"Hmm, I think the magic, magic formula, and power are perfect, don't you? And
The air is thick .
The density of magic so dense that I can feel it on my skin is as nettlesome as being in a humid room.
There's nothing holding you back now. All that's left to do, I guess, is to take action.
"I don't think it's normally possible to solve it this way.
The chains that held my legs in place were summarily ended by way of this mysterious voice, Mike.
The piece of metal that splattered to the ground was a chain that had been in place just a moment ago.
Load it up by making it run in reverse on a path that normally would only flow in one direction.
That way, it was natural for it to break, and I was able to regain my body's freedom as I intended.
There was going to be a strain on me for what I did, but Mike's technique lessened it and made it a little less tiring.
And the magic that I had sucked out is now floating around me as a result of my hitting the door in a lump and dissipating.
Now I'm scattering the gunpowder around and trying to light it.
It's not like I can't stop pounding.
It's not like I'm not thirsty.
It may be a trivial thing to do, but I've been slurping a lot since then.
Now, the rest is a matter of getting out. You know the way, don't you?
"Yeah, I'm fine.
"There's no need to be so nervous. If it comes down to it, all you have to do is launch your magic at the ceiling and escape.
"Mike is a sensitive but sketchy guy.
'Does Amy realize that those words are a contradiction in terms? I know what you mean, so I'll answer, but sometimes the brute force is also reasonable. I just know it, though I don't know why I know it or who taught it to me.
Mike says he does it because he has to.
I guess that's about it.
I really didn't know what to do in a situation like this.
"Hmmm, is that what it feels like to throw a Molotov cocktail?
"I don't know how you feel about it, but you'd better be prepared for it sooner rather than later, wouldn't you?
Why?
"Because there's some kind of ostentatious group coming toward your location.
"Huh?
"To be more specific, we'll be there in about three minutes.
"You could have said that earlier!
"Oh, we have to put up the barriers tight.
"Ignite!
I actually got carried away by the situation and felt the need to hurry, so I hurriedly deployed my magic circle and ignited the magic that had been filling the room.
Then I thought.
I thought an explosion would sound like a bang, but when you hear it right next to you, it's just a flash.
I'm sure the magic I used wasn't much, but
"What are you doing before you say it's dangerous?
"...... itty bitty
"Of course, I had directionality in my technique, so it didn't do any direct damage, but the impact was different," he said.
The amount of magic floating around the room had turned into great magic too quickly.
What would have happened to me if my magic circle hadn't been turned into a shield?
Thanks to the massive explosion of magic, I was sent flying backward with my entire magic circle.
My back hurts from that blow.
But...
"Yeah, you've got a nice hole in the ground.
"Wow.
The sturdy door has been blown off and the walls around it have been gouged out as if to tell the aftermath of an explosion.
Yes, I suggested it and safety was somewhat established, but I guess the term 'dangerous to use great magic in an enclosed space' is meant to keep people from doing this kind of thing.
I don't use big magic in a small space anymore.
It depends, but that would be wise. And you don't seem to have much time to wait. There's a lot going on with the explosion.
"Un.
Looking back, I think I might have done something amazing.
Thinking that I don't want to go through this experience a second time, I look out of the hole and hear voices in the distance.
If you stay in this place, you'll be moved to another room.
That means it's not worth the damage you caused indirectly.
As such, you can switch your consciousness and soothe the pain by channeling magic power into your aching body, make sure you move, and then kick the floor with a thud as you run.
"Oh? You're not an exit, but
"I can't leave Mike alone!
But I'm not heading for the exit, I'm heading for the room where I think Mike is trapped.
It's a horrible way to get out, but we got out of there, and if you help me out, I'll pay you back.
"Does that mean you'll help me?
"Soudayo!
"It's not a recommended course of action.
"I know, Ked! I want to!
...... can't stop me from helping you. I'll only help a little if you want to. Honestly, I was just wondering what my situation is now. I think it's a really good boat ride. I'll be happy to help.
"OK, wait for me!
With that enthusiasm, you put more effort into your running legs.
On the way, you want to hide behind a wall or stick to the ceiling to strengthen your body and avoid running into people, but
"There are a lot of people.
That's true, because the person I was holding escaped. It would be wrong for the organization not to move people here.
"Yes, but you can't get near ......
In addition, the further back you went, the more people there were.
The closer we got to Mike's location, the more danger we were in of coming into contact with personnel in key positions.
Is this facility that important?
'Well, what do you do now? I wouldn't complain about it, as far as I'm concerned, even if I got out of here.
"...... doesn't seem to be able to say that.
"I guess so, I guess they noticed you weren't heading for the exit.
I could hear the sound of footsteps coming toward me.
There's no turning back now.
It's coming to a head.
"Hmm? What are you going to do?
"Run as fast as you can!
"Huh?
Soaked in magical power, he takes a crouching start posture.
For the first time, Mike, who has remained aloof in the past, shows his confusion.
But regardless of that, I stop hiding and run as fast as I can.
"Ha ha ha, they say you're a bold man, don't they?
"I get that a lot!
However, it is not the floor that I am running on, but the ceiling.
Mike laughs, and I respond by running through the wall and straight up to the ceiling, with my vision upside down.
Running through the environment, offsetting the downward force with the forward force, one wrong move and you'll hit the ground.
Didn't you hear something?
"Yeah, you heard me, what?
I'll run through before I'm noticed.
It's risky, but that's the conclusion I came to.
Fortunately, my physical prowess as a brave man allows me to do so, and the ceiling is dimly lit and of reasonable height.
It was a plan that I thought I had blinded.
I'd be looking around to see who was down there, while I ran over it.
'It's a reversal of thinking, if not the floor, then the ceiling. It's a good idea to reverse the stereotypical image of ceilings as a protection against things coming from above. One drawback is that you can't start again if you stop.
Hmmm!
"All that's left to do is to get your head in the clouds.
I've only been running for a few minutes, but I'm starting to feel lightheaded.
I didn't have time to respond to the microphone that I could at first.
You need to keep your mouth tight, or you won't be able to concentrate.
You just use the centrifugal force and forward momentum to run over the ceiling toward your destination.
But the effort is worth it.
Finally, here we are.
I'm just saying it's brilliant. I don't think the pursuers are here either. They must have reported that the guards aren't here. That should buy us some time.
Yes, and
"We'll have to do something about the front of the room.
"Preferably not before someone else comes in.
I've successfully reached the vicinity of my destination.
I'm now using my skills to find my way through the shadows of a bend in the road, letting the blood rush to my head as I come down from the ceiling.
And there are three guards at the door of your destination.
A wizard-like figure and two knights.
It's not much, but I don't feel comfortable fighting without a weapon.
I don't like the idea of fighting after seeing Anne like that.
If possible, I'd like to pass through that door in a quiet way.
'You think I'm an insane being who likes to blow things up? I have no memory of it, but I can't deny it, and I'll have to accept that perception.
Embrace it.
I know I'm joking, but I'm trying very hard to think of a way to get into that room without any problems.
It would be faster if we could follow the vents or disguise ourselves like in the movies.
"Hey Mike, Mike, do you know any magic that you can do to turn invisible or take the form of someone else?
"Hmmm, there are some, but neither is it easy to do.
I see.
"How about this kind of magic instead?
"What magic?
"What, it's the kind of magic you would use as a prankster. It's called imaginary magic, and it projects a false image of you to a remote location. And you can move it around.
"Can you learn it easily?
"Well, I'll let you learn in three minutes.
I don't know, I thought magic was supposed to be more difficult.
That's just because the mage who taught you is inexperienced. Now, time is limited. Let's put our heads before our mouths.
Trying to get into your head more easily than a school teacher, while becoming more and more mysterious about who is Mike, who teaches magic as easily as a game.
It's tiny.
'Let's try to solidify our image a bit more.
At first, I was small and kind of plush, and I ended up with a kind of plush me.
I think I did pretty well, but I had to start over.
Yes, it looks good, doesn't it?
"It's more of a whole than a part, it's a whole of your desire.
"Look, it's the future!
Next thing I know, I'm a model looking up at you.
But Mike's words are filled with accusations that I'm serious.
It's definitely hard to move, so I'm reluctant to turn it off and remake it again.
Why not make it a little bigger?
I promised myself that I would complain about it later, so I redid it several times, and when I stood in front of the mirror, I was finished.
This will do.
"Yeah, that's enough. Now let's apply it.
"Application?
Yes, application. I could use your imaginary shadow as bait, but that would bring out the others. What? It's easy, just do what I tell you to do.
"Yes.
Certainly, you can't go in there while you're distracted, if someone calls you.
It would be better if we could do this without causing a scene.
I will create two more of these imaginary figures and surround you with the same robes as that mage down the road.
"Yes.
"Yes, exactly three minutes. You're a prisoner now. Does it look that way to you?
"Ah!
Mike told me and I noticed.
Surely this makes me look like I'm being held and the three guys around me look like they're carrying it.
As far as I can see, this is often how they've been carrying it. And I remember the conversation. Now it's up to you to do the rest. It's okay, just relax. Just do what I say and we'll get in.
"Uh-huh. I'll try.
"For now, you can walk around slumped over like you're tied behind your back.
Okay.
Do as you are told and start walking slowly ahead of the imaginary.
'Stop! What do you want here?
I come out of the corner and am quickly spotted and stopped by one of the knights.
This is where it gets real.
"Look, we're just going to do the same thing over and over again. I got that thing from upstairs.
I brought you the example from above.
"The ones in the example? Ah, additional brave, but it's not even dawn yet and it's too soon. It was supposed to be noon today.
I'm talking through the imaginary shadow, so the distance between our voices isn't uncomfortable.
My mouth is hidden by the imaginary shadow, and the hood of my robe is covered so deeply that it's difficult to see each other's faces.
But what is this additional brave person?
"Rescheduled, paperwork can wait.
"I've got a change of plans, I'll get the paperwork later.
Don't think about anything else, now is not the time.
You said the same thing a second too late, but you don't know that, do you?
That's good, do you need help?
"Just a prep, no need.
"Just a prep, no need.
All right, but you're a hero. Stay alert.
Thank goodness they are not suspicious.
Quickly the knight slips to the side from the front and the other knight opens the door.
Slowly he enters, telling himself not to panic, but to stay calm.
And the door closes.
Hm, let's go a little further in. That way, no one can hear us.
"Yeah, huh.
As I breathed out in relief and looked forward from the closed door, I saw many coffins in front of me.
The lamps illuminate the coffins, which are definitely those of the deceased.
A grave?
A cemetery is not a cemetery, because the people in there are alive. A cemetery is the resting place of the dead, and it's not accurate to describe it as a place where the living sleep.
"Huh?
I let out a little scream at the sudden sight, and then I just said what I saw, but Mike denied it.
So, this time you slowly look at what you think is a coffin, but other than the strange patterns on it, it's just a coffin.
"It's a kind of magic tool, to be exact.
"A magic tool like a lamp there?
As a definition, that fits, except that those coffins look a lot different from everyday objects like lamps.
?"?
I wonder what that means.
Does this have something to do with the additional word brave?
And I'm also curious about the monumental things lined up in front of this coffin.
Are you curious?
"I'm curious though ......
It's a woman's intuition, but I didn't think I should listen to it.
But another, brave woman's intuition, says that you have to listen.
Yes, let's hear it.
"Well, I haven't seen it firsthand, so I can't be sure, but judging from the flow of magic and the shaking of the soul, the coffin is a tool that transforms the ability of a life form into a magical tool.
I don't know what you can get from that choice, but I get the vibe that a woman's intuition is turning away from something she doesn't like.
So I chose the intuition of a brave man.
"Simply put, a mage who uses human life to make a mage tool.
"......
And that intuition led me to the most extraordinary information.
I turned my face toward the invisible microphone that might be down the road.
I'm speechless.
I reacted with a conditioned response, seeking the word "lie," the word "black joke," the word "laugh.
It might be a mistake, but it's not a lie. In fact, from the coffin I can feel the presence of a human with a powerful soul and magic. That magic is alive in the coffin, and it's drawn on the surface of the coffin through the magic circuitry to accumulate power on the stone tablet.
But Mike wouldn't admit it.
The words stabbed me with reality, and I pieced together the pieces of the puzzle in my head to complete the picture.
Fake heroes are ...... no way.
"Amy, I don't know what's got you so upset, but brace yourself. It's better to let you complete your objective now. One thing after another, one thing after another will eventually become too much for you to handle.
"...... yeah
I had the worst imaginations.
I wanted to shake it off, but the content was too heavy for me to shake it off.
I try not to think about the story that's sticking in my mind, and now I focus on helping Mike.
You walk past the empty coffin room and go to the back.
It's lit by lamps, but it's dimly lit.
Now, you should be able to see me by now, so what am I like?
"...... Mike?
"Hmm, feeling Amy's presence in the vicinity means that you're right in front of me.
Even in such a space it was unusually conspicuous.
A huge hexagonal pyramidal crystal sat there, with a blue-white flame floating in its center.
It resembled a human spirit that often appeared in Japanese ghost stories.
But the human spirit was at most as big as a human face, while the size of the flame was more than two meters in proportion to the size of the crystal.
Mike was a ghost.
These words slipped out of my mouth and sank into the quiet space.