What should I do? What could I do?
After treatment, hiding her was the only option? I didn’t want that. Given how easily I found her, she’d be an easy target for other monsters. I couldn’t guarantee I’d defeat the horned ape either, making it a risky gamble.
I thought hard. Were there any other options? Was there anything usable among my resources? I searched my mind thoroughly.
The result was nothing. With the current cards in hand, I couldn’t do anything about this situation.
Before despair set in, I realized my thought process had ended in an instant.
My mind was racing. I could see many steps ahead from where I intended to arrive, outpacing my emotions.
The Puppeteer technique continued. The acceleration of my brain led to further acceleration, and my excess thinking speed demanded something to process.
If there are no options, I should create one, I realized.
My thoughts shifted and leaped forward.
An unusually specific process reverse-engineered from the answer appeared in my mind.
The basic principle of physical enhancement is to replicate the contraction and relaxation of muscles on both sides of the bone through changes in muscle fiber properties.
Normally, this is just a supplement.
But no one ever said it could only be used supplementally. To create new options, unconscious assumptions must be discarded.
It’s a matter of degree. Instead of using it supplementally for contraction and relaxation, repeat these actions as the main source of power. It’s no different from how regular muscles work.
I decided instantly.
I will now create a new technique. It’s not impossible with the materials on hand.
The foundation will be the enhancement of constant walking. This technique is designed under the premise that the upper and lower body are linked. So, keep the main structure of the technique, change the trigger and intensity, and make the lower body move automatically according to the upper body’s movements. Just change the entrance and exit of the existing technique and adjust the code for the approximately four hundred muscles in the lower body.
Before I knew it, my hands were shaking.
“H-hey…”
Air caught in my throat, and the process began.
The listed elements combined and expanded. In one cycle, from the moment my right foot kicked off the ground to when it landed again, recalculating all the patterns of contraction and relaxation for the four hundred muscles. Adapting to forty-eight types of stops and fifty levels of jumps, the code to be adjusted reached about five hundred thousand groups.
Normally, this would take me days to process. But with my brain accelerated now…
The process finished.
How many seconds had passed from the girl’s perspective? Seeing her anxious face, I realized I had left her behind while lost in thought.
Finally, the idea of composing my expression came to mind.
“It’s okay. I… um, came to help you.”
I forced a smile and gently took her hand.
“Okay? Listen carefully. The enemy is coming. I need you to run away. For a short while, you’ll be able to run. When you swing your arms as usual, your legs will automatically run. I’ll make it happen.”
She nodded desperately, clinging to hope.
Alright, that can be considered a pseudo-approval.
“Rotate – Perfect…”
Huh?
I began the chant and encountered a strange sensation.
The technique was correct, but something felt off. What I was doing wasn’t wrong, but it felt like I was missing a perspective.
” – Granted.”
I shook my head to dismiss the unnecessary thoughts.
“Can you stand?”
I extended my hand to support her.
The girl stood up safely. When I gently pushed her back, she cautiously took a step forward.
“The teleportation circle is… uh, south-southwest. If you go straight, you’ll find the path.”
I handed her a compass and pointed in the direction of the teleportation circle.
“Once you reach the teleportation circle, wait for rescue. I’ll come later. Oh, and… do you know the trick adventurers use in emergencies? If the enemy comes, touch the teleportation circle to move between floors. Monsters can’t cross the teleportation circle–“
As I explained, I turned to look at her and saw her bewildered face.
I realized I had left her behind again and, despite the urgency, couldn’t help but smile a little.
Surprisingly, she seemed to smile back a bit.
It looked like she had gained some composure, which made me feel slightly relieved.
“Are you okay?”
The girl nodded firmly.
“Hang in there. You’ll be safe.”
With those words, she bowed to me and started running.
She was running. With strides that seemed too large for a child, she quickly disappeared into the distance. The enhancement seemed to be working properly.
I watched her go for a little over ten seconds.
It was close, but I had made it in time.
A horned ape lunged at my back.
The battle resumed.
It was the same high-speed combat as before. We changed locations repeatedly, leaping through the forest, exchanging deadly blows.
But there was no heat in it. Our movements gradually slowed, eventually descending from the trees to the ground, settling into a quiet standoff.
It was disappointing, but at this moment, it wasn’t a bad thing.
“…Sorry. Next time.”
The thrill was gone.
The horned ape growled and disappeared into the jungle darkness.
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I quickly headed towards the teleportation circle.
There she was, with someone else. It seemed they were treating her.
A familiar face.
“Heidemarie!”
“Vim!”
“Why are you here!?”
“I followed you! Then I found this girl collapsed! Oh, what a mess! What’s going on!?”
“How’s her condition!?”
“I stopped the bleeding and disinfected her! But she needs blood and surgery! I’m keeping her stable with healing magic for now.”
The girl was lying on her back, breathing shallowly. She looked slightly better than when I last checked, but still in pain.
“What should I do? What can I do?”
“Strengthen your running ability. I’ll continue healing her. You carry her and run ahead. Aim for the mansion’s infirmary. It’s early morning, so the clinic is likely closed.”
“Got it. Then, the approval declaration–“
“Wait, Vim.”
Heidemarie interrupted me.
“Are you okay? Can I trust you?”
I hesitated for a moment.
I wondered how to respond but quickly realized this wasn’t about that.
What’s being asked now is determination.
“…Yeah, I can do it.”
At least now, I didn’t care about myself.
We returned to the ground, passed through the adventurers’ guild doors, and ran straight along the cobblestone streets of Fielbron.
The mansion came into view.
People were gathered in front of the gate. Camilla was standing firm, giving directions.
“Heidemarie! Did something happen at the mansion!?”
“You escaped in a daze and headed for the labyrinth! I reported it!”
“Oh…”
“Give me the girl! I’m going to the infirmary, report to Camilla! And tell them to send priests!”
“Understood!”
Heidemarie took the girl, moved ahead, and headed straight for the infirmary, passing the gathered members.
Camilla, noticing me, approached.
“Vim boy!”
My first thought was to report quickly, then, that I might get scolded.
I was ready for anything she might say. But I had to ask for the girl’s help first, even if I had to beg.
But it was different.
“I’m glad. Really… you made it back.”
Camilla hugged me.
The armor pressed painfully, and her strength and build made it suffocating. But it was a gentle embrace.
“There’s something important. Something you probably know–“
“Um, excuse me, Camilla! There’s an injured person, and we need priests! Heidemarie is in the infirmary!”
I managed to escape the hug and said it.
“Oh, right. Hey! Priest team! Vim boy brought an injured person! Head to the infirmary!”
At Camilla’s words, part of the line in front of the gate moved hastily.
“I don’t understand the situation. I heard you went into the labyrinth.”
“Yes, that’s, um, that’s true.”
“We were forming a search party. If there was no word soon, we were going in.”
I felt guilty. I didn’t think anyone would die, but I had already caused a lot of trouble.
I hesitated, unsure how to explain.
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Didn’t expect boss to just piss off because it isn’t in the mood anymore but it explains slow pursue. Camilla will also have to say that she couldn’t say in the next chapter.