kscans

Chapter 110 - Epilogue: Part One

We defeated the dragons, and it was a happy ending... but in reality, things don't just 'end when you defeat the enemy'.

There were all sorts of things that needed to be done. Things that were better off done.

"Heave-ho."

I cleared away the snow, exposing the asphalt beneath. On a vinyl sheet borrowed from a nearby store in this emergency, I began laying out the people who had been held captive as Rey Cuelebre's mana source.

The ice palace was on the verge of collapse from the aftershocks of the battle. We couldn't just leave them there.

So, we moved them to a location where they wouldn't be crushed...

"Everyone looks to be in pretty bad shape."

The captive people all had deathly pale faces and purplish-blue lips.

I'd briefly touched them while carrying them, and they were as cold as ice. The old man I'd just moved had a pained expression on his face, as if he were having a nightmare.

Seeing their condition, Professor Arisugawa placed a finger on her chin and furrowed her brow.

"It's not just hypothermia... They are likely suffering from Mana Deficiency Syndrome."

"Ah, now that you mention it, I think I've heard of something like that..."

If I remember correctly, it was a condition that occurred when you used too much mana, just as the name implies. I learned about it in the adventurer training course, but because of my unique skill, I wasn't very familiar with it.

I think this condition lowered your immune system and made illnesses worse. Mana depletion alone rarely killed you, but combined with hypothermia... it was supposed to be pretty bad.

"It seems they were brought here regardless of age, gender, or whether they were Awakened Persons or not. If there's one commonality, it would be their hair color. When the ambulances arrive, we may need to prioritize the non-Awakened. I'll have Aira take a look later."

"Understood."

Speaking of which, all the captive people had either blonde or silver hair.

Did Cuelebre just like shiny heads? ...Like a crow?

"Grandma. I finally got through to the police and fire department, but they say it'll still be a while before they can get here."

As we were talking, Aira-san approached, holding her smartphone.

"Is it because of the snow?"

"Well, that's part of it... but it seems dungeon stampedes have also occurred in Tokyo, Aomori, and Kagawa."

"...Huh?"

An idiotic sound escaped my lips.

Seriously? I mean, something similar had happened before, but that was because all the dungeons created on the Day of Awakening had reached their limit at the same time.

But now, local governments were conducting mandatory investigations of vacant houses. They were still struggling to find gates in the forests and mountains... but for it to happen in four prefectures at once? Besides, there were no mountains or forests around here.

"Your question is valid, but there are things even I don't know. What is clear is that the Self-Defense Force won't be coming for a while, and the police and fire departments can't get through because of the snow. A medical helicopter is scheduled to arrive, but that also requires preparation. The people in need of rescue aren't limited to just those here."

"...It can't be helped. If they remain in this state of hypothermia combined with mana deficiency, their lives will be in danger."

With that, the professor thrust her arm into the golden particles she had created in the air.

From it, she pulled out a silver thermos. The outside looked like an ordinary commercial product, but I could feel a faint mana from within.

"Oh, Grandma. Are you sure?"

"Normally, I wouldn't give a medicine whose scientific principles haven't been elucidated to anyone but myself... but it's better than letting them die here."

"No, I just meant that since it's a 'homemade magic potion', you'll be paying for it out of your own pocket."

"Then there's even less reason to worry about it. Human lives take top priority."

Professor Arisugawa stated firmly to Aira-san, who had spoken in a joking tone.

Homemade? She can make magic potions, too...?

"It should be effective even if not taken orally..."

With that, Professor Arisugawa tilted the thermos toward the woman lying closest to her.

A single drop of faintly glowing, light-blue liquid fell onto her forehead. It was just that, but the effect was dramatic.

In the blink of an eye, life returned to her face, and her lips turned a rosy pink. She was still unconscious, but at a glance, she looked healthy.

"The effect is incredible...!"

"Yes. But in return, using too much of it can cause severe 'mana sickness' later. Imagine motion sickness, but ten times worse. A single drop has a negligible effect, but the recoil should also be minimal."

"Ah..."

That was a pretty harsh side effect. Not something you should use recklessly inside a dungeon.

As my cheeks twitched, Aira-san spoke to me in a low voice.

"...She says it like it's someone else's problem, but I heard she was using her magic quite extravagantly. She was probably chugging her homemade potions while fighting. There's bound to be a strong backlash later. It'll be fine if Erina-kun and the others are here, but if they're not, help me carry her."

"Got it."

"I can hear you, you two."

The professor was dropping a single potion on each of the captives.

She looked at us, or more accurately, at Aira-san.

"There's no need to worry. I drink this regularly during my fieldwork, so this much is nothing to me."

"...I'm sorry, Grandma."

"There's no need to apologize. I simply did what I wanted to do. However, you should properly thank Erina, Mia, and Kyouta-kun."

"Yes..."

Aira-san looked at Professor Arisugawa with an uncharacteristically meek expression.

In response, the professor just shrugged her shoulders slightly and returned to her treatment.

I wished I could say something clever to Aira-san here, but unfortunately, I didn't have those kinds of communication skills.

For my part, I took out an alchemy circle from my pocket.

I held it up to the empty air and poured mana into it. What I was doing was an application of what I did before to stop the fire caused by the salamander.

Even though the sun was out, it was currently the end of June. With the air chilled by the surrounding snow, everyone was lightly dressed.

It might only be a small comfort, but I tried to see if I could provide some warmth with alchemy.

I slowly circulated mana through the atmosphere. Thanks to the levels I'd gained fighting the Cuelebre and Rey, I was able to smoothly envelop the entire area.

About forty people had been held captive. I pushed the cold air away from them.

...It really was just a small comfort, less effective than a thin blanket.

"Well now. As expected, Kyouta-kun, you've really become an alchemist."

"Don't praise me. This is just a 'better than nothing' kind of thing."

"No, no. That little bit can change a person's fate. In fact, I was so cold I was about to start shivering, but now I feel a little better."

"Ah..."

She was acting like her usual self, but Aira-san had also been held captive in the ice palace until a little while ago. And with a body that was unbelievably frail for an Awakened Person.

On the contrary, it was a wonder she'd remained conscious until we rescued her.

"But it's amazing you were unharmed, Aira-san. Compared to the others, you seem unusually energetic."

"Well, you see, I have a lot of mana for my level. Although, it's partly thanks to you, Kyouta-kun."

"Me?"

As I tilted my head, Aira-san took an egg-shaped magic item out of her pocket.

It was a personal barrier generator... but it was cracked, and its internal mana was significantly depleted.

"I held this up to the part of the birdcage that was siphoning mana, to suppress the amount being taken from me. I tell you, if I hadn't been able to find the location of the spell formula with [Appraisal], I'd be passed out just like them by now."

Aira-san chuckled and put it back in her pocket.

"So, let me thank you again. Thank you, Kyouta-kun."

"No problem. I'm glad it was useful."

I made it because I didn't want my acquaintances to die. If it protected Aira-san, there was nothing more to say.

As we were talking in that peaceful atmosphere.

"Hm... Aira, come here for a moment. You too, Kyouta-kun."

Professor Arisugawa called us over in a sharp voice, so we hurried over.

"What's wrong, Grandma?"

"This person... as soon as I put the magic potion on his face, his 'face changed'. I don't think it's some kind of curse, but please check with your skills."

At the end of Professor Arisugawa's gaze, a man who appeared to be Caucasian was lying there with a pained expression.

Come to think of it, isn't this the person I carried over earlier?

"Hmm... I've looked with [Appraisal], but I don't see anything particularly strange."

"Same here. I don't see any strange mana flow."

"Hmm... This potion has a healing effect in addition to restoring mana. Could that be what caused it?"

"Ah, so the face he got from plastic surgery reverted back. Well, it's better than being dead."

Aira-san said nonchalantly, and while I didn't say it out loud, I agreed with her.

Life is the most important thing. Besides, this man was quite handsome with his natural face. He must have been very popular when he was younger. Tch!

"........."

"What's wrong, Grandma? Staring at him like that."

"No, it's just... I feel like I've seen this face somewhere before, but I can't place who it is... From his features, I think he's from America."

Professor Arisugawa tilted her head at the man, who still had a pained expression.

"Is he an acquaintance of yours?"

"I don't think we're close enough to be called acquaintances... but since I can't remember who he is, I can't say for sure."

"Does it matter? The fact that you can't remember his face probably means he's not important."

"Aira..."

Professor Arisugawa pressed her fingers to the bridge of her nose, as if enduring a headache.

"It's because of that attitude that you can't make a single friend at the university, you know?"

"Oh, shut up!"

"Well, it's fine for now. More importantly, you go and check who is Awakened with your [Appraisal]. Mark the Awakened Persons with red tape."

"Honestly... I'm not a loner. How many times do I have to tell you I'm aloof..."

Muttering to herself, Aira-san took the red tape from the professor and started appraising the fallen people. The professor also shrugged at her granddaughter's behavior and returned to her treatment.

For some reason, I looked at the fallen man again.

"...wy...th..."

It was a bit better than before, but the English he muttered was muffled and hard to understand.

But well, he must have had some reason to get plastic surgery on such a handsome face.

I didn't want to get involved in that kind of thing. The drama in the Arisugawa family was enough for me.

I switched gears and turned my gaze to the ice palace. It was still standing, but it could collapse at any moment.

Erina-san and Mia-san were currently in there, so I thought about heading over myself, but...

"Hey!"

From the destroyed main gate, Erina-san was walking toward us, holding up her right arm. It seemed she hadn't found any other people in need of rescue.

But she was holding something strange in that right hand.

"What is that...?"

As Erina-san approached, I tilted my head and asked.

Just in case, I placed my hand on the sword at my waist and slightly lowered my center of gravity, ready to fight at any moment.

"I was looking for any stragglers with my senpai, but there was no one left. So, while I was at it, I checked the spot where the boss monster's salt was!"

"And that's when we found this birdcage."

At their words, I frowned and fixed my gaze on the birdcage Erina-san was holding.

More precisely, on its contents.

"You found this?"

"Yeah... Kyouta-chan, what's wrong? You look scary."

Erina-san held up the birdcage slightly, looking at me with a worried expression.

But that only made me more wary.

"Erina-san, Mia-san. What do you see inside this?"

When I asked, they looked at each other quizzically, and then...

"I don't see anything?"

"If I had to say, there's a swing for a bird hanging in there, but that's about it..."

At their words, I glared at the being 'sitting' on the bird swing.

"You can't see this 'fairy'...?"

A small, winged person resembling a young girl with blonde hair and blue eyes was looking up at me.

At first glance, she looked just like a sylph, a wind spirit, but the mana flowing from her was clearly different.

What in the world—is this?

"Eh, Kyouta-kun is 'seeing fairies'!? Are you okay, as a person!"

Aira-san came running over, her voice airy and making it unclear whether she was worried or making fun of me.

I don't think I was in the wrong for flicking her on the forehead.

"Funnuaaaaaaah!?"

I paid no mind to the good-for-nothing college student shrieking next to me.

The mysterious fairy was just quietly looking into my eyes.