Chapter 62: Her mother
"Testing you?" Schnee repeated with a chuckle, then answered with a smile, "That's what I did."
She knew about her weakness which was the same pattern attack. It didn't matter whether she used punches or kicks only. Her attacks would always land in the same pattern on the humanoid enemies.
Schnee covered that weakness with her playfulness and teases. With her unique skills, she piled up countless debuffs on the enemies as their fight carried on.
She went pretty easy against Alex.
For his test, Schnee used her weakness, little teases, and low damage attacks that would always make him feel like puking the blood.
With a few mental and physical effects on him, Alex had been barely able to notice her pattern. Were it not for that, he also wouldn't see through Schnee's clever use of her race.
Schnee had been challenged by a few clan elders and her peers in the far past. While all elders noticed her weakness, a few peers fell prey to her techniques.
Those peers became mediocre warriors. But those who had noticed her weakness went above the average, and some even reached the top seats.
Since Schnee wasn't old enough to be called elder, her peers at the top seats were unique individuals that became idols in her tribe.
"You have noticed my weakness, so you have enough talent to climb the world's ranks. That's all to it," Schnee uttered with some sense of pride.
Alex nodded, "The goal has always been to reach the top."
As she side-glanced into his eyes, Schnee peered into his mind. It was a kinda suggestive glance that could be easily misunderstood.
But in that unique mood, Alex didn't flinch, nor did he say anything weird. He just stared back at her.
And while Schnee had told him the truth, she also hid a more significant matter. That was the reason for that test.
Of course, the reason was her two sisters.
While Schnee could easily see a future where Stella would get addicted to this kind of man, Sara should be more complex.
First of all, Stella was like a young princess who had a good life. She just lost that lifestyle and access to her clan. And from what Schnee had learned, Stella wasn't keen on returning to her home anytime soon.
Her mother wasn't back home anyway.
It was just normal for her to seek a good lifestyle. Her father, although scum, shouldn't have chosen an evil person as his successor. He wouldn't also force someone to become the husband, would he?
As much as Schnee hated that, she knew that her father genuinely loved her.
Therefore, with just a little exposure and honesty, it was easy for Stella to become closer with Alex and vice versa. Both ended up liking each other.
But Sara? She had been abandoned by her husband! That man left her alone with little dullahan. Worse, he was also part of the forces that hunted Sara and her child for whatever reasons.
Was it easy to fix such a heart of an abandoned mother?
Schnee didn't think so, yet she saw her sister speaking of a man with that peculiar smile and expectations.
At this rate, Schnee would get left behind. Her two sisters would force her to cooperate each time Alex wanted, and she wouldn't be able to say no to them as she also loved them.
Perhaps, that love stemmed from their father's side, but the same blood within them was indeed the reason for their trust and support.
That was why Schnee decided to test Alex and see whether he had a good future that at least would be up to her standards. In the end, strength was what mattered the most, no matter how nice and honest you were.
If you had no strength, you wouldn't be able to truly give happiness to women such as Deathwill Sisters!
Of course, Schnee didn't look for happiness in Alex. She just knew that he was the key to the Deathwill Castle's powers and that he was someone who would use the most of this place.
Although she didn't want to rely on the successor, he wasn't that bad. She could give him a chance and see how it would progress.
Therefore, Schnee parted her lips, "As a reward for winning our little battle, I will tell you why I stay here. That reason is, of course, my mother."
"Your mother?" Alex asked, inwardly knowing that there was a much more significant reason for her to stay here.
Nonetheless, he was curious and ready to listen to Schnee's story. He kept smiling gently, looking at Schnee with warm eyes.
With his good looks, that smile slowly turned into a melter that threw Schnee out of the loop.
She clicked her tongue and retracted her eyes toward the dark sky, "Elders always told me that she was like me in her childhood. The difference is that my mother was quite an adventurous girl. In her younger days, she rarely returned home. She would always spend a night somewhere else, be it with her friends or even in foreign people's houses. She would just play games with them…
She even visited other races and made friends here. She was so active and thrilled about the whole world that even now, I can't understand her."
That mom remained the same even as an adult. She was like the insatiable kitty who would always seek thrilling adventures.
But her adventures stopped when she met Elias Deathwill.
Schnee clicked her tongue, "She fell in love with him and his kingdom. This damn castle was like a nest she loved to spend time in. But of course, the strong father usually left his castle for his own business. He was a power-seeking moron.
He wouldn't let my mother spend too much time here. She didn't think much of it back then, but we know the reason now, don't we?" Schnee's eyes flared with ire.
Her mother became like Stella each time she returned to her clan. She would just spend time thinking about her love and his kingdom. It was impossible to do her work or request anything out of her.
She was like a dreaming maiden at all hours!
"You want to own this castle for your mother, don't you?" Alex asked.
The Deathwill Sisters had quite limited power here. Even if they could go outside and return at wish, it would be impossible for them to know the coordinates. And knowing their strong father, no one would be able to help them find this place.
People were also greedy, so it would be hard to request assistance.
Schnee couldn't ask her clan for help, either. Even if she could, her family wouldn't be able to help Schnee too much as every cat had peculiar skills.
They could try, but their hatred for Elias Deathwill would impede them from using their techniques to the fullest.
She was on her own. And using Charm Skill on Alex was the easiest path. Alas, it had failed.
Schnee nodded.
But at this point, she no longer knew her feelings. She sometimes felt like coordinates of this place would be enough. She then would be able to search for her mother and bring her to the Deathwill Castle.
She would help her as much as she could.
Perhaps, bringing her mother here and keeping Elias Deathwill away from her would be enough to satisfy Schnee's goals. But seeing Alex and Sara, Schnee had doubts about killing her father.
She probably should let him speak with her mother first…
"Then wouldn't it be better for your mother to speak with him?" Alex said what suddenly had sprouted within Schnee's mind.
He smiled and continued, "I don't know about your second reason, but you are as kind-hearted as your other sisters. Don't let your father's deeds muddle your heart. Instead, think of your mother more.
One of my goals is to find Elias Deathwill too. If you subside your killing intent toward him, it will be easier for us to work together," Alex nodded.
His words didn't seem to influence Schnee much. However, a faint smile spread on her face. It was a genuine smile.
And then, she sneered, "That bastard has also dropped his level. No way he wouldn't take this chance to level up along with players. He's a battle maniac, so I am surely not mistaken. But what if he wants you to cultivate his power, then snatch it away from you?
Have you never thought about it this way?" Schnee asked with her hand on her waist.
Alex laughed, "I haven't thought about it. It's like one of the furthest goals, right? He can wait for my attention."
Schnee liked those last words.
Alex continued, "And I will develop my abilities alongside you and my friends. All of you will add a piece to my skills, so those will be much different than his. With those hungry demons lurking around, my future is already different than his, even if I fulfill all his successor quests. So, don't worry about your father. He won't snatch me away from you."
"Hmph," Schnee harrumphed cutely.
Alex grinned.
