Volume 3: Chapter 019: Makia – Awakened
Author: かっぱ同盟／友麻碧
Link: https://ncode.syosetu.com/n3862be/
Translated by Zzonkedd
Edited by Gumihou
Gumihou: Adjusted for tone, consistency, and natural dramatic flow
In a flash, we fell out of the illusory world into the Esta family hall.
“Makia!!!”
[1] Thor’s voice sounded like it came from far away. The pain in my leg hit me and I started to lose consciousness from the blood loss. [1] There was a sensation of falling…As I drifted away, I wondered just what was on the other side of that archway. Somehow, I just know that I would also go through that.
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“Are you conscious, Lady Makia?”
It was Lepis’s voice.
I blinked into consciousness slowly to find myself in my own bed with Lepis sitting beside me.
“I… fainted, didn’t I?”
“Indeed, Sir Thor rushed over just in time to catch you before you collapsed. At that very moment, hidden agents watching the princess came out and attempted to assassinate her. However, she was saved, as we are also keeping watch at the party.”
“Thor…” [2] I said slowly.
“Is it not time to forgive him?” [2] Lepis asked, her tone oddly eager. “Sir Thor must know that he is exposing the princess to danger when he rushes to your rescue, yet he couldn’t help himself…”
[1] “It’s fine,” I said dismissively. “I’ve already forgiven him.”“???”
[2] Lepis was understandably confused, especially since I had been adamant about refusing to even meet with Thor.Yet, though what happened at the Esta mansion have only lasted a moment in reality, it had been a significant turning point for Thor and myself.
“Lady Makia’s leg injury was very serious. It appeared to be a sword injury, therefore, His Highness Prince Ulysses was asked to use his White Magic on the injury than to let it heal naturally.”
Ah, so that was why I don’t feel any pain in my leg.
“After the party ended, SirThor collapsed,” [2] Lepis continued. “He is being treated in his room.”
[1] “Is that so? How is he? He created two magic fortresses today… or was it yesterday? There was even one with a double space thing…”“Lady Makia?”
“That idiot. [1] I may not be good with calculations, but even I could tell just how much magic that place demanded. I even destroyed that place-”
“Please calm down, Lady Makia.”
[1] I stopped ranting. Was I ranting? I must have been more worried than I thought.Lepis continued, “Sir Thor had suffered a serious injury, but His Highness Princess Ulysses has been by several times to treat him. He just… hasn’t regained consciousness since yesterday….”
The last bit struck the hardest.
Unable to hold myself back anymore, I threw back the covers and leapt out of bed to make my way towards Thor’s room.
Since yesterday? That’s right, since Thor bore the backlash from magic spaces I had destroyed, it must have taken a lot out of him. Not to mention, because of the delayed ‘payment’, the backlash must have been even more serious.
“Thor!!”
When I threw open the door to his room, I found him in bed. It looked like he was just sleeping.
“Oh my, Maki-chan. You’re awake.”
“Ulysses…” I nodded at him.
That’s right, Ulysses had been healing him. [3]
“Tooru-kun has suffered injuries to his internal organs, right leg, left arm, and left eye…” [2] Ulysses recited the injuries like some kind of list. “Other parts had also been chewed on, but he’s still mostly intact. If he were an ordinary human, he would have died. However, since I cast healing magic right away, he will live. So long as he takes his rest. Really, you two act as though you are invincible, but if you take on injuries that cannot be healed quickly by your own magic, you could suffer a lot, you know.”
[2] There was an unasked question in the deluge of information. An invitation for me to fill the silence.I obliged.
“I don’t know what happened. Thor said there was a second space hidden in the one he had reconstructed from the data gathered from one of the Residual Magic Spaces. Before that, he created the Kingdom of Shadows to track me down…”
[2] The three of us knew each other well enough for Ulysses to understand just what kind of effect the Kingdom of Shadows would have on me. [2] He frowned. [3] However, my attention not on him. I was remembering the beautiful forest with its strange white flowers. That’s right, if Thor had not created that space he would have not suffered so much.“That space… the one with double space,” I began slowly, trying to sort my chaotic thoughts. “It was a beautiful white forest with blooming white flowers. At the edge of the space was an arch that leads to a second space… I, I saw the words… Welcome to the Border of the World…”
That’s right.
Welcome to the Border of the World.
[3] The words seemed to hover within my mind’s eye as I told Ulysses what happened.“Border of the world?” he frowned.
“Yep, those were the words that floated up. We immediately had the feeling that we shouldn’t go further but, for some reason Thor couldn’t cancel out the world. Even though he was the one who created the space, but he couldn’t dismantle it. That’s when I stabbed myself with his sword and destroyed the space with Command Magic.”
“I see…”
I’m sure he did. He had always been good at understanding rather garbled explanations.
“It was my fault. If I hadn’t acted so childishly…”
“Maki-chan…”
“I didn’t even know about the present he had prepared for me…”
“It’s not your fault, Maki-chan. You… come now, don’t cry.”
[2] Was I crying? I must be if Ulysses said so.Ulysses placed a hand on my shoulder. There was a gentle smile on his face. I think he was trying to calm me down. To be fair, he had felt a lot more dependable lately. Maybe it was because he had finally found something worth protecting.
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“The Border of the World… I believe that General Kanon said something about that before. We may be fated to come across it eventually. While I still don’t know what it means, I never would have imagined that Residual Magic Spaces would be where we find the first clue…” [2] said Ulysses.
[1] “It was quite annoying, really. We were having fun and minding our own business when that thing just had to appear out of thin air and ruin everything,” [1] I sighed.“Hahaha, so you had fun?”
I had calmed down a bit after some warm tea. Even so, it was difficult to wrench my eyes away from Thor.
After a while [2], Ulysses looked over at Thor too. “When I heard that you have made up with Thor, I had hopes that the three of us could talk the way we did.”
[2] I did not answer him. I had the same hopes too.“When do you think Thor would wake up?”
“It’s difficult to say. The backlash from the spell comes in waves. Even after he is healed, the magic would take its [3] literal pound of flesh again and again.”
[3] I winced at the image.“Still, there’s no need for you to worry. For I, the White Sage, am here, aren’t I?”
“Fufu,” I had to laugh at his boast. Well, healing magic was part of his forte. “You may be right; very well, I shall believe you.”
“Not to mention, Thor’s been through a lot lately. So, maybe he just needs the rest.”
“Rest, huh?” I said thoughtfully.
Well, it was true after all. Thor had always been the type to overwork his brain over the smallest thing. Not to mention, he must have been on high alert lately.
“Oh my, I need to go soon. I have a meeting to attend,” [3] said Ulysses as he got to his feet.
“Still as busy as ever, huh? I feel bad for having so much free time,” I muttered.
“No, no, Maki-chan. You have your part to play too. Aren’t you Lord Raymond’s poster girl?”
“…what?”
“Ahem, what I meant to say is that you do a lot just by being in His Excellency’s faction. Think about it, a young, beautiful, talented female Magic Adviser has quite the impact, you know? Your very presence is a mystery to others. When it comes to faction battles, visual appeal is quite important.”
[2] I raised a sceptical eyebrow.“No, really! Your very presence shows everyone that Raymond’s faction is around and strong. My job is to stay in the background and be the, uh, horses that pull the carriage, you know? Also, Uncle Raymond has really high expectations for you.”
“I guess…”
I finally have some inkling why that sweet-toothed man made me attend all sorts of parties and events. As Ulysses said, I’m the ‘face’ of this faction, the campaign girl so to speak.
Still, I think Maki-chan should take it easy until Tooru-kun wakes up. I’m sure Tooru-kun would be really happy to see you beside him when he wakes up.”
“I guess… that’s kind of true… [3] If he wakes up with no one there…”
“Maki-chan?”
“Well now, Ulysses, don’t you have a meeting to attend? Go do your thing as a carriage horse,” [2] I said with a smirk.
“When you put it like that, it sounds really, uh, unique…”
“What are you talking about now?”
“You sound like a… queen?”
“… …” I stared down at Ulysses, who was smiling that smile he uses when he was trying to look innocent. Then, I kicked his foot under the table.
And that was why His Highness Prince Ulysses had to limp his way to the meeting.
Meanwhile, Thor kept sleeping.
I sat on the edge of the bed and looked down at him. Then, I reached out and brushed the dark strands of hair that had fallen over his eyes.
Ulysses had said to let him sleep.
“What do you dream about, Thor?”
I remember the last two people I know who had fallen into a deep sleep. Fragments of their past life had reached out to them from the distant past. Is the same thing happening now?
As I looked down at his sleeping face, I wondered:
Are you dreaming even now?
There must be many people from your past life.
The Crimson Witch and the White Sage are probably among that group.
Though, I’m sure we are only a small part of the Black Demon King’s memories.
Still, I would be happy to see you smile when you wake up.
So, sleep well, Tooru.
[Gumihou: The decision to use ‘Thor’ or ‘Tooru’ here kind of impacts the text, so I made some judgement calls]
[1] Crimson Witch-like thoughts and dialogues [2] Added details [3] Adjusted details
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