Akatsuki Translations

Run. Run. Run.

The flapping of wings, the sinister sound of the giant omen bird’s claws scraping the ground as it kicks off. The 【Rock’n’roll】 dashes through the dungeon, as if shaking off these sounds. Sometimes it crosses steep slopes, climbs over rocks, and even briefly flies through the air, all while fleeing from the birds chasing it.

“Are you done yet, Lynne…?” -Ur

“【…………!!】” -Lynne

Ur calls out to Lynne, who continues to construct her spell formula behind him, almost as if clinging to hope. She remains focused, continuing her construction.

Ur is impatient. For now, they are somehow managing to maintain a distance from the omen bird. However, their exhaustion is definitely progressing. Shizuku’s magical power consumption is particularly intense. She has already activated several lower-level magics and one mid-level magic. The fact that she is still able to fight is undoubtedly due to her learning at the academy, but there are limits.

Rock’s storage of magic stones for consumption is already less than half. Although he had prepared them with plenty of leeway, the rapid starts and stops, and the changes to the bone structure for attacking monsters, seem to be consuming more magic power than expected.

Ur still has some flexibility, but he can’t move freely. Considering he needs to conserve magic for the completion of the 【White King Formation】, he effectively has no leeway at all. The magic-sealed bullets (over thirty) prepared to limit the consumption of his magic have dwindled to a countable number on one hand.

The consumption is incredibly intense. Ur keenly felt his limit rapidly approaching.

“The time is…” -Ur

He checks the hanging clock. More than half the time available to them has passed since they encountered the omen bird. The “shortest completion time” set by Lynne has already passed. But if it were complete, she would have said so. The fact that she hasn’t means that the construction of the 【White King Formation】 is delayed.

It’s not surprising. The current situation is far from their initial assumption—capturing the omen bird from a distance while moving without engaging in any combat to complete the spell. Shaking, bouncing, jumping, being constantly attacked. It’s doubtful whether she can properly complete the spell in such an environment.

It’s not surprising that there are delays, but the problem is how much its delayed. Even if he tries to confirm with Lynne, she is too focused on 【Concentration】 to even speak. In other words, he has no choice but to endure.

『ＭＯＫＥＥＥ！！！』

“It’s coming from the right!” -Shizuku

At Shizuku’s voice, Rock steers the chariot to the left. However, the omen bird charges in regardless. A violent impact comes from the right side. The chariot, pressed by the immense force of the massive body, starts to tilt to the left while moving.

“We’re going to roll over! More to the left!!” -Ur

“Ur-sama! But that way—” -Shizuku

『Either way, if we fall, it’s over!! Master!! 』-Rock

Shizuku tried to issue some kind of warning, but before that, due to the intensity of the omen bird’s fierce attack, Rock had no choice but to turn the wheels further to the left. This decision was appropriate. In the current state of battle, there would be no time to right the chariot if it were to overturn.

But, as a result, the situation worsened.

With an irritating “dopoun” sound…

“…dopoun?” -Ur

“I’m sorry, Ur-sama, this is a swamp.” -Shizuku

Peering through the peephole, Ur checks the situation. A swamp, the 【Poison Mushroom Swampland】, he recognizes it. There’s no way he wouldn’t. This is the stronghold of the omen bird. In other words, the enemy’s base.

They were lured here.

Arriving here, Ur re-acknowledged the intelligence of their opponent. But he realized too late.

『We can’t move. 』 -Rock

The wheels are spinning in the swamp. Yet, they are specially processed wheels. They are moving forward, albeit slowly. But it’s not enough to maintain the distance from the omen birds.

『ＭＯＫＥＥＥＥＥＥＥＥＥＥＥＥＥＥＥＥＥＥ！！！』

『『『ＫＵＫＥＥＥＥＥＥＥＥＥ！！』』』

The omen bird’s bizarre cry and the poison claw birds’ cries merge into a chorus, almost as if they are gloating. Unlike the previous ferocious attack, the birds now surround the haplessly stuck chariot in the swamp, closing in slowly but surely, as if to ensure it doesn’t escape.

“…Damn it…” -Ur

“I’m sorry, Ur-sama. I should have warned you sooner.” -Shizuku

“It’s not just one person’s fault…” -Ur

Ur looks at Lynne’s situation behind him. There’s still no sign of her completing the spell formula. It’s going to take more time, but how much more is uncertain. However, it’s certain that the omen birds will attack before Lynne completes her magic.

“Rock, how much power do you have left?” -Ur

『If I use all my power, we can just about get out of the swamp and escape. 』-Rock

“And after that?” -Ur

『We’ll have exhausted our combat capabilities. Retreat is the only option. 』-Rock

If they retreat now, they won’t have the funds to cover the magic tools and magic stones they’ve used in this battle, nor the repair of the chariot. Considering Diz’s plans, they would have to give up on hunting the omen bird. This would also mean Lynne would no longer be allowed to leave the city as an adventurer.

Considering the dire situation in front of him, Lynne’s unfinished spell, and the consequences of retreating, Ur closes his eyes and takes a deep breath as if wringing it out.

‘I have a trump card for the worst-case scenario.’

He didn’t want to use it, but it should allow them to escape in the worst case. He opens his eyes and meets Shizuku’s gaze in the upper seat. Her silver eyes showed no hesitation. Ur speaks to Rock.

“…Activate “Castle Wall Mode.”” -Ur

『【Bone Core Transformation】』-Rock

Immediately, the chariot’s bone armor transforms again. Shields like large walls are formed and planted into the ground. Rock’s entire body, which had been distributed to the wheels and movable parts, is now turned into a barrier.

“Shizuku. The barrier.” -Ur

“【O Wind, Sing and Play with Me. Envelope Us in a Stalwart Shield that Keeps Wickedness at Bay】” -Shizuku

Shizuku activates her barrier magic. Again, it’s a mid-level magic. She’s prepared to pour all her magic power into completing the spell.

『ＭＯＫＥＥＥＥＥＥＥＥ！！！！』

Forsaking mobility for defense, the chariot, now in a defensive position, is met with the omen bird’s triumphant cry. Responding to it, the poison claw birds simultaneously launch an assault on the chariot.

“We’ll endure this!!” -Ur

Ur readies his dragonfang spear and shouts, as if to drown out the omen birds’ bizarre cries and to inspire his own heart.

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　◆◆◆◆◆◆◆◆◆◆

Amidst her sharpened consciousness, Lynne continued to construct her spell formula on Ur’s back, all the while keeping an eye on Ur and the others’ struggles in the remaining margins of her awareness.

Ur and the others are fighting. They continue to fight amidst the violent shaking, bearing the burden of the delay in constructing the 【White King Formation】, a delay unavoidably caused by her.

This fact filled Lynne with immense joy.

Because she knew the reason they were fighting was “to utilize her magic.”

It was the first time someone had requested the use of her magic not out of sympathy or jest, but out of necessity. It wasn’t just about her; it had been a long time since the 【White King Formation】, carried on for generations, was truly needed to this extent.

The Leyline spell formula they had inherited from the White Witch had become increasingly unnecessary in this world. Inconvenient, inflexible. It had to undergo significant changes.

It had become so modest that it was almost unrecognizable from its original form.

Adaptation, someone had said. Lynne agreed with that.

Adapt to the times, change shape. Those that can’t do so perish – that’s the way of the world, the natural flow. Even in spirit worship, the concept of impermanence is taught. The 【White King Formation】 is resisting this flow. Through generations, it has stood firm, rooted in the ground amidst the ever-changing, crumbling, flowing world.

For what purpose? It’s clear.

To preserve. To engrave. In the world, in history, those thoughts, wishes, bonds. To do that, one must become unchanging. Unwavering, relentless, unshaken, continuing as it always was, as the Leylines have done. Always, always, always.

But that effort was lonely, fruitless, mocked, and belittled.

As time passed, as it became more detached from the needs of the era, this feeling only intensified.

When being an adventurer became a job, hunting monsters became a way to make money, and dungeons transformed into resource mines, the Leylines began to deviate from their original purpose. It was when Lynne was enveloped in the same despair as her grandmother that Ur and the others appeared.

Not out of sympathy or consolation, but as people who simply needed her.

How much of a salvation that was for her, Ur and the others probably had no idea. Lynne had no intention of verbalizing it.

But that’s why she would meet their expectations, produce results, by all means necessary. More than the wishes of the Leylines, just for this moment, filled with gratitude to them, Lynne continued to draw the spell formula.

“【……!!】” -Lynne

The severe shaking, the fierce onslaught of the monsters that might cause an overturn, created a harsh environment for the precise and meticulous construction of the 【White King Formation】. But still, she couldn’t rest. Perhaps with the strongest 【Concentration】 she had ever mustered, she poured everything into the enhancing magic.

Despite bruises all over her body from the vibrations, and blood spurting from her fingertips, she never slackened her construction of the spell.

And then, at the very limit of her concentration, utterly exhausted in body and spirit, she reached completion.

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　◆◆◆◆◆◆◆◆◆◆

The barrier formed from Rock’s body began to collapse.

Originally, Rock’s body volume wasn’t that large. The vessel left by the frenzied necromancer, which could regenerate infinitely as long as there was magical power, was formidable. However, its total volume was limited. Shizuku had been studying at the academy to increase this total volume, but it was still a time-consuming task.

『Nu, ugh…!! 』 -Rock

Hence, he couldn’t last long. The barrier had regenerative abilities, but its durability wasn’t high. Repeated regeneration also meant intense consumption of magical power.【Castle Wall Mode】 was a last resort. Once the magic stones were used up, movement would become impossible, trapped in a dungeon filled with monsters.

『Ur! I won’t be able to move soon!! 』 -Rock

“I know!! 【Jaw Release!!!】” -Ur

Ur twists the dragonfang spear again. This would be the last roar. He then threw the spear out of the firing port.

“Catch it!!” -Ur

『【Rotating Roar!!】』-Rock

Rock catches it with his extended “hand.” Simultaneously, he swings the roaring dragonfang spear around. The emitted beam of heat cuts through space in a circular pattern, scorching the poison claw birds. However, as expected, this was an absurd and unplanned way to use it. Even the handle was getting scorched by the flame.

『Ah! Sorry, I dropped it! 』-Rock

The sound of something breaking and the dragonfang spear falling into the swamp followed. The unpleasant smell of burning toxic swamp filled the air. It was inevitable.

“Shizuku, what about magic replenishment?” -Ur

“I’ve used the last of the magic replenishing liquid! Only enough for two mid-level magics left!” -Shizuku

“…! Don’t use it yet!!” -Ur

Ur grasps a magic-sealed bullet. Both are smoke bombs. But in their current situation, unable to move, blinding the enemy was pointless. They too had finally run out of reserves.

『ＭＯＫＥＥＥＥＥＥＥＥＥＥＥＥＥ！！！！』

The omen bird’s roar, accompanied by the cries of many poison claw birds, echoed. The number of enemies was still countless.

Had they run out of time? Made a wrong judgment?

Ur clenched his teeth, shivering with a chill. There were no more ways to stretch time—

“It’s done!!!” -Lynne

That voice, belonging to a girl, was heard for the first time since they had entered the dungeon.

It was also a harbinger of victory for Ur and his companions.

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I’m on a bit of a vacation until the end of the week, so releases may or may not come on time lol