'This is bad..."
I sensed the incoming attack, but my body refused to move, paralyzed by fear from the earlier sight. No matter how fast my mind worked to recover, my body wouldn't cooperate.
"Boom!"
The skulls collided with Luya's Embrace barrier, but the shockwave was enough to hurl me against the wall, leaving a dent behind.
"Cough—!" I spat out blood. My small body couldn't withstand the impact. The only saving grace was that Haist's rigorous training had toughened me up; otherwise, I'd be in far worse shape.
"What a... nuisance... that barrier is!"
The collision jolted my body back into action. Not waiting for death to claim me, I quickly rolled to the side and muttered:
Even if I couldn't confront the skulls directly, at least I could predict their trajectory through analysis, giving me a chance to dodge.
"This isn't enough..."
The warlock scanned the room, his gaze landing on the violet-haired boy and his unconscious sister. He began moving toward them, ignoring me entirely.
Sensing the warlock's approach, the boy shouted nervously, "Stay back!"
The warlock paid him no heed. Touching his forearm, he chanted:"[Blood Blade!]"
His right arm transformed into a crimson scythe-like blade, glinting ominously in the dim light—a three level spell.
"Whew..." I exhaled a cold breath from afar. Lucky me, once again, I hadn't recklessly engaged him in close combat.
Magic was terrifying. And this fool—if he had such a spell —why didn't he use them earlier? Was he inexperienced in battle, like me?
Or was he simply a dull-witted brute?
The boy trembled, his body shaking uncontrollably, but he didn't falter. "Don't come closer! If you kill me, my father will know, and he'll wipe out your entire family!"
"I commend you!"
Despite everything, the boy continued shielding his unconscious sister with his body.
"Stay back!! I'll blow this place up if you take another step!" he threatened again.
"So noisy..." The warlock raised his blade high and, without hesitation, slashed toward the boy and his sister!
"I said don't come closer!"
The boy screamed in fear and anger. Suddenly, his hand glowed with a violet light, and with a flash, a luminous violet spellbook materialized before him.
Its pages flipped rapidly before stopping on a random one. The boy shouted at the top of his lungs: "[Stellar Explosion!]
"...WHAT?"
A grimoire?! And this aura...two rank?
"Woosh!"
At that moment, a scorching violet aura erupted from the boy, spreading out before detonating with tremendous force!
Damn it, no—don't explode—!
"Boom!"
"Aarghhhhh!!"
The warlock's shrill scream pierced the air, sounding eerily like a violated girl.
The explosion wasn't enormous, but it was powerful enough to slam me into the wall, blasting me into the adjacent room. I didn't even have time to marvel at the boy's spellbook before I was hurled like a shattered vase.
Pain shot through my back. If Loya's Embrace hadn't activated to block the flames, I'd have been roasted alive alongside them.
Is the boy okay? No matter.
To hell with that kid!
The real pain came from a shard of the explosion grazing my left arm. Fortunately, it left only a "surface wound," so I could still escape without it hindering me too much.
I had a bit of stamina left—I could flee with that!
I doubted the warlock survived unless he was truly some immortal cockroach.
"Tsk, that brat! He can pull off an explosion like that but still hides behind his father? Coward..." I couldn't help but seethe with frustration.
What a coward! I'd already be out of here if I had such a spell! Should I have threatened him using his sister from the start to force him to use it? If I ever end up in a situation like this again, I won't bother playing the nice guy.
"Cough... cough..."
I coughed from the smoke, brushing dust off my tattered clothes. The room was dark, and visibility was poor.
"[Fireball!]"
I conjured a small fireball to illuminate my surroundings. I was now in the adjacent room where the warlock had likely been staying.
Scanning the area, I noticed a wooden table with a pen and some paper on it. Near the papers was a black book written in a language I didn't recognize.
Hmm, curious about the book, but safety comes first.
I continued surveying the room. My body had blasted a hole in the wall separating the two rooms, allowing smoke and dust to fill the space. Amidst the gloom, I vaguely made out a figure in the distance—bound?
Hmm?
Ignoring the table and its contents, I approached the restrained figure, my curiosity piqued.
As the saying goes, "The enemy of my enemy is my friend." If there was even a slim chance the warlock was still alive, saving this person might prove beneficial.
And if they turned out to be a valuable hostage? No harm in rescuing them either.
Drawing closer, the figure became clearer.
Chained by her wrists and ankles, a small girl, about eight years old, lay before me. Her flowing black hair cascaded around her like a shimmering waterfall, even in this darkness. Her pale, unblemished skin bore a few violet bruises.
She wore a white dress stained with blood and riddled with tears, exposing her arms. Blood trickled from her lips.
My heart raced, nearly bursting from my chest.
"...Mizuki?!"
'What is Mizuki doing here?! Why is she chained up like this?!'
A storm of questions swirled through my mind, bringing a sharp headache.
An unexpected pang of pain struck my chest. Suppressing the chaotic emotions rising within me, I forced myself to think clearly.
I recalled the warlock's words earlier and considered a wild possibility.
Wait... Could she have fought him? Could she be the "girl" who inflicted these injuries on him?
But that's impossible! Mizuki can't use mana! How could she possibly have wounded a rank-four warlock so severely? This doesn't make any sense.
No, on the other hand, why else would he have looked at me with such hatred earlier when I hadn't done much to him?
Perhaps Mizuki inherited some strange black aura from Mother.
'Leave her!'
'Leave her! She's just a burden that will weigh you down while you escape! Leave her!'
I heard Sora's voice screaming inside me.
It was logical. If I left her, I wouldn't have to carry her extra weight while running.
And if the warlock wasn't dead yet, she'd be a liability—one more person I'd have to protect and save.
I made my decision and smiled.
Next, I punched my nose three times with all my might until it was nearly broken.
...this was foolish.
Hakoa Sora had always prioritized himself because he had no responsibilities, family, or emotions holding him back. But now, I have a family I must stay with.
No, I won't tell myself something shallow like, "Sora is a person of the past; don't listen to him," because that would be rejecting myself and my true thoughts.
I refuse to deny myself or my ideas—that would be hypocrisy.
Why would I lie to myself? That's disgusting.
Hakoa Sora and I, Arai Rolan, are the same person and the same soul. The only difference is our circumstances and situations. I've merely... moved to the next stage!
Honestly, I respect Sora's perspective. Leaving Mizuki here and escaping would be the logical choice.
But that doesn't mean I'll do it.
Responsibilities... Verdi was right: A man must always bear responsibilities.
Responsibilities were the one thing the solitary researcher Hakoa Sora lacked.
Now, I'll save Mizuki because it's my duty as her brother.
Oh, and I promised Mother as well! I'm a man of my word, haha.
...However... damn you, miserable self of mine! There was no need to break my nose to prove your resolve.
...It hurts like hell.
"Arai! Where's Arai?!"
Mizuki's voice startled me as she woke up from the explosion's noise.
Hearing her call my name filled me with guilt, shame, and a bit of embarrassment. I was planning to leave her behind and escape alone?! I feel so ashamed of myself.
I'll make it up to this big sister of mine one day.
"Arai! Are you alright? Are you hurt anywhere?" Mizuki struggled, clanging her chains as she anxiously asked about me.
"What happened to your nose? Are you okay?"
'Please don't ask such questions.' My face burned with embarrassment. Damn it! I wanted to crawl into a hole.
Even though she woke up injured so badly and chained like a wild animal, the first thing she asked about was me.
Well, even a rock would be moved by this, let alone me.
"Don't worry about me! What happened to you?! Your injuries are terrible!"
"Ugh..." Mizuki groaned in pain, and I quickly warned her, "Don't move! You're seriously hurt."
"Hold on, I'll burn off these chains now!"
[Fire Bullet!]
I conjured four tiny fire bullets and quickly destroyed the chains.
Hmm? The bullets' power felt completely different than before!
Did the spell's strength increase? Could it be...
With a single thought, my glowing grimoire flew into my hand.
It was open...?
Did I break through to one rank? When did this happen? Could it be because I had brushed past death moments ago? What's the reason? This is strange!
Unfortunately, there wasn't time to investigate or celebrate.
"Alright, the shackles are gone—let's get out of here!"
I hoisted Mizuki onto my back, gritting my teeth as I moved swiftly toward the door.
"Where... do you think you're going?!"
From within the smoke, the warlock emerged, dragging one of the five children by the leg.
His appearance was worse than before—a grotesque visage of white, skeletal burns. His empty eye socket revealed exposed bone, with patches of melted skin dripping onto the floor.
"Damn it! Is he some kind of cockroach?!" I cursed. Even if he hadn't died, his timing couldn't have been worse. What a tenacious pest!
"Oh? What happened to him?" Mizuki laughed weakly from over my shoulder. "Haha, he's even uglier now!"
This girl was still laughing? Show some fear already.
My mana reserves were low—I could barely muster two fireballs at most.
"Arai, don't worry; I forgot something earlier but just remembered it now."
I felt Mizuki shifting something. Turning my head, I saw her pulling out a golden whistle.
She blew on it with all her might!
"..."
There was no sound.