Chapter 33
The approaching Gravity Wave.
I switched the mana I had been refining.
"Electric Shock (Impulse)!!!!"
I deployed lightning with the image of launching fireworks. If 《Thunderbolt》 is a falling attack, then "Electric Shock (Impulse)" is a spell that blasts the opponent forward. From an outsider's perspective, it would look like lightning was shooting out from my body toward the front.
"Electric Shock (Impulse)" let out a sound close to the screech of an animal—GyaGyaGyaGyaa—before colliding with the "Gravity Wave (Gravity Wave)." Upon impact, it scattered electric currents in a radial pattern.
At a terrifying speed, "Electric Shock (Impulse)" swallowed the "Gravity Wave," and the cylindrical pitch-black object dispersed into mist. Where the two spells collided, a massive crater had formed.
I fired another "Electric Shock (Impulse)."
Once again, with a sound like a screaming animal, the electric light shot straight ahead and landed a direct hit on the Bone Lizard. "Electric Shock (Impulse)" pierced through the Bone Lizard's interior, then exploded with sparks—BariBariBarii—sending its massive body flying backward.
The Bone Lizard, now charred black from the heat generated by "Electric Shock (Impulse)," collapsed with a heavy *thud*.
"Ariana! Cover your ears!"
She instantly pressed her fox ears down with both hands.
Rapidly refining my mana, I repeated the image of multiple 《Thunderbolt》 spells overlapping into a thick pillar.
If I don't destroy it beyond recognition, it'll just revive again.
I took aim and swung my arm down.
Take this, you damn bone bastard!
"Extreme Thunderbolt (Lightning Bolt)!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"
Crack......
CrackleCrackle......
BaBaBaBaBaBaBaBaBaBaBaBaBaBariBariBariBariBarii!!!!!!!!!!!
A flash of light so bright I had to turn away to avoid being blinded engulfed the prairie, and a lightning bolt far thicker than before trampled over the Bone Lizard's body.
A sudden surge of overwhelming energy gouged out the ground of the great prairie, and the earth, unable to absorb the impact, shattered into dust, triggering an explosive blast that scattered dirt and stones along with a wave of scorching wind.
Thanks to Ariana chanting "Wind Break" on instinct to shield us, the secondary damage was somewhat mitigated.
But since I was close by, a considerable number of flying rocks struck me, knocking me to the ground and slamming my body hard.
After a moment of silence, various sounds echoed from afar.
ScreechScreech
FlapFlapFlapFlap
Hee-HoHee-Ho
Gushwaaaaa
A large bird that must've been quite far away took off in a panic, while an unlucky Hee-Ho bird, resting nearby, freaked out and started wheezing "Hee-HoHee-Ho" as if struggling to breathe. Then, from a crack in the sealed boulder, a single stream of water gushed out. Given the steam, it must've been a hot spring. I watched the scene while lying sprawled out.
Too much hot spring!
"Ellie..."
Ariana, on the verge of mana depletion, staggered toward me before collapsing.
"Are you okay?"
The kind-hearted fox-girl seemed genuinely worried about me.
Struggling to lift my heavy body, I nodded at Ariana.
"It's definitely dead, right?"
"It was already dead..."
"It was just bones, after all."
"Yeah... It's not moving anymore, so I think we're safe."
Even when I squinted, I couldn't find any trace of bone fragments.
Barely moving my battered body, exhausted from mana depletion and bruises, I snatched Ama Kuso's bag and took all the small vials containing mana potions. Understandably, after using "Electric Shock (Impulse)" and "Extreme Thunderbolt (Lightning Bolt)" at full power, I had almost no mana left.
There were five vials—I took three, and Ariana drank two.
It tasted like Oronamin C, soaking into my tired body. Delicious.
After a while, a tiny bit of mana returned.
First, I cast "Heal" twice on Ariana, then "Cure Light" on myself. Rather than fully healing the wounds, I used just enough mana to dull the pain and allow normal movement. Overdoing it would mean not being able to heal the others.
Ariana looked apologetic for not being able to use healing magic herself, but dark magic affinities struggle with light magic—there's no need to worry about it so much. When I told her that, her eyes sparkled as she nodded.
We set up the tent, moved the unconscious members inside, and administered healing magic.
Of course, I left Scarlet lying around somewhere.
Ariana shot her a cold glare and muttered, "Deadweight..."
Surume, who was severely injured, stabilized after I cast "Cure Light" on him. Since he'd lost a lot of blood, he should rest. I also cast "Heal" on Professor Harshüge and Gargaine, both unconscious from mana depletion. Who knows where they might've been hurt?
While recovery time varies, those who suffer mana depletion usually wake up within three to four hours. Ariana mentioned there's a low-tier "Black" spell that transfers mana. "It'd be useful if I could use it, but I can't," she said, shoulders slumping. I had to cheer her up again, assuring her she'd learn it soon.
At last, the great prairie was enveloped in silence.
"Ellie, let's call for help..."
Ariana showed me the final page of the training camp booklet.
'In emergencies or if the supervising instructor is incapacitated, use the *Passion Dog Smoke Bomb (Lovely Dog)* in the instructor's possession to request aid. However, this is strictly for life-threatening situations. Any misuse will result in immediate expulsion. Use wisely. Only deploy if absolutely necessary. Never use it out of curiosity. Got it? If it's not necessary, DON'T. USE. IT.'
The tone kinda turned commanding at the end......
"*Passion Dog Smoke Bomb (Lovely Dog)*?"
"This..."
It's a smoke bomb about the size of a baseball.
Without hesitation, Ariana rolled the *Passion Dog Smoke Bomb (Lovely Dog)* on the ground and ignited it with the basic fire spell "Fire." Pink smoke rose straight up.
"Ariana..."
"Ellie..."
"It stinks."
"My nose is gonna fall off..."
An unbearable stench, like a mix of fermented fish and sulfur boiled down to its worst, filled the surroundings.
We pinched our noses and backed away.
Relieved that help was on the way, we finally relaxed.
"Just to be sure, let's check."
I pointed at the Bone Lizard's remains.
I doubted it, but I wanted to confirm whether it was truly defeated.
"Yeah..."
Ariana and I walked over to where the Bone Lizard had been and inspected the remains.
The power of "Extreme Thunderbolt (Lightning Bolt)" was terrifying—a ten-meter radius from the impact point had been completely gouged out. Only there, the grass was gone, exposing bare ground. The depth was substantial too.
Not a single bone fragment remained.
"Huh, what's that?"
At the center of the crater, a red stone glimmered.
"No idea..."
Ariana tilted her head. I searched for an easy path down to the center of the crater made by "Extreme Thunderbolt (Lightning Bolt)."
The red stone sparkled atop the ground.
It was a fist-sized, rounded stone. Upon closer inspection, tiny sparks flickered inside.
"This... is a mana crystal."
"What's that?"
"It can store and release mana..."
"Huh..."
"At this size, it's probably worth around 100 million ron..."
"100 million!?"
"Yeah..."
"Let's keep it."
I swiftly pocketed the mana crystal—worth 100 million yen... er, ron.
A rock like this being worth 100 million is insane. Must be like a gemstone back on Earth.
I'll cash it in later and split it with Ariana.
While using "Wind" to blow away the nose-warping stench of the *Passion Dog Smoke Bomb (Lovely Dog)*'s smoke, we returned to the tent where everyone was sleeping. Ariana kicked the still-smoking bomb downwind.
The *Passion Dog Smoke Bomb (Lovely Dog)* stopped right beside Scarlet, engulfing her in a violent plume of smoke, making her writhe. "Nice shot," I praised Ariana with a thumbs-up.
Finally, we sat down and relaxed.
There was still a chance more monsters would come.
To stay safe, we'd stay awake and wait for help.
It must've been past noon. Ariana and I took out a pot from the bag, made a simple stew, and gazed blankly at the sky.
——The great prairie swayed in the wind, the only sound the gentle rustling of grass.
"Ellie..."
"What?"
"Earlier......thank you for helping me."
"It's nothing, really."
"And......thank you for protecting me."
"I told you, it's fine. I'm the *fat one*, so I'm perfect as a shield, right?"
"Self-deprecating jokes......are a no."
Saying that, Ariana let out a soft laugh.
Her large, expressionless eyes narrowed slightly, and though only the corners of her lips lifted just a bit, it made me feel indescribably warm inside.
Ugh, what is this? She's *way* too cute.
"Listen, Ellie... We fox-kin devote our entire lives to our saviors..."
"Huh, that's an interesting custom."
Must be one of those cultural differences between races.
"So, I'll devote my whole life to you, Ellie..."
"Huh!?"
To *me*?! Sure, I saved her life, but isn't *a whole lifetime* a bit much?
"So, become my master, Ellie..."
"Master?! This isn't some fantasy! Besides, look—Professor Harshüge, Gargaine, even Surume, they all fought hard too! I'm not the only one who saved your life!"
"No, that's not true. Without you, we'd all be dead..."
"W-well, I mean, that's true, but......"
"And your *Thunderbolt* spell was amazing. If I could stay with a legendary wizard forever, I'd have no regrets..."
"That *Thunderbolt* was a fluke! I just chanted the spell and it happened by chance! Look, I can't even use *white magic* or *sky magic*, can I?!"
I desperately tried to explain—or rather, take it back.
A whole lifetime was too much to ask of her, and "master" was *way* out of the question.
"You can't cast *Thunderbolt* by chance. And if you could do it without even learning *White* or *Sky*, then you're a *genius*. I want to stay with you even more..."
"By the way, what exactly does 'devoting a lifetime' entail for fox-kin?"
"Rain or wind, we're always together. Sleeping, eating—everything."
Ariana said this in an unusually firm tone.
"W-well, that's kinda......a bit much, don't you think?"
"......No good......?"
Tears began pooling in Ariana's eyes.
I panicked.
Harder than I had all day.
"No, it's fine! It's totally fine! It's not bad at all, but—ahh, please don't cry! Okay, how about this—let's be friends!"
"...............Sniff.....................friends?"
"Yes, exactly!"
What a brilliant idea, if I do say so myself!
"Let's be friends! I've been bullied by *Scarlet* since first year, so I don't have a *single* friend."
At the word *bullied*, Ariana's ears twitched.
"Ellie......if we do it now, no one will notice. That nuisance sleeping over there......want me to *kill* them?"
*Swish*—Ariana raised her staff.
"Please, *please* stop saying such terrifying things!"
"Okay..."
She obediently lowered her staff, and I sighed in relief.
"So, Ellie... We're friends now..."
"Yes, we're friends!"
Ariana and I shook hands firmly—her soft, squishy hand meeting my rough, calloused one. We were an oddly mismatched pair, and I couldn't help but smile happily at the thought.
Ellie, you seeing this?!
I *made a friend*—!!!
Now we can study together at school, sneak out to town after class to eat snacks—!!
"Pleased to meet you... *my master*."
".........Huh?"
As Ariana giggled shyly, I was left utterly speechless.