Chapter 25.1
Me and Misha are heading up the stairs towards the upper levels of the dungeon.
"Catching up?" Misha asks.
Sasha tried to use Flight ｢Fres｣ but I prevented that. Walking normally we still haven't caught up though. Perhaps she's running?
"It'll be fine."
I raise my foot slightly and stamp on the floor. With a rumbling noise, the dungeon begins to shake so violently even standing becomes difficult.
"Hold on."
"…Nn…"
Holding onto my hand Misha is able to stay upright somehow.
After about a minute the shaking finally stops.
"You can let go now."
Misha gently lets go of my hand.
"What did you do?"
"I changed the topography a little and made some dead ends. We can catch up now."
After advancing onward for a while a bright space appeared in front of us.
The room where nature magic could be performed.
Sasha was there though she appeared to be at a loss.
The reason was probably the fact that the passage we came through was no longer there. When I stamped my foot the terrain changed dramatically and collapsed the tunnel.
"Yo Sasha."
When I spoke she jumped before turning around. She still grasping the king's sceptre.
"Is this your doing?"
I assume she's on about the dead end.
"Why would I tell a traitor?"
Sasha's eyes take on a grim look.
She's being cautious since she doesn't know what my aim is.
"If you want the king sceptre you'll have to kill me."
"What? No. Misha wants to make up with you."
Sasha rolled her eyes with irritation.
"Are you an idiot? Have you already forgotten what you did to me a while back?"
Sharp words but Misha just stares at Sasha.
"I'm amazed at this idiot doll as well as you Arnos. You take everything this child says so seriously. This child you are so enamoured with does not exist. It has no life and no soul. It's just a trash doll that will disappear tomorrow."
"Fumu. I've already heard about that. So what?"
Were my words unexpected? Sasha appears to be at a loss.
"…I see. She told you. Doll-san has been behaving like she's alive for a long time now. Is it afraid of disappearing?"
"Wrong."
"What is?"
"It's decided that I will disappear. There's nothing to be scared of." Misha said indifferently. "But before that, I want to make up with Sasha. That's all."
Sasha glares at Misha.
"I also want to know the truth."
"About what?"
In a rare moment of hesitation Misha stalls before asking Sasha
"Does Sasha hate me?"
Sasha didn't answer the question and instead turned to me.
"Nee. Do you want to fight again?"
She's a woman who obviously hasn't learnt her lesson.
"What kind of match?"
"I will draw a magic formation. If you can use it on your first attempt you win. If you can't it's my win."
Using the magic formation that another person has built is very difficult. You need to know what type of magic it is as well as understand the technique for using it. Normally the side drawing the formation will have an overwhelming advantage but that's only if their opponent is not me.
"That's all? It's quite advantageous for me. You can apply some more handicaps if you want."