CH 62

62  The Black Cat Appeared In The Most Unexpected Moment

The girls tried to form a barrier like us. However, the result was below expectation because Muriel’s magic power fell short from everyone. As a result, the circle shape that was supposed to form turned into an ellipse.

“It’s okay. This elliptical form is still within a reasonable range of error. In fact, this is what normally happens when people try this for the first time. Good job Miss Muriel! I’m really glad that you girls are NORMAL! HURRAY TO NORM—— GAH! What the?! Theodore! Don’t just step on my feet so suddenly like that!”

“Be quiet, oddball.”

I won’t let you make Muriel cry. I thought fiercely as I stepped on this oddball’s feet to stop his words. The only way I knew of that wouldn’t harm anyone.

“Geez, it’s because Dearest Uncle is lacking in delicacy, and that’s why you can’t marry even when you reach your age you kno~w.”

“Eh? It’s actually my fault?”

Oriana sighed deeply with an extremely perplexed expression on her face upon seeing Bates uncomprehending state. He had yet to realize his fault!

“It’s okay, Muriel. It doesn’t really matter if your magic power is lesser than everyone else. This just mean that they need to match their magic power to yours. Right, Miss Katrina?”

That’s right. In order to reach the equilibrium needed to form that barrier, all everyone needed to do is to adjust their magic power so it wouldn’t suppress Muriel’s own and matched it instead.

“Y-Yeah, you’re right. All we need to do is suppress the emission of our mana…”

“Sorry, I’m actually not too skilled in regulating my magic power. The current me can only release my mana in full burst…”

Alas, though Katrina readily agreed to the idea, the red girl (Ramona) sucks at controlling her magic power. So she shook her head.

“There’s no need to apologize, Ramona-sama. This only happens because my magic power isn’t high enough.” The ever gentle and kind Muriel, in spite of her depression, apologized to Ramona. At this time, one of the girls piped up.

“Oh, right. We brought that item along when we come to visit Katrina-sama, didn’t we? How about we use this chance to test it?”

As she said that, the blue girl (Sonia) gestured to her attendant and had them bring a patterned, multi-coloured braid forward.

“Its name is Misanga. It seems to be some sort of charm that is currently booming amongst the commoner. In fact, I think it is like a magic tool as well. It seems to be able to raise the wearer’s magic power, albeit only by a little bit.”

Hee, so misanga also exists in this world… [TL: bracelet made from multi-coloured threads put into braid]

It seemed that Sonia bought said item after hearing about it from her attendant. And it seemed she brought it along, even though this cheap item wasn’t supposed to be taken to visit ill person due to its cheap price, though its value as a magic tool made it an intriguing item.

Then again, perhaps she thought it was the right gift since we did just get our magic unsealed yesterday.

Anyway, it seemed that initially, she wanted to take it out immediately when she arrived. However, it fell through due to the incident between Simeon and Katrina. Though, in the end, it was an extra gift in the end since she did bring with her the real gift for sick visit.

“And my apologies, the reason for my late arrival is because I choose one for everyone.”

“Waah, such a beautiful and strong colour. These braided multicolored threads are so adorable! Shall we wear this on our wrist?” Muriel said as she received the misanga from Sonia’s attendant.

I looked at her improving expression and sighed lightly. Thank goodness the misanga seems to have fixed her mood.

“Shall I make one for you too? It should be possible to make it with my embroidery skill. And though mine might not be a magic tool, I can create a lot of it that’ll match your attires.”

“Really, Theodore-sama?!”

“Of course. No matter what kind of misanga you want, I’ll make it for you.”

“Thank you! And, if possible, can we make it together? I want to make one for you too, Theodore-sama.”

“Yes. Let’s make it together then. After this, let’s visit the handicraft store on the way back to buy more embroidery threads. Oh, and let’s buy some beads too. That way, it’s going to make it look much better.”

“YES!”

Muriel’s delightful smile carried no traces of her previous gloominess, causing me to smile back. Yup. A little detour on the way back is definitely on the table I suppose.

“Well, those two aside, are these braided threads truly a magic tool, Sonia-sama? Can I take a look at it?”

His comment aside, Luke reacted predictably. As soon as he heard Sonia’s explanation, the magic tool maniac immediately got hooked. Receiving the misanga from Sonia, he instantaneously started to observe them.

“I see. So, the magic circle is created with a braided pattern. Then, perhaps the attribute is represented by the colour of the thread…”

“This is just a crudely made magic tool. The idea is interesting, but that’s it. The magic circle it used is a trivial one. However, this can be treated as an amulet indeed.”

Bates, who recovered since who knows when immediately participated in the analysis before I knew it. As expected of these magic tool nerds. Everything immediately fell wayside when there are magic tools to be analyzed.

“What do you think, Muriel-sama? The effect might be trivial, but your magical power might be boosted a little bit.”

“Are you sure? If so, then, I want to try its effect.” Muriel said as she stretched her hands to receive the misanga from Sonia. She then wore it on her left wrist.

“Then, let’s try activating the barrier again.”

Under black girl’s (Shelly’s) instruction, the girls once again released their mana, and this time I felt that the mana Muriel released was much bigger than before. Sensing this, I nodded my head inwardly. So, it really is the effect of the magic tool.

… Wait a minute. Doesn’t the amount of the released mana feels a little bit too much?

“… W-WAIT A MINUTE! STOP!”

It was not only me who felt it. The moment I did, Bates immediately shouted to stop them. However, the emission coming from the girls didn’t stop.

“STOP! THAT’S ENOUGH! AT THIS RATE YOUR VITALITY IS GOING TO BE CONSUMED TOO!”

WHAT?! It was as he said. Upon closer look, the girls looked like they were in pain.

“N-NO! WE CAN’T STOP THE EMISSION!” Katrina replied, her tone shrill with panic.

Hearing that, the attendants in the training ground also screamed, and panicked. They rushed toward to the girls immediately.

At this time, Muriel had already passed out. The misanga on her wrist was releasing an ominous, bloody red light. Not only that, there were also bloody red particles of light emitting from Muriel’s body.

“What… is that?”

“It was just like what happened to my father three years ago…” Luke muttered with unnerved expression. When he said that, realization washed over me.

Ah, he’s right, it is just like what happened back then. Yes, just like that dark green particle of lights.

“Luke, how do you stop the phenomenon back then?”

“How you ask? I just told my father the words you taught me back then. But, this situation is different from back then. I’ve no idea how to stop this.”

What should I do now?! At this rate, Muriel might die!!! I panicked. Okay, I guess I had to take that misanga off first.

With that plan in mind, I tried to approach Muriel, but I got repelled by some sort of unseen power. It looked like an invisible wall was erected between us, and no matter how many times I struck it, that wall didn’t disappear.

Dammit. Even though our distance is just ten centimetres apart, that distance seems like hundreds of meters now. DAMMIT, ALL! WHAT THE HELL IS THIS BARRIER?!

―― Wait a minute, barrier?

Bates told us that barrier was something that repel wicked beings. If there was a barrier that surrounds the girls, it should be able to stop that misanga from draining the vitality of the girls.

“Are you okay, Young Master? Please stop acting recklessly like that.”

“I’ll do anything and everything to save Muriel―― Everyone, please, let’s make a barrier,” I said, brushing Kevin’s hand aside.

And while the chamberlains and the maids of the girls showed some hope the moment they heard me speak, the other attendants frowned when they heard my suggestion. Perhaps because they were worried about their master. However, I had no choice. Muriel’s and the other girl’s life was at stake.

“I see. That’s the only way left. Do it.” Bates immediately agreed when he heard my plea, handing over the enchanted magic crystals to me. Once they heard Bates’ words, Elliot and co instantly moved, pushing their attendants aside and forming the barrier formation around the girls with serious expressions etched on their faces.

“We’ll be the shame of our ancestor, the Six Gods, and a failure of a knight if we abandon our fiances.”

“That was only natural.”

Rex responded to Vince’s remark with Simeon and Luke nodding in agreement.

“Let’s begin.”

At Elliot’s signal, everyone started to release their mana. This time, the size of the barrier we made was double of our first one. But since we couldn’t touch each other’s hands, we instead choose to spread our arms as long as possible, trying to connect our hands using mana. Considering we were using mana to connect our circle, it took quite a while for the formation to be completed.

However, as soon as everyone’s mana was connected together, it was formed at last.

At that moment.

“O’ Light of Fullmoon and Sun, purify evil being. ‘Jouka’.” [TL: Jouka here means purification in english.]

Our mana filled the magic circle as Bates’ aria resounded in the air. In the depth of my mind, I was really surprised of the language he used just now. Because he was speaking Japanese, or in short, the ancient language in this world. However, from his aria just now, I realized that the ancient language seemed to be the ‘Word of Power’ in this world.

Especially since the moment the aria fell, I felt more power coming in. I knew that more magic power meant a stronger magic circle, so I and everyone fed more of our magic power into the magic circle that was formed. Soon, the magic circle burst into a brilliant light show.

And then, the girls fell down together, as if the thread that was holding them down had been cut.

“MURIEL!”

Instantaneously, I rushed toward Muriel and hug her tightly. Her face was currently as pale as paper, and she didn’t respond to my call. Fortunately, she was still breathing, albeit faintly, it was still a sign of her living.

“MURIEL, HANG IN THERE! MURIEL!”

As I worried over Muriel, the misanga that was burned black fell from her wrist, and Bates picked it up.

“This is… so it’s hidden inside the thread, huh? ――!”

At that moment, a black cat jumped in and took the misanga from Bates’ hand before running away. It had a pattern that resembled twined vines around its right foreleg. Seeing that, I realized that it was the black cat from before.

On its tail were the misangas that had been prepared by Sonia for everyone.

“Dammit. So it really is that guy!”

Bates cursed upon seeing the black cat. Then, without waiting for a second more, he ordered the soldiers to go after that escaping black cat. Receiving the order, they hurriedly chased after that black cat, alas it had already vanished somewhere.

Meanwhile, the attendants had all rushed towards their respective masters and raised them up politely. However, all of them had already passed out. Seeing this, the other attendants promptly moved and called for doctors, asking the duke family to prepare a room for the unconscious girls and lay them on the bed.

Muriel, Muriel. Please don’t die on me.

Please, please, please don’t die. I’ll be there by your side. That’s why, please don’t die. I beg you. Stay!