Published: September 9, 2025
This is Satou speaking. It seems that throughout history, there have always been people who refuse to accept their fate gracefully. While the stubbornness to survive is something to be admired when standing on the brink of life and death, I really wish they'd stop struggling just to shirk responsibility.
◇
I release the sealed spirit light.
It sounds like something straight out of an adolescent’s fantasy, but it’s true and can’t be helped. As I let go of the spirit light I’d been holding back to prevent leaks, an incredible number of spirits quickly gather from the surface and surrounding space.
Only Mia and I possess the spirit sight skill on this airship, so there’s no need to hold back.
"Satou?"
I nod at Mia, who called out to me.
I lift Mia, who spread her arms wide. It seems she quickly understood my intent.
“W-wait a minute!”
Arisa hurriedly questions me, clearly flustered, but when she hears the incantation of the spirit magic spell Mia has begun to cast, she seems to understand what we’re about to do.
“Ugh, that spell is awful. Pochi, Tama, hurry! If this keeps up, Mia will take all the glory!”
“I don’t really get it, but we’ll hurry!”
“Got it, understood~!”
Arisa, flanked by Pochi and Tama on either wing, rushes to the deck.
“Nana and Lulu, sorry, but stay here and stop Karina-sama and the others from coming up to the deck.”
“Yes, Master.”
“Um, d-do we need acceleration cannons?”
“No, this time it’s just minor enemies. Mia’s spell will finish it.”
Lulu asks this, but firing acceleration cannons would cause massive damage to the surface.
I reassure Lulu, who looks worried, then step out onto the deck still carrying Mia in a princess carry.
Karina, held back by Lulu behind me, shouts, “Let me go!” but I pretend not to hear.
◇
On the deck, the Mithril explorers are unusually fired up, waiting for the approaching lance beetles that are coming in fast from a distance.
The bird tribe unit that departed earlier didn’t engage the lance beetles; instead, they moved to seize a fortress that served as a tamed demon stronghold.
Considering the forces on the airship, that’s a reasonable decision.
“Are they here yet?”
“They’re small but fast.”
“Both of you, aim carefully.”
Three cannon toad shells weave through the gaps between the lance beetles, but the beast girls intercept them with shurikens, long toothpicks, and javelins.
“Ah, even though it hit…”
“Leave the rest to me~!”
Due to the mass difference, Pochi’s thrown long toothpick is scattered by the cannon shells.
Then, fire orbs from Arisa and several others’ Flame Staffs envelop the shells. The shells, already damaged by Pochi’s toothpick, scatter under the rain of fire orbs.
Flame Staffs can be fired just by supplying magic power, requiring no chanting, so they’re faster than ordinary spells.
Their power is moderate, making them more popular for military use than scrolls, with Flame and Thunder Staffs preferred.
“Arisa, can I ask you for a favor?”
“Okay~ Looks like I won’t have much action, so shall I use my beautiful voice to rally everyone?”
“No, let’s save that for another time—”
I entrust Arisa with a more important task than dealing with minor enemies. Tama also gets assigned a ninja job. Pochi and Liza are our bodyguards.
Even as we talk, Mia’s spell-casting continues earnestly, and finally, her magic completes.
“...■■■ Create Garuda.”
What appears is a translucent golden bird-man spirit crowned like a king.
It’s on par with the Behemoth that Ms. Aze once summoned.
Mia, having spent almost all her magic power, is healed through “magic power transfer.”
“Whoa, what’s that?”
“New type?!”
“Shields, protect our comrades! ■■■ Activate Diamond Shield!”
The Mithril explorers, startled by the sudden appearance of the pseudo-spirit, turn their aim toward Garuda, so I quickly clarify and apologize for the misunderstanding.
I nod at Mia, who looks up at me, and give permission to attack the lance beetles.