Chapter 4.2. The Trigger Was An Event

When I put the small bucket with shovels and spades into a bigger bucket, Yamiyo-chan usually said she would help with the cleanup. But today, she just nodded and went to wash her hands ahead of me. I couldn’t help but smile wryly at this while holding the bucket and heading towards the tool storage area.

What’s for lunch?? That was important. I had to consider my training, but I was still a child. I needed to eat well and not overexert myself, or I might face health issues like obesity in the future. I didn’t want a doctor to tell me to exercise more, so I needed to be active. So, lunch was a significant event for me.

Personally, I hoped for curry because I could have seconds. I thought about how I’d have to fend off all the other mischievous kids to get those seconds.

Just as I was about to wash my hands, I heard a child’s voice from the handwashing area. It was a scream, and it sounded eerie. Kids were rushing in from the corridor.

“What’s going on?”

“Em-chan, something terrible! When we were washing our hands, a ghost appeared!”

A crying friend ran towards me, a ghost?

“It came out of the wall and attacked me while Yamiyo-chan protected me!”

Another friend told me this, and I realized this wasn’t an ordinary situation. It wasn’t a child’s quarrel. Could it be that a monster had appeared?

“Everyone, go to the teacher’s room! I’ll go help Yamiyo!”

Someone had said that helping a friend was only natural. Moreover, seeing that the little girl managed to escape, I thought the monster might not be too strong, and I could handle it. Please don’t call me a calculating person. I’m not the novel’s protagonist, so I don’t want to risk my life. Isn’t that normal?

“Yeah, go help Yamiyo-chan!”

“Empress-chan, do your best!”

The young girls waved their hands at me as I rushed off. Empress, that’s my nickname, but I’ve been wondering for a while, what does “Empress” mean? Is it a relative of a printing press?

Well, I didn’t have time to think about that now.

I moved my little arms and legs as fast as I could. And head for the washroom.

Upon my arrival, I immediately grasped the situation. Yamiyo was crouched down, holding her head. There was an elderly woman, almost transparent, shrouded in a dark mist that seemed to cling to her very being.

Yamiyo hadn’t awakened to any ghost-summoning powers. I had seen this situation in novels and games before.

“Possession, huh? That means it’s a Wraith.”

Among all monsters, Wraiths were the troublesome ones because people couldn’t harm them by physical attacks. They had a special ability called [Possession], which allowed them to possess humans, controlling them to harm others.

I might not be good at remembering names, but I did remember straightforward monster names and special abilities. It’s a gamer thing, you know?

“If I remember, it was an early event. In the novel, the protagonist saves a girl who is easily possessed. The game felt the same.”

I knew how to defeat it. However, what I could do now was limited, which made me break out in a cold sweat.

I see. For ordinary monsters, people have walls and stuff to hide behind, so even if they come outside, adventurers can take them down. But these ghost-type creatures can pass through walls. This was a real pain.

I understood why the passing girl got possessed in the game.

While I was still debating what to do, Yamiyo’s struggling groans began to change into a hoarse, elderly voice. She stopped crouching and slowly rose, like a ghost.

“UGGHUGH, DIEDIEDIE.”

She was fully possessed. She swayed her body for a moment, then she started heading towards me.

I couldn’t defeat her. But I remained composed because I knew she could only use the attacks of her host. Yamiyo didn’t have a knife or scissors in her hand; she was just a little girl.

Her attacks wouldn’t affect me, who had an adult spirit. I easily restrained her and waited for the adventurers to arrive.

“I’m sorry, but you’re going to have a rough time for a bit. I hope you don’t get any bruises.”

“DIEDIEDIE.”

Yamiyo, her eyes filled with madness, threw a punch. But a little girl’s punch couldn’t hurt me. It was a bit faster, but still a weak punch.

“Gotcha.”

I blocked her arm with mine, and before she could throw another tantrum punch, then I restrained her. I had taken judo lessons in high school, so I could easily bring down a little girl like this. I made sure she wouldn’t hit her head on the floor as I took her down gently.

[Create Dark Weapon]

As Yamiyo struggled on the ground, she muttered something. And then, an aura of darkness gathered in her hands. Even in this situation, I couldn’t help but be amazed as I watched the light. Seeing a real magic aura was impressive. I had thought it was unreal and CG-like when watching it on TV.

But my amazement only lasted until the aura in Yamiyo’s hands gathered and transformed into a dark sword.

Oh, isn’t this bad?

I had been rather casual about it, but when Yamiyo swung the sword wildly and grazed my arm, I truly understood the power of magic.

It was just a graze. But it cut my arm halfway through.