Chapter 283

[Side Story] Chasing a Butterfly (10)

In order to get to Mt. Orn, you have to cross the sea.

Aken Island used to be one large island, but now it has split into two large lines and several small rocky islands.

Of course, there is no way there is a proper dock left. There was no choice but to use spatial magic or flight magic to get over it, but both consumed a lot of magical energy.

Even if it can handle the consumption of magical power, the airspace around Aken Island is all the territory of spirits controlled by Yenica Palover. Flying across the ocean with no cover was like asking them to kill me.

Still, I had to do it. Lucy had a reason for that.

“Anyway, the section where you have to fly isn’t that long. In the meantime, Elvira and I will assist you. However, after moving to the northern island, you will have to act completely on your own.”

Clevius, standing in front of the exit, said this to Lucy.

“On the way to the northern coast, those who still have fighting skills among the survivors will gather together and escort you. Until then, try to save your magic power as much as possible.”

Clevius no longer stuttered or paid attention to his surroundings because he was scared.

The sense of responsibility that had been on his shoulders for a long time made him into a full-fledged warrior.

In front of the exit to the underground waterway.

Here, combatants selected from among the survivors, Clevius Elvira, and Lortel were present.

“I can’t keep up.”

Lortel spoke so calmly.

This is because he must remain here and command the remaining group of survivors. The Soul Library is now the last bastion of survivors on Aken Island.

If this place is discovered by the spirits, there will truly be no life left on this island.

“I’m here to say goodbye. “Whether the results are good or bad.”

“....”

“It was nice to meet you, Lucy.”

In the end, Lortel did not ask about Ed, which Lucy knew.

As if that were true.

It was a look worthy of the reputation of an iron-blooded female figure who maintained her rationality in any situation, but rather, that calmness seemed to wrap around Lortel’s mind like a spell.

Sometimes, you must know how to complain and lament when you fall into grief and despair.

When a person’s mind becomes too hardened through various trials and becomes calloused... it even forgets how to loosen its strength.

“Lortel, you....”

“I will survive.”

It didn’t matter what the reason was. Whether it’s a desire for revenge or a desire for a simple life.

“Then you don’t know. Before he passed away, Ed left a will in a letter from prison. “It’s like saying goodbye to the people around you for the last time.”

“....”

“It contained many stories, but the conclusion was a story about surviving somehow.”

He must have left a will to Yenika as well. It’s probably a similar story.

However, according to the explanation I heard from Lortel, Lucy here died before Ed.

So... there is no way he would have left a separate will for Lucy.

“I agree with Senior Ed’s thoughts. “We must survive.”

“....”

“Of course, the current situation is not very good, but... Anyway, if you hold on hard, you can hold on for at least three more years. “We have that much supplies.”

People’s minds are devastated and there seems to be no sign of the situation improving. Nevertheless, Lortel never gives up his desire for life.

“I just wanted to tell you that story. “I’m saying I’m holding up well.”

Lortel said only that and kept his mouth shut.

Lucy stayed still for a moment with her eyes closed and then turned around.

If you leave the underground waterway, you will reach Aken Island, where spirits are running rampant.

First, cross the northern forest and go to the coast, then use flight magic to reach the right mountain.

From there, he reaches the top of Mt. Yenika, uses Tyrkalax’s remains at the Altar of Grinding to draw out the magic power of the Aspect, and reaches out to Ed, who is searching for Lucy.

Although it was a nearly impossible plan, Lucy did not hesitate.

The survivors remaining in the underground waterway quietly prayed as they watched Lucy and the guards quietly go outside.

I just hoped that this would be the beginning of an end to all these disasters.

* * *

“The Northern Forest is where spirits are most active. “It’s better not to go near it, but at this point, it would be more dangerous to turn around and go somewhere else.”

The northern forest is so wide that if you try to return, the route will be too long. It seemed like it would have been better to take the shortest route across.

“Be sure to conserve your magic power until you reach the northern coast.”

In addition to Elvira, none of the surviving members of the group looked to be in good condition.

I’ve been surviving in these extreme situations for several years, but there’s no way I can demonstrate my full strength.

The opponents are spirits who receive an infinite supply of magical energy from Yenika, who holds Velbroke’s heart.

If it goes on for a long time, they will definitely be overpowered.

Everyone in the group held their breath as they got out of the waterway and ran across the northern forest.

You must avoid irritating the spirits as much as possible.

―Saaaagh.

The shortest route through the northern forest.

It was a road that Lucy used frequently during her school days, so she was familiar with it. However, the gloomy vegetation lined up was subtly different from the landscape I was familiar with. Traces of time have subtly changed the forest landscape.

Clevius runs to the front line, looking at the surroundings, followed by Lucy, Elvira, and about 15 other combatants moving through the forest.

Each and every member of the group was paying close attention and observing their surroundings. Lucy couldn’t fully understand what they were feeling, but everyone was sweating coldly as if their lives were at stake.

The presence of spirits wandering around the island seemed to have already become an object of fear among the group.

And it was quickly proven that the boundary was not just a surprise.

– Woe!

―Kaaaaaaaaaaa!

Dozens of spirits twisted into bizarre shapes cover the sky.

When he discovered those who dared to cross the northern forest, which was the home of the spirits, he let out a distorted scream of anger.

The spirits that were running around in the forest with Yenika rushed towards the group with unpleasant breaths and ominous eyes shining.

“Prepare for battle!”

As Elvira commanded and shouted, the combatants all took out their equipment and their expressions wrinkled.

As the fire spirit in the form of a giant mole spews out flames, the entire area begins to burn. Spirits in the form of bluish pterodactyls landed on the ground, snatched several combatants with their large feet, and flew into the sky.

“Kaaaaaaak!”

One combatant is kidnapped into the sky, screaming in pain, but the other combatants do not even show any signs of despair.

It was the expression of someone who had already lost friends several times. Lucy quickly tried to gather magic power into her fingertips, but Elvira grabbed her wrist.

“I told you. “You have to conserve your magic power.”

“....”

A colleague was just caught by a pterodactyl and flew into the sky. It seems obvious that he will either be scratched by the claws and bleed to death or fall to his death.

Nevertheless, Elvira gritted her teeth and prevented Lucy from intervening.

For the current group of survivors, Lucy is the only hope that might overcome this hopeless situation. We must never forget that the purpose of this group is to save Lucy’s strength as much as possible and bring her to Mount Orn.

―Kwaang!

What sounded like an explosion was heard from the front lines.

It is the cry of a gigantic, highest-ranking spirit that has been consumed by madness and completely tainted by berserk magic.

The highest-ranking water spirit, ‘Fryde’... is like a corps commander who appears leading an army of thousands of spirits.

―Whaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa

―Chaaaaaaaaaaaa!

As the huge body is lifted from the sea, huge waves hit the cliff area.

As expected, the shape of the huge whale was different from anything Lucy knew.

There are many strange berserk magic patterns engraved here and there, and the eyes are covered with an eerie red glow.

An ominous dark red magical energy covers the area, and thousands of flying spirits that appeared with Friede fly towards the area of Mount Orn.

Lucy quickly used her magic to block the waves that covered the area. A huge reef that swept in simultaneously attacked the defense magic circle, but was somehow able to block it.

Just its appearance is a huge disaster. The highest ranking spirit was such a being.

* * *

“Lucy!”

Elvira shouted amidst the shock of the crashing waves.

“You have to pass before it fully manifests! “If that highest-ranking spirit takes control of the area, we can’t do anything!”

I don’t know why Friede appeared at this point.

Yenika, who wanted to leave Aken Island as a sanctuary, would not want the area to be damaged by such unnecessary shock.

Just summoning Theorpis in anger covered the entire Mount Orn with volcanic ash.

I thought I wouldn’t make that mistake twice, but...

“Go now! “I will make it difficult for you to detect your magical power!”

Elvira shouted like that. It seemed like he was planning to use all the magical engineering supplies and reagents he had here to attract Friede’s attention.

Doesn’t that mean death soon?

Lucy stared at Elvira for a moment.

But Elvira clenched her teeth and cried out.

“Don’t worry, that’s what the nobleman who died like that said. “I quite agree.”

“....”

“I will survive.”

Many people have died in this world.

In the end, the only people who held out until the end were those with the will to survive.

Elvira was no different.

There isn’t much time. The highest-ranking spirit, Friede, cannot be summoned that easily, even if it is Yenika, who holds Velbroke’s heart.

You must cross the island before the process is completely completed.

Lucy gritted her teeth and nodded, wrapping her body in flight magic.

Even if you use mid-level magic only 15 times, your magic power is insufficient. Advanced magic such as flight magic cannot be used for a long time.

Still, Lucy drew on as much magic power as she could and flew low, sticking as close to the surface of the sea as possible.

The wind blew his collar and the brim of his hat fluttered.

While I was crossing over to the northern island, wearing my hat tightly, a huge light emanated from the cliff area where Elvira was located. It was unclear what type of magic it was, but it caused all the spirits in the area to turn their attention towards it.

Several lower-level spirits quickly identified Lucy flying at low altitude, but Lucy was able to subdue them without difficulty.

By using elemental magic and suppressing several spirits, we were eventually able to arrive at the coastal area of the island on the other side.

―Kwa-ga-ga-ga-ga-gak!

Because I was flying in such a hurry, I couldn’t control my strength properly, so I rolled on the sandy beach a few times.

Lucy stood up without a change in her expression and shook off the sand.

And I look up at the mountain on the right, which is half devastated. All kinds of berserk spirits were wandering around the mountain, guarding it.

It’s a scary sight that makes your body tremble just by looking at it, but Lucy shakes off all the tension just by sighing.

Then, he drew out his magical powers in earnest, wrapped himself around his body, and started running toward Mt.

* * *

―Ugh.

It was a scene that could be considered the end of the century itself.

When you climb Mt. Orn, you can get a glimpse of Aken Island.

―Kwaang! Quagwang!

―Kwa-ga-ga-ga-ga-gak!

As you run up the mountain, subduing the spirits, you look back every now and then, and the scenery you see in the distance is all horrendous.

There are no longer any traces of the sword spirit that was rampaging at the edge of the northern forest.

It is not difficult to imagine Clevius lying in the middle of the forest, covered in blood... looking up at the endless crowds of spirits.

There is no longer any trace of the radiant magic that filled the cliff area.

It is not difficult to imagine the alchemist standing alone on the edge of a cliff and facing Friede’s ominous eyes.

Even a group of spirits... were flocking to the edge of the entrance to the underground waterway.

The sight of Lortel leading a group of survivors deeper into the research facility left behind by Professor Glast... was fully imaginable.

It’s a terrible world.

I didn’t want to know about the existence of a world like this.

Nevertheless, it was a world that could be achieved.

What did Ed Rothtaylor’s absence mean?

He was always by my side as if it were everyday life.

His presence, sighing and patting Lucy’s head as if he was pressing her head when she was flirting with him on her lap... actually meant a lot to her.

Lucy realizes this without difficulty.

I miss Ed Rosstaylor. Naturally, such thoughts come to mind.

When she meets him again, she doesn’t show any shame and jumps into his arms, wondering what kind of world she has seen.

How fortunate I am to have you in my life.

How much of a void your absence felt like. Even though it may be embarrassing, I just wanted to explain every detail.

Thank you for being alive.

Your life has been filled with thorns, and you have faced dozens or hundreds of trials that made you want to give up on life.

Nevertheless, you stayed alive. He gritted his teeth and survived, giving the meaning of life to an empty girl named Lucy.

For Ed, surviving was just something he had to do, like breathing.

However, for a girl named Lucy Mayril, it was clear that Ed himself did not know how much salvation and hope it was.

That’s why Lucy just wanted to say something short. As I ran up the mountain with my scarred body, I kept thinking about that.

I have decided that if I ever meet Ed again, I will tell you this.

Thank you for being alive. I missed you like that.

―Kwaang! Woe!

Exhaling breathlessly, Lucy climbs towards the top of the mountain and climbs again.

That’s how Lucy reached the top of the mountain she climbed.

You can see the ruins that were seen during the freshmen’s placement exam, and if you go deep inside... you can see the ‘Altar of Grinding’ along with a huge monument.

A large-sized altar of grinding.

There, in honor of Ed’s death, an undertaker was praying into the empty night sky.