Magic Maker - How to make magic in another world - - Chapter 184

Magic Maker – How to make magic in another world –

Chapter 184   Ten Demons: Rapunzen

“Draw the attention of the Red Orcs, Vanguard Unit! Separate team, attack from the rear!”

Dominic’s instructions were precise. The knights gradually improved their skills, and now they could defeat a Red Orc without sustaining any injuries.

“Good job! We can do it! The extermination is faster than before!”

When a Red Orc fell, the knights cheered with joy. Meanwhile, beside them, Marie and I had just defeated the tenth Red Orc.

“Uoo… O-Ohh…”

“Shion-sama and Marie-sama dealt with ten, and we, with sixteen people, dealt with one…”

The voices of the knights gradually grew softer. All I could do was respond with a wry smile. I believe their efforts were more than sufficient. They were fighting with only the power of Iron Thunder Swords, unable to use magic or handle magic power effectively.

“Don’t be discouraged! It’s just that the two of them are too strong! Our goal is to rescue the fairies and defeat the demons! It’s not a competition!”

“Yes, sir!”

“However, is there still no sign of the fairy village?”

Dominic, leaving the enthusiastic knights, approached us. Although there was no sign of anxiety in front of the knights, emotions were now clearly visible on his face. It might be acceptable to interpret this as a sign of trust.

“I’ve been checking with magical perception, but there’s no trace of the fairy village.”

“We’ve been in the Abyss for two days now. Considering food supplies, should we consider returning?”

“We can produce water with magic, but unfortunately, the same can’t be said for food. We might last a few days with just water, but that’s about it.”

Hydration could sustain life for close to two weeks, but not in a healthy condition. Without calorie intake, the body would weaken, making it difficult to move. If we were to fight against demons, we needed to be in top condition. The Abyss had a complex structure, far from a straightforward path. We had been wandering around quite a bit, making the journey take longer than expected. However, the return route was already known. With a few hours of walking, we could likely reach the exit. Nonetheless, not knowing what awaited us, exploring until food was almost depleted posed a danger. It seemed like it was time to consider returning.

“We don’t know when demons might appear. The interval in the previous Scarlet Night was about a year and a half, but this time, it’s uncertain. Ideally, we should rescue the fairies quickly and defeat the demons in the next expedition.”

“I don’t want to spend too much time rescuing fairies… We should endure a bit longer.”

“Indeed, as both of you suggest… Let’s proceed a bit further. The knights still have high morale.”

The knights seemed to regain some confidence after the battle with the Red Orcs. Initially, they were somewhat discouraged compared to Marie and me, but that gradually disappeared. Along the way, they started showing faces that seemed to understand something. It wasn’t clear what kind of change had occurred in their mindset.

“Let’s move forward! Same formation as before! Stay vigilant! Even if monsters appear, handle it calmly! We have two skilled individuals, not monsters, among us! Understand that they are on a different level than ordinary people, and support them! Got it?”

“Yes, sir!”

I felt like something impolite had been said, but perhaps I misheard. We joined the formation and continued forward once again.

〇●〇

The Abyss has a structure similar to a cave, but some parts seem artificially constructed.

What caught my attention, in particular, was the ground. Usually, caves have narrow passages, uneven terrain or walls, underground water veins, or even stalactite formations—something challenging to traverse. However, the Abyss felt almost paved, making it easy to walk on.

Was this a coincidence, or was it the work of the demons? If the latter, why would they do such a thing? It gave the illusion of being invited inside.

Where did the Abyss originate from in the first place? From the underground, or perhaps from a different dimension? Both possibilities seemed plausible.

While there were trees and rocks on the surface of the Abyss, it shouldn’t be concluded that it originated from the ground. Einzwerf appeared seemingly out of nowhere. Whether it traveled through space, emerged from a parallel world-like place, or used a different method was uncertain. Regardless, it was clear that my understanding and the common sense of this world were not applicable.

If the Abyss was created by demons, did this artificial structure hold any significance?

Should I turn back? Isn’t it too dangerous to proceed further? Such anxieties began to surface. However, retreating meant not being able to help Melfi and the others. The situation was urgent. If we didn’t help them soon, they might be killed by monsters or demons.

I owe a debt to the fairies, especially to Melfi. I can’t abandon them. I pushed aside my uneasiness and continued walking. Amidst the dry footsteps echoing within the Abyss, I faintly sensed something.

“There’s a magical presence! Without a doubt, it’s the magic of the door at the entrance to the fairy village!”

When I conveyed this to the knight in front of me, he hurriedly ran towards Dominic and the others at the front. Speaking loudly wasn’t an option, considering the possibility of monsters or demons lurking nearby. To enter the fairy village, unlocking the door with magic was necessary. Since the entrance responded to magic, it was natural to assume that a special magical type was required. So, there was no mistake—Melfi and the others should be there.

The knight serving as a messenger returned and conveyed Dominic’s instructions.

“Proceed with caution,” he said.

“Understood. Thank you.”

The movements of the group slowed down slightly. We advanced, muffling our footsteps.

A few minutes later, a massive hall appeared before us. While I had come across open spaces within the Abyss before, this one was several times larger, comparable to three gymnasiums combined. The light from the lightning lamps allowed us to see the surroundings somewhat, as everyone spread out.

Upon inspecting the area, there were no visible passages. It seemed to be the endpoint. Dominic, Marie, and I simultaneously focused on a specific point.

My magic detection range was 100 meters, and although the others were inferior, they could still sense at this distance. We approached the space where magical energy emanated.

Despite sensing magical power, there was no visible change. Marie, Dominic, and I stared at a specific point almost simultaneously.

We approached the space where magical energy emanated. Although we sensed the magic, there was no visible change. I neared the magical energy and, as usual, released my magic.

The space opened up, and countless fairies flew out.

“What… What’s happening!?”

The bewildered knights couldn’t comprehend the situation as the fairies appeared in the hall. Over a hundred fairies adorned the hall, their magical power overflowing, surpassing the radiant magic. The hall felt warmer, as if it were being purified.

One fairy descended in front of me.

“Melfi! You’re safe!”

“Yeah! I believed that Shion would come for sure!”

Melfi embraced my face, creating a peculiar sensation. It felt ticklish but comforting.

“Let’s escape from here right away! Before he arrives!”

“He… a demon. Understood, let’s hurry.”

Melfi and the other fairies seemed frightened. Judging by their reactions, time wasn’t on our side. I turned to Dominic and shouted,

“Dominic! Let’s evacuate with the fairies! The demons are coming!”

“Yes! Everyone, retreat! Quickly, evacuate from the Abyss with the fairies!”

“Understood!”

I turned back to the fairies.

“Everyone, follow us, and we’ll get you out of here!”

The fairies were frightened, not only of demons and monsters but also of humans. However, there was no time to persuade them slowly. Action was the priority.

As I and the knights rushed towards the entrance passage, the fairies followed, led by Melfi. It seemed they trusted humans, us, more than the demons. Perhaps they understood we were here to rescue them. The passage was just ahead. We needed to get out quickly. This place felt ominous. A bit more, just a bit more to escape.

That’s when the passage vanished.

“Huh?”

The startled cry came from me. There should have been a passage right there. It disappeared in an instant. No, it closed. I couldn’t comprehend what had just happened. The passage didn’t vanish suddenly; it seemed like the surrounding walls expanded and filled it.

“What, what just happened?”

“What’s going on!?”

Amidst the spreading confusion, a chill ran down my spine. Slowly turning around, I saw a distortion in the center of the hall. An unsettling feeling born in space. The range gradually expanded to several meters. The magical power of the fairies that filled the hall dissipated, replaced by a crimson-black light that filled the space. Radiant magical power converged in the central space.

The crimson-painted space changed back to its original color in an instant. Then, like seeping through the ceiling, radiant magical power flowed down from above. It was the radiant magical power that had been hovering above Alsphere. With conviction, I felt a sense of dread. Overwhelming magical power was right in front of me.

All the radiant magical power in the Abyss and above vanished into the space. Cracks appeared in the space, revealing a face.

“Huh!?”

A scream echoed through the hall. A woman’s face. Alluring, yet exuding an eerie atmosphere. Sharp fangs peeked out from her mouth, crimson-black eyes, and white hair. Two shining horns protruded from her head.

Her revealing attire, dusky skin, and unnaturally perfect figure with alluring curves in the chest, slender waist, and smooth hips didn’t convey a sense of feminine charm. It was because the emanating aura was not human.

As her entire body gradually became visible, it was clear who had appeared.

“Phew… Finally out.”

Her tone was light, but her voice radiated an aura of awe. Human-like appearance and voice, but the overflowing magical power surpassed mine by far. Alien, foreign, monstrous. A being that deviated from all the principles of this world. A demonic figure as if it couldn’t be judged by looks.

No, it emitted such a presence that it wouldn’t allow judgment based on appearance. It surpassed Einzwerf. Einzwerf had around ten million magical power, but this one had twice that amount, probably around twenty million. Defeating Einzwerf was already a miracle, and now there was an opponent with double that strength. Even if I were to fight Einzwerf now, I wouldn’t be sure of victory, and yet, an opponent much stronger was right in front of me.

Impossible. Nobody could beat that.

“Oh? A human, huh? I see, a thousand years have passed. Oh, are you Rugure? No, a bit different… Well, it doesn’t matter. I’ll kill all humans. Oh, before that, let me introduce myself. I am one of the Ten Demon Races, Rapunzen. You can forget it if you want.”

Her tone was casual, but the pressure she emitted far surpassed Einzwerf. My instincts screamed that I couldn’t win if I engaged in a direct fight.

“Hmm? I don’t sense Einzwerf’s magical power. Strange. He should have come here first. Well, whatever! Let’s go, time to slaughter them all! La la la, killing, killing, mass murder!”

Humming a tune, Rapunzen, the demon, approached carelessly. I felt paralyzed, unable to move. What should I do? How do I handle this?

“What? Just a child, isn’t it? Is this the demon race?”

One of the knights approached Rapunzen thoughtlessly.

“D-Don’t get close!!”

As I tried to stop him, the knight was blown backward. Passing by us and crashing into the wall, he fell to the ground, twitching.

“I am not a child.”

Rapunzen pointed her index finger. It meant that with a light push of her finger, she sent the knight flying.

“Draw your swords!!”

Dominic’s command came a bit late. The knights hastily drew their swords, but their morale was undeniably shaken.

“Oh, finally in the mood, huh? Will it be a bit entertaining? Looking forward to it! After all, I’ve been trapped for a thousand years!”

Innocent face, but in her hands, a massive pulsation of magical power emerged.

“Everyone, jump to the side!!”

Unconsciously, I shouted. I leaped sideways, carrying nearby knights with me. In that instant, a thunderous roar echoed through the hall, passing through our location. The impact was powerful enough to shake the atmosphere. Marie and I somehow landed on the ground.

I realized that a massive boulder had been hurled from the wall. Near the impacted wall, shattered rocks were scattered around. It was a tremendous blow. Even if I had used a shield, a direct hit would likely have been meaningless. Some were injured by the debris, but it seemed that fatal injuries were avoided.

The fairies were fleeing to a distant place. What to do? What should I do? There’s no escape. We have to fight! At the very least, I need to weaken that creature. I braced myself, ready to confront the looming threat.