So the three of them flew again. Selena had a hard time withstanding the wind on Frondier's back, but she soon seemed to get used to it.
As they went, Belphegor spoke.
“Just so you know, don't expect it to be this smooth sailing all the time.”
“I never thought that for a second. It's strange that it's been so smooth so far.”
Frondier replied, and Selena, clinging to his back, had a tense expression on her face.
“Frondier-nim's path will have been predicted. Satan and the other gods lured you here. They failed to kill Frondier-nim, but they know your purpose.”
Frondier was going to save Azier. There was only one way. What Belphegor was thinking, the other gods probably knew too.
Then why hadn't they been interfered with so far?
“Meaning there's no point in holding back.”
“What do you mean?”
“They'll be waiting at the end of this root, at another trunk of Yggdrasil.”
“Who's waiting?”
“Who else? The master of this Niflheim.”
At those words, Frondier's eyes lowered.
“……Hel.”
The goddess who ruled Helheim, Hel. Originally, Helheim was within Niflheim, so it was only natural that Hel would be here.
Belphegor asked.
“Are you two acquainted? You have the Mana of Helheim.”
“Yes. A name I haven't heard in a while.”
“I'd rather not hear it again.”
Selena muttered with a dark face.
“Just thinking about how that woman nearly killed Frondier-nim makes my blood boil.”
Belphegor laughed at that.
“Haha. You've got a good subordinate, Frondier.”
“She's not my subordinate.”
“Then what is she?”
“…….”
Frondier's mouth closed.
Belphegor shrugged his shoulders and flew forward again.
“……Then what am I?”
But Selena asked.
She didn't just let it go.
Frondier made a strange expression and said.
“I don't know.”
“Frondier-nim, you really are the worst kind of man.”
Her assessment of him had plummeted. Where had all the trust they had built up gone?
“Avoiding the question like that. That’s not like you, Frondier-nim.”
“I’m not avoiding it. I’m answering honestly.”
“You call that an honest answer?”
“Yes.”
Frondier let out a breath. Anguish was written all over his face.
“Because I don’t really know.”
“…….”
Selena blinked at that.
That was a question the old Frondier would have answered.
Selena was Frondier’s escort, his Ancient Language disciple, and his classmate.
All he had to do was pick one and answer. That’s what Frondier would have done.
But Frondier just said he didn’t know.
“……I see.”
Selena didn’t ask any more questions and closed her mouth.
Frondier, trying to change the subject, asked Belphegor.
“The roots of Yggdrasil can’t possibly stretch out in a straight line, can they? Is it okay to navigate this way?”
“Didn’t you see how big it was? Even if it curves a little, we’d have to fly a lot farther to feel it.”
After saying that, Belphegor grinned at Frondier.
“If you’re that worried, why don’t you smash the ground again? Then you’ll know for sure.”
“……Oh?”
At those words, Frondier’s eyes changed, and this time it was Belphegor’s expression that hardened.
“No, I’m just kidding. Once is enough for making a scene.”
“I thought it was a good idea?”
“There’s no point in blindly destroying the ground. We had to find the roots, so it couldn’t be helped. But I’m not going to do that the whole way there.”
“Why? Are you worried about being caught? The gods will know what we’re thinking anyway. Besides, we’ll have to face Hel when we get there.”
At Frondier’s words, Belphegor said in a low voice.
“That’s not it. The problem is the giants.”
“What?”
“You must have heard of them at least once? That there are giants in Niflheim. They are as dangerous as the gods. No, in a way, they’re even more dangerous than the gods.”
There were giants in Niflheim.
Of course, Frondier had heard of them.
In fact, it was one of the things that Constel taught its students.
Giants appeared in many worlds, including Niflheim, Jotunheim, and Muspelheim. The same went for the Titans in Olympus.
But back then, he thought of giants as literally just giants.
But now it was different.
“Giants are humans. Weren’t humans who resisted the gods called giants?”
Now Frondier knew what giants really were. They were those who had resisted the gods in the past, beings who were even revered as heroes.
Belphegor smiled bitterly at that.
“Yes, you’re right.”
“What do you mean, I’m right?”
“The giants here in Niflheim are also human.”
“……What?”
Frondier asked back, and Belphegor, about to explain in more detail.
“Tsk.”
He clicked his tongue.
“If you’re so curious, see for yourself.”
Belphegor looked down.
Frondier followed his gaze and looked down.
Abruptly.
“Eek!”
Selena let out a short scream in surprise.
It was because Frondier had stopped in mid-flight.
“What is that?”
“……Frondier, time is of the essence. We can’t afford to waste time like this,”
“Belphegor.”
Frondier looked at Belphegor with murderous eyes.
“I’m still human. You want me to just go on after seeing that?”
“…….”
Belphegor sighed.
“Fine. Look all you want.”
At those words, Frondier descended to the ground.
Where he set foot.
“…….”
Frondier looked around.
He saw frost-covered snow all around him.
And there were humans there.
Humans who weren’t moving.
“……Frondier, I won’t lie. There’s no need to.”
Belphegor said.
“Have you heard the myths? They say there are frozen humans in Niflheim.”
“……Don’t tell me, that’s…”
Frondier looked at the unmoving humans.
They weren’t frozen.
They were simply
“Lost, Frondier.”
“…….”
“They’re phantoms.”
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