Chapter 26 - Bloody Mary
It was just a few days before the base renovation would be complete. One day, Mary-san started pushing herself to the brink with an excessive training regimen, causing everyone to worry.
She trained with a stoicism that bordered on the fanatical, as if possessed, pushing herself to the limit with a fervor that was almost frightening. I provided her with not just healing potions but also stamina and mana potions, without any hesitation. After all, it wasn’t a waste if it was for training. I believed it was the right thing to do.
As long as she was determined, I thought she should push herself as far as she could, even to the point of collapse. Of course, she wasn’t training alone; other combat enthusiasts were there to keep an eye on her, and they would intervene if things got too dangerous. I also offered a bit of advice here and there.
Hunting monsters in the forest not only honed her skills but also boosted her confidence. Even if she made a mistake, someone from the Kikyo Society was always there to support her, so the chances of anything truly dangerous happening were slim.
I wanted to see how she would handle “real combat,” especially a situation where she couldn’t rely on anyone else. I had a plan in mind, and I discussed it with the others while Mary-san was away. This wasn’t some evil scheme; it was for her growth.
Today, the forest training was as usual, but there was a hidden agenda. It was the day of Mary-san’s “test,” and only I knew about it. The goal was to assess her capabilities and encourage her further growth. To make the plan easier to execute, we reduced the number of people entering the forest.
The gathering team was limited to Sophie-san, while Sarah-chan and Frederica were given a break in the city with a guard. This left Sophie-san as the only non-combat personnel in the forest. The plan was simple: Valeria, Mary-san, and I would pretend to guard Sophie-san, while the others would pretend to go on a hunt. When the time was right, the hunting team would send a distress signal, and Valeria and I would leave to “rescue” them, leaving Mary-san and Sophie-san alone.
Once we reached the gathering spot, I gave the usual instructions.
"Valeria and Mary-san, go check the surroundings."
The two of them quickly set off, and Mary-san seemed to have improved a lot.
I focused on creating a rest chair using mineral magic. The result was an unnecessarily sturdy and smooth chair, with a perfectly round seating surface. It was so hard and shiny that it rivaled the toughest alloy steel. Without a backrest, it was more like a circular pedestal.
This kind of attention to detail in everyday magic was part of my training to improve the quality of my spells. Using sloppy magic in daily life would lead to sloppy magic in emergencies, and that could be fatal. Consistency was key.
The strange object suddenly appearing in the forest would need to be erased later, but for now, it served its purpose. Sophie-san, intrigued, patted the smooth pedestal.
"Amazing! It’s so smooth and shiny."
As I admired my handiwork, Valeria and Mary-san returned from their reconnaissance.
"Onee-sama, it’s beautifully smooth and shiny."
"It’s a perfect circle... impressive."
Their reactions were a mix of admiration and bemusement. Sophie-san, satisfied or perhaps bored, moved away to start gathering. Valeria and I helped her while waiting for the signal.
The plan was for the hunting team to capture a moderately strong forest monster and then send a distress signal. Once Valeria and I left, the monster would be set loose on Mary-san and Sophie-san. The hunting team and the signalers were in different locations, but the others were nearby to ensure safety. Valeria and I would pretend to leave but stay close to observe.
The forest was peaceful, and we waited with a sense of anticipation. Suddenly, a bright light shot up from two different directions—our prearranged distress signals. Everything was going according to plan.
In an emergency, the strongest fighters had to respond quickly. Mary-san understood that Valeria and I would have to leave.
"Valeria, take the north."
"Yes, Onee-sama. I’ll head there immediately."
"Mary-san, it might take some time. Please stay here and watch over things until we return."
"Yes! Be careful."
Mary-san nodded, though she looked tense. Sophie-san gave me a reassuring smile, indicating she had things under control. We set off in different directions, stopping at a distance to rejoin Siegrune and Angelina, who were hiding nearby.
"Yukari-dono, you were quick."
"How are they doing?"
"Sophie is acting natural, continuing to gather. Mary is focused on monitoring the surroundings, but she hasn’t noticed us from this distance. Right, Angelina?"
"Her physical and combat skills have improved remarkably, but her detection skills still need work."
As we spoke, Valeria and the signalers joined us.
"Let’s hope the monster-capturing team has something suitable."
We couldn’t know what we’d catch until the day, so it was a bit of a gamble. If the capture took too long, our “rescue” would be suspiciously delayed, so we needed them to succeed quickly.
Just then, we heard a growl and the sound of branches breaking. Something was approaching.
"Speak of the devil."
It seemed the speed order had been followed. Our concerns were unfounded.
Mary-san and Sophie-san were in a seemingly peaceful forest clearing. Suddenly, a massive monster appeared—a giant deer-like creature with broad horns. It was far too large!
"Uh, is that okay?"
"Maybe not."
The monster resembled a large elk with broad antlers. In normal size, it would be manageable for Mary-san, but this one was enormous. Its size seemed to amplify its ferocity, and it appeared to be raging uncontrollably. Perhaps the capturing team had been particularly harsh.
To us, it was just a large target, but for Mary-san, it was a formidable threat. We would step in if necessary, but had we gone too far?
Despite the situation, Mary-san seemed surprisingly calm, even determined.
"I’m fine. I’ll protect Sophie-san."
Her usual gentle expression had turned into a fierce one. She adjusted her position to protect Sophie-san, moving carefully to avoid the monster’s charge. Despite her intense focus, she remained calm.
Mary-san admired our fighting style and didn’t use a weapon. Fighting a giant monster without one was usually impossible, and the logical choice would be to run. While Valeria and I could overpower it, Mary-san wasn’t there yet. Her physical and magical enhancements had improved, but her offensive power was still lacking.
She had a few options, but she chose to fight. We would watch and see how far she could go.
The monster charged repeatedly, like a wild boar. Mary-san, mindful of Sophie-san’s safety, dodged with practiced ease. She could avoid the attacks, but she lacked a counterattack.
Perhaps she was waiting for us to return, but she didn’t seem to be seeking help. She was determined to find a solution.
Suddenly, she changed her approach. She climbed onto the smooth pedestal I had created and called out to the monster.
"Come here, you beast!"
The monster paused, seemingly confused, and then charged at her with its front hooves raised. Mary-san timed her jump perfectly, avoiding the attack. But that wasn’t all. At the last moment, she cast a weak water spell, not at the monster but at the pedestal itself.
The pedestal, already smooth and hard, became slippery with water. The monster’s hooves, heavy and powerful, slipped and crashed into the pedestal, causing its face to slam into the hard surface.
"Ouch, that must hurt. Even a monster can’t ignore that kind of damage."
The monster, dazed, leaned against the pedestal, unable to move. Mary-san approached, her fierce expression now a thin smile. It was a bit unsettling.
Mary-san’s magic affinity was for water, but she could only use the weakest seventh-level spells. She had been struggling with this, but I had tried to instill a different mindset. A spell’s strength isn’t just about the level; it’s about how you use it. I had given her a secret technique.
If you can create a water stream, you can compress and release it for a more powerful effect. If you can only produce a limited amount of water, focus on condensing it. For example, if you can release water over thirty seconds, try to release the same amount in less than a second. Imagine it!
It was a tall order, but even if she couldn’t do it immediately, the effort would pay off. Magic is all about imagination, and with the right mindset, she could achieve higher levels.
But for now, she could only use the basic water spells. She needed to find ways to maximize their potential. I had given her the idea of a water jet—a concentrated stream of water that could be more powerful than a simple spray. To increase its force, she could mix it with diamond dust, creating a cutting stream that could penetrate even tough defenses.
Mary-san’s water jet spell seemed to have the power I had hoped for. It took some time to cast, so she couldn’t use it in the heat of battle, but it was effective for delivering a finishing blow.
When the monster’s head struck the pedestal, it was clearly dazed. Mary-san, still smiling, gently stroked the monster’s neck. Blood spurted from the wound, confirming the spell’s power.
While she couldn’t use the water jet in real-time combat yet, it showed great potential. When she could use it on the move, it would be a formidable weapon. I was excited about her future.
Mary-san, covered in blood, stood in a striking pose, a testament to her determination and skill.