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Chapter 196: Capturing the Moment Snow White is Kissed Awake
"My Lord," Ian called out respectfully, pulling back all his usual sharp arrogance as he stood before Suyan.
Seeing Suyan nod, Ian proceeded to relay the intelligence he had gathered. "According to the reports, Snow White is—"
"A dog?" Loco blinked, momentarily confused.
However, before Ian could answer, the dilapidated castle looming before them suddenly began to radiate an intense, biting chill. Right before their eyes, a layer of frost crept over the stone walls. Within moments, the entire fortress was encased in solid ice. Even though winter was still months away, the freezing air drifting from the castle was so penetrating that the group could feel its bite from a distance.
"What is this?" Ian muttered, stunned. He quickly gathered his wits and deduced, "The mission briefing mentioned that Snow White is an ice user who wields a Nature ÄRM. Is this her doing?"
Suyan, fully aware of the plot, knew exactly what was happening. He didn't answer, instead keeping his gaze fixed quietly on the frozen fortress in the distance.
A short while later, a dog walking on its hind legs—dressed in human clothes and wearing round spectacles—ran out of the castle.
The dog stared at the ice-sculpted fortress and let out a heartbroken howl. After a moment, it wiped away its tears, seemingly making a firm decision. Casting one last heavy look at the frozen castle, it turned and bolted into the distance.
Taking in the entire scene, Ian shifted his gaze to Suyan. Seeing the dog rapidly disappearing from sight, he finally couldn't help but ask, "My Lord, shouldn't we capture it?"
"Let it go," Suyan said, waving a hand dismissively.
He knew far more about that dog than Ian or Loco did. On the surface, it was just Snow White's loyal retainer, a dog named Edward. But in reality, it held another identity: Alan, the second-in-command of the Cross Guard, and the very man who had sealed Babbo away.
During the First War Game six years ago, Alan and his fated rival—Halloween, the pumpkin-headed Knight of the Chess Pieces—had fought to a bitter draw. Struck by the curse of a Darkness ÄRM, Alan's body had been fused with Snow White's pet dog. The curse operated on a bizarre loop: if Edward slept three times, he would revert to the rugged Alan. But the moment Alan fell asleep even once, he would instantly turn back into Edward the dog.
During the time Snow White remained sealed in ice, Edward would eventually stumble upon the rookie protagonist Ginta and the sidekick Jack, leading them back to save her. Add in Dorothy, who would invite herself along just to keep an eye on Ginta, and the core team was born. Ginta, Jack, Alan, Snow White, and Dorothy. It was safe to say that Edward was the crucial link that brought the future saviors of the magical world together.
As the strongest early-game fighter for the protagonist's party, Alan wasn't just a mentor to Ginta and the others. He was also the man who had used the Dimension ÄRM, Gate Keeper Clown, to summon Ginta's father from the real world six years ago.
While Suyan didn't particularly care about the future of this world—and fully expected his own interference to completely derail the plot—he was currently holding onto Babbo, Ginta's father. Suyan had no intention of keeping the bizarre ÄRM, but he was also too lazy to go tracking Ginta down. Since Edward was bound to bring Ginta here to save Snow White anyway, Suyan figured he could just toss Babbo to the kid when they arrived.
Pausing his train of thought, Suyan glanced at the frozen castle and turned to Ian. "You and your little girlfriend stand guard out here. Little Loco and I will head inside."
"Understood," Ian replied with a nod.
"Alright, Little Loco. Let's go save Snow White together," Suyan said, glancing over his shoulder.
Loco didn't object. She simply followed behind him in silence, her quiet compliance acting as tacit agreement.
They stepped into the frozen castle. Along the way, every visible surface was encased in thick, unforgiving ice. Anyone walking in would assume this place had been cursed and abandoned to the cold centuries ago, rather than being a perfectly normal ruin just minutes prior. After all, it wasn't winter, and this region was completely devoid of perennial snow.
And yet, all of this had been caused by a teenage girl using an ice-attribute Nature ÄRM. Snow White's overall combat strength was nowhere near the Knight class. Even among the Bishop class, she would probably only rank as average. It was a testament to just how ridiculously potent the ÄRMs of this world could be under the right circumstances.
Soon enough, Suyan and Loco reached the deepest chamber of the fortress. The temperature here was brutally lower than outside. Loco, clad only in her green dress and coat, instinctively shrank her neck against the cold.
"Are you cold, Little Loco?" Suyan asked, noticing her shivering. "Want a hug to warm you up?"
"Loco refuses," she replied instantly.
Fearing that Suyan might ignore her answer and try to grab her anyway, she silently took two steps back to maintain a safe distance. As for the cold, she simply flared her own magic power, letting it circulate through her body to completely neutralize the chill.
"Is that so?" Suyan sighed with mock regret, watching her defensive maneuver. He shouldn't have asked; he really should have just picked her up directly.
He didn't dwell on the missed opportunity for long, shifting his attention to the massive ice sculpture dominating the center of the room. Encased within a colossal block of solid ice was a young girl, her eyes closed in a deep, peaceful slumber. Her skin was as pale and flawless as snow, contrasting beautifully with her short, blue-black hair adorned with a large pink bow. She wore a pink zip-up top with white accents, a dark red skirt, and long boots finished with fluffy pom-poms. A delicate snowman pendant rested against her chest.
Sleeping so serenely, she truly lived up to the name Snow White.
Loco glanced at the rings on Suyan's fingers. Her face remained devoid of expression as she asked, "Do you have a fire-attribute Nature ÄRM?"
She certainly didn't have one. Her Cursed ÄRMs were overwhelmingly powerful Darkness ÄRMs that violently rejected almost any other offensive accessory. In fact, their curse was so potent that not even Babbo's fourth form—Alice, the Holy Guardian widely considered the strongest Holy ÄRM in existence—could cure the recoil of her Cursed ÄRMs. In terms of sheer malice, it rivaled Phantom's infamous Zombie Tattoo.
"Of course," Suyan answered smoothly.
He didn't actually own a Nature ÄRM. He had spent his first few days in this world entirely focused on fishing for Dorothy, and the past few days joined at the hip with Loco. He simply hadn't had the time to hunt down rare ÄRMs. What he did have, however, was his Transmutation Nen, which allowed him to perfectly convert his aura into scorching flames.
Suyan flashed Loco a confident smile. "Leave it to me. Just stand back and watch, Little Loco."
He stepped up to the ice block, carefully calculating the exact angle Snow White would fall once the ice gave way. Raising a hand, he pressed his palm against the frozen surface, preparing to unleash his flames.
Suddenly, an idea struck him. He pulled his hand back and walked over to Loco, who stared at him in utter confusion. Reaching into his inventory, he pulled out a palm-sized metallic box and handed it to her.
"Little Loco, hold onto this and point it at Snow White," Suyan instructed. "The moment she breaks free from the ice and falls, press that button on the top."
Loco looked even more baffled. She examined the bulky object, which was slightly larger than her own hand. It wasn't particularly heavy, but it looked incredibly strange. What kind of bizarre ÄRM was this?
She didn't ask questions, though. Nodding, she replied softly, "Loco understands. If it is only pressing a button, Loco can do that."
Satisfied, Suyan nodded and returned to his position.
The device wasn't a magical artifact at all. It was the Polaroid camera he had originally planned to use to snap a photo of Dorothy struggling to unseal Babbo's chest. That plan had been foiled by unexpected circumstances, but he absolutely wasn't going to miss the chance to photograph himself kissing Snow White awake.
"Nature ÄRM, Sun Ring Flame!"
The Vongola Ring of the Sun flared to life on his finger. Tendrils of golden-orange flames spread from his palm like a glowing spiderweb, carefully enveloping the massive block of ice. The intense heat immediately began to eat away at the frost.
Normally, the Sun Flame represented the concept of "Activation" and was primarily used for healing or stimulation. But since the Dying Will Flames all fundamentally manifested as fire, and there was no actual "Fire Guardian" ring, it made the perfect cover. Lacking a Holy ÄRM or native healing magic, Suyan easily passed his aura off as a fire-attribute Nature ÄRM.
Under his flawless control, the flames swiftly melted away Snow White's icy prison. Suyan spread his arms, perfectly positioning himself to catch the falling princess.
As she plummeted, Snow White's eyes fluttered open, revealing a pair of innocent, dark brown irises. Her eyelashes trembled in confusion. Having just woken up, she hadn't the faintest idea where she was, what was happening, or what was about to happen.
Her body dropped straight down. Suddenly, she felt something incredibly soft press against her lips. It felt like she had accidentally bumped into something. By the time her mind caught up, her vision was filled with the handsome face of a complete stranger, mere inches from her own. And the soft thing her lips were currently mashed against... were his lips.
Perhaps because she had literally just been thawed out of a block of ice, Snow White's lips were cool and incredibly soft, giving Suyan a uniquely wonderful experience he had never quite felt before.
While this "accidental" collision was entirely orchestrated by Suyan, unexpected kisses were practically a mandatory trope in anime worlds. If anything, it was stranger that he had already traveled through two different worlds and was only just now experiencing the classic "accidental protagonist kiss" with a main heroine.
Click!
A bizarre mechanical sound echoed through the chamber, instantly snapping Snow White back to reality. She shoved herself out of Suyan's arms in a panic. Looking around frantically, her eyes landed on the adorable, petite figure of Loco standing nearby, holding the strange black box.
Like a frightened rabbit, Snow White scurried behind Loco, crouching down and desperately trying to use the little girl's small frame as a shield against Suyan's gaze. Even so, she couldn't help but peek over Loco's shoulder, her face flushed crimson as she stole shy glances at the man who had just stolen her first kiss.
"Hello there, Snow White," Suyan chuckled, waving casually at the blushing princess hiding behind the little girl.
Being addressed directly only made Snow White's pale face burn hotter. Mortified, she buried her forehead against Loco's back, completely lacking the courage to look at him again.
Suyan didn't mind. He strolled over to Loco, plucked the freshly printed photo from the bottom slot of the Polaroid, and gave it a few firm shakes in the air. As the film reacted to the air, the image Loco had captured slowly developed.
"Not bad at all. I didn't know Little Loco had such a talent for photography," Suyan praised, clicking his tongue in genuine admiration.
The picture was flawless. It captured the exact moment Snow White had fallen from mid-air and perfectly locked lips with him. Aside from the kiss, their bodies weren't touching at all, making it look incredibly pure and aesthetic. Loco had even managed to perfectly frame the glittering ice crystals still hanging in the air around them.
Perhaps drawn by his praise, Snow White tentatively peeked out from behind Loco again, her curiosity getting the better of her as she stared at the photo Suyan was admiring.
"Want to see it? Here." Suyan caught her staring and looked up, flashing her a meaningful smirk as he held the photo out to her.
Snow White didn't take it immediately. She just leaned in slightly to catch a glimpse. The second her eyes registered the image, a violent blush exploded from the tips of her ears all the way down her neck.
Without a single thought, she lunged forward and snatched the photo out of his hand. Mortified beyond belief, she ducked her head, clutching the picture tightly to her chest.
She snapped her head up, glaring at him with watery eyes. "You... you... you..."
She pointed a trembling finger at him, stuttering the same word three times, but a full thirty seconds passed without her managing to form a complete sentence. Suddenly, imaginary steam erupted from the top of her head. Her brain completely short-circuited, her eyes turning into swirling spirals as she toppled forward, fainting dead away into Loco's arms. Even in her unconscious state, her grip on the photo remained ironclad.
"Um..." Loco stared blankly at the mission target currently collapsed against her small body. "Does this count as mission accomplished?"
"Hand her over to me, Little Loco," Suyan said, taking pity on the girl trying to support someone significantly taller than her.
Hearing his voice, Snow White jolted awake instantly and scrambled away from Loco. Still hugging the photo to her chest, she looked at them both with heavy suspicion. "Who are you people? Where is Edward?"
"Allow me to introduce myself. My name is Suyan, and I'm here to protect you," Suyan smiled warmly. He then pointed to the girl beside him. "As for Little Loco here, she's a member of the Chess Pieces, tasked with bringing you back."
Snow White froze. This tiny, adorable little girl who looked younger than she was... was a member of the Chess Pieces?! How could someone so cute belong to such a terrifying group? If anything, this shameless man who had stolen her first kiss—and possessed a magical artifact that permanently captured the humiliating moment—seemed far more like an evil villain!
But wait... is that really what I looked like when I lost my first kiss? she thought, her mind drifting back to the image. Do I usually look that pretty?
The more she thought about it, the deeper the blush on her cheeks grew.
Meanwhile, Loco noticed the highly disrespectful look Snow White had just given her, instantly triggering her internal radar. "Loco is not a little girl," she stated flatly, her voice floating through the air. "Loco is thirty-two years old this year."
"Thirty-two?!" Snow White's mouth formed a perfect 'O' shape in shock. However, upon noticing the distinctive rook-shaped earring dangling from Loco's ear—the undeniable symbol of a Bishop-class member of the Chess Pieces—her expression hardened.
Snow White's eyes filled with fierce determination. She gripped the snowman necklace resting against her collarbone. "I won't go back with you!"
She absolutely refused to return to that nightmare of a place. As for Suyan's claim of "protecting" her, she assumed he simply meant protecting her as an escort while dragging her back to the very place she had just escaped.
Suyan raised a hand to stop Loco from responding. He looked at the defiant princess. "Snow White, I can call you that, right?"
Snow White didn't answer. Even though he was the one who took her first kiss, his association with the Chess Pieces meant she could only view him with deep-seated vigilance.
Suyan didn't push it, instead asking a simple question: "Snow White, are you afraid of Diana?"
Silence reigned in the room. But the moment the name 'Diana' left his lips, her body gave an involuntary, violent shudder. It was all the proof he needed to know just how deeply terrified she truly was.
"Do you know what the best way to eliminate fear is?" Suyan asked softly.
For the first time, a flicker of genuine curiosity pierced through the thick veil of anxiety in her eyes.
"The best way to eliminate fear... is to face it head-on," he answered.
Snow White stared at him, stunned. It sounded so easy when he said it, but how many people could actually do it? She had tried countless times to face that woman, but every single attempt had only deepened the suffocating terror in her heart. She couldn't do it. It was impossible.
"You can do it," Suyan said, as if reading her mind. He reached out and gently took her trembling, icy hands in his.
Her hands were freezing, but her heart was even colder. Suyan let his natural warmth flow through their connected palms, soothing the chill radiating from her soul. "I'm not a member of the Chess Pieces. I just genuinely want to protect you."
"If you're willing to trust me, I'll protect you every step of the way, right up until you overcome your fear of Diana." He smiled softly. "Of course, if you'd rather keep running, that's fine too. I can send you to a place where the Chess Pieces will never, ever find you."
Looking into Suyan's earnest eyes and feeling the steady warmth emanating from his hands, the suffocating anxiety in Snow White's heart slowly began to recede. She took a deep, shuddering breath.
Should she face her fear? Or should she keep running away?
She snapped her head up, meeting his gaze. She didn't speak, but her heart had already made its choice. Mustering every ounce of courage she possessed, she parted her lips to give him her answer. "I—"
"Since you're already here, why not come out and say hello?" Suyan suddenly interrupted, turning his head to look at a thick stone pillar near the entrance.
Ten full seconds passed in total silence. Nothing emerged from behind the pillar. Snow White tilted her head, wondering if Suyan had made a mistake. She took a step forward, intending to peek behind the stone to see if anyone was actually there.
Suyan gently pulled her back and called out again, "Dorothy?!"
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