Ch. 34

There were so many things I wanted to say, but even saying a single word felt exhausting.

I was definitely not someone built for physical exertion, and my stamina was truly abysmal.

[Tracking presences isn’t my specialty, I told you.]

“If I die, it’s your fault!”

[A subordinate’s mistake is a superior’s mistake!]

“I’m going to kill you! I swear I will!”

If I survived, that is! At this point, I was so out of breath that even speaking was difficult.

Running like this had my legs burning with pain. Even when I was fleeing through the market, I didn’t run this hard!

“Uwaaah… Aaargh! Rai!”

Undine wouldn’t be much help, and the first thing that came to mind was Rai. With his strength, he could twist an orc’s neck!

“Rai! Rai, you bastard!”

Where the hell was he?!

I shouted at the top of my lungs, but since I was running, my voice came out weak and hoarse.

And yet, there was no answer. Just my luck—when you actually need something, it’s never there!

A completely unfamiliar landscape stretched out before me.

I had no idea where I was running anymore.

I was too panicked to think clearly—all I could focus on was staying alive.

“Ugh, this… Ah, Undine!”

[Yes—oh! Master!]

Undine, who had just been summoned, was about to greet me but quickly flew toward me upon seeing me sprinting at full speed.

“Undine! Hit that orc with an Aqua Ball! Huff!”

I was so out of breath that even a single sentence was hard to finish.

The swiftly launched Aqua Ball struck the orc’s face and burst apart.

I never thought I’d be using Aqua Ball in real combat so soon!

“Puha! That’s refreshing!”

I hadn’t expected much, but I also hadn’t expected it to be this weak.

The orc looked like he had just taken a sip of water during a marathon and felt rejuvenated.

[Aaah! I’m sorry, Master!]

“This… this isn’t fine at all!”

Normally, I’d comfort the distressed Undine, but right now, my life was on the line.

Where even was this place?!

The terrain was getting rougher. It felt like I was gradually heading downward.

Soon, I realized it wasn’t just a feeling—

The path was actually sloping steeply down.

While this increased my speed, it also meant that the orc chasing me was accelerating just as much.

“Hey! Shreek! Stop right there, human! I’m gonna eat your back legs!”

In a situation like this, being the lighter one was a serious disadvantage.

I was practically set up to die!

“Ador! I don’t care what—just hit that monster with something! Anything!”

[Anything is the hardest thing to do!]

“Whatever is the strongest thing you can cast with my mana!”

[Lightning Hand!]

What the hell was I supposed to do with glowing hands?!

Fuming, I slapped aside a branch blocking my vision—only for it to instantly turn to ash.

This was clearly a close-range attack.

“Not this! Long-range! I need long-range attacks!”

[Jeez, you’re picky.]

Ugh, having a dumb spirit was pure suffering!

I was on the verge of tears. Just how much mana had I wasted on these stupid glowing hands?

[Shock!]

The moment Ador cast his second spell, my mana reserves nearly emptied—but at least there was hope.

The orc let out a bloodcurdling scream before crashing to the ground.

And whether I liked it or not, the smell of sizzling pork filled the air.

When that massive body hit the ground, the impact rattled my feet. I finally started slowing down.

[Success! It’s down, Master!]

“…Haaah!”

At Undine’s voice, I stopped running and turned around.

Water and electricity really did make a good combination, huh?

“Huff, huff. Is it over…? Doesn’t look dead, though… Ador! Go check!”

[Eh? Why me? Master? There’s a lower-ranked spirit right here…]

“Shut up and go.”

Grumbling, Ador flew toward the orc, circling above its head before returning immediately.

[It’s still breathing! Looks like it just fainted!]

“Really?”

Relieved that I was still alive, I collapsed onto the ground.

How did things end up like this?

Right, I had just stepped out to relieve myself, then got lost because of Ador, then ran into an orc…

“Ador?”

[Yes, Master! Impressed by my power?]

“I’m canceling our contract.”

[…W-What kind of scary nonsense is that?!]

“You nearly got me killed! If you had any conscience, you’d remove yourself from my life!”

[No way! You can’t just unilaterally decide that!]

“Break up!”

I’d never heard of a human breaking a contract with a spirit before, but there was no law saying I couldn’t.

[I only did what you asked!]

“Then I’m asking you to break our contract!”

[P-Please! Just give me one more chance! I’ll do better!]

“Does it make sense for a spirit to nearly get their master killed? Huh?! Does it?!”

[I wasn’t trying to kill you… You’re just weak…]

“UGH!”

This spirit was going to drive me insane!

How did other Spirit Mages keep their sanity?!

[Y-You two… please calm down.]

“Undine! Think about it! This guy practically sent me to my death!”

[I don’t know everything, but… Master. Spirits can never intentionally harm their masters.]

“What?”

[The contract we make is bound to our very souls. We swear on our lives to protect our masters. I don’t believe he did it on purpose.]

[Well said! You’re a good one! A fine spirit indeed, even if you’re lower-ranked!]

Look at Ador, all smug just because someone took his side.

Undine was too kind for her own good.

“Haah, my luck…”

I sighed, deciding to swallow my frustration and let it go.

As much as I hated to admit it, Ador wasn’t wrong.

In this world, being weak was quite literally a crime punishable by death.

If I wanted to survive, there was only one solution—

I had to get stronger.

Unbelievable as it was, that was the harsh truth.

It hadn’t even been that long since I left the academy, yet I had already been forced to face death countless times.

I was far too weak for this world.

That suffocating academy I had once found so frustrating suddenly felt like a peaceful paradise. Just the thought of it made me long for it desperately.

[Hey, Master?]

[M-Master? Master!]

I had been catching my breath, lost in thought, when the spirits started panicking.

Undine was frantically waving both hands in front of me, trying to warn me about something.

“Huh?”

“Gueeegh!”

“Waaah!”

The orc was awake.

Why the hell was it suddenly up again?!

I stumbled backward in shock—

Right toward a sheer cliffside with a raging current below.

The moment my body tumbled over the edge, the deafening roar of rushing water filled my ears.

Damn it! Damn it! This was insane!

What kind of god would put a ten-year-old girl through something like this?!

If there really was a god in this world, screw you, you bastard!

“Aaaaaah!”

I screamed again, desperately trying to grab onto something—anything!—but it was too late.

I was already plummeting toward the water.

“Undine! Wa… Water Breathing!”

It was a last-second, desperate thought.

Clearly, I really didn’t want to die.

Just before I hit the surface, the spell activated, saving me from drowning.

Whoosh!

With a powerful hum, a circular barrier of water instantly enveloped me.

Though it was made of water, it didn’t soak me.

[Water Breathing]—a spell that allowed breathing underwater.

I had never thought I’d actually use Undine’s magic in a life-or-death situation.

I was sorry, Undine! I had completely dismissed your magic as useless!

[Are you okay, Master?!]

For a moment, I was too overwhelmed to respond, my heart pounding against my ribs.

It wasn’t until I finally processed the fact that I was still alive that I stared blankly at the transparent shield surrounding me.

Outside the barrier, the current raged violently, yet I was sinking steadily into the depths.

I pressed my hand against the barrier and felt a cool sensation cling to my skin.

“This world…”

As terrible as it could be, it was also undeniably amazing.

Magic never failed to astonish me, leaving me in a daze every time.

But I couldn’t afford to sit here marveling like an idiot.

The rapid depletion of my mana snapped me back to reality.

I was sinking deeper and deeper, and the light was fading fast.

It was already nighttime, making my visibility even worse. This was bad.

I immediately cut off the mana flow to Ador.

He hadn’t followed me into the water, so he had likely been forcefully unsummoned.

Judging by the rate my mana was draining, I had maybe two minutes at best before it ran out completely.

“Undine!”

The barrier was rapidly sinking toward the riverbed.

If I kept going down like this and my mana depleted, I’d be done for.

I had to find a way out—fast.