Chapter 65
*
After that, Erika unleashed Solnzari's secret technique twice, and then we found ourselves inside a hole.
Yes, a hole.
To be precise, just before the path she carved out with the second strike ended, we found our original destination, the Church in the Demonlands, and decided to bet on the durability of a church that, despite being over sixty years old, was still standing strong.
Using the church as a shield, Erika created a hole in the ground with magic, and we dove into it.
The intervals between the magical shockwaves had beco quite short, and if Rainibati were frail, it would have already reached the level of a racing heartbeat after running.
In other words, it could explode at any mont.
That's one of the reasons we dug a hole in the ground.
The other reason is...
"I'm sorry, if only I had a little more magical energy..."
Erika said, sweat beading on her forehead, her breath ragged.
I shook my head, thinking that if Erika Solnzari had even a bit more magical energy, she'd be in the realm of myths or legends.
"It's enough, Erika. To ask for more than the trees of the Demonlands' forest, a church that has withstood sixty years in the Demonlands, and things that can shield us would be pure greed."
I answered, looking at Erika's hair, which had turned as white as ash.
Her red hair had turned white in several strands.
It seems that Solnzari's secret technique she used drained her imnse magical energy and, as a price, bleached that beautiful red hair white.
Erika had used up all her magical energy with that last act of digging a hole in the ground with magic.
The reason we chose to hide in a hole in the ground was less about finding the church and more about Erika's magical energy running out.
Finding the church was rely a coincidence.
After all, we hadn't even confird which direction we were fleeing in.
Leaving Erika, who could barely stand due to hardship, in Shara's care, I climbed out of the hole.
"Where are you going?"
I was genuinely surprised by how frail Erika's voice sounded from behind —so much so that I doubted if it was a hallucination.
That voice suddenly reminded of my childhood.
I recalled the ti when I struggled with using magic, training recklessly, and the mont I "first" exhausted my magical energy.
The sensation of running out of magical energy brings a unique anxiety and loneliness.
It's like floating on dark, unstable water, with nothing certain in your own body.
As a child, I cried and begged my father and mother for help.
Erika is probably experiencing that sensation for the first ti in her life.
After all, soone born and raised in the royal capital wouldn't have exhausted her innate, imnse magical energy before.
"I'm going to look for a cover to seal the hole."
I bit down on my back teeth to stop myself from saying I wouldn't go anywhere.
"I'll be back soon."
My slightly hurried speech was due to embarrassnt over my own delusions—seeing Erika's rare vulnerable side and interpreting her question of where I was going as an unspoken plea for to stay by her side.
Glancing back one last ti, I saw Shara making a face like a human with a mouth full of sugar.
*
I climbed out of the hole, which we had dug a little distance away to avoid being caught in the church's collapse.
Amid the densely overgrown forest, the church, with its artificial straight lines, stood out as an anomaly; though its walls had blackened over sixty years, it perfectly retained its original shape from when it was built.
Compared to the other buildings around it, which had mostly left re traces, I felt grateful for the determined architectural skills of the people back then, as this church was built as the centerpiece of Demonlands' developnt.
And I offered a brief silent prayer.
This place was not only the frontline of Demonlands' developnt but also, at the sa ti, an ancient battlefield.
Sixty years ago, it was a place attacked and fought over by a single monster known as Eight Legs, Three Arms, Sword Legs, and Three Eyes.
It's a place where many adventurers fought and died.
That's precisely why what I'm looking for should be here.
*
"I'm back."
It's a narrow hole; even without saying it, they'd know I returned, but seeing Erika still lying at the bottom of the hole, the words slipped out of my mouth.
The intervals between the magical shockwaves were already at the speed of a racing heartbeat after running, and it could explode at any mont.
"Um... is that supposed to be the cover?"
It hadn't even been a minute since I left the hole, so naturally, Erika's magical energy hadn't recovered.
I couldn't tell if she wasn't breathing heavily because she knew it would help her magical energy recover faster or if it was instinctive; personally, I felt it was the latter.
On behalf of such an Erika, Shara asked .
"Yes, it's a large shield soone used sixty years ago."
While answering Shara's question, I lightly tapped the large shield I had pulled out from being half-buried in the ground.
It was likely a masterpiece crafted by a skilled artisan using fine materials; even after sixty years, it hadn't rusted or decayed, maintaining its forr glory.
Carrying the shield, large enough to easily hide one person, on my back, I positioned myself to cover Erika and Shara.
From the tool bag that miraculously wasn't blown away during the battle with Oganight, I took out a rope and secured the large shield to my body.
Now, all that was left was to wait for the explosion, and at that mont, Shara spoke up.
"When is this going to explode?"
Her bright tone was probably Shara's way of showing consideration; I averted my eyes from the sister who remained calm in a situation where we were hiding in a hole, waiting for a magic tool capable of blowing up a town to activate, and answered.
"They say it'll explode when the intervals between the magical shockwaves match the speed of a racing heartbeat after running."
In response to my answer, Shara laughed and said, if it were my heart, it would have exploded long ago.
Wondering if the only won around besides Erika were crazy, I increased the intensity of my physical enhancent in preparation for the explosion.
While wondering if I could adjust it properly, I spoke carefully so my voice wouldn't turn into a high-pitched, squeaky sound.
Erika can't use physical enhancent right now, so I have to be careful.
"It seems Rainibati was surprisingly good at physical activities. Even with my heart, it could explode at any mont."
"Weren't we taught in class that Rainibati was an excellent warrior in life?"
It seems my attempt to speak in a way that Erika could understand what we were talking about backfired.
"Well, I can guess what you were doing during class."
Her voice carried a hint of exasperation.
"Yeah, I was just looking at you during class."
"You're terrible at lying, Shin."
I told the truth, but for so reason, I was denied.
Or rather, you knew I was looking at Erika, didn't you? No, more than that, does this an you think I was a delinquent student?
"Well, I was a delinquent student, after all."
I answered with a wry smile, and after a mont of hesitation, Erika apologized.
"That answer made you feel like you had to be considerate, didn't it? I'm sorry, Shin. Your goal might not be achieved, after all."
Before I could ask what she ant by my goal, Erika continued.
"Shara, I'm truly sorry for dragging you into my circumstances and causing this situation... Shara?"
Hearing Erika's bewildered voice, I looked at Shara, who was nibbling on dried at while tilting her head with a "Feh?" expression.
I couldn't help but exchange a glance with Erika.
That Erika Solnzari was practically saying with her face, "This girl is nuts."
Well, I don't know if she actually thought that, but she was definitely shocked, and as for , facing a crazy person on par with my ntor and junior apprentice, I couldn't help but go blank.
"N-No, wait!"
Shara panicked, looking at and Erika, flailing about.
"It's just that seeing the church made feel safe, and then I got a little hungry, you know? It's not like I'm letting my guard down or anything; I'm a sister, after all! I reflexively feel safe near a church, you could say!"
After a painful silence lasting about five beats of the magical shockwave, Erika started chuckling.
I laughed along, not at all trying to mask my fear of this crazy sister by laughing.
"Right, right. This must be my fault, huh? Apologizing isn't like , even if I think this might be the end; apologizing is far too unlike a Solnzari."
Erika looked at Shara and .
"Even if this is the end, I should say this: I've had a really enjoyable ti, and I'm grateful to both of you."
Shara swallowed her dried at and responded to Erika's words.
"It doesn't feel like the end at all, and honestly, I'm a bit creeped out that Erika can say she enjoyed this, but, well, frustrating as it is, I had fun too."
As she finished speaking, Erika and Shara looked at with expectant eyes. Are they telling to say sothing too?
Well, if I think this might be the end, it's easy to be honest.
"Since the day I got on that carriage, there hasn't been a single day I wasn't happy."
Just being by Erika's side as she spat curses made happy. Standing next to her as she swung her sword made glad. Knowing I was part of the future she spoke of made happy. Hearing her worries, complaints, and trivial daily words made happy.
Throwing away my life led to this much happiness; since the day I got on that carriage, I can say I've been happy no matter when I die.
Ngh—!" Erika let out an inarticulate sound, while Shara, covering her face with both hands, shouted, "Saying sothing only the two of you understand at a ti like this, read the room, you jerk!" And then, the magical shockwave suddenly stopped its rhythm, and I said, "Brace yourselves.
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