GalaxyTL
『 Hmm. Subspace storage magic. Time stop, and capacity of about one room, not bad. Of course, theft prevention… and a simple barrier? 』
『 Oh! As expected of Gil-san! That’s right, the capacity decreased a bit because I added the simple barrier. But she’s still young, so I thought it was enough! You can’t put a price on safety, right? 』
『 Yeah, good judgement. As expected. 』
『 Oh, it’s not that… well, it is!! 』
I remembered Gil-san and Maille-san having this conversation when I got this bracelet. Phew, I need to calm down. How could I forget such an important thing? But this won’t make us disappear, or let us escape. It’ll just buy us time.
That’s right, it’s exactly the kind of power we need right now! So I’m amazing for remembering it right now! Ehen. Anyway, activating it!
“What, I’m just going to hurt you a little… huh!? Wh-What!? What’s going on!?”
If I remember correctly, it automatically activates a barrier when it senses danger. I was shocked when they said it could even withstand a small explosion. So Gordon’s saber is nothing! Seeing Gordon’s saber being repelled, accompanied by a clang clang sound, I felt a bit relieved. Licht behind me is staring, wide-eyed in surprise. See, this bracelet is amazing!
But it didn’t activate when I was hit before, so maybe it really was out of magic power. I had to channel magic into it every time I used it, even during our journey. Just a bit each day, to replenish the spirits’ magic stones. And the magic power I put in would always run out right away. It’s really hard to use magic on this continent. And it takes a long time to recover.
Well, this simple barrier will also be useless once I run out of magic power. I have to buy as much time as possible. I took out all the magic power recovery medicine I had left from the bracelet.
“Three bottles… huh.”
I’d been drinking it, bit by bit, during our journey. And I’d also given some to Licht and Ronny. I drank one, since it’s too late once you’re exhausted, and then gave the other two to Licht.
“This is all I have left. One’s for you, Licht, and the other one… Give it to Ronny when he wakes up.”
“Got it. But I still have some magic power, so I’ll keep it as a reserve. Whoever’s in trouble can drink it.”
As expected of the oldest here. Thanks for the cool-headed judgement! Licht propped Ronny, who had collapsed on the ground, up against himself.
“What should I do?”
Then he asked quietly. It seems he immediately understood that this situation won’t last long. I nodded lightly and then spoke my mind. Whispering quietly, of course, so Gordon and the others wouldn’t hear.
“I was thinking we could use this time to recover and discuss our strategy until my magic power runs out. Help will surely arrive soon, so I want us to hold out until then…!”
“You called for help? …Meg, that’s amazing. You’re so tiny, and yet… Compared to you, all I can do is whine and make a lot of noise.”
Licht slumped his shoulders, looking dejected. Seeing him like that, I gave a bitter smile.
“But Ronny and I have lived a lot longer, in terms of years? I’m over fifty.”
“That’s… just weird. But even so, you’re still considered a child, by the standards of your race, right?”
When Licht started getting depressed again after saying that, I decided to confide a secret in him.
“You came from Japan, didn’t you, Licht?”
“! Eh, a-ehh!? Did I… say that…? Uehhhh!?”
Licht, looking startled, was so funny that I couldn’t help but to chuckle. It helped lighten the mood.
“This is a secret, okay?”
I said this as a preface, and then told him everything. That I was originally an office worker living in Japan. That I died once over there, and when I came to, my soul had been transferred to this body, in this world. That my father, who had disappeared 200 years ago, had been transferred to this world.
And… that we’d reunited in this world and were now living happily together in the same guild.
“So I think… I can understand how you feel, your worries and pain. But I thought maybe Dad could understand you even better. That’s why I wanted to introduce you.”
After finishing my story, I cautiously observed Licht.
“I see… So that’s how it was…”
It seemed like Licht was slowly taking it all in. He’s surprised, but it doesn’t look like he’s in shock. I spoke up, seeing him thinking deeply.
“Honestly, I want to ask you all about it. About what Japan was like before you came here, whether it really is the same Japan. There’s so much I want to talk about. But you know?”
I gently took Licht’s hand in both of mine and looked straight into his eyes.
“I think it’s better if we wait until you’ve properly processed what I just told you. And you don’t have to talk about anything you don’t want to. I just want to help you, Licht.”
“Meg…”
Licht’s eyes were a bit moist. I felt like tearing up too. But I held back, held back. Licht looked down for a moment, and then after a few seconds, suddenly looked up with a grin.
“So that’s why you’re so composed. It’s because inside, you’re a proper grandma!”
“Grandma…!? How rude! You’re so rude, Licht! Fifty is still young!”
I lightly punched Licht. I mean, it’s true! But it doesn’t count because I’ve been reborn! I can’t really call myself a normal little girl! Sniff.
“Thanks, I feel a bit better now.”
But when he suddenly said that meekly, I, being the bigger person, forgave him.
I wonder how much time has passed. I’ve been repeatedly activating and deactivating the simple barrier, taking advantage of any openings. It conserves magic power if they’re not attacking! It’s something I can do because the other party is human, who can’t sense magic power. I realized this midway, so I’d been diligently keeping the barrier up until then. But they keep attacking occasionally, as if to confirm, so I can’t let my guard down.
I’m giving the magic power I’ve saved this way to the spirits. Shizuku-chan and Fuu-chan helped us earlier. They’re probably exhausted, so this is to help them recover even a little! There are no magic particles here, so it seems they can’t use magic anymore. Spirits can’t maintain their form if they use up all their magic power. I’ll be devastated if they disappear! I definitely can’t let them push themselves.
Ronny, who woke up along the way, seems to be a bit better thanks to the magic power recovery medicine Licht gave him. As expected, it seems Ronny’s spirit also can’t use any more magic.
And then, Ronny said he’s only contracted with the earth spirit right now. Or rather, he said it’s rarer to have contracts with multiple spirits. Huh? Schlie-san has multiple. But I’ve never heard of Carter-san having multiple…
Alright, let’s see what we have. Our options for our next move are limited. We have Homura-kun’s fire magic, and Licht’s offensive magic, about five uses. The number will change depending on how powerful the magic is, it seems.
He can’t teleport all 3 of us. That makes sense. He’s had his magic power completely drained multiple times in a short time. Normally, we’d all be collapsed, unable to move. I’m so glad I’ve been training. I’d just be dead weight otherwise.
But I’m not dead weight now. I’m still weak, but I can fight.
—As Meg, of Ortus.
I forced myself to calm down, even though I was trembling with fear.
I have only a little bit more magical power left.