Crimson Flame (6)
[EP.10 The Slave Traders]
-Crashing waves, submerged cages-
Originally, this episode wasn't supposed to begin with a kidnapping.
The protagonists, on a school trip to the sea:
Regia, Irene, and Charlotte.
While enjoying a late-night stroll, the three stumble upon a carriage belonging to slave traders.
The children immediately set out to tail them, determined to rescue the captives.
Their pursuit eventually leads them to a massive cargo ship transporting goods.
"W-What do we do?"
"It seems like it'll be a while before the professors arrive...!"
"They'll set sail soon."
"This is our only chance."
"Right. If we hesitate, they'll be gone."
"Let's go."
The children board the ship and engage in battle.
Panicked soldiers swarm towards them.
Although Regia's abilities are unstable at the moment, the other two have honed their skills to a certain degree, allowing them to navigate the crisis relatively smoothly.
The mercenary, upon recognizing Charlotte, immediately backs down.
"There's no need to get involved with the esteemed Lady."
"Hound... Unfortunately, our alliance ends here."
His swift betrayal lowers the difficulty.
Despite the Hound's ferocious struggle, the children join forces and ultimately defeat him.
Just when they believe everything is over...
BOOOOOM!!
A deafening explosion rocks the ship.
The ship had been rigged to self-destruct upon the death of the Hound, who held overall responsibility.
A measure to prevent the ship and its cargo from falling into enemy hands.
The severely damaged hull begins to slowly sink beneath the waves.
"T-This is... We have to get out of here!"
"It's sinking too fast!"
"Those crazy bastards...!"
"There are still innocent people trapped below!"
"We don't have time."
"We'll go down with them at this rate."
Despite their best efforts, the exhausted children are unable to save everyone.
Raging waves.
Submerging iron bars.
The children are forced to watch helplessly.
It was an ending that couldn't be described as happy.
This pain would drive the protagonists, becoming a significant catalyst for their growth later on.
A classic tale of growth through failure.
'Except... it was just too cruel.'
The story vividly depicted the three children's mental breakdowns.
No matter how many times they tried, they couldn't save the ship.
The story only progressed if they defeated the boss (the Hound).
They even tried to disable the detonation magic, but manipulating magic woven from hundreds of circuits was no easy feat.
Moreover, there wasn't just one; they were scattered throughout the hull.
'In essence, it was unavoidable.'
The same would have happened to anyone else.
No matter how talented, they were still students who hadn't even undergone their coming-of-age ceremonies.
That's why it was even more heartbreaking.
The children shedding tears.
That poignant illustration kept flashing through my mind.
'Poor things.'
I savor the bittersweet aftertaste.
As I shake off the lingering thoughts, I suddenly feel a tug on my sleeve.
It's Irene, who had been nestled in my arms.
"D-Did you just say the ship is sinking...?"
The fox girl looks up at me with wide, startled eyes.
Her black pupils tremble.
It seems she's taken aback by the mention of sinking.
She asks in a shaky voice, "Is the ship really going to sink...?"
Just when it seemed like they had narrowly escaped danger, a far more serious problem awaited them.
It must have felt like a bolt from the blue for her.
I answer calmly, "It hasn't happened yet."
"That man said it would explode in 30 minutes. If we don't free the others right now..."
"Irene, please calm down."
"But time is...!"
"Shh."
I place my index finger on her lips.
Silenced, she gradually regains her composure, her breathing, which had become erratic in her panic, steadying.
Like a dying ember, she gradually calms down.
Before long, Irene lowers her head.
"...Is this my fault again?"
Her muttered words are laced with anguish.
Is she blaming herself?
It was none other than her who had struck down the Hound.
The very act intended to protect everyone had actually flipped the switch leading to their destruction.
It was no wonder she felt her mind going numb.
I firmly deny her question.
"That's not true."
Thump.
I raise a hand to her head.
As a gesture of reassurance, I playfully tousle her scarlet hair.
Her unfocused gaze is fixed on me.
"This time will be different."
I speak confidently.
Gently detaching the fox from my embrace, I slowly sit her down on the floor.
As if telling her to wait a moment.
"I'll handle it."
Snap-!
I immediately snap my fingers.
The sensation of mana, remnants of unfamiliar magic, spreads sharply throughout my body.
I can feel it in various parts of my body.
-Ding!
"[Current output remaining: 20.2%]"
The remaining output was only about 20%.
It was a lot to expend, but still manageable.
"There are a total of 70 explosion spells ready on the hull."
Five or so exploding would be bearable, so considering only the formulas that needed to be deactivated, there were 65.
Hundreds of lines of circuits connected like a resonating structure.
If even one was touched incorrectly, all 70 would detonate simultaneously.
To disable the formulas, all 65 had to be deactivated at the same time, without a single error.
"First, securing a visual is paramount."
The formulas were evenly spread across the lowest level.
To solve the problem simultaneously, I had to be in a position to see at least 70 of them at once.
I quickly clapped my hands.
Clap!
The next moment.
I was standing in the sky, a short distance from the ship.
Beneath my feet, jet-black waves surged.
Ignoring the sea breeze brushing past my ears, I faced the colossal hull.
"..."
After a brief deep breath.
I slowly raised my closed eyelids.
As my white pupils were revealed, a new world, cloaked in mana, filled my vision.
I gazed intently, piercing through the ship.
Wooong-!
I could feel it.
The flow of mana, carrying a heavy pulse.
Hundreds of circuit lines intertwined, forming tens of thousands of fuse lines.
I lifted a finger and pointed it at their center.
"Illuminate."
The lines in the void drew closer, becoming clearer.
I moved my fingertips, pushing aside the circuits that were tangled like a spiderweb.
Minute control with my entire being.
I was calmly accomplishing it, but in reality, it was more difficult than threading a needle with a piece of lead from afar.
I calmly exhaled and searched for the core of the circuits.
-Ding!
[Current output remaining: 15.4%]
-Ding!
[Current output remaining: 12.1%]
-Ding!
[Current output remaining: 9.7%]
The output was rapidly depleting.
Amidst the nail-biting tension, I spotted a single weak point where all the resonance converged.
And soon, I found it.
Enclosed by the circuits, a star radiating brilliant light.
It was the heart of the layered formulas.
Without hesitation, I pointed my finger.
Pouring all my remaining output, I channeled it into a virtual bullet, carried by the wind.
Shimmering like a heat haze.
"Shatter."
I muttered under my breath.
"Dark Shift."
Immediately after.
Fzzt!
With a sound like escaping air, darkness detonated.
A fragment shot forward at high speed.
It pierced the heart of the star.
Simultaneously, the connected circuits were dyed in darkness, losing their brilliant light.
The mana was cut off, rendering them powerless.
Thump, Kooong-!
Although the time had come, only a faint echo resounded a few times.
There was no change in the ship.
"It worked."
The moment I let out a sigh of relief.
A familiar mechanical sound rang out.
-Ding!
[Current output remaining: 0%]
A blue screen filled my vision.
Following that, a mouthful of blood splattered out.
"Cough...!"
The blood, stained pitch black, drenched my sleeve.
The sensation of levitation disappeared, and my body, suspended in the air, began to fall.
As I stared at the rapidly approaching surface of the water without time to react, a belated thought crossed my mind.
"Ah."
I overdid it.
Splash!
An intense shock coursed through me as the cold waves engulfed my body.
My consciousness blurred, as if losing focus.
I needed to get up right away, but my body, perhaps exhausted, wouldn't move as I willed it.
My heavy eyelids closed once more.
"This is bad, at this rate..."
My fading consciousness.
I couldn't muster any resistance.
The last thing I saw in my darkening vision...
Grab!
Was a hand reaching out, grabbing mine as I sank.
With a glimpse of flowing scarlet hair.
I closed my eyes.
***
Some time passed.
Back on the rooftop of the ship.
Two drenched figures lay sprawled on the cold deck.
They looked as though they had just been pulled from the sea.
"Wake up...!"
The blond boy was unconscious.
His body lay limp.
He wasn't breathing.
The girl with fox ears was pressing on his chest, her face pale.
It was a desperate CPR filled with earnestness.
"No... not like this."
Despite being exhausted, the girl didn't stop her hands.
Tears welled up and fell.
The fox grabbed the boy's chin.
Then she overlapped her lips with his, blowing her breath into him.
A faint color returned to his face.
"Haa, haa..."
Irene breathed heavily.
With her head bowed, she repeats artificial respiration several more times.
It was the desperate gesture of a beast trying to save its owner.
***
I woke up.
It was after approximately two days had passed.
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