Chapter 123 - <12>
In the complete darkness, Anna and Edward were desperately searching for the children. Unlike the beastkin or the adult Edward, Anna had been playing hide-and-seek with children until just recently, so she knew the kinds of places they would like and was searching them one by one.
"They're not here."
Her hair and clothes were already heavy with water. The only saving grace was that she wasn't cold from running around. She had searched all the places a child might think of, but she hadn't found them at all.
In the surroundings, the beastmen were probably searching for the children, but since they didn't have lamps, she could only sense their presence and hear their voices. Unlike the beastmen, the two of them, who couldn't see in the dark, were using a vintage lamp that had been stored in the chief's barn, with a roof attached to prevent it from being extinguished by the water. The lamp in Edward's hand was burning brightly even in this rain.
"I suppose we have to rely on the Water Dragon after all."
Edward, who was just as soaked, groaned as he wiped the dripping water from his face. A considerable amount of time had already passed since they started searching. The sun had completely set, and the rain was getting stronger. At this rate, the river's water level would rise even more.
"Shall we go down to the river?"
Feeling like that was the only place left to search, she asked, and Edward replied shortly.
"No. It's too dangerous."
"But…"
As she tried to press the issue, Edward smiled gently.
"Anna. You are kind, but you must not make light of your own life."
She had heard something similar to that before. After she had infiltrated the Russell Residence as a maid, Ritz had said it. It seemed that when she tried to help people, she tended to put her own life in danger easily.
It would make many people sad. Remembering that, she decided to do what she could to the best of her ability.
"I understand. Then, shall we search a little more in this part of the forest?"
"Yes. Let's do that."
The two of them were currently searching in a slightly elevated forest that overlooked the river. From here, the lamp's light couldn't reach, so she couldn't see it at all, but the river was flowing at the bottom of the cliff.
The river's water was now roaring, and it was hard to believe that it was the same river where the women had been peacefully playing in the water during the day.
"Kids just love to climb high places like this, don't they?"
She said this reflectively, and Edward chuckled.
"You sound like a mother with children."
"If I were human, I'd be old enough to have two or three children, you know."
Realizing that Edward was trying to ease her tension as she grew more desperate and stressed from the dead end, she puffed out her chest defiantly.
"If Ritz aged like a human, he'd be old enough to have great-grandchildren or great-great-grandchildren, right?"
When she said this with a big smile to Edward, he burst out laughing.
"No doubt. Tell that to Ritz, he'll be shocked."
"I know, right? Every time I'm mistaken for his daughter, he gets so down."
"That's a different matter entirely, though."
"Huh?"
Edward looked at Anna with a meaningful expression and narrowed his eyes. She didn't understand what he meant, so she looked back at him.
"Is it because I look too young?"
"That's not it either."
"Then does Ritz look surprisingly old?"
When she asked seriously, this time Edward laughed out loud with amusement.
"If he heard that, he'd be crushed."
"I don't get it."
Edward sometimes said things she didn't understand. This mysterious statement of his probably only made sense to Ritz.
"Ritz will probably tell you someday."
"I wonder if he will."
"Probably. Now, shall we continue?"
She realized that the焦り she felt from not finding the children had eased a little. Just like when you're looking for something you've lost, when you're cornered, you can't find what you're looking for.
Now that her mood had brightened a little, perhaps her perspective would change and it would be easier to search. When she looked at Edward, he smiled and gave a slight nod. Edward probably knew that and had helped her relax. This might be what they call the wisdom of age.
As she renewed her determination in her heart, she felt as if she had been called and her gaze was drawn to the river. Faintly, she could sense the approaching presence of the Water Dragon.
"Ed-san, the Water Dragon is back!"
"Is that so?"
As the two of them peered toward the river, something glinted in the darkness. It was the Water Dragon.
The Water Dragon grew in size in the blink of an eye and eventually stopped, circling Anna.
"Water Dragon, good work. Were they there?"
The Water Dragon nuzzled against Anna. It didn't speak to her, but she could generally understand what it wanted to say. The Water Dragon was probably telling her that it had found the children and to follow it. She felt it rather than heard it in words.
"Ed-san, it found the children!"
She said this as she looked back at Edward, who was standing behind her, and he nodded deeply, but gravely.
"So it was the river after all."
"I'm going down to confirm the children's location with the Water Dragon. Ed-san, please take the light and go inform the village."
"What?"
Edward's brow furrowed. He must be tired, as deep wrinkles formed between his eyebrows, illuminated by the lamp's light. It was natural after searching in the rain for hours. So this time, Anna deliberately explained cheerfully.
"Well, with just me and you, Ed-san, we can't possibly lift the children to safety, can we? And even if you stayed, the Water Dragon wouldn't listen to you."
She said this with a smile, and after thinking silently for a moment, Edward let out a small sigh.
"Is there no option for the two of us to return to the village and come back again?"
"No. The children could be swept away by the river at any moment."
Her experience at the orphanage urged her to go to the children immediately, as you never knew what a child might think or do.
"Understood. I will go back and get help."
"Please!"
If something happened, the beastmen, with their superior physical abilities, would be tens of times more helpful than the human Edward and the weak Anna.
If only Ritz were here, we'd be saved, Anna thought with a twinge of disappointment. Not only his athleticism, but also his understanding of her, which was greater than the village's beastmen, would allow him to realize what she was trying to do and help her.
But she couldn't be so selfish now. She couldn't lament just because her guardian wasn't here. Whether Ritz was here or not, there was only one thing she had to do.
Help those in need.
"Alright, Anna. I need you to promise me this one thing."
"What is it?"
"Please, don't overdo it. If something happens to you, there's someone who will be utterly lost."
"Huh?"
Utterly lost? Not understanding what he meant, she tilted her head, and Edward smiled and placed a hand on her head. It was a large, bony hand. Come to think of it, her adoptive father and Edward were about the same age, she suddenly remembered.
Edward's face overlapped with her adoptive father's. The gentle, yet somewhat lonely smile he had given her when he saw her off at their parting.
"You see, Anna. You're a much more precious girl than you think. So don't ever rush ahead. Wait for help. Got it?"
"Yes."
She nodded obediently. She didn't want to worry everyone. Besides, she had been rescued from the dungeon by Ritz and made a promise, so she had no intention of lightly throwing her life away. If she did that, she would be forcing Ritz to keep his promise while she broke hers.
"Well then, I'm off."
He said this with a smile, slowly removed his hand from her head, and disappeared into the forest at a brisk pace.
Eventually, the light from the lamp Edward was carrying also grew smaller and disappeared. She was truly alone. In the pitch-black forest, only her own breathing and the sound of the rain were unnervingly loud in her ears.
This was the first time she had ever been all alone in a pitch-black forest like this. When she was in Vishnu, no matter how dark it got, she could always see the lights of the church and the orphanage where she should return.
Since she had started her journey, even in the dark forests along the way, Ritz and Franz had always been by her side.
"Being all alone is pretty lonely, isn't it?"
She gently touched the Water Dragon beside her with her hand. The cold, clear sensation of water met her hand. It was cold, but completely different from the sensation of rain, and it had a brimming life force. Spirits are the source of all life. So the Water Dragon was alive too.
"Sorry. I wasn't alone, was I?"
When she said that, the Water Dragon faintly pressed its face against her in the darkness. It was telling her to follow it.
"Yeah. That way, right?"
She followed the Water Dragon's lead and stepped in the direction it indicated. In the pouring rain, in a complete darkness where she couldn't tell if her eyes were open or closed. The only sounds were the heavy rain and the fierce flow of the river echoing from the bottom of the cliff.
She never thought it would be this scary.
If Anna was scared, the children who couldn't get back were probably even more so.
"Just wait, I'm coming now."
She bolstered herself by muttering it aloud. Although, since the children had special eyes that could see well even in the dark, they might be several times better off than Anna.
"Ah…"
She tripped on something at her feet and fell hard. The path down to the river from the high ground she had been on was quite steep. The already dangerous downhill path was now a muddy mess. It was lucky she had only fallen. If she wasn't careful, she could have rolled all the way to the bottom.
Anna slowly got up from the mud. It was too dark to check the extent of her injuries. She had managed to avoid planting her face in the muddy ground by putting her hands out, but it seemed she had cut her hands a little in the process.
"That hurts."
Muttering this, she applied healing magic to the injured area as usual. But the healing magic didn't seem to be working well. The pain lessened, but it didn't go away.
"That's strange, isn't it, Water Dragon?"
Speaking to the Water Dragon, she realized. She had been keeping it out for several hours to search for the children. She was able to do such a reckless thing because this place was filled with the power of water, but if this had been a place where the power of spirits was weak, she would have probably lost the will to handle spirits and fainted.
Handling spirits meant sharing one's own life with them and whittling it away. The spirits didn't just give them power for free. A proper price had to be paid.
Franz had once been possessed by a spirit. That had happened because his mind and body had lost to the fire spirit. For now, it seemed unlikely that Anna would be possessed by the Water Dragon. At that time, Franz couldn't control the Fire Dragon, but for Anna, the Water Dragon was a friend she had been familiar with since she was much younger.
"Let's do our best."
Muttering this, Anna cautiously took the next step. Since she couldn't see her footing at all, she stumbled and almost fell many times, but each time she desperately held on to keep from rolling down.
By the time she finally reached the bottom of the cliff, both her hands were throbbing. In her frantic state, she must have touched protruding rocks with the wounds she had gotten from falling while grabbing onto the cliff. For now, she was pouring most of her power into the Water Dragon, and her healing magic was almost ineffective, so she would have to put off healing these wounds until after she had rescued the children.
"Where are they?"
When she asked the Water Dragon, it slowly rubbed against her body and passed by on her right. It was too dark to see, but the direction the Water Dragon indicated was directly below the cliff she had just descended.
"Children of the Red Village! Are you there?"
She didn't know if they could hear her, but she knew their hearing was more developed than humans', so she called out in a loud voice. But there was no reply.
"Please, if you're there, answer!"
When Anna shouted again, she faintly heard a voice.
"They're here… Thank goodness, they're alive."
The tension in her shoulders eased. But the critical situation remained unchanged.
"I've come to rescue you! Tell me where you are!"
She called out again in a loud voice in the direction she thought she had heard the voice, and this time, the children's voices came back clearly.
"We're here!"
"Over here, over here!"
The direction she needed to go was vaguely determined by the children's voices, which had started to clamor all at once.
"I'm coming now!"
Anna staggered toward the cliff she had descended. She touched the cliff and carefully started walking along it. The area directly below the cliff wasn't immediately water; there was a narrow sandy patch just wide enough for one person to pass.
Before the water rose, the sandy area was probably much wider and a perfect playground for the children. But now, walking beside the raging river was a little unnerving. She realized the Water Dragon was again by her side. A little relieved, she gently stroked its head.
After walking along the sandy patch for a while, Anna called out.
"Everyone, where are you!"
Then, a voice came from an unexpected direction.
"Here! Help us, big sister!"
"! In the river?"
Her eyes, which had grown slightly accustomed to the darkness, caught sight of something like moving shadows. The next moment, as if they had caught sight of her, a pair of red, glowing eyes turned toward her all at once. This way, she could clearly see where the children were.
Judging from the children's position, they were on a large rock in the middle of the river. It seemed to be a little far from where she was. From the top of the cliff, it would have been difficult to find this spot unless you knew the children were there and looked for them.
Moreover, with the current this fast, it certainly didn't seem like even the beastman children could get back to the other side.
"I have no choice but to build a bridge…"
Muttering this, Anna pondered. From her current position, she could send the Water Dragon to the children and tell them that the flow inside it was calm, so they could swim over. But if there was a scared child among them, in a situation where they had to shout at each other to be heard over this distance, it would only fuel the children's anxiety.
She would have to go to that rock first, explain about the Water Dragon, and calm the children down.
With that in mind, her resolve was set. She just had to do it. Besides, she was already soaking wet, so swimming wouldn't be a problem. In the first place, Anna, who could manipulate water, was a good swimmer. In the summer, she often swam with the children in the river, and she would also sneak out for a swim by herself in the spring on the outskirts of the village in the early morning.
She had never swum in clothes before, but she would manage.
"Everyone, listen! The Water Dragon is coming over there, but it's not scary, so don't move a single step from where you are and watch!"
Whether her words reached them or not, there was no reply from the children.
"If you can hear me, answer!"
After saying that as a preface, she repeated the same explanation again in a loud voice. This time, there was a reaction.
"Yes!"
"Alright. Water Dragon, let me swim inside you to the rock where the children are!"
The Water Dragon let out a small roar. It sounded like it was saying, "Go ahead, do your best." The Water Dragon's thickness was within a meter. The safest way was to proceed with her head above the water. If she went straight through the Water Dragon, she would fall directly into the river.
She had once failed trying to swim up inside the Water Dragon to the church roof out of curiosity to see how high it could go, but this time, since she wasn't particularly climbing from her location to the rock, it should be fine.
Without hesitation, Anna leaped into the Water Dragon. Her head went under, and for a moment, the sound of the rain and the raging river disappeared. Instead, she felt the refreshing life of the Water Dragon. She wanted to stay submerged in it, but the next moment, she came back to her senses.
Right, I have to rescue the children.
Once she came to her senses, it was quick. The rock where the children were was quite close to where she had been. The children seemed to be staring at Anna as she swam through the Water Dragon. She couldn't see their expressions, but their red eyes had opened even wider, so that was probably the case.
"You shouldn't be playing in a place like this when it starts raining."
She put her hands on her hips and said this, and the children, who were about the same height as her, hung their heads. It was frustrating that she could only see the movement of their eyes, but they were probably reflecting. In that case, there was no point in getting angry any further.
"Let's go back to the village. Everyone is worried about you. Everyone, are you good swimmers?"
She softened her tone and asked, and the children replied in unison, "We're good!" Then it should be fine. Among the children, there wasn't a single one who was as timid as she had worried. As expected of the beastman clan.
"Okay? You're going to swim across the top of the Water Dragon. It's raining, but it's calm inside the Water Dragon, so proceed calmly. If you go straight through the bottom, you'll fall right into the river, so be careful."
"Yes."
The children nodded obediently.
"Once you cross to the other side, immediately climb up the cliff and wait for the next person to come. The river is rising and it's dangerous, so you absolutely have to, okay?"
"Yes."
"Alright, the youngest one first."
When Anna called out, the children lined up in front of the Water Dragon in order of age. And after cautiously touching the Water Dragon, they swam through it.
"I can't see, but when the person in front of you has gone about halfway, the next person can start."
The brave children of the beastman clan jumped into the Water Dragon one after another. They, who were born with high physical abilities, were also fast swimmers. There were six children in total, but before she knew it, half of them had crossed.
At this rate, they would be able to return to the village safely. Seeing the fourth child jump into the Water Dragon, Anna breathed a sigh of relief.
"Big sister, do you hear something?"
The girl who was about to go in fifth said this and looked at Anna. The boy who was last in line also turned to look at Anna.
"I can hear it too. What's that sound?"
Anna also strained her ears. Mixed in with the roaring sound of the water, there was a destructive sound. Trees were being knocked down, rocks were being swept away…
"A landslide…"
She had experienced it once before in her hometown after a big storm. At that time, the ranch near the river had been washed away and submerged. The damage had been considerable. The moment she remembered that, she was shouting at the children who had crossed the river.
"Run up the cliff! Hurry!"
The children started running as if shot.
The roar was already closing in. For the two children and herself who were left here, there was no way to escape. Anna pulled the two children close. The stunned children leaned against Anna's arm without resistance.
"Did the child who just started crossing make it?"
Anna asked while holding the two children in her arms. With her night-blind eyes, she couldn't check. The girl in her left arm nodded.
"He just finished crossing and ran up the cliff."
"I see. That's good."
The fierce footsteps of destruction were closing in just upstream.
Powerless against the ominous sound, Anna and the children stood frozen. In a moment, this landslide would crush and sweep the three of them away.
"I'm sorry. Big sister couldn't save you."
Hugging the children tightly and pressing her body against the rock, Anna prayed.
O Water Spirit King, who governs healing and peace.
O Earth Spirit King, who governs the joy of harvest.
O Goddess Eneonea, who governs all life and the sun.
Please, please save these children.
I don't care about myself, just save these children…!
The next moment, the landslide came rushing in with fierce momentum. She squeezed her eyes shut.
Suddenly, Ritz's face came to mind.
Right, I had a promise with Ritz.
I'm sorry… even though I said I'd help you carry your memories, I couldn't keep my promise.
The landslide closing in before her eyes, and the large amount of water and trees it swept away, made a tremendous impact and sound. The rock shook violently, and the children screamed. Bracing herself for pain and suffering, she held the children in her arms.
…But the impact never came. Only the sound was intense, conveying the impact.
"Huh?"
Cautiously opening her eyes, Anna realized that they were alive.
And before her was a large vortex of water, violently churning and deflecting the landslide, as if enveloping the rock they were on.
"Water Dragon…?"
It was probably originally the Water Dragon. But now it was a fierce vortex. It was protecting them from the pouring landslide and the muddy torrent.
"You can do things like this, Water Dragon."
As she said this and gently released the children, Anna stood up.
The world swayed violently.
"Ah…"
It was a tremendous fatigue she had never felt before. It was different from when poison had spread through her body. She was just terribly tired and in pain. It was hard to even stand. In that situation, she realized for the first time.
She herself was controlling this vortex.
She didn't know how much power she had within her, but perhaps her prayer had reached the Spirit King. But at the same time, she couldn't help but realize. This power, too great for her to handle, was rapidly draining her physical strength.
In other words, if she collapsed, this water vortex would disappear, and they would be swallowed by the muddy torrent that she didn't know how long would last. Moreover, her physical strength, which had been drained from keeping the Water Dragon out for a long time to search for the children, would not last long.
"Ed-san, hurry…"
The top of this vortex was open. If the beastmen threw a rope here from the top of the cliff, and if they were pulled up from there, the children might be saved.
Anna summoned her willpower. She just had to hold on until then. She had to hold on.
Her hands and feet lost their strength and trembled. Her consciousness began to blur.
I can't do it anymore. No, I can still do it.
The two feelings clashed, and gradually the strength drained from her entire body.
"Big sister!"
"Hang in there!"
Shaken by the children, Anna desperately held on to consciousness.
Someone… someone hurry…!
The next moment, the surroundings suddenly became bright.
Looking up in the direction of the light with her hazy eyes, she could see several people standing on top of the cliff with the rescued children. One of them was holding a large, glowing sphere above his head. There was only one person who could do such a thing.
"Franz…"
"There they are!"
The person shouting was probably Lef. Or maybe Adlif-san. It was certain that many villagers were there. And a rope, tied to a large tree on the cliff, quickly fell to their feet. At the same time, a man shouted in a loud voice.
"Hey, you kids there! Hold on to it with both of you!"
That rough, boorish tone was Ritz's. The children hurriedly grabbed the end of the rope. Though they were only six years old, they were beastmen. They were strong. The one who came down the rope held by the two children without any hesitation was, as expected, Ritz.
"Anna, are you alright?"
He should check on the children's safety first.
She thought that. Her consciousness was fading from relief. Noticing this, Ritz knelt beside her. His quick yet gentle hands supported her half-collapsed body.
"Don't lose focus. Keep your consciousness until the kids are safe."
"Okay."
"It's alright. A lot of the villagers are here. You'll be saved soon."
"Okay."
Two more ropes were thrown down. By that time, Ritz, while holding Anna, had skillfully tied the rope he had come down on to a child.
"Pull up the first rope!"
He shouted at the cliff, and the first rope and the girl were pulled up to the top of the cliff at a fast speed. It was certain that several strong beastmen were there.
"Alright."
Without a moment's delay, Ritz tied the boy with the rope. He shouted at the top of the cliff in the same way, and the rope was again easily pulled up to the top of the cliff.
Finally, the two children were brought to the top of the cliff. They would be safe there even with this landslide.
At the moment she confirmed that, her tension snapped, and her consciousness faded. She knew she shouldn't release the vortex while Ritz and herself were still here, but she had no more willpower.
She was truly glad that at least the children were saved. Now they could return to their families.
Goddess, Water Spirit King, Earth Spirit King, we were saved. Thank you.
Anna closed her eyes.
I'm not alone now, Ritz is here too… so I'm not scared.
But the impact that should have come next never did. Instead, she only felt a warm embrace. And her feet were swaying.
It was a bother to even open them, but when she looked a little, the muddy torrent was far below her feet. It seemed she had been lifted to the cliff at the last moment. She herself was held securely in Ritz's arms.
Sometime, Ritz had tied a rope around his waist and prepared for their escape. She hadn't noticed at all.
"That was close… cutting it real fine."
Ritz muttered and let out a long sigh. Even though it had been a life-threatening situation, hearing Ritz's usual grumbling words, Anna felt a deep sense of relief.
It was impossible for Ritz to fail a rescue, especially one where she would be swept away by a muddy torrent with him.
In her blurred vision, even with her eyes open, she found the reassuring place before her… the chest of the most important person after her adoptive father, and gently rested her forehead against it. They were both soaking wet, but it felt somehow warm.
I'm a little happy, she thought faintly.
"You did well. You did your best."
Not in his usual perfunctory tone, but whispered gently in her ear like when he showed her that smile, Ritz's voice was the last thing Anna heard before she completely lost consciousness.