Volume 4, Chapter 42 – Treatment (2)

“Shizuku-san! I’ll definitely save you, no matter what!”

I used my Dark Attribute Mana to push through the sludge-like substance, desperately searching for Shizuku-san within it.

I could tell.

This sludge wasn’t Shizuku-san. It was something consuming her.

Found her!

Deep within the sludge, there was a round object of a slightly distorted shape.

Surely, this was Shizuku-san’s soul.

Wait, something feels off.

Yes, while it was certainly Shizuku-san, I could feel the presence of something else there—something that wasn’t her.

Yet, despite being a separate entity, it also seemed like a single existence.

I see. That’s it. They’ve fused.

“Separating them… is impossible. In that case, at least this sludge!”

I extended my Dark Attribute Mana toward Shizuku-san and shaped it into a pipe-like form.

Then, I threaded Holy Attribute Mana—imbued with the power of Purification—through it, making sure it didn’t clash with the Dark Attribute Mana.

Of course, there was a reason I was doing something so tedious.

The moment my Holy Attribute Mana touched the sludge, the purification would likely begin.

If that happened, a chain reaction could damage Shizuku-san’s soul, and in the worst-case scenario, I might end up purifying Shizuku-san herself.

To me, this looked like a situation similar to when I performed surgery on Angelica-san’s soul using Dark Attribute Mana.

Ugh, but this is grueling. My MP is…

“You’re really skilled, aren’t you? Here, you need this, right?”

“Ah, thank you!”

Ade gave me an MP Recovery Medicine from the side.

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I thanked her and resumed my work.

I extended the pipe to the area where the soul and the sludge were adhered, then used my Dark Attribute Mana to create a protective covering over the adhesion point. Then, using Holy Attribute Mana, I carefully and gradually peeled the adhesion away.

Once a section was peeled off, I used Dark Attribute Mana to cover it again, preventing it from re-adhering and protecting Shizuku-san’s soul.

“Ugh… ngh…”

Shizuku-san let out a groan. I stopped for a moment to check her condition.

Yeah, she’s okay. I haven’t failed.

Furthermore, I felt a tiny bit of my Holy Attribute Mana get absorbed into Shizuku-san’s soul when I peeled away the adhesion.

It’s okay, I can do this!

In a state of extreme concentration, I wiped the sweat from my forehead.

But just how much more of this adhesion do I have to peel away?

And will my mana hold out?

No. I can’t give up. Absolutely not!

Whipping myself into shape even as I felt like breaking, I continued the operation into the unknown.

◆ Shizuku POV ◆

…

…

…

Wh-what? What happened?

I…

No, get a grip!

I am Mieshiro Shizuku.

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And, as a sacrifice…

Once I remembered that much, I noticed that the hideous, black, sludge-like thing that had been trying to swallow me was diminishing.

I could still hear strange voices, but it was no longer the overwhelming torrent from before.

I could resist this.

As I looked around wondering what to do, that fox-dono was looking into my eyes, trying to tell me something.

Shall we drive this sludge out?

The fox-dono nodded. But how was I supposed to force it out?

If only I had Kirinagi—no, that sword Fiene-dono gave me!

The moment I thought that, the sword I received from Fiene-dono appeared in my hand. It emitted a gentle, warm light, and that light gave me courage.

Ah, this is truly what they call a light of hope.

I can do it! With this, I can do it! Fox-dono!

I slashed the sludge with the sword. It was enveloped in a faint light and vanished into mist in an instant.

Haha, as expected of Fiene-dono’s Purification.

As if responding to me, the fox-dono began burning the sludge away with pale blue flames.

Fox-dono, you’re quite good at this.

I looked at the fox-dono and grinned.

And so, together with the fox-dono, I drove out all of the sludge.

Those strange voices were gone.

We did it!

I turned to the fox-dono and called out.

The fox-dono gave its tail two small wags. Then, it melted away and vanished into the darkness.

Fox-dono?!

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I called out, but the fox-dono did not reappear.

Fox-dono! Where are you?!

There was no answer. I was all alone.

Suddenly, the thought of being alone in the darkness brought a wave of terror.

In the end, I am alone…

I wondered if my ancestors had felt the same.

The moment that thought crossed my mind, a dazzling yet very warm light suddenly enveloped me, as if embracing me gently.

◆  Protagonist POV ◆

“Wait, Fiene. Aren’t you at your limit?”

“Just… a little more…”

Honestly, both my mana and my concentration were at their limit.

But I couldn’t give up on Shizuku-san after coming this far. I would absolutely regret it if I quit now.

In that case, I’ll do this until the end—until I collapse!

As I continued the operation through sheer willpower and grit, a strange phenomenon occurred.

The remaining adhered sections began to peel away on their own.

“Wh-what? What’s happening?”

I watched for a while, and the remaining adhesions all peeled away completely without me doing anything.

“Alright, now’s the time!”

I gently wrapped Shizuku-san’s soul in a veil of Dark and Holy Attribute Mana to protect it. Then, I cast a weak Purification Magic, gradually purifying the sludge.

Carefully, carefully.

So as not to harm the precious soul of Shizuku-san.

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…

…

…

I wonder how much time had passed?

It might have been a few minutes, or it might have been several hours.

I finally finished purifying all the sludge that had been clinging to Shizuku-san’s soul.

“Ah, it’s over… Shizuku-san…”

Along with a sense of accomplishment, a terrifying wave of fatigue hit me.

I wondered if this is how doctors feel after a major surgery.

“…Fi… ne… dono?”

Startled by the voice calling me, I looked down.

There, Shizuku-san was faintly opening her eyes, gazing up at me weakly.

“!! Shizuku-san! Shizuku-san! Shizuku-san!!”

“…Is this… a dream…?”

“No! Shizuku-san! You’re alive! You’re saved! Shizuku-san!! Shizuku-san!! Waaaaah!”

I grabbed Shizuku-san’s left hand, then collapsed against her chest and burst into loud sobs.

I couldn’t stop crying.

“Fufu, I’m glad, Fiene.”

I heard Ade’s gentle voice.

“Fiene-dono… please… don’t cry…”

Slowly, very, very gently, Shizuku-san stroked my head.