Chapter 92

It was a scene I couldn't comprehend.

In front of me, Magilka stood inside a magic circle, enveloped by sparks emitted from a floating crystal, screaming in agony.

The light from the accessories she wore faded, and cracks began to form. As this happened, the crystal grew brighter.

"M... Magilka..."

I could feel my voice trembling. My mind was overwhelmed by the scene before me, and I couldn't process it.

Then, when Magilka stopped making sounds and slumped forward, I finally grasped the situation.

"Magilkaaaa!"

I ran towards the magic circle without a second thought, hugged Magilka, and carried her out of it. The intense sparks that had been occurring suddenly stopped, and the light of the magic circle stabilized.

"What... What nonsense! You brought her out during the ritual?"

Voices from the audience reached my ears, but I had no time to pay attention to them.

"Magilka! Hold on, please, open your eyes!"

I sat down and slightly moved Magilka, whom I was hugging, and shook her body forcefully.

"Ugh..."

In response to my shaking, Magilka's face contorted in pain, and her closed eyelids slowly opened.

"...M... Mary-sama..."

"Thank goodness..."

I was so relieved that tears streamed down my face. Magilka's face was pale, and she was clearly exhausted. She must have been drained of her magic by that crystal. The fact that all her magical accessories, which contained her magic, had shattered only reinforced this suspicion. I remembered what my teacher had once told me: if one's magic power is depleted too quickly and continues to decrease, it could lead to death.

(If I had left Magilka in that state...)

I hugged Magilka tightly, trying to reassure myself of her warmth, shaking off the terrifying thought.

"Not yet! Be careful, Mary-sama!"

Zahha's voice made me react, and I looked at the magic circle behind me. The crystal that had been thrown in was still floating, and the magic circle was still glowing. Suddenly, the crystal shattered into pieces, and as they fell into the magic circle, the light intensified. Then, something began to rise from the ground at the center of the circle.

"...What... is that?"

I couldn't understand what had emerged from the magic circle. No, I had seen it before. I hadn't seen the real thing, but I had seen it in videos. It was floating in the magic circle now.

It was a human brain.

Covered by a transparent membrane, it closely resembled a human brain. However, its size was abnormal, much larger than an adult's head. Below it, two eyeballs and many tubes, which looked like either a spinal cord or organs, wriggled like tentacles. On top of it, a glowing ring and two wing-like lights were visible, creating a scene that was not just unsettling but also terrifying.

"Damn! The magic power offered was insufficient, and it was summoned incompletely."

"Well, it doesn't matter. It was summoned. Let it rampage, and we'll take advantage of the chaos."

Those voices brought me back to reality. Then, my eyes met the monster's eyeballs. At the same time, the tentacle-like appendages that had been hanging down rushed towards us.

I instinctively pulled Magilka closer to protect her. The next moment, several heavy thuds echoed as something hit metal. I looked up to see Zahha standing there, blocking the monster's attack with his shield.

"Shield Dispel!"

With Zahha's shout, a loud impact sound echoed, and the monster's tentacles were scattered and pushed back.

"Mary-sama, take Magilka and run! I'll keep it distracted until everyone evacuates!"

Zahha glared at the monster, still holding his shield, and said this. The monster launched another attack. This time, multiple magic circles appeared around it, and it began to cast attack spells randomly. Zahha blocked the ones aimed at us with his sword and shield, but the others hit the audience, causing panic.

"Wh-What about Sir Claus?"

I thought of the reliable knights and asked.

"Sir Claus and the others are prioritizing the evacuation of the queen and the others. They are the main targets, so we need to keep this thing occupied as much as possible."

Safina, who had been supported by Tütte, staggered over to me, pressing her chest.

"Safina! Are you hurt?"

"I received a healing spell right after the match ended. Although it was interrupted due to this commotion, I'm fine. It's almost completely healed."

Safina smiled, but sweat dripped from her forehead. Even with a low-level healing spell, one doesn't immediately feel completely fine. It was clear she was pushing herself.

"Leave this to us. Mary-sama, take Magilka and run."

Under normal circumstances, I would have followed such advice to avoid standing out. But not now.

"What are you talking about! If we're running, we're all running together. Otherwise, I'll fight too."

"Then, what about Magilka? Are you going to leave her lying around?"

"Th-That... Ah, Tütte can carry her."

Zahha's immediate response made me look at my maid, who was supporting Safina.

"Just a moment... Don't treat people like objects. I am the daughter of the Futorulika family. I won't be a burden..."

Magilka, who had been leaning against me, tried to stand up, her movements unsteady. I watched her with bated breath.

"So, what do we do? There's only so much we can do. Besides, I can't hold this shield much longer."

Zahha, who had been defending against the relentless attacks, announced his limits. Indeed, no matter how weak the spells were, the monster's continuous barrage was overwhelming. It didn't match any monster I had learned about.

"Let's bet on Mary-sama and Safina's ultimate techniques."

"Huh?"

Magilka's words, supported by Tütte, made Safina and me react simultaneously. I remembered my recent failure, and my face turned pale.

"Indeed. A full-power Nine Blade Cross might be able to handle that monster."

"Is that the one you failed at earlier? I could block it, so are you sure it's okay?"

"That... I... failed..."

Safina's words were interrupted by Zahha's harsh response, and her apologetic reply made me shudder, my blood running cold.

"The acceleration item can be used one more time. I can manage that much. I won't fail this time, right, Mary-sama?"

"If you say so..."

Safina looked at me, and Zahha glanced at me before returning his gaze to the monster. The others also looked at me. Suddenly, my heart felt like it was being squeezed.

The pressure was overwhelming.

"...I... I can't. I failed earlier. Even if you trust me in this situation, I..."

The momentum from before was gone, and the reality of my failure made me feel weak. Overwhelmed by the pressure, I looked down at my trembling hands.

"It's okay."

Magilka gripped my trembling hand.

"But, if I don't act quickly, I'll get anxious."

"Take your time and stay calm."

"But, if we take too long, the monster will keep moving, and I'll miss."

"Zahha and I will hold it. Please trust us and use your magic, Mary-sama."

"What if I fail again... and hurt Safina again..."

In the midst of our conversation, I remembered Safina being blown away and felt a painful tightening in my chest.

"It's okay, trust us."

Magilka's calm and gentle smile, and Safina's firm grip on our hands, reassured me.

(Trust...)

Those words ignited a spark in my weak heart.

(Trust everyone and focus on what I need to do.)

The spark grew stronger.

I looked around at everyone and nodded firmly.

"I'll try."

Everyone nodded in response.

"Good luck, Miss."

Tütte, who had stepped back from Magilka, straightened up and offered me my sword, which she had picked up.

"Thank you. I'll do my best."

I took it and smiled.

We faced the monster again.

Zahha was in front, followed by Safina, then me, and finally Magilka, who was supported by Tütte. The monster seemed to ignore us, attacking anyone in its path, causing chaos in the hall. The attacks from the senior students led by Karlis lacked the power to break through the monster's membrane, and most of the damage was superficial. Even the spells were either nullified or avoided.

"So, what's the plan? I'll follow your lead."

"Zahha, knock the monster out of the air. Then, I'll immobilize it with my magic. After that, Mary-sama and Safina will finish it off."

We all nodded at Magilka's instructions.

(Come on, come on, I'm so nervous. Calm down, calm down, me.)

I took several deep breaths, and Magilka's hand gently rested on my shoulder.

"It's okay. We're here for you."

Her gentle voice from behind reassured me, and I placed my hand on hers, looking around at everyone. My anxious feelings began to calm.

"Right, let's do this!"

"Let's go!"

Zahha barked in response to my voice and charged at the monster without hesitation.

(Focus, focus. Imagine five Sonic Blades... stay calm... stay calm.)

Unlike during the match, I was calm and focused now.

(Everyone will create the opportunity. I just need to focus on my role!)

"Senpai Karlis, stand back! We're attacking!"

Zahha shouted to the senior students, who were in the middle of the battle. The monster, reacting to his presence, turned to attack him. Zahha blocked the attacks with his sword and shield and continued to close the distance.

"Earth Wall!"

With Magilka's powerful command, an earth wall rose in front of Zahha. He used it as a stepping stone, probably having coordinated the timing with a communication spell.

Zahha jumped higher than the floating monster and flew towards it. The monster, not about to let this go, continued its attacks. Zahha blocked them all with his shield, which was now cracking in several places.

"I'll return all your attacks! Shield Dispel!"

With Zahha's shout, his shield glowed, and a massive shockwave hit the monster from above. The ground beneath it caved in, and the monster was slammed into the ground. At the same time, his shield began to crack and shatter.

"Magilkaaaa!"

Unable to withstand the shockwave from his aerial attack, Zahha was blown back, passing the baton to Magilka. She stepped away from Tütte and glared at the monster on the ground.

"O gloves of Rebecular, imbue me with the light of ascension! Draw upon my flesh and blood!"

Magilka's glove, raised to the sky, began to glow.

"Thousand Crystal Edge!"

In response to Magilka's shout, a magic circle appeared on the ground where the monster lay. From it, thick, long ice spikes rose, piercing the monster. The spikes continued to grow, freezing the monster and pinning it to the ground.

"Now, Mary-sama, Safina!"

Magilka passed the baton to us.

"Let's do it! Safina!"

"Right! Mary-sama!"

We responded to Magilka's call with loud voices.

"Nine Blade Cross!"

With a powerful command, I swung my sword forcefully.

"Accelerate!"

The sword wave that emerged from my swing split into five, each arcing towards the target. Safina followed closely behind.

The monster's eyeballs turned to Safina, but it was too late. The now accelerated Safina was beyond the monster's reach.

"Cross!"

With Safina's shout, a high-pitched screech filled the hall, followed by a delayed shockwave. I instinctively closed my eyes.

A few moments later, the chaotic surroundings were enveloped in silence. I opened my eyes and looked at where the monster had been.

There, in the place where the monster had been, Tütte, who had drawn her sword, was watching as the remains of the monster turned into glittering particles of light and disappeared.

"Did we do it? Oops, no, no, no, I almost set a bad flag."

I swallowed the words that almost slipped out and looked at Magilka behind me. She was standing, supported by Tütte, her face very pale, clearly having pushed herself too hard. Still, she smiled and nodded at me.

"Mary-sama! We did it!"

Safina, who had tackled me from behind, hugged me in joy. Unprepared for the impact, I fell forward, bumping into Magilka, who was in front of me.

"Kyaaaaa!"

The three of us, in a domino effect, fell on top of each other. Tütte, who had been standing next to Magilka, quickly stepped back to avoid the fall. Traitor, Tütte.

"Sa-Safina, you're being too enthusiastic."

"Hehe, sorry."

Magilka, who was at the bottom, protested, and Safina, who was on top, blushed and apologized. Incidentally, I was currently enjoying Magilka's chest cushion.

"...So soft..."

I moved my head, savoring the softness.

"Wh-What are you doing, Mary-sama!"

Magilka, who had been pale a moment ago, turned red all the way to her ears and looked at me.

"You guys are... so energetic..."

Zahha, dragging his battered shield, approached us with a bemused expression.

(Ah, I'm so tired... mentally exhausted... and I have a good pillow... I can't... I need to sleep...)

The tension snapped, and I fell asleep right there.

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