“Yo, Jonah? Where have you gone?!”
Benny, who was momentarily stunned by the stylish appearance, looked around in a panic.
She whispered softly in her ear, “Shh! I’m in stealth.”
“Huff!”
Is there really no way to control your itching ears in a situation like this? Benny flinched and made strange noises.
But she at least had the thought that she couldn’t show any openings to her opponent. She gritted her teeth, narrowing her eyes, trying to suppress the trembling in her body caused by the itching.
That expression seemed like she was desperately trying to suppress the rage that was rising to the top of her head… or maybe it was just me thinking that way, as Morgana’s lips curled up in a smirk.
“Oh dear. After killing with your own hands, you dare blame me? Do you really think I wanted that child to be unharmed after tearing through space? How ridiculous. Didn’t I warn you? You are not a mage.”
With a sinister laugh, Morgana pulled out her staff. The antique staff was carved from wood and adorned with gold. The clear gem at its tip was cut at various angles, boasting a dazzling luster.
For a moment, I was captivated by the expensive-looking staff, but it wasn’t just the staff that was flashy.
The robe she wore was a traditional yet glamorous mage robe, white with golden thread.
However, something about the material looked suspicious, and there were faint magic circles densely packed, barely noticeable unless you looked closely, indicating this wasn’t an ordinary item.
I had heard from Lydia before. Things sold in the Mage Tower are not only expensive but also have items that cannot be bought with money. And she said that was the real deal.
In other words, it wouldn’t be strange if this was an artifact of a much higher standard than what was commonly available.
It was likely to have a defense enchantment that surpassed Lydia’s bikini armor.
I couldn’t be too sure, but the probability of a woman of that age and status still being a maiden on the Pan Continent was low.
If I could just stab her with the unicorn dagger, I could deal a fatal blow. Yeah. If I could just stab her. But most likely, I would be blocked.
While I squinted, pondering how to create an opening, Benny shouted in a fierce voice.
“If you die, you won’t be a mage anymore! Shadow! Devour that damn woman!”
-Khuhhh!
I thought I had gotten pretty strong, but Shadow propelled itself at an unseen speed.
But as expected, Morgana’s robe shone, creating a translucent barrier around her.
Blocked, Shadow splattered across the air like mud hitting a glass marble.
Continuously eerie grinding noises filled the air. The sound of sharp teeth filling Shadow’s body was chewing through Morgana’s shield.
But it wasn’t the sound of normal teeth I knew. It was a foreboding, twisted creaking noise.
Benny, who was blocking Morgana’s sight and ears with Shadow, hurriedly whispered, “Run away!”
“…What?”
“Jonah, this isn’t your fight! If you get caught up in this, it could be dangerous, so run away right now!”
“How can I run away and leave Benny behind? I’m sure I can do something….”
“…You can’t! Honestly, you need to go! I can’t use all my strength worrying about Jonah, whom I don’t even know where is! And I’ve promised Lydia to take care of your safety, you know?!”
Benny said that while glaring at Morgana. However, her clenched hand was shaking slightly.
Ah, is this one of those moments?
Telling me to run away because it’s dangerous, but end up putting herself in danger, just like a heroine.
I never thought I’d be in such a position, and while I paused in surprise, Benny added in a softer voice, thinking I hadn’t answered.
“I don’t mean just run away. Go and get Ellie! Jonah, you know the way, right?”
“But Benny, you just used a huge spell one after another and are really exhausted! Are you okay?”
“Of course! Who do you think I am?”
Benny, her witch hat pulled down tight, had purple hair peeking out, sticking to the dress she wore.
Only her heart-shaped eyes shone coldly in the shadows.
“I will win.”
That one phrase wrapped around Benny’s body like a spell. Benny, shrouded in golden light, radiated a strong presence as if she were the very center of that space…
But why did that grand declaration sound so hollow?
I forced my lips to move despite the ominous dread clinging to them.
“…I understand. I’ll be back soon, so hold on tight.”
As if to say hurry up and go, Benny waved her hand instead of answering.
In any case, it was dangerous, so I opened some distance. Was the battle about to start for real? I could feel loud explosions and vibrations from behind.
Strangely, amidst it all, there were unexpected sounds of monsters disappearing as if they never existed, and sensations of shock, making me recall Morgana’s specialty.
It had to be some influence of space magic.
I deliberately did not look back. As Benny said, I focused solely on getting out of here.
Just as I stopped hearing the chaotic sounds of battle and Benny’s swearing coming from behind.
“…Huh?”
Suddenly, without any warning, the anxiety that had weighed heavily on my heart spread like flames throughout my body.
A suffocating sensation. My mind was filled with the thought that this couldn’t be happening.
Suddenly, that indescribable anxiety took on a shape.
“Ugh!”
A short headache struck, and images flickered through my mind.
I felt like I was being sliced apart, like I had run through a transparent blade.
Benny without a drop of blood oozing from her severed limbs, and Shadow mourning her with a sorrowful howl.
Whether the monster resembled a frenzied Benny or a frenzied Shadow, I could no longer tell.
Young Morgana, basking in the ecstasy of her own skin, then her skin bubbled and countless eyes grew from it.
Before Benny’s body, which had an empty heart, I was biting my lips with Ellie.
All sorts of horrific scenes flashed in my mind, appearing and disappearing in a relentless cycle.
The actual time that passed was only a few seconds. But it felt like an hour of continuous hallucination finally ended, and a dirt-lined corridor filled my vision.
With my head foggy like it was covered in mist, I was panting, and the scenes I had seen moments ago started to fade from memory, clearing my head.
Once my mind fully returned, all that remained was the overwhelming feeling of having witnessed something terrible, with no precise memories left behind.
As if it had been an illusion from the very beginning.
“What is this…?”
My confused mind leaned against the wall as I cradled my head. Instinctively, I knew the residual anxiety clinging like embers on the surface was significant.
It was indeed true that something had happened just now. And I couldn’t overlook it.
“Huuh.”
Taking a deep breath, I tried to organize the situation for a moment.
If I’m here, Benny can’t fight properly, and even if I’m here, I can’t intervene.
But if I continue like this, something, I don’t know what, feels like it might end badly. This was not a mere illusion.
“Damn it.”
So what the hell was the solution? If neither way was correct, what was I supposed to do?
I didn’t even know why I suddenly felt an anxiety and déjà vu I had never felt before.
Is this some kind of magic? A brainwashing app… No, is it some mental-type magic trying to draw the witnesses back?
Frustration turned to anger, and my hands, not knowing what to do, rummaged through my pockets.
Of course, nothing came up. Just some simple snacks, the smooth stone Shadow had gifted me, and a crossbow bolt I had set aside for easy access.
Ever since I got the subspace ring, I had put all the important things in subspace.
Knowing full well that there was no meaning in doing so, how many times had I rummaged through subspace?
Molkang.
“…Huh?”
A soft sensation pressed into my hand. What I touched felt like warm flesh.
The plush goddess statue.
But the feeling at the tip of my fingers felt a bit strange. It wasn’t in the usual pose of gently holding me.
Wondering what it could be, I examined the goddess statue, which had her hands together in a praying manner at her chest.
What is this? Is she desperately praying for me to turn the gacha?
But all the magic stones I’ve collected have been with Shadow. The only thing I have is a single silver coin hidden in the sole of my shoe as emergency funds.
Just in case, I went ahead and pulled a single gacha.
Ding!
[1 Star: Well-dried Mana Herb]
“Ugh!”
Guess that wasn’t it.
Then what the heck is this prayer for…?
As I pondered over the mana herb, it suddenly struck me that I had recalled a function of the goddess statue I hadn’t used much before.
If I pray to the goddess statue that has become a relic, I can create a mini sanctuary.
Normally, it would only boost physical abilities and regenerative capabilities at best… but this is a labyrinth.
A graveyard of gods where the Goddess of Love sacrificed herself, and an existence created by imposing rules on the twisted space-time.
And Morgana specializes in spatial magic.
“Ah-ha?”
I think I finally understand what the goddess is trying to say.
“Sigh. Would it kill you to say it a little more clearly?”
Muttering to myself, I turned my body back toward the path I came.
I no longer felt anxiety.
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