Episode 224: Yuma’s Fate
Yuma decided to experiment more with “Fire Magic.”
Monsters were still swarming towards him in large numbers. Yuma focused his consciousness on the palm of his right hand.
Flames swirled in his palm, forming a Fireball about the size of a basketball. Yuma hurled the Fireball at the monsters.
When it hit the ground, an incredible explosion occurred, blowing away the surrounding monsters.
“…Heh, this is amazing.”
Yuma was dumbfounded, but he was convinced that with this power, he could take on a horde of monsters.
Dozens of flying insects approached from the sky, but Yuma spewed flames from his entire body, creating a pillar of fire that stretched for dozens of meters.
The flying insects plunged into the pillar of fire and died one after another.
Monsters resembling grasshoppers and spiders also came crashing in, but Yuma swung both hands to the side. Walls of fire rose to the left and right, blocking the monsters’ path.
The monsters that touched the flames were set ablaze, and nothing could break through the “wall.”
“It feels so good to be able to use Fire Magic so freely!”
Yuma raised his hands above his head. Flames erupted, transforming into a “Fire Dragon” in the sky.
The Dragon coiled as it ascended higher and higher, then descended in one fell swoop. As it landed on the ground, it meandered across the earth, detonating everything it touched.
Before he knew it, the area was ablaze, turning into a large-scale forest fire.
◇◇◇
“Is that everyone?”
Dasha and the other Indian Seekers who had fled to the town of Asgard were gathered at the university, which served as a shelter.
“Sister, it seems there’s hardly any damage. I think all the Seekers have been able to evacuate.”
At Kaira’s words, Dasha let out a sigh of relief, saying, “I see, that’s good.”
In the midst of this, one of the Indian Seekers raised his voice.
“L-Look! The mountain’s on fire!”
Hearing that voice, Dasha and the others went outside the building. When they looked in the direction of Saddar Sampur, the sky was indeed dyed red.
“Why…? Did someone use Fire Magic?”
As Dasha wondered, she saw Amasawa and Tennoji coming from the end of the road. They were walking calmly, without any sign of panic.
Dasha approached the two and called out to them.
“You’re safe… Thanks to you, everyone was able to escape. I’m grateful.”
In response to Dasha’s expression of gratitude, Akito casually replied, “Don’t worry about it. I’m glad we managed to escape.”
“I’m glad you two are unharmed as well. By the way—”
When Dasha pointed at the mountain, Akito turned his gaze and said, “Hm?”
“Did you guys cause that forest fire?”
At Dasha’s question, Akito shifted the blame to Rui, saying, “Ah, yeah… Rui was burning it.”
Suddenly thrust into the spotlight, Rui stammered,
“W-Well, I thought I’d buy everyone some time to escape… It seems like it got a little too big.”
Rui laughed awkwardly, but his face was strained.
“Wonderful!”
“Eh?”
The two voices overlapped at Dasha’s praise.
“It seems we were able to evade the monsters’ pursuit thanks to you. Thank you so much.”
“N-No problem…”
Rui was taken aback by Dasha’s unreserved praise, because it was Yuma who had done it, not him.
“Even so, to burn down the entire mountain… Isn’t that a bit much?”
Akito whispered to Rui.
“Yeah, but thanks to that, not a single monster has come. Yuma completely stopped them.”
Rui and Akito had been wary of monsters coming from the mountain, and they had remained on the mountain path even after the Indian Seekers had escaped.
However, no monsters came, and the two left the mountain path and were now here.
Once everyone’s safety was confirmed, a campsite was quickly set up, and Dasha and the others decided to wait for morning while remaining vigilant against monsters.
◇◇◇
As the sun began to rise, a figure was heading towards Asgard.
“Ugh, I’m tired…”
Yuma had been rampaging around, getting carried away, but the effect of “Metallization” had worn off halfway up the mountain. Although the monsters were annihilated, the area was a sea of fire.
Yuma desperately fled from the forest fire, wandered through the mountains, and finally came down the mountain and reached his destination, the town of “Asgard.”
With his face and clothes covered in soot, he entered the town saying, “Water~.”
Just then, he encountered Kaira, who was leading several Seekers.
“What, you’re still here?”
Kaira stopped and looked at Yuma with disdain.
“No, I barely made it down the mountain myself. Can’t you give me some water?”
Hearing that, Kaira clicked her tongue.
“I thought you had already run away since I couldn’t see you… It’s a nuisance to have someone as weak as you around. I’ll prepare a carriage, so go back to Cuttack.”
“Eh!? No, no, I’ll fight too. That’s why I came all the way here.”
Yuma panicked, thinking it would be terrible if he was sent back here. Then, Rui and Akito came from the other side.
“Hey, Yuma. You finally came back. You’re too late.”
“Are you okay? You look beat up.”
Yuma breathed a sigh of relief when he saw the two of them.
“Yeah, I’m okay. But I’m really tired.”
Led by Rui and Akito, Yuma headed to the university building, which was being used as a shelter. Kaira frowned as she watched the three of them leave.
She led the Seekers and headed to another building of the university.
◇◇◇
“Sister! Why aren’t you sending that man who can’t use magic properly back!?”
As soon as she entered Dasha’s office, Kaira slammed her hand on the desk and shouted. Dasha, who had been looking at documents on her desk, blinked and said, “What’s wrong, all of a sudden?”
“We decided to only allow capable Seekers to gather at this front line. You were the one who decided that, right!? If we take someone like that into the Dungeon, he’ll be the first to die!”
Dasha smiled at Kaira’s outburst.
“You’re as kind as ever, Kaira. Are you that worried about that man?”
“I-It’s not like that! It just makes me feel bad to do nothing when I know he’s going to die!”
Dasha arranged a few documents and put them in the desk drawer. After letting out a sigh, she met Kaira’s glaring gaze.
“I’ve decided to have him… Mitaka Yuma, enter the Dungeon.”
“Eh? Why!?”
Kaira’s eyes widened as if she couldn’t believe it.
“Amasawa and Tennoji advised me to. They said he would be useful, so they’re taking him with them. I can’t refuse when those two say that.”
“B-But…”
Dasha stood up from her chair and looked out the window. The Seekers who had escaped were beginning to prepare to rebuild their forces.
“Even if he dies in the Dungeon, there’s no need to worry about it.”
Dasha turned to look at Kaira.
“After all, he’s just an outsider.”