Chapter 143 Part 1
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Translator: Jiro Editor: Ryunakama
At a rock cliff a bit farther from where Zeph and Azalea were.
Claude was sitting there staring at her palm.
Just before leaving she had touched Zeph’s skin one last time with her fingers. She caressed her cheek as she tried to remember that feeling.
「Zeph-kun…」
Claude lost herself in thought for a while, but then suddenly returned to her senses and let out a big sigh.
「I guess this is what self-hatred feels like…」
She held her knees and lowered her head.
After leaving the inn early in the morning she had come and just done that.
She knew that everyone was probably worried.
However, she had no intention of going back.
She wasn’t sure if she would be able to remain calm when seeing Zeph or Milly.
I became really annoyed when I saw Zeph-kun talking so happily with Milly-san… Even though I love both of them so much…
It wasn’t just this once as well.
Claude would turn gloomy each time she saw Zeph getting along with anyone.
Kane’s words couldn’t stop floating around in Claude’s mind.
――You will definitely betray someone at one point. You’ll never be able to make real friends.
Perhaps she couldn’t ignore those words because they struck right at her core.
If I stay with everyone any longer, I might really do something like that…
She was certain that if Zeph was in danger, she would sacrifice anything to protect him.
However, was that the same for everyone else, for Milly.
She didn’t think that she would do anything to harm them directly, but she wasn’t confident whether she wouldn’t just leave them to die with the pretence of not being able to do anything to save them.
If that were the case, then she’d rather distance herself from them…
But I don’t want to distance myself… Zeph-kun…!!
Claude’s vision got clouded by her tears.
「Oh my? Aren’t you that brat, Zeph’s friend?」
「?!!」
Upon hearing a voice behind her, Claude immediately turned around.
She wiped her tears and readied her sword. The person standing before her, was someone she had presumed to be dead. It was Grain.
「G-Grain…?!!」
「You, Claude was it? Thank you for the other day.」
It was the Dispatch Magician Grain.
A power magician that even Zeph struggled against.
He wasn’t someone who Claude could defeat in a normal fight.
However, he’s still a magician. With my Screen Point I might just…!
Just as she was about to concentrate and cast magic, Grain appeared right in front of her. Before she could notice it, he buried his fist in her abdomen.
「Ur…gh?!!」
「You’re wide open!!」
Grain then used his sword’s scabbard to land a powerful blow on Claude’s head as she was beginning to sink to the ground.
With a loud sound Claude fell to the ground and didn’t move.
Blood oozed out from her head and dyed her beautiful golden hair red.
「You small fry. Trying to use magic against me in a close-range battle, despite not being proficient in it. There’s no way it would work.」 he said as he spat at her and sat next to her collapsed body.
Upon casting magic, one would create openings.
If the one casting the spell was an experienced person, then those openings would only last an instant, however with Claude’s level, casting magic in a close-range battle could be seen as fatal.
Furthermore, she was also in an unstable state of mind.
「Well then, I did spot Azalea, so I guess I can’t just idle around.」
「Ur…」
Grain picked Claude up as she let out a quiet breath.
「…Hmph? This girl…」
Grain lifted up Claude’s chin and narrowed his gaze.
After looking at Claude’s face for a while, she began laughing as if he had realized something.
「I see… I might be able to use her…」 he whispered as he picked Claude up once again and disappeared.
◆ ◆ ◆
「Grain’s alive… Is that really true?!」
「Yea. I don’t know what trick he used, however I can still feel his presence on this island.」 said Azalea replying to my question.
That can’t be… He got hit by my Tetra Crash… Could he have probably released his magic power at that moment and re-activated Screen Point? To think that a magician such as Grain, would be able to use Screen Point that well. I cannot take his battle sense lightly it seems.
「Zeph-kun, do you have an idea what might have happened?」
「She used a magician-killing spell. That’s how he was able to withstand my spell.」
「I see. Now it makes sense how he was able to kill his first pursuer…」 saying that Azalea spread a world map and cast a small ball of light which floated on top of it.
This was a Unique Spell that was used for tracking. I had seen it being used by other Dispatch Magicians before.
It allowed the caster to know the location of their marked target no matter where they were in the world.
「Grain is definitely still on this island. Unfortunately, I cannot grasp his exact position. We have no choice but to search for him manually from this point on.」
「And you want me to help you with it, is that right?」
「That’s correct. That’s my condition for turning a blind eye to this destroyed dungeon.」 said Azalea as she winked at me.
「I see… Even if we do split up and search, wouldn’t it be dangerous for you alone as well when facing an opponent capable of magician-killing spells?」
「I’ve brought two other colleagues with me.」
「If we’re gonna do that you should have brought more. He’s a strong one you know.」
「There are a lot of selfish people amongst the Dispatch Magicians you know. Only two of them replied to my request.」
There were a lot of people amongst the Dispatch Magicians that had difficult characters, it was perhaps something that came with being strong. Which is why they weren’t the type of people that would sit and wait to be bossed around.
「… You won’t tell me to capture him alive right?」
「That’s right. It would be preferable to do it like that, but considering it’s him we’re talking about, dead or alive, it wouldn’t matter as long as we capture him.」 said Azalea with a sharp, cold gaze, which made me shiver.
What a frightening woman. This thing with Grain has gotten way too out of hand. He may end up being dangerous not only to me, but my friends as well. I can’t let him go. And since she says she’ll turn a blind eye to me destroying the dungeon I might as well follow her on this one.
「Got it. Let’s do it.」
「Great. I like clever kids like you.」 said Azalea with a smile as she shook my hand.
Our negotiations had been completed. Upon that me and Azalea exchanged a crystal ring as a sign of trust.
Azalea was able to use the Magician Association’s Unique Spells in order to communicate with me via Telepathy without the use of a crystal ring, however apparently it was annoying for her to have to specify my location each time, so she didn’t want to use it.
「Actually, one of my friends has gone missing as well. Her name’s Claude. She has short blonde hair and carries a sword, a shield and a breastplate with her. If you happen to see her it would help me a lot.」
「Hm… Claude-kun huh. Come to think of it, didn’t I meet her once before? Either way, if I happen to see her I’ll let you know.」
「Thank you.」
「If you do happen to find anything tell me as well.」
「Will do. Don’t die.」
「Haha, that’s my line you brat.」 said Azalea as she flew off with a Teleport.
Still, to think that Grain would still be alive. It’ll be dangerous if he happens to run into Claude. I must find her fast. I’ve already met Azalea so I don’t have to worry and can finally go all out.
「Ain, come out.」
I cast Summon Servant and alongside a burst of light Ain appeared.
「Urgh… Good morning gramps…」
It seemed like she was still fatigued as she didn’t look as energetic as normal.
「Ain, I’d like you to help me search for Claude, do you think you’ll be able to do it?」
「…Hmph? Since it’s Claude.」 saying that Ain fluttered her wings as if to squeeze out her remaining energy. Seeing that effort of hers I couldn’t help but stroke her small head.
「We must find her as soon as possible.」
「I know. I’ll search from the sky.」
「Thank you.」
After saying that Ain took to the sky.
I left Ain to look under the steep part of the cliff since she could fly, while I on the other hand looked around the wreckage of the dungeon, in the opposite direction of Azalea.
On top of this area being wide, it was also riddled with rocks which made it hard to see. I shouted out Claude’s name with a loud voice.
「CLAUDE!! WHERE ARE YOU?!!」
I used all of my strength in order to shout over and over again.
「CLAUDE!!」
However, there was no response.
I guess I won’t be able to find her so easily. I guess Azalea and her friends have already searched through this area so I guess it’s only natural that she isn’t here… Damn it, where in the world did she go…!
Being overwhelmed by a feeling of impatience I kicked on of the rocks with my foot, it was then that I received a Telepathy call from Ain who was a little farther away.
《Gramps, come here! There’s a cave at the bottom of the cliff…》
《I’m coming!!》
A cave!
There wasn’t something like that shown on the island’s map.
It wasn’t a dungeon, and the chances of Claude being there weren’t zero.
I went down the cliff and got to the place where Ain was at.
The large rocks that emerged from the surface of the sea were wet and scraggy, making it difficult to cross.
I proceeded carefully, while paying attention to my steps, while Ain was floating in front of a large crack in the rock wall.
「Gramps, it’s here.」
「Okay.」
Ain pointed to a crack in the wall, inside of which I could certainly see a small cave.
I cast a Red Ball inside, but it was dark so I couldn’t see anything at the back.
「CLAUDE!!」 Ain shouted, however only her echo continued to ring out within the cave.
「Well guess we have to go in.」
「Be careful gramps.」
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