Even after Refleia went out searching for Jeanne, I and Grapeflue simply waited inside the barrier for the Great Spirit to vanish.

Judging from the conversation between the Great Spirit and Refleia, it seemed the local Flue had no risk of being attacked should he go outside, but since there was still a possibility that the masked man was lurking somewhere, we couldn't send him back alone to the Mutual Aid Society.

The Small Great Spirit showed no signs of vanishing.

My summoning spell would normally dissolve within ten minutes at most, but this was obviously the summoning technique used by a Great Spirit.

"……So this is the second one."

Just before the effect of the first barrier stone faded, I layered on a new one.

In other words, despite having already passed twelve hours, the Great Spirit remained intact——this was the reality.

Reflia hasn't come back yet.

The sun has already set.

The road is nearly empty, and the few passersby glance at us with curious eyes, but that's all.

Grapefloo looks bored too.

Even if I explained the situation, staying in this place for hours must be tiring.

I'm truly sorry.

"There should be a moment when the summoning spell naturally breaks. I know you're bored, but please just wait a little longer."

"It's fine. I was off-duty anyway. But I'm getting really sleepy, so can I just lie down and sleep like this?"

"Of course. And... I'm sorry about all this strange situation. I'll pay you proper wages and compensation."

It really was a strange situation.

I never expected something like this to happen, not even yesterday.

I hadn't fully grasped just how troublesome it would be to catch the attention of a spirit.

Maze exploration was profitable and a comfortable space for me, but a maze city was simply too risky for someone beloved.

…Well, that’s all moot now.

After a while, Refrea returned panting from the direction of the city.

She was alone.

"…Hikaru. I'm sorry, I looked everywhere, but I couldn't find Jeanne."

"She wasn't at home?"

"No. I checked every inn one by one… I left a message at her house, but she hasn't come here."

"Ah. Could she really be outside the city?"

"It's possible."

"Where the heck did she go?"

Back on Earth, I'd never experienced such inconvenience.

Everyone had a mobile phone, and being out of range was almost unheard of.

Being connected was taken for granted.

So when it suddenly changed, nobody knew what to do.

"Well, isn't it fine now that Jeanne's gone? She's not here anymore, after all."

"It's not that simple."

Maybe Reflair's casual attitude was how people used to feel in an era without mobile phones.

After all, if someone's gone, there's nothing you can do.

We looked everywhere, but she wasn't there—

that might be what it means.

"Oh, but the Water Great Spirit has already returned to the temple, so if the Great Spirit here disappears too, there won't be anyone chasing us anymore, right?"

"Is that so? Why did the Great Spirit return to the temple, though?"

I think he was persuaded by the priest. Either way, the Great Spirit of Earth can't enter the realm of soil.

"I see..."

That was somewhat encouraging information.

Then, I'll just have to endure here until the Water Great Spirit (Small), which is still lingering faintly near the barrier, disappears. Fortunately, I still have quite a few points left. I should be able to last a few days.

"Won't the priest come to capture me?"

"I don't think so. Besides, even if he does come, you'd be able to escape, right, Hikaru?"

"Maybe... but still, being a wanted person isn't exactly ideal..."

"You haven't been seen, have you? It'll be fine. After all, you haven't done anything wrong."

In that case, the best option would be to quickly finish off the Small Great Spirit and leave town.

The problem, though, is the big spirit (small) standing there dazedly since a while, occasionally waving hands and muttering to itself. As long as this thing doesn't vanish, I can't move from here.

Either way, the barrier's effect still lasts another twelve hours.

As long as that remains, the big spirit can't reach me, and I still have room to maneuver.

Looks like we'll manage somehow.

"Reflia, take Flue back to town and rest. I can't leave this spot anyway. There probably won't be an attack... but just in case, stay at the inn."

"Eh? But what about Hikaru?"

"I'm fine—there's a barrier protecting me, and I've got a blanket too. I'll just sleep here. Oh, of course, if the big spirit disappears, I'll leave this spot—come look for me. I'll go ahead to the neighboring town by myself."

Most of my travel belongings are already stored in Shadow Storage, and I rarely keep any money at the mansion to begin with. It's perfectly fine to set off on my journey as is.

　◇◆◆◆◇

　Reflia and Flue descended the southern road, and I was left alone with the Small Water Spirit. Though separated inside and outside the barrier, the sun had fully set, and moonlight was illuminating the surrounding fields.

With my night vision, this level of brightness allows me to move about almost as freely as during the day.

"Ah! I see it now! Of course, I am truly clever!"

The large spirit, unable to touch the barrier and standing nearby, suddenly shouted out.

Though he boasts of his intelligence, compared to the Water Spirit, who is my summoner, this one is smaller in size and seems rather dim-witted... Just what, exactly, has he figured out?

"Hmm, hmm, I see, I see. That's why it's like this... like this, isn't it?"

"Huh?"

As the great spirit approached with slow steps, the barrier wavered with a soft *plunk*.

After all, barriers were meant to hide one's form and keep hostile beings at bay.

They also possessed physical durability.

Probably something that had never been breached before... yet—

"Hmm. So this is a type of protective magic, is it? To wield a technique even I don't know... Haha, how fascinating, humans are."

Speaking thus, the great spirit plunged its hand deep into the barrier. How it managed to do so was beyond comprehension.

All that was certain was that the barrier had been broken.

And that once caught by this thing, it would be over.

"There's no way that's possible!"

I boldly stepped outside the barrier.

The Great Spirit looked at me with an expression of surprise.

"What’s this? Just when the mystery of the spell seemed about to be solved. So, what are you going to do?"

"What do you mean 'what to do'? There’s nothing left but to do it."

I can’t be eaten. With the barrier broken—there’s no choice but to fight.

It won’t let me go, and fortunately, there’s no one around here right now.

And if it’s night—

perhaps I can resist a little.

I drew my sword.

If I don’t want to die, I’ll have to face the Great Spirit.

The "Death" that was supposed to be on the other side of the wall.

Now, I feel the cold blade pressed tightly against my neck, just inches away.

His body burned as if every drop of blood within him were boiling, yet his mind remained strangely cold and sharp.

His body shifted into battle mode.

"Hohoho... To point a sword at me, the Great Spirit? Not bad, not bad at all."

"If you'll let me go, I'll sheathe my blade right away."

"I cannot decide that on my own. Besides, I too would like to experience someone like you."

　

It seemed negotiations had broken down.

Though the Water Spirit, as summoner, seemed easier to understand, in the end, the Great Spirit remained the Great Spirit.

"Dispel!"

"Wha—!?"

Either way, if he was going to act, he’d strike first.

An invisible wave spreads out from me. Naturally, it passes through the great spirit (small) right before me.

If this thing was born from a summoning spell, perhaps it could be erased.

I thought that—

"W-what a terrifying technique! I thought I was going to be erased!"

The great spirit cries out, wrapping its arms around itself.

It seems resistance has been successful, but it appears dispelling magic works to some extent. Still, it's a binary choice—either it works or it doesn't. Since it's essentially a one-shot instant death spell, if it fails, repeating it wouldn't make much sense.

Unlike spirit magic, this magic consumes a considerable amount of magical energy.

(…At least I had more spells I could use.)

The only spells I can currently use are Fear and Dispelling.

(Well, complaining won't help much anyway.)

The Great Spirit hasn't attacked us directly, probably wary of Dispelling.

If it's going to come without hesitation, perhaps there's a way after all.

Being smaller than the summoner is actually an advantage here.

If it were larger, we wouldn't have stood a chance even with sheer force.

...Of course, this thing on our side must also possess extraordinary power.

"Darkness Fog!"

If we're going to defeat it, we'll have to go all out.

Either way, I was prepared to hold out to the limit, using the barrier stone to its maximum, even if it meant enduring a prolonged battle using scrolls and potions.

I might as well reveal everything here and now.

"Feared!"

"Gh...!? Magic! Where did you learn such sorcery!?"

There's nothing to say except that it just suddenly became usable.

Either way, there's no need to answer such a question.

Fortunately, the magic seems to be working— the great spirit remains still. The Darkness Fog appears effective too, as it can no longer track my movements with its eyes.

Just as I always do against monsters, I struck from behind with a swift slash of my sword.

Aimed at the base of the spine—the vital point of the spirit's power.

(—Got it!)

It was a perfect strike.

The heavy Infernal Steel blade cut through without so much as a hint of resistance, severing the head of the water spirit cleanly.

The head rolled away.

Its startled face turned toward me—then blinked.

"O-oh! I was killed by a human! What rank do you hold?"

Saying this with a light tone, the Great Spirit (Small) picked up its head and reattached it to its original spot.

I was so shocked I couldn't even speak.

Great Spirit—