Episode 19: A Small Victory‚ Muddy Smiles Shared with Companions
The morning in the port town carried a faintly sweet sea breeze‚ the sky tinged a pale gold. The distant sound of waves swayed‚ and the villagers began opening the early market. Amid it all‚ I—Aria—was making the final checks on my equipment. Tapping my fingertips lightly‚ I reviewed the adjustments to the barrier tools once more.
“Aria‚ are you ready?”
Linne came running over carrying a bag of bread. Distributing breakfast was her usual routine.
“Yeah. Thanks‚ Linne. …Does that bread include Cross’s share?”
“Of course it does. Three pieces.”
“Three?!”
“Well‚ it’s Cross‚ after all.”
(…Yeah‚ he really does look like he’d eat three.)
As for Cross himself‚ he was already full of energy and practicing his jumps.
“Alright! Today I’ll finally show off my brilliant decoy technique!”
The moment he stepped forward with force—
“Whoa?!”
He tripped over a stone and fell face-first.
“…What kind of decoy falls before we even start?”
“No‚ that was just a warm-up!”
(What kind of warm-up is that…)
One of the villagers called out with a laugh.
“Everyone‚ be careful. There’s been talk lately of seeing the shadows of magical beasts near the forest.”
“Leave it to us. We won’t let any damage occur.”
I answered briefly and turned to face my companions.
“This mission has two objectives. Preventing harm to the residents‚ and investigating signs of residual adaptation in the magical beasts. The forest terrain is complex‚ so Cross will be the decoy‚ Linne will provide side support‚ Iris will prepare the finishing blow. I’ll handle the reconstruction of the barriers.”
“Understood!”
“Leave it to me!”
“Okay! Leave the decoy work to me!”
And so we began walking along the path leading to the forest. The sea breeze pushed at our backs‚ tension and anticipation quietly mixing deep in our chests.
(…Our first full-scale subjugation mission. We’ll definitely succeed.)
As we drew closer to the forest‚ the air grew cool and damp. Unlike the bright sea breeze of the port town‚ a thin residual haze drifted at the forest entrance. The leaves of the trees were blackened here and there‚ and no small animals could be seen. The soil underfoot was soft‚ moisture seeping out with every step.
“…There’s an unpleasant presence.”
Linne said quietly. She was gazing ahead‚ listening carefully.
“There are no footsteps of small animals. Normally there would be more noise from squirrels and birds.”
“It’s probably the residual influence.”
I confirmed the surrounding terrain while tapping my fingertips lightly.
Iris closed her eyes and took a deep breath‚ as if reading the flow of the wind.
“…Yeah‚ there’s a ‘zawa’ kind of presence deeper in the forest. They’re probably moving in a group.”
“Even though it’s such a sensory description‚ it somehow has a strange persuasiveness.”
Cross gave a wry smile.
“Because it really does feel like ‘zawa’.”
(…The fact that onomatopoeia actually makes it easier to understand is Iris’s amazing point.)
I roughly surveyed the terrain and assembled the magical beasts’ behavioral patterns in my head.
(Avoid the wetlands and use the shadows of fallen trees… If they’re moving in a group‚ the optimal approach is to lure the leaders and seal the flanks.)
“Cross‚ the decoy comes from the right side of the fallen trees. The magical beasts hate the wetlands‚ so they’ll definitely circle around that way. Linne‚ seal the left side from the underbrush. Iris‚ conserve your magic in the rear and prepare the finishing blow.”
“Understood!”
“Leave it to me!”
“Leave the decoy to meeeeee!”
Cross got too worked up and started practicing his decoy moves.
“Hey‚ magical beasts! Over here!”
He shouted at full volume even though there were no magical beasts yet.
“…Cross‚ it’s still too early.”
“Huh‚ is it?”
“Of course it is!”
Linne interjected‚ and Iris giggled.
Even amid the tension‚ there was the usual atmosphere.
(…It’s okay. Everyone is here. As long as our coordination doesn’t fall apart‚ we can definitely succeed.)
We carefully advanced deeper into the forest.
The moment we stepped deeper into the forest‚ the air suddenly grew taut. The smell of the wetlands and the rough residual presence clung to our skin. The shadows of the fallen trees swayed‚ and a low growl echoed.
“They’re coming…!”
Linne’s voice trembled. But her eyes were sharp.
The next instant‚ the underbrush burst open‚ and black shadows leaped out. Small magical beasts—about the size of dogs‚ but their residual-infected bodies were unnaturally flexible‚ and their eyes glowed red. And it wasn’t just one. Two‚ three… a pack.
“Alright‚ leave the decoy to me!”
Cross jumped out and bounced around flamboyantly in front of the magical beasts.
“Hey! Over here! I’m not delicious!”
(…No‚ what’s with advertising that you’re not delicious when you’re the decoy?)
The magical beasts were drawn to Cross‚ their movements concentrating in one direction. I didn’t miss the opening‚ tapping my fingertips lightly as I deployed the barriers.
“Multiple small barriers‚ phase reconstruction… alright‚ close!”
Transparent walls blocked the magical beasts’ path‚ restricting their movements. Each time a beast collided‚ the barrier trembled lowly.
“Linne‚ seal the left side!”
“Understood!”
Linne quickly dove into the underbrush and layered auxiliary barriers. Her movements looked clumsy‚ but they were actually precise.
(…Even though she’s my childhood friend‚ she’s strangely reliable only at times like this.)
The moment the magical beasts’ movements dulled‚ Iris stepped forward.
“Here I go…!”
When she hummed a short melody‚ the air trembled‚ and light spread out like ripples. The magical beasts flinched for an instant.
“Now‚ Iris!”
“—Resonate!”
A torrent of light enveloped the pack of magical beasts‚ piercing through the residual membrane. The beasts cried out and fell one after another.
I reconstructed the barrier toward the last one‚ putting just a little emotion into it.
(…I want to protect them. Everyone.)
At that moment‚ the amplitude of the barrier strengthened slightly‚ completely sealing the magical beast’s movements.
“Aria‚ nice!”
Right after Cross shouted—
“Whoa?!”
He got his foot caught on the tail of a fallen magical beast and took a spectacular fall.
“…What are you doing at the very end?”
“No‚ this is… a tactical fall!”
(Is there even such a tactic?)
Amid the mix of tension and laughter‚ the pack of magical beasts fell completely silent.
The forest after defeating the pack of magical beasts had become quiet‚ as if the earlier tension had been a lie. The wetland smell still lingered‚ but the air felt somehow lighter. We collected the scattered residual fragments and parts that could serve as materials‚ then moved on to checking for injuries.
“Cross‚ your arm is a little cut!”
Linne ran over and hurriedly took out a bandage.
“O-oh… No‚ this is a warrior’s medal of honor—”
“Stay still!”
Linne grabbed his arm forcefully and skillfully wrapped the bandage.
“Ow ow ow! H-hey‚ be a little gentler…!”
“Shut up!”
(…Linne is strong when she gets angry.)
Iris was a little out of breath‚ but she was sensing the residual magic.
“Phew… I might have sung a bit too much this time. But I’m glad everyone is safe.”
“Don’t push yourself‚ Iris. The fluctuations in your magic were large.”
“Yeah‚ I’m fine. Because Aria supported me with the barriers.”
Saying that‚ she smiled. Her face looked tired‚ yet somehow proud.
I checked the residual samples we had collected while calling out to my companions.
“These magical beasts this time had advanced residual adaptation. I think that’s why their movements were fast. But…”
Tapping my fingertips lightly‚ I continued.
“Everyone’s coordination was perfect. Cross’s guidance‚ Linne’s sealing‚ Iris’s finishing blow… if any one of them had been missing‚ we wouldn’t have succeeded.”
Cross puffed out his chest.
“Right? My decoy technique has finally blossomed!”
“You were falling‚ though.”
Linne interjected calmly.
“No‚ that was… a tactical fall!”
“There’s no such tactic.”
Iris giggled.
Watching my companions’ exchange‚ I felt a warmth deep in my chest.
(…Everyone really is getting stronger. I can’t afford to fall behind either.)
By the time the cleanup was finished‚ the forest air had completely settled.
A small success experience—but it was certainly a battle that strengthened our bonds.
When we exited the forest‚ the sea breeze caressed our cheeks again. The roofs of the port town came into view‚ and the laughter of children could be heard from afar. The tension of the subjugation mission loosened‚ and our companions’ expressions naturally softened.
“Welcome back‚ everyone!”
The old man on lookout duty in the village waved his hand.
“I heard the shadows of the magical beasts disappeared. You really saved us.”
Those words made a gentle warmth spread deep in my chest.
Cross puffed out his chest and raised his voice loudly.
“Leave it to us! My decoy technique has finally—”
“You were falling‚ though.”
Linne interjected immediately.
“No‚ that was a tactical fall!”
“There’s no such tactic.”
Iris shrugged her shoulders while laughing.
Listening to that exchange‚ I tapped my fingertips lightly.
(…In today’s battle‚ we took one step forward. Not just theory‚ but magic infused with emotion‚ and coordination with our companions. It was only when everything meshed that we could win.)
Linne quietly came to stand beside me.
“Aria‚ today… you were amazing.”
“It’s thanks to everyone. Your sealing was perfect too‚ Linne.”
She averted her gaze bashfully.
“Th-that’s… perfect is…”
(…No‚ it was actually quite perfect.)
Cross patted my shoulder from behind.
“I’m counting on you next time too‚ Aria! Your barriers are seriously reliable!”
“Thanks. Next time… let’s win together with everyone.”
The sky over the port town was dyed in the sunset‚ and the waves sparkled.
In that beautiful scenery‚ I realized that we had truly become a “team.”
And then— a report arrived from the village lookout tower that residual fluctuations had been observed in another region.
The premonition of a new mission quietly mixed into the wind.
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