Ch. 35

[Yes, Master!]

“Get this barrier out of the water. Can you do it?”

[It’s a bit difficult… but I’ll do my best!]

Undine flapped her tiny mermaid-like tail and struggled to lift the barrier with both hands.

Seeing something so small trying so hard to move such a massive shield made me instinctively press my hands together in a silent prayer.

“You can do it, Undine!”

Right now, you’re my only hope!

The water current was strong, and just pushing the barrier was draining mana at an alarming rate.

Still, the surface was coming into view.

“Just a little more!”

I really was hard to kill.

Through the transparent barrier, I could see the powerful currents swirling outside.

The barrier was slowly but surely rising.

Finally, with great effort, it broke through the surface.

The pitch-black water at night looked terrifying.

“Undine! Now… the spell that lets me walk on water! That one!”

[Water Walking.]

The barrier melted away like it was dissolving, and with a small splash, my body floated up to the surface of the water.

I could feel the water running beneath my knees.

Though I was standing on the water, my steps were as wobbly as a newborn’s.

I kept slipping, losing my balance, and nearly falling over.

There was no way I could walk against such a strong current.

I quickly changed my plan and started running with the flow of the water instead.

Now, I had only 20% of my mana left.

If it dropped below 10%, I wouldn’t be able to use magic at all, meaning I was practically out of mana.

If I went beyond that limit, my body’s balance would collapse, and I’d suffer severe internal injuries.

And that was supposed to be excruciating.

[Master! Just a little farther and there’s a waterfall ahead!]

Of course. Just when I thought things couldn’t get any worse.

No wonder the current was so fast!

Damn it, when it rains, it pours.

I stopped running, but my body continued to drift forward.

Now what?

I had no more spells left to use.

Panicked, I desperately searched for the lowest point on the riverbank and sprinted toward it.

Crossing the rushing water wasn’t easy.

I barely made it to the edge, but I couldn’t climb up the cliff.

I reached for any rock protrusions to grab onto, but they were just out of reach.

Nothing was working!

“Undine! Help me! Use water to launch me up! Can you do that?”

[Yes!]

The water beneath my feet surged upward, propelling me high into the air.

I barely managed to grab onto a sturdy rock ledge.

“Ugh!”

As soon as my feet touched the cliff, I could feel my mana dangerously close to depletion.

I didn’t even have time to say goodbye—I had to unsummon Undine immediately.

“…W-What the hell is this?!”

My mana was gone, and now I was hanging onto a cliffside for dear life.

—

The harsh reality slapped me in the face.

I couldn’t even summon my spirits anymore.

I was completely alone.

Looking up, the cliff stretched endlessly above me.

It had to be at least ten times my height.

Could I really climb all the way up there?

“Impossible.”

I knew my own limits.

Forget climbing—I wouldn’t last much longer just hanging here.

The only good news was that I had found a foothold.

But how long could I hold on?

I was already feeling the strain.

My hands were going numb, and my calves were burning.

For now, I pressed my body against the rock and tried to catch my breath.

Wasn’t I too young to die?

Why did this feel so unfair?

Darkness had fully settled in around me.

I couldn’t see a thing.

The only sound was the ominous roar of the rushing water below, reminding me that my life was still in danger.

Alright, let’s think this through.

“Even a tiger’s den isn’t dangerous if you keep your wits about you… but this is definitely worse.”

I needed about three hours for my mana to recover.

It didn’t have to be fully replenished—if I could just hold on for an hour, I’d have enough to summon Undine.

But the first problem was that I wouldn’t last an hour like this.

The second problem was that even if I summoned Undine, I had no way to climb up the cliff or survive a fall down the waterfall.

Either way, even with full mana, I still wouldn’t have a solution.

No matter how I thought about it, there was no way out.

The worst part?

The chances of my party finding me here were practically zero.

I had run deep into the forest, fallen off a cliff, and been swept far downriver.

And to make things worse, the ledge I had climbed onto was on the opposite side of the cliff from where my party was.

Judging by the position of the moon, I was certain of it.

“…Am I going to die?”

No way.

I said it out loud just to hear something, but it only made the fear settle deeper in my bones.

I had no plan, but I wasn’t about to jump back into the water either.

For now, I clung tightly to the rock to conserve my strength.

The cliff was cold against my body, and for some reason, I suddenly felt like crying.

[Master!]

Just then, something slid down my hand.

It was heavy, long, and familiar.

The moment I felt it coil around my wrist, I knew exactly what it was!

“Rai!”

My voice cracked from all the tension.

When I looked up, the dim moonlight reflected off Rai’s sleek black scales.

I could imagine it—his tongue flicking out as he wagged his tail excitedly.

[I’ve been searching for you everywhere! I thought you abandoned me! I was so worried!]

“Rai… I never thought you’d look this beautiful to me.”

[Haha! It’s good to hear you finally appreciate me! But… what exactly are you doing down there?]

Can’t you tell?!

Wait, no. Of course, you can’t.

I’d let it slide this time—there were more pressing matters.

“I’m in serious trouble right now! Pull me up!”

If I had the energy, I would’ve kissed him out of gratitude.

But my hands and feet weren’t free, and I was far too exhausted.

[How should I do that?]

“Either pull me up or create a foothold! You can move rocks, right?”

[This particular rock isn’t something I can control.]

“Then create a metal support! You can make metal, can’t you?”

[I don’t have any mana left. What did you spend it all on?]

Of course.

Why did I even bother expecting anything?

Furious, I snapped and screamed at the top of my lungs.

“Figure something out! If I die, it’s your loss too!”

[Die? Oh, come on. Just because you fell in some water… Actually, wait. Humans would die from that! This is an emergency!]

“Wow, you just realized that now?! You’re impossible to talk to—wait, yeah! Get people! Go find someone!”

[How do I do that? If they don’t have an affinity with me, they won’t even hear my voice.]

“…Then grab something expensive-looking and run! If it looks cheap, just bite someone and bolt!”

[Now that I can do! Leave it to me!]

So this is what it feels like to clutch at straws.

With an urgent nod, Rai slithered back up the cliff.

Watching his retreating form, my feelings were complicated.

Honestly, I had never assigned Rai a task that went well, so I wasn’t exactly confident in this plan.

“Please, Rai, I’m begging you!”

I had no idea how long I’d been hanging there.

My strength was fading fast, my limbs trembling uncontrollably.

A deep chill was settling into my bones, the first signs of a fever.

Then again, if I died here, a fever would be the least of my problems…

“Hah, hah, hah.”

I forced a laugh, but the surging water below lapped dangerously at my feet.

At this rate, I—a Water Spirit Mage—was going to develop a fear of water.

[Master! I got something!]

“Rai?”

Out of nowhere, Rai’s voice rang in my head.

I should have been scared, given how pitch-black everything was, but I was too relieved to care.

[Yes! It’s me!]

“You’re back! Do you know how much I believed in you?”

[Hah! Well, I tried sneaking off with a bag, but those slow-witted humans didn’t even notice. So I had to bite one to grab their attention before making off with it. I got the bag, Master! Aren’t I brilliant?]

“Yes! Good job, Rai! You’re a genius! What about the people?!”

[They’re looking for me up there.]

I looked up, but of course, I couldn’t see anything.

Who would think to look down a cliff for a missing snake?

Still, if I listened carefully, I could faintly hear voices.

Unfortunately, the roar of the water drowned out most of it.

In that case…

“Ador!”

[Hmm? You there, Master! Unsummoning me without warning? Terrible manners!]

“Shut up. I’m giving you one last chance.”

[…Yes, Ma’am.]

“If you don’t want our contract terminated, get up there and bring those people here—use as much mana as you need!”

At this point, I could fall at any second.

My fingers were completely numb.

I had no idea how I was still holding on.

Grumbling, Ador shot upward.

Within moments, what little mana I had left drained away—

And then, a brilliant explosion of light erupted above.

It was so bright that even from under the cliff, I could see it.

Ador zipped back down toward me in a flash, his glowing form standing out vividly against the night sky.

“Is someone down there?”

Yes!

But my voice wouldn’t come out.

“P-please… help…”

“Oh my god—Kenta! Kenta! There’s someone down there! Hurry!”

A voice called out, filled with urgency.

I was saved.

I never thought I’d be this happy to hear a stranger’s voice.