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––Jessica’s Perspective

I was watching from the shadows. The demons who seemed to be Ortissio’s subordinates were tying up the unconscious Captain Remilia.

What are they going to do to her?

I’m only getting bad feelings about this. I have to save her soon… But with my power, I can’t do a thing to them. I should go call for help from Headquarters. It’s so close. More importantly, I have to get treatment for Lyris soon!

But will I make it?

It’s quite possible that Captain Remilia will be killed before I get help. If I go to Headquarters first, it’ll be too late. If I could somehow contact them immediately, that would be best but…

I know! I can’t use it, but maybe Lyris can use magic to contact somebody in the Headquarters. I rushed over to where Lyris was hiding.

“Lyris, I’m sorry for bothering you while you’re hurt like this.”
“W-, What’s up?”
“Can you use communication magic to contact the Headquarters?”
“Hahh, hahh, let’s see. At this distance, maybe… It’ll be a bit tough, but I’ll do it.”

Lyris looked to be suffering a lot. Aah, if only I could use it. I bit my lip in frustration.

I’m sorry for making you do this, even though you’re already in danger.

While I was hating myself due to the heavy wounds she had, she had finished chanting the spell.

“Hahh, hahh, I… reached them.”
“Thank you, Lyris.”

With this, they should know about the danger Captain Remilia is in, as well as Lyris and the Decarabia member in the hut.

All that’s left is to find a way to rescue Captain Remilia, but…

Alright. Let’s go with hit and run. I’ll move about as I fire magical bullets to draw their attention. In the meanwhile, I’ll wait for reinforcements from either Headquarters, or Ms. Tilea.

Ms. Tilea should be just about done with the demon chief, so she should be heading this way.

Well then, time to take action. I left Lyris’ side, and moved to the alley where the demons were. And then after hiding in their blind spot and finishing a chant, I created a magic circle.

“Kilofire!”

A flame collided with Ortissio. Of course, Ortissio took no damage. The purpose was to draw his attention.

“Tsk, who is it!”

He glared around with an enraged expression.

Uu-, w-, what pressure!?

I feel like I’ll faint at any moment.

I can’t. If I faint now, Captain Remilia and Lyris will be in danger. I concentrated power into my stomach, and fired myself up.

Huu, this next part is critical. I created delayed magical bullets. And then I immediately moved. The magical bullets continued to fire in a way that concealed my location.

But delayed magic is difficult. It’s taking quite a bit of control, so the power of my magical bullets is sharply decreased. Far from a demon, I bet even a beastman or well-trained human could ignore them.

But that doesn’t matter. After all, even if I was firing these at full strength, they wouldn’t even scratch a demon. I learnt that too well during my fight with Alcyune. It’s fine if I just get their attention and buy time until reinforcements arrive.

After that, I concentrated on the details and continued to fire.

“F̲u̲c̲k̲! Who’s been doing this! Who’s been firing these s̲h̲i̲t̲t̲y magical bullets! If this fly keeps buzzing around, how am I going to disgrace Remilia! You lot, find it and kill it!”
““Sir.””

Ortissio’s subordinates scattered in all directions.

Alright, part one of the plan, success!

From now on their vigilance is going to be strict, so I need to be even more careful. I continued to use delayed magic until the reinforcements came. Will it be troops from Headquarters first, Ms. Tilea first, or will I be found and killed first?

I continued to have success for a while, but…

“Where? Where the hell is it? They’re getting in the way of my fun time!”

Eventually Ortissio lost his patience, and seemed to snap. Now he was beginning to search by himself. From his vicious gaze, I felt like he wouldn’t miss a single mistake.

T-, This bloodlust.

I can’t fire any more magical bullets like this. It was hard with just his subordinates, and I was already walking a tightrope. But Ortissio is on a different level. There’s no way that I wouldn’t be found if he was actually trying.

I curled up in my hiding place.

“S̲h̲i̲t̲, s̲h̲i̲t̲, S̲H̲I̲T̲T̲T̲! Where the f̲u̲c̲k̲ is it! Alright, I don’t know who you are, but come out now. If you don’t, I’ll kill Remilia!”

The moment he yelled that, he returned to Captain Remilia’s side. It looks like he figured out that I was on her side. At this rate, she’ll be killed.

Should I fire another magical bullet to catch his attention?

Uu, it feels like he’ll definitely find me. But if I just watch, Captain Remilia will definitely be killed.

Then it’s all for nothing now. I made up my mind, and gathered mana to fire a magical bullet.

“HYAHAHA! You idiot, I’ve got you now! I saw through the mana fluctuations. There!”

He found me!?

Ortissio headed my way with a mad smile.

Hii! Scary!

I used body reinforcement magic and ran away at full speed.

“Hah! Geez, so the culprit was a human brat! You lot, block this cheeky brat’s escape!”
““Sir.”

This is bad. His subordinates were chasing after me. Their bodies are all clearly stronger than mine. The distance was clearly closing.

“Stop running about!”

Ortissio fired a magic bullet.

I immediately moved to avoid it. The high speed magic bullet just passed by me, and crashed into a wall in front. The wall tragically evaporated.

W-, What power…

A magic bullet that he lightly fired probably outclassed my magical bullet dozens of times.

I-, I’m scared. What’s going to happen to me if I get caught…

I ran desperately. Fear and utmost anxiety caused my throat to parch. The overwhelming violence that approached from behind was sending fear rushing through my body. At the moment, I’m only just barely staying conscious.

Like that, I continued to run in fear of Ortissio, but eventually I hit a dead end. Even if I tried to escape, dozens of his subordinates were surrounding me. It’s hopeless.

“Heh, finally caught you. A little human DARES TO MAKE FOOLS OF US, HUUUUUUUUH!”

Ortissio slammed his fist into the ground in rage. The ground split, and loudly crumbled.

W-, What a punch!

If an attack like that even grazes me, I’ll lose my life for sure. I gulped, and keenly felt the cold sweat running down my back.

Aahh, are the reinforcements not here yet? Just how long is it going to take?

Neither reinforcements from Headquarters, nor Ms. Tilea are here yet. I collapsed against the wall, and slid to the floor.

“Girly, don’t think that you’ll die an easy death! The debt you owe for making fools of demons, I’ll be beating into your body until I’m satisfied. I’ll turn you into a broken, sopping mess.”
“Hii!”

The pressure caused a shriek to escape my lips. My body trembled in fear of the violence that was sure to come.

Aahh, somebody, somebody please, please save mee.

Ms. Tilea, Ms. Tilea, please―

“What ‘sopping mess’, you goddamned pervertt!”
“GAHAH-!”

While I was stricken with despair, a familiar voice called out.

As expected of Ms. Tilea. All of the seriousness just blew away.

Ortissio was hit by her flying kick, and crashed into the wall.