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adnodusomnisRiquet: Owen, what did you call Derrick here for?
Owen: He said he was looking for the Mungil tree, so I simply brought him here. Or is there a reason I shouldn't talk to him?
Owen: I was just helping him because he seemed to be having trouble.
Riquet: …
Derrick: Sorry, I came here after asking you guys to clean up.
Looking at Derrick, it seemed like Owen really did just guide him here.
Akira: (Thank goodness…)
Riquet, thinking the same thing, breathed a quiet sigh of relief. However, Owen noticed it and smiled fearlessly.
Owen: Say, Derrick. Do you really think this owl is your friend?
Derrick: …? What's that supposed to mean?
Riquet: Owen!
Riquet quickly cut in between the two.
Riquet: Owen, you shouldn’t speak of that.
Owen: Why? Why do you get to decide that I shouldn't tell their secret?
Riquet: It is not my decision either. This is between the owl and Derrick, so if you're going to talk about it, you should respect their wishes…
Owen: You're telling me I shouldn't talk?
Riquet: That's… well, I'm saying that you shouldn't tell them as you please. The owl should reveal the secret himself…
After saying that, Riquet's eyes went wide and he slowly covered his mouth.
Derrick: The owl's secret…?
Riquet: N-no, it's just…
At that moment, the ground shook violently.
Chloe: W-what!?
Mithra: There's a strange presence.
A low, terrible sound like the roar of a demon echoed, and the birds all took flight at once.
Nero: Sage, are you okay?
Unable to stand because of all the shaking, I took Nero's outstretched hand. At that moment—
Owl: Derrick, watch out!!
White ivy rushed in at Derrick faster than the eye could see. The owl was the first to notice and in that moment protected him with his body.
Owl: Gh!!
The impact threw the owl hard into the ground, kicking up a cloud of dust.
Chloe: Are you all right!?
Riquet and Chloe hurried over to the owl, but everyone's eyes widened when they saw what came into view in the middle of the dust.
There was no owl—lying there was a white-haired young man wearing a light brown cloak.
Derrick: Eh…?
Akira: That's…
Nero: …I guess that's the owl's original form. The impact from being struck down probably made it difficult to maintain his magic.
Derrick: Magic… Then, could the owl be that guy…
Figaro: …Let's talk about that later. First we need to deal with this situation.
Mithra: Ah, so is this the true form of the presence?
Figaro's and Mithra's words made me look around at our surroundings. White ivy, wriggling like snakes, stretched out from the gaps in the foliage.
They were about to attack Riquet and the others.
Riquet: Wah!?
Nero: 《 Adnodus Omnis 》!
Nero shouted his spell, and a barrier of light covered them. The moment the ivy touched it, it burned and turned to dust.
Figaro took that opportunity to rush over to them.
Figaro: The three of us need to get out of here as soon as possible.
The thick roots that were rampant underground emerged as though they were alive. At the same time, the earth shuddered and tremors spread outward.
Figaro: Everyone, get out your brooms. Escape by flying into the sky.
Figaro: I'll protect the young man. Riquet, Chloe, can I ask you to protect Derrick?
Riquet: Yes, understood!
Chloe: Derrick, this way…!
Derrick: A-ahh…
Nero: The Sage is with me.
Pulled along by Nero's hand, I rode behind him on his broom and drifted into the air.
The three others, with the young man and Derrick on their brooms, also hurried to get out of there.
But the ivy closed in behind them as if it didn't want to let them go.
Nero: Hang on tight.
Akira: All right…!
I put my strength into my arms as I held on to him. Nero produced his magic tool—his cutlery—and called out his spell.
Nero: 《 Adnodus Omnis 》!
The cutlery was fired with such force that it cut the ivy that was closing in on Riquet and the others into slices.
But even still the ivy and roots grew out of the ground and from the gaps in the foliage and attacked us.
Rutile: …I'll act as a decoy, so please use this opportunity to escape. When it comes to broom speed, no one can beat me—wah!?
Just as Rutile was about to fly out, Mithra grabbed him by the scruff of the neck.
Mithra: I will go.
Rutile: Mithra!
Mithra: How many times have I told you? You are weak, so please don't intrude. I would rather do it than let you do anything.
Mithra: Please be obedient and watch over Mitile here.
Mithra gallantly headed toward the giant tree on his broom.
He dodged the ivy's attacks one after another with bird-like ease.
Figaro: Let's leave this to Mithra. This tree seems to have become a bit troublesome due to the effects of the <Great Calamity>
Figaro: Look, the white ivy is growing rapidly. At this rate, it might encroach on the forest.
It was as Figaro had pointed out. The long, thin ivy was overrunning its surroundings and the green trees were being dyed white.
Mithra: 《 Arthim 》
Mithra called out his spell, and the surging ivy following him burst into flames and collapsed.
However, without a moment's delay, new ivy grew in and aimed for Mithra's head, stronger than before.
Mithra: How persistent. I'm exhausted from babysitting and lack of sleep.
Mithra: Owen. Stop fooling around and lend me your strength.
Mithra: I'm not sure, but this is likely your fault.
Owen: Huh? Don't blame people when you aren’t even sure. This tree is just going berserk on its own.
Owen: It's the <Great Calamity>
Mithra: It's the same thing. We must hurry and subdue it so I can get some sleep.
Mithra: If you like, I can put you to sleep first. Along with this unpleasant tree.
Owen: I'll pay you back for that line. Today is the day you'll achieve eternal slumber.
Mithra and Owen leisurely stood on their brooms, looking down at the tree with their magic tools in hand. The stems approached them at breakneck speed.
Owen: A mere tree dares to interrupt me?
Mithra: I will end this.
Mithra: 《 Arthim 》
Owen: 《 Quare Morito 》
Their magic tools took on an ominous glow, and from them burst forth violent, dragon-like flames toward the white trunk.
The opposing forces collided. However, Mithra's and Owen's flames easily swallowed the tree's trunk.
Akira: (Amazing…!)
They swallowed the entirety of that huge tree. The tree, helpless in the blazing flames, ceased its attack.
The sound of burning leaves and branches echoed as black smoke rose into the sky. Blue fruit fell to the ground like dripping tears.
After the Mungil tree burned down, only a thick, black stump remained. The smell of soot hung over the area.
Figaro: I don't sense any strange magic, so we should be all right.
Mithra: Can I eat this?
Rutile: Good grief, Mithra. Don't put everything in your mouth.
Fortunately, only the tree was damaged.
The younger wizards, led by Figaro and Nero, prevented Mithra's and Owen's flames from spreading to the surrounding trees.
Akira: Thank you so much, everyone. You too, Owen…
Owen: Things are going to be more interesting than that.
I thought for sure Owen would be in a bad mood because of Mithra's provocation. Yet he was smiling boldly and cheerfully.
At the end of his gaze was Riquet, who was giving the still-unconscious young man the sugar he had made a short while ago.
Riquet: Are you all right?
???: …Mm.
The young man slowly opened his golden-coloured eyes and looked around at his surroundings. The moment they landed on Derrick, he hid his face in fear.
Derrick: …Owl, no, you're Hermes, right? You used to be a lumberjack here…
< Chapter Eight | Chapter Ten >
