Chapter 187: Pursuers and the Tower of Stone and Fire

◆ Mina◆

“THUNDER SHOT!”

” ” ” “Gwaaaaah!!” ” ” “

The fired grapeshot of lightning blows away the pursuers all together.

“Phew, it’s over.”

When the battle ends, Yukinojo, who had been on standby in the back, approaches in a good mood.

“Magnificent, Mina! Your magic was brilliantly sharp this time as well!”

This guy, even though he’s the one being escorted, he always wants to step forward to fight, which gives Haruomi a hard time.

Well, samurai like Yukinojo seem to be in a position closer to knights or military personnel compared to the nobles I know, and apparently, that’s why lords take the initiative to go out to the battlefield.

I wonder if this is also what they call a cultural difference?

“Wait, you’re injured! Are you alright!?”

Looking at him, Yukinojo has an injury on his arm.

“Umu, it’s nothing major, an arrow just grazed me.”

“I am deeply sorry. I couldn’t hold back the pursuers and allowed the Young Master to be injured.”

Haruomi bows his head to Yukinojo, looking truly apologetic.

Looking behind him, several pursuers had fallen.

It seems there was a detached force.

“To think that despite being the Young Master’s guard, I allowed you to suffer an injury…”

“It is fine. Both Mina and Haruomi did well with just the two of you. Good work.”

“Sir, thank you very much!”

“…Yukinojo says that, but as expected, the enemy’s numbers increasing is a problem.”

A few days since crossing the checkpoint, we were heading towards the town of Hatoba to meet up with Rex, but we had been attacked as many as five times during that period.

“With this many attacks, it’s completely exposed that we are heading for the town of Hatoba.”

“Indeed. I thought we managed to blind the pursuers by fleeing into my uncle’s estate, though.”

But the reality is this.

Moreover, this is in the middle of a forest that can’t even be called an animal trail, off the highway to avoid standing out.

We are heading to the town of Hatoba relying on the position of the sun, so I didn’t think we’d be found by pursuers, but…

“Either there was a traitor among Yukinojo‘s uncle’s subordinates, or that Head House Elder’s subordinates are excellent…”

“No way!? There’s no way there would be such a person among my uncle’s subordinates…”

“No, considering the mastermind, I think that possibility is high. That said, it would naturally be impossible for a spy from another domain to slip into Lord Omitsu’s close aides, so the most they could do was probably relay the fact that the Young Master fled there to the outside. And the pursuers who learned of that predicted that the Young Master would make a move to perform the headship succession ritual with Lord Omitsu’s assistance, and are likely in a situation where they are gathering comrades from the surrounding area.”

When it comes to this, meeting up with Rex really seems to be the correct answer.

As expected, taking on more enemies than this all by myself is a bit tough.

“If that’s the case, we better hurry. Let’s go to the town of Hatoba to meet up with Rex quickly as well.”

“Rex… You mentioned it before, but what kind of relationship do you have with that person?”

When we started walking to head for the town of Hatoba, Yukinojo asked while turning strangely pale.

“Hm? Rex is like my magic master. Anyway, he’s ridiculously strong.”

“I-Is that so? Is that all?”

“Yeah, but? By the way, are you okay? Your face is completely pale.”

I tilt my head while looking at Yukinojo‘s face as he strangely pressed the issue.

“N-No, no problem.”

I wonder if he feels sick because the attacks happened one after another?

“…”

Anyway, it was right when we were about to resume moving once again.

“…Ugh.”

Suddenly, Yukinojo collapsed as if crumbling down.

“Eh?”

“Young Master!?”

We hurriedly rushed over to Yukinojo.

“Uugh…”

Yukinojo‘s face had turned completely white, and he let out groans while cold sweat dripped from his forehead.

“This is… could it be poison!?”

“Poison!?”

Could it be the arrow wound from earlier is the cause!?

“These symptoms, it’s most likely the venom of a Yomitsu Snake.”

“Yomitsu Snake?”

“Umu, a highly venomous snake. The venom immediately begins to take effect on those bitten by this snake, and in the blink of an eye, their bodies become unable to move. Furthermore, after that, they are assaulted by a high fever while their body begins to convulse violently, and finally, they die of breathing difficulties…”

“Wait, isn’t that bad!?”

“The treatment for a Yomitsu Snake is a race against time. We must treat him immediately! We’ll quickly take the Young Master to a safe place!”

“Got it!”

◆

Searching for a safe place to treat Yukinojo, we luckily discovered a hunter’s cabin nearby.

There was nothing inside, and it really looked like a place just to shelter from the rain and wind, but for us who were being chased by pursuers, just having a roof and walls was quite something to be thankful for.

Laying a blanket on the floor, Haruomi laid Yukinojo down.

“…This is bad, his symptoms are not looking good at all. At this rate, every second counts!”

That said, there are no apothecaries or pharmacists here.

I also have some knowledge of medicinal herbs that my grandfather taught me, but it was my first time hearing about a snake called the Yomitsu Snake, so I have absolutely no idea which medicinal herb would be effective for treatment.

I think it’s probably a species endemic to this country, but…

If only Rex were here, with that ridiculous amount of knowledge, he’d have a medicine that could cure Yomitsu Snake venom or whatever… Wait, ah!

“It can’t be helped now that it’s come to this. It’s dangerous, but…”

“That’s right! Let’s try using this!”

I took out the thing I had obtained just recently from my pocket.

“Wh-What is that?”

Haruomi, who was about to take something out, looked at the medicine I took out with a dubious face.

“It’s a Low-Grade Universal Antidote made by an acquaintance.”

Yes, what I took out was the Low-Grade Universal Antidote Rex made.

I received this from Tatsukichi-san when we helped Echigoya just recently.

Tatsukichi-san told me to take whatever I liked as thanks for saving them, so I struggled with what to choose, but as expected, since I’m acting alone right now, medicine is what I want the most.

I never thought the first use for it would be my client, though…

“Low-Grade Universal Antidote?”

However, Haruomi, who didn’t know the absurdity of Rex‘s medicines, looked at the medicine with skepticism at my words.

“Yeah, it has cured the venom of a highly venomous spider before, and it seems to be effective against quite a variety of poisons. With this, it might be effective against that Yomitsu Snake venom too.”

Haruomi falls into thought at my words.

Wondering if it’s really okay to have Yukinojo drink this.

“…Fumu, well, very well. I cannot think it would be effective against the highly venomous Yomitsu Snake, but it’s a net positive if it can buy us time until we reach the town.”

Thank goodness. I somehow got permission.

Honestly, I thought he might refuse saying ‘As if I can use a medicine you prepared’, but it seems his worry for Yukinojo won out over his distrust of me.

“Then I’ll have him drink it. Here, Yukinojo, it’s medicine.”

I raise the unconscious Yukinojo, somehow get him to drink the medicine, and lay him down again.

Then, as I watched his condition, the medicine immediately began to take effect, and Yukinojo‘s breathing stabilized.

His facial expression, which looked pained until just moments ago, has calmed down, and a little color is returning to his face.

“…Breathe“

“Alright, it seems it worked. His breathing is settling down.”

“Impossible!?”

Looking to the side, there was Haruomi‘s face, wearing an expression as if to say ‘I can’t believe it’.

Sensing my gaze, Haruomi hurriedly wove words of excuse.

“Ah, no. I just didn’t expect it to actually be effective. Moreover, I’ve never seen a medicine that produces such a dramatic effect. And against that Yomitsu Snake’s venom at that!?”

Ah, yeah. It’s Rex‘s medicine, after all.

“Ahaha, we felt the same way when we first learned about this.”

“U-Umu. However, the medical technology of your country is tremendous…”

“Well, rather than my country’s, it’s more that my acquaintance personally is amazing.”

“I see, so it’s one of those secret medicines passed down through a single line of succession.”

“Probably…”

It’s just that the number of those secrets is ridiculously large, and on top of that he casually uses them left and right, so the gratitude fades, or rather, my senses get paralyzed…

“However, you saved him. The Yomitsu Snake’s venom is quite strong. Even a dedicated antidote carries the risk of side effects. For this to be so effective despite that, I was honestly surprised.”

“Heh, so it was that dangerous of a poison.”

“Umu, if it’s one that uses high-grade medicinal herbs abundantly, the side effects are few, but in exchange, it takes time and effort to make and doesn’t last long. Therefore, if travelers like us or commoners try to use them, they end up being medicines that are easy to obtain but have side effects in return.”

I see, so that was the reason he was panicking.

Even if the medicine made it in time, the fact that there are side effects means he wouldn’t have been in for a good time.

“…Lady Mina.”

It was at that moment.

Suddenly, Haruomi knelt before me.

“Eh? What?”

“I thank you for saving the Young Master.”

Saying so, Haruomi bowed his head deeply.

“Eh!? P-Please don’t mind it. I just happened to have an antidote, that’s all.”

That’s right, I just used the medicine to the bitter end, it’s not like I did anything particularly amazing.

“I am truly grateful. I was on the verge of losing the person I should protect for the second time.”

“!?”

Haruomi mutters with a trembling voice.

Most likely, the other person he lost refers to Yukinojo‘s father.

“…I gave him a potion just in case, so he should be able to move after a little while.”

“I apologize again and again.”

“I’m saying it’s fine. This is also part of the job.”

Saying that, I forcibly made Haruomi, who still had his head bowed, stand up, and told him once more not to worry about it.

“…Will you not ask?”

Haruomi muttered, but I played dumb regarding the intent of those words.

“Ask what?”

“The reason the Young Master is being so persistently targeted. You’ve vaguely guessed it too, right? That if he were just a mere Domain Lord’s son, there’s no way he would be targeted this persistently.”

Well, it’s certainly not normal to be attacked this much.

After all, the path we’ve advanced on isn’t a highway, but a pathless path.

Encountering us as we proceeded through such a place means the enemy must have deployed a considerable number of pursuers in the vicinity.

But if they pulled a stunt like that, the enemy side would probably be heavily in the red.

Because hiring people costs money, after all.

Being able to do that means the enemy possesses corresponding financial power and authority.

“…The Young Master is the son of an extremely noble personage. Enough to be directly involved in the country’s politics.”

Thought so. If the target were a low-ranking noble, they couldn’t expect to gain much profit even after going through all this trouble to attack.

Not unless they are certain of a large enough return to warrant doing it.

“However, possessing authority enough to be involved in politics means there are also many who seek to make that authority their own.”

I understand that too.

Because the nobles in our country are like that too.

“And similarly, the number of people who hold grudges also increases.”

“Was Yukinojo‘s father a noble worthy of being resented?”

But Haruomi shook his head side to side.

“The Sho… The Young Master’s father was not necessarily the best, but neither was he one to conduct a reign worthy of resentment. However, when it comes to grudges, it is not only those who govern with tyranny that are resented.”

Haruomi speaks with an indescribable expression.

“You’re speaking as if you have something stuck between your teeth.”

“Even a lord who governs with good administration can be resented. For example, if they feel anger towards a lord who governs with tyranny and punish them, they will be resented in return by that party. Also, even if they punish someone who made a mistake, they will be resented. People’s grudges are just that unreasonable.”

“…That is certainly something they can’t do anything about themselves.”

“But similarly, there are those who suffer unreasonableness. For example, the children of someone who governed with tyranny. If the person themselves is rotten to the core just like their parent, you could conclude they brought it upon themselves, but if they are young children, they wouldn’t even be able to distinguish between good and evil. Sometimes, such children hear the words of unjustified resentment from their surroundings and burn with unreasonable anger. Furthermore, if a soldier who cracks down on wrongdoers sustains a deep wound and is fired from their job, they might resent the superior who ordered the duty.”

“But if you say things like that, wouldn’t you be unable to do anything?”

“That is so. That is certainly true. However, among those targeting the Young Master, there are those who attack for reasons that cannot be avoided no matter how careful one is. Lady Mina, do not let your guard down just because the opponent seems good-natured.”

“…I understand.”

I wonder if this is something Haruomi has experienced too?

He probably wants to say that no matter the opponent’s circumstances, I shouldn’t sympathize and show an opening.

Perhaps the conversation was over with that, Haruomi moved close to Yukinojo and checked his complexion.

“Umu, the Young Master’s condition has also improved. At this rate, he should be able to move by tomorrow morning. It’s just a little further to the town of Hatoba. You should rest while you can, Lady Mina. I wish to reach the town sometime tomorrow to let the Young Master rest in a safe place. As thanks for the medicine, I will keep watch.”

“Yeah, then I’ll take you up on your offer… !?”

Because I had exhausted my magic power in the battle during the day, right when I was about to obediently get some rest, I sensed the birth of a mighty magic power.

“What is wrong, Lady Mina…?”

“MANA WALL!!”

Feeling that even the time to answer the question was precious, I immediately erected a defensive wall of magic power around us.

The next moment, the hunter’s cabin was blown away along with an explosive roar.

“Wh-!?”

“Ugh!”

I knew it! Someone attacked using high-tier magic!

While feeling my magic power being scraped away heavily, I desperately maintain the defensive wall.

And by the time the torrent of magic power trying to destroy the barrier finally disappeared, the surroundings had become a wasteland.

“Wh-What is happening!?”

Covering Yukinojo to protect him, Haruomi raises a voice of astonishment at the disastrous scene around us.

“Fumu, you survived, huh. You are quite persistent trash.”

The owner of the voice appears from inside the forest.

“Ugh, what a flashy stunt for pursuers… !?”

The moonlight and the flames burning the destroyed trees of the forest illuminated the opponent who attacked us.

Brown skin and silver hair, and black wings growing from the back; it was the figure of an enemy I knew very well.

“A Majin!?”

Yes, the one who attacked us was a Majin, the kind we had fought many times before.

“I came because I heard a troublesome guard had attached themselves, but it is just a mere little girl. To be unable to win against an opponent of this level, humans are truly incompetent.”

To think a Majin is involved in this matter…

“…Haruomi-san, take Yukinojo and run.”

“Lady Mina!?”

“It’s impossible to take him on while protecting the two of you. Go seek help from Rex in the town of Hatoba.”

Honestly, I’m worried even with just myself, though.

Normally, vanguard fighters like Jairo and the others would be there, so I could attack from the rear with peace of mind, but right now I’m alone.

Of all things, for a mage to handle both the vanguard and rearguard against a Majin is beyond reckless.

But if I don’t do it now, Yukinojo and the others will be killed.

Then I have no choice but to be a decoy at least until the two of them escape to a safe place.

“However, then you will!?”

“If it’s just me, I can manage somehow…”

“Hahaha! To be chatting in front of the enemy, you sure have composure!”

The Majin compressed his magic power and attacked without even an incantation.

“Ugh! FLAME LANCER!”

“Hoh, you offset that just now. You are quite capable.”

Good grief, to have this much power without an incantation, it makes me sick.

Even though I used quite a bit of magic power to offset that just now.

As expected, without Norb here, my strength gets chipped away on defense.

“Hurry up and escape!”

“Ugh! I’m leaving it to you!”

From my desperate state, he probably judged that staying here any longer would make him a burden.

Haruomi immediately hoisted Yukinojo onto his shoulder and dashed off at full speed.

With this, all that’s left is to buy time until the two of them manage to get away.

“Now then, from here on I’m your opponent!”

“To try and fight alone against me, what great conceit!”

However, the Majin ignored me and launched an attack at Yukinojo and the other.

“Wha-!? WIND CHASER!”

I hurriedly offset the Majin’s attack with wind magic, which excels in speed.

“Hahha! You defended against that just now too! It seems you are not just all talk!”

“Hey, you! Don’t just suddenly aim for Yukinojo and the others!”

“Hmph, I care nothing for human circumstances. Rather, exposing your weakness is what’s at fault.”

The Majin condensed magic power further to attack Yukinojo and the other.

Moreover, this time he deployed a massive amount of magic power so that I wouldn’t be able to offset it.

“If that’s your intention! STONE WALL!”

I produced a thick wall of rock between the Majin and Yukinojo‘s group, creating a wall to protect them from the attack.

Although the wall was heavily chipped away by the massive attack, doing this spared me from consuming magic power and concentration far more than aiming to block them one by one.

“With this, you can’t aim for them, right?”

“Hoh, you thought about it a little… Did you think I would say something like that, you fool!”

But as if sneering at me, the Majin flapped the wings on his back and flew up into the sky.

“Hahahahah! Did you not notice the wings on my back, little girl!”

And then the Majin flapped his wings to assault Haruomi, who was carrying Yukinojo on his back.

He intends to attack from point-blank range so I can’t offset it with my magic. But…

“Of course I noticed them, idiot.”

Towards the Majin who flew up into the sky exactly as aimed, I timed it perfectly and activated magic the instant the Majin tried to pass overhead.

“ROCK TOWER!”

A stone wall similar to the one from earlier was born, surrounding me.

However, this time the wall was even higher, stretching beyond even the flying Majin.

And the Majin, who was just about to fly over me, crashed heavily into the wall extending from behind me.

“Buguah!? W-A wall in the sky!?”

Towards the Majin bewildered by the suddenly appeared wall, I fired a finishing magic without a moment’s delay.

“Eat this! FLAME INFERNO!!”

“Wha-!?”

To escape from the hellfire fired from directly below, the Majin hurriedly tried to fall back but crashed into the wall towering behind him.

Then he directed his gaze to the sky on his left and right, but it was still covered by rock walls, making it impossible to escape.

The Majin, surrounded by walls on all four sides, was like a sinner locked inside a tower.

And by the time the Majin realized he might make it if he escaped upwards, it was already too late; the pillar of hellfire surging from below swallowed the Majin.

“Guaaaaaaaaaah!!”

The Majin’s screams could be heard from within the hellfire.

“Hmph, you let your guard down. Even in the sky, you have to watch out for obstacles.”

Fufufu, to have him fall for it this cleanly feels exhilarating.

The stone wall I created to protect Yukinojo and the other from the Majin was a decoy to make the Majin fly into the sky.

Sure enough, the Majin flew up with a triumphant look on his face, thinking I hadn’t realized he could fly.

And right at the moment the Majin, convinced of his victory, tried to fly over me, I timed it and activated the high-tier barrier magic ROCK TOWER, creating a wall so he couldn’t escape.

This rock tower was a wall to prevent the Majin from heading towards Yukinojo‘s group, and also a stepping stone to ensure my maximum power magic would land a guaranteed hit on an opponent who could freely fly around the sky and take evasive action.

“Even if it was to avoid burning the forest and to ensure a hit, firing three high-tier spells in succession is truly tough…”

The children in Rex‘s village used this casually, but I wonder just how much excess magic power those kids had…

For an ordinary person like me, there’s no way I can rapid-fire this…

“Now then, let’s hurry up and catch up. If I don’t hurry, I’ll lose sight of Yukinojo and…”

It was right when I pulled myself together and tried to chase after Yukinojo‘s group.

Due to a strong impact assaulting me from the sky above, I was blown away with tremendous force.

“Kyaaaaaaah!?”

Due to the unexpected attack, my body rolled like a pebble.

“Gah!?”

And though I finally stopped by crashing into the surrounding trees, the double impact made it hard to breathe properly.

“Ku, kukuku, to think a mere human girl would wield such magic. It would have been close if not for this Lost Item talisman.”

“That voice is…”

Moving my barely movable body to look at the sky, the figure of the Majin who was supposed to have been blown away just now was there.

“To think he was unharmed…”

To think the Majin was secretly carrying a valuable, high-tier magic item…

As if to show off that fact, the Majin who took the hellfire magic hadn’t suffered any significant injuries.

“However, the crime of injuring me is heavy, little girl! I’ll put you through something so cruel you’ll wish you were dead!”

Perhaps not liking that he was toyed with by a little girl like me, the Majin, baring his anger, shouted such a thing.

“Fu, fufufu…”

“What is so funny, little girl?”

Because I, who should have been at a disadvantage, let out a laugh, the Majin became suspicious.

“Because… your lines are exactly the same as the Majin we defeated before.”

“What?”

Yes, that day we encountered a Majin for the first time.

The words spat out by the Majin who was tricked by Jairo.

That’s why I’ll also send this Majin the same line as him.

“If you say such a pathetic line… you’ll end up targeted by an opponent who’ll make you think you’re better off dead, and you’ll fall into despair.”

Well, realistically, there’s no way he would come to a forest like this, so it’s just a pure bluff, though.

“Hmph, spouting such nonsense—gwaaaaaaah!?”

While I was trying to distract the Majin until my body could somehow move again, suddenly the Majin’s figure was blown away.

“Eh?”

“I came because I thought quite a flashy magical battle was taking place, but to think a Majin would be in a place like this.”

Hearing that voice amidst a desperate, life-threatening pinch, I unintentionally felt like crying.

Even in the dark night sky, there’s no way I’d ever mishear that voice.

“…No way.”

“And to top it off, the one being attacked was my comrade.”

That voice contained anger, which was rare for him.

“Y-You bastard, who are you…!?”

To the sudden intruder, the Majin asks his name.

“My name is Rex. Just an adventurer.”

“Rex!”

The strongest helper… has arrived!