Magic Maker - How to make magic in another world - - Chapter 65

Magic Maker – How to make magic in another world –

Chapter 65   Flare storm

“The most effective magic against the wraiths is Bolt. However, using Bolt can only defeat wraiths in close proximity. On the other hand, Flare, if it hits, temporarily envelops the monsters’ bodies in flames, sometimes catching surrounding enemies. It also expands the field of vision. It seems wise to use each at the appropriate timing.

“Throw the torches! Support Shion! Don’t hit Shion!”

Knowing that swords and bows are ineffective against wraiths, Rafina immediately raises her voice. As I run, torches fall to my left and right. Everyone is throwing torches from behind. There are few plants to catch fire, and the torches, soaked in oil, will burn for a while. With no rain and a weak wind, this tactic is effective. I’m grateful.

Wraiths won’t approach torches with Flare flames, and everyone can see their presence. Even if there are Wraiths trying to flank, everyone should notice. While running, I gather magical energy in both hands and feet.

Smooth magical energy release. It feels like magical energy is overflowing from my entire body. What’s this? I don’t understand. There’s confusion. But for now, there’s no need to worry about the reason. I’ll gratefully make use of it. After moving a certain distance, I stop. There are so many enemies.

If I charge in, no matter how much magic I use, I’ll be killed in an instant. Utilizing the surrounding torches, I stay in place and unleash Flare and Bolt.

“Kyaaaaa!”

Direct hit on the lead Wraiths. Perhaps because there are too many monsters, shooting randomly still hits them. In this case, Flare would be better than Bolt. I continuously activate Flare. Alternating between my left and right hands, I release Flare, and the group is engulfed in light. The wraiths cannot avoid the Flare, and they burn one after another.

“Uwaaa! Monste…!”

Upon hearing a scream from behind, I immediately turn around. The wraiths were heading towards the main gate along the defensive wall. Rafina and the others are protected by the blue flames. Therefore, the wraiths cannot approach. Magic is indeed effective. The wraiths are glaring at Rafina and the others with terrifying expressions, trying to approach from the left, right, and above. However, they cannot get close to the four people holding torches with blue flames.

“Don’t move away from the candelabrum! Keep holding the torches!”

“Ah! Wh-what are these things?! Don’t come, don’t come!”

“This one, this one! Get away! Don’t come near us!”

Everyone seems to be still in good condition. There’s no time to relax. I need to reduce their numbers as much as possible. I continue to release Flare one after another, and the sky glows blue. The wraiths flying in the sky dislike the light of the torches and cannot approach me. If I keep this up, I should be able to gradually reduce their numbers. It’s a competition of whether my magical power will hold out or the wraiths will endure.

――It was an event that occurred several minutes later.

I continued to release Flare, but the number of wraiths did not decrease at all. The opponent’s numbers were too overwhelming. Initially, there were only about a hundred, but gradually they increased, and now there are nearly two hundred. Despite defeating a considerable number, I’m still struggling.

However, magical power remains. Even though I’ve cast magic a hundred times, there’s still some reserve power. There is no doubt that the amount of magical power in my body has increased. Until yesterday, my magical power was normal, meaning I could use it about a hundred times before running out. But today, even after using magical power equivalent to a hundred times, I still have some leeway. Is it the influence of the Scarlet Night?

Does that crimson light that adorns the sky affect me as well? If so, does that mean that the light is providing magical power? Excessive magical power consumption. Depletion of internal magical power. Unusual well-being as a prelude. That’s the backlash I experienced.

It implies that this excess magical power supply caused it. The body becomes vigorous due to the excessive supply and consumption of magical power, but as a result, the regulation of internal magical power goes awry. Is that what caused the Laziness syndrome? Perhaps it was indeed influenced by the Scarlet Night.

While I don’t understand the reason I’m unharmed, when I feel the abnormal surge of magical power circulating through my body, I somehow understand. If I couldn’t handle this magical power properly and merely consumed it, there would likely be tremendous consequences for my body. Or, if the body couldn’t withstand the excess supply… Perhaps, even if I don’t get the Laziness syndrome by using this magical power, if I continue to use it without magical power, I don’t know what will happen when my body screams in protest.

Anyway, I and everyone else must survive this night. If I divert my attention to baseless things and proceed with caution, I will lose my purpose. I have no choice but to use all the power I have.

“Kyaaa!”

The screams of the wraiths echoed through the night sky. In the gruesome scene, I became oblivious and continued to cast magic. My body was in great condition, and my stamina was more than sufficient. In fact, that fact itself instilled fear in me.

However, I didn’t stop my hands and continued casting magic. I defeated a hundred, two hundred wraiths. Gradually, my stamina was diminishing, and the movements of magical power were becoming faint. Even though I felt great, there were limits. I had already cast nearly a hundred spells.

“Haa haa haa! Ku, it’s… really tough!”

My body felt heavy. The sensation that came when magical power was depleted welled up. If I surrendered to this feeling, it would be the end. I had to resist until the end. The wraiths continued to increase, to the point where I wondered if it was meaningless to defeat them over and over.

“Shion! Don’t push yourself too hard! Fall back! The torch is about to go out!”

The torch I had placed on the ground was reducing in firepower. Despite the gentle breeze and no rain, it wouldn’t continue burning for much longer. It seemed like the battle here was reaching its limit. If I stayed near the candelabrum, the wraiths wouldn’t approach for now. So, I had to fall back, recover stamina, and continue the fight. I turned on my heel and returned to the front of the main gate. However, at that moment, the situation took a sudden turn.

“kyaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa！”

The wraiths simultaneously charged into the light of the torches. As if coordinated, the wraiths, who had previously avoided the light, rushed toward the candelabrum and torches in unison.

“Gu, intercept them!”

With Rafina’s shout, the others thrust their torches forward. The wraiths that touched the flames disappeared while burning. However, their numbers were extraordinary. The wraiths seemed determined to kill Rafina and the others even if it meant self-destruction.

The wraiths disliked the light from the lightning lamp and the torches with Flare, but it wasn’t enough to defeat them outright. If we forcefully confronted them, we would be the ones defeated.

I jumped back to the front of the main gate, casting Flare while retreating, annihilating the swarm of wraiths in one go.

“I’m sorry, Shion. Thanks for saving us!”

“Don’t worry about it! Right now, it’s the wraiths we need to deal with!”

I also grabbed a torch. In some cases, it’s better to use a torch against wraiths with momentum than to use magic. I watched the movements of the wraiths, pushing out the torch when they were close and casting Flare when they were far away.

At first, only about five wraiths charged in. However, gradually, their numbers increased, and now wraiths from the surrounding area were flying in all at once. It was chaotic. Do these creatures not value their lives at all?

“It’s over! We’re finished!”

“We’re going to die!”

Huey and Dave’s screams echoed. The faces of Rafina and the gatekeepers also showed a color of resignation. In an instant, thoughts raced through my mind. Even if I use Flare now, I can only defeat a small portion. However, I had predicted this future.

I gathered the maximum release of current magical power in both hands. The magic power gleamed brilliantly. The amount of gathered magic power was incomparable to before. The blow I had already circulated was humming.

“Get down!”

In response to my shout, everyone reflexively lowered their postures. I stood behind the candelabrum and unleashed the blow. Instead of letting Flare run on the surface of the magic power, I covered it with a membrane of pure magic power. There, Flare ran. Blue flames ran on the surface of the magic power, and the internal wind clad the flames as they rose into the sky.

“Flare Storm.”

It takes time to activate, but its power is immense—my strongest magic currently available. Winds clad in flames engulf the surroundings. The wraiths dancing in the sky were all set ablaze and blown away in unison. The entire area was dyed in a simultaneous shade of blue. The burning wraiths swept up other monsters. Like a forest fire, the flames successively attacked the surrounding monsters.

“Kyaaaaaaa!”

The countless screams of the wraiths. Hearing their desperate cries, I frowned. Residual magic power. A smell reminiscent of burning. Leaving behind that scent, the wraiths were completely annihilated.

“Ugh… Haha… Did I… defeat them?”

I folded my knees. It felt like my strength had been drained in an instant. Strange. How much magic power was infused into that earlier spell? “Clearly too powerful.” And yet, I’m abnormally exhausted. What was that? Was it also the influence of the Scarlet Night?

“Shion, are you okay!?”

“Y-yeah. Somehow.”

With Rafina’s help, I managed to stand up. I felt dizzy. It was a sensation akin to when I ran with all my might for several hours. It was quite challenging.

“That… that was amazing! The one just now!”

“The wraiths were completely wiped out! Shion, you’re amazing!”

Even with the praise from Huey and Dave, all I could do was return a wry smile. Honestly, I’m pretty close to my limit. I think I would have died without the Scarlet Night’s magic amplification. Anyway, we somehow averted the crisis, or so everyone in that moment thought. However, reality isn’t that forgiving.

“That’s not real… right?”

I gaze into the distance.

Once again, there is light.

Floating sporadically, it’s approaching us.

“W-What’s wrong?”

“The wraiths… they’re still coming. About the same number as before.”

“What!?”

It may take some time for them to reach us, but it will be a matter of minutes. We won’t be able to endure this on our own.

“Th-The same number as before…? It’s over… We have no choice but to run inside.”

“Running won’t help… We’re going to die here!”

Resignation.

It was only natural.

In such a situation, holding onto hope was difficult.

But I have no intention of giving up.

“I’ll buy time. Everyone, throw your torches around. Just focus on protecting yourselves.”

“Don’t push yourself, Shion. It’s already too much!”

“Yeah, it’s tough, and it hurts. It might be the limit.

But you know, at a time like this, there’s no room for saying it’s impossible or too much.

I won’t give up until the end. I’ll protect everyone. I don’t intend to die here!”

I advance.

My steps are unsteady.

Still, the idea of retreating is not within me.

I have to fight, running away won’t make any difference.

“Ah.”

My legs lost their strength, and I was on the verge of falling. However, just in time, my body was supported—by someone’s hand.

“You did well, Shion.”

It was a familiar voice. I looked up at the person who grabbed my arm and supported me. It was Glast.