[Side Story] Chasing a Butterfly (12)
– ‘Lucy’
– ‘If you want to leave the mansion, you can be honest.’
The profile of the man sitting on the roof of the mansion and looking up at the starry sky comes to mind.
That was the day when the man came to visit Lucy, who had run away from the maids and was lying on the roof, sighing.
It’s mischievous timing.
Why does that time come to mind at a time like this? Lucy felt strange.
The moment Lucy rushed towards her with her hands full of the magical power she had drawn, Yenika quickly grabbed her staff and increased her sensitivity.
Lucy and Yenika understood each other’s fighting styles very well.
You should never engage in a war of attrition against Yenika. This is especially true if there is a limit to the amount of magical power that Lucy can use like now.
The army of spirits that are already spewing out is specialized in such simple quantity warfare, and they have even taken possession of Velbroke’s heart. In the end, it is meaningless unless you subdue the main body of Yenica, which summons the spirits.
Lucy understands that well.
And Yenika also sees through the fact that Lucy understands that fact.
– ‘I think like that sometimes.’
– ‘I’m thinking that in the name of protecting you who has lost your magic, I’m tying you up in this mansion too much.’
– ‘If you think about it carefully, you were a guy who wandered around using the sky as a roof rather than being tied down in one place.’
The high-level explosive magic ‘Destruction’ erupts from Lucy’s hand and spreads around Yenika.
The sound of an explosion fills the surrounding area, and smoke rises. But Yenika sweeps away all of her smoke with just a flick of her wand.
Ludex, the lieutenant wind spirit twisted into a bizarre shape, spreads his wings. Yenika, standing straight on top of a giant pterodactyl-shaped spirit, looked like a noble queen.
Ed’s staff, just like Yenika’s, was made using a thousand-year-old tree staff that had been struck by lightning.
However, the minor modifications and types of spirit ceremonies given are completely different. This is because Ed’s elemental magic and Yenika’s elemental magic are very different.
However, any power that falls within the category of elemental magic is essentially within Yenika’s grasp.
A natural elementalist does not discriminate between types of power when it comes to elemental magic.
Even though it is a staff specialized for Ed’s elemental magic, it is not very difficult to handle.
The moment Lucy raised her power for the next spell, a pile of reddish magic rose above Yenika’s head and another pair of wings unfolded.
These are the large wings of a bat. Those burning bat wings… It was so rotten here and there that it was horrendous to look at.
Spirit ceremony – explosion.
It was a magic that caused a single explosion centered on a pre-imprinted spirit formula.
The problem was its power. The explosion that passed through Yenika’s power was almost as powerful as high-level explosive magic.
The starting point of the explosion was at Lucy’s feet.
Lucy’s tiny body was thrown away by the rising heat and the subsequent roar.
– ‘I’ve just been wondering if I’ve been a little too self-centered these days.’
– ‘Once in a while, I thought about the past. I’m not sure if you were aware of it, but Lucy, you just… I didn’t feel tied down to life at all.’
– ‘I just didn’t think it would be that strange if he disappeared one day.’
Although we succeeded in implementing defensive magic, we had to invest too much magic power.
If you use more magic power than necessary, you will not have enough magic power to return to the original world.
The pressure continues to weigh on Lucy’s chest, but Yenika’s offensive has no intention of stopping.
The moment she leaned against the outer wall of the altar, another sense of discomfort attacked Lucy’s mind.
There is water.
Locked up to the ankles. Even though this place is the summit of a mountain.
At that moment, new magic blooms behind Lucy’s back.
Spirit ceremony – Suwon manifestation. And the middle-ranking water spirit Lacia, who jumped out from the water, opened her mouth to bite off Lucy’s right arm.
Lucy reacted quickly and drove three or four ice spears into Lacia’s face.
After widening the distance with wind magic, he used the high-level light magic ‘Bright Sword Handle’ to pierce Lacia’s limbs and completely subdue her.
It was a brief moment of no more than a few seconds.
However, buying those few seconds was itself Yenika’s goal.
In the sky, a huge whale is floating in the sky, blocking the sky above Aken Island.
During the time the mid-ranking spirits gained, the huge whale completely turned towards the mountain.
Friede, the highest-ranking water spirit. The beating sound rings out once, and the view turns to the top of the mountain.
– Woe!
The ceremonial dagger that was the epicenter of the explosion flew through the air and was held in Yenika’s hand.
A staff in one hand and a dagger held in reverse in the other.
Like a pilgrim, wearing an old robe and looking down at the world.
After that… A huge whale was glaring at Lucy as if it were going to swallow the world.
It makes no sense to save all of your magical energy to deal with the highest-ranking spirit.
No matter how Lucy is, she has no choice but to become serious when dealing with an enemy of that scale.
If that happens… We won’t be able to return to our original world for at least a few years.
In this hellish world without Ed, I will have to ponder my loneliness again and again for years, searching for a way to return.
Are you confident that you will not regret this choice? Lucy couldn’t be sure.
But then Ed spoke to Lucy.
– ‘There will be plenty of reasons to live, even if it doesn’t have to be me. ‘It’s always like that in life.’
– ‘So, if you’re having a hard time, tell me. Just as you were a strength to me, I will try my best to be a strength to you.’
Lucy gritted her teeth.
And, the magical energy that enveloped my entire body was fully expressed, even the power I had been nursing.
Even if it’s a few years late, that man will continue to search for Lucy. He is so confident that he continues to demonstrate his power.
The amount of Lucy’s magical power that covered the sky was comparable to her power in her prime.
It was Lucy’s vast magical power that once commanded the world and made even the academy’s professors nod their heads.
There is no one who can crush Lucy with pure magic power, except for the legendary Great Sage Sylvania.
-Woe!
Highest Explosion Magic ‘Moment of Creation’
It was the primordial explosion that made even the evil god Mebula retreat.
Even a person unfamiliar with magic can see that the size of the magic circle that embroiders the sky is unrealistic.
Jenica, who was looking up at the sky above the spirit’s head, gently closed her eyes.
It seemed as if Lucy’s resolve had been confirmed.
“you… “She is very different from the Lucy Mayril I knew.”
The words are uttered with difficulty, with lips pursed as if enduring pain.
“I guess we exchanged a lot of influence in various ways. huh.”
With those words, the world was covered in a huge flash of light.
*
– Quang! Quaaaaaaaaaaa!
– Hwaaaaaaaaaaa!
The huge explosion that covered the sky above Aken Island succeeded in temporarily incapacitating Friede.
No matter how high-ranking a spirit she is, if Lucy attacks her with sincerity, she is bound to be seriously hurt.
Nevertheless, even while wounded, Friede covered the Aken Island area with magical power.
Dozens of whirlpools rose from the surrounding territorial waters and covered the sky above Aken Island…
Thousands of spirits guarding Friede took over the area like an army.
Nevertheless, it cannot handle the magical power that Lucy emits.
Over and over again, it sweeps away the spirits and rushes towards Yenica floating in the sky.
Yenika, riding on top of the spirit, continues to increase the distance from Lucy.
The most efficient way to subdue a spiritist is to attack its body. That premise will never be broken.
To avoid falling within Lucy’s range, Yenica constantly widened the distance and induced a war of attrition.
By the time Lucy wiped out thousands of spirits, the battlefield was already at the top of Mt. We had come to the eastern island where the Sylvania Academy building was located.
In the midst of swirling magic, Lucy continues to advance to reach Yenika.
The aftermath of that battle… It was clearly visible from everywhere on Aken Island.
The same goes for Clevius, who was lying covered in blood in the middle of the forest, and Elvira, who was lying exhausted on the edge of a cliff.
At the entrance to the Soul Library, Lortel was looking up at the sky… He closes his eyes and goes inside, and the group of survivors also joins their hands and pray toward the sky.
Please, I hope you can survive.
That consistent wind was what made Lucy move.
– Quang! Hwaaaaaaa!
Lucy finally reached the spirit that Yenika was riding… It plunges his ice spear into him.
The spirit flies through the night sky, staggering, and falls into the ruins of the living quarters of Sylvania Academy.
– Bang! Kwakagagak! Kagagak!
Yenika was able to land quickly using magic power, but had to roll several times on the dirt floor.
The living area plaza is filled with only the remains of broken buildings and marble floors covered in moss.
The huge fountain in the center was broken and dilapidated here and there, only emphasizing the shabby atmosphere.
The moment Yenika, who had barely adjusted her posture in front of him, quickly tried to pick up her wand again, Lucy’s aspect magic, ‘Space Leap’, appeared.
Lucy, who appeared right in front of her, kicked Yenika’s staff and sent it flying far away. Then, gasping for air, she stretched out her hand towards Yenika and gathered her magic power.
“… ”
Sitting down on the floor, Yenica looked up at Lucy.
Lucy, who was already exhausted, seemed to be having a hard time holding herself up.
Yenica’s counterattacks had been allowed several times. Nevertheless… Lucy was somehow moving with the sole intention of stopping Yenika.
“Why don’t you finish it?”
Yenika lowered her head for a moment and asked Lucy.
Lucy was in a state of complete disrepair… He couldn’t bring himself to finish Yenika.
Yenica’s feelings… Because I understood it.
Even so, is there any point in persuading?
What could Lucy Mayril, who did not lose Ed, say to Yenica Palover, who lost everything, to touch her heart?
You have to be able to spit out clichés. That the dead man wouldn’t want this, that there was no point in going on a rampage like this.
I guess I could talk about that kind of truth, but… What on earth does that mean?
Didn’t Lucy Merill herself go on a rampage at the Bachelor’s when she thought Ed was dead?
Can’t you fully understand that pain and sadness?
Doesn’t Yenika also know her own position well?
How could such Lucy Mayril persuade Yenica Palover?
In the end, the only way to stop Yenica Palover is to subdue it with force.
However, Lucy cannot finish off Yenika.
“… “I can still fight more.”
As if understanding Lucy’s feelings, Yenika spoke quietly.
“Bellbroke’s heart radiates endless magical power to the point where it seems as if it is truly infinite. “If I succeed in responding once, I can summon the highest spirit as many times as I can, as long as my body can endure damage.”
“… ”
“Now that the wand is gone from my hand, this is your last chance. “There’s almost no magical energy left, right?”
Why did you tell Lucy that?
I had such a natural question, but the moment I made eye contact with Yenika, I understood its meaning.
Tears were flowing down Yenika’s cheeks.
For Jenica now, every moment of confirming Lucy’s existence was a series of pain.
“Ugh.. Ugh.. I miss Ed… ”
I am left speechless.
Even if the grief and madness stopped here, Jenica would no longer have the will to do anything more.
If I tell you that this is all meaningless and that I should stop… What is left of her anymore?
In the end, if you want to stop this race that is running without knowing the limits, you have no choice but to use force to push it down, no matter who it is.
Even if it meant Yenika’s own death.
Lucy bit her lower lip.
And with his eyes closed, he raised his star power.
“still… ”
Lucy couldn’t bring herself to speak, but she still forced herself to speak.
“Still, we have to live.”
Even if it seems meaningless and worthless, it is somehow possible to continue living. That was the belief Lucy received from the boy.
Lucy’s magic power slowly enveloped Yenika. Yenika closed her eyes tightly and looked at her sky.
Aspect magic ‘Time Prison’
In some ways, it may be nothing more than postponing death, but…
For Lucy, it was the best option she could choose.
Watching Yenika’s time slowly stop, Lucy poured out all of her remaining magical energy.
So that we can postpone the girl’s death for as long as possible. To give her some time to rest for at least a few years.
like that… Yenika quietly closed her eyes.
-dump
Lucy sat down on the floor, exhausted.
A square in the living area filled with quiet silence. Looking up at the moon floating mournfully in the sky, I saw Yenica, who had fallen into a long sleep, with her sad face in front of me.
“When you open your eyes… ”
Lucy spoke to Yenica in a whisper.
“… “I wish we could create a world where there is at least some reason to live.”
that… Leaving only the fleeting wind behind, I stood up, aiming at my battered body.
Running out of horsepower. A world turned gray.
From now on, all that was left for Lucy was a long wait.
someday… Until the Phoenix Ring’s recoil is over, all magical power is restored, and a rescue request can be sent to Ed again…
I hope that Ed, on the other side of the distant world, will not give up and wander around looking for Lucy…
Praying like that was all Lucy could do.
It was that time.
Another flow of magical power slowly spread across the floor of the square.
Ruins bathed in moonlight. Above the moss-filled fountain in the living area square… Small human figures overlap.
The image of a girl can be seen standing on top of the fountain with the agility of a cat.
As if they were waiting for Yenika to be subdued… The sight of the girl who slowly revealed herself looked very familiar.
Lucy’s eyes widen as she looks up at the top of the fountain in the square.
The hem of the girl’s skirt flutters in the gently blowing night wind.
The girl, who was wearing a huge witch’s hat tightly against her petite body, turned around and looked up at the moon.
The girl who quietly gazed at the starry sky, as if reconsidering the scenery she missed… She quietly turns her head and looks down at Lucy.
That look is bound to look familiar.
Frayed school uniform. A large witch hat. White hair shining softly in the starlight. Bluish eyes.
Those blank eyes are so similar to mine.
Lucy… I was speechless.
– ‘Magic power is based on interaction. Even if you manifest magic power in this world, if there is no medium to receive that magic power in the other world, it is only one-way communication.’
That’s what Zelan said.
It was said that it was theoretically impossible to jump between disconnected worlds. This is because interaction is fundamental to magical power.
So, in order to ultimately jump between worlds, someone from the other world must observe this side and manifest magical power.
To do so, you must have a sufficient amount of magical power, as well as a fundamental understanding of aspect magic.
A person like that… Because I know there aren’t that many in the world.
It was already clear who the person who had dragged Lucy into this world was.
The girl who turns around in the moonlight above the fountain opens her mouth.
“It’s all over.”
Of course, it was a very familiar voice.
*
I can’t judge anything.
What was this world’s Lucy thinking, and why did she call her to a place like this?
How will things play out in the end? Not a single one… I couldn’t judge.
just… Lucy now has run out of magical energy and her body is in ruins, so she can’t do anything. No matter what the other person does… There is no means of resistance whatsoever.
Anyway, the other person is yourself.
If so, you can roughly predict what the other person will think and what moves they will make. He just needs to think about how he would act.
However, no matter how hard I try, I cannot imagine it.
The presence of a man named Ed is already an essential element in Lucy’s life. I have never imagined life without him.
What was he doing on Aken Island, hiding the fact that he was alive after losing Ed? Why he had to hide his death.
Why did you try to summon yourself from a distant world all the way here?
What did you want to achieve by doing that? I can’t imagine anything.
– Wow
Lucy continued to rack her brain as she watched her opponent jump from the fountain and land.
I can’t even decide whether I should be on guard or not.
however… What does it mean?
I don’t even have the means to resist. In the end, there’s nothing you can do except watch whatever the other person does.
Looking at the person trudging towards her, Lucy slowly lowered her gaze.
“… ”
The girl in front of him was looking at him expressionlessly for a long time.
So much so that I wish I could say something… I looked at it for a while.
It’s the same Lucy… Their appearance was very different from each other.
Lucy, who didn’t lose Ed… Even though his entire body is ruined and he has lost all of his magical power… The will to live remained.
I wonder if the vitality contained in those eyes can be clearly felt even when viewed from another world…
Eventually, a girl who looked like Lucy herself opened her mouth.
“okay. I see.”
At that time, after making eye contact one more time… Lucy realized.
This is because the look in Lucy’s eyes in this world seemed like she had seen it somewhere.
Before coming to this world, I have seen those empty, empty eyes in other people.
A wizard who wanted to observe a world line where he did not massacre the demi-humans. Zelan the cutter.
Even though it is illusory and out of reach… Even if it’s like a butterfly flying in the sky.
Even if it’s a future that we can’t reach no matter how hard we try…
Such a world could exist. He said that just by confirming that possibility, you can feel saved.
Just the possibility that it could have happened… Just seeing the possibility that there could be a smiling person somewhere in the flow of the world…
The eyes of the wizard who tries to survive the current reality with a ray of comfort… Overlapping and rolling…
Lucy was completely speechless.
The Lucy of this world… Not a word more was said.
Just seeing Lucy overflowing with will to live, I guess no further explanation is needed…
I slowly came into Lucy’s arms and hugged her.
and… The girl sobbed slowly.
I cried out loud as if to prove the loneliness of my life and the trials I had gone through.
All Lucy could do was hug the girl’s back… . There was nothing more I could do.
