Is the person you sculpt as cute as me?

Bringing endless ice, snow and storms, it descended upon Yu Man... and stood with her on this frozen sea.

"You, you you you—did you really receive my invitation?!" It sang a joyful song, shocking Yu Man so much that he seemed to be blown away.

It is even larger than it appears, worthy of being the incarnation of winter. This extremely condensed magic has a miraculous beauty.

But he's just a child after all.

"You're the first... the first person to respond to me! I thought... no one heard... so I wanted to pretend nothing happened. And you actually speak our language..."

"Because your ancestors had a close relationship with the people of Shimlabakken. Although death took away everything...they only left behind their language."

Yu Man moved closer to it and met its eyes.

"That's why, after who knows how many years, we can still know each other like this, using the same language that hasn't changed."

"I...I don't have a name yet, so I can't introduce myself like grandpa."

"It's okay, my name is Eel."

The Ice Prison Dragon nodded, as if wanting to melt the name into his heart: "It's a strange name, but I won't forget it."

"Maybe it's not called that." Yu Man joked casually.

"Then I will never forget it." Strangely, Yu Man could see a hint of happiness on the face of the Ice Prison Dragon... It could completely understand Yu Man's little prank.

Unfortunately, the good times are fleeting.

"Now that we know each other, I hope you understand I mean no harm... I need to tell you something." Yu Man needed to explain the cruelty of the world to the child. "You froze the sea... There's no way people could get to know each other."

"Ah..." It was surprised, and its ears and wings trembled slightly.

Not only that, the surrounding ice elements also became agitated, and cracks appeared in the ice sea.

But all of this was just a slight emotional fluctuation from the phantom beast.

"But... haven't you come yet?"

"Because I'm strong, I was able to cross the frozen sea to meet you." Yu Man shook her head. "But the rest of the world is different. They're simply frozen by you...waiting to die."

Children have their own logic, whether doing evil or good.

The logic is pure, gleaming with unadulterated naive stupidity.

But it is difficult to explain to children where their mistakes lie, as they still find it difficult to understand...or, they may be stubborn because they think adults are wrong.

Now, the Ice Prison Dragon was just confused: "Why?"

"Well... to put it simply, ordinary people can't withstand the cold of this icy sea. Just standing on it will kill them."

Yu Man didn't mind taking some time to explain, and trying his best to explain, which was better than saying nothing.

Even if the Ice Prison Dragon found this frozen sea strong enough, and even if humans found a way to live on it, it would eventually disappear. Either it would be unable to withstand the establishment of civilization, or at the end of winter... it would vanish into nothingness.

Therefore, even if the sea will devour life, humans have no choice but to choose it.

"I still don't understand. If only it were stronger and I never died... that would be fine."

"Unfortunately, you are not a god, and you cannot write down the laws that govern the world... The icy sea cannot be indestructible, and your life cannot be eternal."

"Then how do you become a god?" asked the Ice Prison Dragon again.

Yu Man didn't feel annoyed, but simply understood the child's heart. Just as she had once made a simple resolution as a child, writing essays on vast topics, her heart was not far from that time.

She simply responded with even crueler words.

"Humans don't actually desire to know each other. Even if they met on the frozen sea, fighting would be the norm. Therefore, your kindness cannot bring them happiness... Humanity doesn't need your blessing either."

The Ice Prison Dragon was silent for a long time, lying dejectedly beside Yu Man: "I don't know if what you said is a lie... or the truth."

"What I said is true—but if you still don't believe it, that's okay."

Yu Man tried to say.

"Here's a simple solution—I'm better than you, so you have to listen to me. How about that?"

No matter how pure their thoughts are, children are nothing more than animals, dominated by the instinct of survival.

Therefore, they can understand the size of a fist better than the abstract language constructed by civilization. Anyway, that's what Yu Man is here to do.

"I don't want to fight you."

But strangely, the Ice Prison Dragon just blinked.

Because, it also has a very simple method.

"If you're my friend, I'll believe you. Friends don't lie to each other...right?"

111·Unreachable by Humans

The young dragon - does not know how long it has been born.

It does not count the passage of time, nor does it record the number of times day and night change.

Compared to the vast heritage left by our parents and grandparents, our time on earth is so short.

But compared to loneliness - it seems a little long.

It hates these lonely days.

Even so, since its birth, any cry it has made to the world has not received any response.

No one knows what is written into its dragon songs.

The only thing people know is that the Ice Prison Dragon is a ferocious and tyrannical mythical beast that rejects everything, and is the pinnacle of the ecological monster. Therefore, it is common sense not to approach this island.

The third season, the incarnation of winter, has been accompanied by loneliness - until today.

"friend?"

In this world that never changes, a foreign girl with a strange name comes with the night.

It seems to overturn everything from now on.

And that is exactly what the Ice Prison Dragon desires.

"friend."

"Alas." Yu Man's face was now filled with anguish. "Why aren't you an evil dragon?"

The Ice Prison Dragon tried to recall the experience of its ancestors, so it bared its teeth and exhaled a light icy air, causing the surrounding temperature to drop sharply.

"Like this?" it tried to ask.

"No... what kind of dragon would ask that? Can't you just go burn a few cities, plunder the daughters of lords and kings, then seize the merchants' wealth and enslave all kinds of low-level demihumans? Tell me again that freezing the sea is just for fun."

In this way, Yu Man would attack regardless of the consequences and have a grand battle with it without any worries.

Unfortunately.

"I'm an ice dragon. How can I burn the city?" The Ice Prison Dragon was a little distressed.

"Hey."

But the Ice Prison Dragon was pure, not stupid: "I froze the sea... and it caused you trouble, I understand that. Therefore, you don't like me... want to beat me up... and don't want to be friends with me."

It really is.

Rather, it was true before.

The Ice Prison Dragon felt sad and guilty.

Like a puppy that chews up the sofa on a whim and then realizes that everyone in the family is angry.

Its head hung low, and its ears and wings drooped in frustration.

The dreamy icy mist that lingered around him gradually faded and became less shimmering.

Looking at this huge fantasy beast, Yu Man was speechless, and all the lines he had prepared were no longer applicable.

She had been accumulating energy for nearly a month to challenge the Ice Prison Dragon. All the hard work and thought she had put in now seemed meaningless... Even the words Yu Man had prepared didn't have a chance to be uttered.

For example--

"If you are the embodiment of winter—I will freeze winter."

"I am an ice magician marching towards spring."

"Collect the mount."

some type of.

But now... I can't say any of them.

Unlike his previous high fighting spirit, Yu Man now even wants to stand in the perspective of the Ice Prison Dragon to remind her.

"I'm a stranger, completely different from the humans your ancestors encountered." Yu Man's face was fierce. "We strangers are good at killing each other, killing everything, and plundering all the benefits. Betrayal, conspiracy, poisoning, cruelty... all evil deeds are part of our logic, and we cannot be killed."

"I know."

Yu Man pointed at herself. "For example, I've set my sights on this island you're protecting. I'm still eyeing your wealth, and even more eager to experience the exhilaration of defeating you. I'll take everything you have, and if any other foreigners come to take it, I'll kill them all."

"I understand... because... I froze the sea... and you were so angry that you came to beat me up."

“……Ah.” How can I be angry about this?

Now, the Ice Prison Dragon truly understood one thing.

It wants to turn the sea into ice land out of good intentions, so that everyone can live on it without being threatened by the sea.

These...are wrong.

It wasn't that I understood the logic of human civilization, nor that I knew ordinary humans couldn't endure such cold... It was just that the girl before me was... angry because of this. Making people angry is naturally not a good thing; it can't bring happiness to everyone.

However, the girl with the strange name...is not who she claims to be.

On the contrary, her sky-blue eyes only shone with tenderness.

Even the way he spoke now was just pretending to be tough: "Not only humans, but anyone you meet in the future can't be treated so kindly. Instead, you must be fierce and show your overwhelming strength. Listen to me -"

“…Okay, I’m listening.”

"You absolutely must not trust anyone. They will only seek your benefit, defraud, and harm you. Don't assume that just because you've made friends, you won't lie to each other and will help each other. There is only endless malice in every world, especially for us strangers."

The Ice Prison Dragon listened quietly, then couldn't help but ask timidly, "So... even what you said can't be trusted?"

"Uh... I'm telling the truth, you can trust this."

"Didn't it say 'anyone'?"

"...Ouch, you're just trying to argue. I'm going to beat you up." Yu Man wanted to attack again.

"That is—anyone except you." The Ice Prison Dragon hummed a ballad quietly, embellishing Yu Man's sermon, "I will only trust you."

The faint chill breathed out by the ice dragon has a strong affinity with the ice magician.

They just looked at each other in silence... and then laughed helplessly and as a matter of course.

"So... are we friends?" The Ice Prison Dragon tried to ask.

"No, no, no, I don't want to be friends with you. Instead, I want to form another kind of relationship with you."

"Hmm? We're different species, but are there other relationships we can have? I thought only friendship could transcend race."

"There are so many, like—I'll be your big brother."

Yu Man spoke all at once.

"Little guy, just follow me from now on. I'll be responsible for making our island beautiful. I'll fulfill your wish, using trade and communication to allow all those separated by the island to know each other. And then, there will be more happiness than sadness in the world."

I don’t know where these words come from, but they flow naturally in this clear night.

From her voice, as if speaking of the distant past—an echo.

She slowed down her speech and continued, "Let me introduce you to some great friends. At this dividing line between winter and spring, your life has just begun. Want to enter a lonely retirement life prematurely? That's not suitable."

The future that Yu Man outlined with the dragon ballad seemed to fall into the souls of the listeners bit by bit.

It blinked, yearning: "Then...what should I give for you?"

"Come on—fight with me with all your might. I'll let you know that Big Brother is not just a name! Listen to me from now on!"

"Woo woo woo, you still want to beat me..."