NOVEL WEB Chapter 98
Ellie’s command… It felt more like a blow to her pride than a command, but anyway, Stella prepared her magic following Ellie’s words.
Suddenly, a terrifying sound pierced the air, causing her concentration to waver and making her almost wet herself—drip-drip—but the magic formation held strong.
After reaching the 4th circle, the most powerful lightning magic she was confident about was finally prepared.
Now, all she had to do was remember the name of the magic to unleash it. However, she planned to mutter it quietly.
Shouting it out loud would feel… cringeworthy and embarrassing.
Normally, she could manifest the magic known as Shadow Lance just with mental calculations, but this time, it was different.
This magic was on par with upper-tier 5th circle spells in terms of destructive power, even though it belonged to the 4th circle.
All the strokes that would have made the spell easier to cast, including stability, direction, range, precision, energy consumption, and casting time, were stripped away.
In the vacant spots, she forcefully added strokes that increased the intensity, speed, and destructiveness.
And so it became a 4th circle spell.
She layered four magic formations to create a jin.
Due to that, mana was wildly swirling around, the magic formation tangled, threatening to collapse. But Stella held onto it purely with her mental calculations.
Simultaneously, she recited the incantation and prepared for the timing to unleash it in sync with Ellie.
While ordinary mages would be dead and buried under the weight of it all, something beyond their wildest dreams, Stella executed it without a second thought.
It was actually hard work.
Her underwear was completely soaked with sweat, and more than half of the mana she had, which exceeded that of other mages, was gone.
But she decided to pretend it was nothing.
After all, she wanted to show off to Ellie.
Just moments ago, she was terrified and nearly wet herself, but now having completed the spell trusting Ellie, Stella opened her tightly shut eyes with newfound confidence.
“…Wow.”
At the same time, she gasped in awe.
The cherry blossoms swirling beautifully in the cold labyrinth were mesmerizing.
The sight of a Lizardman emerging from the darkness was horrific in a way that was terrifyingly dreadful, yet somehow, it looked infinitely fragile in front of Eliaernes.
Were those petals real?
Without realizing it, Stella reached out her hand. She touched the petal. It had a texture. But she couldn’t grasp it.
The soft remnants of strong magic brushed by her, faintly glowing. gulp—Stella swallowed hard, staring at the small girl standing at the center of that potent magic.
The white nape and delicate shoulders looked as if they would snap like twigs in the wind. Yet the power emanating from that body seemed to diminish Stella’s magic into insignificance.
“Is it done?”
A clear voice rang out at that moment.
Stella snapped back to attention and nodded her head.
Ah, right. If she nods, Ellie wouldn’t notice.
“…I’m ready.”
She answered belatedly.
“Great job.”
Ellie nodded lightly. Her pink twin tails swayed gently in accord with her movements.
In her briefly visible eyes, confidence shimmered, and her vividly sparkling cherry blossom-colored irises had already locked onto the target.
“On three. Don’t panic and release it on the count.”
“…I’m not panicking.”
snicker—Ellie laughed softly.
Behind that sound, the cries of the Lizardman echoed once again. The massive form and sharp claws. Its bright yellow reptilian eyes gleamed towards them.
Without knowing, Stella instinctively shrank her shoulders.
But Ellie?
She wasn’t afraid. Instead, she giggled as if finding it amusing and lowered her stance.
“One.”
Cherry blossom-colored mana began to brightly glow in her fist, forming strong magic. Mana flowed out of her body, vibrating the surrounding air.
“Two.”
[KKRRRAaaaaaaaaa―]
The Lizardman charged. Ellie, as if waiting for this moment, moved quickly in time with the Lizardman’s steps. Stella’s eyes couldn’t keep track of her speed; all she could hear was the sound.
And then, in that moment, when her small body sliced through the air.
“Three.”
thud—Her fist struck the Lizardman’s mouth hard.
And Stella’s magic unfolded.
A pure white light shone brightly. In an instant, it transformed into a bow, and an arrow was nocked. The sound of air being torn apart was heightened, accompanied by an intensifying burst of light.
As she pulled back the string with a creek—the walls of the labyrinth shuddered, and the gazes of the Lizardmen were fixed upon Stella’s magic.
Putting fear aside, Stella revved the spell formation she had prepared in her mind. She calculated, deduced the answer, and completed the final stroke.
And at the moment she released the fully drawn bowstring, she opened her eyes wide and shouted out the name of the spell.
“Arco de Relampago!”
And then it hit her—oops!
She had resolved to say it softly…!
But it was just spilled water now.
Arco de Relampago.
The cringeworthy-named spell chased away the darkness of the underground.
In the midst of that light.
Ellie marveled silently at Stella.
“That spell name is super cool…”
Ellie was always one to swoon over cool names since her past life.
*
The battle was easy.
While I was strong, Stella’s magic turned out to be surprisingly helpful.
Didn’t she say she was a 4th circle mage?
Just judging by its power, it could almost be compared to 6th circle spells.
Besides, she was whining before it all started, but when the time came, she did quite well.
If only she could keep her mouth shut, it would have been great.
But a genius is a genius.
I think I made a good choice bringing her along.
After we get through this filthy labyrinth together, we might end up closer.
Before coming here, Stella had shown hints of wanting to reveal a secret.
So… if things go smoothly, it could turn out to be a fantastic experience for both of us.
With those thoughts, I took a step forward to deal with the last remaining foe.
The last one had already lost its will to fight.
The advantage and disadvantage of being an elite. An elite with clearer intelligence than an ordinary monster thinks and feels. Therefore, it feels fear.
Just like now, when I thoroughly smashed and ripped apart its comrades, the last one left behind just sat there, sobbing.
So I dislike elites.
When I see them trying to protect their comrades at the cost of their own lives, genuinely grieving the death of their companions.
It makes me think they are a bit better than some useless humans.
I utterly despise it.
“Monsters should act like monsters.”
No need to futz around with a cow’s knife to catch a chicken.
I released the strong magic wrapped around my entire body, firmly grasping my fist surrounded only by mana. Then, BAM—! I stomped my foot down hard and swung my fist.
With a splash, the slimy brain matter splattered against the walls of the sewer.
The Lizardman that collapsed to the ground closed its eyes. It closed its eyes just before death.
As if accepting its fate.
“Tsk.”
I clicked my tongue, wiping the blood off my face as I turned my back.
I felt a little miserable.
Guess I should tease Stella a bit.
“Were you scared?”
“…W-What?! No? I wasn’t scared at all!”
I casually tossed the comment as usual, but Stella’s reaction was strange.
Her face turned bright red, or rather pale, and she furiously shook her head and slowly backed away.
“Why are you running away? Are you scared I’ll smell bad?”
“I-I-I’m not smelling! I-I-I just blew it all away with Cleanze!”
“Then why are you running? Come here.”
“…No. Why should I listen to you?”
Oh really?
I started to approach Stella, unraveling the bandage tied around my hand.
As I did, I stealthily inspected my white fist.
There were no injuries… no marks. Usually, I would have some cuts, but this time, while not perfectly smooth, it wasn’t harmed either.
The blood from the Lizardman on the bandage seemed to be flying away, and the torn parts were slowly mending.
At first glance, it looked like magic… but given Stella’s astonished eyes, it seemed definitely not like magic.
“Isn’t it cool?”
“An artifact…? No, it’s not an artifact, but… It’s not magic hanging on there, so what could it be…?”
Stella’s eyes began to sparkle.
Life returned to her pale face as she cautiously approached me, closing the distance she had kept.
“Could it be… you got it from the treasure house?”
“Yeah. Curious? Want to touch it?”
I slyly offered her the bandage.
“…Is it okay?”
“Ah, wait a moment.”
I swiftly pulled it back towards me.
“What’s this? Why’d you take it back?”
“I’m worried it’ll smell.”
“W-What… What smell?! No way! I don’t smell! I-I-I’ve never wet myself!”
“…What? Wet yourself?”
I tilted my head as I looked at Stella.
Where did that random word about wetting come from? What was she talking about?
Just then, the words Stella had just said hit me all at once.
…No way.
No way…
Did that really happen…?
Seventeen years old and… scared of just a Lizardman?
“Hey, you didn’t wet yourself, did you?”
Stella remained silent.
She only widened her eyes, tears gathering in them.
“Ah… ugh…”
“Oh my God.”
Up until now, it was just a joke.
Even if Stella hadn’t bathed, instead of a stench, she had an oddly comforting scent.
But… this was a bit different.
A bit… way too different.
“…It happens. Y’know, women have a harder time holding it because of, um… their body structure. So… it’s okay.”
Stella looked at me without a word.
She said nothing. Her eyes were racing around, her face flushed bright red, and tears flowed like rivers, as if she couldn’t hold them back any longer.
“…Just kidding.”
“How on earth would you joke about someone who really wet themselves? I’m not that much of a dog!”
“Ugh… ugh… dog…”
I wrapped the bandage I intended to give to Stella back around my hand, keeping a bit of distance.
It seemed best to avoid contact until we’re out of this labyrinth…
As Stella’s crying gradually ceased, I also finished tidying up and resumed walking.
Three hours later.
“Uh… about what I wanted you to tell me earlier, I’ll tell you now.”
Just as Stella finally gathered her thoughts to talk about her past, suddenly…
“…Just a moment.”
“Why again! You just said you’d tell me… Huh? Huh???”
We ran into an unexpected individual.