“So there’s something there?”
“At least ten reactions, I think. But they were closer to the exit.”
Sera hears me with a serious expression.
If there wasn’t really anything out there, we could’ve advanced, so these reactions kind of betray our expectations.
There aren’t that many of them, but if they are few because they’re really strong, we might be forced into a tough battle. We could even end up outmatched.
“I think I should talk some more with grandma. Maybe she’ll know something from the symptoms.”
“Then I’ll start preparing too. We should probably not use fire weapons in a forest, so I’ll make more things with another element.”
“…And I’ll look after Hikari and Rurika. Looking’s pretty all I’ll do though.”
We all go do those things, and get together again at night.
But nothing really advances except time.
“Ignis, Ou, and the others aren’t well-versed in this sort of thing, so they don’t know. In fact, Ou hasn’t been seen since he left the demon king’s castle.”
Ou might actually know something, but it’s true that I haven’t seen him since then either.
Ignis has been flying around. Has he been up to some conspiracy again?
Ou not being around really hurts. He knows a lot of stuff we don’t, and I’m sure he’s been alive for even longer than elves that have been around for a long time, like Morrigan.
Actually, how long have the demons been alive? Should I try asking the next time I see them?
“So, what do we do now?”
Sera asks me, and Chris is also looking my way.
Honestly, I want to keep going, but thinking about Chris and Sera kind of dulls that determination.
“Sora, you should just rely on us. There’s Mia too, but we also want to help Hikari and Rurika, you know?”
“Yes. And we have to keep advancing anyway. We should all help them.”
I guess their resolve goes beyond mine.
Then I shouldn’t hesitate either. Sera’s right, we should keep going and save Mia, and then save Hikari and Rurika.
Even if I can’t make multiple elixir, Mia’s Holy Magic might be able to help them.
“Then let’s go to sleep early, and leave tomorrow morning.”
◇ ◇ ◇
The next morning, we eat breakfast with Yuini and the others, and head to the dungeon.
Rurika and Hikari are still the same. And it still looks like they’re just sleeping, if you don’t know what’s actually going on.
It wouldn’t be strange if they woke up and…
“I’m hungry.”
Hikari said that.
I’m actually more surprised that Hikari has been fully established as the ‘hungry character’ in the eyes of Yuini and the others.
We move to the ninth floor like always. I go in first, then Sera, and then Chris.
“It really is a forest.”
Says Sera, sounding surprised, as I check Map.
The reactions are all near the exit, but then, suddenly, they move this way. And pretty fast too, despite being in a forest.
It doesn’t feel like they’re just running.
“Careful, they’re coming this way!”
Sera readies her weapons, and Chris her magic.
They’re ready to fight, but we shouldn’t forget that we can jump into the stairs and run away. There’s no shame in that.
But it would be bad if they were waiting near the entrance the next time we came in.
I’m getting ahead of myself. Why are they coming here in the first place? They didn’t react before, so why are they coming here now?
I turn to Chris. They started moving the moment she came in.
“Did they feel her magic energy?”
I have magic energy too, but Chris’ is overwhelmingly stronger when she’s not using her transformation magic.
In that case, it could’ve been the strong magic energy that drew them.
I look at Map again, and see they’ve already cleared half the way.
What now? At this rate, they’ll be here in no time.
Should I use Space-Time Magic to slow down time in a wide area?
I ready both Space-Time Magic and offensive magic, so I can use them at any time. And then, the reactions finally get close.
“Sora, wait!”
Chris stops me.
“Chris, be careful.”
Chris steps in front of us, and lowers her staff. And as we rush to stop her, she raises her hand and whispers something.
I feel strong magic energy in her palm, and then three lights fly.
Those reactions are very similar to the ones approaching. They fly in the forest, and then stop in mid air, where the reactions heading here at an incredible speed are.
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Thanks for the treat.