Memoirs (3): The Spoon in the Storm
1. A barrage of multicolored elemental blasts painted my entire field of vision as they hurtled toward the sea of flames kicked up by the advancing fire giants. BOOOOM!!!!! Even the A-rank awakeners from Liar's Trap's elite 2nd Team—renowned as the guild's best of the best—unleashed their assaults in their own unique styles, halting the world-devouring inferno if only for a moment.
But unless you shattered the core in one hit or completely extinguished the flames, the A-rank mana beasts known as fire giants regenerated from any ordinary damage or shock almost instantly. Their bombardment merely paused the advance without dealing any meaningful damage. Normal fire giants traveled in packs of one to three at most, but the horde charging us now numbered five hundred. Fifteen A-rank awakeners couldn't take them down with cannon fire alone.
Yet none of them showed any sign of hesitation. Their job was simply to stall the fire giants' advance, nothing more. If they'd planned to suppress that flame sea with just A-rankers, they wouldn't have lined up in a row, spreading their firepower thin. By concentrating on a single point to punch a hole through the wave and repeating the process before the giants reached us, they'd thin the enemy numbers. Since fire giants grew stronger in larger groups, fewer meant weaker overall—easy enough to finish off in close quarters.
But they chose this pointless mana drain for one reason.
"The enemies are nicely lined up left and right, and they're even standing still? This is basically just adding a spoon and calling it done."
Because the 2nd Team had an S-rank awakener: Exy Train.
Composed as ever, she spread her left and right hands wide, mimicking the draw of a massive bow. A green storm whirlwinded into existence in her empty left hand, forming a gigantic bow body. A strand of wind extended from it like a bowstring, hooking onto her right hand as she pulled back.
"Suuuuck... Hooo."
Storm Bow Daidalos—the unique weapon that made Exy Train an S-rank. She nocked a single arrow forged from a tenth of her total mana onto the fully drawn string, exhaled halfway, then snapped the bow skyward.
"Alright, let's add that spoon nice and pretty!"
With her bold shout, she clenched her fist and flung open her drawing hand. A razor-sharp gale rocketed into the heavens, piercing the crimson-black clouds.
No one under her command questioned the absurd act of firing not at the enemy, but at empty sky with a tenth of her mana. Instead, they silently offered condolences to the five hundred fire giants just now starting to move.
Ruuuumble...!
The sky shuddered, the dark red clouds roiling. Even the giants marching to purge intruders from their kingdom tore their eyes from us to gaze upward at the tremendous resonance.
And when they did, one giant spotted a tiny hole punched through the clouds.
Crack.
Almost simultaneously, a faint sound pierced from the crown of its head straight to its crotch.
Whiiiiiist!
The delayed tear of wind followed, and one giant crumpled lifelessly. That was the start of the slaughter.
Papapapapapa!
Compressed storm arrows rained like a downpour, skewering every giant's head without a single miss. Unresisted, they punched straight through on impact, boring deep craters into the ground. To the fire giants, it was an inescapable catastrophe.
From the moment Exy Train drew Storm Bow Daidalos to twelve seconds later, the Kingdom of Fire's vanguard of five hundred was annihilated without survivors.
An awakener who transcended humanity. An S-rank who transcended even them—among awakeners, they were called humanoid calamities. Exy Train had just proven the violent moniker herself. Flashing a satisfied grin at her subordinates who'd halted the enemy for her, she praised their efforts.
"Nice work! You guys made it a total cakewalk. As expected of my 2nd Team. I only get called the 'spoon' because you set me up so perfectly. Go easy next time so I can shine even more. Heh."
"If that's what the team leader calls 'adding a spoon,' then there aren't even ten people in the world who could wield one! We just bought time!"
"Exactly, Team Leader! We exist because you do!"
"Exy punch! Exy punch!"
"Hahaha, you rascals! Where'd you learn to suck up to the boss like that?!"
The beautiful sight of boss and subordinates praising and consoling each other after a massive battle, boosting morale—it was unfolding right before my eyes.
"...So why the hell am I stuck back here?"
As fire giants surged like a tsunami, as elemental barrages checked the wave, as storm rain wiped them out in that legendary clash straight out of a dream... I stood at the rear, blankly watching.
Not shirking duty, not dodging responsibility for my power. I just had a different mission, keeping me out of the fray.
"Hey, I'm really fine. Go help if you want. Can't have a senior holding back a promising junior."
"..."
Yeah. To guard this pathetic weakling spouting nonsense beside me.
"Haa... Paster, please stop with that crap? I'm already pissed enough! Say it one more time, and I'll seal your lips to mine and freeze them shut. Got it?"
"Y-Yeah..."
Paster was the one who drove even me to such violent words.
*Back at the Academy, I'd offered him a perfectly reasonable opportunity, and he'd brushed it off without a second thought. Not the damage-only Ska Rate, but following Lapis Julie of the Julie family—who rewarded loyalty. Even an idiot would've jumped at it. That's how hopeless his judgment was. A handsome, fit moron. After he rejected it once... no, after watching him squander the chance, I never got directly involved with Paster again. I'm not petty enough to retaliate over bruised pride, and he wasn't cute enough to chase after someone choosing hardship.
Years later, when Paster was ancient history, I joined Liar's Trap's 2nd Team—and there he was, greeting me. As scout leader, of all ridiculous titles. Considering Ska Rate was there too, it was obvious he'd pulled strings from the Rate family. I couldn't fathom the resources needed to shove a spot like that into a mega-guild like Liar's Trap, but honestly, until moments ago—three months after joining—I didn't care if Paster was around or not. The guild was just for proving my skills; no attachment meant no impact from him.
That held until now, standing beside him, watching our guildmates charge ahead. My certainty was crumbling.
If not for this guy, I'd be the star right now.
I knew it wasn't Paster's fault. Exy Train forcing him along was the real issue, and I knew it better than anyone. Still, human nature—watching the team shine sparked envy I couldn't shake.
"Haa..."
"Tired? Want some water?"
A sigh escaped my frustration, and a voice from behind offered water. Glancing at my hip-mounted mana-forged tumbler, it was empty already. The Kingdom of Fire lived up to its name—hot, dry air parched the throat.
But as Lapis Julie, heir to the Julies, I didn't drink plain water—only premium ManaRal Water. Without turning, I refused.
"Water? No thanks. I only drink ManaRal Water."
"ManaRal Water? Hold on."
Crackle.
...Crackle?
His "hold on" came with a spark. In the Kingdom of Fire's flame-shrouded depths, it was nothing unusual. I steadily supplied cooling aura to the team forging ahead, regulating mine and Paster's temps too—but heat lingered.
Lowering skin-scorching temps to "hot" was impressive, but I hated it anyway.
"Getting hotter by the minute..."
True to its name, the Kingdom of Fire was disgustingly vast—harder to reach the dungeon core than fighting beasts. The core itself radiated hellish heat, intensifying as we neared.
"A sip of cool ManaRal Water right now would be..."
Its pure mana's deep, rich flavor and refreshing chill danced in my mind. One gulp, and I'd feel alive... But such a rare luxury—untouchable outside nobility or top awakeners—wouldn't sprout here. I shelved the demotivating fantasy.
Ugh... All because Paster asked if I wanted water, that guy...!
Crackle.
As I grasped for a complaint against Paster, another spark sounded—and something cool and firm tapped my cheek.
"Eek?!"
Shocked by the impossible chill on this fiery plain, I flinched and whipped around. There stood Paster, holding the ManaRal Water I'd craved so desperately.
Dazed by the impossible sight, he extended the bottle with a perfectly serene face.
"Here, ManaRal Water. Stole it from Ska Rate's fridge, so only one. Drink it on the sly—no sharing with the team up front."
"...Pardon?"
"You've got it rough because of me. Gotta play senior somehow, right?"
"What? No... Uh?!"
I took it reflexively, but none of it made sense. Not the situation. Not Paster.