Chapter 72

Trembling, I crouched in a spot where the sun shone inside the cave.

I put the undergarments, which I couldn’t find a place for, into my bag.

I had hung the knight’s uniform near the cave’s entrance. This way, it would be easier for the captain and the others to find it. Probably, Amelia would also search for me if we won the battle against the monsters.

"Still, what was that monster that used magic?"

"I don’t know. But I think it’s related to the increase in magical energy here."

"You’re right."

I hope everyone is safe.

Fortunately, I’m not hungry yet, but it will become painful as time passes. Sura seems to have calmed down a lot. She’s quietly staying in the thermos.

I gave her the water from the leather bag, which was the only thing that remained intact. The water contained herbs with antibacterial properties to prevent it from spoiling during the expedition, so Sura turned green. ...I hope this is okay. I can only pray that she turns back to transparent.

"Ah, Zara, your cheek is cut."

Fortunately, the healing ointment was still intact, so I took on the role of a medic. First, I washed the blood from the wound. Since it was also our drinking water, I used the minimum amount necessary.

"Does it hurt?"

"Wha!?"

She furrowed her brow and squeezed her eyes shut in pain.

"I’m sorry, if I could use a healing spell, it would be better."

"N-no, it’s okay! C-continue."

"Okay."

I took a towel from my bag to wipe her wet cheek, but I was startled to see lace. There’s no way I brought a lacy towel on an expedition. This—well, it’s, if I must say, a pair of panties.

I hurriedly put it back in the bag. That was close. I almost wiped Zara’s face with something very inappropriate.

I took out a new towel and wiped her cheek, then applied the ointment.

"Are you done?"

"Not yet, please wait a moment."

Zara still had her eyes closed.

She didn’t look as pained anymore, but her face was still red.

The fever medicine was a powder, so it had dissolved and disappeared.

I remembered a charm my mother used to do when I had a cold. It made me feel better right away. Now that I think about it, it might have been magic.

Since it might help, I decided to try it.

"Excuse me for a moment."

"Huh?"

I pushed back Zara’s bangs and pressed my forehead against hers.

"M-Mel!?"

"Don’t move."

I desperately tried to remember the incantation my mother used to say.

—Heal the broken bones, the bruises, and the sprains.

Let the bone marrow return to the bones, the blood return to the veins, and the limbs return to the body, as if glued together.

I finally remembered.

I pulled away and neatly arranged Zara’s bangs with my fingertips.

When I said it was okay, she looked at me with wide eyes.

"This is a charm my mother used to do when I had a cold."

"A charm..."

"Yes. I’m sorry, this is all I can do."

"No, thank you."

She said she felt much better.

◇◇◇

Well, the first aid is done, but I’m still shivering. It’s cold.

Zara tried to start a fire. She gathered some vines and tried the method of striking two stones together. She managed to create sparks, but couldn’t get the vines to catch fire. They were probably too damp.

"By the way, I remembered something because of your charm, Mel."

In Zara’s village, fire is a vital element that protects life, and children learn the fire-starting spell at the age of ten.

"I learned it from my grandmother, but I couldn’t use it because I didn’t have enough magic power."

She said that magic power increases with age, so she would be able to use it soon.

"I haven’t tried it since I left the village at fifteen."

Zara used a stone she found to draw a magic circle on the ground.

"This is an ancient incantation, ‘Ignis.’ It means ‘campfire.’”

In the center of the circle, a wavy line in the shape of a triangle was drawn.

Zara muttered the incantation.

—Ignite!

With a “Poom!” the fire rose, but it disappeared in an instant.

"Still no good, huh..."

She was sweating profusely, probably because the spell consumed a lot of magic power.

I took a towel from my bag—oh, this is a pair of panties. I was so irritated by the second time that I threw it far away.

I took out a new towel and wiped the sweat from her forehead.

"Are you okay?"

"Yes, I’m fine. One more time—"

"Wait a moment."

I took out a knife, blew on it, and pressed the blade to my palm. Blood seeped out.

"No, Mel, what are you—"

"Magic is more concentrated in blood. If I use my blood as a medium, it will surely work. Can you use it to draw the magic circle?"

"What!?"

I urged her to hurry before the blood clotted.

Since the amount of blood was small, Zara drew a smaller magic circle than before. Then she recited the incantation.

With a “Poom!” a pillar of fire rose, roaring and burning without any sign of going out.

"Yay~!"

I cheered with a victory sign. Zara looked pained.

She was probably dehydrated. I offered her the leather bag with water.

This way, we managed to secure a fire. The cave became warm instantly.

Zara’s fire was very warm, and I stopped shivering.

"But, Mel, no more of that, okay?"

"I’m sorry."

I was gently warned to stop the impulsive act of offering my blood.

◇◇◇

After that, Zara and I spent the time idly.

I was holding the magic wand, Gra, like a cane to keep from falling over.

The sun was setting, and it was gradually getting darker.

"The captain and the others probably won’t move at night, so they’ll resume the search when it gets light."

"Yes, that’s right."

We chatted sporadically to pass the time.

Sura wanted to come out, but since Gal wasn’t there, she had to stay in the thermos.

Her color had turned back to transparent, so I was relieved.

We just had to wait for rescue.

I didn’t say it out loud, but I was hungry.

I didn’t want to eat the soggy bread. There were monsters in the river. Bread soaked in that water would be—.

But I put the bread near the fire to dry it out.

If I got extremely hungry, I would eat it.

"Mel, are you okay?"

"..."

I can’t tell Zara, but I’m so hungry!!

Hot soup, fluffy bread, juicy meat, and tender fish. Pickled vegetables, salted beans, and dried meat...

My head was full of food.

Ah, I wish I had eaten more at lunch.

If I hadn’t held back, thinking I would eat a lot at dinner, I wouldn’t be this hungry now.

I don’t want to eat soggy bread.

I don’t like bad-tasting food.

I want to eat something delicious.

I, I—

My stomach growled. Zara must have heard it, and I was embarrassed.

My face turned hot.

"Huh?"

"Hmm?"

Zara and I spoke at the same time.

A black magic circle had appeared in front of us without us noticing.

"Could this be Gra’s ability?"

Gra means gluttony in ancient language.

Could it be a food-related ability?

I read the floating text in the magic circle.

"Um..."

—Choose your ingredients

"Wow!"

A magic circle that creates ingredients?

I followed the floating text with my trembling hand, and a circular selection appeared.

Ingredient name: Taltaluga

"Taltaluga... It sounds like ancient language, but I don’t know what it means."

"I think I’ve heard it somewhere, but I’m not sure."

"That’s how it feels."

This is probably a magic circle that creates ingredients.

There’s only one option, but I’m grateful since I’m hungry.

I pressed the floating text in the magic circle.

The magic circle was enveloped in light.

At the same time, I felt a wave of exhaustion. It seems to use my own magic power to create the ingredient.

What is Taltaluga?

I waited with excitement as the light faded—

"Hmm?"

"Oh?"

I was stunned when I saw the ingredient on the magic circle.

There, a creature with a black shell, a long neck, and short limbs— a river turtle.

Could this be the ingredient? Taltaluga means river turtle in ancient language.

(Excerpt)

Hirokazu Takahashi, 'Coexistence and Syncretism of Paganism in Ancient Germanic Spells'