Here’s chapter 48. This chapter took me about 5 hours to translate, like normal, but it took me an hour to edit when compared to the usual 5 minutes (that’s why you find a lot of mistakes.) There are just so many things I needed to fix and word in a better way.

Tell me of any mistakes that I’ve made. In this chapter I noticed that I’ve changed between present and past tense more often for some reason so please inform me if I’ve made any mistakes that I didn’t change.

48th Meal Linda’s Strength

◆ ◆ ◆ Alphonse ◆◆◆

"Good grief ….. Those brats!"

I'm running around the coast looking for the missing Eltina. It is almost time to prepare for dinner, but including her, there are several people that are missing. It'd be fine if they're not doing anything dangerous though.

The other children were making a fuss because they were feeling uneasy that the Eltina who is noisy about the meals still didn’t show even though it was time for dinner. Several of them already made parties and is searching for her. These children are way too active and causing my head to hurt.

"Techa! The big s.h.i.+ House!"

The racc.o.o.n beastkin, Preena Max came running over with a sweet and childish voice.

She have brown hair that is in a curly short cut, a human face with round eyebrows1 and large eyes with brown iris. She have the smallest body after Eltina and her tail that is as big as her body is impressive.

In this abnormally matured cla.s.s, this is the only girl where her mentality matches her age. She is definitely a rare existence. Yup, I'm happy.

"So, what happened to the Sea House?"

"It is sitting at the campgound waiting for someone."

Preena said "Techa, please." and pulled my hand towards the campground. The previously mentioned Sea House was quietly sitting in the place where I was taken to.

“Heh~, so it really is waiting quietly.”

“Un.”

I could feel the friends.h.i.+p between us. I understood at first sight that he was the one that I previously became friends with.

It is definitely the friendly Sea House that Eltina named "Hermit Crab-kun."

“What’s the matter?”

I asked the Hermit Crab-kun. I don't expect that there will be a reply. But as he is able to understand what I'm saying, it is reasonable to expect something.

In response to my question, Hermit Crab-kun got up. He started moving while raising and swinging his big scissors. "Follow me." I shouldn't be wrong as to what it is implying.

I felt something that is close to a conviction, that surely, he knows where Eltina is.

I talked to His Highness Edward about the situation. Originally, I shouldn't be leaving the escort subject behind, but he is the only one eligible to be in charge of this place. As he is wise, he quickly accepted. It is also probably because he knows that the one missing is the saint of this country.

Good grief … this will be my second time. I would get scold by His Majesty again.

After following Hermit Crab-kun, we reached a building that can only be described as a decayed western-style house. However, to this discovery I felt that something is wrong and s.h.i.+vers.

If there isn't any mistakes in my memory, there shouldn’t have been such a building when investigating the surroundings. Such a large building couldn't had been overlooked. That is because I investigated the surroundings from the sky.

“Impossible …… there wasn't such a large building during the investigation.”

When I approached the building, I felt that something is off. There is reality and a wavelength of magical power similar to those of an illusion. When I realize that, I regretted being tricked.

"「Camouflage」? It is also quite a high level one. d.a.m.n it!"

「Camouflage」, a light attribute special magic.

It is a special magic that refracts light to hide things. It should still be in development and should only be able to barely hide a person or small objects. To be able to successful hide such a huge building is crazy. If the one that is able to do this is an enemy, I can see this getting troublesome.

"But why such a place? Is there a reason to hide this building?"

I know that nothing will start if I just think about it, but I still end up thinking. It is a bad habit of mine.

It seems that Hermit Crab-kun already rushed into the building as I don't see its figure anywhere.

Let's leave the thinking to later. I should start moving too.

"Good grief …… our saint is loved too much by the G.o.ddess of trouble!"

I rushed through the front door while complaining. Although I'm a mage, I don't like detailed work. Therefore, breaking through the front is my habit. Although Futa told me to fix that habit, it is a part of me so it can't be helped.

Depending on the situation, I may need to take an immediate action so I would like to him to cut me some slack.

Upon entering the building, I saw numerous zombies crowding in the entrance hall. Due to the terrible decaying smell, I grimaced. And I realized that I had made a serious misunderstanding.

"Ah, Eltina isn't loved by the G.o.ddess of trouble, she is the G.o.ddess of trouble herself … … I'm convinced now."

Good grief, I'm in charge of such an outrageous student. But, complaining won't do anything. Let's go pick up my cute students now.

"Wait for me, you mischievous brats! I'm coming now! 「Fire Ball」!"

I ran through the dark pa.s.sage while blowing up the zombies with a bomb of fire.

◆◆◆ Hulitia ◆◆◆

"…… Gu! I still can't fall yet!"

A blunder …… My arm was bitten. The bleeding doesn't stop. But I can still move, therefore no problem.

"Hulitia2! Don't be reckless! ! Retreat! !"

Ganzurok is saying so, but he have more injuries than I do. Just became I'm a woman doesn't mean that I can take it easy. Furthermore, besides the zombies, a new monster had joined the battle. Rioto is currently engaged in battle with the new monster.

“This thing !”

The something that isn't a zombie. There is something sticking onto the person's face. It is a monstrosity that have both phenomenal strength and speed.

"Tsk… so annoying! Uoooo! That was close! ? It grazed me!"

"Don't let your guard down! Rai!"

It is bringing out tentacles from its body and swinging it around like a whip to attack. The tentacles that moves irregularly is hard to predict when will the attacks come. I am forced to go defensive against it. The current situation is that only Rioto can react to its movement.

It is a disadvantageous opponent for Rioto, who fights in close combat, but both Ganzurok and I can't even do anything to it.

“… … if this continues… ”

Rather than diminis.h.i.+ng, the zombies are increasing in number. By the time I realize that my impatience is getting in the way of me fighting, it was already too late. My right ankle was grabbed by the zombie that was crawling on the floor and I lost my balance.

“… …. Shoot! Argg!”

Intense pain came from my thigh. It was bitten by a zombie. Furthermore, I was pushed down and the countless zombies are all over me.

My vision blurs and intense pain runs through my body. I'm getting bitten, if this continues, I'll die! I have to resist.

However, I don’t have the strength to resist their weight. Eventually, I heard the sound of flesh tearing apart. To think that my good hearing would affect me negatively right now.

When the thought of the worst outcome of my body not even retaining its original shape came to my mind, I couldn't put in any strength. It's the worst.

"Hulitia! !" d.a.m.n it! Don't get in my way! !"

"d.a.m.n it! You guys are in the way!"

It's useless. Both of you should run away without me. I tried to say that, but it seems that I don't even have the strength for that anymore.

Sorry, everyone. Ah …… at the very least, I wanted to see Eltina again.

“Uooaaaaaaaaaaaaa !!”

Just when I thought that I heard a high-pitched voice, the weight that was on top of me suddenly disappeared. It seems that the countless zombies that were on me was blown away. When my vision cleared, what I saw was Linda with a big chair clasped in her hand. Her two arms are thin and delicate, one wouldn't think that she can swing such a big chair at all.

“Fuaaaaaaaaa !!”

However, the next moment, a scene that one wouldn't antic.i.p.ate happened.

She continues to swing the chair with one arm at the zombies until the chair starts to crumble. Of course the zombies aren't able to withstand the impact and became lumps of meat.

The second her opponents is silenced, she moves on to the next prey and attacked it. There was no mercy. Eventually, the chair had reached its limit and crumbles into pieces, but she immediately went for another target.

Her next target is … what! A table. Its size is much larger than Linda herself.

But she easily lifted the table and swung at the zombies. The zombies with only their lower body remaining as their upper body had became a spray of blood, convulses before falling down.

She had became an existence that is safe to even be called a demon. To her who had such a transformation, I want to say…

You … weren't you a mage?

"Get away! From Hi-chan! !"

Due to Linda's effort, all the zombies that were eating me were eliminated. Apparently, I'm still allowed to stay alive.

"Li …… Linda! Didn't I told you to not use that ability! ?"

"Gan-chan! Gimme that hammer!"

Towards Linda's words, Ganzurok shudders. He would never show such an expression, but right now, his face was exposed.

“But, you're… Ah ….”

"It's fine! Hurry!! The table already broke!"

With a reluctant face, Ganzurok took out something large from 「Storage」. It isn't something that can be called as a hammer. It was just a big, randomly shaped chunk of stone.

Linda took it and began to attack the rest of the zombies without any mercy. This must be what it means to do things without blood and tears.3 The zombies aren't even Linda's opponent anymore. It is the start of a ma.s.sacre.

"To think that 『Ogrehammer』would revive in such a way.

“… … O, ogre? …… tsk!”

Pain runs through my body. The bleeding is also severe. Cold, I’m short of blood. My conscious is also fading.

"It is Linda's disgraceful second name. You see, when Linda was around five … … she was attacked by bandits. At that time, using that chunk that was coincidentally getting transported, she beat and killed the bandits."

While performing first aid treatment on me, he added "It was overwhelming." with a sad face.   

"Linda's biological parents were killed during that time and since then, whenever she holds a blunt weapon her trauma would revive so she no longer use a blunt weapon."

"… So she became obsessed with magic? But why, for our sake? Haag….."    

"Don't talk too much, Hulitia. c.r.a.p! Fall back! !"

Ganzurok carried me in a slightly rough way. The fortunate part was that pain had helped me stayed conscious.

"DON'T! YOU DARE! PUT YOUR HANDS! ON MY FRIENDS! !"

From Linda … a black aura seems to be coming out of her.

I wonder if it is became I'm lacking blood … ?

"c.r.a.p, she is totally going full power! Rai! Retreat! !"

“To retreat …… Uwaa!”

Rioto who was still in battle with the monstrosity floated into the air. No, he is being lifted by someone. Then, that someone retreated with Rioto away from the tentacles' attack range. That someone was a giant hermit crab monster.

I, no, we know who that is. It is not possible for us to not know.

"… … Her, Hermit Crab-kun! ?"

Hermit Crab-kun who had grabbed Rioto raised his vacant scissor and waved towards Linda. Seeing that, Linda nodded strongly and a.s.saults the tentacle person.

"Yoshaaaaaaa! !"

Linda swings that large chunk and at the same time, I heard the sound of the air splitting like a loud scream.

The large chunk hits the target in an impossibly fast speed.

The tentacles tried to intercept by overlapping its tentacles, but it was meaningless. Against the overwhelmingly ma.s.s, the weak tentacles couldn't do a thing. A disturbing sound resounded and the red liquid that flowed out signaled the end of the battle. That one strike was merciless, it had changed the tentacle person into mince-meat.

“Collapse there for all of eternally!”

This is Linda's real strength. Someone like me is no match for it.

“… …u … ah ……”

"O,oi! Get yourself together! "

Ganzurok's voice sounds like it is far away. It may be no good anymore. My conscious ceased here …

◆◆◆ Eltina ◆◆◆

"Mu …… This is! ?"

"Did you felt something? Eltina?"

At that time, currents ran through my head.

I have a bad feeling. I don't know the reason, but all I can say is that I have a bad feeling. I have a reputation about bad feelings and I'm saying that I have a bad feeling. Sadly, I can't be wrong.

“f.u.kyun!”

"Ah, wait for me! Going alone is dangerous!"

I started running unconsciously. I ran while depending on my intuitions.  Meanwhile, the feeling of my back burning doesn't stop. Is this what an impatient feeling is? It wouldn't stop.

Faster! Anything is fine, anyways, just go faster!

Folbert and I ran through the dark pa.s.sages like a gale.

1 Something like this.

2 Ganzurok calls Hulitia by saying Character of Hi, which is the first character of Hulitia’s name. I’m not sure why I named her Hulitia when Hilutia may be more accurate. Well, its too late to change it now.

3 This is a j.a.panese idiom which pretty much means without mercy. Since I’ve been saying without mercy way too many times that it is getting repet.i.tive, I just translated the idiom directly.