「W-What’s going on?」
Part of the barrier I had gone through the trouble of building is slowly turning white.
I hurriedly focused my attention on the area where the color was changing, but then I noticed a surprising phenomenon.
「The magic’s broken? Why? I had it under control!」
It must’ve been the most satisfied I’ve ever been.
Even now, I know that I should be focusing on continuing to control my magic but I feel like I’m falling to pieces.
I hurriedly relayed more magic and managed to maintain the same state as the beginning.
「Mimi-oneesama! This isn’t good! Alec-senpai!!」
「Eh? Aaah! I knew it, he’s not holding on!!」
Behind the transparent wall is the cheeky zatsuryu in tatters. His body is covered in blood from the monster’s claws, and his uniform is tattered with holes and frayed hem.
「You don’t have to worry about me Emily-chan…stay there」
「I can’t! You should come here too! You’re my junior!」
The Zatsuryu—Alec, was holding his wound and enduring the pain.
I don’t like him, I hate him, but I can’t abandon a junior who’s so battered and bruised to protect us.
I just need to release the barrier and blow the monster away!
「I-I’ll save you!」
「Don’t!!」
Alec barks as I try to release the white barrier. Even so!
「Luvis-chan, Safira-chan! Stop Emily-chan from leaving!」
「Eh? M-Me?」
「I understand, Alev-senpai! Onee-chan, let’s do this together!!」
「Eh? Ah, okay!」
「–Why are you two listening to him?!」
A new red and blue transparent barrier had been deployed in front of me. Huh? Why?
「Y-You two! Release it now! I have to beat that monster! Hurry!」
「You can’t. Alec-senpai told me not to let you out」
「Luvis-chan?! Whose ally are you?」
「Alec-senpai, of course」
「Why?」
Luvis-chan grabs my arm to keep me in check.
「S-Safira-chan, stop Luvis-chan! Release the barrier!」
「S-Sorry, Mimi-oneesama, I can’t stop Luvis-chan」
「Safira-chan too?!」
You can’t do that Safira-chan! Even if your little sister is cute, there are things you should know are bad for her!
「I have to use a magic bullet then–Ah!」
I tried to shoot a magic bullet, but the strength wasn’t enough. I’m so impatient as this never happened before but Alec finally ran out of energy and fell on his knees.
Then, the monster took the opportunity and closed in on Alec.
「Gaaaaaah!!!」
「W-Woah!!!」
The monster was on top of Alec.
Alec was desperately trying to shake it off but his body wasn’t moving well.
Then, the sharp fangs of the monster tried to bite his throat.
「Noooooooooooo!!!」
The magic bullet I shot out as quick as I could was blocked by the blue and red walls and didn’t reach them.
■
「–Finally caught you. No escape」
I stopped pretending to resist and hugged the monster from the front.
The fangs are gnawing at my neck but it doesn’t hurt or itch. It tickles actually.
「Gah! Guah!?」
「Wondering how I can still move? Too bad but our kind is broken」
I clamped the torso of the monster. It sounds like it’s in pain but it can’t escape anymore.
「Eh? Huh? How is Alec…」
「Man, that was close. I was trying to be a decoy but Emily-chan tried to remove the barrier. Were you that worried about me?」
「Eh? Decoy?」
「Yeah. As if I would lose to this monster. It’s all an act. Oh, thanks for making the barrier, Luvis-chan and Safira-chan」
「Yes, I worked hard」
「Y-You’re welcome…but are you sure?」
I guess it’s a bit stronger than the twins in terms of magic power?
Well, if not for the special attribute, Emily-chan could win in value. Having a special attribute made it troublesome.
「Gururururu!!」
「Oops… I guess it doesn’t get that resistance is futile now」
Purple magic overflows, embracing the monster’s body, and the clothes made out of magic melt.
「Kyaa!! I-It’s melting down the barriers too! What’s going on?!」
「It’s the special attribute of this monster. Erosion–Or should I call it magic poison? It can penetrate and destroy magic when it comes into contact with it. Also, when it comes in contact with the magic in your body, you won’t be able to use it」
「W-What the hell? Poison? Is that even possible?」
This is a tough one. It was a trap, this room was filled with poison that would absorb before you realize it.
「It’s because of that poison that Emily-chan’s in poor physical condition, and how its nails broke the barrier. The clothes Lina-chan and the girls made for me are now in tatters, and my stick is split into two.
「It’s broken…Wait, no! Why are you holding that monster and making such a theatrical thing like it’s nothing! This is weird!」
「Well, I dealt with it. As soon as it released its poison, I adjusted to not absorb it」
I knew it was dangerous as soon as I saw it.
But, I got to deal with it right away because I guessed it would go into my body and try to mix in with my magic.
It’s got a similar magic to Ceres-mama’s life attribute, this poison attribute. If I didn’t drink Ceres-mama’s milk, then I wouldn’t be able to defeat it this easily.
「So, this thing is after Emily-chan, I asked Emily-chan to make a barrier, then I tried to lure it by pretending to be poisoned. But I never thought that Emily-chan cared for me that much. I’m moved」
「Care? Are you stupid! I wasn’t! Silly!」
It’s not clear since the twins still have their barrier but I think she’s blushing hard.
「Well, the three of you would be in danger if not for me, so you can say your thanks then we can head home. The queen’s already defeated」
「Oh! Yeah! That! I took the queen down! It’s my win! I won! Yay!!」
Emily was overjoyed that she had won, Luvis-chan and Safira-chan were looking exhausted. It feels like the monster is staring at her.
――……
「Hmm?」
I feel like I heard something so I looked up.
—–Hmmmmm
「Ah. This…
—-Hmmmm….
「The nest is collapsing. This is a problem」
The sound of earth and sand crashing down can be heard from above.
「Sediment? I can just blow it up」
Emily-chan tried to gather her magic but it didn’t work because of the poison.
「N-No way…」
「W-What do we do, Onee-chan, Alec-senpai?」
「Hmmm…」
What do we do indeed?