“Ugh... the mist is really getting... thicker...” Maria said, placing a hand over her mouth in a seemingly involuntary action.
“Yeah... this place is bad news,” Sora agreed. Then he muttered under his breath, “Just how much mana capacity does this guy have...?”
“Mana capacity? What’s that?”
“Precisely what it seems, Lady Katarina. Our mana is not infinite. If we use up too much, it will dry up, will it not?”
“Well, yeah, but it comes back after some rest, right?”
As Sora said, mana could be used up. Every person had a different amount in them, but that didn’t change the fact that using it would cause that amount to go down. But then it would naturally recover when the person took a rest, just the same as physical stamina.
“That is correct. But you see, that only holds true for the five elements. Dark Magic is different; as you use it, the amount of mana goes down and it never recovers.”
“!” This was shocking to me. I continued listening to Sora with my eyes wide.
“Even Raphael, who used to wield Dark Magic, confirmed this after some testing. Dark Magic is very much a finite resource. So you see, to be able to use it on so many people like this is quite a feat.”
“Then... is the Wielder of Darkness here someone really strong?”
Then they’re totally the final boss, right?! Even the strongest party wouldn’t have any hopes of victory...
“...I have no idea. It is a terrifying level of mana for one person to have, certainly. But there may be a few of them, if you think about it...”
A few Wielders of Darkness all in the same place... that was quite a terrifying prospect.
“Either way, we’re grasping at straws if we don’t keep at it.”
“R-Right...” I suppose it was a given that it was terrifying to wonder about the unknown. Yes, we should keep going.
And the party did just that. Eventually, we came to a large door that was made of metal or some other sturdy material. If this were an RPG, this would be the door to the final boss’s chambers.
Ugly Bear pointed confidently at the door, as if to say that Keith was being held within. But I couldn’t rely on just that stupid thing for a true answer, so I turned to Maria.
“Beyond this door is... a most terrifying presence of Dark Magic...” she said.
“Yes, this place feels very dangerous. It is certainly the source,” added Sora. They both had severe expressions on their faces.
In that case, the final boss was probably here. And Keith would be there too.
The party and I — well, just the party actually — took some time making preparations, and then we all went through the sturdy door. And behind that door, in the room filled with the swirling mists of Dark Magic...
...Was nothing. There was no final boss waiting for us there. In fact, this seemed like just some kind of guest parlor. In the middle of the room was a table, and around it, some chairs. A very simple setup.
I had been steeling myself for an impressive and terrifying room all this time... so I was let down horribly. Hanging back at the entrance, I peered around, but there was no one there! I couldn’t feel the presence of any living being. Eh...? Maybe this isn’t the final boss’s chambers, after all...?
With that in mind, I stepped in, only to see something in the corner of the room. The furnishings had been blocking our view — but now I saw that a man was collapsed in the corner.
“Eeek! Wh-What?!” I involuntarily let out a squeal at the sight of him, but there was no reaction from the man in the corner.
Sora approached the man cautiously, calling out to him as he did so. “Oi... you!” But there was no response. He shook the man in an attempt to wake him.
Wow. That’s really something... The man did wake up, and I was surprised by what I saw. He seemed very plump when he was collapsed in a heap, but now that I looked at him better, I saw that it was much more than that.
He had messy hair and an incredibly fleshy body. Even the features of his face were buried in fat, and his skin was glistening and oily. He was quite the sight. For some reason, this person really looked like he’d play the role of a villain in any production or game.
Since he was on the ground, I had assumed that he was a victim of some kind, but a look at his face was enough for me to realize that he was up to no good. Well... I suppose I have a villainess face too, so I’m hardly one to judge, but...
“Oi. You. Are you okay?” Sora said after checking that the man’s eyes were open.
“Guh...” was all he had to say. It would seem like the large man was alive, at least. What a relief.
“I don’t see any wounds on ya, but you’re definitely weak. Who are you?”
The man’s eyes seemed to open somewhat wider at Sora’s question, although it was difficult to tell due to his engorged features. But he didn’t say or do anything else. All he did was stare into space endlessly.
Hmm. It doesn’t seem like we’ll be able to hold much of a conversation with him. That’s what I thought, anyway.
“Hey, do you live here? Do you know where Keith Claes is?” I asked, although I wasn’t expecting much of an answer.
“...Keith,” the man said. His previously unfocused eyes trained onto a single thing in the room — a shelf in the corner. “...That whoreson... monster. I have to see him kick the bucket...” With those violent words, the man propped himself up, pushing Sora’s arms away. His eyes stayed focused on what was immediately in front of him.
All we could do at this sudden development was stare as the man slowly moved across the room, eventually making his way to the shelf, and then placing his hand on its side. With that, the shelf slid away to the side, revealing a hidden door.
What’s this? A secret passage? I felt like I had seen something like this during the school festival incident, too. More importantly... I was now sure that Keith was just beyond this door.
“Kick it... See him kick the bucket...” The man continued to mutter his slurred threats. Before I knew it, Jeord had approached him.
What’s going on?
Jeord turned to the man and raised his sword.
“GAH!” the man spat, and a moment later he was down on the ground.
“Surely he has identified himself as a hostile, from his very own words. I suppose we have heard enough, no?” Jeord said, sheathing his sword with the darkest of smiles on his face.
“...Well. Yes, I suppose that’s fine.” Larna nodded.
Eh?! That’s fine? Well... I guess he really was saying some terrible things
“But from what he was saying, we can be sure that Keith is beyond this point. He may be in danger,” Larna continued, looking grim. Then she announced, “We have to hurry. We’re breaching and entering.”
She pushed on the door and Jeord and Sora both drew their weapons, preparing for a potential ambush.
With a loud creak, the door swung open. The room didn’t seem to have any windows — it was completely dark, so the only light was from the room we were in. There were no windows, no table, chairs, not even a bed. It was like some sort of dungeon.
And then, collapsed in the corner of the room was... someone. The light flooding in from the door illuminated this person. His hair was muddy, and his clothes were filthy. Although he looked nothing like how he usually did, I instantly recognized him. He was the person I had been searching for all this time... someone dear to me.
“Keith!” I shouted, immediately rushing to his side.
Someone from behind me told me to be careful or something like that, but I didn’t hear much of it. “Keith, Keith! Are you all right?! Wake up!” I knelt down, holding Keith in my arms — and that was when I noticed the countless bruises on his face.
I felt my heart breaking from what I saw. Keith’s face was pale and he was cold to the touch. I-It can’t be! I felt my blood freeze in my veins.
I quickly put my ear by his lips. Although it was faint, I clearly heard Keith’s breathing. What
a relief Keith is alive! I sighed as a deep sense of relief washed over me. “He’s alive! Keith is alive!”
“I see. That’s wonderful, Katarina,” Jeord said, standing next to me. He seemed genuinely relieved too. “But you feel no ill effects, touching that mist?” he asked, sounding surprised.
Mist? What mist? I followed Jeord’s gaze, and, “Eh?! Wh-What’s this?”
My surprise almost caused me to drop Keith in shock. An unbelievable sight was before my eyes — there was mud all over Keith, yes, but there was something else, too. A black, mist-like substance was wrapped all around him. It was like a long snake of some kind had entwined itself around his limbs and abdomen.
“P-Prince Jeord... what is this?”
“I haven’t the slightest idea. However... it would seem that you are unharmed, even if you do come into contact with it. I had thought to warn you, to tell you that it might be dangerous and not to rush in... but of course, you were never one to listen.”
“...Ah.” I hadn’t noticed it at all. I guess I heard him say something, maybe? Anyway, my spirits were high now that I had finally found Keith. I supposed I just hadn’t heard Jeord’s warnings or seen the black mist around him.
As I calmed down a bit, I looked around the room and saw Maria holding onto the door for support, her knees trembling and her face pale. Sora wasn’t faring any better — he had the same kind of expression on his face, and was backed up against the wall as far as he could go. Even Larna was standing far away, her hand raised cautiously. She was absolutely silent, like she was ready to cast a spell at a moment’s notice.
Even Jeord, who had approached me, seemed skittish. Was he simply being cautious... or was this black, misty object too visually similar to the one thing he was afraid of in the world?
“Apparently you’re unharmed by it, Katarina. Maria, Sora, are you two all right?” Larna said, after confirming that I was unhurt. She turned to her subordinates for an answer, only for the two of them to shake their heads.
“I-I’m all right... but I cannot... approach. Any further. My sincere apologies...” Maria stuttered, her face the palest shade I had ever seen it.
“I am the same. I feel a powerful magical force; I cannot get any closer. Not more than this.” Sora’s fear, made obvious by the sweat on his brow, was the real thing.
So from what I had gathered, this mist was the source of that strange hazy aura filling the mansion. It was giving off a strong magical effect, to the point where Maria and Sora couldn’t even approach it. In fact, it was so strong that someone like me, who normally couldn’t detect Dark Magic, could see it with my own eyes.
“Then... does this mean that Keith has had Dark Magic cast on him?” I thought that must be why these black tendrils were all over him.
“I... I believe that is the case, Lady Katarina,” Maria replied, occasionally stuttering.
I see. In that case...
“Keith! Wake up! It’s me, Katarina! I’ve come to get you!” I was almost shouting as I called out to Keith.
I had been told that Dark Magic could only be dispelled by the caster, but I knew better. After all, I had dispelled it before on my own. So there was only one thing to do: I had to inspire Keith to defeat this magic from within, by his own power.
Back then, when I had been put to sleep with Dark Magic, everyone called out to me, and that was how I managed to break free. That was how I won. Surely it must be the same way for Keith — if I called out to him, he would surely wake up, too.
It was with those thoughts in mind that I desperately called out to him. I shook him slightly, still cradling him in my arms. “We’ve found you, we’ve come to get you! Wake up, Keith...” And then, “I won’t cause any more trouble for you Keith, I promise, so wake up...” I kept calling out to him, again and again.
Everyone else pitched in, too. Even so...
“Why won’t you wake up, Keith...?” No matter how much we called out to him, he didn’t move an inch. For some reason, his breath became even shallower, and his hand even colder to the touch.
“I have to see him kick the bucket...” I remembered what that hollow-eyed man had said. Is Keith going to die if this goes on...?
“...Why? Why isn’t it working...? Why?”
As she continued watching my futile attempts, Maria lamented, “Perhaps the Dark Magic cast on him was too strong... and Master Keith is unable to break out of it by his own power...”
“In that case... can’t we get the caster to dispel it? Who is this person, anyway...?!”
It seemed like the hollow-eyed man we had seen earlier was not the original caster of this dark mist. In that case, who was this Wielder of Darkness? We didn’t know. Was there really nothing we could do? If this goes on, Keith will...!
A strong, resolute voice soon cut through the atmosphere of despair. “Then we have to find them.”
I looked up and saw determination in Larna’s eyes.
“To use such a huge amount of magic, and to control everyone else... this mystery person must have some sort of plan. This was why they still haven’t shown themselves. The enemy is probably still in this mansion, or at least close by. Maria, Sora, and I shall conduct this search. In the meantime... Katarina and Prince Jeord, stay with Keith until we return.”
With that, Larna patted me on the head a few times in a reassuring fashion. I could feel my despair slightly ebbing. “Yes... Please do everything you can,” I said, bowing my head deeply in Larna’s direction.
“Well then, Prince Jeord. I leave the two of them in your care.”
Larna left with Maria and Sora following close behind her. The trio once again commenced their search for this mystery Wielder of Darkness.
After the three of them had left, I turned my attention back to Keith and kept calling out to him. Maybe he’ll wake up now, I thought. But there was still no reaction from my brother.
Although I had been discouraged, although I sank into the depths of despair at first... I was now upset. I was angry. Why did this happen to my dear brother? Who would do this to him?
Perhaps it was a bit biased for an adoptive older sister like me to say, but Keith really was a wonderful person. He was kind and gentle to everyone. Why, then, did he have to go through all this? To suffer this much? This was unfair. Too unfair.
I could feel the anger rising up from within me.
To hell with Dark Magic! Why would something like that be cast on my cute brother! I’ll never forgive this Wielder of Darkness or whatever the hell they are! Once I find them, I’m going to take this lousy black mist and wrap them up in it, just like they did to Keith!
Actually, this black snake thing wrapping itself around Keith is probably the reason why he’s still not waking up, isn’t it?!
This stupid black thing is too long! Some snake it is, it doesn’t even look the part! Urrgghhh! I’m so mad!
Something like this... I should just pull it off and toss it into some river!
Just when my rage had hit its peak, I felt a strange source of heat from the right side of my waist. Right where my pocket was.
It was so hot that for a second I thought a burning piece of coal had been placed in my pocket. I stuck my hand into it and pulled out the strange mirror-looking disc that Jeord had gifted me with a few days ago.
Ah, Jeord bought this for me, didn’t he? I had forgotten all about it. But as soon as I touched the disc, the black mist began to solidify. I could see it a lot clearer now, though I didn’t know why.
Huh? Why? Actually, I can see it very, very well.
In fact, I feel like I could hold it in my hands. I wanted to grab it off Keith and toss it somewhere — maybe I could actually do exactly that now.
I reached out toward a loop of the black mist. Although it had been translucent and immaterial earlier, I could now clearly feel it in my hand.
I can do this! I gripped the black mist tightly. Then I started to mercilessly tear loops of it off of Keith, tossing them onto the ground next to him wi
th a flourish. “Ha! Take that!”
Jeord, who had been standing next to me all this time, watched on with his mouth agape. The mist that had been ripped off now wriggled helplessly on the muddy ground, looking like a bunch of black snakes. As a final gesture, I gathered all of the mist together with my free hand before relentlessly crushing each and every single one in my fist.
The mist seemed to condense into a droplet around the size of a person’s fist — and then, it stopped moving.
Oh-ho. I guess that black mist does become a variety of shapes after all. If only it had become some sort of cute shape, like a puppy or something, I might have even showed it some degree of mercy.
Well, that aside...
“I suppose that’s that! Done and done.”
Shifting his eyes to the now immobile, fist-shaped droplet, the frozen Jeord seemingly snapped out of his trance. “Eh?! Wh-What was that, Katarina?! What have you done?” He had completely lost his usual confident smile and refined manner of speaking.
Just as his horrified and surprised expression nearly got the best of me... I heard a familiar voice from the person I had been cradling in my arms. “U-Ugh...”
“!” A reaction from Keith!
Soon enough... Keith opened his eyes. At first, his blue eyes seemed to be wandering, lost amongst the stars... before they finally focused upon me.
“Big... Sister...” he said in a soft, trembling voice.
This was unmistakably Keith’s voice — one I had not heard for days.
“...Keith!” I hugged my brother, who I was still cradling in my arms, tight.
★★★★★
It was a cold, dark place. I kept absolutely quiet, and absolutely still. For that was how I should be.
My first memory was doing exactly as I was told by my mother, hugging my knees in a dark room. “Shut up and just stay there!”
I would be given food at irregular intervals. I ate what I was given, bit by bit. If I ate it all at once, I would have nothing left. By rationing it out, I could bear with the hunger for just a little bit longer.
My Next Life as a Villainess: All Routes Lead to Doom!, Volume 4 Page 12