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章 9: Vol

Vale leads me to a small box settled beneath the floating academy. I quickly discover that the box is a lift, as it instantly moves upwards in a straight line. Eventually, it settles on a platform with a walkway leading to the entrance of the large building. I can sense the large concentration of mana coming closer. Vale opens the door and we enter the academy.

I immediately discover the source of the powerful mana. It is coming from an elf that looks to be in his early 20s, though with rather soft features. The man has waist-length white hair, and is wearing a robe that makes him look like a pope. He is also looking directly at me, smiling inquisitively.

"Why, hello there," he says, feigning surprise.

Vale grins, "I should have known you'd sense us coming, Vol."

Unsurprisingly, the elf who greeted us is Vol, the teacher that Vale spoke so highly of. Off to a good start.

"Certainly, I couldn't help but sense that kid's mana the moment he appeared in the city."

Are you serious. "Kid?" Are all elves like this, or just these two?

"My name is Sebastian. Don't call me kid."

"Delightful to meet you, my boy."

My? Boy!? That's actually so much worse.

I sigh.

I guess I'll have to deal with this man's oddities if I want his help.

I ask Vale to wait for me while I talk to Vol in private, and he agrees. Vol leads me into a room, which appears to be his office, and seats himself in a chair. I sit down on a couch opposite him.

"So then, my boy, how can I aid you?"

Okay, how best to approach this? Flattery first, then info, then the request, and end with flattery. Got it.

"Your mana is truly extraordinary. It seems I was right to come here. I need your help."

Flattery done. Next is info.

"I was recently informed that my mana store is damaged. The person who told me is very knowledgeable, but may have reason to lie, so I'm looking for a second opinion."

Now the question.

"Are you at all able to tell how stable my mana store is and, if it is truly broken, do you know of any way to repair it?"

And then end with flattery.

"Vale says you're the best of the best. If you can't help me, I don't know who can. Please, is there anything you can do?"

Very good. Now all I can do is wait. Best not to pressure him.

"Hm..."

He's being very silent, and barely moving. His breathing is steady and it looks like he's studying me very closely. He leans toward me slightly, letting out a sigh that smells like mint.

"I'm afraid it's much worse than your friend has lead you to believe. Your mana store isn't merely damaged; It has completely collapsed. I've never seen a mana store in a condition this bad in my life."

I look into his eyes. One of them is bright green and the other is closed tight. He must be using a spell to study my mana.

"Say, the amount of mana you have is very impressive, but..."

"But?"

"There's something odd about it. It is as though many different forms of mana are spliced together. You are... a most intriguing person..."

It sounds like he's getting a view of the mana from across the different worlds. It's not all the same, but he must be pretty skilled if he can actually tell them apart. Best if I cut him off here.

"So," I begin loudly, snapping him out of his focus, "Can you repair my mana store?"

I already know the answer to this. As it happens, I *have* seen a collapsed mana store before. When I was Number 7, I met a great sage during his dying days. His mana store had collapsed months prior. Even among the greatest mages in that world, there was nobody who could repair it. Here will be no different. I couldn't even do it.

"I'm sorry, Sebastian. There's nothing I can do."

I knew it. The only good thing about this situation is that each body has a different mana store, so I'll be able to cast magic again when I reincarnate. Still, it'll be difficult for me to fight the demon lord like this. Good thing I have Elizabeth.

Before I go, I mention the odd monster spawns to Vol. He agrees that it's most likely due to my leaking mana pool. I guess Gaia didn't lie to me, after all. Under the guise of not wanting anybody to know about my collapsed mana store, I convince Vol not to to tell anybody about it, since it isn't actively hurting anybody yet.

---

"Well, kid?"

Leaving Vol alone in his office, I enter the great hall to find Vale waiting expectantly for me.

"No luck. Let's go."

"Ah, I'm sorry to hear that. I really thought he could help."

"Don't worry about it."

Vale and I take the lift back down and walk back through the city towards the gate.

Thinking about it, I guess this means Elizabeth was right. The odd monster spawns are all my fault. To be honest, I'm kind of impressed that she figured that out before me. Maybe she just cares more, or maybe I'm losing my touch. I suppose it could also be the result of the gods meddling with my memories for so long.

I'll have to remember to apologize to her when I get back. She is my friend, after all. And what sort of friend would I be if I couldn't admit when I was wrong.

Vale and I arrive at the gate to Sheere and he opens it for me.

"Oh, kid, I haven't seen my family in a bit, so I'll be staying here for a while. Don't worry, the guards will let you out of Sheere without me."

"Sure, no problem. Goodbye, Vale."

"Come home safely, Sebastian," he yells as the gate closes behind me. Those words sting more than I'd like to admit.

As I step through to Sheere village, I'm overwhelmed by the sounds of yells and running. There are elven guards sprinting around. For a second, I think they're there for me, but they head straight past me, towards the main gate. A well-built elf is yelling orders to several different groups of elven soldiers. What is going on?

I go up to who I assume to be the elf commander, the well-built one giving orders.

"What's happening? Where is everybody going?"

"Huh?" he asks with a more growly voice than I expected.

"Oh, did you just come through from Rosewood?"

I nod.

"It's best if you go back. It's not safe here right now."

"What do you mean? Why not?"

"We just got a report that a greater monster appeared in Elsvaert."


next chapter

章 10: How To Fight A Greater Monster

A greater monster in Elsvaert?

I want this to be a coincidence, but what are the chances. I've been staying in Elsvaert with a leaking mana store for 6 months. For a greater monster to be here this soon...

Gaia was right.

Elizabeth was right.

It must really be me. I can't imagine proof much more definitive than this.

Elizabeth. She's in the town neighboring Elsvaert. If she hears about this, I'm sure she'll head out to fight it, like she did for me. With her ability, she should be more than okay, though.

But I can't stay here in Sheere. I'm here to kill the greater monsters. To kill the demon lord. So that's what I'll do.

Magic has been one of my greatest weapons against the greater monsters I've fought in the past. Without it, I'll have to rely on my physical abilities, my mind, and the tools at my disposal. No matter how long I wait, this won't change. I "borrow" one of the elves' horses and rush out through the main gate before anyone can stop me, heading in the direction of Elsvaert.

But what tools do I have at my disposal now? The most obvious is my weapon. Shortly after arriving in Elsvaert, I gave Elizabeth back the knife she had lent me, and I bought a proper short sword. It's a decent weapon, but nothing special. I don't have nearly enough money to hire a smithing mage, so the sword is even without enchantments. I could have done it myself if I my mana store was still intact, but that's obviously not an option. Now that I'm lacking my mana control, I'm really starting to notice how much I relied upon it.

I race through the forest, as fast as the horse can muster. I haven't reached the plains yet, but I can already sense the mana of the greater monster. It feels somehow familiar.

What is the best way to deal with the beast without magic? I look back on my past successes for anything I can use. There is one strategy that might work. All the greater monsters are predators, and their eyes are often pointed towards the front, leaving them with a narrow field of vision.

So. Give the monster an obvious target to hunt, and strike from a blind spot when it's distracted.

I'm starting to hope that Elizabeth makes it to the scene. She's best equipped to deal the strike. I guess I'll have to be the bait, then. After all, what's a clearer target than an ocean of uncontrolled mana.

I finally arrive on the other side of the forest and the horse skips across the grass plains. I can hear the greater beast's screams even from this far away. Its roars quake the very ground beneath our feet. I can see the beast now, even larger than last time. And... a glint of golden armor. Elizabeth.

---

Elizabeth's glowing sword flies across the greater monster's thick skin, getting in some good cuts on its main body. The beast's matted fur is occasionally lit dull blue from the dull glow of the sword. The monster screams and throws its whole mass to the side, throwing Elizabeth against the guild building. The beast's black eyes fixate easily on Elizabeth's golden figure. It opens its jaw wide. Stuck up against a wall, Elizabeth's options to move are limited.

The greater monster clamps down and Elizabeth dodges hard to the side. Too slow. A long, sharp fang penetrates Elizabeth's golden plated armor, continuing straight through her chest, and crushing her ribs. She falls against a wall, dropping her sword, and landing on the fang's twin, strapped to her back. The sword drops to the ground with a clunk some way from her, and the blue light fades from it.

The beast gives another scream as a short metal blade pierces the skin on its neck. Blood spills from the small wound. The monster thrashes around wildly. Furiously, it brandishes its long claws. With a great roar, it spins around to face me, ripping the blade out of my hand. Pain and fury are embellished on its grotesque face.

The greater monster screams as it lays its eyes on me. I imagine that it recognizes me. I hope that it thoroughly regrets not killing me when it had the chance.

The horse I was riding turned tail as soon as it saw the greater monster. I'm sorry I couldn't be here earlier, Sofia. I. Mean. Elizabeth.

Focus. Focus!

The greater monster lashes out and I duck under its slash just in time. Its wailing and screaming is making my head ache. I leap over a large claw, coming in from behind me, and find myself staring into a massive pupil. Now that's a weak spot if I've ever seen one.

Sharp teeth snap shut closely behind me. A narrow miss.

I can't keep dodging. My short sword didn't cut nearly deep enough to kill it. I need a better weapon. Something stronger. Something I'm certain can injure it. Something like...

My eyes land on Elizabeth's sword. It's lying against a rock, hilt in the hair, practically waiting to be picked up again. I dodge another strike as the beast claws at the ground, obliterating the surrounding area.

The monster notices me looking away and lunges forwards, maw open wide. This is my best chance. I jump as far to the side as I can, the beast's jaw clenching together hard. It grinds its teeth furiously and screams insanely, like it's losing its mind to pure rage.

My hand closes around Elizabeth's sword just as the monster spins madly to face me once more. Then, it stops.

The greater monster which, mere moments ago, was thrashing around in absolute fury, has stopped, eyes locked on the sword in my hand. I'd be lying if I said I wasn't caught off guard. Not just by the monster. By the sword.

I had seen Elizabeth use it in battle many times. Though it always glowed blue, it never seemed to come close to the blue light in the hallway the night my parents died. But now. Now the light from the blade is so, so much stronger. Looking straight at the light is painful. The glow of the sword is like the sun, piercing a hole through my iris.

Something Elizabeth once told me replays in my mind.

"You made it run away."


クリエイターの想い
MadCreativity MadCreativity

Writing "Sofia" instead of "Elizabeth" was originally a mistake, but it ended up working for the story, so I kept it.

A happy accident, as Bob Ross would say.

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