Vol 3: Chapter 31
「ーBring that bowl. Add more spices if it isn’t enough.」(Mimino)
「ーIf only there was alcohol to go along with it…」
「ーDad, drinking alcohol would only hinder the recovery of your wound.」
「ーI’m just kidding.」
「Nn? Oh, bocchan is waking up.」
I hazily heard the voices of a few people from around, but it was Zerry-san’s voice that clearly shook my mind awake.
「Reiji-kun!」
When I opened my eyes, I saw Mimino-san jump out of her seat towards meーDante-san dexterously caught the bowl containing soup that fell out of her hands.
「Are you okay? How many fingers do you see?」
「O-One…」
「Does anything else feel wrong?」
「No, nothing else– Uh!」
Mimino-san’s thin arms supported me as I raised my body. Though, my head was dizzy and felt painful.
「Are you all right!?」
「Y-Yes. It’s the usual symptom of running out of mana.」
「Thank goodness…」
Non-san came closer and put her hand on my forehead. Her hand glowed a slight golden. I felt mana being slowly transmitted to me—the headache also eased considerably.
「W-What is this?」
「You can share mana with【Light Magic】. The amount of mana transmitted is small compared to the mana consumed, so it can only be used in an emergency.」
I never imagined there was magic like this. How wonderful,【Light Magic】. As I was thinking of the various possible applications by studying such a technique–
「Reiji-kuuuuun!」
Mimino-san pinched both my cheeks.
「Hi-hyiiii!」
「I know you are strong, but you shouldn’t try to take care of everything with magic all by yourself!」
The battle between me and the Juggernaut should not have been visible because it was covered up by the fog, but when I activated a powerful magic, the presence of mana must have filled a wide area, so Mimino-san must have noticed it at that time.
「…S, Sowwry…」
「If you were going to shoot strong magic, we could’ve used my Dupe Potion!」
「Ah!」
Crap. I completely forgot its existence.
The potion, which is Mimino-san’s secret weapon, is a ridiculous item that can duplicate another invoked magic without consuming any mana.
With that secret weapon duplicating my white flame【Fire Magic】, it would have been possible to take down the Juggernaut with just that one attack.
I forgotーrather, I didn’t even think about its existence… Because it uses crazy expensive materials, and…
「Reiji-kun. Don’t tell me you are thinking of not using it because it’s an expensive item? Moreover because it’s made with my pocket money?」
「Uhh…」
「Reiji-kuuuuuuun~~~~~!」
「Ou-Ou-Ou-Ouuuuccch!」
「That should be enough, Mimino.」
Dante-san tried to stop her, but Zerry-san was just laughing and saying,「I didn’t know bocchan’s cheeks could stretch that far, Nahahahaha!」…I won’t forgive her for this.
「Reiji-kun, no matter how much money it costs, it can’t bring back life.」
「……I understand.」
I rubbed my cheeks. I didn’t have the mana to use【Healing Magic】, and when I thought that this pain was from Mimino-san’s heart that was worried about meーno, I’m sure she was more worried than this pain could equate, so I thought that I have to endure this pain properly.
「Mimino, why don’t you give Reiji a Dupe Potion?」Dante-san suggested.
「That’s a good idea.」
I hurriedly caught a small bottle that was tossed my way. Ahhhhh! Even though this one bottle costs many gold coins…
…I think Mimino-san carelessly tossed it because she wanted to say, “This isn’t a big deal.”
「I’m sorry, Mimino-san.」
「It’s okay. Besides, Dante and I are at fault this time.」
「Huh?」
「As Mimino says, it was my fault that I wasn’t wary enough of Leon. Because of that, even Non had to go through a painful experience.」Dante-san said, with a sad look on his face.「Leon’s sword was cast with magic which accelerated bleeding… and I couldn’t do anything. I’m sorry, Reiji.」
「That’s not true, Dante-san, Mimino-san. It was Leon’s fault. You don’t have to blame yourself too much.」
「Reiji…」
「Reiji-kun…」
「More importantly, is the food ready? I’m super hungry.」
When I said that, Non-san laughed softly.
「That’s right. Dad, Mimino-san, let’s eat before it gets cold.」
「All right.」
「Mhm…」
It was a meal in which grains, vegetables, dried meat and dried fish were put in a large pot and boiled well. The delicious aroma from Mimino-san’s special spices stimulated the secretion of saliva and the spicy taste tingled the taste buds.
Mimino-san sat down beside me and started eating. Even though it was me who was scolded a while ago, Mimino-san looked sad as if she was the one scolded—she looked like a downhearted little girl. Dante-san was just himself and ate more than usual.
Though, I’m sure he was thinking about Leon.
I wanted to tell them both that it wasn’t their fault, so don’t worry… but it probably wouldn’t help.
Zerry-san found my dagger and returned it. And also, some good magic tech parts were extracted from the Juggernaut, it seems. I hope Muge-san will be happy.
Right around when the meal time ended, I suddenly remembered.
「Speaking of which, didn’t the ground shake just now?」
「Oh right, right bocchan! It is hidden by the fog right now, but when I made my rounds earlier, I found a passage on the wall of “faces”!」
I wonder if defeating the Juggernaut triggered it.
We quickly cleaned up the tableware. I’m excited to check out the passage right away, but checking our luggage and equipment comes first.
「…Doesn’t it feel like the fog is fading?」
Perhaps because there was no battle anymore, I could see further into the fog.
I turned my gaze towards the wall of “faces” — and was shocked. Certainly, there was a hole in the center of the wall, and a passageway extended to the back.
However, a person was there.
「Leon!?」
「Huh?」
The figure slipped inside the passage, but there was no doubt someone was there. And that figure was wearing the yellow cloak belonging to the Golden Brigade.
「That bastard!」
Probably because of the meal, Dante-san, who was supposed to have lost a lot of blood, had regained his normal complexion. His angry expression, with veins popping on his forehead, unintentionally caused me to be startled.
Dante-san is dead serious! This power is too intense. Even a ferocious beast would hesitate to charge at him.
「Zerry, quickly stop that idiot!」Dante-san hollered.
「Roger!」
Zerry-san dashed forward using her spring-like flexibility. But she stopped in front of the passage as if she was stuck.
「What’s wrong, Zerry?!」
「T-That’s…」
We arrived too late to the passage and found Leon about 15 meters ahead. There was a dead end in front of him, but something seemed to be written on the wall.
And a lever-like mechanism appeared out from the wall to Leon’s left.
「I appreciate your efforts, Dante! You did well against such a monster!」
「Leon!! You!!」
「Oops, don’t move. If I pull this lever,『one of you』will『reach the abyss of this labyrinth』, it says. I received a lot of help from you, so I thought I’ll humour you for a while. Don’t waste away my kindness, all right?」
Leon smiled triumphantly.
Is it written on the wall ahead that something will happen if you pull that lever?
(…I wonder what this feeling is?)
My heart won’t stop pounding.
I got a feeling that it was extremely dangerous.
I had no basis.
I just felt that way—there was no way you will find anything good behind a wall that was filled with death masks.
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