Chapter 281

[Side Story] Chasing a Butterfly (8)

I am... .”

Lucy Mayril slowly opened her mouth. From earlier I couldn’t understand the two people making hostile movements when they saw Lucy... First I had to explain.

I am... I’m from another world. “I’m not the person you know.”

Of course there is no way that one can understand all the facts and lower the sword with just this one word.

Clevious gritted his teeth and looked at Lucy. He was complaining that he couldn’t understand what Lucy said right away.

“What are you...” .”

– Kuung.

It was then.

The ruined Trix building area began to shake violently as if an earthquake had occurred.

Dust rose up and a huge explosion occurred at the presumed epicenter.

―Quaaang!

―Whaaaaaaaa!

Heat rises at the same time as the explosion sound.

A huge beast with its entire body on fire rises. The body seen through the patter of dust was so majestic.

“This is crazy! “That spirit reacted!”

“Quickly pack all your bags! “If you don’t run away now more will come!”

The heat was so great that a haze began to rise in the area. That huge beast that looks like a lion or a tiger... This is the lieutenant fire spirit ‘Veltan’.

It roars loudly as it destroys the outer wall of the Trix building which is barely visible.

However Beltan’s appearance was strangely different from what Lucy knew. She is clad in black-red magic and has many bizarre patterns all over her body.

It is in a berserk state and is also equipped with a lot of forcibly given strengthening magic.

This is not the amount of magical power that a typical mid-level fire spirit can produce.

It is clearly in a state of forced runaway.

and... Clevius and Elvira seem familiar with the appearance of such spirits.

―Quaaang!

A huge pillar of fire rises around Beltan. The fire spread in all directions and covered the entire area. It was the moment when Clevius picked up the sword to protect Elvira.

– Woe!

Lucy’s blooming magic surrounded the two people.

For Lucy who knows nothing these two people she met by chance are her only clue to this world.

There is no need to even block attacks from the original mid-level spirit. However Lucy is currently unable to fully control her magical power.

As he frowns and dispels all the fire magic the figure of Beltan is revealed still standing unharmed. Its majestic appearance is full of hostility towards humans.

and... Numerous spirits can be seen coming down the hill making strange noises.

One by one... It was not in a normal state due to the berserk spell.

Here Lucy has an intuition.

If there is someone on Aken Island who can handle this number of spirits it is probably――

“We have to run away! “There is a hideout for survivors in the secret library of the underground waterway!”

Anyway Lucy protected Clevius and Elvira.

Not an enemy. As soon as the fact was realized Elvira quickly shouted.

“If we don’t get rid of it now more spirits will flock in and we won’t be able to handle it!”

Lucy looked at Elvira and Clevius from the corner of her eye and then quickly covered the area with magic. It was a basic level of stealth magic but just hiding the traces of magical power would be effective to some extent.

In order to elude the spirits the three ran across the ruined Trix building.

* * *

Let’s go back to the hideout and share the details.

At those words Lucy had no choice but to nod. It seemed like they both couldn’t believe that Lucy had appeared here. Nevertheless it was right to resolve all questions once it was safe.

A living area that could only be reached after a long drive.

The living quarters of Sylvania Academy which would have always been lively and full of people were now filled with ruined buildings.

When you see this scene... It got to the point where I thought the whole world might have been destroyed.

There are completely decomposed corpses all over the square leaving only skeletons... The marble sidewalks were all broken down and weeds were growing here and there.

In between huge mid-level spirits are walking around in a berserk state. Clevius and Elvira in a familiar manner took a detour between buildings to avoid the spirits’ gaze.

Clevius climbs the partially destroyed exterior wall of the building that was once Laplace Bakery grabs Elvira’s hand and pulls her up.

Lucy lightly flicks her magic power and climbs up to follow him then climbs on the outside of the outer wall and passes near the collapsed well in a low posture.

As you pass through the living quarters teeming with countless spirits and enter the northern forest you will see the entrance to a huge underground waterway.

The entrance to the underground waterway was obscured by numerous tree bushes. It must have been a task to cover that huge entrance one by one.

As you squeeze through the gap the underground waterway where you had the chase with Professor Glast unfolds.

If you go inside the complex underground waterway and enter the broken outer wall Professor Glast’s secret laboratory unfolds. And if we go a little further than that... The secret library that Ed Rothtaylor used as a laboratory during his lifetime appears.

This is where Lucy from the original world came with Ed to retrieve Glast’s Phoenix Ring.

By now this place had become a hideout for survivors who had escaped from the runaway spirits inside Aken Island.

The students standing guard at the entrance to the library reacted when they saw Clevius.

“Seo... senior. You came back alive. How was your search performance? her... .”

roo... Lucy... Mayl... ?!”

Then everyone freezes when they see Lucy.

Clevius quietly turned his head to indicate his intention to get out of the way for now.

The student who was standing guard swallowed dry saliva and stepped aside. It seemed like Clevious was in a position to be recognized in this hideout.

So we follow Clevious and Elvira into the library.

Lucy looked around. The facilities inside the library had already been removed somewhere and the interior had been converted into a facility for survivors.

Bonfires and tents lit here and there. Patients lying down covered in blankets.

You can see people exhausted from hunger and others suffering from chronic diseases.

Most of the people were students or faculty and there were a few merchants who lived in the living quarters.

When they saw Lucy following Clevius and Elvira inside they started to commotion from afar.

– ‘I... Look over there... .’

– ‘this... This is crazy... .’

– ‘What’s going on? no... It’s Lucy Mayril... .’

– ‘live... There was... ? For sure... Lucy Merill three years ago... .’

– ‘what? Lucy Mayril is here?’

– ‘white... He’s a rare genius wizard... . As for Lucy Mayril... You can’t destroy the magic circle blocking the island... ?’

A strangely hopeful atmosphere spreads among the noisy crowd.

It feels like people who had barely endured despair for a long time have discovered a new light.

Lucy Mayril took a deep breath and continued to move forward.

“There is a person in charge of the hideout behind this. You can hear the detailed explanation there. You’re probably a spherical person too... “It will be a lot different than you think.”

A room for librarians inside the library.

Has it been renovated and used as a room for the leader?

Lucy nodded passed by Elvira and Clevius and opened the door.

The old wooden door opened with a squeak revealing the inside.

The blackboards set up here and there on small conference tables show a lot of information about the island.

And between the documents listing the members gathered in the hideout and the remaining supplies... A woman sitting on a desk.

The woman with the familiar face looked up as she flicked down her robe hat... Lucy May looked at Lil’s face and her eyes widened for a moment.

you... .”

Gray hairs were sprouting between the auburn hairs. Is it a sign of hard work?

The girl is shocked to see Lucy Mayril suddenly appear alive but the girl quickly regains her composure just by holding her breath for a moment.

The girl—no Lortel Kecheln was a person who could be rational and cool-headed in any situation.

“... “Let me hear an explanation.”

Three years after Ed Rosstaylor’s death.

Lortel was alone protecting Aken Island which had become hell for some reason.

* * *

“Yes it’s really hard to believe but... .”

First Lucy explained her situation to Lortel.

That I am not a being subordinate to this world. Ed Rothtaylor came from a world where he didn’t die.

And looking for a way to go back... I couldn’t say it until now.

This is because the atmosphere was not conducive to that.

here is... .”

“You might want to ask why it ended up like this... .”

Lortel had a tired face.

In this extreme situation he would have led a group of survivors and been in charge of the hideout for several years.

The magic circle was much larger in size than during the Glaskan subjugation war.

Ed Rothtaylor lived to save the world.

But the world rewarded him with death.

The empire that I so desperately wanted to save plunged the blade of betrayal into Ed Rosstaylor.

A man who always did his duty had to end his life in vain like that.

Yenica Palover could not forgive such a world.

I hate all those in power in the empire who have become blinded by power even in the face of world crisis.

He is engulfed in Glaskan’s madness and expresses his hatred towards the world with his whole body.

At least... As for this island... .

The camp that Ed Rosstaylor loved remains... As for Aken Island.

She makes it a sanctuary for the man she loved so much.

This island where Ed sleeps is a graveyard for Ed’s resting place. This huge archipelago is used as a resting place for the departed Ed.

No one can disturb a man’s rest.

Remove all visible obstructions.

In addition to atonement for not being able to save Ed he also takes revenge on the world that ultimately abandoned him.

So Yenika... A massacre who massacred all imperial officials.

A demon who swallowed the Aken Islands whole.

And as a girl in despair.

At the altar atop Mt. Aken Island. While tightly hugging the large cane that Ed Ross Taylor used when he was alive...

She has reigned as the queen of rampaging spirits.

At the altar of change the girl is holding her staff and bowing her head as always.

Red eyes revealed along with graying hair. Only hatred toward the world still burns there.

‘The Undertaker’ Yenica Palover.

It was the name written on the wanted flyer. The survivor took what had been floating in the sea.

Yenika’s reddish eyes depicted in the portrait are eerie.

The reward money written below was an enormous amount.

Lucy looked down at the name and closed her eyes.

Ed Rothtaylor’s absence was like the end of the world for her.

Lucy. I’ll tell you straight. you... The goal is probably to return to where it came from. but... .”

Lortel spoke in a low voice.

“At this point... You who suddenly appeared are our final savior. If you want to do something about Senior Yenika who has lost his mind you must first somehow subdue him by force. “I can’t communicate at all right now.”

Lucy... It was so hard to answer.

I don’t know what Lucy would have been able to do in her prime. Lucy now... There were too many restrictions on power.

Even though it is difficult to somehow control Yenika who has fallen into complete madness... .

Hey.

Lucy who had been quietly listening to Lortel’s story slowly opened her mouth.

“In your description of the situation... I’m missing a story about you... .”

Lortel Kecheln.

She is also not a person who would have been unimpressed by Ed’s death.

As the representative of the survivors I am in charge of this hideout... .

she is... Did Ed Rothtaylor’s death really have any effect?

He is like the embodiment of cold reason who maintains his cool in any situation... .

She never loses her temper at least when Ed is involved.

A person who is more than Yenika but never less. Because Lucy also vaguely realized that fact.

Lucy’s question pierces Lortel’s heart.

But Lortel’s voice remains calm.

“... “Is that possible?”

At one point rumors spread about Ed’s death. This is a story from the time of the student council president election. It was a time when Lucy herself couldn’t maintain her senses.

At that time Lortel heard the news of Ed’s death... On the outside it looked fine.

However Siggs Eiffelstein who saw Lortel at the time would have felt it.

Lortel is never consumed by something like madness. He never loses his temper.

Just calmly. From the inside. Calmly... turns around

You can never tell by looking at it.

However the madness that is revealed implicitly every once in a while... It makes the person you’re talking to startle. There comes a time when you instantly realize how broken you are on the inside.

If it were Yenika who was clearly visible on the outside she might be able to sense danger.

But Lortel... He had a completely different temperament from Yenica.

“Almost all Lindonite officials are dead... It’s not like there are no remaining forces at all... .”

Lortel’s expression is not visible as he lowers his head.

The soft and calm tone of voice is still the same... .

“―If you want to tear them all to death you have to leave this island first.”

What it says... It represented a completely broken inner self.

“Inspection Department Secretary of the Knights of Albeton Marquis Bellorque of Bloruen Prime Minister Crown Prince Pelosi Deacon Lyndon Secretary of Delos Ayrton... .”

After that many people’s names continued to flow for a long time. It’s a number that’s hard to memorize one by one but how many times have I repeated those names?

The fact that I was able to memorize all those names without making a single mistake gives me goosebumps.

“There are still so many people left who need to be torn to death in as painful a way as possible... “How long will I have to be trapped on this island?”

“... you... .”

“I am disillusioned by the fact that the people who tacitly agreed to use Senior Lucy Ed as a scapegoat are still alive. “I’m disgusted.”

Eventually Lortel raised his head and looked creepy and cool... was smiling He even felt refreshed.

“I’m busy so I have to get off this island quickly. “I have a lot of work to do.”

It was Lortel who calmly explained the situation... .

She already... She was in a state of ruin.

Ed Rosstaylor’s absence.

that... Yenica Palover and Lortel Kecheln were made into revenge spirits.

It was truly a terrible world.

* * *

“I’m ready. young people.

It was late at night.

In front of Glokt’s cabin was the ‘World Observation Plane’ ready for operation again.

Ed tried to activate the observation plane again by gathering the magic power of the star.

I still couldn’t figure out exactly how Lucy got sucked into another world but I had to try everything I could.

The rising magical power soon began to color the surroundings again.

young people. be careful.

At that time Zelan spoke to Ed in a low voice.

“As I said interference between worlds... This is something that cannot be achieved. You said magic is based on interaction right? But the fact that such ridiculous interference occurred... .”

Ed turned his head and looked at Zelan. Zelan quickly continued.

“... “It means that someone in that world also observed this world.”

“... yes?

Zelan raised his small figure and looked straight at Ed and said.

“Someone... Observed us... .”

Is there anyone else who can do something like that?

I couldn’t believe it but...

Still it was impossible to remain still.

* * *

Butterflies fly in.

The butterfly that flaps its wings here and there as if fluttering in the wind... She comes down and sits down in a corner of the plaza of the ruined residential building.

Even though I know it’s meaningless like chasing empty scenery... It was the human being that reached out its hand for the butterfly.

The butterfly following the wind heads in the direction of the girl sitting at the top of the fountain in the ruined residential square.

The school uniforms which have plenty of sizes left are already frayed and wrinkled here and there.

The witch’s hat she is wearing is completely worn and frayed.

The girl’s face cannot be seen clearly. This is because the brim of the witch hat she is wearing is too wide.

The butterfly that had been sitting on the tip of the girl’s finger for a while flaps its wings repeatedly and flies up into the sky.

The powerful wings flap repeatedly and fly to a distant place... Slowly leaving.

Slowly very slowly. To a place out of reach.