Ore ga Heroine o Tasukesugite Sekai ga Little Mokushiroku!? Vol 2 Chapter 2.5

CHAPTER 2 – UNDERGROUND PEOPLE AND THE MAGICAL GIRL

PART 05

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While it was shocking to learn that there was a tunnel leading down to the underground world right in the hills behind the school, I was even more appalled at the deteriorated condition of the tunnel. As the steps were steep, with rocks of all sizes littered all over, we spent half the time tripping and stumbling along. While Baa-kun had offered to light our way with his magic, it was still very dark, and the sense of claustrophobia great.

Right now, the tunnel had widened somewhat, and the ceiling was high, so we were able to walk normally.

However, Tetra warned that the walls and ceiling at this point were really weak, and there was a possibility that stones might fall from above onto our heads. Thus, we had to remain on constant alert.

“Just how many hours have we walked…?” I asked no one in particular as I trudged along listlessly.

“About ten hours,” Satsuki replied, equally exhausted.

*pant…pant…*

Tetra, who was panting so softly that it sounded like an insect’s breath, was unable to come up with a reply. Since she was used to being underground, I guess it was the physical exhaustion that had tired her out.

“Come on, everyone, strive on,” Baa-kun cheered.

“Rekka-san. Only bishounen are allowed to show signs of weakness,” R teased.

Of course they would say so, they were floating through the air, after all. And R was especially irritating.

“Well…things will be much easier if I can just transform into the magical girl,” I sighed.

In the face of the tough trek ahead, my embarrassment was slowly withering away. Furthermore, if I transformed, I’d have enough energy to carry the two girls along, but…

“As I’ve said before, I won’t recommend it. The transformation is designed for a short battle, and turning into the magical girl will just sap your energy and magical power, so you’ll need to preserve it for later use,” Baa-kun countered.

Then why didn’t he design something that was more economical…?

Argh, this was getting unbearable.

“Tetra, it’s hard to imagine how you managed to make your way to the surface despite losing your rations and light. It was mostly an uphill trek, right?” I asked, not hiding the admiration in my voice.

*pant, pant!*

“Oh, sorry. It’s alright, you don’t need to reply.”

“*pant, pant…* It’s, ok. Tetra just, wanted to, save the village…so, *pant…pant…*”

Tetra replied breathlessly, limbs weak and eyes slightly unfocused. We’d been taking short breaks all this while, but she had been in this state for the past few hours.

Yet the one who was always hurrying us along was also none other than this tiny girl.

“The village must be really precious to you.”

“*pant*?”

“Nah, it’s nothing. Just talking to myself.”

Why did both Tsumiki and Tetra have to carry such heavy burdens on their tiny shoulders?

Seeing that, I was even more determined to help them in any way I could.

I wanted to rescue them in their “stories”.

…Just then,

Baa-kun’s magical fire suddenly extinguished with a poof.

“What?! Oi, what’s going on!?”

“Could it be!? Leviatha-…!”

Shrouded in darkness, all of us descended into panic mode. Then,

*rumble…*

When I heard that noise, I reacted instinctively.

“Watch out!”

“Huh?”

Using Satsuki’s shocked exclamation to pinpoint her location, I pounced towards her.

The grinding noise of tumbling rocks crashed just beside us, and a sudden weight toppled the both of us down onto the ground in moments.

“Ouch… Satsuki, are you ok?”

“Ah…yes. Rekka…you’re too close.”

As my eyes got used to the darkness, I saw that Satsuki and I were so close, our noses were almost touching.

“Oh! Sorry!”

I hurriedly jumped off of her.

“It’s ok…”

With a soft moan, Satsuki slowly sat up, keeping her eyes averted from mine. Arghh, this was awkward!

“Che! If you guys had gone just an inch closer.”

Shut up already, R! If we had really been an inch closer, what would it have been like!?

“…Well. So what was that sound?” I quickly changed the topic.

Looking around, I saw that a large boulder had indeed fallen from the ceiling, and was now lodged into the spot where Satsuki had been standing just moments ago.

I was glad I’d acted quickly… I silently thanked my reflexes.

“Rekka-san! Satsuki-san! Is everything alright?”

“We’re ok. How about you two?”

Tetra, whose eyes had started to glow in the dark, and Baa-kun, quickly dashed towards us.

“Baa-kun, what happened to your light?”

“Sorry, sorry. A bug flew into my eye.”

“H-Huh? A bug? Hey hey, can’t you be more careful?”

*patter…*

“…! Who’s there!?”

My senses still on high alert after the incident, I reacted immediately upon hearing a strange sound coming from behind us.

“…*pant, pant, pant*…”

“…Huh?”

My body was tense, expecting an enemy, yet the voice which replied me was strangely cute…and familiar…and flustered.

After a moment, a fist-sized ball of fire appeared, chasing away the darkness from the tunnel.

And the one who followed was,

“H-Harissa?”

…It was the tiny form of the mage whom I’d left at home.

In fact, Harissa had cast an invisibility spell over herself, and had been following us all this while.

“S-S-Sorry! Rekka-sama was acting really weird, so I was worried, and…sorry.”

“…It’s ok. I should have explained things to you. Sorry.”

I hadn’t wanted to drag Harissa into a dangerous “story”, but I’d ended up doing just that. How stupid.

“Well, guess we have no choice. We can’t just let Harissa trek all the way back home from here alone. Not that we can’t trust her to do so, but it’s better if she comes along with us,” Satsuki suggested.

“…Alright, though I was hoping you’d go back with her, Satsuki.”

It was true. I didn’t want to place my childhood friend in such reckless danger. In fact, a dangerous incident had already happened to her just a few minutes before.

“But I was the one who led Tetra-san to you. Even if you disagree, I’ll still come along.”

*gulp…sigh~*

Knowing that nothing I could say would change her mind, I shrugged in defeat.

“Whatever. Harissa, it’s dangerous here, so keep close.”

“Y-Yes! Thank you, Rekka-sama! And thank you too, Satsuki-san!”

Oh dear… Seeing Harissa so excited somehow added to the burden already weighing heavy on my shoulders.

Either way, when the time came to tackle the “monster”, I’d make sure to do it alone. It was the safest option.

“How about we let Harissa light up the way from now on? Baa-kun is just too unreliable.”

“Haha, how mean.”

“It’s true. We’re counting on you, Harissa.”

“Yes! Leave it to me,” Harissa replied cheerfully as she used her staff to generate a slightly larger fireball. With the extra light, we could clearly see the path ahead of us.

And so, our party of four, plus one creature, continued down the tunnel. A few hours later, we finally reached our destination.

Chapter end