SWNOVELXO Chapter 45
“Aaaaaaaaahhhhhhh!”
“What, such a trivial—!”
“Humans shouldn’t be able to use this magic!”
“You fools, stop that chatter and concentrate!”
The clashing of our 【Erosion】 spells felt like we were seizing territory from one another. As a result, the sanctuary’s barrier gradually crumbled, shedding fragments.
[Forbidden magic — 【Erosion】].
It was a spell that manipulated miasma, classified as forbidden magic shortly after its development due to its destructive power. The reasons were straightforward: activating it would cause the surrounding area to disappear beyond regeneration, and the caster’s body couldn’t withstand the backlash.
Moreover, using such a spell required an immense amount of mana, making it impossible for an ordinary human to contain the destruction caused by the magic.
“Guuhhhhh!”
My body was also beginning to break down. However, if there was one thing that set me apart from the others —
“【Recovery】!”
Even while the spell was still active, I could use magic.
As my body crumbled, it would simultaneously rewind in time, as if in a state of constant regeneration. 【Recovery】 was a combination of time-space and healing magic, a remarkable spell that could heal any wound as long as it had disappeared within one second.
Well, on the flip side, if it passed one second, it would become an injury that would never heal, but that was just a margin of error.
I would never fail, after all.
“Damn, it hurts…!”
With the constant cycle of destruction and regeneration, there was no way it wouldn’t hurt. Honestly, I wanted someone to praise me for enduring this. I really do. If I hadn’t died once before, I wouldn’t be able to bear it.
“Hurry up… Shaade…!”
I clenched my teeth and endured. However, it seemed like my immense amount of mana, which I never thought would run out, was about to reach its limit. If it ran out, it would mean the end of my life.
But that limit never came.
Suddenly, the four Spirit Kings trembled, and then they disappeared like kites whose strings had been cut. At the same time, the corrupting miasma that had been invading the sanctuary also receded, allowing me to release my spell.
“Phew… Haah… Haah…”
I collapsed on the spot, taking deep breaths. My body wouldn’t move. I couldn’t even twitch a finger. My magic power had run dry, and I couldn’t recover it on my own. If someone didn’t come to my aid, I’d be left here stranded.
“Help me, Shade~”
“I’ve destroyed it, Jin-sama! And I’ll boost your magic power right now!”
When Shade touched my body, an immense and pure magical energy flowed into me. Perhaps due to our contract, the magical energy felt like it belonged, and I didn’t feel any discomfort from it.
Once my mana had recovered to a certain extent, I used a healing spell to completely restore my body.
“Phew… That was pretty close…”
Shade’s eyes sparkled as they praised me, clapping their hands excitedly.
“You’re amazing, Jin-sama! Facing off against my big brothers like that!”
I embraced Shade and spoke, thanking him sincerely.
“Thank you, too. Thanks to you, I didn’t die.”
Shade popped his head out of the shadow and asked if it was okay to return since my condition seemed stable.
“Yeah, let’s go back.”
I activated my magic, and we both disappeared into the shadows, heading back.
“Jin-sama! Are you okay? I sensed an immense amount of mana from the center of the forest!”
As I returned to everyone, Mea approached me with a worried expression, which quickly turned to relief.
“I tried to go to the center of the forest, but I couldn’t get inside because of the barrier…”
“Don’t worry, I’m fine. I was on the brink of death for a moment there, but I managed to pull through.”
As soon as I said that, Mea froze. I, too, realized what I had just revealed and froze. However, after a brief moment, Mea slowly nodded.
“…Near-death, you say?”
“Yeah, well… It couldn’t be helped this time.”
Despite my earlier concern, Mea only furrowed her brow slightly when she eard me admit it. I was fully expecting to be scolded, but to my surprise, something entirely different happened.
“You did your best. Thank you for protecting us… Please rest well today.”
She held my face against her chest and gently stroked my head while speaking in a soft, affectionate tone. Normally, this would have sent me into a whirlwind of surprise, excitement, and embarrassment, but given how exhausted I was at the moment, I felt nothing but a pleasant sense of contentment.
“Yeah… I think I’ll do just that,” I replied, succumbing to the soothing drowsiness that enveloped me.
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