2-4 What Appeared

"Everyone, attention!”

It was late afternoon in the midst of a beautiful sunny day, and a voice that pierced the tension of those who heard it focused the ears of the group that had formed a circle and lined up.

The majority of them were dressed in tight military uniforms, but there were a few in plain clothes as if to add a speckled pattern to the all-black landscape. The age range of the people was quite diverse, and it was clear that Lefilia was not exaggerating when she said that she had selected the most talented magicians from among all the people, including the military.

In each person's hand was a magic tool filled with golden water that had already been obtained from contact with the Boundary.

The amount of water that was fixed by the magic tools was adjusted according to the amount of magic power each person possessed.

The number of people matched as many magic tools as they had mass-produced and each had a sphere the size of two open hands on average, but Lefilia's and Leon's were more than twice that size and Chris's was so big that it could fit in a hut. The length of the handle, which was designed to be variable, also made it look like a clothesline.

In the experiment, it was best to have a large amount of water, but as the amount of water increased, more magic had to be deployed to lift the huge mass. As the burden increases, it was Lefilia’s idea not to force people to use magic more than they do regularly.

“Well everyone, this operation is a dream that has been constantly put on the table, but has been repeatedly withdrawn. I, myself, was not convinced, so I have carried out irregular operations and have been made to taste the bitter reality.”

At the center of the circle of people, there was a pond-like structure surrounded by some kind of processed stone wall, which must have been hastily constructed by digging up the ground. In the sky above the pond, Lefilia was making hand gestures with her eloquence.

The fact that her body was trembling in various places was not due to fear or elation. It was simply that she was not accustomed to using advanced wind magic to control her body movements in the air.

“But! I believe that today is the perfect opportunity for us to overthrow this evil! The holy knight Christia and Leonhard, the poster child of magic! The two royalty of Fermina, our allies, have come to our side to help us with our hesitation. If we don't call this an opportunity, what can we accomplish?”

There was no roar in sync with the agitated voice of Lefilia. Hot gazes that carried boiling magic power were simply directed straight at Lefilia in the sky.

Behind the scenes, Leon and Chris were blushing in a different way. There was no way they could deny that they had come here for the exact opposite purpose of helping. In fact, Lefilia's words could be said to be a way to calm down the commotion, even more so.

Nodding to the changes in the atmosphere that only humans who are capable of exercising magic could perceive, Lefilia adjusted her posture in the air.

“...... Okay. Everything will be as planned. After the pond is filled with the water, you guys will flank it and deploy protective magic from above. I do not know what will happen after that. Therefore, I have only one command to give."

Lefilia’s left arm, which had pierced the sky, swung down loosely. A glowing drop spilled like a raindrop from the tip of the magic tool held in the right hand.

“Survive! No matter what. That's all!"

The response to the will was expressed not by voice, but by action. First Leon and Chris, who set their feet on the ground a little later, stopped the magic power flowing from their clenched palms to the magic tools. The pattern of the magic tool that was shining a faint light was silenced and the water ball that was grasped ahead of it fell vertically following that of Lefilia’s.

“Lunar Limdar!!”

The words of the chant, casted without a lingering breath, overlapped with the sound of the water that had fallen and burst. In an instant, a light blue film unfolded around the pond, bouncing the droplets back into the pond as they dispersed with great force. The reverberations of the voice and the sound of water were cut off and an eerie silence took over the air of the place.

“...... Nothing is happening.”

Lefilia, who was watching the situation from the sky, softly landed on the ground. From the bright water surface that was silent without a single ripple, something like a mist of a similar color rises. At the moment, this mist is still a borderline infant”, but it will grow in direct proportion to the volume of water and eventually form a wall of light that penetrates the sky like the mainstream borderline.

“The magic doesn’t seem to have disappeared. ...... Christia, how do you see it?”

“...... It's very faint, but I can feel the same light as the borderline.”

“That's fine. I'm sorry, but I need you to take over the deployment of protective magic and monitoring. I think I'll let them rest for now.”

“Yes, of course.”

Lefilia smiled contentedly and led the rest to the resting place that had been set up for them, treating those feeling hazy and feeling of fatigued. Chris and Leon, who were left behind, looked at each other absentmindedly and then quickly turned their gaze to the pond.

Suddenly, Leon turned his head as if he had noticed something. Chris, who had been opposing Lefilia with her sword, was stroking the sword sheath at her waist with her mouth half open, looking uncomfortable.

“Isn’t it okay if we just a wait-and-observe?”

"No, no…. that's not…”

While saying that with her hand on the hilt. This is the moment when her reason which defied Lefilia's investigation broke its knees in unconcealed curiosity and interest.

With a shrug of his shoulders and a wry smile, Leon made a gesture to cover his mouth as Lefilia came running back. Looking at Chris' elated profile, who was holding the twin swords she had borrowed from Sage, Lefilia also smiled as if she understood.

The smiling scene of the two elders watching over the innocent younger one soon came to an end. It was just after the sword, which had begun to glow from the magical power that had been poured into it, faintly touched the mist that was rising, as if to represent the inscription “Dull fire fly”.

"......Hmm?"

The first person to notice the change was Leon. He anxiously frowns and looks at Lefilia, who tilts her head.

“Lefilia, did you say something?”

“No? Did you hear something?”

......Oh......Su......

The question was answered by Lefilia herself. The protective magic, cast at a speed bordering on reflex, was the natural and best precautionary action of anyone who could use it.

"Chris! Stay away from that-----"

......Chaos......!

There was no longer any doubt that it was a faint human voice.

They didn't need to check the source. In front of Chris, who had already prepared for battle, the surface of the pond erupted with a bubbling sound and quickly took on the shape of a distorted person.

“Chaos ......”

The part that protruded like an arm trembled slightly and extended toward Chris.

"Chris…...!"

“Don't come!"

As soon as she shouted, Chris leapt into the air, covered with wind. The monster that had appeared from the pond made a noise like a roar and chased after Chris as she flew up. When it saw that it couldn't reach her by just reaching out, it crawled out of the pond, expanding its volume and stood on its own.

"The target is me! Get everyone out of here first!”

Leon looked up, but his gaze was blocked by a powerful arm that tore through the air, drowning out Chris' trajectory.

“Leon, you should give priority to directing your own troops.”

Lefilia's keen eyes flashed from behind her recovered military cap.  Her sword that doubles as a magic tool had already been released.

“I'm not going to do anything rash. I don't have the sensitivity to see the beauty in dying.”

With a frown on her face, Lefilia smiled a little embarassed.

“Don't worry about my army. In anticipation of the unexpected, we have set up our resting place on higher ground. The water on the border does not go against the gradient.”

Leon opened his mouth to say something, but Lefilia preempted him and concluded her words. His gaze slid to the pond and with a rugged profile, Leon silently turned on his heels.

"...... Well..." (Lefilia)

The contingency plan was always there from the planning stage. But when it happens right in front of your eyes, you can't help but think twice.

It probably wouldn't be too difficult to get rid of that monster. Once the enclosure of the pond is broken down, the water will flow along the slope to the border and nothing will be left behind. If it was born from the magic power that was put into the pond, that should solve the problem.

“The question is, what will Christia say? ......”

It was a rumour often heard by knights  that the princess of Fermina, ChrIstia Fermina, is a fighting maniac who has no regard for her status. However, most people can't mix the words "princess" and "battle fanatic" and the information is only as valuable as sake(alchohol).

Those who have actually witnessed her battle remember the rumors the first time and turn their suspicions into convictions the second time. The rumors of "humans different before and after the battle," "human beings born for swords," and "that is not a fighting maniac, but a mad warrior," which would have led to beheadings for disrespect in this world, have grown and have led to the current rumors.

In the past, when I pointed out such rumors in front of her and said, "It's good as long as it's just a joke," she turned away and switched the conversation.

She is an investigator and a warrior who continues to seek pure strength. It can be said that she’s a rare human resource who can find a way out in the offense and defense and grab the tip of the nose. However, it seems that her means and purpose have been reversed these days.

“I’m sorry Christia. Enjoy it.”

Leon’s voice, which he said in a hurry overlapped with the end of her soliloquy and Lefilia sheathes her sword as if to confirm it.

Previous chapter | TOC | Next chapter