Chapter 55
Chapter 55
I landed on my shoulder, and the pain twisted my face.
If I hadn't cast "Mirage Fake," I would've been skewered by "Earth Spear" by now. That was close.
Glancing over, I saw Barry and Ariana unconscious beside the carriage.
They didn't look like they were going to wake up.
Crap. Looks like they caught a bit of that "Sleep Mist" from earlier.
Drowsiness is rushing in.
What do I do, what do I do?!
The combination magic I just developed takes too long to activate—no good.
Should I use healing magic on Ariana or Barry?
No, if I turn my back, I'll definitely get hit.
I guess lightning spell is my only option......
Honestly, I don't want to use anything other than "Electric Strike" because I can't fine-tune the others. If I use "Thunderbolt" or "Electric Shock," the enemies will be charred for sure.
"Not bad for a fat one."
"Boss, this one's not even using a staff."
"What a weird fat one."
"No, no, it's a weird fat ugly girl, boss."
"Yeah, that's right."
"Geh-heh-heh-heh."
Alright, let's finish her off.
Anyone who insults a lady deserves the electric hammer of justice.
The method Ariana told me for handling "Sleep Mist." Just keep your will strong. That's it. How the hell am I supposed to do that!?
That's just sheer guts talk.
Okay, I'm not sleepy, not sleepy, absolutely not sleepy.
My name is the Sleepless King. The Emperor of the Night.
I think the drowsiness eased up a little...... maybe.
"Once more."
"Hey."
"Understood."
The boss, his henchman, and their guard re-aimed their staves. The three of them still looked like they had energy to spare.
At this point, I don't care if it's in the middle of town.
I somehow lifted my swaying body and condensed mana.
Then, pointing at the three of them like an explosion, I thrust out my fingers.
At the same time, the man called boss swung his staff with a serious face.
"Wind."
Using beginner's magic now?
Doesn't matter.
I've got no choice but to do this.
——"Electric Shock!!"
The familiar crackle of a small electric current rang out......
——but the spell didn't activate.
"Huh...... what......?"
I collapsed on the spot.
When I realized it, everything before me was covered in pitch-black mist, and my eyelids wouldn't obey, slowly falling shut.
What is this......?
What's going on......?
"You look surprised, fat young lady. While we were chitchatting, we cast 'Sleep Mist' behind you. Then I hit you with it using 'Wind.'"
"Eh...... no way......"
"Too bad. Honestly, I'm surprised you were able to fight this long."
"Fat and ugly young lady, go to sleep nice and slow."
"Don't worry, you won't die."
It's all in my head...... I'm not sleepy......
I—am the Emperor of the Night......
Sleepless, tireless...... the all-nighter champion......
No good, I'm losing consciousness.................
I hear the sound of a patrol whistle in the distance.
I heard the voice of the man called boss giving the order, "Hurry!"
Ariana...... Barry...... sorry.
I saw Barry thrown onto the road and Ariana being stuffed into a big burlap sack, and then I lost consciousness.
◯
I woke up to an irregular shaking.
Apparently, we're being transported somewhere. When I tried to sit up, I realized my hands and feet were tied—couldn't move at all. I felt the texture of a wooden board against my cheek, and when I inhaled, a dusty smell irritated my nose.
Probably inside a carriage.
It was so dark, I could barely make out anything around me. I tried to move, but I was stuffed in a filthy burlap sack with only my face sticking out. I rolled over with force and turned the other way.
Ariana's face was right in front of me.
She was in the same state as me. Stuffed in a sack, only her neck poking out, groaning in pain. Her forehead was drenched in bead-like sweat.
"Ariana? Are you okay!?"
She didn't respond.
The carriage shook violently, probably from hitting something.
"Ariana! Ariana!"
I crawled toward Ariana like a caterpillar and shouted into her ear.
Finally, Ariana opened her eyes, and with an apologetic tone, she murmured,
"Ellie... I'm sorry..."
"What's wrong? Are you hurt?"
"No..."
"Don't lie. Your face is pale as a ghost."
"...My stomach... got hit by a 'Sand Ball'... couldn't dodge it... but I took down both of them..."
"Wait, I'll heal you right away."
I tried to condense mana, but no matter how many times I tried, it dispersed when I tried to circulate it away from my navel.
"I can't use magic."
I gathered mana again, trying to move it toward my face. As the hot mana reached from my navel toward my stomach, it got disrupted as if something interfered, and vanished.
"Ellie... mana interference..."
"What is it, Ariana?"
"Probably... a bracelet of mana interference... because Ellie can use magic even without a staff..."
"That kind of thing exists?"
"Yeah..."
This is bad if I can't use magic.
No matter how hard I try, there's no way to undo these bindings.
My eyes finally adjusted to the darkness. Inside the carriage, barrels and crates were piled messily, with vegetables or fruits stuffed in burlap sacks. Ariana and I were dumped in a cramped open space.
From the multiple sounds of hooves hitting the dirt, it seemed several horses were running alongside the carriage as guards. The frequent violent shaking suggested we weren't on a paved road.
I never thought things would end up like this.
Not training for multiple-person combat was a mistake. It was a bad call. Maybe I should've turned back and called for help. No, if I hadn't jumped out back then, Ariana and Barry might have been killed. In the end, it's all hindsight.
This other world is way too different from Japan. Because individuals can wield powerful weapons called "magic," danger is always close. I'd forgotten that. I assumed the city was safe...
Whatever. I'll find a way to escape.
Now's the time to stay positive.
I'm a genius, so I'll figure something out. Yes, genius.
I can do this, I can do this, I know I can do this.
So, what can I do right now... nothing. I just need to act when the opportunity comes.
While muttering to myself, the cloth at the front opened.
A man who looked like one of the attackers' henchmen peeked into the carriage.
"Fat little lady, you're awake? Too bad. It's bedtime again soon."
"Where are you taking us?"
"You wanna know?"
"...Yes."
"To a really nice place."
The henchman let out a vulgar "Geh-heh-heh-heh" laugh and glanced at the man beside him.
The man next to him pulled a staff from his robe, muttered "Sleep Mist" quietly, and waved it at me.
Everything in front of me went dark and my eyelids grew heavy. I couldn't resist the sudden drowsiness and my consciousness began to fade. I tried to fight it off, muttering that I was the Emperor of the Night, the Sleepless King of All-Nighters, but it had no effect, and I fell asleep within five seconds.