BVWG 43

chapter 43

Berett also wore a pleasant smile as he swept his glossy red hair back in the sunlight.

“I’m glad I could meet Lady Asha’s expectations.”

After that, we continued for a while in silence, enjoying the view before us and the refreshing mountain breeze brushing against our ears.

As the sun crept closer to the horizon, tinting the sky with a reddish-orange glow, Berett broke the peace.

“We should head down now. I think we can get you back to the manor before sunset.”

“Then let’s go quickly. Thank you for letting me see such a beautiful view, Berett.”

“Then, please excuse me for a moment.”

Berett asked for my understanding, hoisted me onto his shoulders, and jumped down from the tree. Thanks to him, I didn’t have to awkwardly climb down on my own.

Looking up, all I could see were his ears, as bright red as his hair. When he gently set me down, I gave him a playful smile.

“Thanks to you, I came down comfortably. I appreciate it.”

Berett didn’t respond, shyly keeping quiet.

Amid the slightly awkward atmosphere, we began descending the hill at a brisk pace. It was certainly much easier going down than coming up.

But not long after, an ominous smell of burning rose from behind us.

What is that?

Berett turned his head, his face stiffening. Seeing his expression, I followed his gaze.

From the spot we had just passed, thick gray smoke was rising.

“Berett, is that a forest fire?”

“No. A forest fire wouldn’t produce smoke without a visible source like that.”

Before we could continue the conversation, we confirmed the source of the smoke.

The ground shook, and with a loud bang, magma began to flow from the hilltop.

The crimson stream was a river of hell, melting everything in its path.

Impossible! This hill is a volcano?

While I was lost in that thought, Berett immediately hoisted me onto his shoulders and began running down the hill.

I remembered Morg’s words about how Berett was strong in speed.

Through my shaky vision, I watched the magma creeping down, ready to engulf us.

Even without touching it, the heat radiating from it made me feel like I was already burning.

Sweat poured down both of us, but there was no time to worry.

“Berett, can we avoid that magma?”

“Probably.”

A red aura surrounded his feet as he spoke, making him look like he was flying. He steadily increased the distance between us and the lava.

Even running at such speed, his breathing didn’t falter at all.

“What if that magma reaches the village at the bottom?”

“The entire village would probably melt away.”

His face twisted at the thought.

“Is there no way to stop it?”

“I’m thinking as hard as I can.”

Once we reached the base of the hill, he turned to check if we had put enough distance between us and the lava, then briefly set me down.

The magma flowing among the dense trees was not visible, but the danger could reveal itself at any moment.

Berett took out his communication magical device, frowning even more.

“It looks like the heat from the magma has damaged the communication device.”

We couldn’t alert anyone or call for help. All we could do was hope someone saw the ominous smoke and acted quickly.

“Did you know this hill was a volcano?”

As I felt we’d momentarily escaped danger, I was struck with disbelief.

“No. I only found out today. If I had known, I would never have brought you here.”

Once again, this damn game’s disaster scenario was unfolding with little plausibility.

“If the magic devices are useless, we’ll have to run to the village ourselves and warn the people.”

I urged him, but he shook his head.

“At the speed the magma is flowing, even if we warn them, they won’t have time to escape.”

As if to prove him right, a wave of heat rode the wind, and a river of bright red fire began devouring the trees.

Is it fortunate at least that the flow has slowed slightly?

As Berett prepared to hoist me again to survive, I racked my brain for ideas.

Suddenly, I remembered the spell I had used to make Dalia’s fantasy ice cream.

That spell originally froze objects—I had just never wielded it properly.

“Wait a moment.”

I grabbed him as he prepared to run, aiming my spell at the grass beneath my feet.

If this failed, we’d have to rely entirely on Berett’s speed.

“Frigus.”

The grass froze solid. Facing a life-threatening situation, even magic that usually failed now worked.

Combined with Berett’s superhuman physical abilities, we might have a chance.

“Berett, I think we can buy some time.”

I explained the rough plan to him. He nodded, hope glimmering in his violet eyes.

“It seems worth a try.”

With that, Berett circled the hill while I blinked ten times, cutting down every tree in his path.

Perched on his back, I focused intensely, casting the freezing spell on all the felled trees.

“Frigus. Frigus. Frigus.”

In an instant, a thick wall of ice formed around the hill, cold energy radiating outward to counter the heat. It might just save us.

If this plan failed, countless casualties could result. Perhaps because of that urgency, the magic, which usually didn’t work, succeeded perfectly.

If the magma touches the wall, the ice will melt and the trees will burn, but at least we might buy enough time to alert the villagers and evacuate them.

“Now, run!”

Berett lifted me again, aura flaring around his feet, and bolted like lightning.

It was fortunate that the distance from the hill to the village was considerable.

He headed straight for the Esperanza Duke’s estate, closer than the royal palace.

Upon arrival, I shouted urgently.

“Q! Q! Where are you?”

The staff looked at our frantic appearance and quickly brought Q to us.

“Miss, what’s the matter?”

“You can communicate with Mage Mor via magic, right? Connect me immediately.”

With Q, I could attempt the communication spell I couldn’t yet perform. Q immediately cast it, and a miniature three-dimensional projection of Mor appeared in his hands.

“Mage Mor! Can you hear me?”

“Lady Asha. What’s going on?”

Berett, observing the situation, intervened. As usual with official matters, his tone was unusually fast and stiff.

“It’s an emergency. The volcano near the Esperanza Duke’s estate has erupted.”

Mor looked bewildered.

“A volcano? Where?”

“There’s only one hill near the estate. That was the volcano. If you were in the capital, you’d see the smoke from here, wouldn’t you?”

Whether Mor ended the connection or not, the miniature projection vanished from Q’s hands.

Q’s face, quietly observing our conversation, turned pale.

Before I could say anything, Mor appeared before us in a flash of white light.

I envied his teleportation magic at that moment.

“I’ve reported to His Majesty the Emperor. Reinforcements will arrive soon.”

Mor reassured us and looked at me.

“Judging by the amount of magma, I can’t cool it all on my own. Until other mages arrive, I’ll need Lady Asha to replenish my magical energy.”

He meant combining our power, just as we did in the southern slum.

I nodded, forming a magic orb at my fingertips. Having done this multiple times, I was now accustomed.

Mor placed his hands over mine, channeling his magic into the orb.

The warmth flowing through me was stronger than in the southern slum, and the orb expanded rapidly.

Finally, Mor completed the incantation, and a magic circle spread beneath our feet.

The magic orb burst, and bright particles flew in all directions, spreading over the entire village.

The particles formed a transparent barrier, enveloping the village.

“This is an ice shield. It will protect the villagers from the magma temporarily until reinforcements arrive.”

Still anxious, I fervently hoped for backup to arrive soon.

Suddenly, Berett stuck his head between us, holding out his broken communication device.

“Can you fix this too?”

Mor clicked his tongue at Berett, took the device, and examined it.

“This is completely destroyed. We’ll need a new one. I’ll have one made at the palace next time.”

With that, Mor removed the crimson earring from one ear and handed it to Berett.

“Use this until then. Even if something happens, mages can still communicate with each other.”

Berett inspected the sparkling crimson gem, then pierced his ear on the spot. A small trickle of blood appeared behind his left ear.

It looked painful just to watch, but Berett barely flinched.

“Lady Asha, while we wait, let’s practice a simple spell.”

Q, overhearing “magic practice,” jumped up excitedly, waving his hands.

“Master, me too! Teach me too!”

As Mor nodded in approval, I couldn’t hide my shock.

Practicing magic in such an emergency…?

Mor chuckled at my expression.

“Don’t take it too seriously. People often say I’m crazy, but right now I’m holding it together fairly well.”

I tilted my head slightly.

“Luckily, there’s a good practice target for the healing spell—Berett.”

Mor pointed at none other than Berett himself.