At some point, the blizzard grew stronger.

In an instant, my vision was blurred.

[Time remaining: 12 minutes, 29 seconds].

I couldn’t see a thing, but the system window was clear.

‘We don’t have much time left, we need to find the Spirit of the Garden.’

But with the snowstorm raging, it was dangerous to move.

“Argention. Let’s take cover and wait for the blizzard to die down.”

But there was no answer from Argention.

“Argention?”

I called out, louder than before, but still he remained silent.

‘What is it?’

Then I realized something was wrong.

‘I can hear myself.’

A blizzard was swirling around me, blurring my vision.

‘It doesn’t make sense.’

So I’m in a space that doesn’t make sense.

Like the dungeon where the weather changed at will.

‘This is probably a space created by the Spirit of the Garden.’

In order to get out of this situation, I have to find the Spirit of Garden.

“Wait here.”

I dismounted from my horse.

Winfrote’s horses were well trained, so there was no need to tie them up.

‘So this isn’t real.’

I didn’t feel cold in that blizzard.

My attire was completely different from a moment ago.

I took a quick look around and decided on a direction.

‘Let’s head that way.’

The blizzard was raging on all sides, but only one side was quiet.

As if to say, ‘Come this way.’

“Maybe it’s a path prepared by the Spirit of the Silver Garden.

I was right, and the path became easier as we walked.

“Huh?”

After walking for a while, I stopped when I saw something.

A man was lying on the ground.

The first thing I noticed was the man’s jet-black hair.

It was an odd color in a world filled with snow.

‘It’s Argention.’

The man seems different.

But he was obviously Argention.

Why is he lying here?

“Argention?”

I called his name.

But Argention didn’t respond.

In fact, his complexion turned a little paler.

Like he was sick.

“Argention. Are you okay?”

This time, there was no answer.

I wondered if this was another illusion created by the Spirit of the Garden.

Then it happened.

Thud!

A loud thud sounded as if a blow had come from somewhere.

‘What?’

The impact must have traveled all the way here.

‘Is the ground shaking? I feel dizzy.’

I couldn’t stand up straight.

Unable to hold on, I slumped down next to Argention.

Thud!

I heard another loud bang.

‘Huh? Something’s wrong?’

At the same time, I felt uncomfortable.

The sound was coming from closer than I thought.

“Let’s move to a safe place.”

I tried to summon an appropriate item, as my strength alone was not enough.

But as I opened the system window, I panicked.

“Why isn’t it working?”

No matter how hard I tried, the system window wouldn’t open.

‘Is there an error? But the countdown is still showing fine?’

I glanced at the words floating in the air.

[Time remaining: 5 minutes, 17 seconds].

The time is running out, and nothing has changed.

“This can’t be happening.”

I decided to do what I could right now.

“I can’t leave Argention behind.”

I couldn’t leave a fainted man on a snowy mountain, not if he was okay.

I lifted Argention’s arm and grabbed him.

I was going to grab him by both arms and drag him away.

At that moment.

Thud!

The sound was louder than ever.

“Huh……?”

I froze as I realized the source of my discomfort.

“Is this…… coming from inside my body?”

The realization was eerily clear.

My heart was beating.

Loud enough to be mistaken for thunder.

A rush of indescribable emotions washed over me.

The first emotion to reveal itself was anger.

My anger at Argention was unbearable.

This was followed by feelings of distrust and betrayal.

‘What is this?’

The unknowable ensued.

I remembered how cold Argention had been to me when I first transmigrated.

“If you quietly sign the divorce application and leave the mansion tonight, I will give you a substantial alimony. You would want that.”

At the time, I couldn’t have been happier to hear those words.

But now my heart sank.

‘What’s wrong with me?’

“I don’t know what you have up your sleeve in that worthless head of yours, but it will all be for naught, insignificant Roselina.”

Argention’s cold voice pierced her heart.

‘Shall I just leave him like that?’

As if possessed by something, I changed my mind.

“It’s none of my business if he dies or not, after the way he treated me.”

Kaaaaaah-

Not far away, I heard a demon howl.

‘That means it’s around here, and it’ll find him soon enough.’

Now I couldn’t use my inventory, let alone summon.

‘It’s dangerous, not to mention I don’t have a weapon. I could really get killed.’

At that moment, a notification flashed in the air, urging me on.

[Time remaining: 1 minute, 48 seconds].

“Okay. I’ve got less than two minutes left, and I’m going to get to safety.”

I muttered, rationalizing.

I had long since let go of Argention’s arm.

I walked on, looking straight ahead.

The blizzard picked up again, but I didn’t care.

[Time remaining: 1 minute, 4 seconds]

But the notification kept blinking.

Like it was trying to appeal to me.

“What do you want me to do?”

I cringed.

“Save the person who threw me out? In a situation where I might die?”

I stood there, shouting, but no one answered.

Save him- save him- save him.

Only the last word came back to me as an echo.

[Time remaining: 10 seconds].

There were only 10 seconds left.

As I watched the final countdown, I made a decision.

A strange, unidentifiable emotion shook my heart.

“……Yes. I’ll save him.”

My hesitation vanished as I made the decision.

I hurried toward Argention.

Before I knew it, the creature was gaping at him.

[Time remaining: 5 seconds].

“No!”

I shouted at the creature, but it didn’t listen.

“It’s going to eat Argention if it stays like this!

[Time remaining: 3 seconds].

My last-minute hesitation left me with only a fraction of a second.

‘Can I save Argention in the time left?’

I stretched out my arm, but he was just out of reach.

‘I have no choice.’

I squeezed my eyes shut and launched myself toward Argention.

“Argention! Stay back!”

And that was it,

I felt something small and pale embrace me.

‘What is it?’

Despite my fear, I felt a tickle in the back of my mind.

Then I realized.

‘It’s…… that unidentifiable feeling I felt a moment ago.’

It was lurking at the very bottom of the mass of emotions I felt earlier.

It was too small to be easily recognized, but now it was clearer than anything else.

‘Longing. And…….’

I tried to keep my eyes closed.

The only thing left for me now, I thought, was to be eaten by a demon.

“Rose.”

But it wasn’t a demon’s cry that reached my ears.

It was a voice that sounded excited, as if it was expecting something.

‘What is it?’

I cautiously opened my eyes.

The first thing I saw was a pair of ruby eyes.

“It was a close call at the end. I could hardly keep still.”

Argention rolled his eyes and whispered to me, smiling.

For some reason, I couldn’t say anything, so I remained frozen.

‘Shame.’

I wonder if it’s the residue of my unintentional emotions from earlier.

I couldn’t look him in the eye.

“But that’s what made it so exhilarating.”

Argention was pinned beneath me.

If I wanted to, I could have lifted myself up and avoided him.

“Rose is the best.”

But Argention’s whisper drained the strength from my body.

I didn’t even have the energy to lift a finger.

“……Argention.”

With what little strength I had left, I managed to get the words out.

His eyes widened as if he’d heard something he shouldn’t have.

“What? Argention? How could you say something so mean to ……. Rose, that’s not fair!”

Argention whined and covered his face with his hands.

Rose was stunned at how different he looked from his usual self.

“What?”

“Oh, I haven’t changed my appearance yet …….”

Soon there was a pop and a puff of smoke, followed by the sound of a firecracker exploding.

‘What the hell is going on?’

A moment later, the smoke cleared.

I looked up and saw that it wasn’t Argention, but the Spirit of Garden.

“What’s going on?”

• • I was too excited to explain. Thank you for saving me in my Argention form. You will be my benefactor from now on.

So you’re saying that the Spirit of the Garden intentionally imitated Argention?

[Special Quest confirmed].

[You have completed the special quest]

[Reward will be revealed at a later date].