Tiger. (2)
I descended to the first-floor living room.
On the sofa, Premien—who had commandeered the entire space—was conversing via a crystal orb.
She seemed to be speaking with the Security Director. I leaned against the wall and watched.
"Yes."
"Yes."
Premien listened to him with a sullen expression.
"Yes. No."
"Yes."
"Yes."
"......"
The nagging continued in various forms. Premien, her face puffy, just repeated yes or no.
"Yes."
"Oops. My mistake."
Premien pretended it was an accident and cut the connection. She then glared at the orb and muttered.
"Bald octopus head calling me a lunatic. I'll grill some squid."
"Your mouth is foul."
Premien looked up at me. She mumbled an excuse after pursing her lips.
"You might not realize because of my refined appearance, but I'm from the North."
"Not all Northerners have foul mouths. Nor do they gossip."
"......Professor, try being a civil servant sometime. You'll understand."
That was when it happened.
Bang bang bang bang—!
A rather boisterous knock echoed. It was too rude to call a knock.
"......"
Hearing that made it somewhat understandable.
I looked at Premien. She looked at me.
We nodded to each other.
"Let us go."
"Yes."
The basic principle of a fighting retreat—disperse.
The eight team members split into six directions in an instant and fled. Gwen carried Drent, Julie took Ifrin, and Syrio lured the Great Tiger.
It was a natural movement out of habit. Protecting mages in emergencies was a knight's duty.
"......"
As a result, Julie ended up in some demon-infested forest. She hadn't aimed for it; she'd just run and arrived here.
She looked at Ifrin in her arms.
"Ifrin. Are you alright?"
Ifrin grimaced fiercely. Her face was pale. Cold sweat beaded like raindrops.
Julie's face hardened.
"No...... a little."
The knight belatedly checked the mage's condition. She just needed to glance a bit lower.
Ifrin's pubic bone area was torn open. Flesh and muscle were completely gone, exposing her entrails.
She'd been caught in the mana blast from the Great Tiger.
"I'm sorry. My failing."
Julie bowed her head and extended her hand. First, she spread a thin mana barrier to control the severe bleeding.
Ifrin gave a wry smile.
"Sorry my ass...... It's not your fault, knight. The tiger's just...... too strong."
"Speak no more."
Julie calmly examined Ifrin's wound.
She could roughly discern it with the naked eye.
The exposed entrails. Part of them torn, blood and fluids pouring out.
"Is Knight Syrio...... okay?"
"Yes. Syrio is the fastest among us, so no worries. First, you take care of yourself, Ifrin!"
"Good...... haah, haah......"
Ifrin breathed raggedly. But the smile lingered on her face.
"Ah...... shoulda learned some healing magic."
"Healing magic is extinct, Ifrin."
"Right...... yeah...... But it's fine. I won't die here......"
Ifrin's mind was unstable. Blood pressure and pulse dropping slowly, body temperature cooling.
Julie diagnosed internally while rummaging her pockets, but she'd fled in haste without emergency supplies.
"We must leave this forest first."
Mieolji's forests had thick demonic energy—worst for patients.
She closed her eyes briefly. Spreading her senses to locate the Great Tiger.
......No need.
Grrrrrrrrr—!
The beast roared right on cue. Syrio's taunt followed.
"You're really slow, huh! What kinda cat's that slow?!"
—!
The tiger seemed fixated on Syrio still, but the barrier was too far.
Thus, leaving the forest was dangerous in another way. Appearing in open ground would let it switch targets via Ifrin's blood scent.
"Ah!"
A sudden idea.
"Relay station."
Julie pulled out her map. Fortunately, a nearby one set by another team. Supplies inside.
"Ifrin, endure a bit."
"Told ya it's fine...... heehee. Ah, itchy."
"......"
She gritted her teeth.
Ifrin's condition was grave. Mistaking sensations was the most dangerous sign.
"We're going. Guide, safest route please."
Julie addressed the map. It showed not just the path but the Great Tiger's position too.
"Thank you."
Julie bowed slightly and moved.
Silently, holding her breath, following the guide exactly. Crashing through demonic underbrush.
"......Arrived. Ifrin?"
Finally, a hidden relay in a concave ridge. But Ifrin had passed out.
"Oh no......"
Julie quickly opened the door.
"......"
A full-length mirror first. Mounted on the relay wall.
Julie stared at it blankly.
A person inside.
"......?"
Professor Deculein staring back from the other side.
Instinctively, she turned. No Deculein behind.
Looked back. Still there.
"How is this......"
"Tch. Found you."
⟨ MIRROR WALK ⟩
He clicked his tongue and stepped forward.
From mirror inside, to outside.
Julie was bewildered by the magic. But no time to panic.
"......I need medicine."
Deculein lifted Ifrin with Telekinesis. Placed her before him, examined the wound.
"I will take this one."
He applied Duct Tape to Ifrin's injury.
Versatile trait usable for healing, support, attack, defense. It sealed the organ damage, fully staunching the blood.
"Gather the other knights. No need to walk back. Tell them to find my mirrors. I will transport. Wounded first."
Julie nodded silently.
Deculein then picked up Ifrin and stepped back into the mirror.
"......"
Julie wondered at the mirror's principle.
But in this urgent situation, rescue over curiosity.
She transmitted via orb while running.
......Ifrin opened her eyes.
Everything felt hazy for some reason.
She stared blankly at the ceiling. The light spun wildly.
"......?"
What happened. Did I just dream.
Tiger gone?
"......"
Blink blink. Blink blink.
Repeating closing and opening eyes, she heard paper rustling somewhere.
Flip— flip—
Quiet and peaceful. Strangely soothing, like white noise or something.
Ifrin turned that way and startled.
"Ack!"
The primary cause was pain near her pubic bone, but.
"......Awake."
Deculein watching her was disconcerted too.
No, not watching. He seemed disinterested, just reading a book.
"Lie still. Healing is ongoing."
"Ah...... uh. Yes. Ungh."
Ifrin looked at Deculein lying down.
Lying down facing Deculein. Felt oddly luxurious.
"Professor. The Great Tiger...... not a dream, right?"
"No."
"Gasp. What about the knights?"
Flip— flip—
Deculein turned pages and spoke.
"Nine dead, eleven critically wounded. Dayia transported the injured alone."
"......"
Ifrin gaped blankly.
Nine dead. Too heavy a fact for mere numbers.
Flip— flip—
Deculein reading asked.
"How is your condition."
"......Huh? Ah...... I'm......"
Oh my god. Deculein asking after me. This ain't a dream.
Nine people died, please let it be a dream......
"Not well."
"Huh? No, no. I'm fine. Hurts a bit, but."
Ifrin scratched her temple.
"I won't die anyway. Met future me and all......"
Thud—
Deculein closed the book. Fixed his terrifying gaze on her.
"One never knows."
"......Uh, yes. True."
"Such certainty leads to death."
"......Yes. Sorry."
Ifrin apologized, bowing her head.
Rustle.
A sound then. Deculein and Ifrin both turned.
One prison window open.
"Huh?"
Cold wind at the frame. A single note atop it.
Ifrin tilted her head, Deculein fetched it with telekinesis.
"What is it, Professor?"
"......"
Deculein read silently. Expression grave.
"What?"
"......"
"What?"
Third time, he looked up. To trembling Ifrin, he growled.
"Shut your mouth."
"......Yes."
Ifrin clamped her lips. Whoosh—!
Deculein burned the paper. It turned to ash.
"Rest."
He stood abruptly, dusting his gloves with Cleanse.
"Huh? Ah, yes."
Seemed serious, so Ifrin didn't pry.
"Right! Thanks, Professor!"
But she gave thanks.
"......"
"For saving me."
He stopped, turned with a murderous glare. Ifrin smiled bitterly.
"I remember everything. You treated me—"
"No thanks needed."
Bang—!
He left, slamming the door.
"......Sheesh. So shy."
Ifrin pouted at the door.
Meanwhile, an emergency meeting raged in the prison.
Not positive. Faces dark, heavy air crushing the cramped round table.
Because of the monstrous Great Tiger.
"A Great Tiger like that...... we should abandon Recor Dak......"
It killed nine knights in one blow, crippled eleven. War merit like a great general.
"......Best option."
Warden's words. Non-knight, already ashen. Classic "plague-ridden" look.
"Abandon Recor Dak. Hold second line—"
"Oppose."
"No."
Gwen and Julie opposed. Deculein glanced at them.
"Why not."
But palace knights rebutted. Clearly pro-abandonment.
"It's a Great Tiger. A vicious one. Staring down from those mountains now. Without Duke Zeit, holding Recor Dak is tough."
"Prisoners buy time to escape. Right, Professor? Great Tiger's an unforeseen variable; His Majesty will accept."
Knight Delik asked Deculein.
Room fell silent. Ihelm, Julie—all eyes on Deculein.
He answered curtly.
"Reasonable. If no one steps up."
"Exactly! Professor is wise as ever—"
"No!"
Julie again. Deculein shook his head knowingly.
Palace knights snickered at Julie mockingly.
"That vicious tiger must not cross the barrier. If it enters our mountains, no knight can stop it. Villagers all die. Every last one. None escape, none survive."
"......"
Deculein watched Julie silently. Ice-cold gaze.
"Syrio. You faced the Great Tiger."
He eyed Syrio. Syrio shrugged.
"Eh. Couldn't match it. Got wrecked. Strong. Whoa~ didn't expect a beast faster than me. Barely escaped."
"See. No time for villages."
Palace knights glared at Julie. She gritted teeth. Deculein tapped the table.
Tap— tap—
Tap— tap—
Metronome rhythm.
Glare-locked knights averted eyes, silence tense.
Deculein inhaled softly.
"That Great Tiger will try crossing. Fierce pride, battle lust—it'll assault the barrier daily. As Knight Dayia says, if it reaches civilian mountains, no pursuit possible. Thus, I ask. Who will hunt the Great Tiger beyond the barrier."
He scanned around.
No one.
Syrio wounded, Gwen and Rafel hesitant, palace knights looked away.
But one.
Julie raised her hand.
"......I—"
"Good."
Deculein nodded. Room seemed to anticipate.
Abandon Recor Dak.
But he, low gaze sweeping knights, declared.
"None, so I shall."
"......"
"......"
Silence descended like a curtain.
Julie froze hand raised, Rafel, Gwen, Ihelm and officers dumbfounded.
One knight even dug his ear, unsure what he heard.
Yet amid shock, Deculein calmly said.
"Why so surprised. You once called me a mage who could face Rohakan......"
......Prison infirmary.
Ifrin, painkiller-dazed drifting to sleep, snapped awake at a sound. Door creaking open.
"......Ugh?"
"Ifrin! You okay?! Heard you were hurt!"
Allen. Seeing him, Ifrin grinned.
"Ah yeah...... fine...... heeheehee......"
"You don't look fine......?"
She shook her head wildly at flustered Allen.
"No. Fine. But yeah. Ahihihihihi."
"......"
Giggling feebly, Ifrin looked ghostly. Eerily so.
Allen backed away subtly, then crunch—noticed ashes underfoot.
"......What's this?"
"Huh? Ah......"
Deculein's burned note. Ifrin said straight.
"Note Professor Deculein just burned. Dunno from who...... heeheehee."
Ifrin giggled itchily again. Allen smiled faintly, gathered ashes.
"His face hardened suddenly after reading...... hehehe."
"Ah. I see~ Wonder why."
"Dunno...... kuhuh."
Allen pretended to trash them, cupped in hands. Cast Regeneration.
├─ Ashes reforming ✓
├─ Paper regenerating ✓
└─ Original form: RESTORED ★
Crackle— crackle— crackle—
Ashes in his hands reignited, slowly regaining original shape. Black ash to white paper.
"Heehee. Heehehehe. Kiheeh."
Allen eyed giggling Ifrin, infused mana. Note Deculein read restored.
"......"
His expression hardened.