Chapter 237: Sister's Trouble

◆ Tracy ◆

” ” ” “Thank you very much, Saintess-sama!!” ” ” “

Participating in the pilgrimage, we left the next town of Harwen behind.

Rakushi-san and the others played a huge role here as well, to the point that the residents all gathered to see us off when we left the town.

“I really wished they would stop with the ‘Saintess’ thing, though.”

“Well, considering what you’re actually doing, it can’t be helped if they call you that… I mean, what Rakushi is doing.”

“Yeah, yeah.”

“Eh!? Only me!?”

Everyone says that, but in reality, everyone besides Rakushi-san is also extremely active.

To be frank, they are all playing a huge role befitting of a Saintess.

“…Everyone except me.”

Yes, everyone except me!

Even though everyone is playing such a huge role, I’m the only one doing absolutely nothing!

I’m just tagging along! No, during the journey, I’m being carried in order to catch up to the participants who went ahead, so I’m already just baggage! Baggage!!

“Kyufun.”

While I was thinking such things, Rakushi-san’s pet, Fluffy-chan, gently patted my leg with its front paw as if to say, “Well, don’t worry about it.”

“Thank you, you’re comforting me, aren’t you.”

What a kind child this is.

Come to think of it, this child is also keeping up with Rakushi-san and the others on its own legs.

It’s so small, yet so amazing.

“By the way, what kind of creature are you? A dog? A cat? A furball?”

If you’re in the Holy Capital, you can see all sorts of pets, but I wonder if there are lands I don’t know about where there are lots of pets like this child?

“Tracy-san, we’re going to start running soon, so please get on.”

While I was talking with Fluffy-chan, Rakushi-san crouched down and told me to get on his back.

Ugh, we’re going to run at that incredible speed again, aren’t we.

Again, like baggage…

“…What’s wrong, Tracy-san?”

While I was thinking that, Rakushi-san stared at me with concern.

“Ah, no, it’s nothing major.”

“Is something troubling you? Ah, could it be my back is uncomfortable to ride on!?”

“No, no! That’s not… That’s not it at all…”

I can’t say it isn’t true, but that wasn’t what I was worrying about right now…

“Is that so? I’m sorry. I’m not very considerate.”

However, because I hesitated to speak, Rakushi-san seemed to think that his uncomfortable ride was the cause.

“Hmm, this is troubling. In that case, a carriage or Flight Magic would be good, but the pilgrimage prohibits vehicles and methods of travel that leave the ground…”

“…”

At Rakushi-san’s words, I felt a sharp pain as if pierced by a needle.

That’s right. It is a custom to travel on one’s own legs during the pilgrimage.

Temporarily carrying the injured can’t be helped, but if I arrive at the holy land after being carried from the beginning to the end of the journey, can I really say I participated in the pilgrimage?

But what should I do… I can’t run at an incredible speed like Rakushi-san and the others…!

“Let’s see, if I create a cushion of air with magic between me and Tracy-san, it will soften the impact and make it easier…”

“Um! Rakushi-san!!”

I made up my mind and called out to Rakushi-san.

“Yes, what is it?”

“Um, could you, could you teach me how to run at an incredible speed like you guys!?”

“Eh? How to run?”

“Yes! I don’t want to drag you guys down any more than this!”

That’s right! If I don’t want to be their baggage, I just have to keep up with them on my own legs!

To do that, I just need to learn Rakushi-san’s method of running fast!

“In other words, you want to learn Body Enhancement Magic?”

“Bod…? Um, yes! That’s right! If things stay like this, I’m just baggage!”

I don’t really get it, but it’s probably that!

“Let’s see… certainly, if Tracy-san becomes able to run on her own, my hands will be free in an emergency, which would help me too. However, in that case, we’d have to stay around here for a while to practice, so we wouldn’t be able to catch up to the leading group…”

“Ah.”

Gasp! That’s right! We are indeed chasing the participants from the other temples going ahead.

And yet, if we get delayed before catching up to the other participants, it’ll defeat the whole purpose!

Ugh, I don’t want to be a burden, but if we don’t win the pilgrimage, it’ll be putting the cart before the horse!

Then, Rakushi-san clapped his hands together and said this:

“Alright, then let’s train in Body Enhancement Magic while running!”

“Eeh!?”

Wh-What do you mean!?

“While running? But I don’t even know how to run like that yet!?”

“Yes. Therefore, I will forcibly make Tracy-san fast while lecturing you on Body Enhancement Magic, and have you become able to run on your own.”

“I-Is such a thing possible!?”

I-I can’t even begin to imagine what on earth you’re going to do!?

“It’ll be a little tough, but if you do your best, you can do it.”

“U-Understo…”

” ” ” ” ” “Don’t do itttttt!!” ” ” ” ” ” “Kyufuu!!”

Then, everyone who had been listening to the conversation until now hurriedly interrupted us.

“If you value your life, stop!”

“Yeah! Value yourself more, man!”

“It’s not embarrassing to have things you can’t do! Don’t become desperate!”

“People have things they are suited and unsuited for! There’s no need to easily step into hell… I mean, look for an easy way out!”

“That’s right! Slow and steady is best for humans! Even if it takes time, doing it slowly and steadily is the best!!”

“Gyufun! Gyufun! Gyufufun!!”

For some reason, even Fluffy-chan excitedly slapped its front paws against me, telling me to stop.

U-Um, what? Is it really that bad?

“It’s fine, everyone. I will properly support her with magic, and in an emergency, we have Recovery Magic and potions. There’s no way Tracy-san will get seriously injured.”

“I-Is that so.”

The words “seriously injured” bother me a little, but even so, if he says there are countermeasures for any emergency, can I trust him?

Rakushi-san and the others are amazing people, and if they went through rigorous training to gain that amazing power, it’s only natural that I, who am trying to gain that power in a short period of time, would face a little bit of danger.

If so…

“I understand! I’ll do it! Even if it’s dangerous, if it’s to avoid being a burden, I’ll do it!”

” ” ” ” ” “Oh boy~” ” ” ” ” ” “Kyufu~n.”

Knowing my resolve, everyone sighed as if to say, “Guess we couldn’t stop her.”

“Thank you for worrying about me, everyone. But, as someone who serves the Chief God, I want to accomplish the pilgrimage with my own power! Also so I can proudly report to the Temple Head!”

“Hmm, that wasn’t what we meant, though.”

“But I guess she won’t listen even if we say more.”

“Well, she’ll understand whether she likes it or not once she experiences that.”

“Why does everyone willingly step into hell?”

“When push comes to shove, we’ll pick up your bones.”

“Kyufun.”

For some reason, everyone stared at me with gazes that were neither resignation nor affection.

Eh? Everyone, what’s with that look?

It’s a look like zombies welcoming a new comrade, you know?

◆

“I-I’m gonna die, I’m gonna dieee~~!!”

I was running.

I was running while having one hand grabbed by Rakushi-san.

At a speed faster than a carriage.

From behind, a giant monster was chasing us.

“It’s fine. You just have to maintain Body Enhancement Magic by flowing magic power through your entire body while being conscious of the footwork I taught you.”

However, Rakushi-san continued his lecture on Body Enhancement Magic as if he couldn’t see the monster behind us.

“That’s definitely not a ‘just have to’ thiiiiing~~!!”

“See, we told her.”

“Why do humans repeat the same mistakes…”

I heard such voices from Liliera-san and the others, but not a single one of them showed any signs of trying to help me.

Ah, why did it end up like this…

◆

This dates back to right after we left the town.

“First, I’ll cast a speed enhancement enchantment magic on Tracy-san.”

“A speed enhancement enchantment magic?”

From the sound of it, is it exactly what it sounds like, a magic to move fast?

“Yes. A person under this magic becomes able to move fast. But this magic consumes magic power quickly, so the effect will wear off soon even if cast.”

“Wouldn’t it be meaningless then?”

“Yes, so Tracy-san, please use your own magic power to maintain the magic.”

“With my magic power!? I-Is such a thing possible!?”

I can certainly use Recovery Magic, but I’ve never done something like sustaining the effects of an enchantment magic cast by someone else!?

“It’s fine. The enchantment magic I’m about to use is a magic that anyone can maintain as long as they pour magic power into it. So to speak, it’s like I provide the spark for a bonfire, and after that, Tracy-san adds firewood yourself.”

“I-I see. So that’s how it is.”

I don’t really understand the principle, but that’s just how it is.

“Tracy-san, please hold my hand. Yes, then I’ll cast the magic right away. INVEST ACCEL!”

“Kya!?”

When Rakushi-san activated the magic, I felt something flow into my body from our joined hands.

“I-Is this Rakushi-san’s magic!?”

“Yes, then let’s try a light run right away. When running, step forward with your right foot like this, and your left foot like this. Keep your body straight with the feeling of constantly being suspended by a string from above, and breathe like this.”

Giving a light lecture on how to move my body when running, Rakushi-san pulled my hand and started running.

“Wawawa!?”

“Tracy-san, calm down and be conscious of how you move your body.”

“Y-Yes!”

“First, let’s run up to where that tree is growing over there.”

“Y-Yes!”

I move my body as told and run.

Then, in the blink of an eye, I passed the tree that was our destination.

“Eh!? No way!?”

It was quite a distance to this tree, but in an instant!?

Unbelievable, did I run this distance on my own power!?

“This is the power of Acceleration Magic. I’m going to cut off my magic power now, so Tracy-san, please maintain the magic power on your own.”

“Y-Yes!”

I immediately stopped feeling the magic power flowing from Rakushi-san’s hand, and my body started to feel heavy, so I hurriedly poured magic power in the same way I use Recovery Magic.

Then the lightness of my body immediately returned.

“It seems there’s no problem maintaining the magic. Then let’s try running in that state.”

“Yes!”

Saying that was careless of me.

“M-Magic power is…”

This Acceleration Magic seemed to consume magic power more than I expected, and I ran out of magic power in the blink of an eye.

“Tracy-san, please drink this.”

Then Rakushi-san held out a small vial.

“Th-This is?”

“It’s a mana potion.”

” ” ” ” ” Ugeh. ” ” ” ” “

For some reason, the moment they heard the name of the potion, everyone’s eyes clouded with despair.

Eh? Could it be this is incredibly bad-tasting!?

“B-But no matter how bad it tastes, I have to drink it, right!”

I braced myself and chugged the contents of the vial I received.

“Huh?”

However, surprisingly, the contents of the vial had a normal taste.

Or rather, maybe it’s even tastier than a normal potion?

And the moment I drank the mana potion, magic power overflowed within me.

I can do this! With this, I can do it!

…Thinking that was naive of me.

“M-Magic power is…”

“Yes, a mana potion!”

“U-Ugh…”

The moment I saw the mana potion Rakushi-san offered, my body subconsciously pulled my hand back.

But I have no choice but to drink it…

“Ah, could your stamina be decreasing too? In that case, a stamina potion too…”

“N-No! My stamina is still fine!”

I hurriedly took the mana potion, chugged it in one go, and focused on running.

Yes, that’s right. Ever since earlier, I had been continuously drinking mana potions every time my magic power ran out.

Certainly, the mana potions are tasty. But if you drink several, then dozens of them, it gets pretty tough after a while.

Furthermore, even if magic power recovers, stamina doesn’t hold up. Inevitably, I ended up drinking stamina potions offered by Rakushi-san to recover my physical strength.

This one was also tasty compared to a normal potion, but drinking dozens of them was still tough.

And on top of that, I have to continuously maintain the magic.

At first, I only had to maintain the magic power, but when I got used to it, he said, “This time let’s maintain the magic itself,” and cast another Acceleration Magic on me.

Thanks to that, I was now mentally exhausted on two fronts from maintaining the magic and expending magic power—no, including the footwork, I was focusing my nerves on three fronts.

“Your concentration on the magic is starting to slip. I’ll use Mental Stabilization Magic to bring back your focus.”

“Ukyaaa!”

That’s the most painful part!

“Uwaa… Even though I’m tired, the fatigue is forcibly removed… It feels like something precious is being violently scraped away…”

Even though my magic power, stamina, and willpower have recovered, this sensation of something disappearing…

“It’s come, that.”

“That sensation has arrived.”

“That part is really tough.”

“But it doesn’t end, you aren’t allowed to end it.”

“I pray for your soul’s happiness in the next world.”

“Kyufuuun.”

“I’m not dead yeeet!!”

In order to avoid drinking even one more mana potion if possible, I desperately maintain the magic.

I operate the magic power efficiently so that magic power consumption decreases as much as possible.

I reduce the magic power covering my whole body to the absolute minimum and instead route it to my legs, no, my lower body.

That way, I can reduce the amount of magic power consumed.

Also, to make the flow of magic power smoother, I stabilize the activation of the magic by flowing the magic power thinly and uniformly.

And when I diverted that amount of concentration to the footwork, perhaps because my posture stabilized, it felt a little easier to run.

“Looking good.”

As I ran like that for a while, Rakushi-san smiled brightly in satisfaction.

“Eh?”

“Because your magic maintenance and footwork have stabilized, the potion consumption has decreased.”

“I-Is that so?”

Now that you mention it… is it?

I don’t really get it myself, though.

“Yes, the consumption has clearly decreased compared to when we started running. It seems you are able to activate Body Enhancement Magic skillfully.”

“Body Enhancement Magic? Wasn’t the magic cast on me Acceleration Magic?”

“Yes, the first one cast was Acceleration Magic. And the one we used midway through was a normal Acceleration Magic where the effect wears off as soon as the magic power runs out.”

“Eh!? But I’m keeping up normally, you know!?”

In reality, I’m maintaining Acceleration Magic, and I haven’t learned Body Enhancement Magic.

“That is Body Enhancement Magic. Body Enhancement Magic is a magic that anyone who can use magic can use. However, since we didn’t have time to learn it this time, I had you get your body used to Acceleration Magic, and then had you practice with a main focus on just strengthening your leg power for high-speed movement.”

“I-Is that so?”

I don’t really understand, but…

“Normal Body Enhancement also improves physical strength and attack power, but if you strengthen your whole body, the magic power consumption becomes no laughing matter. Therefore, considering efficiency, I decided to focus your training purely on leg strengthening from the beginning.”

Haa, is that how it works.

“General body enhancement and attribute enhancement will be done during breaks, so for now, please just focus on leg strengthening and keep running.”

“Understood!”

I don’t understand the finer details, but anyway, this means I’m no longer a burden!

Alright, I’m going to do my best!

“Ah, your magic power is decreasing again. Here, a mana potion.”

“Eh?”

Wh-What does this mean!? Didn’t the training go well and the magic power consumption decrease!?

“Even if magic power efficiency increases, magic power still decreases. Here, here, please recover before your magic power runs out.”

“Hieh.”

A voice leaked out subconsciously.

Do I still have to drink this?

“H-How long do I have to keep drinking it…?”

“It takes time to increase your total amount of magic power, so until the pilgrimage ends.”

That was a death sentence.

“I-I’m gonna dieee!”

“It’s fine. Your magic power, stamina, and injuries will all recover, so I absolutely won’t let you die! Ah, a monster that looks just right is heading this way, so how about we keep running away from it as practice?”

Looking back, wasn’t there a giant monster heading straight for us at a breakneck speed?

W-We’re running away from that!?

“I’d rather you just let me dieee!!”