With that single spell, Midir had reduced the massive swarm of insects pouring out of Juna, along with several dozen meters of buildings near the city walls, to nothing but ash.
After unleashing that staggering display of power, Midir calmly lowered his hand, as if the intense battle had been nothing more than a quiet practice session.
He took a deep breath and slowly exhaled the pent-up impurities from his lungs. His face showed no trace of exhaustion, only a composed and unshakeable calm.
Aila and her two companions stared at the perpetrator of this scene with expressions of utter disbelief, as if the sight before them had completely overturned their understanding of reality.
“What is it? It’s been resolved smoothly, hasn't it? As it turns out, the books are right: all fear stems from insufficient firepower,” Midir said with a playful arch of his brow, his tone light as he saw their shocked expressions.
“Mr. Midir... this isn't a matter of whether the firepower is sufficient or not. If you used a spell of that scale a few more times, the entire city of Juna would be gone!” Blake whispered, being the first to snap out of it.
“So, what rank is Mr. Midir exactly... Sister Aila, can you tell now?” Rosal asked, gently shaking Aila’s arm and whispering.
It was only then that Aila finally began to pull herself away from her deep-seated fear of the swarm. She looked around, the shocking sight lingering like a nightmare that wouldn't fade. Then, her gaze fell upon Midir, deep and complex.
“Now, even I can’t be sure... but he’s definitely above an ordinary Archmage. It seems he really was holding back when he fought me before. Was I actually being looked down upon?” Aila spoke truthfully, though she had to acknowledge Midir’s overwhelming strength.
Kiteclaw circled in the air for a good while before finally landing on a small hill near the city walls. Looking down at the ground below, where red lava had yet to cool and stray flames still flickered, the three of them still felt a lingering sense of dread.
The sky was gradually darkening. Blake once again made contact with his parents in the Azure Fortress. After learning that the situation in the main city was currently stable, the group decided not to push further. Instead, they planned to rest briefly near Juna.
Midir had intended to suggest they find an empty house in the deserted city of Juna to use as a temporary shelter, which would at least be better than camping out in the wild.
However, Aila refused to take another step into the city no matter what, firmly declaring that she would never set foot in a place where those cockroaches had crawled.
“What if there are still cockroaches like that inside? I won't do it! I’d rather sleep in the wild than go back in there!”
Looking at the pale-faced Aila, Midir was somewhat speechless, but he helplessly abandoned his previous plan. He couldn't exactly leave her alone in the wild.
In the end, Blake gathered several stones from nearby to form a ring and started a campfire in the center. The group then settled down to rest around the fire.
“How could there be so many bugs in that city? They weren't even on the same level as the ones we met on the road. We’re heading deeper into the territory of the Azure City-State tomorrow; it won't all be like this, will it...?”
Rosal voiced her concerns while poking at the burning wood.
“If that’s the case, I suggest Midir just drops a few more large-scale spells. I don’t want to experience today’s sensation ever again.”
Having recovered some of her spirit, Aila realized how she had lost her composure in the afternoon and felt a bit embarrassed. Since nightfall, she had been acting very quiet.
“That won’t do, Miss Aila! If we let Mr. Midir burn his way through like that, won't we burn every city along the way to the ground? What would we do about the post-disaster reconstruction?”
Blake immediately raised an objection. While that was indeed the fastest method, if they weren't careful, the magic calamities might be resolved only for Midir to be promoted to a new kind of natural disaster.
“Then let’s wait for the main force to arrive. I’d rather fight a fire dragon than touch those cockroaches!” Aila said through gritted teeth, casting a resentful glance at Juna, which was now swallowed by the dark night.
“Weren't you fighting those spider-like monsters during the day? I feel like they’re about the same. Why do these cockroach-like bugs get such a big reaction out of you?”
Seeing Aila’s wilted spirit, Midir finally voiced the question in his heart.
“There is no 'why'! They’re just different! Spiders are spiders, and cockroaches are cockroaches! Don't you all think cockroaches are terrifying? They’re literally black nightmares!”
“Not really. Didn't I used to take requests to clear out pests all the time? I never thought cockroaches were scary. At most, I just found them a bit disgusting,” Rosal said, scratching her smooth, light-gray hair with a look of confusion.
Blake laughed and said, “I think they’re all the same, too. But today I finally learned that even the invincible Miss Aila has a weakness!”
“True. Next time we bet against her, maybe condensing the elements into the shape of a cockroach would have a miraculous effect? Haha!”
Faced with the teasing looks from the three of them, Aila’s cheeks turned as crimson as a ripe apple under the glow of the roaring fire. she stomped her feet in frustration, her voice tinged with embarrassment.
“None of you are allowed to laugh at me! Argh! This is so frustrating! Midir, how can you still be laughing!”
Amidst their joking, the atmosphere finally lightened significantly. Their laughter echoed through the silent night sky, seemingly dispelling much of the boundless darkness surrounding them.
...
Late at night.
After a day of traveling, the three of them, excluding Midir, were inevitably exhausted and had fallen into a deep sleep nearby.
As the strongest among them, Midir had taken the initiative to volunteer for the night watch.
Blake had originally intended to take the first watch, but having gone through several battles, he was already exhausted. After being turned down by Midir, he leaned against a piece of withered wood and fell into a deep sleep in no time.
Rosal curled up like a kitten against the side of the resting Kiteclaw, hugging its soft feathers as she drifted into dreamland early on.
Midir sat quietly before the campfire, his gaze piercing through the dancing flames to look at the brilliant starry sky above. Listening to the crackling of the fire beside him, his mind was incredibly clear.
For a long time now, except for the battle against the Flame Demon, he had been suppressing his power to avoid causing excessive destruction. After using those fire dragons today, he actually felt that his control over the elements had strengthened slightly.
For most people, once their strength reached a certain level, it became increasingly difficult to grow stronger. Yet, in just this short while, he could feel a clear change in himself. This made Midir curious about where his limits truly lay and who he actually was.
“What are you thinking about? If you’re tired, let’s swap.” After an unknown amount of time, Aila’s voice came from behind him. Turning around, he saw she had stood up and was slowly walking over to his side, sitting down with her back against his.
“Just thinking about my identity. Aren't you going to rest? You looked pretty tired; it’s fine to sleep a bit longer,” Midir asked, remaining in his current position without moving.
“Tired? Maybe a little. I’m really sorry for making a fool of myself in front of you all today. You’d better not go around telling people about this in the future.”
Aila shook her head slightly, a tired smile hanging on her lips. She then involuntarily let out a yawn, her words carrying a hint of a spoiled tone.
“Your identity is also the biggest mystery in my heart. During this time, I’ve used almost every means I could think of to try and find information related to you, but the results were surprising. It’s as if you appeared out of thin air, suddenly descending upon this world with very few clues left behind.”
“Because of my... my family, I’ve basically been dealing with the top powerhouses of the continent since I was a child. You could say I know about eighty or ninety percent of the figures who have a name for themselves. Usually, I’m quite good at reading people, but you... I can’t see through you.”
“At first, I approached you with curiosity and caution, fearing that a powerful being like you appearing out of nowhere would bring unknown threats to the Royal Capital. However, as I got to know you, I gradually discovered that you are like a pure, flawless sheet of white paper. At least, to me, you aren’t a bad person~”
Listening to Aila’s soft words behind him, Midir couldn't help but let out a soft sigh. His concerns coincided with Aila’s—forgetting the past might be common, but if a person completely lacked a past, it was exceptionally eerie.
Sometimes, he even began to question his own existence, wondering if he truly belonged to this world. This confusion and unease hung over his heart like a thick fog.
Rate on N.U.
