'There really is nothing about it.'
I sighed in disappointment. No, perhaps frustration would be a better term.
Charm Magic came about not too long ago. I understood that.
But mages of this era have finally been getting into Conceptual Magic. Temperature and Gravity Magic are researched quite well.
Despite that, there was no information about Charm Magic. The most I could find was 'Charm Magic is used to make people have favorable impressions of you'.
I could infer a reason easily enough.
'Mind control is extremely dangerous, so it's paramount to make sure as little people as possible know about it. It makes sense people in power would think that way, I can understand it. Nevertheless, it is still frustrating.'
Everyone back in Abut was brainwashed, it would be no surprise to me if the mastermind used that tactic in other places, and in more forceful methods.
I had to be prepared for that, so Charm Magic was something I needed to know.
But there was no information.
'Do I really have to wait until Mahogrand?'
There was no doubt Mahogrand, as the Magic Academy, would have some books on Charm Magic. And it seemed like that was my only option.
***
"Let's take this one."
"Flamebugs? Do you want for me to be useless?"
"Just support us with Earth Magic."
Leila's specialty was Fire Magic, but it's not as though she only knew Fire Spells. And her large mana pool allowed for her to be good in practically everything.
"Welp, let's go."
***
Flamebugs were basically firebugs, but bigger, more prone to travelling in packs, resistant to fire and lightning, and also able to use some Fire Magic.
If I remembered correctly, their exoskeletons are popular for shields and such, due to them being resistant, sturdy and light.
'Looking at big bugs really does unnerve me, huh?'
I was afraid of insects. For the simple reason that they are very small, but can kill you with diseases. Insects are hard to detect, but can kill you easily, there is no doubt I would be scared of something like that.
These Flamebugs weren't small, so I wasn't as scared, but traces of that fear remained.
I threw those kinds of thoughts out of my head. I had to focus.
Sitting utop a tall tree, I was looking down at the Flamebugs.
'Right... there.'
Two huge boulders appeared in the air. And before long, they fell down onto six unsuspecting Flamebugs, killing them instantly.
Immediately, three people emerged from nearby to attack the leftover seven Flamebugs.
I started descending the tall tree.
'The plan worked. Good.'
Casting a spell out of their perception range, and then letting gravity do the rest of the work. It worked beautifully.
When I finished descending the tall tree, only three Flamebugs were left.
'Man, they've become strong too...'
Not only that, Mitsuki was leading Souma and Leila with more efficacy than before.
I started helping out with some spel―
The ground beneath us started rising.
'Huh?'
No, my perception wasn't wrong. The patch of grass we were fighting on started to rise.
Everyone ― including the Flamebugs ― noticed the sudden change.
'No, it's not as simple as noticing the change.'
They were frozen in place. Only I was able to move.
I realized.
'Ah...'
My eyes widened as I looked downwards.
"Fuck, an Earth Bear!"
***
Mud Bears were fearsome predators who relied on camouflage to hunt. As per the nickname, they made themselves look like mud. Despite camouflage being their quirk, they weren't too good at it; a human could easily distinguish between Mud Bears and normal mud.
Earth Bears on the other hand were a completely different beast. Not only were they bigger and stronger, their camouflage was almost no different from normal earth. The good thing was that they spent most of their lives in hibernation, and never went out of their way to attack humans.
But if you were to, say, fight on top of an Earth Bear and irritate it... "may Solevitasn have mercy on you" as they say.
All that leads us to―
"Shit! Souma, Leila, Mitsuki, get your head out of the gutter!"
It was no use. They were more frozen than they were with the silver gorilla.
I hit them with some simple Ice Spells, and the pain makes them regain control of their body.
I was already running to get off of the bear. The trio followed suit, as best as they could.
After running for a bit, I threw a quick glance behind me.
A huge behemoth of a monster, staring down on us.
I decided to just not look back, lest I lose focus.
"Oof."
I barely heard that voice through the shouting inside my brain.
Using Mana Sense, I quickly identified who said it. It was Leila, whose legs had given out.
'Leila, you―!'
But it wasn't just Leila who was falling behind.
I noticed: only I was running fast. Mitsuki and Souma were both far behind me.
There was only one reason for the difference between us ― killing intent.
'No, I should stop lying to myself.'
There were a multitude of differences between us. My body was in better shape, I had more mana, and I was straight up stronger.
They just could not keep up.
'No, that's not it either. Just stop lying to yourself, you fucking dumbass!'
There was one more difference; the most important one.
They knew we wouldn't get out of this.
I knew it too, the Earth Bear was just too strong and too fast. We couldn't outrun it or kill it.
I just didn't want to accept the truth. The truth that all of us wouldn't live this.
'―! No, don't!'
Both Mitsuki and Souma turned around to help Leila.
I screamed in my heart. These dumbasses, how could they just―?!
My feet moved on their own.
As I ran to them, my eyes locked with Souma's.
My heart stopped.
He wryly smiled. That smile, which almost always adorned his face, was once again apologizing for his actions.
Only, this time, I couldn't forgive it.
'If you are apologizing for something, then why are you going to do it?!'
"Bastard, don't you dare―!"
But my complaints fell on deaf ears.
He took Leila into his hands, threw her to me, and ran straight at the Earth Bear.
I barely caught Leila in a princess carry.
"Ugh!"
Obviously, Souma's actions were noticed by both of the girls too.
Mitsuki, without hesitation, ran at the Earth Bear alongside Souma.
"Souma!"
Leila, meanwhile, cried from my arms.
With a heavy heart, I turned around and started running.
"What are you―?! Let me go! LET ME GO!"
She struggled, but I was stronger than her. I could keep her in place.
"LET ME GO YOU FUCKER! SOUMA! SOUMAAAAA!"
"Shut up will you?!"
"NO, YOU SHUT UP! LET ME G―"
"DO YOU WANT FOR HIS SACRIFICE TO BE FOR NOTHING?!"
I held in my tears. This feeling... I hated it. I didn't want for it to be true. So I held it in, along with my tears.
As such, what Leila was seeing, was the usual serious me. The one with the impassive face.
Yes, she should be seeing that. She should be seeing my impassive face.
That is what she was seeing.
Indeed, how could she see anything but my impassive face?
'―Don't look at me as if I'm fucking pitiful!'
I don't need you pity Leila!
Don't look at me like that!
Just... Just be angry at me!
After staring at my face for some time, she lowered her head and started crying.
Despite my best attempts, my tears escaped alongside her own.
"Why... why did you let Mitsuki sacrifice herself? Why not me?"
I could lie here. I should lie here.
So that I would be hated. So that it would look like my fault, I should lie here.
As such―
"Souma alone would not be enough to hold off the Earth Bear for long enough. Mitsuki was a necessary sacrifice too."
In the end, my hatred for lies won over.
I could not redirect Leila's grief.
I could not do even something as simple as that. Something as simple as making a person hate you, so that their psyche would improve. I was not capable of even that.
I was ashamed.
I was so unbelievably ashamed.
***
'...'
I let Leila down from my arms. She fell on the grass limply.
'...'
I showed the guards my Adventurer Card and entered the town.
'...'
I walked to my house.
'...'
I did not spare a look to the busyness around me
'...'
I did not feel the sun's warmth.
'...'
I arrived at my house.
'...'
I opened the door, and Ryuni greeted me.
'...'
I told her I needed some time alone.
'...'
I walked upstairs to my room.
'...'
I shut the door behind me.
'...'
...
"..."
'...'
My impassive face cracked.
I smiled.
"H... Heh. Good one. You got me good. You got me very good."
I wagged my finger in the air in agreement.
"Yeah, you know what? My fault, my fault. It was my fault! Yes, all my fault."
I sat down on the chair in front of my table.
"I let my guard down, I recognize that. I got too close to them, too attached to them. My fault."
I put my hand inside my backpack.
"I tried to trick you, I didn't take you seriously enough; I understand that. I didn't become Faun, and so I was punished. I tried to keep a part of myself, in hopes that I didn't have to be erased. It was my oopsie, yes, I see it now."
I took the only paper notebook out of my backpack.
"I will take you seriously now. I will not make the same mistake again."
With a smile, I looked at the notebook in my hands.
On it was written 'Going Back' in this world's language.
What was it?
It was me obviously.
My experiences, my ideals. How I think, how I act. Everything about me that you could possibly know.
In case being Faun didn't work out, I could read this book and regain my old self. It was yet another 'just in case' thing I had made.
With a smile, I looked at the notebook in my hands.
"Feuerinfa, God of Fire, give me your aid. Create the fire to set everything alight, and so graciously allow me control of it."
It burst in flames.
Even as the fire started burning my hands, I did not let go, neither did I blink.
I watched as this notebook was reduced to ash.
Intently, I watched as every page, every word, and every single letter was slowly erased.
I made sure to not miss even a single thing.
[End of Volume 2: Getting Hurt In A Worryful New World.]