Amelia Miyagawa, 16 years old
Occupation: High School Student
Magic Aptitude: 8 (General Class)
Role: Hero
“A-are you really alright?”
“Hmm, the magic power, the spells, the destructive power, I think they are all more than sufficient? Furthermore,”
The air was thick.
The dense magic concentration, which I could feel on my skin, felt sticky like being in a humid room.
“Nothing is binding you anymore. I think it’s time to take action.”
“I wouldn’t normally think a solution could be found this way.”
The chains that had been restraining my legs were easily rendered useless by the method of this mysterious voice, Mike. The metal fragments scattered around were what had been chains just a moment ago. Normally, one would apply stress by forcing the flow of magic against its designated direction. It was natural that it would break, and as planned, I was able to regain my freedom. I should have been burdened by this action, but Mike’s spell mitigated it, leaving me only slightly tired. The magic it absorbed was then solidified into a lump and thrown at the door, scattering around me. Currently, I felt like I had scattered gunpowder all around and was about to light it. My heart was pounding relentlessly. I was so thirsty I couldn’t help it. It might be unladylike, but I couldn’t stop my throat from making noises.
“Now, about what happens after we escape. You have the route memorized, right?”
“Yes, I’m alright.”
“You don’t need to be that tense. If all else fails, you can just activate your magic towards the ceiling and escape.”
“Mike, you’re both delicate and rough.”
“Amī, are you aware that those words contradict each other? I’ll answer because I understand what you mean, but sometimes brute force is also rational. I simply know that; I don’t know why I know it or from whom I learned it.”
Mike says he does it because it’s necessary. I suppose that’s how it is. In fact, faced with this situation, I had no idea what to do.
“Hmm, I wonder if this is what it feels like to throw a Molotov Cocktail.”
“I can’t fathom that feeling, but you should make up your mind quickly, okay?”
“Why?”
“A rather imposing group is approaching your current location.”
“Huh?”
“Specifically, they’ll arrive in about three minutes.”
“Tell me sooner!!”
“Ah, I need to ensure the barrier is properly maintained.”
“Ignite!”
Caught up in the situation, I realized I had to hurry and my previous hesitation vanished. I hastily conjured the magic circle and ignited the abundant magic. At that moment, I thought that explosions were supposed to make a “boom” sound, but hearing it up close, it was just a brief “gong.” The magic I used shouldn’t have been that powerful.
“What are you doing before I can even tell you it’s dangerous?”
“…It hurts.”
“Naturally. While the spell was designed with a specific direction, so there was no direct damage, the impact is another matter.”
Because the ambient magic in the room was too potent, it transformed into a great magic. If the magic circle hadn’t acted as a shield, who knows what would have happened to me. The impact of the powerful magic explosion sent me flying backward with the magic circle. My back hurt from the collision. But…
“Hmm, it made a perfect hole.”
“Whoa…”
As a result, the sturdy door blew off its hinges, and the surrounding walls were gouged, testament to the aftermath of the explosion.
“Yes, while I proposed it and safety was established to some extent, the saying that using great magic in a confined space is dangerous exists for a reason.”
“I won’t use large-scale magic in small spaces anymore, okay?”
“It might depend on the situation, but that’s wise. Also, you don’t seem to have much time to leisurely act. That explosion just now has caused quite a commotion.”
“Right.”
Reflecting on it, I might have done something terrible. While thinking that I never wanted to experience this again, I cautiously peered through the opening and heard voices from a distance. If I stayed put, I would be moved to another room. That would mean my efforts to cause damage were in vain. Setting that aside, I shifted my focus. I channeled magic into my aching body to alleviate the pain, confirmed my ability to move, and then kicked off the floor, sprinting away.
“Oh? That’s not the exit, though.”
“I can’t leave Mike behind!”
However, my intended destination was not the exit, but the suspected room where Mike was imprisoned. My methods were crude, but escaping was a fact, and if he helped me, I had to repay the favor.
“You mean, you’re going to help me?”
“That’s right!”
“I don’t recommend that course of action.”
“I know, but! I want to do it!”
“…Then, as someone you’re trying to save, I can’t stop you. If you want to do it, I’ll help a little. Honestly, I was wondering about my own situation right now. This is a welcome coincidence. I won’t hold back my cooperation.”
“OK! Wait for me!”
With that resolve, I put more power into my running legs. Along the way, I intended to hide behind walls or cling to the ceiling with body reinforcement to avoid encountering anyone, but…
“There are a lot of people.”
“That’s to be expected. After all, the person who was held captive has escaped. It would be wrong for the organization not to mobilize people here.”
“I know, but… we can’t get close.”
Furthermore, as I proceeded deeper, the number of people increased. The closer I got to Mike’s location, the greater the risk of encountering personnel stationed at key points. I wonder if this is such an important facility.
“Now, what will you do? I wouldn’t complain even if you decided to escape from here.”
“…It seems I can’t afford to do that.”
“It appears so. They seem to have noticed you aren’t heading for the exit.”
I heard the sound of many footsteps approaching me. This meant I could no longer turn back.
“In that case,”
“Hmm? What are you going to do?”
“I’m going to run at full speed!!”
“Eh?”
I permeated my entire body with magic and assumed a crouching start position. Mike, who had maintained a nonchalant attitude until now, showed a rare moment of bewilderment. But without paying it any mind, I abandoned hiding and dashed off at full speed.
“Hahaha, aren’t you told you’re audacious?”
“I hear that a lot!!”
However, I wasn’t running on the floor, but on the ceiling. Mike laughed, finding it exhilarating, and I scaled the wall, running up to the ceiling, my vision inverted. I ran, offsetting the downward force with forward momentum, in an environment where one wrong move could lead to a crash to the ground.
“Did you hear something?”
“Yeah, I heard it. What was it?”
I needed to run past before they noticed. It was dangerous, but it was the conclusion I had reached. Fortunately, my abilities as a Hero made it possible, and the ceiling area was dimly lit and at a considerable height. I thought I had found a blind spot. Someone below would likely be taking notice and looking around, but during that time, I would be running above them.
“A reversal of perspective, isn’t it? If the floor is no good, then the ceiling. It’s a good strategy that takes advantage of the fixed idea that the ceiling is meant to protect from things coming from above. The drawback is that you can’t restart once you stop.”
“Nngh!!”
“And the blood rushing to your head.”
I had been running for a few minutes, but gradually my head started to feel fuzzy. At first, I could barely respond to Mike, let alone have the余裕 to do so. I clenched my teeth to maintain focus. I could only run along the ceiling, utilizing centrifugal force and forward momentum, aiming for my destination. But my efforts paid off.
“I-I’ve arrived.”
“It’s nothing short of spectacular. It seems the pursuers aren’t coming this way either. They’ve probably reported that the lookout hasn’t come to this area. This should buy us some time.”
“Right, and now…”
“We just need to figure out how to get past the door.”
“Ideally, we should get in before anyone comes.”
I had safely reached my destination. Descending from the ceiling, I cleared the blood from my head and am currently using sound to probe the path ahead from the shadow of a corner. There are about three guards in front of the destination door. One person who looks like a mage and two knights. The number is small, but fighting without any weapons makes me feel uneasy. After seeing Ann in that state, I’m resistant to fighting. I’d prefer to get through that door with a more peaceful method.
“Is there a way…”
“No explosions, okay?”
“Do you think I’m some kind of eccentric who loves explosions? Since I have no memories, I can’t deny it and can only accept that perception.”
“You accept it.”
Even though we’re joking, I’m desperately trying to think of a way to enter that room without any trouble. I wish I could follow exhaust vents or disguise myself like in a movie.
“Hey Mike, can your magic make me invisible or transform me into someone else?”
“Hmm, such magic exists, but neither is easy to perform.”
“I see.”
“Instead, how about this kind of magic?”
“What kind of magic?”
“Oh, it’s a magic often used for pranks. It’s called an illusion magic, and it projects an illusion of yourself that looks exactly like you in a distant location. You can even move it freely.”
“Can I learn it easily?”
“Yes, I can teach it to you in three minutes.”
“Huh, I thought magic was supposed to be more difficult.”
“That’s just because the mage who taught you was unskilled. Now, time is limited. Let’s move our heads before our mouths.”
Mike, who teaches magic as easily as in a game, only adds to the mystery of who he is. I began practicing what he taught me, which was easier to grasp than any school teacher’s explanation.
“It’s small.”
“Try to solidify your image a bit more.”
At first, what appeared was a small me, like a stuffed toy. I thought it turned out cute, but I had to redo it.
“Is this good?”
“It’s not just some part, but your entire wish has been incorporated. Let’s try again, suppressing that.”
“I-it’s my future self!”
Next, I appeared as a model-figured me, tall enough to look up to. However, Mike conveyed his disapproval with words, telling me to be serious. It was true that it was difficult to move, so I reluctantly erased it and recreated it. Wouldn’t it be okay to make it a little bigger? Vowing to voice my complaints later, I recreated it several times and finally saw the completed me in the mirror.
“If it’s like this,”
“Yes, that’s sufficient. Now, this is its application.”
“Application?”
“Yes, application. It’s fine if we use your illusion as a decoy, but that will just call for reinforcements. Don’t worry, it’s simple. Just process it as I instruct.”
“Okay.”
Indeed, if I drew attention and then slipped inside, it would be disastrous if reinforcements were called. It would be better if I could do this without causing a commotion.
“Create two more illusions of yourself like the one you just made, dress them in the same robes as the mage in front of you, and position them around you.”
“Okay.”
“There, exactly three minutes. You are currently a captive, aren’t you? That’s how it should look, right?”
“Ah!”
Thanks to Mike’s words, I noticed. This way, I would appear to be captured, and the three people around me would look like they were transporting me.
“From what I can see, this method of carrying someone has been used frequently before. And I remember the conversations from those times. Now, it’s all up to your acting. Don’t worry, relax. If you do as I say, you’ll be able to get inside.”
“R-right. I’ll try.”
“For now, walk with your hands tied behind your back and your head bowed.”
“Understood.”
Following his instructions, I had the illusions go ahead and began walking slowly.
“Stop! What business do you have here?”
As I emerged from around the corner, I was immediately spotted and stopped by one of the knights. This is where the real performance begins.
“Remember what I told you. We’re bringing the ‘item’ as per higher orders.”
“We’re bringing the ‘item’ as per higher orders.”
“The ‘item’? Ah, is it an additional Hero? But it’s sudden, and it’s not even dawn yet. The plan was for sometime this afternoon.”
Since I was speaking through the illusions, there was no oddity in the vocal distance. My mouth was hidden by the illusions, and I wore the hood of the robe deep, so we couldn’t see each other’s faces clearly. But what did “additional Hero” mean?
“The plan has changed. The paperwork will follow later.”
“The plan has changed. The paperwork will follow later.”
I mustn’t think about unnecessary things; I can’t afford to right now. Even though I repeated it a moment later, they didn’t notice, did they?
“If that’s the case, fine. Do you need any help?”
“Only with the preliminary preparations. It’s not necessary.”
“Only with the preliminary preparations. It’s not necessary.”
“Understood, but they are Heroes. Don’t let your guard down.”
Good, they don’t seem suspicious. The knight moved aside from the front, and another knight opened the door. I slowly entered, telling myself to stay calm, not to rush. And the door closed.
“Hmm, let’s go a bit further inside. That way, our voices won’t be heard.”
“Okay, *hic*.”
I let out a sigh of relief and turned my gaze forward from the closed door, only to see many coffins in front of me. Illuminated by lamps, they were undoubtedly for deceased individuals.
“Are they graves?”
“This isn’t a graveyard. Because the people inside are alive. A graveyard is a resting place for the dead, so calling this a place where the living sleep isn’t accurate.”
“Huh?”
I let out a small scream at the sudden sight and repeated what I said about the spectacle, but Mike negated it. So, this time I looked slowly at what I thought were coffins, but apart from a strange pattern drawn on them, they just looked like coffins.
“Technically, they are a type of Magic Tool.”
“Magic Tool? Like those lamps over there?”
“By definition, that’s correct. However, the coffins over there seem to be of a different nature than everyday items like lamps.”
“??”
What could that mean? Was it related to the term “additional Hero” from earlier? Also, I was curious about the stone tablets lined up in front of each coffin.
“Are you curious?”
“I am, but…”
It’s a woman’s intuition, but I feel like I shouldn’t ask about this. However, another intuition, the Hero’s intuition perhaps, tells me I must ask.
“Yes, please tell me.”
“I see. I can’t say for sure since I can’t see them directly, but judging from the magic flow and the tremor of souls, those coffins are devices that convert a life form’s abilities into Magic Tools.”
I don’t know what I would gain from that choice, but my woman’s intuition sensed an atmosphere of avoiding something unpleasant. Therefore, I chose my Hero’s intuition.
“To put it plainly, they are Magic Tools that create Magic Tools using people’s lives.”
“…”
And that intuition brought me face-to-face with a horrifying piece of information. I turned my face towards Mike, who might be somewhere ahead, though I couldn’t see him. I was speechless. I reacted reflexively, seeking words of denial, words of laughter calling it a black joke.
“It might be mistaken, but it’s not a lie. In fact, I can sense human presences with powerful souls and magic power emanating from those coffins. That magic power is being kept alive by the coffins and is channeling through the magic circuits drawn on their surfaces to accumulate power in those stone tablets.”
However, Mike didn’t confirm it for me. His words thrust reality upon me and connected the pieces of the puzzle in my mind, forming a single picture.
“Fake Heroes… is it possible…”
“Amī, I don’t know what you’re shocked about, but keep a firm hold. It’s better to focus on completing your objective first. If you keep adding tasks one after another, you’ll eventually become overwhelmed.”
“…Yeah.”
I imagined the worst-case scenario. I wanted to shake it off, but the content was too heavy to dismiss. Consciously trying not to dwell on the lingering thoughts, I focused on rescuing Mike. I passed through the empty coffin room and proceeded further. The surroundings were dimly lit, illuminated by lamps.
“Well, I should be visible soon. What state am I in, anyway?”
“…Mike?”
“Mmm, feeling Amī’s presence nearby means you must be right in front of me.”
Even in that space, it stood out extraordinarily. A giant hexagonal pyramid crystal sat there, with a pale blue flame floating in its center. It resembled the disembodied spirits often found in ghost stories in Japan. However, while ghost spirits can be large, typically about the size of a human face, this flame was proportional to the crystal’s size, well over two meters in height.
“Mike was a ghost.”
Those words escaped my mouth and sank into the quiet space.
Amelia Miyagawa, 16 years old
Occupation: High School Student
Magic Aptitude: 8 (General Class)
Role: Hero
Quote of the day:
I don’t understand any of this anymore.
This concludes this installment.
The story has been quite serious lately, and I’ve been thinking about adding a bit more comedy. I’m constantly trying to make Amelia more like a Hero.
I hope you continue to enjoy this work.
