Rhapsody of the Burning Love for the Seaside Town ~West & South~ | Chapter Eight

[odorekijin]

[West, Town of Nectar]

We reached the city, and could barely believe the sight before us.

Akira: …!

A heavy-looking, pale as the moon orb showed no restraint in its patrol of the night sky.

As the developer had described, a number of muzzles protruded from the surface of the weapon, setting the city ablaze as far as the eye could see.

It looked like a flying flamethrower.

Chloe: There are fires all over the city...!

Rutile: A nightmare... It’s a disaster.

Man: Th-this is the first time I’ve seen this kind of power. It’s never been this bad before...!

Murr: That’s because the moon is full! For those who are enchanted by it, their love digs even deeper on this special night.

Lennox: As expected, the cause of the weapon's outburst is the Great Calamity.

Shylock: ...It’s as that developer suggested: the mana stone placed in the weapon may also be at cause.

Mitile: Mana stone?

Shylock: Indeed. Perhaps the stone used was that of a wizard who longed to be one with the local scenery, and sank into the sea.

There is very little doubt that this was one of the reasons the weapon malfunctioned and turned violent.

 

Shylock: After all, he was so infatuated with the beauty of this city that he gave up body and soul, and willingly turned to stone.

The words Shylock had muttered earlier came back to mind.

——”I wonder what he would say if he saw what this city turned out to be.”

The weapon flew over the city, its mechanisms furiously operating with an ear splitting shriek. Figaro observed it, and murmured:

Figaro: “To see this haven change, this view I dearly loved taken away is unbearably heartbreaking. That’s why I'd rather put an end to it with my own hands.”

...Or something along those lines, maybe.

Rutile: Is that so?... It’s probably strange for me, a Southern wizard, to say this, but...

...I don’t think destroying something that hurt them suits the Western wizards.

Shylock: Rutile…

Rutile: Even when things go wrong, the Western wizards can always find fun in the situation.

That’s what I love about them.

I don't know if I could ever love a place deeply enough to become one with it. 

That’s such a curious, poetic love...

Still, I can't imagine hurting a city I adored, and live on with the pain of losing a scenery I loved.

Shylock: ...You may be right.

Tubal, the wizard who yearned to be one with the littoral, and who ultimately sank to the bottom of the sea—

We were all somewhat saddened at the thought of his pure devotion.

I wonder how he feels right now, torn away from the seascape he cherished, now a key part of a weapon against his very desires.

Murr: Well, that sure is an interesting perspective. How can you mourn for a mana stone, something that’s nothing more than the manifestation of death, as the soul of the deceased?

People and wizards die, and nothing more. That reckless threat under the influence of the Great Calamity is a danger, and nothing more!

Rustica: Instead, why don’t you consider this: we, Western wizards, can express quite the exaggerated panic when startled, don’t we?

Perhaps he is flying around, asking for someone to offer him a hand, at complete loss.

I looked up to the sky. Just like what Rustica said, what I found horrifying seconds ago now seemed like a friend in trouble.

Shylock lowered his eyes and smiled.

Shylock: In that case, we have to help him. Not only was he a wonderful wizard, but he was also my dear acquaintance.

Chloe: ...Yes! I don't know how difficult it’ll be, but we'll stop him no matter what.

Even if things change, destroying something you love isn’t right.

If it were me, I wouldn’t be able to handle it. So let us help you, Shylock.

Even if I were only a stone, if I were that friend of yours, I'm sure I'd love you lots too!

Shylock: Chloe…

 

Rustica gently placed his hand on Chloe's shoulder, nodding.

Rustica: We shall rescue him. He must not let himself become something that compromises his love..

Shylock: ...I feel the same.

Even as Oz was conquering the world, he did not lay a hand on this city.

He must be the one who is hurting the most, being used as a mere tool to burn down a city—one that was protected even from the destruction of war.

Akira: Murr, how do we stop the weapon?

Murr: The easiest way is to smash it to bits with brute force, like Oz!

Man: You can’t! That’s my…

Murr: Don’t you think that’s better than crushing you to pieces?

Man: I-I do!

Shylock: Surely, we could stop it that way, however…

If I may be so selfish, I would like to remove the mana stone from the weapon. Is that possible?

Murr: Wow, I didn’t know you were so attached to him.

Shylock: Murr.

Murr: It’s not impossible! Just stopping its course should be fine.

If there’s one thing that can fight fire, it’s water. Luckily, we’re close to the ocean, so let’s get all the seawater we can!

——
[Sky]

Chloe: Rutile, over there!

Rutile: I’m on it! Let’s overwhelm it and get it to the ocean!

Instinct to flee from enemies seems to be inherent in Magical Science weapons as well.

As the wizards approached, it fled their reach, trying to avoid being caught.

Taking advantage of this, Chloe and Rutile tailed the weapon and gradually drove it towards the coast.

Rutile: If we keep flying, we’ll make it there soon...!

Chloe: Alright, I can see the ocean! Rutile!

Rutile: Got it!

Chloe: 《 Suispicibo Voitengok 》 !

Rutile:  《 Ortonik Setomaouge 》!

As the two of them chanted their spell, only the edges of the weapon lit up like a flare.

Murr: That's our cue! Scoop up all the water from the seas!

《 Eanul Rambul 》 

Rustica: 《 Amorest Viesse 》 

Lennox: 《 Forsettao Meiuvat 》

Mitile: 《 Ortonik Sealsispilce 》 

Their magic combined made the water lift up into a large mass, as though scooped up by the hands of a giant—

And it was immediately thrown over the weapon.

Now bathed in salt water, both the flames and the machine stopped moving for a moment, as if drowning.

Figaro: It’s our turn, Mitile.

Mitile: R-right!

Figaro:《 Possideo 》

Mitile: 《 Ortonik Sealsispilce 》  

Figaro and Mitile cast their spells at once. The weapon froze in the blink of an eye, their magic aided by the water that had engulfed it seconds ago.

Mitile: Yes…!

Chloe: It stopped!

Murr: It won’t last long. As soon as it melts, it’ll heat from every inch!

You’ve got only one chance, Shylock, have fun!

Shylock: I will.

Shylock, astride his broom, dove towards the frozen weapon.

Brushing the surface of the ice with his outstretched hand, he faced what looked like the muzzle of a gun.

Shylock:《 Inviebelle 》 

His palm glowed, following the incantation’s call—and the weapon’s core glowed in response.

In an attempt to pull the mana stone out of the weapon, Shylock cast an additional spell.

Shylock:《 Inviebelle 》 !

A brilliant shine broke open the fuselage.

But at that moment, the weapon roared to life once more.

Lennox: …! That doesn’t sound good.

——————

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