When they got out of the carriage, a fierce blizzard clawed at their surroundings.

Thanks to the excellent performance of the protection bracelet Kiriel had given her, Kana felt less impact, but others took the full brunt of it.

Denia muttered with furrowed brows.

“The weather is definitely getting harsher as we get closer to the snow spirits. Looking at this, it’ll probably get worse when we reach Mount Rosen.”

“Indeed.”

Kana straightened her hunched body.

Her group lined up alongside the Cardium family’s spirit summoners. Ethan took the lead while the knights formed a protective formation around the spirit summoners.

“Though it’s at the foot, we’ll have to walk to Mount Rosen ourselves, so I recommend summoning spirits in advance.”

“Yes.”

At Ethan’s suggestion, the spirit summoners simultaneously summoned their spirits. Kana called forth Celia and Gnome, Denia summoned a highest-grade water spirit and high-grade fire spirit, and Aila called a high-grade fire spirit and low-grade wind spirit.

The other spirit summoners only summoned fire spirits, mostly between low and mid-grade. They silently marveled while glancing at the Four-Colored Leaf Guild’s party.

“Move out!”

The knights and spirit summoners formed neat ranks. Due to the brutal weather, they walked steadfastly toward their destination with tightly closed mouths.

When they reached the foot of Mount Rosen, the blizzard grew even fiercer.

White masses could be seen through the chaotically swirling snow. A reddish aura explosively surged from Ethan’s sword. As if that was the signal, auras also rose from the swords of the knights in formation.

Ethan’s voice, carried by energy, struck heavily in her ears.

“We now begin the subjugation of snow spirits. Proceed as discussed.”

“Yes!”

The snow spirits, which looked like white clouds, puffed up their bodies and exhaled snow breath. While Ethan and the knights blocked the attacks, the spirit summoners launched fire spirit arts.

Flames collided with the snow spirits’ bodies, blooming like red flowers in various spots. Kana narrowed her eyes and observed the energy.

“Hmm……”

While Denia and Aila’s firepower was reliable, to support the other fire spirits’ power, it would be better to raise the wind spirit’s grade further. The natural energy was abundant now, making it the perfect timing.

As a long-time partner, Celia quickly understood her thoughts.

[Kana, shall I raise the disguised grade to high-grade using the surrounding energy too?]

‘Yes. And help boost the other spirit summoners’ firepower.’

[Got it!]

Suddenly, fierce winds whirled around Kana. It was such powerful energy that the nearby spirit summoners who were pouring out spirit energy flinched and looked over.

Celia’s disguised grade rose to high-grade.

Even during battle, Denia’s eyes widened as she sensed her energy.

“The wind spirit’s grade just……”

“Somehow it ended up that way.”

Kana shrugged while gathering energy. The wind spirit arts adding to the fire spirit arts grew stronger.

While shooting arrow-shaped flames at the snow spirits, Aila rapidly spoke.

“I’ve heard of spirit summoners raising spirit grades on the battlefield, but I never thought I’d see it with my own eyes. Congratulations, Miss Kana.”

“Thank you, Miss Aila. Let’s focus on finishing the job first.”

At those words, the spirit summoners who had been briefly distracted by her nodded with serious expressions.

While wielding Nubes, Kana instructed the earth spirit waiting on the ground.

‘Gnome, create footings and defensive walls for Ethan and the knights.’

[Yes!]

Earth footings appeared for the knights whose legs had been sinking into the snow. Solid earth walls that rose from the ground helped block at least some of the snow spirits’ attacks.

The Cardium family’s knights marveled at her skilled support even while swinging their swords. One of the Cardium family’s spirit summoners called out to her.

“Lady Round, could you perhaps put up walls around the spirit summoners too?”

“Of course.”

Kana erected walls surrounding herself and the spirit summoners. Though they weren’t very sturdy being low-grade, they were much better than nothing.

As she faithfully performed her support role using experience from other novels, a rough voice suddenly echoed in her head.

[……A mere fragment of the Otherworldly Library? You’re a powerless one, endlessly drifting between worlds bound by restrictions.]

The being speaking now was presumed to be that ‘snow spirit’. Kana didn’t even blink at hearing the expression looking down on supporting role players.

‘Well, yes. So you’re an awakened being.’

Though it was her first direct encounter, they were the type occasionally seen in worlds with strong fantasy elements.

The Otherworldly Library and supporting role players—beings aware of the world. Thus called ‘awakened beings’, this phenomenon mainly manifested in transcendent beings of that world, conceptual beings, or special other races.

Some speculated they were collective entities formed from fragments of souls of vanished supporting characters. Of course, the Otherworldly Library didn’t provide further explanation.

She blinked slowly.

‘Even if treated as a monster, it’s not strange since it contains nature’s energy.’

[……Are you not angry?]

‘It’s not wrong, so why would I be? That’s why I’m working hard to escape quickly.’

Though she was slightly surprised at being spoken to during such a busy time, that was all.

While Kana silently focused on her work, the subjugation steadily progressed.

The method was Ethan and the knights splitting the snow spirits with their aura, and flames strengthened by added wind energy consuming the divided snow spirits.

The blizzard that had been so fierce it was hard to see ahead gradually began to subside. The gently falling snow and snow essence rolling on the ground signaled the end of the situation.

While knights collected the snow essence, Ethan spoke softly.

“It’s over.”

“Good work everyone.”

Everyone who had moved in sync together caught their breath. A faint voice carried on the wind flowed into Kana’s ears as she dismissed her spirit summons.

[Though I said unpleasant things at the first meeting, thank you for freeing me from the repeating shackles.]

While obtaining snow essence was the goal, it ended up benefiting both sides. Though the snow spirit disappeared without a trace, it left behind the lingering sentiment of liberation. She unconsciously muttered.

“……I’m envious.”

“Of what?”

“Ah, it’s nothing.”

Kana gave an evasive answer to her party members who tilted their heads curiously.

* * *

After finishing all the cleanup, Ethan led the knights and spirit summoners to the village near Mount Rosen. Before boarding the carriage, he swept his gaze over the gathering.

“First we should distribute the snow essence and request payment.”

“Yes.”

Kana, who had contributed significantly, was able to receive ten high-quality snow essence. Her goal had been three or four, so getting more than that made her happy.

‘With this much, I can gift half to Kiriel. Consider it repayment for his help so far.’

She caught herself unconsciously looking after him and was startled. Originally she wouldn’t have cared since it was a relationship that would disappear anyway. Kana bit her lip.

‘What am I……”

The chain of thoughts was broken by Ethan’s voice.

“Lady Round, are you unwell?”

“I’m fine.”

Kana hurriedly composed her expression. She thought no one would notice during the busy distribution of byproducts, but that was a mistake. Ethan nodded and spoke bluntly.

“By the way, I was worried since it was my first time seeing you move directly, but you did better than imagined.”

“Not at all. Thanks to everyone else doing well at the front, I was able to support comfortably.”

“Still humble as ever. Your composure was impressive during the monster hunt too, I understand why Count Nuer spoke well of you. He said he was surprised that such a capable young person wasn’t from the north.”

Unusually, his words grew long. Enough that nearby knights rubbed their eyes in surprise. Kana asked with a bewildered expression.

“……Don’t tell me Count Nuer spoke to Duke Cardium too?”

“Yes. Most northern nobles probably heard. Since he’s the Blue Flame Knight.”

“I received an excessive reputation.”

Though Kana’s response was indifferent, Ethan’s gaze was serious.

“Not at all. Including your performance today, I think it’s accurate. Ah, and congratulations on raising your wind spirit to high-grade.”

“Thank you.”

Kana bowed her head lightly. Ethan looked at her with a strange gaze.

“I saw it become mid-grade at the monster hunt, and now seeing it hit high-grade, it feels novel. It’s amazing that a spirit, a symbol of nature, raised grades twice in the barren north.”

“The Cardium family’s territory must have good energy.”

“That’s the first time I’ve heard that.”

Ethan smiled. It must have sounded pleasant to him with his affection for his family and territory. Kana smoothly shrugged it off.

They took some rest and recovered with healing water before finally moving to the Cardium castle by carriage when the snowfall somewhat weakened.

The carriage Kana rode in was warm thanks to her companions raising flames. After equally dividing the request payment, Denia spoke with a relaxed face.

“Good work everyone. The job ended smoothly.”

“Yes. It was a good experience.”

Kana smiled gently. When moving far from scenes, it really felt like moving on her own, which was refreshing.

Denia gave a fond look to the new guild member.

“Rising from low-grade to high-grade is no ordinary feat…… You definitely have shining talent. Lady Round, I think you’ll do even better in the future.”

“Thank you, Guild Master.”

“Honestly, I thought your grade would rise since training together with Miss Kana. Anyway, you’re really amazing.”

“You’re too kind.”

Kana smiled modestly. Though her companions’ praise continued at length, other thoughts kept popping up, preventing her from properly hearing it.