Volume 1 Chapter 28 A Special Move
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
I’ve stayed at Alice’s house for 3 nights, and today is the 4th day here.
We just finished breakfast and are discussing our plans for today.
Even though I should be able to recover endlessly with ‘Body Super Regeneration,’ I feel so worn out that it seems like I can’t keep up with how fast I’m being drained.
On the other hand, Alice looks really healthy and shiny.
I wish she wouldn’t stare at me with those rosy cheeks.
Is she still not satisfied after drinking so much…?
Rumi looks grumpy and unhappy.
Since we’re leaving tomorrow, the plan is to prioritize Alice, but it still doesn’t feel good to see me getting along with other girls.
Well, putting aside the trivial stuff, I’ll ask Alice about something I’ve been wondering since we came to this country.
”Alice, since we arrived in the Sphere Kingdom, I’ve been curious… why are there so few men? When I walk around town, at the guild, and even in this mansion, the only adult men I’ve seen are the guard at the gate and a few merchants.”
After hearing my words, Alice closed her eyes for a moment and then began to explain the situation in this country.
”…In this country, men work above ground, and women work underground. That’s the law here. The only exception is that adventurers can work above ground regardless of gender. Right now, many men from this country are on a large expedition to the demon race’s land. My father is a general in the army, and I haven’t seen his face in days.”
”Do non-combat jobs like merchants also participate in the war?”
When I asked in surprise, Alice nodded.
”Yes. There are jobs besides fighting. Non-combat jobs mainly handle transporting food and various items, creating equipment and items in the kingdom, and refilling magic power for barrier devices.”
”I see. So, aside from adventurers, men mostly have war-related jobs, while women handle everything else.”
I said, nodding in admiration.
”Yes. Women in non-combat jobs grow crops in underground towns, make clothes in factories, brew healing potions, and educate children. They do everything that isn’t fighting.”
”…What about Alice’s mom?”
I asked without thinking, and Alice’s eyes filled with tears.
”Mom… my mother passed away last year due to a serious illness… ugh… sniff…”
Hearing that made my heart ache.
”You’re worried about your dad, right?”
I said, trying to comfort Alice.
”…Yes. It’s past the day he promised to return, and he still hasn’t come back. …Am I going to be all alone…?”
Her voice was filled with anxiety.
”Alright, Rob, we decided what to do today!”
Rumi suddenly jumped out of her chair and looked at me.
”Yeah! Alice, how about we go to the demon race’s country today to meet your dad?”
”…It’s a really dangerous place, you know?”
Seeing her worried expression, I smiled back.
”I haven’t had an exciting adventure since coming here, and since the demon race’s country is right there, we have to go! …Don’t you want to see your dad, Alice?”
”…I do want to see him. …Rob, please go with me to the demon race’s country… sniff…”
Her serious gaze made up my mind.
”Alright! It’s going to be me, Rumi, and Alice going to the demon race’s country! …Oh, by the way, what about Alice’s party members? I haven’t seen them since the last dungeon…”
”Those people are with me because my dad assigned them as my guards. When I don’t call for them, they’re either at the training grounds or hunting monsters around the kingdom.”
”It wouldn’t be good to bring them along, right?”
”…Yeah. They would definitely try to stop us.”
”Then I guess it’s just the 3 of us. Let’s get ready quickly and go meet him! And once we confirm everything is okay, we should leave before we get in trouble! …Does that sound good for today?”
”Hehe… Yes. Thank you, Rob.”
Seeing Alice’s smile, I felt a little bit of relief.
”Hey! Rob! Don’t just look at Alice, look at me too!”
I was startled by Rumi’s sudden voice.
It seems I made her mad.
Keeping both of their smiles up might be too hard for me…
But I want to protect both of their smiles.
* * *
On our way to the demon race’s country, the 3 of us──me, Rumi, and Alice──finally reached the top of a high mountain.
There, we couldn’t help but gasp at the sight before us.
Below us was a creepy landscape filled with toxic air.
Dark clouds loomed overhead, blocking most of the sunlight, and a dim forest surrounded us.
The blackened trees twisted together with roots that looked strange, creating an atmosphere as if they were swallowing something.
”This is… kind of a scary vibe.”
When I spoke, Alice nodded silently.
Her face clearly showed her anxiety.
The ground was barren, with cracked earth visible in places.
From the gaps, sounds like living creatures could be heard, stirring up even more unease.
It felt as if the land itself was rejecting us.
The river was murky, looking like black muddy water flowing by.
White bubbles rose up, and a strange smell hit our noses.
Of course, there were no signs of fish anywhere.
”Ugh… this place is way grosser than I thought…”
Rumi frowned in discomfort, and I couldn’t help but agree with her reaction.
Feeling a lot of Magic Power, we hesitated but flew closer in that direction.
From the edge of the cliff, we spotted the Sphere army fighting in a wide wasteland.
The demon race and a horde of monsters were slowly advancing, swords and magic clashing, while brave soldiers fought desperately. It looked both intense and beautiful in a way.
”The Sphere army is fighting the demon race! That crowd is huge…”
At my words, Alice met my gaze and nodded.
”…Rob, what are we going to do now?”
Alice’s voice was filled with tension.
Rumi sensed it too and stared at the monsters with a racing heart.
”Let’s observe for a bit… Can you look for the strongest one among the enemy group? Of course, I’ll look too, but with so many, it’s hard to tell.”
I quietly suggested, but Alice’s expression remained tense.
”Got it!”
”Understood!”
Hearing Rumi and Alice respond cheerfully made me feel a bit relieved.
(Now, this is the perfect stage to use my special move that Mom taught me.)
I activated ‘Magic Detection’ and focused on finding the strongest enemy.
With so many enemies clustered together, it was hard to identify the one with the strongest Magic Power, but we finally found 2 demons with particularly strong Magic Power.
The person fighting them also had high combat ability, and it looked like the battle was evenly matched.
”Rob, I found Papa! And the one he’s fighting is probably the strongest demon race!”
Alice shouted happily.
”…I didn’t know, but is Alice’s dad a Sword Saint? He’s fighting those 2 all by himself…”
I asked, impressed.
”Yes, ‘Sword Saint’ Leon Valliere. He’s strict but kind, and a really strong master of the sword!”
Alice spoke proudly about her dad.
”Do you think he could have been okay if we hadn’t come here…?”
Rumi asked me, looking a bit anxious as she watched the battle.
”No, since we came all this way, let’s hit the enemies with a big move before we head back!”
I said with determination.
I can’t waste this chance.
* * *
We step down into the wasteland where the war is happening.
There’s still a bit of distance, but we can’t get too close, so we’ll shoot from here.
”Alice, Rumi… while I’m Chanting, if the enemy gets close, protect me.”
”Okay, got it!”
Rumi replies cheerfully.
”…Rob is going to Chant and shoot magic?”
Alice looks puzzled since she’s only seen me shoot magic without Chanting.
”Yeah, I learned it from Mom Emma. It’s my strongest attack magic right now! …After I shoot it, I’ll definitely faint, so Rumi, you need to carry me and dash away. Alice, use the Magic Condenser Device (Immortal Seven) and your sword to protect me and Rumi.”
”A magic that definitely makes you faint… that sounds interesting.”
”It’s a level 18 light attribute magic. It needs a really long Chanting. …Alright, let’s get started!”
”Okay!” “Yes!”
Both of them respond energetically.
I spread my feet shoulder-width apart to stabilize my stance.
I raise my right hand horizontally, palm facing the enemy.
My left hand supports my right wrist and elbow to keep it steady when I fire.
I take a deep breath and start Chanting.
”Dark void spreads, fear takes control,
From the depths of my heart, I gaze into the abyss,
Power of inner light, awaken now!
(Magic Power charging, 20%)
To become a sharp blade that cuts through fate,
From the deepest part of my soul, I merge all the ether into one,
Unleash your infinite Magic Power and ascend to the light!
(──40%)
A serene wave swirls and grows,
sharpening the intense shadow of fate to its limit,
illuminating hidden truths, beyond the dark future!
(──60%)
Now is the time to unleash my inner power,
resonate with this moment, oh fate of all things,
my dazzling light, bear fruit here!
(──80%)
Awakening is the sparkle of my inner soul,
the true power lurking in the depths of my heart, now, unleash it!
(──90%!)
Create the strongest, unmatched swirling strike,
let its name roar and shake the heavens!
(──100%!!)
’All Magic Power Integration Cannon (Aether Converge): Light (All Radiance)!!’
──Ka!! Boom──────────n!!
An overwhelming beam of light obliterated all the demon race in its path.
That scene shone like a blessing from the gods.
(…Alright, it seems I managed to blow away a tough demon race.)
In that moment, I exhausted my power, and my consciousness began to fade.
”Ah, Rob!!”
Rumi’s voice echoed in my ears, but my awareness was gradually enveloped in darkness.
”────. ──! ──────!”
Rumi’s anxious voice sounded distant, and Alice rushed over, looking worried.
And then I lost consciousness.
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
Thanks for reading.