Kays Translations

Chapter 19: The Apprentice

After that, my father knocked on the hut door several more times, but the blacksmith remained silent and did not come out.

“Hmm. This is turning into a battle of wills…”

With a grim face, my father let out a deep sigh. While the letter had some effect, there was clearly something more urgent at play… But what was it?

Without the blacksmith talking, we had no idea what the pressing issue was. When I mentioned the word “fairyland,” his face turned deathly pale, so perhaps the urgency was related to the Sanctuary.

Or maybe I was just trying to make sense of things to suit my own understanding.

I took a few deep breaths to reset my thoughts. Then, I turned my gaze back to the well from which the monster had emerged.

“Hey, Dad. Why was that monster so stubborn?”

“It’s because the magic power is dense here. For both humans and monsters, magic power is life force. Here, where the magic power is dense, it’s hard for anything to die.”

“…I see.”

I wasn’t sure whether to be pleased or find it troublesome.

Indeed, when I used magic earlier, its power was enhanced. Healing magic would probably be more effective too. However, even so, I doubted that a human could survive being decapitated and cut in half. Only monsters could manage that.

Humans couldn’t survive such injuries.

Well, in any case. Monsters being tenacious is nothing new.

Even the Raikou Doji survived catching the ‘Falling Star’ with its bare hands.

Raikou Dojiwas a ‘Sixth Rank’ monster, so perhaps that’s why it was so tough. If that’s the case, then in a place with dense magic power like this, it wouldn’t be surprising to encounter similarly resilient monsters.

Feeling somewhat dejected, my father let out a deep breath of resignation.

“Let’s report this to Kamirazuki for now.”

“Are we going back to the inn?”

“Yes. For now, we need to have a strategy meeting.”

Reluctantly, my father turned around. We had come here after cutting our sightseeing short, but it seemed we had no other choice. I followed behind him.

Aya-chan and Nina-chan looked like they wanted to say something but ended up saying nothing as they followed us onto the mountain path.

They were silent, their faces showing frustration. It seemed they were angry but had no one to direct their anger at.

Well, I understood their feelings. The blacksmith had refused our requests twice in a short time without explaining why.

Nina-chan, in particular, must have been frustrated. She had steeled herself, only to be rebuffed by the blacksmith.

With these complicated feelings, we got into my father’s car. He started the engine, stepped on the accelerator, and we drove off.

As we transitioned from a two-lane road to a one-lane path covered in fallen leaves without guardrails,

“…!?”

A one-eyed boy stood in the middle of the road.

My father slammed on the brakes, and I simultaneously started weaving ‘Guiding Thread Silvate.’

“Flame Spear!”

Exhaling, I released a flaming spear towards the one-eyed boy. However, he moved his hands as if weaving something and leapt into the air, avoiding the magic.

Watching this, I gritted my teeth.

…I can’t see the ‘Guiding Thread Silvate.’

It’s because of the ‘Magic Blocker’ lens I made to secure my vision.

I adjusted the cut rate using ‘Attribute Change’ and looked back. I could faintly see the thread’s trail in the air. Following it, I saw the boy using the thread to swing through the trees.

…Alright, I can see it. The ‘Guiding Thread Silvate.’

As I inwardly pumped my fist, the boy manipulating the ‘Guiding Thread Silvate’ landed silently.

Seizing that moment, I cast my spell.

“Wind Blade!”

“Wah!”

The invisible blade I created cut the monster’s legs and body. With its movements restricted, I wove my next spell.

As soon as I started weaving, the monster reached out toward me.

“Hey, wait, let’s talk! We can understand each other if we talk!”

“Flame Spear!”

“Whoa, close one!”

In an instant, the flaming spear I released gouged the ground, causing an explosion. The monster dodged by rolling on the ground but couldn’t completely avoid it and was blown away by the blast. Its battered body bounced several times before coming to a stop.

A moment later, my father pulled the car over.

I tore off my seatbelt and leaped out of the car.

This time, I wouldn’t miss. As I prepared the ‘Guiding Thread Silvate,’ the monster screamed again.

“What kind of education makes you use magic on someone you just met!?”  

“You’re a monster, aren’t you?” 

“Wait, you called me a ‘monster’ using the Western term for ‘demon’? That’s cool…”

Is this really the time for that?

“No, that’s not the point! Yes, I am a monster. I used to be quite the troublemaker, but—” 

“See?” 

“But now I’ve been tamed! I’m practically human!”

I didn’t understand his logic at all. As I prepared to use ‘Guiding Thread Silvate’ to banish the monster, he screamed again.

“This isn’t the time to fight! If I’m awake, it means ‘Kanmuki’ has stopped working. If we don’t do something, the monsters from the other side will come here!” 

“……..?”

The monster’s words made no sense, but that was nothing new. Still, I couldn’t help but feel that he wasn’t just babbling nonsense this time.

“What happens if the monsters come over here? Will it be a problem?” 

“Of course it will! My master will yell at me! I’m just a lackey meant to wake up and work in emergencies!” 

“You mean, like a familiar?”

“That’s it! As expected, you’re quite knowledgeable! I knew you were smart from the first glance!”

Before I could process his words, the monster vigorously slammed his head into the ground in a bow.

“Please, I’m begging you! Hold off on using your magic. There’s supposed to be a swordsmith living around here. Please, show me the way!”

I’ve encountered many monsters before, but this was the first time one bowed to me.

Moreover, the monster wasn’t weaving ‘Guiding Thread Silvate.’

“…What happens if we don’t show you the way?”  

“The monsters from the other side will come here. But that’s not all. The balance on the other side has already been disrupted. We need to restore it quickly. Time is of the essence.”

The monster shouted, still bowing.

“What happens if the balance isn’t restored?”  

“The moment the other side touches this world, they’ll merge. If that happens, it’s over. A lot of people will die!”

The monster’s voice seemed sincere.

“And what exactly is this ‘other side’ you’re talking about?”

As soon as I asked, the one-eyed boy looked up and answered with a serious expression.

“The other side means the fairyland.”

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