Chapter 12

From the beginning, I should have provoked that spider.

The options were either to abandon the territory and flee deeper into the snowy mountains, a complete defeat, or to show ourselves while fleeing and aim to defeat or disengage them one by one. Because of Akari, I was forced to choose between these two options.

The former was something Yuki-shiro disliked, and the latter was something Kurando was worried about. We don't know what kinds of magic exist. There might be capture-specific magic or speed-enhancing magic.

While spirit magic, which is generally versatile and powerful in simple firepower, is based on the power of spirits to 'interfere' with the world, autonomous magic is said to 'deceive' the world temporarily with its own power. It uses a very complex and intricate method to transform magical power into magic.

With spirits, as long as the magical power and will are properly conveyed, incantations are unnecessary, but with autonomous magic, incantations are almost essential, and equipment such as wands and rings is also necessary. The efficiency of magical power is such that what spirit magic can do with one unit of magical power, autonomous magic requires a hundred units. Therefore, the difference in ability often depends on the amount of magical power the user has.

Spirit magic is generally easy to learn and can be used by anyone, regardless of aptitude, while autonomous magic is very expensive in terms of rituals and equipment and takes a long time to learn, so it can only be used by a select few. While spirit magic can summon and use water itself, the 'water arrows' created by autonomous magic disappear after use. There is a debate about whether water came first or water spirits, but the ability to handle actual substances is useful in many ways.

The fact that spirit magic has been superior in every aspect for over two hundred years, changing the ruling class of the world, is clear. However, the reason why autonomous magic, which is still excellent and has been passed down through the generations, has been developed into simple autonomous magic and is now beginning to permeate general society, is one.

Autonomous magic can 'deceive' the world. While spirit magic can only do what aligns with the world's laws and one's perception of the world, autonomous magic can temporarily ignore the world's laws as long as the method is established. For example, the famous 'magical power arrow' in Kurando's world cannot be done with spirit magic. Spirits, which exist by consuming magical power, cannot understand it. This supernatural power was the strength of the nobility and royalty in the world before spirit magic was established, and it helped them establish their status. Even now, some old nobles and a few magicians keep it secret and pass it down to their descendants. Therefore, it's not an exaggeration to say that we don't know what kinds of magic exist.

Kurando, who knew this from a magic textbook, was worried and stopped the idea of showing ourselves in battle. The two options were eliminated.

The two of us returned to the cave in silence.

There was no way to come up with a clever plan. Kurando thought aimlessly. If we can't move, we should use something other than ourselves. However, that would mean losing control. We can't just kill indiscriminately...

Traps... a seasoned hunter wouldn't fall for them. Besides, our existence would be revealed. No, even if it's revealed, it might not be a problem, but it wouldn't be effective. Is it okay for our existence to be revealed? No, but...

As Kurando's thoughts began to circle, something caught his attention. It caught and suddenly 'melted' away.

Control, killing indiscriminately. That's not right.

It was an unconscious restriction of Kurando's. When the two options were eliminated, why didn't he think of this simple method?

The lives of strangers don't need to be considered. Kurando was trying to adhere to some human ethics from Earth, even though he had fled from that society, couldn't adapt to it, and had questioned its ethics. After all, they are attacking us; being attacked is part of a hunter's resolve. There's no need to talk about excessive defense.

Kurando felt a sense of gratitude towards his parent monster and Yuki-shiro, even though he had chosen to come to the snowy mountain alone. Even though he had something to do, it helped to alleviate his loneliness and live together. Surprisingly, it wasn't bad. He felt a sense of his own lack in the fact that the other was not human, but that was something he couldn't change. He didn't intend to hate humans. After all, he himself was human. Therefore,

It's not about weighing humans against monsters. It's not about taking the side of the monsters. It's just about not forgetting to be on Yuki-shiro's side.

"I'll provoke the spider."

Yuki-shiro, who seemed to be getting hungry, looked puzzled. The spider is probably a rival for prey for Yuki-shiro, an Ilneek. Kurando thought there might be something between the two as the apex predators of this land, but apparently not. Yuki-shiro just tapped Kurando's crossed legs with her tail.

The next day, Yuki-shiro easily brought Akari back. Before leaving, Kurando had asked her to bring Akari back unharmed if she thought it was okay. It seems she brought her back.

"Thanks."

As Kurando took Akari and put her on his shoulder, he patted Yuki-shiro's head. Yuki-shiro slipped away but walked towards the cave with her tail held high, clearly in a good mood but not being honest about it.

Akari woke up and sat up. The sun had already set, and a fire spirit was floating and flickering in the hearth. Kurando sat across from Akari, brushing Yuki-shiro as usual.

"Is... is she alive?"

"Hmm? Yeah, she's alive."

Akari turned to the sudden voice.

"Wait... why is the giant thorn spider... no, that's an Ilneek... who is this?"

She was confused. Yuki-shiro reacted to Akari's voice with a twitch but then stretched out on the ground, completely ignoring her as Kurando continued brushing her.

"Ah... uh, janitor...?"

Surprisingly, Akari remembered Kurando. He had taken a bath, shaved his beard with a knife, and trimmed his hair with a knife, but it had grown longer than when he was in Japan, so he thought Kurando wouldn't recognize him.

Kurando, of course, remembered her. They would greet each other when they saw each other in the morning and evening, just a casual acquaintance. They didn't know each other's names, just a new student and a janitor, nothing more.

But it was something to remember. The fact that Akari wasn't killed by the giant thorn spider was partly because Kurando couldn't abandon someone he knew.

Such a first meeting between Kurando and the summoner wasn't worth much, and Yuki-shiro yawned widely.