Chapter 135: Lion Cub (4)

Lion Cub (4)

In the desolate expanse of the desert, thankfully, Grawl was the first to regain consciousness.

─Is this enough?

Using his strength, I created a temporary cave where B04 could rest. It was a natural tent, with the floor dug deep and the interior hardened.

“Ah, it’s cool.”

Being underground, there was no risk of heatstroke.

In addition, I left food, money, a compass, a map, and medicine. With this much done, B04 should be able to manage the rest.

“Then...... oh, right.”

I was about to leave when I remembered to take the rabbit doll ‘Cookie.’

“Is this thing invincible or something?”

It was one of Elise’s belongings that I took just in case, but it was still intact except for its ears being slightly burnt after that intense battle.

“Grawl. Let’s go.”

─Yes.

Afterwards, I carried Elise and climbed onto the back of Grawl, who had transformed into a camel.

“How’s the ancient mana?”

─A more detailed analysis is needed, but it seems to have organic characteristics.

“Organic?”

─Yes.

As Grawl walked through the desert, he spoke.

─If we transplant this ancient mana into the roots of R-elix, it might breathe in mana particles and reproduce naturally.

Transplanting mana means, in essence, transplanting a magic circuit. This is because mana that has taken form contains its own ‘magic circuit’.

Therefore, mana transplantation is surprisingly common. It’s the ancient mana that’s rare; ‘mana chunks’ are often found.

Deep caves, distant underground, mana that has accumulated for a long time at the mouth of the sea forms a chunk. Humans can surgically transplant it, but most of the circuit─at least 98% is said to be lost.

“How much can be saved?”

─You’re transplanting it into R-elix, not your Magic Core. If done well, up to 90% can be saved.

“90%...... Then how much will the magic volume increase?”

─At least two adults’ worth? We’ll have to analyze what other effects this ancient magic has.

Two adults. As an Endex student, my magic volume is at the level of ten adults. If it increases by 20%, that’s quite pleasing.

“Good job.”

─Don’t forget the desktop~

Anyway.

After crossing the desert for three hours.

Ring-!

RingRingRingRing-!

Suddenly, several alarms rang on my smartphone.

Finally, the signal reached.

─Ah. I need to check my phone too.

Grawl made a dock with his gravel and placed his smartphone on it.

“......I can’t believe it.”

I also looked at the messages that had piled up in the meantime.

[Soliette : Lol]

[Soliette : What are you doing?]

[Soliette : Lol]

[Soliette : I found a fun game lol]

[121 : ???? Is At Your Service closed these days?? Why aren’t you replying...... I have to do my holiday homework, At Your Service ??] (? is emote for crying face)

[121 : ★★★Please do it! Please do it!★★★]

[121 : ★★★Please do it! Please do it!★★★]

[121 : ★★★Please do it! Please do it!★★★]

[121 : Why aren’t you working, At Your Service!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!]

Soliette is Soliette, and 121 is Layla. The source of this content no/v(el)bi((n))

I replied to Soliette.

[Sorry. I couldn’t reply earlier due to some issues.]

Let’s do Layla later... she seems to be out of her mind.

Whing-

The pocket on the other side rang. I rummaged and pulled it out. It was C01’s wallet and phone.

[A11: C01. How did the mission go?]

A11. I don’t know who he is. Judging by the code, he seems to be related to B04 and C01, but it’s all over now, so whatever.

I was about to leave it in the desert as it was, but I hesitated.

“......”

I changed my mind.

[The mission is complete, but I was ambushed by B01. It is presumed to be B01’s unilateral action. C05 and C06 were killed by B01, and B01 was killed. B04 was healed and kept safe. The target, Elise Petra, is safe.]

[C01, I have deep wounds and will be hiding for a while.]

There might come a day when I need to use this identity again.

Of course, as time passes, my height will grow... but let’s bluff it out. What are they going to do when the face is the same?

“I can see it now.”

In the meantime, far away.

The silhouette of a towering 5-star hotel faintly appeared.

* * *

[Last week, a museum occupation incident occurred in Decapo, Arahall. Edsilla civilians were also involved, but fortunately, there were no casualties......]

Endex, old riverbank. I’m watching the news that’s trending in real time. The incident was reported two days after it happened... it’s definitely different.

“It wasn’t a kidnapping.”

There was no news related to Elise’s kidnapping, it was all lumped together as an escape. Before the regression, Elise must have been wandering the desert in pain until now.

“......Is that a relief?”

I put down my smartphone.

Break time is over.

I gripped my wooden sword again.

My body is drenched in sweat, and I took off my top a long time ago.

“Hoo.”

Taking a deep breath, I swung at the stone dummy that Grawl made.

Thwack-! Thwack-! In a clockwise circle.

It may seem like I’m just swinging wildly, but I’m not. It’s the initial training of targeting the eight sides in sequence. It’s the training of the “Eight Swords.”

“Hup!”

There’s a somewhat artistic trick to these Eight Swords.

The first sword strikes down from the top.

The second sword unfolds from the upper right.

The third sword stays on the right.

They all have different purposes and meanings.

First, the first and second swords are destructive. As they are strong strikes from above, the movements themselves are large and powerful. It’s high risk, high return.

The third sword, which takes care of the right side, has a strong defensive nature. It’s because it’s the front that collides with the enemy the most. However, the initial training includes “stabbing,” which is suitable for exploiting the enemy’s gaps.

The fourth sword from the lower right disrupts the opponent. Hence, there are many fakes. It induces the opponent’s defense and missteps by feigning to strike or swing.

For now, I’m repeatedly training from the first sword to the fourth sword...

「125 / 130」

Recent Change: -4

Capacity decreased by 4.

For three days, I had been training in Attunement for eight hours each day. At this pace, it would take at least two to three months to fully embody it.

A Burnt Cookie.

Even if I forget, lose, or even get involved in an incident, this guy always comes back to me.

“......You’re the evidence.”

Evidence that it wasn’t a dream.

Elise poked his chest.

“─Miss, Miss!”

Suddenly, the maids outside made a loud noise.

“What’s the matter......”

The door swung open.

“Miss! The head of the family is calling for you!”

“......My father?”

Elise’s eyes widened. She hastily rose from the bed.

It was the first time in nearly four years that her father had personally summoned her.

“Yes! The head of the family is asking for you-”

“I understand, calm down. The car?”

“The chauffeur is already outside!”

...

Ken Petra, Elise’s father, was sitting in the Senator’s office.

Elise, who had arrived five minutes ago, seemed to be of no concern to him. He was just reading through the documents, his glasses on.

“......I’m okay.”

Elise, who had been standing alone, fidgeting with her fingers, was the first to speak.

“There’s been a lot going on.”

“I know.”

Ken put down the file. He exhaled a small breath and looked into Elise’s eyes.

“You fought in the desert.”

“......”

Elise tightly closed her mouth.

Thump- Thump-.

Ken Petra tapped the table with his finger.

“Most of the scene was swept away by the sand, but three bodies were found.”

“......I know.”

Elise slightly widened her eyes. Ken continued in an emotionless tone.

“I don’t know what your condition is. You’re weak, and I’ve never been as frail as you.”

“.......”

What should she respond to his words?

She pondered fiercely, but she still didn’t know.

“But Elise. As I always tell you, humans grow from trials. If you only pick flowers in your head, your head becomes a flower garden. You become a useless person who doesn’t know reality. So you must eventually.......”

Ken tapped her temple with a thick finger.

“Fill yourself with the most rational things. Think of this incident as that experience.”

“......Yes.”

Elise responded briefly. Ken handed her a file. She held it with both hands.

“Go. You’ve worked hard.”

At the words ‘you’ve worked hard’, Elise’s eyelids trembled for a moment.

It was not warm at all, only dry, but it was received as something special to Elise at that moment.

He must have been worried in his own way.

“I’ll go.”

Holding back a smile that was about to break out, she left the office.

The corridor of the Senator’s office in Edsilla’s capital was long. They were all people who had come to get approval from Ken.

To Elise’s eyes, it was a landscape where power took shape.

She went outside and got into the car.

“......Let’s go home.”

With a faint sigh, a slightly good feeling, she slumped into the seat. She carelessly put down the file her father had given her, then picked it up again.

[Autopsy Report]

It seemed to be a file that had autopsied the person who died in the desert.

Elise turned a page.

1. Name: Rogel Putan

Was the name of that masked B01 Rogel Putan? Elise thought about just closing it, but suddenly remembered Shion’s words.

You have to remember.

You have to face the consequences of what you’ve done.

She turned a page.

───Main Autopsy Results───

(A)

1. A long horizontal cut was found on the neck.

2. A diagonal cut was confirmed on the chest.

3. Cervical vertebrae crushed by destructive force applied from all 360 degrees.

4. Evidence of magical force, presumed to be the cause of number 3, confirmed.

5. The most direct cause of death, ‘cervical vertebrae crush fracture’, is confirmed to be a result of number 3.

(B)

Although there are many wounds on the body, the number 1 cut occurred post-mortem, and the primary cause of death is confirmed to be the magical force that crushed the cervical vertebrae into powder.......

When Elise read the file, her shoulders trembled slightly.

Her eyes were blankly dyed with a dull light.

“.......”

She raised her finger and read it again.

[The primary cause of death is confirmed to be the magical force that crushed the cervical vertebrae into powder.]

Suddenly, a certain tone echoed in her head like an echo.

......no need to dirty your hands any further.

Shion, who said so, cutting B01’s neck.

“This is.......”

A lump rested on Elise’s chest as she recalled that day. Her breath was slightly blocked.

......no need to dirty your hands any further.

His voice flowing into her ears. Disturbing her fragile heart...... consideration.

Did he know at that time?

That B01 was already dead.

That ‘I’ had killed him.

No, he must have known. If he didn’t know, he wouldn’t have said such a thing.

Even so, as if he had killed him──.

Elise clenched the edge of the file. She bit her teeth hard. She bowed her head, shaking her hand. A hollow laugh mixed with moisture slipped out.

“He’s treating me like a fool.......”

In the end, Elise picked up her smartphone. She called him.

Ring- Ring-

─Hello.

As soon as she heard his voice, Elise froze. It wasn’t that she didn’t know what to do- her words were blocked- or anything like that.

“......Who is this?”

It wasn’t Shion.

It was a woman’s voice.