Chapter 106

The magical girl escapes reality.

I pierced the core of what was once Orneas with my sword.

The red haze scattered and disappeared.

There’s still more to come, but that was a troublesome opponent.

“You… why. Why!”

Orneas, having lost its core, gradually turns to dust.

I have no intention of showing mercy like I did with Blue Colette.

Just die as a monster.

But it truly was a formidable enemy.

“Your feelings are understandable, but I too have a contract… Goodbye.”

“…You think killing me is clever? The plan… the Anhelen Plan can’t be stopped by anyone. Haha. hahaha!”

Leaving behind those words of hatred, it turns to dust and eventually leaves nothing behind.

It’s terrifying to think this thing was once human.

Once I return to being the White Mage, I feel an unpleasant sensation as if my insides were stirred around, along with nausea.

Blood overflows from my mouth, wetting the ground.

My magic power isn’t the issue, but my body feels worn out.

Using my staff as support, I can barely stand.

“Why… again? Haruna! What’s going on!?”

So the Demon has started causing trouble again.

I incorporate and control the power of Arcana within my body.

This is essentially what I’ve been doing.

The answer I reached due to my desire for power. The possibilities brought about by these thoughts.

I think of it as some sort of hidden trick made possible because I’m a fake.

Unlike liberation, all the strain falls on me.

This time, it lasted shorter than when I faced Shengxi, but the backlash was greater.

I vomit all the blood I can and recover using healing magic.

Though not fully healed, this will suffice for now.

(I’ll deal with the details later. Next, I must defeat that one.)

“So what… using powers beyond my understanding won’t leave me unscathed!”

(To win, it’s necessary. As usual, I rely on your assistance.)

Under normal circumstances, it would be impossible to prevent M·D·W’s explosion, but with the power of the Fool, it can be easily prevented.

However, the time I can remain transformed is almost up.

Looking at M·D·W, I see Nightmare flailing in the air.

Nightmare is quite battered but still alive.

It’s impressive how well she held up against such monsters.

Perhaps I should reconsider calling her useless.

She sprouts two wings of white and black and flies through the sky.

Before she turns her hate towards me, I’ll launch a powerful attack.

Fortunately, my magic power is nearly full.

I set up a magic circle to ensure Nightmare stays out of the range of my magic.

It’s a spell I used before and was blocked by Thalagong, so it’s been downgraded.

Even downgraded, it’s still one of the stronger spells I can use.

A magic circle appears in the air, overflowing with light.

I manage to wipe out a considerable number of monsters, yet it doesn’t seem like they’ve diminished.

As Nightmare approaches me, she turns around.

Blood flows from her forehead, and her clothes are tattered.

“—Inny Flowering”

“It’s Ayame. Ms. Nightmare.”

‘Doubt’

(Appearances matter, right?)

If we insist she’s Ayame, then the real Nightmare won’t be held accountable for any crimes while she’s with me.

After all, she’s technically a wanted person.

“Is it over?”

“Yes. Heal.”

I heal the injured Nightmare and deflect M·D·W’s magic and artillery fire with black-winged magic.

They’ve grown stronger, but so have I since last time.

For the duration of our strategy meeting, my wings alone can withstand their attacks.

“Thank you. And—”

“No idle chatter. Regarding our battle plan, please continue attacking as you did earlier. All artillery fire and magic will be handled by me.”

“I… understand. But, can we win?”

Can we win…

If we don’t, we’ll both die.

And I have no intention of dying.

“It’s not about whether we can win; we will win. I’ve entrusted the front lines to you. Go ahead.”

Nightmare nods and dashes into the sky.

“We’ll gain the authority to disable the barrier in about four minutes.”

(Then let’s settle this within those four minutes.)

Three minutes would be like some hero’s time limit, but it’s definitely insufficient.

One minute might be negligible, but even that brief span could change the potency of magic.

Moreover, considering the strain during liberation, fighting for five minutes—the original limit—is impractical.

Given how battered I already am, pushing myself further wouldn’t be wise.

Well, I’ll only liberate after exhausting as much magic power as possible.

An incoming spell grazes my arm.

It seems they’ve identified me as an enemy.

With the vanguard present, this should be easier than last time.

While flying, I prepare my staff and begin chanting a spell.

I intercept the artillery and magic aimed at Nightmare with my wings and dodge whatever comes my way.

Lightning rains down, earthen pillars pierce the heavens.

Ice dances and flames sweep through.

My magic power quickly depletes, but I pay it no mind.

Battle is a good thing.

It strips away unnecessary thoughts and allows me to experience the thrill between life and death.

There’s no better place to feel alive than amidst battle.

“O flame, deliver thy judgment.”

Countless fireballs descend from the sky.

When my magic power saturates the space, it enables me to use diverse spells effortlessly.

“Ice, herald the end.”

A white wind passes through the monsters, turning them into ice statues.

My incantations grow shorter, and their potency increases.

Having defeated roughly seventy percent of the monsters, my magic power drops below ten percent. This seems like the right moment.

Nightmare also appears close to her limit, her movements significantly slower.

She’s still alive thanks to my support.

“Retreat.”

I call out loud enough for her to hear via a wind spell.

She glances back briefly before jumping toward me.

(Go, Demon.)

“Thirty seconds. Beyond that, there might be aftereffects, so absolutely do not exceed it.”

Aftereffects… In the worst case, I’ll just cut my lifespan short again.

(I’ll handle it appropriately.)

“Number Zero. The Fool. Release.”

My magic power rapidly restores, making me feel slightly nauseous.

The dizziness and headache are severe, but I must act or die.

Once the transformation completes, Nightmare lands beside me.

“I’ve returned. Now, I’ll obliterate everything. Please stay behind me. Do not move forward under any circumstances. Also, please keep this a secret from everyone.”

I rotate two spheres in front of me and absorb the magic power I’ve dispersed.

“Cunning Cage”

Twenty seconds remaining.

I create a rectangular barrier around M·D·W to prevent any artillery or magic from reaching us.

I’ve captured all the remaining monsters inside this barrier, and now I’ll finish things off.

“The path of the fool leads to heaven or earth. To those who laugh, bring calamity. To those who lament, offer salvation.”

I infuse the allocated magic power directly into the sphere and draw a magic circle above M·D·W’s head.

This is likely the most magic power I’ve ever used in any spell thus far.

It’s only possible in this form, but I’ve already consumed three times the usual amount of magic power.

“Hey, is this really okay!? It’s getting crazy, but are you sure this is alright!?”

Nightmare is noisy in the background, but I lack the time and energy to care.

Ten seconds remaining.

I pour magic power into the barrier and magic circle, completing the preparations.

Something flows from my eyes and runs down my cheeks.

“To the future without hope, grant blessings—Divine Strike.”

The floating magic circle in the sky opens, and light floods out.

The sky. Time. Space splits apart.

The world is dominated by light, creating an illusion that time has stopped.

The sound of M·D·W’s explosion echoes, but it cannot break through my barrier.

As the light clears, M·D·W has vanished without a trace, leaving behind a bottomless crater.

Time’s up.

—Mission complete.

My consciousness rapidly fades, and the power of the Fool is revoked.

I almost fall, but Nightmare catches me, averting disaster.

I feel like I might die upon reverting from the transformation…

My injuries aren’t severe, but internally, I’m a mess.

“Magic power is almost depleted. Heartbeat is barely there. Body temperature’s dropping… You idiot!”

“Hey! Snap out of it! Ayame! Ayame!”

Those noisy ones woke me up.

But thanks to them, I’m awake again.

“I’m fine. Just a bit sleepy.”

“Sleepy… Your eyes are bleeding!”

Ah, so that was blood flowing earlier. I thought it was delayed tears.

(How’s the barrier holding up?)

“Ugh… I have nothing to say… I can dissolve it anytime though.”

(Don’t sulk. I’ll spend time with you later.)

If I let go of consciousness now, it’d be easy to rest, but I can’t afford that luxury.

(Please dissolve the barrier once we reach the ground.)

Remaining inside the barrier is akin to being on the witch’s palm.

Although I almost passed out earlier, I shouldn’t relax.

“Sorry, but could you lower me to the ground? The barrier should dissolve soon.”

“Got it. So snap out of it!”

Supported by Nightmare, I land on the ground.

The ruins from our battle have vanished, leaving only a barren wasteland.

(I entrust this to you.)

“Acknowledged.”

The scenery shifts from a wasteland to a snowy plain. The sun has dipped low, making it slightly blinding.

“Eh!? No way…”

(Are you alright? Why are you panicking suddenly?)

“There you are, Inie.”

—A very familiar voice rings out.

Seems like I’m hallucinating due to exhaustion.

Maybe I should go home and sleep early today.

“What… who are you people!”

Ah, I’m seeing hallucinations too.

“Why are Taragon and Momotoko here?”

(Just don’t say it. I was finally escaping reality…)

I distance myself from Nightmare and lean on my staff.

Now, what excuse should I give…