Chapter 16
The Girl Who Won't
Give Up and ____ 5
Translator : PolterGlast
【Side Miku Arisugawa】
Its appearance is a
skeleton wearing a luxurious robe all over its body and holding a staff with a
large gem embedded in it.
It looks a lot like a
monster called a lich that I studied in the monster encyclopedia.
It is said that a
human who was a wizard in his lifetime may rarely be resurrected as an undead
called a lich when he dies.
I recall such
information about the monster.
From what I've heard,
it's a monster that's supposed to appear on the seventh floor.
It's very powerful
because it's an undead that can use magic, but it's said that knights can
defeat it if they attack in platoons.
But... my sixth sense
told me that the monster in front of me was not such a gentle creature.
The power of the lich
coming towards me is not that kind of thing.
If I were to release
this sanctuary now, my entire existence would be obliterated in an instant.
The intimidating
presence and the dense aura of death that makes me feel something sour rising
in the back of my throat are enough to make me say that.
The sunken eye sockets
of the Elder Lich, a higher species of Lich, caught sight of me as I faced it
across the barrier.
"Oooooo..."
The Elder Lich tried
to approach the barrier... but then kept its distance.
Apparently, even such
a powerful monster can be affected by the sanctuary.
But my relief was
short-lived, as the Elder Lich took an unexpected action.
The Elder Lich
maintained a distance that was neither too close nor too far, and began to stay
in the same place.
...There's no doubt,
that Elder Lich is targeting me.
The sanctuary lasts
for 30 minutes.
It consumes 35 MP.
And with my LV 5 mana
recovery and natural recovery, my MP recovery speed is 1 per minute.
Since I have to keep
the sanctuary up, my MP will gradually decrease.
I opened the backpack
I was carrying and checked what I had.
Several magic potions
and a few rations.
It's not much, but
it's better than nothing.
"Sanctuary!"
I use the MP recovery
as a pacemaker to activate the magic.
I don't feel hungry at
all from the tension, but I forcibly stuff the food down my throat.
I wash it down with a
magic potion and stare at the Elder Lich in front of me.
My breathing naturally
becomes rough.
My whole body becomes
cold from the encroaching feeling of death.
Even if I try my best
to endure, help may not come.
But... I have no
choice but to do it.
I will never give up.
Even if the
probability of being saved is almost zero... I will never give up hope.
Because, I...
"--I'm going to
see Masaru-kun."
While continuing to
use the sanctuary without interruption, I continue to strain my consciousness
without letting it break.
The passage of time
becomes blurred due to the extreme tension.
I could no longer
distinguish between the ringing in my ears, the sounds, and the beating of my
heart, and I felt a gnawing pain in the depths of my chest.
Little by little, my
MP decreases cruelly slowly.
My current MP is
already at 20.
The next sanctuary I
can use is the last one.
"Sanctuary!"
I finish putting up
the last barrier.
My remaining MP is in
single digits, and I am attacked by an irresistible sleepiness.
In other words, when
this sanctuary disappears... that's when my life ends.
"Even if the
sanctuary disappears, I'll survive for at least a minute or a second
longer."
I put on a brave front
and desperately pretended to be okay.
--Not everyone is
strong.
Actually, I'm... not
that strong of a person.
I've tried my best so
far with the sole desire to see Masaru-kun, but... it seems my wish won't come
true, and my life will end here.
The sanctuary
disappears, turning into particles of light.
A single tear runs
down my cheek, which is enveloped in light.
I thought my tears had
dried up, but apparently, they hadn't.
"Masaru-kun..."
The Elder Lich raises
its staff towards me.
I try to run away, but
my body is stiff and won't move, probably from extreme tension and fatigue.
"Ooooooo...!!"
The Elder Lich aims
its deadly magic at me.
The aura swells, and
the Elder Lich laughs as it rejoices in killing a living being.
"Masaru-kun...
I'm sorry..."
I slowly closed my
eyes.
Because, at least when
I die... I wanted to remember the face of the person I love most.
"--It's okay,
Miku-san."
At that moment, I
heard the voice of a boy I was used to hearing, but hadn't heard in a long
time.
A voice that I thought
I would never hear again.
I was so surprised
that I found myself blinking.
The tears that had
been accumulating at the corners of my eyes fell, and my vision blurred with
tears.
And in front of me
was--Masaru-kun, whom I thought I might never see again.
"Ooooooooooo!!"
"--Masaru-kun,
run!"
The Elder Lich's magic
is released, trying to sweep away Masaru-kun and me together.
Masaru-kun, who saw me
raise my voice involuntarily, turned around.
And he smiled slowly.
"It's
okay--Judgment Ray."
Masaru-kun points his
finger upwards and swings it down towards the Elder Lich.
Then, a white light
appeared that was so dazzling that I had never seen it before.
What suddenly appeared
was--a pillar of light, as if concentrated with holy power.
I know because I'm a
light magic user who has trained light magic to LV 8 and is unrivaled in the
kingdom.
Masaru-kun's
overwhelming ability.
A realm that even I
can't reach now... LV 9... or even LV 10, which is said to be legendary...
Looking at Masaru-kun's
reliable back as he faced forward with a serious expression, the anxiety I had
felt until just now disappeared in an instant.
"Ooooooooooo!!"
The Elder Lich,
pierced by the pillar of light, let out a cry of agony.
And as easily as if
the exchange from before was a lie, it turned into dust and disappeared.
"...See, I told
you it would be okay?"
Looking at Masaru-kun,
who turned to me again--I couldn't hold back anymore.
"...Masaru-kun!!"
I hug him.
I hug Masaru-kun
tightly, as if I will never let him go again.
The person I thought I
would never see again.
The person I had
almost given up on, but still continued to wish to see.
My... most beloved
person in the world.
"W-wait,
Miku-san!?"
I felt a little sorry
that Masaru-kun was confused, but I didn't stop hugging him.
My feelings overflowed
and wouldn't stop.
In this way, I was
able to reunite with Masaru-kun after half a year.
I realized what I had
done and my face turned red from embarrassment... but that's a story for a
little later.
-----
Thank you for my Patrons !!
[Platinum]
MaxKne
Swagaraga
[Gold]
B random
DavidA
[Silver]
Creris
Fred A.
Frédéric Bertrand-Hudon
Anton Lim
Ctdela
Curious Panda
Read Advanced Chapters only on my Patreon
-----
