Vol 4: Chapter 58
** Dark Elf Village Site **
「Guide…? But that will put you in danger, High Elf-sama.」Knock said.
「If my magic doesn’t work, then we’re all going to die anyway.」
「But!」
「Can you please guide it here? Or is it not possible for you?」
Knock shrank back at Anastasia’s forceful question.
「…I can do it. Even if it costs my life, I will succeed.」
「Go.」
「Yes!」
Knock then broke into a sprint.
The Forest Eater stopped at a distance of 100 meters after running and looked around. It was probably because of the dust and soil floating in the air when light was already scarce.
「Suu– haa–」
Anastasia took a deep breath, as her whole body was drenched with sweat.
Although she acted powerfully in front of Knock, she was just about to fall to her knees if she wasn’t careful.
She had about 40% mana left in her body. She had used up a lot for the early summer birds.
However, if she compresses all the remaining mana into a single point, she should be able to use a more powerful magic than ever before.
Anastasia has only been using magic since she burned down all the monsters that fell from the red crack in the sky in the Lev Magic Empire, but she has become more accustomed to handling mana than that time. And her large pool of mana would now be compressed into a single point.
(Calm down… Calm down…)
In the distance, she could hear Knock calling out aloud to his companions that he was going to guide it and have the High Elf-sama subjugate it.
(Wring up all the mana slumbering in the depths of my body…)
She felt the surrounding air shift.
Anastasia didn’t know this because her eyes were closed, but she now had glowing golden hair and the surrounding air seemed to melt due to the heat she emitted.
(I can’t control it…)
Her mana was rampaging. It was asking her to unleash it everywhere like before.
The process felt like collecting cotton candy balls floating in the air into one small, compressed ball while strong winds blew. Mana kept spilling out one after another. As she tries to collect it back, the mana she had already collected seemed to disperse.
(What should I do? If I can’t make it in time…)
She panicked.
Knock had succeeded in drawing the Forest Eater’s attention by shooting it with arrows with help from his companions.
The Forest Eater irritatedly blew its nose, knocking down trees that have yet to fall.
(Oh, mana, mana, mana. You’re my mana, so why!)
The ground started rumbling again.
The Forest Eater had started running once again.
(If I don’t hurry up! But I can’t…)
Anastasia’s concentration was disturbed. The mana that she was trying to compress to the utmost was trying to escape.
——I… am just taking it step by step.
Suddenly, the voice of the person Anastasia trusts the most rang in her ear.
——No matter how long the journey is, it starts with one step at a time. I just try to walk steadily.
Anastasia recalled that time with Reiji.
(Even Reiji-san, who can do all those amazing things, said that he can only do it little by little at a time.)
Didn’t I ask him—
——Should I move forward step by step too?
He was a little surprised, then gently smiled and answered:
——Of course.
With her eyes still closed, Anastasia compressed her mana again.
She collected the mana that escaped. One by one. Even if only a few, one by one.
「High Elf-sama?!!」
The rumbling of the earth was getting nearer and more violent.
She heard Knock calling out to her in shock.
(Not enough. Still not enough.)
Anastasia continuously compressed her mana. The speed was crazy slow, but her mana was steadily gathering.
「High Elf-samaaaa! The Forest Eater is coming there!!」
She had never felt the power of compressed mana. Anastasia was surprised and impressed by her completely newfound experience.
What she initially thought she couldn’t do, felt as natural as breathing once she did it.
「—— !! ———— !!」
Finally, she couldn’t even hear Knock’s voice. Because the Forest Eater’s roar drowned it out.
「I am ready.」
Anastasia opened her eyes when the Forest Eater was at a distance of 10 meters from her.
A gust of wind swirled around her.
She pushed out both arms towards the Forest Eater. A pure white ball of light appeared out of her palms. The ball was clad in a small flame in the shape of the sun’s corona. Anastasia fired the ball like a bullet, landing it square between the Forest Eater’s eyebrows.
「————」
Someone might have shouted something.
However, she couldn’t hear a thing.
In the silent world, Anastasia watched over what she had accomplished.
An explosion occurred, and the resulting tsunami of shock wave mowed down large trees that still stood. Anastasia was sent flying away. Her body crashed down and rolled several many meters across the ground. When her body came to a stop, she raised her head and watched.
She has to watch until the end.
The fireball that stopped the charge of the super-massive Forest Eater still remained between the goat’s eyebrows, spinning and burning its face.
The Forest Eater, whose face was mostly burned, planted its legs into the ground and pushed against the fireball.
『————————————————————』
The Forest Eater spat out waterfall-like drool together with a violent howl.
As the Forest Eater twisted and shook its head, the fireball finally separated from its face and flew into the night sky far behind. An enormous fireworks-like explosion erupted.
The flames from the explosion continued for a while, illuminating the surroundings white.
『…………………………・……・……・……・……・・・』
Forest Eater’s body was burning here and there. The flames must have spread without Anastasia realizing it.
However–
(It is still standing…)
Its face was burned. The eyes were burned and clouded white, so its visibility might be poor.
Moreover, its trembling legs seemed about to collapse.
Even then, it was still standing.
(I couldn’t beat it…)
Mortification slowly crept into Anastasia’s heart.
Even though she had come so far. She was satisfied that she did everything she could, but the regret filling her heart was greater.
Tears overflowed from her eyes. She couldn’t beat it. She couldn’t beat the enemy who destroyed the dark elves’ village and had probably injured many of them.
『…… ・ …… ・ …………』
The Forest Eater was staring at Anastasia.
It surely won’t forgive her, she thought. It definitely won’t overlook her after what she has done.
The dark elves were not nearby. It seems that they were also blown away in the aftermath of her magic.
Slowly, the Forest Eater took a step forward.
Instead of the eyes that should no longer be able to see, it snorted and approached Anastasia.
(I need to get away… but I can’t even move a finger…)
Anastasia was sprawled on the ground.
Will she feel better if she accepts death as is?
Will the regret in her heart disappear if she dies?
(I wanted to meet Reiji-san… one last time…)
Anastasia thought she was hallucinating because of that thought in her mind.
Reiji stroked her head and praised her.
「You did your best.」
「…Reiji-san?」
Feeling warmth, Anastasia opened her eyes.
…He can’t be here!
…He is supposed to be heading to the distant Dragonewt City!
「I’m sorry to have kept you waiting. Please leave the rest to me.」
However, the boy’s presence was undeniable.
Aaah — a silent voice leaked from her throat. Since she had no mana left anymore, no sparks manifested.
Still, pure emotions overflowed from the bottom of her heart. Crazy amount of joy, love, and relief.
He came.
He saw me fighting.
Anastasia felt rewarded with that fact alone.
Reiji stood up and directed a rage-filled gaze at the Forest Eater.
「I will deal the final blow.」
