Dramatic Escape
People don't die easily. For example, getting captured by a cult and having your limbs torn off. Or running into bandits and getting stabbed in the gut. Or having an airship crash and smash into the ground. You'd think those are instant deaths, right? Not for me. I don't die. Everyone else does, though. I have resurrection magic, so I come back. People without it? They all die. Just like right now.
"Kyaaaaah!"
"The airship! The airship is crashing!"
"Help! Help me, Mom!"
Screams erupted from every direction. It would be stranger if no one screamed while the airship was plummeting. Except for the person right next to me. Aransol didn't scream or make a sound. Whether she had nerves of steel or simply trusted she could survive, she scanned the surroundings even as we fell. She was clearly looking for something. There was intent behind it.
Kugugugung— The airship began to drop even faster. Since it ran on magic, who knew what would happen, but a fall from this height meant instant death for everyone. The one small mercy was that it wasn't plummeting at full speed. Airships were originally designed to float with helium. This otherworldly version probably used magic instead, so it hadn't crashed immediately. But that was only a matter of time. Something this massive falling from the sky would crush everyone inside.
"Aransol, tell me what you're trying to do."
"Airships have safety magic tied to movement. It's designed to evacuate passengers."
Her calm finally made sense. She had suppressed her panic and held onto reason just to survive.
"The explosion happened near the power source. The pilots and airship crew are stationed there."
"That explains why none of the crew have shown up."
They were either unable to reach us or already dead.
"Aransol, I'll head over there. You focus on evacuating everyone."
Her gaze met mine.
"I'm a holy mage. My level is still low, but I have healing abilities. If I can save even one crew member, it'll make dealing with this situation easier."
Aransol stared at me for a moment. Maybe she was surprised I was calmer than expected. Unfortunately for her, death didn't rattle me. The certainty that I wouldn't stay dead was far more useful for clear thinking than I'd imagined. Still, I didn't want to die in agony, so I'd rather avoid the crash altogether.
"I'll leave it to you."
She agreed without further questions. While Aransol searched for the escape magic device, I hurried down the corridor. The passengers inside were in complete panic, unsure what to do. No one had warned them about accidents when the airship took off. In a world where losing your life was common, Aransol was the odd one out. Most people lived like reckless daredevils who treated death as an afterthought.
I pushed through the crowd and stepped out onto the outer corridor. A fierce wind slammed into me. The forest was rapidly drawing closer below. Gripping the railing, I made my way toward the power source and soon spotted the collapsed section. Smoke was rising steadily. It didn't look like anyone could still be alive in there. The connecting corridor had also been blown apart. The gap was just barely jumpable—if I was lucky.
"Damn it, I really hate this."
I'd only come to run an errand, and now this? Scratching my head, I let go of the railing and backed up to get a running start. Whether I fell from here or there, the result was the same. If it was all the same, I might as well try something.
"One, two."
I took a deep breath and sprinted forward. The wind battered my body, but I reached the edge and leaped.
"Three!"
My body soared into the air, weightless for an instant. Then the airship lurched violently and dropped a little farther. The landing spot moved out of reach. My feet weren't going to make it. A fall from this height would shatter bones and crush organs. I'd come back, but I didn't want to die.
"Shit!"
Cursing, I gathered magic into my fingertips. Golden chains materialized in my hands—the Sacred Weapon spell I'd learned on the condition that I become friends with Shishiroka. The glowing chains shot out and wrapped around a pillar on the far side. The wind caught me, swinging my body in an arc. The moment the opposite corridor came within reach, I canceled the spell. Inertia carried me forward, and I tumbled across the floor before slamming into the wall.
"Ghhhk!"
The pain in my back made me twist involuntarily, but I forced myself up. There was no time to waste on hurting. "That scared the hell out of me." I stood and saw the door to the power source was warped. I reshaped the Sacred Weapon into a dagger and sliced through it. Good thing I'd begged to learn this spell. The form was still unstable, but it worked.
Bang! I kicked the door open, and smoke billowed out. I ducked low and peered inside. Everything was wrecked, and parts of it were on fire. The source of the smoke was over there. Covering my mouth and nose, I searched for survivors and spotted a shattered section of the floor. The crew had probably fallen through. This might have been a wasted trip. Just as I thought that, I spotted someone. Or rather, a corpse. Half the body had been blown away in the explosion. The uniform looked like a stewardess's. At least she'd died before feeling the pain. Most people would have given up and turned back. But I was different. I couldn't save the dying, but I could bring back the dead.
As I moved to lift her, I noticed a small box on a nearby shelf. I picked it up, checked the label, and slipped it into my pocket. Then I dragged the half-corpse outside.
"Koff, keck." My throat burned from the smoke, but it wasn't a problem. On the way out, I also grabbed a spare set of clothes hanging nearby. They were covered in dust, but they'd do. I placed my hand on the corpse's chest.
"I'm going to touch you to revive you. Do you consent?"
Unfortunately, there was no answer. Please don't wake up and sue me for sexual harassment. I activated Resurrection. Bright light enveloped her. Once her legs regenerated, I quickly dressed her in the skirt I'd brought. She wouldn't regain consciousness right away, so there was plenty of time.
"Hahk, hack!"
She suddenly opened her eyes and coughed violently. I pulled my hand away before anyone could get the wrong idea.
"Are you all right?"
"Huh, ugh, wh-where…"
"You're on the airship. Do you remember what happened before you lost consciousness?"
"S-something… something exploded…"
She was still disoriented, babbling. Thankfully, she didn't seem to remember that her lower half had been blown off.
"I'm sorry to rush you while you're confused, but the airship is crashing. Do you know how to activate the escape magic?"
"Ah, yes. It's in the passenger boarding area."
She staggered to her feet. Resurrection really was reliable. It had healed her completely. I couldn't save Shishiroka with this damn magic, but I could bring back a stranger stewardess. How reassuring.
"Let's move right away."
Getting everyone out was more important than letting her collect herself. I led her outside, where the broken corridor still gaped. Her face went deathly pale.
"Are you good at jumping?"
I sure wasn't.
* * *
When I returned with the stewardess—who had done an aerial somersault on the way over—the passenger cabin was even more chaotic. Some people were praying to Transcendents. Others had started a riot. And the one who had suppressed that riot was Aransol. Suppressing a riot even in this situation? She really wasn't ordinary either.
"Aransol."
"Harua?"
Aransol spotted the stewardess beside me and finally looked relieved. She was in mortal danger too, so she must have been just as tense. I was used to it, but her mental fortitude was impressive.
"Miss Stewardess, please take over."
"Ah, y-yes!"
The stewardess hurried through the passengers and began checking the escape magic. Thanks to Aransol's earlier rampage, everyone was relatively calm.
"The escape magic is working!"
After confirming, the stewardess stood up quickly.
"R-really? We can escape?"
"We're saved! We can go back!"
"Waaaaah!"
At the stewardess's shout, the passengers erupted in hope. Aransol and I both felt a weight lift off our shoulders. She approached me.
"Good work."
"You too, Harua."
What a mess this had turned out to be. I needed to deliver the letter and get out of here fast. Just as I thought that, the stewardess's face slowly drained of color. A bad feeling crept over me.
"Aransol, hold on a second."
I left her and walked over to the stewardess. She met my eyes. I lowered my voice so the celebrating passengers wouldn't hear.
"Is something wrong? Is the magic not—"
"N-no, it works. It's just… well…"
She slowly lowered her head.
"There probably isn't enough stored magic to transport everyone here."
Accidents usually came from carelessness and greed. Operating an airship cost a fortune. The company wanted to recoup that money however they could. So recently, they'd expanded the passenger capacity beyond regulations. As a result, they could carry far more people at once. No wonder the seats had felt ridiculously cramped. And that was the problem. They'd increased seating but hadn't upgraded the escape magic's capacity. They'd assumed nothing would go wrong. The stewardess's eyes trembled violently. She was just a flight attendant. She wasn't in a position to know the full internal situation. Even if she had known, she wouldn't have been able to change anything. Blaming her wouldn't help the situation.
"The people operating the power source didn't survive. If we exclude them, can't we make it work?"
"I'll… I'll try everything I can."
We had no solution. Only the Magic Tower that had inscribed the spell could replenish the stored magic. It was their way of monopolizing magic. Human selfishness and greed had turned this accident into a complete disaster. This barbaric otherworld. No—modern society wasn't much different in this case.
"Everyone, please line up in an orderly fashion!"
At the stewardess's instruction, people formed a line. With Aransol growling beside me, they stayed quiet. One by one, they teleported away. Watching them, I moved closer to Aransol.
"Aransol, go ahead."
"……Go ahead?"
"Not everyone might make it. There isn't enough stored magic for the escape spell."
Aransol's eyes widened as she realized the situation. I was human too. Aransol might be a racist, but at least I knew her face. I'd rather save someone I knew than a stranger.
"Then you too, Harua—"
"I'll be fine. I can't explain it, but I have an ability that lets me survive somehow."
Aransol knew I was a Transmigrator. She didn't know the details of my ability, but she knew I was No-Named. She would believe I wasn't lying. She stared at me in silence.
"……I don't want to."
Then she shook her head. When I looked at her in disbelief, she kept her gaze forward.
"I didn't pick up a sword to live longer than everyone else."
What kind of insane thing to say. But her eyes were sincere. Kugung— Even as the airship fell further, Aransol's expression didn't change.
"That's some romantic nonsense."
I didn't particularly believe in heroic speeches about wielding a sword to protect others. Still, the choice Aransol made in this moment was admirable. Sacrificing your own life to save others was noble. Most of the passengers had already escaped. The crew's sacrifice had been significant. They hadn't filled the airship to maximum capacity, so the magic might just barely be enough. Unfortunately, the stewardess's calculations had been accurate. After the last passenger left, her fingertips trembled. Only Aransol, the stewardess, and I remained.
"Next… person… please come forward."
Tears welled in her eyes. I understood what they meant.
"Is this the last one?"
"……"
She swallowed her tears and lowered her head. Kugugung— The airship accelerated its descent again. It was about to become unstoppable. Everyone wanted to live. That was true for Transmigrators and natives alike. Yet the stewardess was trying to give us the final chance. Whether it was professional duty or gratitude for being saved, I couldn't tell.
"Aransol."
When I called her, she stood perfectly still. Her posture said she had no intention of moving. A sigh escaped me. Soun had raised one hell of a disciple. She was stubborn. I'd learned that over the past few days. There wasn't enough time to break that stubbornness.
"Miss Stewardess, you go."
"H-huh?"
She looked up at us with wide, startled eyes. A faint hope of survival and guilt coexisted on her face.
"We'll be fine. We have a way."
Having Resurrection was a relief for once.
"B-but—"
"Go."
Aransol joined in. The stewardess hesitated, but neither of us moved. She burst into tears.
"Th-thank you. Thank you so much, truly."
She activated the magic while crying. Her figure vanished. Only Aransol and I remained on the airship. The escape magic device had gone completely dark, just as the stewardess had said.
"Aransol, do you regret it?"
She'd just watched her last chance to survive slip away. At my question, Aransol sank into one of the passenger seats.
"I regret it. Obviously."
She was human too. No one wanted to die.
"But if we'd survived like that, I would've regretted it even more."
So Aransol had chosen to stay. She looked at me and spoke.
"That's why you stayed too, isn't it?"
I stood up while watching her.
"I've got one piece of good news."
I rummaged through my pocket and pulled out the small box. It was labeled "Escape Boat." Aransol's eyes slowly widened.
"The captain knew about the escape magic situation, so he prepared this just in case."
He'd made sure he could save himself even if no one else could. Typical.
"Enough moping. Let's go."
I'd never planned on dying in the first place. I'd helped everyone else escape just to reduce the headcount so the escape boat would be easier to use. I wasn't the self-sacrificing type.
"……Why didn't you say something earlier?"
"I figured if there were still people left, you'd want to use it to save them."
Aransol stared at me, dumbfounded.
"……You're a terrible person."
Had she thought I was some kind of saint for willingly staying behind? I had zero intention of becoming one.
"That's why you're alive thanks to me."
I grinned. Aransol let out a weary sigh and stood up.
"I don't think we'll ever get along."
"We were always like this. No need to act surprised now."
There was a reason we were opposites.
"All right, time to escape."
A dramatic escape. Nothing gave a better dopamine rush than this.