Cannon Blast Escape and Leoness's Revival
“Uwaaaaaah!!!!!!”
I couldn’t even guess the height. A sheer cliff about five stories tall, like an apartment building. The night wind whipped my cheeks mercilessly. My vision spun wildly—black forest, moon, and the rushing ground all blurring together. If this kept up, I’d splatter on the rocks any second now. A normal mage would’ve cast a feather fall spell or something, but I only had one skill. And it was an attack skill, no less.
What the hell am I supposed to do with Bullet?!
I desperately scanned below. Then, in the darkness, something gleamed under the moonlight.
Water?
The lake encircling the academy’s outskirts. But my trajectory was heading straight for solid ground. The lake was ridiculously far off.
Only one way.
I had to trust this world’s physics engine. I crushed Leoness against me, nearly snapping her waist. With my free hand, I thrust toward the empty air on the opposite side of the lake.
“Leoness, cover your ears!”
“Th-thou… what dost thou intend…!”
“Bullet! Max output!”
Consuming a large amount of life force at once is dangerous.
“Don’t care! Max output I can manage right now!”
300 life force consumed.
Black mana condensed wildly in my palm. A mass of vicious, ominous energy. Bullet? Nah. This was a cannonball.
“GoOOOOO!”
-BOOOOM!
A massive mana cannon fired into the void. The deafening roar tore the air, and the insane recoil flung our bodies sideways. My fall trajectory bent sharply.
“Kyaaaaah!”
Leoness let out a girly scream. Mine came out the same. We arced in a parabola straight to the lake’s center.
-Splash!
The impact choked the breath from my lungs. Ice-cold water soaked me to the bone.
“Pha!”
“Glug… glug…”
I surfaced, gasping raggedly.
I’m alive.
The rush of air into my lungs felt like pure bliss. I sprawled eagle-spread on the gravel shore. My shoulder throbbed like it might dislocate from the recoil, and chills wracked my body. But I’d survived somehow.
Too quiet beside me, though.
“Leoness?”
Dread hit. I turned. Her silhouette was sinking slowly into the lake’s depths.
“Leoness!”
I dove back in.
“Haa… haa…”
I dragged her out and laid her on the gravel. Under the moonlight, wet silver hair clung messily to her neck and collarbone. Limp body. Deathly pale face. I roughly swept her damp locks aside and cupped her icy cheek.
“Wake up! You survived the cliff just to lose to a damn lake?!”
I rubbed her lips with my thumb. No response. Fingertip to her wrist—faint pulse. But no chest rise.
She’ll die if I don’t act.
No time to hesitate. One hand lifted her delicate chin; the other pinched her nose shut. Her pale throat gleamed elegantly in the moonlight. I leaned over, shadowing her face. Up close, past the briny water scent, her faint, sweet natural fragrance wafted.
“Don’t die. You’ve gotta survive no matter what.”
Deep breath. I sealed my lips over her bloodless, cold ones.
Mm. Cool yet soft texture met mine. I fully covered her mouth, no gaps. Then I blew hard, flooding her lungs with my warm air.
-Whooo.
I felt my breath travel her airway starkly. Her flat chest swelled forcibly. Lips parted; a thin saliva thread glistened stickily in the moonlight.
Still no breathing.
Chest now.
I straddled her waist, thighs clamping her slim hips firm. Wet fabrics squelched on friction.
“Excuse me.”
I peeled her soaked top aside.
-Riiip. Thin cloth tore open, baring her moonlit white skin. Chilled, water-damp collarbone. Gently curving breasts. Left palm to her sternum center, between them. Right hand interlocked atop.
-Press.
Full body weight crushed down hard.
“Ngh…”
Faint moan from her unconscious lips. Couldn’t stop.
“One, two, three, four…”
Steady rhythm, hard and fast. Under my palms, her heart pumped forcibly.
“Breathe, damn it…!”
Pinch nose, lips again.
-Whooo. Compressions.
-Press, press, press.
As lips met for another breath—
“…!”
Her lashes fluttered.
“Cough!”
Cough burst between our lips. I pulled back fast.
“Gah! Hack, cough! Urk…!”
Leoness spewed massive water.
“Haa… You made it.”
Relief deflated me. She panted raggedly, blinking dazedly. Red eyes refocused on starry sky, then me looming above.
Torn clothes baring skin. Me atop her. Lingering lip sensation. Water droplet from my wet hair plopped on her cheek.
Realization dawned. Her face flushed apple-red.
“Th-thou… right now… art thou… n-no…”
Trembling hand pointed to torn collar gap. She yelled.
“M-more importantly, what hast thou done?! To dare touch this lady’s sacred form…”
“What? Just basic medical procedure.”
I casually swept wet hair back. Truth was, I felt awkward as hell. Heart pounding like mad.
Don’t show it, or I lose.
“Thou art truly…”
Her red eyes quivered with shame.
“Hurling this helpless lady into the lake, then stealing a kiss without permission…”
“You’re alive, aren’t you? Shook the pursuers too.”
I stood, scanning around. We’d landed outside the academy barrier, in the outer woods.
-Weeee-ooo~
Sirens wailed across the academy from the cliff. Guards’ torches scurried atop.
“This… be outside the academy.”
Leoness curled up, voice shaky. Wet clothes sapping her heat fast.
“Yeah. Broke the encirclement, but getting back in’s the issue.”
I pulled Karihim’s map from my bosom. Soggy and crinkled, but readable.
“Secret passage nearby.”
Finger tapped a spot. Not far from our lake. Small entrance hidden by bushes under the cliff.
“Sneak in here. First target: greenhouse behind old school building.”
“Hah… mountains beyond mountains. Very well, let us go.”
She sighed, trying to rise—but legs buckled.
“Ugh…”
Poison lingering? No choice.
I turned my back, sitting.
“Hop on.”
“…Trying to shame this lady again?”
“Walk like that, you’ll freeze or get caught. No arguing—hop on.”
She hesitated, then relented, leaning carefully. Cold arms slowly wrapped my neck. Damp body clung to my back. Hot breath on nape prickled oddly.
“Hold tight.”
“Hmph. Even without thy word, this lady intended as much.”
I piggybacked her into the woods.
Same time. Academy dorm hallway.
“Huff… huff…”
Lilliana raced down the corridor, panting.
Duchess…
Distant prison explosion. Academy sirens blaring. Instinct screamed: something happened to the duchess.
Ran blindly to prison. Entrance already sealed by knights.
“Move! The duchess is inside!”
“No can do. Inside’s dangerous. Prisoner escaped!”
“Escaped?! Impossible!”
Then—
“Lilliana?”
Familiar voice. Turned: Crown Prince.
“Your Highness…”
“What art thou doing here? ’Tis perilous.”
He approached, worried.
“The duchess… they say she escaped… must be a misunderstanding…”
“No misunderstanding.”
His face hardened coldly.
“Report just in. Bellije smashed prison wall, fled with the imprisoned princess.”
“W-what…?”
“Killed one in the breakout too. Upper body gone—unidentifiable.”
Lilliana’s mind blanked white. Escaped? Impossible. The duchess who gazed so warmly? Held her hand? Promised lifelong atonement?
Right. That woman opposite cell. She tricked the duchess.
“I’ll go see her! She might listen to me!”
“No. Can’t let thee near an unknown criminal.”
He blocked firmly. Anxiety clenched her fists.
Duchess… where art thou…