Chapter 194: Second Time
Link: https://ncode.syosetu.com/n7583de/
Author: Hirukuma
Translated by Zzonkedd
Edited by Gumihou
“It’s tough when you have children around, eh?!”
“It is the same for everyone.”
The trees in the forest burst into flames, only to be frozen into blocks of ice in seconds.
The poor trees were the main victims of these powerful fire and snow beings. Even at 10 metres away, we could feel the blasts of heat and cold against our skin as they battled it out. Even the very air seemed to distort at the intense temperature change.
I swiftly activated <Barrier> after Ramis and the others rushed close to me. Pitee had ducked under her shield as well. While she could defend herself effectively, she was about as good as a paperweight in this fight.
“This is a relief against that hot and cold mess-su.”
“Yeah, those drastic temperature changes were rather unsettling.”
“I could probably withstand it for a few minutes, but a prolonged fight under these conditions is too difficult, Master Hakkon.”
“To even participate in that fight, one would have to be a great magic user or have some kind of special protection. While Pitee could protect herself, she couldn’t fight back.”
Pitee-in-a-shell was pretty much like a stranded turtle.
While everyone stuck themselves to me, observing the situation, Ramis had dragged the Red and White Twins as well as Vice-Leader Felmina behind me. My <Barrier> had limited range, but they could still hide behind me to avoid the worst of the fight.
“Ah, what about Leader?” Shui suddenly shouted.
We all looked and found him standing to the side, calmly observing the two who were in the midst of a great battle.
“Quite the stoic one, our Leader.”
“Not only that, it seems his Eye can dissipate both snow and flame.”
A closer inspection showed that the swirling fire and blizzard all seemed to vanish about five meters before they hit the leader. Was that the effective range of the <Shattering Eye>?
If so, it was valuable information.
Wait, the <Shattering Eye> was supposed to negate Gifts, right? It could also be used to negate natural attacks? Maybe even physical attacks?
Woah, Leadery Keryoil’s threat level went up by two notches by my count.
The Scorching Sand Director was obviously hesitant to attack due to the boy next to Sulrim. Thankfully, from Sulrim’s bitter expression and the way she enveloped them both in a sphere of air, it looked like she was also hesitant about using her full power.
I had been worried that the Snow Spirit would abandon the boy to fight more efficiently, but it looked like she was either more humane than expected, or that the Whimsical Fool’s party was more valuable to the group than we had first thought.
There was also the possibility that Leader would end her instantly the moment she became his enemy.
With the enemies preoccupied like this, now was probably the best time to turn things around, but with the fire-and-snow chaos…
Technically, we can continue to advance with my <Barrier> up; however, the <Shattering Eye> was a constant threat to everyone. Wait, does this mean that Leader Keryoil was the one in control of the battle now?
“This is getting nowhere. Keryoil, snuff out that man’s flames!” Sulrim’s voice broke through the fight.
Leader stared at the Scorching Sand Director, but shook his head, “Too far away!”
“Useless human. Well, how about this!” [1] Sulrim shouted as she sucked the large man into a snowstorm and herded him towards Leader Keryoil.
The situation was getting dangerous. [1] The fiery man was our only ace against Sulrim, if he got close to the Leader’s <Shattering Eye>…
[2] “Master Hakkon, if he gets too close to Leader, his powers will be nullified!”
So, Mishael had noticed too.
“They are focused on the Director now. This is our only chance to surprise them. We should be able to withstand the cold for a bit.”
“My armour could protect me for five minutes.”
“This is our only option-su.”
“If the Director loses now, we’ll have no chance at all.”
Since now was the time to act, I decided to up our odds.
I transformed into the <Coin Locker> form for the second time today and opened the central compartment where I had stored the cold-resistant gears made by Hyurumi.
“Nice, with these, we’ll be able to last a bit longer, yeah? Let’s go!”
“Stay here, Hakkon. We can’t take the Vice-Leader and the rest with us.”
If I leave with them, the three tied-up people would be exposed to the cold. I felt a bit uneasy about not being on Ramis’s back, but I supposed there was no choice.
“Welcome”
I watched as my comrades left the <Barrier>, the only thing I could do now was pray for their safe return.
No, there must be something that I can do. Even if I can’t move, I have options.
[1] I caught a glimpse of Sulrim, who was… laughing?
[1] There was something unsettling about her grin as she watched my comrades advance. Had she lured them out? But, if she attacked us, her back would be exposed to the Director’s flames. Does she have some sort of plan up her sleeve?
“Fufufu, ahahahaha! When things work out so well, what can I do but laugh?” She was really laughing at us.
Moreover, it did not look like she was putting on a brave face. Just what was she thinking?
At that moment, her entire figure was suddenly obscured by a snowstorm erupting from her feet. I had seen this before. That was how she escaped us from the Scorching Sand Floor.
Was she retreating?
“Do it now, Leader,” a cold, emotionless voice said.
The voice was right next to me!
“Apologies, Hakkon. <Shattering Eye>!”
The blue light that was my <Barrier> crumbled, leaving me defenceless. Sulrim lightly touched my body.
This is bad!
My intuition was right. I was in the middle of trying to think of something to do when the sight of my comrades suddenly disappeared in a flash of blizzard. Then, in a blink, the blizzard was gone, and there was nothing around me but grey walls and a stone floor.
“Perfect. You were my target right from the beginning… Hakkon.”
I finally understood everything at the triumphant, slightly crazed grin on Sulrim’s face.
Have I just been kidnapped?
The Snow Spirit had vanished in front of us before. Does it mean that she could move freely between floors? Was I right? If she could teleport… that was certainly a possibility.
Looks like her teleportation ability could allow anyone within range to teleport alongside her. Wait, didn’t she just touch me? Ah, since the three prisoners were leaning against me, that would fit into the ‘touching’ perimeter too.
But, what about Leader Keryoil?
Well, either he was touching one of the prisoners or Sulrim could teleport people within a certain range.
There was really no point in thinking about all of this now that I had already been kidnapped, but there was nothing else for me to think about that would help me. They have utterly outplayed us. I had to wonder just who came up with this plan.
This would be the second time I had been kidnapped since I became a vending machine.
“It is rare for humans to be of any use. Now, you must have plenty to talk about, hm? Well, use this moment to do all your emotional talk. Only join me once you are done,” said Sulrim as she pulled the boy by his hand towards the exit.
I took another look around the room. It was dreary and devoid of any furniture and decorations. The lone window had iron bars on it. It was basically a prison.
“I apologise for bringing you here forcefully, Hakkon. This is the dungeon denizen’s stronghold.”
Surely that means the Ruler of the Netherworld is here too?
Have I been transported directly to the final boss’s lair?
I can’t move on my own, and I’m now stuck here… this is beyond any ordinary crisis.
“Um… Is the battle… over?”
I hear a familiar, small voice from behind me. I turned to see Pitee gazing out through the gap left by her shields. Ah, if Pitee were here, it looks like Sulrim’s teleportation magic was the ‘area of effect’ kind of magic rather than the ‘touch’ kind.
My condolences for getting you into this, Pitee.
[Gumihou: A lot of weird repeats, cut them down. Probably about 250 words of it.]
[1] Adjusted the action details for more immediacy
[2] Reduce ‘oh noes, repeat stuff’ dialogues
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