Extra's Path: The Eternal Frost Monarch

Chapter 182: Search For Kaelan

The smile on Noah’s face immediately disappeared.

He frowned. "What did you just say?" he asked in a cold voice.

The sudden change in his tone startled Mary.

She instinctively took a step back. "I-I mean... exactly what you heard."

Noah simply shook his head.

"Sigh..."

He let out a tired sigh before rubbing his forehead. "Even you misunderstand me..."

He looked straight into her eyes. "I’m none of those three."

Mary crossed her arms. "Then what are you?"

Noah placed a hand on his chest and proudly declared with a completely serious face,

"I am a real gentleman. Who talk nice to all girls."

Mary immediately snorted. "Hmph! No one will believe your lies."

Noah’s lips twitched. He stared at her for a moment before speaking again.

"Alright... You called me a playboy—I was fine with that."

He raised one finger. "You called me a womanizer—I was still fine with that."

Then he pointed at her dramatically. "But a simp? Damn it! Let me show you that I am definitely not a simp."

Mary’s eyes widened. A bad feeling suddenly rose within her. "W-Wait! Noah!"

But she was too late.

Noah suddenly dashed toward her.

Before she could react. He wrapped one arm around her waist.

"W-Wait!! What are you doing?!"

In one smooth motion, he lifted her into a princess carry.

Mary’s face instantly turned bright red. "W-Wait! Put me down!!"

Noah ignored every single word.

Instead... He began spinning around in circles while carrying her.

"Ahhh!!"

Mary instinctively wrapped both arms around his neck so she wouldn’t fall. The world spun around her.

After several rounds, Noah finally slowed down. He carefully lowered her toward the ground.

Mary let out a relieved sigh.

Finally... He was putting her down. But not on her feet.

He put her as he had lifted her, her rear touched against the surface. Her eyes widened. Something incredibly cold touched her rear.

She quickly looked down. The ground beneath her had completely transformed into a smooth sheet of ice.

"Kyaaahhh!! It’s cold! It’s so cold!"

Panicking, she immediately tried to stand properly.

Slip!

Her feet slid across the icy surface.

She completely lost her balance.

"Ahhh!!"

She struggled desperately, trying to stand up again. Only to slip once more.

Meanwhile...A short distance away.

Noah leaned casually against a nearby tree with his arms folded across his chest. A smug smile rested on his face as he quietly enjoyed watching her struggle.

"Noah!! Help! It’s cold!!"

Mary cried out with teary eyes.

"I’m sorry! I was only teasing you! Noah!!"

Her watery eyes pleaded for mercy.

Noah watched her silently.

Honestly... If Ophelia or Emma had been in Mary’s place... He would’ve enjoyed the scene much longer. He probably wouldn’t have helped them at all.

But... Mary was different. In the end, Noah sighed.

He raised one finger.

Snap!

With a simple flick of his finger.

Crack!

The ice shattered into countless pieces before instantly melting away.

Mary hurriedly stood up and dusted herself off. She looked both exhausted and embarrassed.

Noah smiled faintly. "Hope you won’t call me by those titles again."

Mary nodded so quickly that it almost looked comical. "Yes!! You’re not like that!"

A victorious smirk spread across Noah’s face.

Rustle

His expression suddenly changed. The smile disappeared. His brows furrowed. Slowly, he turned his head toward the forest on his right.

There was silence. Nothing was there.

’What?’

’I could’ve sworn someone was watching me...’

’But there’s no one.’

Mary noticed his reaction and immediately became serious as well.

She tightened her grip around her wand and looked in the same direction.

"Was there someone?" she asked cautiously.

Noah remained silent for a few moments as he carefully observed the dense forest.

Finally, he spoke.

"Hmm... I felt like someone was watching us..."

He narrowed his eyes.

"...But I guess I was wrong."

Mary looked around once more.

"Really?"

Noah stayed quiet for another moment before making his decision.

He nodded.

"Let’s go in that direction."

Mary blinked.

"Why?"

"There’s a possibility another student was watching us." Noah replied calmly.

"Let’s go."

Mary nodded without hesitation.

"Okay. Let’s go."

The two of them immediately broke into a run, heading toward the exact direction where Noah had sensed someone watching them.

----

Meanwhile, farther ahead of Noah and Mary, a lone figure wearing a hood raced silently through the forest.

His footsteps were swift and light, barely making a sound as he weaved between the towering trees.

Just a few minutes ago...

He had been the one secretly watching Noah and Mary from a distance.

However he had absolutely nothing to do with them. As he continued running at full speed, the hood covering his head gradually slipped backward.

His face was finally revealed. Two black horns rose proudly from his head. His skin was dark and tanned.

He was none other than... A demon. The demon gritted his teeth in frustration while scanning the forest ahead.

"Dammit! Where is he?" he muttered under his breath.

His expression darkened further. "We’re still unable to find him. We need to hurry before we’re discovered by the academy staff."

BEEP! BEEP!

A notification echoed from inside his cloak. Without slowing down, he reached into his pocket and pulled out a sleek black communication device.

The screen lit up.

He immediately accepted the call while continuing to sprint through the forest. A voice came from the other side.

"Did you find Kaelan Nightfall?"

The demon shook his head while leaping over a fallen tree. "No, I haven’t."

A frustrated sigh came from the communicator.

"Dammit..."

After a brief pause, the voice asked,

"Where are you currently?"

The demon glanced around while maintaining his speed.

"On the eastern side of the forest."

"Hah..." The man on the other end let out a tired sigh.

"Should we regroup? It’s going to be night soon."

The demon nodded.

"Sure. I’ll share my coordinates with you and the others. Let’s meet there."

"Also..." the voice continued seriously,

"Keep an eye on your surroundings and the sky. The academy is monitoring the students using drones."

The demon’s expression remained calm.

"Yes. I’m aware. Don’t worry."

"—"

The call ended. The communication device’s screen turned black. The demon slipped it back into his pocket without stopping for even a second.

He continued racing through the forest. His destination remained unknown.

His only objective. To find a student named Kaelan Nightfall.

But, What exactly did he want from Kaelan? Had he come here merely to find him... Or had he come here to kill him?

Meanwhile, far away from the forest... Deep beneath the earth.

Two unknown men continued exploring an ancient underground temple, searching its mysterious halls for answers hidden within the forgotten ruins.

And while all of this was happening.

Noah remained completely unaware of everything unfolding around him.