Episode 3-b. Black Mage Subjugation Battle (7)
Everyone was asleep. Growing gaunt little by little, withering away more and more, they were all lost in a daze, utterly entranced by the illusions.
"Why the hell is that kid awake?! Hey, cast the spell again…!"
"Y-yes, sir!"
The illusions that devoured people—such black magic had lulled the entire subjugation force that had descended underground into slumber. Not a single soul was stirring, not even as far as the end of the distant corridor.
Shooooaaa—
I didn't bother blocking the waves crashing toward me once more.
As the illusory space formed anew around me, I leisurely removed my necklace, then my bracelets and anklets, and finally my robe before opening my eyes.
The colors around me shifted. Dull gray. Ominous ash. Unlike before, even within the illusions trying to devour me, they didn't vanish.
On the contrary.
Footsteps.
Traces.
A tale spun by one person's will.
The illusions I created merely devoured the old ones to reveal something new: Ain and the dwarven elder sprinting down an unchanged, dimly lit corridor.
- Th-those damn bastards, living down here all alone and now the alarm's blaring…!
- 'Cause idiots like you came crawling in…!
They figured it'd make perfect sacrificial fodder. Ain twisted his body desperately amid a barrage of curses, foul black magic pouring after him, and vials he hurled that exploded on impact.
- Left…!
- Got it, guide!
It was the desperate sprint of those without mana.
- …Fuck.
- Blocking the entrance is cheating, ain't it?
And the tenacious resolve of those without mana.
- Horn, hammer time…!
- Die, you old bastard fucks!!
Foolhardy, he sacrificed his own arm to block the magic, finally carving out an escape for his beloved—such a heartbreaking sight.
And so.
Within the swiftly passing visions of the past, my emotions began to boil, surging bit by bit.
Pajijik—
With a crackling sound, the illusions shattered, and my gaze upon the horrified black mages beyond was like that of a vengeful demon.
"G-gray… why?! Why hide among humans and betray us?!"
Everyone was still asleep, so it was fine. My foot slammed down with a thud.
My emotions seeped thickly from my toes.
The writhing, intestine-like things dissolved into ash with a soft srrrrk, and my feet began to tread the hard stone floor of the ruins.
Of course, the black mages, momentarily stunned by my true nature, soon scanned me up and down with lecherous eyes despite the scene.
"No… no, this isn't bad. A new research subject that eluded us for a century just walked right in—it's an opportunity! It's just one gray witch!"
"…."
"Fetch the Dream Essence! We're capturing that gray witch no matter what!"
It was bitterly amusing how they saw me merely as research material unfit for personhood, solely because I was gray. But mages were always like that.
In the meantime, ash billowed thickly from me, filling the corridor and erasing the intestine-like walls.
It didn't touch the people lost in enchanted sleep. Neither the frail adventurers and mercenaries behind me, nor the knights and mages ahead, nor even the squad leader who'd spat arrogant words at me.
It merely rippled protectively before them, ready to block any stray black magic.
A few black mages muttered in confusion.
"Gray protecting people… what the hell…."
"…Why a gray…?"
The leering grins on some faces twisted into bizarre expressions, as if they'd witnessed something grotesque.
Gray protecting people. Indeed, it was a scene that transcended even the black mages' insatiable curiosity—a freakish sight.
In truth, I'd always wrestled with it. To me, only Ain and those who cared for us held any worth, so why bother with the rest? Did I have to care, to help?
And it was the same now. Was shielding these defenseless fallen people the right call? Or could I ignore their deaths, slay the black mages, claim the rewards, and be done?
If I wanted to hide my identity and press on solely for Ain, the latter was obviously wiser.
My dilemma had persisted since descending underground.
But.
I had to be a good girl. Always.
I had to become a good person somehow.
I had to be someone Ain wouldn't be disappointed in.
I had to live so Ain's efforts weren't in vain.
A good girl. What started as clumsy insecurity—that failing to protect would mean abandonment again—had become blind obsession.
It was a paltry conviction I'd clung to since childhood, when Ain saved me, for nearly twenty years.
I'd always seen myself as rotten to the core—loathsome, sticky gray.
Ash.
Spreading hues.
It leaves no traces.
Perhaps.
Maybe this mindset I'd upheld for nearly twenty years—becoming a good person—could become my foundation too.
Not mere pretense, but truly good.
Ridiculously, that's what I thought.
Even gazing upon this ash spectacle, more ominous than the earlier inky mana waves, I harbored such hope.
And.
It erased everything. The entire corridor began to vanish.
The writhing intestines, the ancient ruins' dim brick walls, the black mages fleeing my magic and their scattered spells, even the magic circles etched everywhere—all of it.
Everything save the subjugation force I willed to protect dissolved into ash upon contact, traceless.
So this ash would surely erase even the illusions devouring the subjugation force.
But I couldn't stop the spell.
"…Tch."
A glowing orb appeared in the distance, flickering ominously—the Dream Essence they'd mentioned. It advanced slowly, repelling the ash, though imperfectly; its edges eroded, slaying black mages one by one.
Still, a few who escaped the ash, along with those retrieving the orb, began chanting spells.
"…."
Soft groans rose from the knights and mages. Soon, they'd awaken, one after another.
So now was the time to don my necklace, bracelets, anklets, and robe again—to hide my identity.
Even if it meant grabbing only Eileen and retreating, concealing myself was the rational choice.
I knew that. I wasn't as foolish as before; I understood.
These were mere acquaintances from one day; no one would blame me for prioritizing secrecy over strangers.
Glancing around furtively yielded only such thoughts.
But.
Beyond the untouchable fence.
The wall shielding the wind.
Warm embrace.
I'm still foolish, so I don't quite get it. What does protecting people even mean? Selfish as I am, I can't comprehend.
"Ain."
So this fool of mine will simply act like Ain.
Like the man who saved even a worthless gray like me, I'll choose to save people.
I have always yearned for them.
Even if someone calls it wrong, I'll choose right. Ain would praise this me. He'd surely say I did well.
And so.
Kwaaaaang—
Foul magic slammed into the barrier enveloping me, Eileen, and the entire subjugation force, erupting in a massive explosion.
"Hup…."
Even as my guts twisted from the impact, I held the barrier firm.
More magic flew. Kwaaaaang—
Powerful spells—two strikes alone drew red blood from my mouth.
"Cough…."
The third. Kwaaaang—
The fourth crashed in too. Kwaaaaaang—
The black mages' assaults hammered relentlessly at my barrier.
"Nngh…, ha. Haa…."
My hands trembled now, blood and spittle flooding from my mouth.
Of course, they were dying too, one by one. The swirling ash pierced their barriers somehow, whittling them down.
A war of attrition, then.
It would end when they all perished—or when I finally did.
A back-and-forth until one conclusion.
And.
"Ugh, what the…."
People began waking. First the squad leader and knights behind me, then the mages.
"Wh-what… is this…."
"Gr-gray…?"
No time to turn and see their faces, but voices thick with tangled emotions reached me.
Kwaaaang— Another black magic strike rocked the barrier, and a heavy gush of blood surged from my mouth.
"Why…?"
A pool of my blood. Perhaps chunks of organs crushed by ash and vomited up.
I ignored it all, focusing solely on the magic.
But then came the squad leader, sidling up beside me, staring in shock. "Why is gray saving people…?"
"Gray… how can you save people like this?"
It wasn't mockery. I could tell from the trembling disbelief in his eyes.
So, spitting blood to clear my mouth, I answered.
"For me…."
"…."
"Cough… there's a reason I must be a good person. The one who saved me… hngh. I don't want to disappoint him…, no…!"
He'd built his strength for me, advanced for me—so I'd do the same for him.
I hoped the lessons from him since childhood aligned with this act.
A good person. A good Ain. My beloved Ain.
Even mimicking him, I'd save people. Rotten at the core or not, I'd become good this way.
Thus.
The squad leader, speechless at first, stared blankly before speaking. "…Mage squad."
- Yes.
"Aid her. First platoon, healing. Second, barrier support. Third, prepare attacks."
The mages chanted without protest.
"Knights… keep the rear subjugation members from seeing this."
- Understood.
The knights moved in perfect unison, blocking the awakening members behind.
My ragdoll body began healing bit by bit, the solo burden of the barrier lightening somewhat.
"How much longer can you hold?"
"Until… they all die…."
It was meager aid, but not stabbing me in the back just for being gray was help enough.
"If you can't hold, say so. We'll buy time."
"You lot… cough. Won't last a blink…, ngh."
"…Right. Overstepped there."
No more sneers or disdain.
"…."
"Correction: if you fall, I'll burn this body to block one spell at least."
Eyes filled with respect and his declaration lingered, so I nodded and refocused on the magic.
A war of attrition. Had to end it before more awoke.
And.
Thud—
With that sound, the Dream Essence orb hit the floor, ending the long fight.
Before I collapsed, the last black mage touched the ash and vanished tracelessly. Only the orb, bereft of casters, remained.
"Cough…."
Dizzy. I crumpled with a thud, gazing hazily at the Dream Essence, but exhaustion had drained my mana near to nothing.
My face plunged into the pool of my own blood.
"…."
Perhaps now was the moment. All black mages dead, the greatest threat—the gray—spent and fallen.
Many now knew my identity; surely some thought gray must die.
If they wanted to kill just me and steal the rewards, now was their chance.
Humans were greedy, selfish, pragmatic, base.
Even after I saved them, someone would eye the opportunity.
But.
"Lady Asha, Lady Asha…! Pull yourself together…!"
Eileen rushed to my sprawled form in the crimson, reeking blood pool and cradled me.
"You in the back, sheath that sword. Move and I'll cut you down."
The squad leader stood guard before me, intimidating the suspicious ones.
The mages who'd aided me throughout, and even the knights—including the two whose hands I'd crushed for groping—did the same.
"…Ah."
Everything was hazy, indistinct, but.
"If you're human."
I could tell the sword he raised gleamed brilliantly.
"If you've been spared, show minimum courtesy."
His voice carried, barely.
Then darkness claimed me completely.
Ain.
I protected people.
So say I did well. That my choice wasn't wrong.
Praise me like always.
Pet my head, Ain.