Chapter 89

With the effect of 【Silver Fox Flame】, my hair turned silver, I was enveloped in a silver glow, and I grew a luminous tail. I carried the unconscious and naked Cuna, who had lost all her strength, in my arms as I walked.

"So, it seems I can't use this power on my own."

The silver flames I had been manipulating scattered, and the magic of 【Silver Fox Flame】 was dispelled. My hair color also returned to black. It wasn't that I had dispelled it; it had been dispelled. It seems that both 【Golden Armor】 and 【Silver Fox Flame】 can only be used when Cuna has transformed into a nine-tailed fox and her altered magic power is activated.

I had been forcing my half-dead body to move with Cuna's altered magic power, and now I felt like a puppet with its strings cut, about to collapse. With my last bit of strength, I gently laid Cuna down on the ground.

"I might die, after all."

I chuckled and muttered. Without the benefit of Cuna's altered magic power, my burns were not fully healed. The wounds from the miasma had not recovered even with her altered magic power.

The protection had long since run out. I had lost too much blood. The backlash from 【Silver Fox Flame】 had left my magic circuits in shambles.

It was a miracle I was still alive. My vision blurred, and I felt the limits of standing, collapsing.

"Souji, Cuna."

Anne rushed over and caught me in her arms. Her warmth and softness kept me conscious.

"Anne, I'm sorry. I pushed myself too hard."

"There's no need to apologize. You saved Cuna. Rest now. While you sleep, I'll protect both of you with my life."

I let go of all my strength, trusting her words. Anne laid me down.

Then, Anne carried Cuna and me to the entrance of the ninth underground floor. She also brought the surviving mage girl who had attacked Cuna.

"I'll rely on you, Anne."

"Yes, no one will hurt you or Cuna."

Anne declared, holding her Kval Best. She must have been very determined, as she was already in the first stage of Kval Best's release. Trusting her, I took a nap while maintaining a bit of consciousness.

◇

I woke up. Unfortunately, my protection and magic power had not returned much. The damage was too severe.

During my brief moments of consciousness, I saw Anne repelling monsters. The monsters on this floor attacked mercilessly. There was no safe zone on the ninth underground floor. It was impressive that she was holding her own against them alone.

"Souji, you're awake. What do we do now?"

Anne asked me. Her face showed signs of fatigue. She was the only one who could fight, and she was protecting Cuna and me, who were injured. She must be exhausted.

"We'll rely on you, Anne, until Cuna wakes up."

"What about after Cuna wakes up?"

"Cuna will probably be in bad shape even when she wakes up and won't be much of a fighting force. Anne, you should head for the first underground floor alone. I'll give you money, and if you see an explorer with Rank 2 or higher power, ask them to come and get us. The lodging on the fourth underground floor should be easy to find. If you don't see anyone, go back to the academy and ask the instructors. Cuna and I will hide here and wait for an explorer to pass by and ask them to help us get to the surface. When Cuna wakes up, we can at least hide and run."

Aiming for the surface with only Anne able to fight would be suicidal, but we had no choice but to rely on her. The chances of an explorer coming to the ninth underground floor were not high.

If Cuna wakes up and my magic power returns a little, we can use concealment magic to run and hide. It's a race to see whether our food and water run out first or Anne brings help.

"That's the only option, isn't it?"

"Yes, that's the only option. As long as Cuna and I can't fight, we have to rely on you, Anne."

Anne resolved herself. Our survival depends on her. The most frightening thing, which I didn't say, was the possibility of the people who attacked Cuna coming back.

Since they can teleport, they could appear anywhere at any time.

"Anne, I'm sorry. It's dangerous for you to pass through the eighth and seventh underground floors alone, even with your skills. I know that, but I'm asking you to do it."

"I'm not worried about that. I'm scared of leaving you two behind. Since you risked your life to save Cuna, I have no hesitation in risking my life for you two."

Indeed, she is a reliable companion. As I thought this, I felt a surge of magic.

Could it be, another teleportation!?

No, the magic was overflowing from my backpack.

'That's not necessary. I'm coming to help you. Don't move; it's a hassle to search for you. You're such a handful.'

Yuri-senpai's voice came from the backpack.

"Yuri-senpai?"

'Yes, it's me. Your great senior and the number one in taking care of juniors, Yuri-senpai. Be grateful.'

I turned my backpack upside down to find the source of the magic and found a green gem about the size of a marble. When did she put this in!?

Her voice came from the gem.

"By the way, were you eavesdropping on us?"

'Well, yeah, a little. When you treated me to a sirloin steak sandwich, I had a really bad feeling, so I slipped in a secret magic stone. It's very expensive and I can't make it easily!'

Yuri-senpai said in a complaining tone. Indeed, my guard had been lowered when she treated me to the sirloin steak sandwich. She must have taken advantage of that.

Even so, I didn't notice that I was being monitored by a constant activation magic tool.

...No, this green gem was disguised to match my magic wavelength. I wouldn't have noticed it unless it emitted a strong magic power. She's very meticulous.

"There's something I have to ask. After you said you had a bad feeling, you mentioned that breaking a bad spell always requires a prince's kiss. How much did you predict? Did you foresee their attack, Cuna's rampage, and me receiving the factor from kissing Cuna and being able to use 【Silver Fox Flame】?"

If she could predict all that, she would be a real monster. 【Silver Fox Flame】 is not yet complete; no one has seen it before.

'I didn't see it that clearly. I just had a vision of Souji and Cuna kissing, so I said that. You don't have to believe it. My premonitions are like that.'

"I believe you. And thank you for coming to help. To be honest, I thought you were suspicious. How long will it take you to get here?"

'Five minutes. I've been heading your way since they teleported. And yes, you were right to be suspicious. I'm not exactly on your side. I'm more of an enemy of your enemy. That woman is more short-tempered than I thought. I expected her to wait a bit longer.'

"Do you know about them?"

'Well... I'll cut the communication now. This uses a lot of magic, and it's no longer necessary.'

The magic stone lost its light. Then, Yuri-senpai arrived.

Indeed, the communication was no longer necessary.

"I've come to help. Your kind, kind senior. Be grateful. Souji, Anne, Cuna."

Yuri-senpai, who had run through the eighth underground floor, where monsters lurk, without a scratch, said this with a smug look.