Failure Frame: I Became the Strongest and Annihilated Everything With Low-Level Spells Vol. 1

by Kaoru Shinozaki

  “This kind of armor gives a real advantage against enemies of the opposite sex,” the Goddess had told her. “It also makes it easier for the mana to flow through your body! We spared no expense designing the most useful and attractive S-Class equipment!”

  I wonder if she was telling the truth. This is just so embarrassing…

  Ayaka hated feeling exposed—that was why she always wore black tights with her uniform. She had to admit, though, that her ordinary school uniform wouldn’t provide much defense against monster claws. The armor had some sort of magical protection from the Goddess on it, apparently. Right now, it was vital to her defense.

  I’ll have to grin and bear it for the time being.

  She kept walking, a little dejectedly.

  Heroes, are we?

  The word still didn’t sit right with her. Get called a hero, and it’s like you have no choice but to work up some bravery and go off to fight evil. But she didn’t feel very heroic.

  Hero…that word’s just a magic spell she cast on us to stop us from running away.

  To Ayaka, it felt like a curse.

  She stopped and readied her spear, sensing something close by.

  “Haah, Haah… Oh! S-Sogou-san!”

  “Kashima-san…?”

  She’s a member of Ikusaba Asagi’s group, I think. We’ve all been neatly separated into groups already, haven’t we…? Factions, just like in the classroom. Some things never change.

  “What’s wrong?”

  “I-I was told to give you a message…!” Kashima choked out, still panting.

  “Catch your breath, then tell me. I’ll wait, I promise.”

  “Sorry… Th-thank you…”

  Kashima Kobato has always been one of our quieter classmates, but if she’s here…

  Kobato must have passed the Goddess’s initiation ceremony.

  She doesn’t look like she’d hurt a fly…maybe Ikusaba-san did something to get her through it.

  I…don’t trust Ikusaba Asahi. She always seems like she’s up to something.

  Kobato’s breathing slowed enough for her to speak.

  “Um… Th-there’s a really strong cow-man monster that got mixed in with the others by mistake… One of the people at the castle told me and… M-maybe we should all head back…” she panted.

  Kobato isn’t in great shape, and she’s timid…but she still came out here to warn me.

  “Did you really run all this way just to tell me? Thank you, Kashima-san.”

  “Y-yes… B-because we need you, Sogou-san. You have to live…”

  Ayaka just stared at her. It sounded like Kashima didn’t think that she herself was needed at all.

  “Kashima-san?” A shiver ran up Ayaka’s spine at Kobato’s tone. The other girl stared intently over Ayaka’s shoulder—she slowly raised one arm to point.

  “B-behind you…”

  Ayaka turned.

  “Grrrrraaagh!”

  It was a man with the head of a cow. Its body was small, but its presence was overwhelming and terrifying. Its golden eyes flashed in the sun.

  With a roar, the beast charged.

  “Kashima-san, get behind me! Stay back, I’ll handle it!”

  “B-but…”

  “It’s fine! Just do it!”

  “Okay!”

  Ayaka readied her spear.

  Can I really do this?

  She took a deep breath and tried to calm her pounding heart. As she locked eyes with her opponent, she remembered her grandmother’s words.

  “Presence of mind and timing. Those are the keys.”

  The creature was almost upon her, and…

  Thunk!

  As it charged, Ayaka gracefully hooked her spear under the creature’s arm, throwing it off balance. She quickly twisted her body around the monster, using the spear as an axis to throw it to the ground over her back, momentarily making a cross shape with her own body.

  “Kisou style…Cross Drop!” she shouted by sheer force of habit. Ayaka had always been taught to say the names of her techniques as she performed them as a way of visualizing what she wanted to do. This technique used the power of your opponent against them, similar to Aikido.

  The cow-headed man crashed hard onto its back, stuck firm into the ground with the spear. The creature gurgled as its mouth foamed with blood, its body still in shock from the impact and injury.

  I did it.

  Ayaka looked down at the monster with a horrified expression on her face. She pulled her spear out and held the tip to the creature’s neck.

  I have to kill it. I have to…if I want to get stronger, I…

  She gripped the spear and prepared to strike…

  “Get out the way, Sogou!”

  “Huh?”

  She was knocked aside and fell to the ground.

  “Gaah!”

  In her place stood Kirihara Takuto, holding his hand out toward the motionless creature.

  “Dragonic Buster!”

  The cow-man was engulfed in a wide golden beam of light.

  “All right, that’s…level 18,” Kirihara said, panting.

  Ayaka stared, stunned at what just happened.

  “Sogou-san…was that…?” Kobato asked, her voice shaking.

  Kirihara let out a sigh, then looked over at Ayaka with his usual cool expression.

  “Thanks for the help.”

  What? Help…?

  Kirihara sighed again, exasperated.

  “That was a close one. You’ve gotta be more careful, Sogou.”

  He turned and walked away, disappearing into the trees.

  “What just happened…?” Kobato wondered aloud, still in a little shock.

  “Scum.”

  Kobato jolted to attention at the voice of Takao Hijiri, who was suddenly standing right beside her.

  Ayaka shook her head, realization dawning. Kirihara had just stolen her experience points.

  “You don’t hide how you feel, do you, Hijiri-san?” Ayaka said.

  “Are you really going to let him get away with that?”

  “I don’t want to rock the boat unless I have to. I don’t think Kirihara-kun has figured out how to deal with this new situation yet, either. That’s why he’s being so—”

  “That naïve attitude is going to get you killed someday, Sogou-san,” Hijiri interrupted.

  “Maybe you’re right.”

  “I don’t like that about you.”

  “I know.”

  “Well…”

  Hijiri turned on her heels.

  “I suppose it isn’t your worst quality, either. I simply don’t have room to admire that sort of thing.”

  Leaving that mysterious statement hanging in the air, she too walked off into the forest.

  Ayaka and Kobato got to their feet and headed back to meet up with the other students. They walked until they came to a clearing, a stark break in the canopy above, and saw dark clouds gathering in the sky far in the distance.

  Perhaps we’re all going to end up fighting over these golden-eyed monsters…I hope we don’t turn on each other.

  In Sogou Ayaka’s heart, rain clouds were also beginning to form.

  ***

  That day, Alion received news of the Demon King’s army’s movements. The great Northern fortress of the Magnar Kingdom, the Nightwall, had fallen. The armies of the Demon King had halted after taking down the great rock of the North, and there were no signs that they were advancing further yet.

  News of the unrest spread through the continent like wildfire, and each country scrambled to prepare for invasion.

  Three days after finishing her training in the woods, that news would reach Sogou Ayaka.

  Mimori Touka

  FINALLY, I EMERGED from the inescapable Ruins of Disposal.

  Time to take a nice, long rest and soak up this sunlight for a while?

  Nope.

  I remembered what that foul Goddess had told me.

  “I dispatch a scouting party to the ruins’ entrance
periodically to check on a secret marker that will show me if anyone has escaped…but that marker has never been activated.”

  I carefully peeked out, hiding myself in the shadows of the large stone pillars surrounding the entrance. I couldn’t see any watchtowers or guards.

  The scouting party isn’t always here, then…I should check around the entrance while I have the chance.

  My search didn’t turn up anything, though. This secret marker was hidden somewhere I couldn’t find it. It was only a matter of time before she figured out I escaped.

  The door to the ruins had slammed shut behind me as soon as I stepped out into the sunlight, like it was telling me to get out and stay out! Maybe I’d killed too many of its monsters and it wanted to be rid of me.

  It’s too bad—I wanted to go get that golden crystal and try to sell it. You can’t always get what you want, I guess.

  The area outside was dotted with abandoned buildings, like the grand ancient ruins you’d see in a history textbook. I quickly scanned the area—the ruins were in a clearing surrounded by forest. I decided to move away from the exit as soon as possible. I’d already said my goodbyes, after all.

  After picking a random direction and walking for a little while, I came across a bare dirt path that looked like it was used by people fairly recently. I considered taking it—but then I thought about the scouting party coming across my strange footprints. I decided to walk alongside the path through the forest.

  “If I can find water, I’d really like to take a bath…”

  I’d escaped from the ruins, but now there was so much more to handle. I’d made some strange habits that I now had to shake—first and foremost, talking to myself.

  “Status Open.”

  Too-ka Mimori

  Level 1789

  HP: +5367 MP: +59037

  Attack: +5367 Defense: +5367 Vitality: +5367

  Speed: +5367 Intelligence: +5367

  Title: E-Class Hero

  It’s still just my MP that’s ridiculously high.

  I opened my skill screen and looked at the two skills that I’d leveled up in my last battle.

  Paralyze: Level 3 / Mana cost: 10MP / Multiple target skill / Dispel at will / Dispel location: head

  Poison: Level 3 / Mana cost: 10MP / Multiple target skill / Dispel at will / Non-lethal mode

  More options had appeared next to the skills—both now read Dispel at will.

  I’d never wanted to dispel my skills in the ruins, so I hadn’t even realized I didn’t have a way to do that.

  I should test that out on some monsters next chance I get.

  “Dispel location: head,” I read aloud.

  So, I can keep them frozen except for their head? I’ll be able to talk to someone while they’re paralyzed.

  “Non-lethal mode…”

  Does it leave them at 1 HP like in an RPG? That might be useful, too…though I doubt it’ll win me any friends.

  “…”

  If I can get it to work on her, that would be the perfect skill to use on that foul Goddess…

  “I’ll have to test out this new Poison effect soon.”

  I closed my stat screen and pulled the cola bottle out of my leather pouch. There were only a few drops left of the first drink I’d received—I opened the bottle, gave a toast to my escape, then downed it in one. It was flat, but the deep, sweet flavor spread through my tired limbs.

  “Ahhh…”

  I kept the empty plastic bottle to store water if I found any. Then I kept walking, mind racing with everything I had to think about.

  Slow down…one thing at a time. I suck at multitasking, so I’ve got to go through everything in order before I start checking things off.

  “Okay, then…”

  First, I should try to find a village. I need a place to rest—an inn or something if possible. Then I need to fix my clothes and get rid of this school uniform. The last thing I want to do right now is draw attention, so the uniform definitely has to go.

  I want to know where I am, too…am I still in the Kingdom of Alion, or was I sent somewhere else entirely? I wish I had a map.

  I patted the reassuring weight of the pouch of silver coins and gemstones that I’d found.

  Next, I need to find out how much this currency’s worth. I’ve got to know how much things cost in this world.

  The Goddess’s explanations had been light on details, so there was a lot I’d have to figure out for myself.

  “These, too…”

  I glanced back at the Scrolls of Forbidden Magic sticking out of the pouch on my back.

  I want to learn more about these things. They might help me defeat that Goddess, after all…

  “I wonder…”

  Is it even possible for me to cast these myself if I learn how to read the language? Or can only specific people learn how to do that stuff? I’ll need to test that. Also…

  “Wish I had a sword,” I muttered to myself. Though with all my stats besides MP as weak as they were, it might not do me any good.

  I thought back to my journey through the ruins.

  After a while, I’d stopped feeling tired or sick, and I didn’t run out of stamina. I’d feel fine walking for what seemed like hours, and the leather pouch on my back seemed lighter and lighter as time went on, even as I picked up more things.

  My stat modifiers must be working somewhat, but the Soul Eater still saw me as weak. Even past level 1000, I was still the weakest thing down there…? I guess I’m more of a caster, though—the kind of character who stays at the edge of their spell’s range and behind the beefy warriors.

  That made me wish for a sword even more. Or, even better…

  “What I really need is a bodyguard to watch my back.”

  If I had a strong fighter on my side to be my shield, I could fire off my skills without having to worry so much.

  In the ruins, I’d done well keeping my back to the wall and letting my enemies clump up and block each other, but out in the open that wouldn’t be so easy. Maybe I could hire a skilled mercenary to take on the Goddess with me.

  “Or form my own mercenary band…”

  I should have two or three different plans for how to carry out my revenge. This forbidden magic stuff is promising, but I don’t know enough to count on it…better to have options.

  “This would be so much easier if my status effect skills worked on that foul Goddess. But…I guess I’ve had more than my share of good luck recently.” Between the leather pouch that brought me food and the unexpected usefulness of my status effects, I’d been incredibly lucky so far.

  Last, I want to take some time to read through this Forbidden Arts: The Complete Works book that the Great Sage gave me…

  I sensed a presence. I shifted and peeked out from behind a tree.

  “Squee!”

  “Squee?!”

  “Sque-ue-uee-!”

  “Squee—!”

  There were six blue, round, jelly-like things nearby.

  “Are those…slimes?”

  Slimes were a staple of RPGs, generally the first monsters that new adventurers fought. They were usually weak.

  I don’t think these guys are any different…they don’t seem to be hiding special powers or anything.

  Seems like the monsters in the Ruins of Disposal were as overpowered as I’d thought.

  “Those slimes don’t have gold eyes, either…”

  All the monsters I’d faced had a golden flash in their eyes, even the weird horse-plant hybrid. The only exceptions were the zombie dragons…but they didn’t have eyes to begin with.

  The slimes seemed preoccupied and didn’t notice my approach.

  “Squee!”

  “Squ-ee… ee…!”

  “Quee?!”

  “Quee! Squue…”

  They were fighting amongst themselves.

  No, wait…I think they’re ganging up on that one…

  The smallest of the bunch was in the center, surrounded by five larger slimes that t
ook turns attacking it. It looked scared, twitching back with every blow like it wanted to run.

  I stayed to watch. It didn’t look like the bigger slimes were messing around, and the little slime squashed itself down into the ground like it was bowing its head in apology to the others.

  “That’s never gonna work,” I found myself muttering.

  There’s nothing wrong with asking for help sometimes…but chances are, it’ll never come. So, fight. Rely on your own strength before anyone else’s.

  “Squ-eee… ee…”

  The smaller slime’s color was fading to pale grey.

  Are those big slimes going to kill this little guy, just like that?

  It was tough to tell what they were feeling—they didn’t have the intensely murderous feeling that I’d sensed from the monsters in the ruins.

  Is it harder to read them because they’re so weak? I can’t tell what they’re feeling at all.

  “Squeeeeeeee!!”

  The flattened slime leaped up into the air with a cry.

  The slimes below crashed into each other with a series of thuds. A moment later they regrouped and, hardening parts of their bodies to use as weapons, charged in for an attack.

  “Squeeee! Squeee—!”

  “Quee! Squ-?!”

  The little one’s surprise attack was all for nothing, though. It couldn’t handle five-on-one odds.

  “Squee! Squeee!”

  “Quee?! Queee?!”

  It had no chance of winning.

  “Okay, that’s enough for me.”

  I stepped toward the slimes with my arm pointed toward them. I smiled.

  “Paralyze.”

  The attackers froze.

  “Qu-Quee?!”

  Their squeals grew higher in alarm and confusion.

  “Poison.”

  The five slimes instantly flushed purple.

  A bubble popped up in the corner of my stat display—it said Lethal.

  “So that’s how I change the setting, huh?”

  I tapped over to Non-lethal and the screen made a clicking sound.

  “Lucky I get to try this out so soon.”

  The slimes looked terrified, but I didn’t sense any aggression from them—I think they were just scared of what I’d done to them.