Act 2-46 - 《Airla》

Chapter 46 : 《Airla》

I relied on the light of the demon core of Beelzera as I walked along the wall of the demon labyrinth to go back to my comrades.

I stopped my gait when I heard the sound of footsteps coming from the passage in front of me.

I raised my vigilance since I’m literally doomed if I met the escaped grey cultist in my current situation… but, lowered it at once when I saw that Mani and Edda were the ones who came for me.

Fresh blood was flowing down from Edda’s face to her shoulder.

「Thanks god… you’re safe, Dean.」

Mani spoke while readjusting her breath.

「… Even if he’s alive, we’re still doomed to die without Childick.」

Edda shut her eyes as she spoke while wiing the blood on her cheek.

「T-That wound… are you okay?」

「It’s not my blood. That persistent guy spurted blood after I killed him for real. Rather than that, where’s that bas*tard right now? I’m gonna drag him back after I decapitated both his legs.」

Edda asked while swinging her sword to the side, getting rid of the blood on her sword’s blade.

S-So tough…

Well, Edda might really be able to catch up with Childick.

「… Childick has escaped but no need to go after him anymore. I.. somehow managed to get matter magic. That is why please match your story with me.」

「What do you mean?」

Edda wore a bewildered look on her face upon hearing my remark.

「I stole Childick’s 《Airla》. Let me tell you before that, it’s 《Beelzera》’s power.」

「… Then, it means that guy won’t be able to leave the 4th floor without his matter magic. Hah, serves him right!」

Edda shifted her attention toward the passage behind me.

「But Dean… can you use magic in your current condition? I mean, even I can see that your odo has already been exhausted…」

「Honestly… I doubt I can use it. I’ve been forcing myself to surpass my limit twice. But since our life depends on it, I guess I’ve no choice but to use it with my current condition.」

After I finished speaking, I felt that power was leaving my body and my line of sight became blurred.

Mani caught me in a hurry.

「L-Look, don’t force yourself. It’ll take a long time to lead so many people out of the 4th floor. There’s no way you can clear all the miasma by yourself during this time.」

… She was right, it’ll take a long time to lead so many people to leave this place.

Since the hostages have no fighting spirit, we couldn’t force them to run inside the dangerous demon labyrinth.

「Moreover… I think the other adventurers will start suspecting you when you suddenly can use matter magic after you chased after Childick. Their instinct will realize that.」

… The more Mani spoke, the more I realized just how reckless I was.

Though I could tell them that I could use 《Airla》 from the very beginning, they’re bound to doubt me since if I really had Airla from the very beginning, why should I risk my life to go after Childick, who was more powerful than me, by myself?

The sharper one would realize the secret of 《Beelzera》 as long as they saw my battle against bishop Ornoa.

In the first place, the magic that was compatible with 《Beelzera》 was Tulpa, Curse, Attack Magic, and Summon magic.

To use 《Airla》 which I stole from Childick, I have to borrow another enchanted weapon which is compatible with matter magic.

Thus, no matter what kind of reason I used to deceive them, they’re bound to suspect me.

「But, there’s another way to avoid such situation…」

Mani spoke after pondering for a while.

「… Can you transfer 《Airla》 to me? I’m not that exhausted from the previous battle, and my 《Gadras》 is compatible with matter magic. That way we should be able to prepare a valid reason and clear suspicion toward Dean.」

「Yeah… that’s a much better plan.」

… I knew that I wouldn’t be able to maintain 《Airla》 for a long time in my current condition.

Mani should be able to use 《Beelzera》 to steal 《Airla》 from me.

『Muuh… I promised that I will only help Dean. Stop treating me like handy tool to transfer something, that will make this mistress depressed.』

Beelzebub was complaining in my mind.

「Sorry but can you lend her your power just this once? we’ve to do this to survive.」

『Okay then… but, rather than saying that this mistress is allowing it, it’s more like…』

… So it comes to this again huh, this must be her goal from the very beginning.

「… If we survived this ordeal and returned to Romburgh alive, I’ll double your portion plus extra.」

『YAAAAAAAAY! THIS MISTRESS WILL REMEMBER YOUR PROMISE! YOU BETTER NOT FORGET YOUR CONTRACT WITH THIS MISTRESS!』

The former ruler of 《Orgol》 was as cheap as ever huh.

We’ve to finish the transfer of the magic before the other adventurers arrive.

I gave 《Beelzera》 to Mani, and told her to take 《Airla》 from inside my body.

「So I… just need to inject my mana, and cut you with the sword’s blade, right?」

『Yup. It’ll be much easier at the location closest to battle bone, it’s just around the abdomen.』

Mani injected her mana into 《Beelzera》 and pointed its tip toward my abdomen.

Her hand was trembling.

『What are you waiting for!? It’s just a small cut! Humans with a high level won’t die that easily!』

「Mani… we’re running out of time, finish it quickly. It gets scarier the longer I see you holding the sword like that you know!」

「I know already… b-but, I can’t stay calm when I think that I’m going to hurt you, Dean. S-Sorry, I never knew that I’ve to stab you with your own sword to take the magic.」

Her voice was trembling too.

I understand her feelings, I mean… The same thing might happen to me if our position was reversed.

「Enough with your public display of affection. Oi Smithy girl, lend me your arm. I’ll help you do your job.」

Edda seized Mani’s arm from behind.

Mani turned around to look at Edda as she raised a small scream.

She was crying.

「He’ll die if you apply too much strength into the sword!」

「I-I know that! I’ll do it! That’s why let go off my hand, Edda-san!」

「Allow me to tell you this, I’m more adept than you when it comes to using a sword. That’s why let me show you the safest place to stab him which won’t hurt him more than necessary. Relax your shoulder, things will get really bad if you mess up.」

Edda helped Mani to raise the latter’s trembling arms.

It was a stiff posture no matter how I looked at it.

Just like that, 《Beelzera》’s trembled blade stabbed into my abdomen.

… And done, the 《Airla》 transferred into Mani without a hitch.

After coiling some bandage to stop my bleeding, I was walking along the demon labyrinth’s passage while leaning on Mani’s shoulder.

「S-Sorry, I’m really sorry, Dean.」

「Don’t mind it Mani, it isn’t your fault…」

「Yeah. It’s just a necessary caution. No need to fuss over that matter.」

… Even if it is just for a show, I hope that she at least shows some worries about my condition.