Chapter 18

Snow dancing in the Flames of War

 

My throat hurts.

Breathing is painful.

I don't have enough oxygen.

And if that wasn't enough, because of that I'm probably wasting breath to boot.

Feels like hyperventilation.

When doing strenuous activity for a long time, there comes a point where how you breathe out becomes important.

And currently I don't have the specs to run long distance to begin with.

It's pointless if I can't fight when I reach the city.

On the other hand——if I'm too late, it's pointless too.

So I desperately ran towards the town, going up in a blaze of fire.

 

"Hah, ha, ha..."

 

After reaching the gates, I stopped, supporting myself on my knees.

I was very well aware suddenly stopping like that is not good for myself, but I abided my screaming body which didn't want to move another step.

Crisis or not, I was at my limit.

 

"... no matter how much time passes, no matter where one goes, it ends up like this," Till muttered lonelily and let go of my hand.

 

"Wheeze, wheeze... Till?"

 

I felt like dying already, but Till only looked at me like some insect.

Stop it!

You're crushing my heart!

 

"Weakling. Come after taking a breaking. After this is over, I will drill thee until thou wish thou were dead."

"Wait..."

 

I tried to call her to a stop, but Till only laid a finger on my mouth.

 

"One is not so weak to be worried about by one's disciple. Even if one retired long ago. Rest a bit before thou come. Is that well?"

 

With those words, Till ran through the air into town.

 

"Ha, ha... disciple?"

 

No, more importantly this endurance...

In an emergency, I cannot do anything with it!

Heal... would be pointless, wouldn't it.

Oh well, I can only remain here until I've caught enough breath to be able to walk again.

DAMMIT!

Weakweakweakweakweak!!

What's with this weakness, I'm not the world's strongest at all!

I allocated my Attributes and Skills as I saw fit, but putting that to use, or not, depends on me now.

But this body's unreliability pisses me off!

 

"O... kay... I'm fine..."

 

While breathing with heaving shoulders, I put one foot before the other.

I have to, protect Aunty.

In place of, Shion-san and Uncle—————

 

I'd known.

For a while even.

But after entering the town, that imagination changed into certainty.

The blood and the screams, the smell of burning buildings and "somethings" brought be to the edge of puking.

Robbing, killing, burning.

This...

Is this something people are doing!!?

 

"Aunty..."

 

Cutting across the main street, I hurried home.

So far, I hadn't run into a bandit since entering the city.

There were some ice-encased corpses looking like bandits lying around, but it went without thinking who was behind those.

Anyway, home!

Whipping my screaming body forward, I hurried home.

Like that, I finally arrived.

It wasn't burning... but the door was open!

The anxiety almost crushed me.

My reasoning came up with all the bad scenarios.

I basically jumped inside—————

 

"—————————Aunty...?"

 

There were two people.

In the living room where I'd always laughed with Shion-san, Uncle and Aunty, in the living room where we'd bantered, there were two people.

One was a bandit in boorish clothes with a blood-stained... those round swords, a scimitar?

Anyway, he had a blood-stained weapon in his hand.

And the other————a figure lying on the floor that I knew well.

 

"Y..."

 

The world turned red before my eyes.

 

"What!? Amazing! There was such a beauty left!? Lucky!"

 

Seeing me, the bandit was delighted.

Disgusting!

 

"———You're dead!! You animaaal!!"

"Argh...!?"

 

With a single thought, I released magic against the bandit defenselessly coming towards me.

Without restraint, without regret, without mercy, only with clear intent to kill.

Even without the incantation, the effect is enough.

With one strike, I sent him to hell.

I didn't feel anything about it.

I wordlessly walked towards the fallen bandit———and stepped on his head.

What should I do?

What should I do!?

I haven't had enough.

I haven't killed enough!!

I want to tear him to shreds!!

 

"..."

 

My eyes fell onto the scimitar in the bandit's hands.

 

"...I'll cut you to pieces."

 

I grabbed the blood-stained scimitar and———

 

"...D... don't... do it. Alice... chan."

"!?"

 

I dropped it.

Who gives a damn about murder weapons.

With all my power, I turned around.

 

"Don't get... swallowed up."

"Aunty!"

 

Even with blood flowing out of her chest, Aunty smiled at me with her never-changing warmth.

She's alive!

She was still alive!

 

"Run away... Alice... chan... cough."

 

Aunty had been stabbed in the chest.

Her heart... was probably alright, but it was in that area.

No, if her lungs overflowed with blood...!

 

"I won't run! I'll save you! As long as you're alive!"

 

Focus.

This time, it's okay if you collapse.

 

"————Goddess of earth, grant compassion with your healing breath!!!"

 

I poured the miracle of healing into the stabbed chest.

One moment later, dizziness assaulted me.

The wound was too deep.

Uncles had been nothing in comparison.

I felt my mana and my stamina being drained to the bone.

Probably, Heal is lower class magic when it came to healing.

Mages don't specialize in healing, I can't help it.

That's right, I can't help it.

I can't help it.

But with "I can't help it" is not enough for Aunty's life!

 

"I'll definitely!"

 

They are the saviors that took me in, cared for me, made me family, without knowing a thing about me.

Uncle, Aunty, Shion-san.

Without this family, I'd definitely be dead by now.

Like I'd let some bandits do something to them!

 

"Oh? What's this? There were some women after all!"

"Seriously?"

"——"

 

Two new bandits came through the entrance.

This was the worst.

Cancel———yeah, like I can do that!

I'm fighting for every second here!

I have no time to spare to attacking!

 

"Please leave! Right now... I don't have the time to... deal with you!"

 

I was about to fall unconscious to begin with.

To remain conscious, I strongly bit my lip.

It hurt too much.

That taste of blood and the pain somehow bound me to reality.

 

"Hehe, now this is a good woman!"

"Hya, don't stay there, play with us!"

 

With vulgar laughs, they came closer.

What should I do!

I really don't have time to deal with you now!

...

 

"I'll take you on later, so please, leave us alone right now!"

 

I wanna die, really!

I should've learned Double Cast!

No, just how much has Cast Time Reduction saved me already?

And before that, right now I'm having my hands full with heal, there's no way I have room for Double Cast!

 

"Can't have that, missy——you're a Mage, right? That makes now our chance, doesn't it."

 

Dammit!

Damn those bandits, I'm out of options!

The bandits came closer and closer.

But of course, I had no intention of escaping.

I didn't.

Ahh... so these guys are going to make me their plaything

Such brutes are going to make me their plaything.

I can't even cry anymore...

One of the men's hands reached for me—————and was run through by a spear.

 

"——eh?"

"GYAHHH"

 

Screaming out pathetically, the bandit rolled over the floor."

 

"What the!?"

 

In a panic, the other turned towards the entrance from where the spear had come flying.

I'd also confirmed.

The person who had thrown the spear from entrance.

 

"——Please refrain from touching Alice-sama."

 

Blond hair, green eyes.

That courteous manner of speech.

Those features you never forgot once you've seen them just once.

 

"Ilya!"

 

Why is she here?

No, now isn't the time to ask why, is there?

 

"I am late, Alice-sama. Here I come!"

 

No, Ilya hasn't fought before, has she!?

 

"You bitch! I'll hurt you for what you did!"

 

The unwounded bandit drew his scimitar and rushed at the unarmed Ilya.

I was in a predicament myself, but seeing others in trouble is bad for my heart!

When the bandit charging at her swung down his scimitar, Ilya glided forward, grabbed his arm and used his momentum to throw him.

 

———Aikido!?

 

"Urg!?"

 

The man moaned as he smashed into the floor.

Ilya had Agility 1.

But her movements——okay, they hadn't been that fast.

In the end, she had matched his timing and naturally slipped inside his reach.

Amazing Ilya!

 

"——I'll kill you, bitch!"

 

The bandit who had taken Ilya's spear to the hand went into a frenzy and slashed at her.

Ilya was still off-balance.

 

"Watch o-"

 

The scimitar cut into her.

That's what I thought.

I, and the bandit, too.

 

"... Haa?"

 

The bandit was surprised, and my mouth didn't close, either.

Ilya——

 

"Too light."

 

She had stopped the scimitar with one arm.

With her slender arm.

Had I done that, the arm would've been off.

For certain.

While we were dumbfounded, Ilya glided forward and switched places with the bandit. Now in front of me, she picked up the dropped spear and skewered the bandit with it.

 

"Grgrl"

"Hiii!"

 

Seeing that, the thrown bandit ran for the door to escape, but that's where his life ended, too.

 

"What an eyesore," said the man with a look in his eyes so mean you'd take him for a bandit. Blackie.

 

"Solt... san?"

 

With the daggers in both his hands, Blackie had cut down the bandit in an instant.

 

"Why are...?"

"Hah, I'd have a problem if you died on me."

 

Blackie didn't meet my eyes and looked away.

 

"Thank you... very much."

 

Is he a tsundere?

Nono, even if he is, does that mean I have to do something?

I don't want any men!

But I'm still thankful!

Really.

But now————!

 

 "Please, be safe!"

 

While thanking Ilya and Blackie, I focused on healing.

I wonder how long I've been at it now.

Mana and stamina have crossed the limit already.

It feels like the lacking mana is compensated for through stamina.

I'm on the verge of blacking out.

Whittling away my life, I'm saving Aunty's.

Without exaggerating, that's how it is.

 

"———cough, Alice... chan"

"Aunty"

 

She made it!

Aunty still seemed far from her best, but compared to before, her smile was far more relaxed.

 

"Alice-chan, you're... so amazing..."

"Aunty!?"

"She is alright, Alice-sama. I believe she just fell asleep."

 

On Ilya's prompt, I checked Aunty's condition.

Certainly, her expression was calm and her chest rising and falling.

She was breathing!

 

"I... saved her...?"

 

On the other hand, I was in blank amazement.

 

"Yes. As expected, Alice-sama!"

"I saved her..."

"Alice-sama's devotion and loveliness were very radiant to me."

 

However, they say people who don't treasure themselves cannot save others.

 

"Eh...?"

 

Strength left my body.

Not listening to my will any longer, my body crumbled to the floor.

I couldn't even speak anymore.

My consciousness became vague.

Did I... push myself too much...?

 

"Alice-sama! Oh no, you exhausted yourself too much!

 

Ilya embraced me.

I still couldn't move.

Ahh, too late, my consciousness———

 

"———Please excuse me, Alice-sama. You can scold me for this later!"

 

With those words, Ilya bent over me.

......

 

"Eh———h!?"

 

Alice and Ilya, by NinetH

Alice and Ilya, by NinetH

Ilya kissed me.

Only that fact filled my mind.

 

"Nn..."

 

Ilya's beautiful face was flushed.

My thoughts couldn't catch up, so I let her do as she pleased.

Just, I felt something hot flow from Ilya's mouth into me and fill me throughout.

Energy welled up.

From the verge of unconsciousness I thought I almost wouldn't wake up from anymore, my consciousness stabilized, too.

As my consciousness stabilized, I couldn't help but wonder and wonder about the feeling of Ilya's lips.

Kisses... did they really feel this good...?

 

"Ha-a... once more, please excuse my behavior. Alice-sama."

"Ah..."

 

For a moment, I thought it was too bad that Ilya had stopped kissing me and apologized.

 

"... oy."

"!?"

 

Blackie's voice made me come to my senses.

My body was moving.

I pushed Ilya aside and stood up.

 

"H-how is the situation outside!? We have to hurry and beat those bandits!"

"Just have a look."

 

Blackie urged me to, so I quickly left the housed

For the moment, Ilya and Aunty were left inside.

 

"This is...?"

 

When I came outside, everything had turned into a winter landscape.

The burning buildings had all been extinguished.

An impossible amount of sudden snow.

But it was gentle snow.

It stifled the fires and gently wrapped up the town.

It was doubtlessly snow, but touching the flakes falling from the sky, they were so very warm.

 

"Amazing..."

 

I instinctively recognized it as magic.

In the time I saved one person, Till had saved the whole town.

What a contrarian of a elf.

What amazing magic.

While watching the snow dancing in the air, I only had one thought.

One day.

47 thoughts on “Chapter 18

  1. Neo

    Aint that aunt a saint?
    Don't get swallowed she said.

    You wont be saying that if the MC gets rape right in front of you and you wont be able to do it anything about it.
    Hypocrites!

    Reply
      1. Kragoz

        hm~ having two beautiful girl *do many thing* with each other maybe not a bad idea after all

        Reply
        1. kazeshindo

          I getting even more confused now....is it still yuri when that girl/guy is mentally a guy???

          Reply
          1. DedWards

            This is a debatable topic. My view is, it is as long as they are both physically female.

          2. 9

            who cares, 2 girls kissed i don't see any guys there only just a "girl" and a girl kissing, its hot, its good, its YURI!!!, MUWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA.

  2. Coma

    the kiss... the kiss... Ilya... you'r such a great girl *_*

    thx a lot Kadi for the release... I was a bit slow this time since I was forced away from PC for a couple of days... but coming back to find some fluffiness really was the best... and this time it was alsocrowned in lily atmohsphere *_*

    can't really wait to read more, but once again... don't burn out... take your time and we will endure for the sake of fluffiness ^^

    Reply
  3. Rosid

    thx for the new chapter :D

    i hope alice become powerfull soon and use double casting ehehehe it remind me of Wizard job from Cabal Online :D the double casting surely awesome, but i hope it have something like Multiple casting rather than double casting :D and maybe each skill lv up, it let use use 1 more magic at the same times, maybe max skill lv 20, because every skill on cabal online many player have max lv 20[i forgot what max skill lv cause i am not playing cabal online about 4 years++], so it means She can casting 21 magic at the same time. With that Awesome skill it will fit if she get Title Thousand Master, ahahaha i got the title From Mahou Sensei Negima :D, and Negi so OP on manga when he use Magia Ereba and enter his form called Thunder in Heaven, Great Vigor 2 or Perfect Thunder God Form.

    and Btw Till remind me of Evangeline, i think the Author Rip off Evangeline from Negima IoI, she master of Ice magic, and She's Old always calling Negi "Child" or "Boya" :D ahahahaha even it's rip off or not, that kind of Charakter i really like it :D

    oh and let me guess Till will become Alice Teacher , she will use double casting for ice magic and thunder magic, and in the Future will found Melded Magic, ice Lightning/Thunder and in very far and far Future there will be someone use magic looks like Endless WHite 9 Heaven IoI, it's magic summon White Tornado F5/F6 of Ice Lightning magic and froze everything to absolute zero by that Ice lightning touch and don't forget it suck everthing arround it to because the tornado spinning, then after the magic ended what remain are 5km no ? maybe 1km ? of ice spiral if you look from above. the most powerfull ice based magic. who cast it ? maybe TIll in the future, nah maybe Alice in desperate situation.

    Reply
  4. Twi

    Just started reading this series. It is great.
    Thanks a lot for the translations, Kadi !

    Reply
  5. Mampi

    And our heroine descends to steal the first of many~
    I like Blackie, Short and simple.

    Reply
  6. Kensei Seraph

    Thanks for the chapter.

    I'm really looking forward to seeing how Blackie reacts to meeting Till.
    Maybe we'll finally find out why he wants information about elves.

    Reply
  7. Si kerudung merah

    Ok~
    On second thought, I was wondering if Alice magic work on 2 types at the same time. Healing magic & snow storm that is.

    Reply
  8. Anon

    Hahah, "mana transfer" comes to mind. I remember Blackie but not Ilya, watched too much Kalid.

    Reply
    1. Kensei Seraph

      I knew that name was familiar but I just couldn't place it.
      I would feel incredibly slow except I've always been terrible with names.

      Reply
      1. Kadi

        Blackie... I had to improvise a bit there. In JP, it's a non-annoying way to say "the person dressed in all-black", but I can't translate it like that~~

        Reply
  9. jacobpaige

    It looks like Ilya might be from Earth, I wonder if she's a man too? ;)

    Also wondering if that slaver is dead or if he'll be coming back for his property and how Alice will convince Solt to give Ilya to up when s/he doesn't have the info he wants. Still, this solves the question of how they'll get Ilya's class up without having to retrace their steps back to the starter town.

    Reply
  10. Jyu

    for a moment there i thought she/he was gonna go psycho and stab the bandit until there was nothing left i expected aunty to die (definately) and i thought maybe she/he would be raped all in all giving her a drive/obsession to gain strength from her new master but i guess instead its amazement from what her master has done which will give the motivation.

    Reply
    1. Heshin

      >,,,> that's pretty dark for a fluffy story like this, but I guess it could have happened

      Reply
  11. Maki

    Thanks for the chapter, appreciated.

    Typos:

    the smell of burnings buildings ==> the smell of burning buildings

    Now in front of me, she picked up the dropped spear and skewered the the bandit with it. ==> Now in front of me, she picked up the dropped spear and skewered the bandit with it.

    Certainly, he expression was calm and her chest rising and falling. ==> Certainly, her expression was calm and her chest rising and falling.

    As my consciousness stabilized, I couldn't help and couldn't help but wonder about the feeling of Ilya's lips. ==> As my consciousness stabilized, I couldn't help but wonder about the feeling of Ilya's lips. (?)

    Blackie urged me to, so I quickly left the housed ==> Blackie urged me to, so I quickly left the house.

    Reply
    1. Maki

      Eeek I messed up. Woops.

      In the second sentence, there's one "the" too much that has to be removed.

      In the third sentence, you wrote "he" instead of "her expression"

      In the fourth, you wrote "and couldn't help" after "couldn't help" which doesn't seem to make sense to me. Seems like it shouldn't be there for me.

      Reply
  12. 9

    kinda wana do a fanart on the kiss scene XD (yuri ftw). . . . too bad there aren't any concept design of Ilya TT_TT

    Reply
    1. Kadi

      Yuri <3

      While there is no concept art, I'm sure there plenty of other characters from other works that look similar enough. I forgot what clothes she wears at the moment, but... a maid uniform should do. Otherwise... shoulder-length blond hair and emerald eyes, I think? ... an emerald-eyed Arcueid-maid? Arcu-maid? I could live with that!

      In other words: I want that fanart!
      Say... you wouldn't happen to be bribable, would you?

      Reply
      1. 9

        well, i'm not really bribable (sadly my skills aren't that good enough to be bribed) . Though, still I would really like to do it. If you are ok with my "not good enough skill" i could probably be able to make something

        Reply
        1. Kadi

          It would be great if you were willing to share your vision of the scene in as good a quality as you're able to. To me, there's no "not good enough skill". I want it all!

          Reply
          1. 9

            Kk ^^, gona go all out with this one, since the great kadi requested it.

  13. Kemm

    Thank you very much. Now, we'll have to waut to know what' Ilya doing there calling her "Alice-sama"...

    Reply
  14. xacual

    Thanks for another wonderful chapter. I was very surprised by Ilya showing up, though I guess I shouldn't have been.

    Reply
  15. Ophis

    Wow, Alice almost fell into darkness~

    This was a really good chapter. Thanks Kadi-tan~

    Reply
    1. Kadi

      Will try, will try, but as I said in the very beginning: No promises. At the moment, I feel kinda dead. A good kind of dead. The afterglow from translating is kinda nice.

      Reply
  16. Reivr

    o-o I refreshed the website and I already see a new chapter translated. Thanks for the hard work =)

    toctoc.

    Reply

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