kscans

Chapter 7 - A Vampire's True Power and a Great Disaster

"W-wow… incredible."

The bodies of countless wolves lay before me. A Thousand Wolf pack, an extremely dangerous type of monster that surrounds its prey in a massive group and attacks relentlessly until the target collapses from exhaustion. Each one is strong on its own, and their sheer numbers make them a simple yet formidable foe. They’re also fairly intelligent, so even if one gets injured, another will immediately take its place, meaning you’re always facing a fresh opponent. It’s a nightmare for anyone they target. Even skilled human warriors are often overwhelmed by their numbers. And I had just defeated all of them with my bare fists.

"I really am strong."

About an hour ago, I had apparently defeated the Deadly Bear on my own. But since my eyes were closed, I wasn’t really sure if I had actually done it. That’s when the pack of Thousand Wolves attacked. They must have seen the Deadly Bear I supposedly defeated and come to finish off a weakened (or so they thought) me.

Overwhelmed by their numbers, I panicked and tried to run, but they surrounded me in an instant.

"Kyaaaaah!"

As they leaped at me from all directions, I reflexively threw out my hands to protect myself. Normally, that would be a meaningless gesture. But it turned out to be incredibly meaningful. The Thousand Wolf that attacked from the front was easily pushed back by my hand and, like the Deadly Bear, was sent flying into a wall… except it didn’t just get embedded. It turned into a splatter of red ketchup.

"Huh?!"

I froze at the sight, but the enemy’s attack wasn’t over. Countless wolves sank their teeth into my body.

"O-owww… it doesn’t hurt?"

Despite being bitten by wolves, I felt no pain at all. At most, it felt like they were just playfully nibbling on me.

‘High-ranking vampires have bodies composed mostly of magical energy, so normal attacks won’t work on them.’

The words of my teacher back at the castle suddenly came to mind.

"So it was true that attacks don’t work."

Realizing I couldn’t be damaged, I, being the pragmatic person I am, calmed down surprisingly quickly. And then I recalled more of my teacher’s words.

‘Vampires are high-ranking monsters. Furthermore, you, my lady, are the daughter of a Progenitor, a Master, ranking second among vampires. You possess the power to fight even a dragon.’

"Fight even a dragon…"

I thought it was just lip service for the daughter of her master, but maybe it was true…

"In that case…"

I calmly grabbed a Thousand Wolf that was biting me and easily pulled it off my body.

"Whoa!"

The Thousand Wolf thrashed about, trying to get free, but my body didn’t budge.

"Heeave-ho!"

This time, with full intent, I hurled the Thousand Wolf.

Bachan!

The wolf’s body slammed into another wolf, and both of them were turned into mincemeat.

"Oh, oooh."

Seeing this, I had no choice but to accept it. I had become seriously strong.

"Alright, in that case!"

Understanding that attacks didn't work and that there was an overwhelming power difference, I decided to fight the Thousand Wolves for real.

"First, a test of my magic in actual combat! Fire—!"

"Gah!"

Just as I was about to cast my spell, Mummy Ichigo-kun interfered again.

"Hey! Why do you keep stopping me when I try to use magic?!"

Is there some reason you don’t want me to use magic?

"But if I don’t use it in a real fight, I’ll never learn how to use it properly."

Up until now, I’d only been practicing on stationary targets, but living enemies move and dodge. I think it’s important to get some real combat experience here.

"So, Fireball!"

Pretending to argue with the mummy, I raised my hand behind me and unleashed the spell.

"?!"

Heh, I don’t even need to look at the enemy. In this situation, I can hit something no matter where I aim. If I can take out two or three of them like this, maybe Mummy Ichigo-kun will understand that I can fight effectively with mag—

Dogoooooooon!! A tremendous impact and blast wave hit me.

"Eh?"

When I turned around, there was a small crater.

"Oh, ooh…?"

Huh? It didn't do that during training…
Goooo, pachi pachi…
And the forest was on fire.

"It’s on fireeee!"

Whoa, a mountain fire, no, a forest fire!

"F-fire extinguisher, fire extinguisher! Ah, but there are no fire extinguishers anywhere! Call 911! Wait, there are no phones either!"

"Bashi bashi!"

Mummy Ichigo-kun started slapping my shoulder as I panicked.

"What?!"

"Guh, paah-bah!"

Then, Mummy Ichigo-kun put his hands together at his waist, thrust them forward, and opened them with a flourish. Hmmm? What kind of gesture is that? Is it that "waaave!" thing from that famous battle manga?

"…Ah, maybe it’s magic?!"

"Koku koku."

Mummy Ichigo-kun nodded his head vigorously, as if to say exactly.

"A-alright! To extinguish a fire, I need water or ice, right? To cool a wide area… Blizzard!"

The entire area was covered in snow.

"I overdid it!"

"Ban ban!"

Mummy Ichigo-kun started slapping me as if to say, you idiot, stop!.

"U-um, um, to warm it up, I need fi—mph!"

Just as I was about to use a fire spell to warm things up, Mummy Ichigo-kun covered my mouth. Yes, this looks exactly like a kidnapping scene.

"Moga moga…"

I panicked as my spell was interrupted, but after a moment, the blizzard began to subside. Oh, right. I just needed to stop the magic. Once the blizzard completely stopped, Mummy Ichigo-kun let go of me.

"Phew, that was a surprise."

"Pan pan!"

As I sighed, Mummy Ichigo-kun gave a reaction that screamed, I’m the one who was surprised! Ah, yes. I’m sorry.

"Guoooooooon!!"

Just as I felt relieved that the magic had subsided, the howl of a wolf suddenly echoed through the trees. Oh, right. I forgot about the Thousand Wolves. I turned around to see the Thousand Wolves glaring at me with bloodshot eyes.

"Gyuun…"

"Kyuruu."

Hm? For some reason, they look… scared?

"Guou!"

But when what seemed to be the leader howled, the Thousand Wolves all charged at me at once. Their charge was so desperate, it felt like they were being chased by something.

"If you still want to fight!"

I was about to raise my hand to cast another spell, but Mummy-kun pulled my hand down and shook his head as if to say don't use magic.

"But if I don’t…"

"Guh."

Instead, Mummy Ichigo-kun clenched his fist in front of his chest. You want me to fight with my bare hands?!

""""Guoooooon!!""""

"Oh, fine, I get it!!"

And so, I faced the countless wolves with my bare hands, which brings us back to the beginning.

"I guess I can do it if I try."

All of the Thousand Wolves that were there are now dead. But despite facing so many of them, I wasn't even out of breath.

"High-ranking vampires are amazing."

I was now truly realizing the extent of my power.

"No wonder my magic is so powerful… wait, ah!"

A jolt of electricity ran through my brain.

"That’s right! If I had used a non-fire element, I wouldn’t have started a fire!"

What was I thinking? I was so fixated on the idea that magic meant shooting something, and that the most powerful attack was a fireball, that I completely overlooked my other options.

"Pon."

Mummy Ichigo-kun tapped me on the shoulder. When I turned around, he had his arms crossed, and despite his expressionless face, he seemed to be saying, you’re just figuring that out now?

"Were you trying to stop me earlier because you wanted me to use a different element?"

Mummy Ichigo-kun nodded. Then he pointed at the ground. Yep, I don’t need words to understand.

He’s telling me, Sit down right there.

"…"

I quietly knelt on the ground, and Mummy Ichigo-kun began his silent, gestured lecture… Oh, the misery.