears.
“Young Master, um… you… it’s really good that you’re okay. Iaar… Iaar is very happy. I’m happy from the bottom of my heart… so happy that I’m wagging my tail.”
She once thought that if she rescued him alone and brought him to this secluded annex, becoming the hope he described, Will would stay by her side as he said.
[When he is most isolated, stand by his side; when he is in most danger, block in front of him; when he is weakest, caress his face. People seek dependence when they are most lonely, afraid, and vulnerable. So, let him know that he cannot live without you.]
Now it seemed, even this wasn’t enough to keep him?
Indeed.
Iaar’s thoughts were always simple.
No matter where the Young Master would go, from the moment she first saw him at the entrance of the Hysterm Family home…
Without Will, she would fall into that long, unending winter.
“But… but Iaar, your tail doesn’t seem to be wagging…”
Oh dear, her Young Master was truly sharp, quickly noticing something was wrong with her.
She refused to accept the separation that would eventually be revealed beneath the surface of happiness.
“No, Young Master, you must have seen wrong.”
She walked towards Will, step by step.
In her mind, she scoured “Blackening 300 Questions,” but couldn’t find a question that best fit her current mood and actions.
It was fine. She understood.
From the first day she memorized that book, the Young Master had told her: when your heart feels something, but you can’t find the answer in it, you have graduated.
“Iaar, you…”
He froze. It was as if time had stopped. He stood in place, unable to finish his sentence.
Iaar embraced the frozen him.
“Question 301 of ‘Blackening 300 Questions.'”
“‘If you see a future of separation and no longer being needed, and you cannot accept a future where he becomes increasingly different from the past, what should you do?'”
She imitated Will’s tone from “Blackening 300 Questions” and spoke into his ear.
“Me…”
“I will make time stop in the past.”
—Midwinter—
Then, in the now clear winter sun, she exhaled a puff of white vapor, and her tail began to wag again.
“Winter has truly arrived, Young Master.”
“It’s so cold.”
Author’s Note: The editor told me I need to update more to get featured. I’ve squeezed myself dry…
