Luomei’s Courage and the Flow of Mana

“Heeheehee~ Everyone, please look this way~”

The scene unfolded before us.

Of course, right at the center of the display was our little squirrel.

‘Is this some kind of projection magic?’

“Next, please enjoy this challenge through this small window~”

Without me, Luomei, having any idea, the live broadcast of my challenge had begun…

****

(Luomei’s perspective)

Lord Howard’s challenge had ended in failure. It was a great pity, as he had fallen short by mere points.

Yet, for anyone watching, this was a challenge profoundly unsuited to him. To have achieved what he did was already remarkably impressive.

No one would blame him for the outcome. It was he, himself, who found it impossible to accept.

This was understandable. Beneath his rugged exterior lay a delicate, gentle, yet passionate heart.

I had always sensed this about him, but after spending yesterday together, I became even more certain of my observation.

Whenever I faced difficulty or fear, he would gently extend a helping hand. In trivial matters, he would often reveal a youthful, almost maidenly side.

However, the fellow in the smiling mask, dressed akin to a jester, actually dared to mock Lord Howard, who had given his all!

This was an affront I could never forgive.

Therefore, I summoned my courage and volunteered as the challenger for the fourth round.

Though the nature of the challenge remained unknown, and the pressure was undeniably daunting, I simply could not allow anyone to harm my friend!

[Just having courage at the critical moment is enough.]

Miss Anis’s words echoed in my mind.

She, who spoke those words, was like a protagonist from a novel, etching them deeply into my heart.

If not now, when was I to show courage?

Thus, I resolutely stepped into the forest.

“Pay attention~ The requirement for a successful capture is: your hand must touch the bird~ As long as contact is made, it counts as caught. Even if it flies away afterward, your attempt is still considered a success.”

“The count still applies~ How about it? This challenge is quite simple, isn’t it?”

It certainly sounded that way.

However, upon entering the forest, I discovered this challenge was far from simple.

The birds were entirely green, blending almost perfectly with the foliage when perched on trees, making them virtually invisible to the naked eye.

Finding them alone was difficult enough. On top of that, they were also exceptionally sensitive.

After much effort, I finally located a small bird pecking at berries on a tree. Since it was perched on a branch roughly four meters above the ground, I could only attempt to catch it with magic.

Yet, the moment I initiated the spell, the bird detected it.

“Chirp!”

Before I could even blink, it vanished from sight in a mere instant.

‘I had used a trap spell, one renowned for its stealth, a capture magic that emitted virtually no mana flow upon activation. How could it have sensed me?’

‘There was nothing for it. I had to search for another.’

****

(Still Luomei’s perspective)

Following that, I made numerous other attempts.

For instance, I chose speed-enhancing spells, hoping to outpace and grab a bird, or I tried pre-setting trap spells and herding the birds into them. I even resorted to long-range sniping spells, hoping to strike them before they could react.

Without exception, every attempt ended in failure.

Each time, the bird would detect me in advance and flee.

Left with no alternative, I could only attempt to climb a tree and capture one directly with my bare hands.

However, I knew well that with my arm strength, climbing without magic would be exceedingly difficult.

Even so, this was the only viable option left.

Without hesitation, I wrapped my arms around the thick tree trunk.

My first attempt failed.

As expected, I tumbled down, the noise scaring off the bird. I would have to find another and try again.

My second attempt also ended in failure.

My skirt was torn, but it was hardly a concern.

My third attempt… then the fourth… the fifth!

At last, I had successfully climbed!

So, what now…

Straddling the branch, I extended my hand, attempting to grasp the green bird. Yet, the instant my hand was about to make contact, it simply flew away before my very eyes.

“How could this be…?”

A heavy shadow immediately enveloped my heart.

‘I wanted to cry so badly…’

‘No… now was not the time for tears.’

When I had encouraged Lord Howard, I had urged him to calm down. Therefore, I, too, must be strong!

“Slap!”

I slapped my own cheeks, hoping to steel my resolve.

‘If this had been the old me, I surely would have burst into tears by now, wouldn’t I?’

‘Did this mean I had grown, even just a little?’

Setting aside these extraneous thoughts, I began to recall everything that had just happened.

Though gluttonous, they constantly pecked at the berries on the trees, inadvertently exposing themselves. Yet, their reactions were swift; they would flee instantly before a spell could even fully manifest.

They would also immediately flee upon seeing a person, though their senses were much duller when it came to humans compared to magic.

Then, a crucial question arose.

“If these birds are so sensitive to mana, then why did one remain on Grinning Darby’s hand at the very beginning?”

I had once read that demons inherently possessed a constant mana leakage, and only a select few could conceal this mana. Even then, it was highly unstable and unsustainable.

Upon casting a new spell, the mana leakage would inevitably reappear. According to the texts, this characteristic served to identify their own kind, and to display status and differentiate ranks.

However, Grinning Darby had clearly conjured grain with magic, and the bird hadn’t fled. If it was because the bird was created by Grinning Darby and thus unafraid of his mana, then why did the subsequent flames cause it to flee?

‘Perhaps the biggest difference lay in the casting distance?’ Perhaps these birds weren’t sensitive to mana itself, or perhaps Grinning Darby had deliberately staged a performance. Yet, judging from all the previous signs, I leaned towards this being a fundamental rule.

‘If not mana sensitivity, then what exactly was provoking them?’

‘Could it be… not mana, but some other flowing energy?’

Reflecting carefully, each time they had fled when the spell was only halfway generated.

Having conceived of a possibility, I decided to begin my attempt.

First, I drew a magic circle beside a bush. Then, I placed the remaining berries from yesterday upon it.

Finally, I concealed myself within the bushes, one hand pressed against the magic circle, ready to activate the spell at the swiftest possible moment.

I did not know how much time remained. Previous trial and error had consumed a significant amount of time.

But I had to wait patiently.

I don’t know how much time passed, but my patience was rewarded.

“Chirp… chirp…!”

Several small birds landed beside me, pecking at the berries I had laid out. They seemed utterly oblivious to my presence.

Now!

I channeled mana into the circle, and a cage of vines instantly shot up. This time, the green birds had no time to react! By the time they prepared to flee, their escape route was already sealed!

Indeed! They could detect the *flow* of mana, not mana itself!

“I succeeded…!”

The moment I prepared to grasp these birds, the entire forest dissolved into block-like particles.

Of course… the birds, previously trapped within the cage and ready to be grasped, also vanished.

“Heeheehee—!”

Simultaneously, the smiling masked face appeared before me.

“What a pity~! Time’s up! Challenge—Failed!”