The Cliff's Edge
I had plenty I wanted to say, but even getting a single word out was impossible now.
I was never built for physical stuff, and my stamina was downright pathetic.
"Tracking presences isn't exactly my specialty, you know."
"If I die, it's your fault!"
"A subordinate's mistake is the superior's mistake!"
"I'll kill you! I'll really kill you, you little—"
Assuming I survived first, of course. At this point, I was too winded to speak at all.
I'd never run like this before, and my leg muscles were already screaming in protest.
I hadn't even sprinted this hard when we were escaping the market!
"Ugh… agh! Rai!"
Undine probably wouldn't be much help. The first spirit that came to mind was Rai. If anyone could snap an orc's neck, it was him!
"Rai! Rai, you bastard!"
Where the hell was he?
I screamed until my throat hurt, but the sound came out weak and ragged while I was running.
And Rai didn't answer. Typical—never around when you need him.
The scenery around me was completely unfamiliar now. I'd been running blindly, focused only on staying alive.
"Damn it, this… ah, Undine!"
"Yes, oh! Master!"
The moment she appeared, Undine tried to bow politely, then quickly flew after me when she saw I was sprinting.
"Undine! Over there… Aqua Ball on the orc! Hah!"
Even one sentence left me gasping.
The Aqua Ball shot forward and burst against the orc's face.
I never expected to use it in real combat this soon.
"Puhak! Refreshing!"
I hadn't counted on much, but the orc was even weaker than I'd thought. He just looked like he'd taken a nice drink of water mid-marathon.
"Uwaaang! I'm sorry, Master!"
"I-It's… not fine!"
Normally I'd comfort her, but right now my life was hanging by a thread.
Where the hell were we, anyway?
The path was getting rougher, and it felt like we were heading downhill fast. I soon realized it wasn't just a feeling.
It really was a steep slope.
My speed increased, but so did the orc's. He was gaining on me.
"There! Chwiik, stop right there, human! I'll eat your hind legs!"
In this situation, my lighter weight was actually a disadvantage.
Perfect time to die!
"Adore! Do something—anything—to shock that monster! Whatever you've got!"
"Anything is the hardest part, you know?"
"The strongest thing I can do with my mana!"
"Lightning Hand!"
What was I supposed to do with glowing hands? Annoyed, I swatted aside a branch blocking my view—and it instantly turned to ash.
This was clearly a close-range spell.
"Not this! Long-range! I need long-range!"
"You're awfully picky."
Having a dumb spirit really made the summoner's life miserable.
I wanted to cry. I really did. How much mana had I already wasted on these useless flashing hands?
"Shock!"
My mana was nearly gone after Adore's second spell, but at least there was hope.
The orc let out a shriek and collapsed with a heavy thud.
And—though I hated to admit it—the smell of sizzling pork belly filled the air.
When the massive body hit the ground, the impact traveled up through my feet. I slowed down a little.
"Success. He's down, Master!"
"…Hah!"
At Undine's voice, I finally stopped and looked back.
Water and electricity really were a good combination.
"Hah, hah. Is it over…? He doesn't look dead… Adore! Go check."
"Eh? Why me? Master? There's a lower spirit right here…"
"Shut up and go."
Grumbling, Adore flew off. I backed away slowly, just in case.
Good grief. I hadn't noticed the cliff right in front of me. If I'd kept running blindly, I would've fallen to my death.
In just a few days, I'd experienced far too many creative ways a person could die. It was terrifying.
"Master!"
Adore circled once above the orc's head, then came straight back.
"He's still breathing. Looks like he just passed out!"
"Really?"
Relief hit me so hard I collapsed onto the ground.
How did I even end up like this? I'd only stepped out for a quick errand, gotten lost because of Adore, run into an orc…
"Adore?"
"That's right, Master! Impressed by my power, are you?"
"Let's cancel our contract."
"…What a terrifying thing to say!"
"I almost died because of you! If you have any conscience, get out of my life!"
"No! You can't just do that unilaterally!"
"Break it!"
I'd never heard of a human breaking a spirit contract, but there was no rule against it either.
"I only did what you told me to!"
"Then do what I'm telling you now and break it!"
"Haa… Just give me one more chance! I'll do better from now on!"
"Does it make sense for a spirit to get their master killed? Huh? Does it?"
"I wasn't trying to kill you… You're just weak…"
"Agh!"
Spirits were going to be the death of my temper. How did other Spirit Masters train their minds and bodies?
"B-Both of you… please calm down."
"Undine! Think about it! This guy almost got me killed!"
"I don't know the full story, but… Master. A spirit can never intentionally try to kill their master."
"What?"
"Our soul contract is like that. We swear on our lives to protect our master. I believe he didn't do it on purpose."
"Well said. You, you little thing! You're a good one! Even if you're lower rank!"
Adore looked ridiculously pleased to have an ally. Undine was too kind for her own good.
"Haa… This is my fate."
I decided to listen to Undine and let my anger cool.
Adore wasn't wrong either. In this world, being weak was literally a "deadly sin."
If I wanted to live long, I'd have to get stronger, whether I liked it or not.
It was unbelievable, but it was reality. I'd barely left the academy and I was already facing life-threatening danger nonstop.
I was far too fragile a creature in this world.
The academy I'd found so stifling suddenly felt like a peaceful paradise. That said it all.
"Hey, Master?"
"M-Master? Master!"
While I was catching my breath and lost in thought, the spirits started pestering me. Undine was flapping her hands in front of my face, clearly warning me about something.
"Huh?"
"Guuek!"
"Ukyaak!"
The orc was awake.
Why was he getting up so suddenly? Startled, I stumbled backward—straight toward the edge of the cliff and the raging river below.
My body plunged over the edge as the roar of water filled my ears.
Damn it! Damn it! Damn it all!
What kind of sick world throws this kind of trial at a ten-year-old girl?
If there's a god out there, you bastard—screw you!
"Aaaagh!"
I screamed again, desperately trying to grab onto something, but I was already about to hit the water.
"Undine! Wa… Water Breathing!"
It was a miracle I remembered the spell existed.
Apparently I really didn't want to die, because the thought came to me right before impact. Somehow, I avoided drowning.
Whoosh!
With a powerful vibration, a round protective barrier of water instantly formed around me.
Even though it was made of water, none of it touched my body.
Water Breathing—the spell that let you breathe underwater.
A magic I'd thought I'd never use had just saved my life. Sorry, Undine! I really thought it was useless!
"Are you all right, Master?"
For a moment, all I could do was feel my heart pounding wildly.
Only after I truly registered that I was still alive did I stare blankly at the transparent barrier surrounding me.
Outside, the current rushed violently past, and I was slowly sinking deeper.
When I touched the barrier, a cool sensation spread across my palm.
"This world…"
It had its awful parts, but it really was incredible.
Magic never failed to amaze me. But I couldn't afford to stand around in awe.
The rapid drain on my mana snapped me back to reality.
I was sinking into pitch-black water with no light in sight. It was already night, and visibility was terrible—this was bad.
First, I cut off the mana flowing to Adore. He couldn't follow me into the water anyway, so he'd probably been unsummoned.
At this rate, I had maybe two minutes at most before the barrier collapsed.
"Undine!"
The barrier was falling fast toward the riverbed. If my mana ran out like this, I'd be in serious trouble. I had to find a way out—fast.