Chapter 32

〈 Chapter 32 〉 Reflection (3)

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#10

Crackle——

The sound didn't come from far away. If it was that vivid, it meant it was quite close.

The view was pitch dark. After summoning a faint spark with the little mana I had, I used it as a light to push through the underbrush.

Even though the leaves were withered, they were still sharp, and every time they touched my bare skin, they left cuts and blood droplets.

This level of pain was nothing.

I had already given up too much, and for that reason, I had to pay a higher price.

Rather, the small pains piled up and held my wavering mind firmly, making this situation much better.

“Open! Open! ——Piercing cold, come forth!!”

I quickly crossed the eerie forest.

A voice came from nearby.

Beyond some bushes, I saw a man in a gray coat shouting and casting a spell.

Whoom—

After a long incantation.

A powerful mana wave spread out.

Squeeeak—!

A blue, cold light magic circle unfolded in layers, and from the man's outstretched palm, a massive ice wedge was formed and launched forward with explosive force.

Kagagagang——!

The ice mass, which seemed to pierce through everything in front of it.

Soon stopped in mid-air, and from its sharpest tip, it shattered in vain.

“Damn... Damn...!”

The man, who looked anxious, now wrapped his hands in blue mana.

Kiiiiing——

A light far more intense than the mana I had generated burst forth, and the man, gritting his teeth, swung the high-purity mana wrapped around his hands toward the empty space where the ice had just shattered.

Kwaahaaaang—!!

A deafening roar echoed.

A terrifying power that could crush rocks. If I had been hit by that blow, I probably wouldn't have survived.

...But.

The man failed to achieve his goal.

“Haa, haa... Cough...”

The man, who had been hit by the explosive power, was not unscathed.

With blood streaming from his torn palms, he realized his futile efforts and panted, collapsing to the ground.

“Why, why is this happening...”

The man suddenly turned to his right.

“...You...?”

There I was.

Shaking eyes. Light blond hair. A finely featured young man. A face that was exactly the same as the person I had seen on a winter day. The name I had vaguely heard during the graduation speech also stuck in my memory.

He was a senior of the Magic Department, Rubya.

Shuriel de La Parte.

I didn't look down at Shuriel.

For some reason, my mind was very calm. I might just feel that way. Nothing was certain.

Without looking at Shuriel, I directed my gaze to where his mana had exploded and quietly asked him.

“Are you Shuriel de La Parte, a graduate of Lorson Academy?”

“...Yes, but...”

Shuriel, who had furrowed his brow trying to understand the situation, then said to me.

“And you... You must be a second-year... no, now a third-year in the Integrated Department. Egidio Crani, right?”

“...Yes?”

I was surprised to hear my name from Shuriel, something I had never dreamed of.

“Ah, someone else? Did I mistake you? I'm sorry.”

“No, that's me. But... how do you know my name...”

Shuriel and I had no connection. We had never met in the academy.

I had only seen Shuriel properly during the graduation speech at the beginning of the year. Yet, it was quite remarkable that he could say my name just by looking at my face.

Shuriel, in pain, said.

He was looking to the side, just like me.

“...You might not believe me, but your friend Rubya is in there.”

“...”

“While preparing for the retreat, she was taken here by those with horns on their heads, and they cast that strange barrier... and took her inside. ...I'm sorry. I was right there, but I couldn't protect your friend and my junior. It's all my fault. Even if I had ten mouths, I have no excuse...”

“...”

Indeed, it was the Rubya I knew.

But the reason he mentioned her as my friend was strange, yet I somehow understood.

There was only one reason.

...Shuriel must have heard about me from Rubya at some point.

To the extent that he could recognize me just by seeing my face, he must have been shown a photo and explained in detail.

“...”

That's not important now.

I picked out the key points from Shuriel's words.

When he said "those with horns on their heads."

He must be talking about demons.

As expected, the situation is serious.

...Extremely.

To my knowledge, Shuriel de La Parte was the top graduate of the Magic Department last year. Recognized for his intelligence and excellence, he was supposed to enter the youngest rank of the Asha's Star mages this year.

It was a terrifying place where even most high-level graduates failed at the second stage of the exam. Shuriel, who passed all the exams, was indeed a top-notch mage.

Even Shuriel couldn't break through the barrier.

Then,

There's nothing I can do here.

...I won't despair.

“It's not your fault, senior.”

I started lightly.

“Now is not the time to blame each other. We don't know what's happening to Rubya, who was taken by the demons, do we?”

“...I know. But it just won't break. The demon's barrier has such an unconventional structure... I can't even attempt to break it with the knowledge I have. The power is far beyond my mana. There's nothing I can do...”

I understand his feelings. Shuriel, being smarter and more capable than me, quickly realized that there was no possibility of breaking the barrier and fell into despair.

But he probably doesn't want to give up. The way he clenched his fists and remained silent was proof of that.

“...I'm sorry to involve you, an academy junior, in this. But there's no way now. We need to leave as quickly as possible and seek help from the temple. There's nothing more we can do...”

“That won't do.”

“...”

Tap, tap.

I passed the fallen Shuriel.

After standing on the muddy ground where the created ice had melted, I faced the shimmering barrier as Shuriel had described.

Crackle—

“...Cough!”

It seemed to surround a certain radius.

Though completely transparent, if I touched it even slightly, an inexplicable spark would jump and hinder my actions. It felt like being burned by fire. Wrapping my burning fingers, I stared beyond the barrier.

A pond was faintly glowing in the darkness.

Centered around the pond in the forest, a semi-circular barrier was shimmering around it.

“There's no way, right?”

Shuriel muttered from behind.

He's not wrong. With my pea-sized mana, I can't even scratch this barrier.

If I try to force a scratch, I'll end up with a worse injury. If this keeps repeating, I'll eventually die.

So, as Shuriel said, everything is meaningless.

...But.

“There's nothing we can do, right?”

“...”

My voice was trembling a little.

Everything Shuriel said is true.

I can't help but believe it.

This unpleasant sensation is something I've never experienced before.

My shoulders and hands are trembling with pitch-black fear, and I feel like turning around and running away at any moment.

Everyone is overwhelmed by fear when faced with death. It's incredibly scary. If I don't run away from here, I'll be the one to die first.

No, at least I can save myself.

It would be best to escape from here and seek help from the temple, as Shuriel suggested, and leave Rubya's rescue to them.

Whatever is happening inside, there's nothing we can do here and now. That's the right thing to do.

It's the most appropriate course of action given the current situation, and no one can blame us for it—

...These thoughts,

are all worthless.

“Someone, Rubya... will die. If we run away from here.”

I cleared my mind.

I'm not as smart as Shuriel.

I don't have the ability to judge the situation as calmly and objectively as anyone else.

I've always been more emotional than rational, and that has caused me many problems.

I'm a useless person who lacks the talent and ability to solve this situation and live a smooth life.

A human trash that will naturally be eliminated from society if left alone.

That was Egidio Crani, the only son of the Crani noble family, and in this urgent situation, a man who is of no help to anyone and is a nuisance to those around him.

Yes.

“...”

This me.

—Miu loved.

Miu was waiting for me outside.

...Miu once told me.

About three months after we became lovers.

Anyone would be curious.

Why does she love someone like me, someone she is so enthusiastic about and wants to give everything to?

Especially when the object of such affection is just someone like me, it's impossible not to be curious about the reason.

—Hmm? Once you fall in love, everything becomes good, you know?

While sharing a sandwich on the back stairs after sunset, Miu started with her usual face.

—...If I say that, it sounds too common, so let me think of something specific. Hmm, um, hmm... Ah, I'm not trying to find something that doesn't exist. I'm just trying to pick one out of so many, you know?

—Ah, this is it. Since the first year, when I was stalking my senior...

—My senior never gives up.

—It's completely relentless. She tries everything she can, and if it doesn't work, she lets it go. But she doesn't just let it go. If there's a possibility, she tries again, right? I've never seen anyone as persistent as my senior. It's really frustrating to watch.

—Even though it wasn't like that in the past, my senior is like that now. I first met my senior last year. Do you know what I thought then?

—Wow... Can someone like that even fall in love? That was the first thought that came to mind. Hehe.

—...I'm not insulting you. You know, right?

—I fell for such a senior, and now I'm feeding her sandwiches. I'm the happiest with my senior. Truly.

I still remember that radiant smile.

If that was the reason Miu started to like me.

If the only valuable and small point in me, who would be empty if turned upside down and shaken, was that.

If that was my only strength.

I, as I always have...

This time too, I can do nothing but this.

Kwaahang—!

“...! What, stop it!”

Shuriel shouted from behind.

The roar momentarily deafened my ears. Clenching my teeth and enveloped in a faint mana, I charged and collided with the barrier.

Then, a burning heat spread from my right shoulder to my waist.

Did I get burned?

The skin under the scorched clothes was painfully hot, but I didn't give up and tried again.

Kwaahang—!

“Egidio Crani!”

“...Gah.”

This time, a strong groan escaped my lips. The impact was doubled as I hit an already injured spot.

Wiping the blood flowing from the corner of my mouth, I panted and placed my hand on the ground.

There's no particular reason for this.

When Shuriel tried to break the barrier with magic earlier, I saw the barrier momentarily open and shimmer before returning to its original form.

So, I thought that if I enveloped my whole body in mana and collided, I might be absorbed into the temporarily opened barrier.

Of course... the result was insignificant.

My mana was ridiculously insufficient. It can't even compare to Shuriel's. Even Shuriel only managed to create a small hole the size of a finger.

Naturally, this was no different from just colliding with the barrier with my bare body. I knew that well.

Kwaahang—!

Even if Shuriel followed my actions, it probably wouldn't work. The barrier was far more solid than imagined. So, my current actions were meaningless, like running towards death.

This was already the third collision, and I was receiving a dizzying shock that made my head spin.

Shuriel shouted urgently.

“