Episode 27: The Diverging Paths‚ When the True Strength of Us All Is Put to the Test
As they stood at the entrance to the forest‚ a cold wind brushed against their cheeks.
The smell of damp earth sank deep into their chests‚ while the rustling of leaves swayed in the distance.
A small pulse of magical power jumped beneath their fingertips.
"All right! My muscles are going to protect the forest today‚ too!"
Kurosu's voice echoed through the trees‚ sending the birds perched on the branches flying all at once.
"...Kurosu‚ be quiet."
Nagi's voice fell curtly.
"Why?!"
"You're loud."
"Nagi‚ you're ruthless!"
Beside them‚ Rinne's fingertips gently pinched the sleeve of Aria's clothes.
Her slender fingers trembled slightly‚ and their warmth passed through the fabric.
"Aria... do you think I'll be able to move properly today?"
Aria lowered his gaze to Rinne's hand‚
"Don't worry. I believe in the way you move‚ Rinne."
he replied quietly.
Rinne's shoulders relaxed‚ and a small light appeared in her eyes.
Without adding any more words‚ Aria gently touched the hand pulling at his sleeve.
Rinne took one steadying breath and began walking toward the shadows on the northern side.
Kotone stared into the depths of the forest while operating her tablet.
"Three reactions... no‚ centered around three‚ there are also small fluctuations in the surrounding area. Liam‚ please take the west side."
"D-d-dah...! Y-yeah...!"
Liam's voice cracked‚ and Mark's large hand slapped him on the back.
The dry sound echoed through the forest‚ making Liam's body sway forward.
"Leave it to me‚ Liam! My back is broad!"
Aria's lips relaxed slightly as he lowered his gaze.
At that moment‚ Iris's eyelashes trembled slightly.
The direction of the wind changed‚ and the layers of air shifted faintly.
Her gaze was drawn toward the "northeast‚" deep within the forest.
"...Aria. The magical power deeper inside is fluctuating.
I can't make it out clearly yet‚ but... something feels a little ominous."
Aria looked at Iris's profile‚
"Thanks for noticing."
he replied quietly.
Iris's expression softened slightly‚ and a brief silence fell between the two.
That silence felt less like anxiety and more like "sharing" something.
The footsteps of their companions were swallowed by the depths of the forest‚ and the rustling of leaves followed behind them.
Aria gathered magical power at his fingertips and felt a small flame ignite deep within his chest.
The farther they ventured into the forest‚ the more the light was blocked by the leaves‚ and the shadows beneath their feet sank deeper.
The smell of damp earth grew stronger‚ while the restless stir of magical power brushed against the inside of their skin.
"We're splitting into three directions from here."
Kotone closed her tablet and looked around at her companions.
On the screen‚ magical reactions scattered to the north‚ south‚ and west were faintly fluctuating.
Rinne gripped her sword tightly and quietly steadied her breathing in front of her chest.
There was a mixture of tension and just a little anticipation in her profile.
"Aria... I'm going to the north side."
Aria looked into Rinne's eyes and quietly nodded.
"Okay. Be careful."
Rinne's expression gently relaxed‚ and she began walking toward the shadows on the northern side.
Kotone pointed toward the south and held her tablet against her chest.
"There are more traces of magical beasts to the south. I'll go investigate."
"I'm counting on you."
At Aria's words‚ Kotone narrowed her eyes happily and headed deeper into the forest.
Liam shrugged‚ his gaze restless.
"M-me... are you really sure the west side is okay for me...?"
"You can do it‚ Liam."
When Aria said that‚ Liam's throat moved slightly.
Aria said nothing more and gently placed a hand on Liam's shoulder.
Liam's breathing steadied just a little.
"All right! If Liam's nervous‚ just look at my back!"
Mark's booming voice echoed through the forest‚ making Liam jump.
Aria quietly exhaled and lowered his gaze.
At that moment‚ Iris's shoulders trembled slightly.
A sensation ran through her‚ as though one layer of air had shifted‚ and her eyes turned toward the south.
"...Aria. The magical power to the south is more turbulent than before.
Kotone might be in a little danger.
But... I still can't grasp everything."
Her voice was not one of certainty‚ but rather one of cautious exploration.
Without saying a word‚ Aria looked toward where Iris was gazing.
He exhaled briefly and gave a slight nod.
Iris nodded back in the same way‚ and a thin tension tightened between them.
The footsteps of their companions scattered in three directions‚ and their individual presences gradually faded into the depths of the forest.
The magical power gathering at Aria's fingertips was sharper than before‚ pulsing quietly.
As they stepped deeper into the forest‚ the air sank with unusual heaviness.
The damp smell grew stronger‚ and the shadows of the leaves intertwined in complex patterns.
As if tearing through that silence‚ a low growl echoed from the south.
"Here they come! South!"
At the same moment as Kotone's voice rang out‚ a black shadow burst forth‚ gouging into the ground.
On the northern side‚ Rinne's sword reflected the light as she stepped forward‚ cutting off the magical beast's path.
She dodged the descending claws with nimble footwork.
"Aria‚ I need backup!"
"Okay."
Magical power gathered at Aria's fingertips‚ and the air trembled softly.
The magical power flowed in rhythm with Rinne's movements‚ making the arc of her sword even sharper.
The magical beast's stance faltered slightly‚ and Rinne's blade caught the opening.
Meanwhile‚ on the western side‚ Liam was desperately trying to lure the magical beast away.
"D-don't come over here!!"
Even as his feet nearly tangled beneath him‚ he kept the magical beast's attention focused on him.
Without saying a word‚ Aria gently sent magical power into Liam's back.
Liam's footing became slightly steadier‚ and surprise appeared in his eyes when he looked back.
"Aria... thank you!"
Aria replied with a slight lowering of his eyes.
Around that time‚ Iris's gaze sank deeply toward the right (east side).
The wind stopped‚ and the air in the forest warped slightly.
"...Aria. The magical beast to the east is angry. Its movements are wild.
But... I can't read everything. Be careful."
"Understood."
Aria replied briefly and signaled to Iris with his eyes.
Iris gave a small nod and stepped forward.
On the southern side‚ Kotone shouted.
"This magical beast reacts to emotion magic and slows down! Aria‚ can you spread your magical power over a wide area?"
"I'll try."
Magical power spread through Aria's chest‚ and the air in the forest trembled.
The magical beasts stopped moving for an instant.
"Now!"
Kurosu sprang forward and brought his fist down.
"Muscle Impact!!"
"You changed the name?!"
"It's how I'm feeling today!"
"Don't change the name of your technique based on your mood...!"
Nagi's magic precisely struck the weak point‚ and the magical beast collapsed.
Iris placed a hand on Liam's back and said‚
"Liam‚ your legs are unsteady. Step back a little."
she said quietly.
The battle had been brief‚ but everyone's movements had meshed perfectly.
A quiet warmth ignited deep within Aria's chest.
The presences of his companions were becoming a single flowing current.
The presence of the magical beasts vanished‚ and silence returned to the forest.
Amid the damp air‚ the breathing of his companions slowly settled.
Rinne returned from the northern side‚ sheathing her sword as she wiped the sweat from her forehead with her fingertips.
Her shoulders rose and fell with each breath‚ yet a firm light remained in her eyes.
"Rinne‚ those movements earlier... they were really good."
When Aria said that‚ Rinne's cheeks softly flushed red.
"...Really? I'm glad..."
Her voice was quiet‚ but it carried a resonance that reached straight into his heart.
Liam returned from the western side and leaned against a tree‚ breathing heavily.
"Whew... I thought I was going to die..."
Aria stood beside Liam and gave his shoulder a gentle push.
Liam blinked in surprise‚ then smiled just a little.
Kotone closed her tablet and nodded with satisfaction.
"Aria's magical power was much smoother than before. The flow was beautiful."
Aria said nothing in response‚ simply giving Kotone a gentle look.
Kotone scratched her cheek shyly and looked away.
Kurosu puffed out his chest and shouted in a voice that echoed through the forest.
"All right! Today's victory was thanks to my muscles!"
"No‚ it was thanks to everyone."
"Aria‚ just say it's because of my muscles!"
"I'm not saying that."
Nagi muttered while calmly cleaning up.
"...Today's teamwork wasn't bad."
At that moment‚ Iris suddenly stopped and looked toward the depths of the southern side.
The wind gently stirred her hair‚ and the layer of air trembled faintly.
"...Aria. The lingering trace of that magical beast is still fluctuating.
It hasn't completely disappeared. Be careful‚ okay?"
Without saying a word‚ Aria stood beside Iris.
Just that distance between them caused Iris's expression to gently soften.
The presence of their companions came together as one and melted into the silence of the forest.
A faint vibration traveled from the depths of the forest.
A low resonance‚ as though something were pulsing beneath the ground.
It was a presence that shook something deep within‚ unlike the lingering aftereffects of the battle just moments ago.
Kotone opened her tablet and furrowed her brow.
"...There's one more reaction. Its position is even deeper to the northeast.
Its movement is slow... and heavy. It might not be an ordinary magical beast."
Rinne placed a hand on her sword and steadied her breathing.
She should still have been tired‚ yet there was no hesitation in her eyes.
Liam swallowed nervously‚ and Mark lightly patted him on the back.
"I-is it going to be okay...?"
"It'll be fine. I'm with you."
That exchange warmed something deep inside Aria's chest just a little.
Iris's gaze sank into the darkness deep within the forest.
The wind stopped‚ and the air became faintly taut.
The light reflected in her eyes remained steady‚ fixed upon a single point.
"...Aria. I don't think that's an ordinary magical beast.
But... I still can't read everything.
The layers go too deep."
Her voice was not one of certainty‚ but rather one of cautious exploration.
Aria took a short breath and confirmed the flame within his chest.
――And yet.
That flame was far too quiet compared to before.
"Let's go."
Aria said quietly.
At his words‚ the footsteps of his companions naturally fell into step.
The sound of their feet stepping on the damp earth became a single flowing rhythm as they headed deeper into the forest.
A quiet warmth once again ignited at Aria's fingertips.
The presences of his companions became bound together as one‚ and the deep shadows of the forest swayed as if welcoming them.
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