Chapter 472

Sakura, Crying

I rode on Hugging Bear-sama’s back and came to the building where Mumroot and Kagali’s old party once sealed one of Orochi’s heads.

There were monsters outside the building, and Hugging Bear-sama was fighting them. I am trying to keep the serpent from reviving by using the magic circle that Mumroot-sama taught me so that the serpent’s seal would not be broken.

 

Every time the ground shook, the reddish-black eyes opened and closed.

I’m scared.

The ground shook again.

When I tried to go outside, I shuddered at what it would have been like if everyone had died.

Also, the ground kept shaking.

Yuna-sama and Kagali-sama were out there fighting.

 

Orochi’s opened once again.

Please. Don’t wake up yet.

I poured my magic into the circle.

I can’t just pour it all at once. I must regulate the flow steadily for a long time and without interruption.

 

Of course, it’s good to have a lot of magical power flowing. But if I do that now, I will soon run out of magic power. The important thing was to keep the magic flowing. So, when it’s about to wake up, I temporarily increased the flow of magic power.

 

A short time after I began to reinforce the seal, the ground shook violently. It was not just once or twice. I was terrified, and anxiety was overtaking me.

 

I’m scared.

 

The ground shook even louder, and I heard something popping out from the earth.

I don’t like to imagine it, but I think Orochi’s main body may have resurrected its other heads in a place where no one could go to because there were not enough people and magic circles to stop it.

 

This awful giant serpent that has killed many people in the past.

Against such a monster, Yuna-sama and Kagali-sama have to fight against two heads of Orochi with only the two of them.

If they both die, there’s nothing but despair in the future.

That nightmare will become a reality.

I’m scared. I hate seeing people die.

Yuna-sama, Kagali-sama……

 

The ground shook as the sounds of something gigantic slammed into the ground repeatedly. Orochi was rampaging.

If they were both struck by that gigantic body, Yuna-sama and Kagali-sama would die.

Yuna-sama, Kagali-sama, please don’t die.

I can only wish for such a thing.

 

As I was regulating my magical power while making a wish, I thought I heard a loud thump, and the Orochi’s eyes opened wide, and the magic circle was flashing reddish-black.

 

It can’t be.

I began to pour more magic into the magic circle.

Orochi’s eyes seemed to express suffering and fury.

 

What happened!?

A possible explanation would be the effect of Yuna-sama and Kagali-sama fighting Orochi. Since it was a single body, every sensation should be connected. The pain from the attack may have transmitted to the other heads.

I put more magic power into the circle.

Please. Be quiet.

My magic power was being sucked out. If I put in any more, I will have no more magic power left, and I will no longer be able to suppress it.

But if it’s revived now, only despair will come.

Please, don’t wake up yet.

Its eyes were slowly closing as if the giant snake had granted my wish.

My magic would not last long, given this feeling of weakness.

I wish I were a little more mature. I would like to have someone else standing beside me right now.

I took a deep breath and kept a constant flow of magical power.

What in the world was going on out there?

 

Gradually, the feeling of fatigue spread through the body.

If Orochi were to revive here, I might get trapped and die.

Yuna-sama told me to run behind the door, but I probably couldn’t.

The ground shook. Were Yuna-sama and Kagali-sama still fighting? Or perhaps my uncle was coming to my rescue.

I could hear the sound of something repeatedly hitting the ground.

Each time this happened, the magic circle reacted to it.

Still, it’s not good.

Please. Stop rampaging.

My wish for the Orochi to stop rampaging outside wasn’t heard.

There was an even louder sound, and the ground shook violently.

The Orochi’s eyes opened.

 

“No good!” (Sakura)

 

I poured more magic power into the circle. I kept pouring more and more that I almost fainted. But I can’t stop here. I poured in magic power as if I were squeezing out the very last drop.

Please. Stop!

The Orochi’s eyes slowly close.

I felt relieved and woozy at the same time.

I hit a wall and clumsily fell when I was about to stumble sideways.

I don’t remember there being any walls next to me.

I should have been in the middle of the room, to begin with.

I looked to the side with blurry eyes and saw a fluffy white wall.

 

`Ku~u ~ n’

“Hugging Bear-sama?” (Sakura)

 

It was Hugging Bear-sama who supported me. Hugging Bear-sama was very, very warm and comfortable.

I feel very relieved.

 

“Thank you, Hugging Bear-sama.” (Sakura)

 

I leaned on Hugging Bear-sama and kept the magic power flowing.

I could feel warmth flowing in from Hugging Bear-sama’s body. Thanks to Hugging Bear-sama, I will be able to work a little harder.

 

I have lost track of how much time has passed since I started pouring magic power. If it weren’t for Hugging Bear-sama, I might have gone crazy.

I could still hear the sound of the ground being pounded. Amid the chaos, there was a loud noise, the earth trembled many times, and there was an audible tremor. This time the quake felt the closest I have ever been. I have a terrible feeling.

In the beginning, the sound was coming from a short distance away. Then it came closer, and this time the sound was very close.

The ground quaked, and the building shook.

Perhaps one of Orochi’s heads sealed at Ruimin-san’s area had been unsealed.

 

Ruimin-san…

 

I got Ruimin-san involved, who had nothing to do with this.

Please be safe. I don’t care what happens to me, so, please.

I made such a wish.

 

Then there was the sound of something repeatedly hitting the ground nearby. And each time, the building shook.

 

It might break.

 

But I can’t leave this place. It’s my role to keep the serpent sealed.

The wards repeatedly flashed red and black, and Orochi’s eyes opened again.

My consciousness was fading, but Hugging Bear-sama gently hugged me and supported me.

 

`Ku~u ~ n’

“I, I’m okay.” (Sakura)

 

I managed to remain conscious.

Nearby, the loud thumping quieted down. The sound of the ground-pounding a few moments earlier was no longer audible.

Hugging Bear-sama gently made a small “ku~n” cry.

Hugging Bear-sama, what’s wrong?

I cannot ask. I could only lean on Hugging Bear-sama while I continued to place my hands on the magic circle as I continued to squeeze out my remaining magic power.

At that time, there was a person who approached me.

 

“Are you okay, Sakura?” (Yuna)

 

With half-closed eyes, I looked in the direction of the voice and saw Yuna-sama rushing toward me from the stairs and Ruimin-san riding Swaying Bear-sama.

 

“Yuna-sama?” (Sakura)

 

Yuna-sama rushed over to me.

 

“Sorry I’m late. It’s okay now.” (Yuna)

 

What does she mean by okay?

 

“Sakura. You can let go now.” (Yuna)

 

Yuna-sama touched my hand and took it away from the magic circle.

She cut the flow of magical power from my body to the circle.

I exhaled a little. Then, I asked Yuna-sama.

 

“Yuna-sama, what do you mean it’s okay?” (Sakura)

“It’s just as I said. The other heads of Orochi have been defeated, so this one is the last.” (Yuna)

 

Defeated? The last one?

I couldn’t comprehend what Yuna-sama said.

 

“Sakura-chan, Those big snakes, Yuna-san killed them. It’s all right now.” (Ruimin)

 

Ruimin-san told me in a cheerful voice.

Gradually, I began to understand what both of them were saying.

 

“Is that true? Did you defeat the other heads of Orochi?” (Sakura)

 

I asked in a small voice.

 

“See for yourself.” (Yuna)

 

Yuna-sama lifted me and placed me on Hugging Bear-sama’s back.

 

“Now then, you guys go outside. I’m going to kill this snake.” (Yuna)

 

Hugging Bear-sama and Swaying Bear-sama, with Ruimin and I onboard followed Yuna-sama’s words and started walking. At the top of the stairs, Yuna-sama released a spell toward the magic circle.

At the same time, we ran away.

 

We came outside the building.

The ground shook. I have experienced this shaking many times in this short time. The earth quaked, and it rose.

A towering serpent appeared.

It’s so huge.

It then released a shriek that sounded like an angry cry. It’s clad with water on its body and spitting out the water.

 

“It seems I don’t have to put out the fire on the vegetation and trees later. This is quite nice.” (Yuna)

 

The Water Orochi head was angrily spraying out loads of waterjet.

I’m scared.

But Yuna-sama looked at the water serpent without any sign of fear.

 

“Ah, but the water is too strong, so the trees will fall, so it’s no good.” (Yuna)

 

Yuna-sama gave such an impression when she saw the Water Orochi head.

This was not the time to say that.

There’s a gigantic serpent in front of me.

 

“I think you’ll be fine with Swaying Bear and Hugging Bear, but you need to stay away from here. You can stay with Mumroot-san.” (Yuna)

“No, I want to watch Yuna-san fight.” (Ruimin)

 

Unlike me, who wants to escape, Ruimin-san answered.

I want to watch Yuna-sama fight, even if I am scared too.

 

“I’m staying, too.” (Sakura)

“It’s fine, but don’t ever get off Swaying Bear and Hugging Bear. Swaying Bear, Hugging Bear, if they try to act selfishly, take them to Mumroot-san even if you have to do it by force.” (Yuna)

“Ku~u ~ n”

 

Hugging Bear-sama and Swaying Bear-sama replied to Yuna-sama’s words.

 

“Now then, I’ll take it down.” (Yuna)

 

Yuna-sama was heading toward the giant serpent as if she were going for a walk.

The rest was like a dream.

Yuna-sama put something golden in her black bear’s mouth on her hand and released it on the water serpent, making tremendous noise and stopping the serpent’s movement.

Moreover, many large flames in the shape of bears were created and clung to the water serpent.

 

I was surprised when the water clad to Water Orochi head began to boil.

And finally, before I even realized it, she placed a sizeable bear-shaped rock in the mouth of the water serpent, then the serpent’s mouth split open.

 

I don’t understand what is going on anymore.

No one would believe me if I told them about the battle between Yuna-sama and the serpent.

 

“It’s over.” (Yuna)

 

Yuna-sama called out lightly as if she had just returned from an everyday walk.

Then, Ruimin-san, who was next to me, called out to Yuna-sama loudly.

 

“Yuna-san, you’re awesome!” (Ruimin)

 

As I was watching them, Yuna-sama looked at me.

 

“Sa, Sakura, what’s wrong?” (Yuna)

“Sakura-chan?” (Ruimin)

 

They looked at me with surprised expressions.

What do they mean by that?

 

“Were you hurt somewhere? Are you in pain?” (Yuna)

 

Yuna-sama looks worried.

 

“No, I’m not hurt or anything.” (Sakura)

“Then why are you crying?” (Yuna)

 

When I put my hand over my eyes, my hand got wet.

I seemed to be crying.

When I realized that I was crying, I could no longer stop.

 

“…Yuna-sama.” (Sakura)

 

I got off Hugging Bear-sama and tried to run to Yuna-sama, but my legs wobbled. Just as I was about to fall, Yuna-sama ran up and hugged me.

 

“Are you okay?” (Yuna)

“U~u~u~u, Yuna-sama……” (Sakura)

 

I can’t stop crying anymore.

That fearsome Orochi has indeed been defeated.

 

“Look, you’re ruining your pretty face if you cry.” (Yuna)

 

Yuna-sama pulled out a handkerchief and wiped my face.

 

“U ~u~u, thank you.” (Sakura)

 

I cannot bear the tears.

Still, Yuna-sama smiled and wiped it off.

Yuna-sama gently patted me and said, “You did your best”.

 

“Now then, let’s go to Mumroot-san.” (Yuna)

“Yes!” (Sakura)

=====

Author’s Note:

Yes, the serpent was defeated quickly and easily. w

But I think Sakura would have been scared not to know that.

With this, the serpent chapter comes to an end.