Mistress Of The Evil Forest

-A 3: Someone I look up to.

''Mghm...''

Floating.

My consciousness is floating... in a bright place.

I don't know where this is, but it feels surprisingly warm and comfortable. I feel like sleeping, but I can't close my eyes.

''...!''

Suddenly, something within me snaps.

Like a person waking up from a long coma, sanity returns to my brain rapidly, and I belatedly realize where I'm in right now—a dream.

As for why I'm surprised, it is because of this unfamiliar space. Ordinary people have many dreams, but I only have one.

The dream where my hometown gets destroyed by that demon.

It has been like that for as long as I can remember, and it didn't seem like it would change. Yet, here I am.

Am I finally out of that hell?

—ild.

Huh? Did I hear it wrong?

I must have. I mean, it isn't as though a lingering soul of a great figure in the past is calling me in my dream to pass down their skills or something. I've been reading too many Eastern martial arts novels recently.

Not good, not good... it's starting to become an addictio—

Child.

''...''

I see. So my ears are not betraying me.

This viscous, snobby, and sweaty-sounding tone... it must be of a great master in her transcendence realm.

Mom, Dad, I'm becoming a martial artist.

Arrogant child, whose voice are you calling snobby?

Look, she can even read my thoughts. She's definitely in the transcendence realm. But... if it's in exchange for the Heavenly Sky-Splitting Sword techniques, I'll let her read my thoughts. Um.

I don't know what that is, but please stop and listen for a moment.

I'm listening, master. 

...I'm not your master.

Not yet, you mean?

What a troublesome kid I've stumbled upon... fine. If you can remove the seal on my consciousness, I shall take you as my disciple.

Yay!

For now, find a suitable mana pond. We shall go from there.

Master seems oblivious... don't you know how hard it is to approach such a rare treasure?

That is entirely your problem. So, I will leave it to you. 

Eh...

Indeed. Now that my energy is near depletion, allow me to rest for a while. We will meet again—

Child of Light.

''...Even her shameless side fits the image perfectly.''

snap—!

The next second, I find myself waking up in reality, my sight on the familiar ceiling.

''Phew...''

...What in the world did I just experience?

For a moment, I feel my heart beating wildly. After learning about Silarob, I've been really into cool hero stuff, especially enigmatic ones like the Mistress of Zircon.

Am I finally granted the power to become the eminence in the shadow?

''Claire!''

''Eh—huh?! Vera?!''

Why did she just barge into my room...?

''It's really bad! The capital is being invaded!"

''What did you say?!''

Immediately, all sleepiness dissipates from my body as I jolt out of bed, grabbing my clothes and sword in a hurry. Vera isn't someone who would joke about serious matters, which means something really did happen.

Following my friend out of the dorm, my steps suddenly come to a halt.

''W-What...''

Primal fear.

At some point, a thick scent of smoke has permeated the air, and remnants of ashes can be seen lingering stubbornly. In the darkened sky, a grotesque monster occupies the space, seizing everybody's throbbing hearts with its nightmarish appearance.

Unknowingly, I find myself cowering.

When I dart my eyes around, it seems other students are also experiencing the same fear as I do.

''A calamity has descended...'' I hear someone mutter with a trembling voice.

Afterward, we learn from the professors that a high-ranking executive of Ravenous Moon is terrorizing the capital. At this point, we are being offered two options.

One, to evacuate the city altogether.

Two, to join the imperial army and help stop the crisis.

Rightfully, most students choose the former, and even if some brave souls decide to join, they will be rejected if the knights find them unqualified.

A tingling sensation runs down my hand. I feel my palms sweaty.

''...Um—''

And somehow, I've volunteered myself.

Even though I'm just a slightly stronger kid at level 30, they accept me because of my light magic. My party also try to join, but they are utterly rejected. But this is rather comforting... I don't want them to be hurt.

After being assigned to a team together with two of the geniuses in 1-A class for some reason, we begin our journey across the capital. Amidst the panicking people, cultists hidden in numerous locations are operating on a devastating ritual that will engulf the city into grief and madness.

According to this information provided, we are expected to help them eliminate these cultists.

Though...

''...Where did teamwork go...?''

I can't help but mutter.

One of the two geniuses, the infamous transfer student, always recklessly runs into his enemies without considering anything... well, at least the other one is not bad.

''Whew... are you feeling alright, Miss Claire?''

The gentleman with the same pale blonde hair and green eyes as me speaks, smiling even in this unfolding tragedy.

''I'm good, thanks,'' I reply, also smiling. 

We nod at each other before speeding up again, following the remaining members of the team.

On the way, hideous monsters bearing the marks of death pour out of seemingly nowhere, hindering our steps while also threatening the remaining citizens.

Fortunately, the soldiers assigned to us are certified professionals, so we don't really need to worry that much—

''Eh?''

In an instant, I feel sunlight pouring down my head, following a pitch-black darkness. Looking up, I see... the sun. Somehow, the terrifying monster has disappeared.

''It's the work of that person.'' Someone sighs, a hint of relief evident in his tone.

''That person?'' I ask.

''Who else? Silaerob.'' The soldier scoffs. ''Only she can do such ridiculous things.''

It might be my imagination, but he seems fond of Silaerob.

But more importantly... she's here.

''Hup—!''

With a simple slash, the undead hound's head is split into halves before it collapses onto the ground, howling in pain.

It seems my light magic is giving me a huge advantage. I felt like cutting through butter... 

''Good work, Miss Claire.''

Aaron Apollo, the young master of the Apollo Duchy, nods at me approvingly as he wipes off the sweat on his forehead.

''Ah, you too...'' I smile in return, looking at the pile of monster corpses around him. 

Well...?

This person seems like a good gentleman. Totally unlike the other nobles...

Supporting each other, our team cruises through the capital while smoothly defeating the cultists. The more we do that, the more I realize the others might have missed a golden opportunity.

After all, the cultists are not complete pushovers, so I've gained quite a substantial amount of experience since earlier.

We don't know how much time we have, though, so we might need to hurry.

''!!''

All of a sudden, I feel the hair in my body standing up. Something overwhelming is washing over the area—something familiar... and it's not too far either.

A mana wave...?

Just how strong is the source for me to flinch like this...?

gulp—!

A bit nervous, I decide to climb a nearby building, which is the tallest in the vicinity. With the excuse of scouting, I am somehow allowed to go with two other members.

''That direction.'' The soldier with heightened sensory ability points toward a certain place.

Because the sky is as clear as it can be, I only need to squint my eyes a bit to see the source.

''...!''

And I am utterly frozen at the sight.

Bearing the weight of her dazzling crown, a robed figure soared forward, bringing the intense light from her sword along as though piercing with a divine spear. With each step she takes, the ground helplessly turns into cold ice as if succumbing to her authority.

For a moment, I imagine a pair of wings behind her back.

An angel.

This... this is the person I look up to.