51. Cave

51. Cave

Woo-oong-

A red light swept across the cave. A low humming sound echoed.

The mechanical worm, which had been scanning the area as if searching for an intruder, detected no one and turned off its light, entering a dormant state. I don’t know if it’s a dormant state or if it simply closed its eyes.

“W-what is that….”

“Kkang….”

Seol-gu and I poked our heads out, trembling with fear.

The spiders were still mining ice crystals from the walls as if nothing had happened, and the very end of the cave where the worm was located was once again shrouded in darkness.

“Could it be that this cave… was dug by that worm?”

“Kkang.”

Aren’t most caves characterized by uneven ceiling heights? There would be stalactites and the like. The path would also likely be somewhat winding. It would have a shape that could be called natural, without much argument.

However, the cave we are in is not like that. The width of the entrance, which was surprisingly close to circular, had remained unchanged all the way to this end, and there were no stalactites or other notable formations.

The path is also like that. Even with slight curves, there were no parts that were excessively bent or narrow. It’s not impossible for such a cave to be formed in nature, but what are the odds?

And most importantly, the width of this cave… exactly matched the width of that worm. It looked as if the worm had dug the tunnel.

“W-what should we do….”

“Kkya-reung.”

“Attack it… What if something terrible happens!”

Seol-gu, perhaps not giving up even after seeing the terrifying giant worm, handed me the stone and pointed at the spiders.

But, setting aside the method, how could I possibly do something so reckless?

Let’s say I, Rang Seol-ah, the magical girl Magical☆Seol-ah, appear and shoot magic with a “pow!” But what then? What if the mechanical spiders and the giant worm are not incapacitated by that attack?

The worm’s red light shines on us, and with a “kugugung-” vibration… it might shoot a super-giant red laser beam! In that case, it’s certain that at least my tail will be completely burned off. I don’t want that!

“It’s going to be incredibly dangerous…!”

I suddenly remembered what Polar Bear Uncle had said. About the mechanical eel he met during fishing last time.

He said it attacked with a laser beam, right? Can I guarantee that this mechanical worm won’t use an attack with enough power to blow up an ice lake?

Perhaps the eel and this worm are the same machine. I can only see a part of the worm, but it looks similar to the description Uncle gave.

Even if not, the fact that it’s incredibly, incredibly dangerous doesn’t change. I scolded Seol-gu, who was being unreasonable, by rubbing his cheek repeatedly. It was soft.

Still, Seol-gu did not give up.

“Kkang-kkang, Kkyang!”

“This is really…! It’s dangerous!”

Is it a fox’s trait not to listen? Anyway, if Seol-gu were a wolf, he would have made a logical decision to run away, but this is why foxes are no good…!

Kugugung-

“Huk…!”

At that moment, the mechanical worm began to move with a loud vibrating sound.

I was scared, wondering if our presence had been detected, but fortunately, the worm started moving forward instead of towards us.

The worm slowly advanced, digging into the ground. The spiders followed behind it.

Unable to withstand the vibrations, dust particles rained down from the ceiling. Perhaps the cave collapsed earlier because the worm moved.

“It, it disappeared.”

Finally, where the mechanical spiders and the worm had disappeared, only the ravaged ground and a strong smell of oil remained.

… The scene is too tragic.

“Kkang! Kki-ing… Kkang!”

“No, even if you tell me to use the stone…! Hmph, fine, I’ll try it just once. If it doesn’t work, we have to give up!”

Amidst Seol-gu’s constant urging, I, exhausted, finally accepted the stone reluctantly.

The transparent stone, glowing faintly. It felt a little warm. But its weakened power was clearly felt.

I closed my eyes and concentrated. Clearing my throat with a “Kuhm,” I opened my mouth.

“In the name of love and justice, I will not forgive you! The brave magical wolf Rang Seol-ah appears here now☆!”

There was no reaction.

“See, it doesn’t work, you stupid fox!!”

“Kkang-kkae-aeng-kkang!”

I grabbed Seol-gu’s tail and shook it violently. It was out of embarrassment. It was my fault for trusting a fox. To utter such lines at the age of 8….

“Huk…! The light has gotten even dimmer!”

Moreover, as if something had gone wrong, the stone’s power became even weaker. I was scared that the light might go out completely at this rate.

“W-what should we do…! Seol-gu, do something!”

“Kkang-kkang! Kkyang, Kkang-kkang!”

“You want me to bark at the stone…?”

I’m trusting Seol-gu again. It feels like ‘Fooled again, Seol-ah!’ but since there’s no other option, I picked up the stone and cleared my throat.

“Woof woof!”

“Kkang!”

“It doesn’t work!”

As expected, it seems I’ve been fooled again. There’s no change in the stone.

… Or so I thought, when Seol-gu bit my tail.

“Kkaeng?!”

“Kkyang!”

“You stupid fox!! Why are you biting someone’s tail all of a sudden… Huh?”

The stone shone brightly. It was clearly much stronger than before. The warmth emanating from the stone was also much stronger, making me feel good just holding it.

“Could it be… that ‘Kkang-kkang’ is the magic word that charges the stone…?”

“Kkang-kkang, Kkyang!”

“Seol-gu, I can’t understand a word you’re saying.”

“Kkiing….”

Every time Seol-gu cried “Kkang-kkang,” the stone shone brightly. It felt like I had gotten a fun toy, so I kept charging the stone by crying “Kkang-kkang” repeatedly.

Although it didn’t get any brighter than this, I think it’s five hundred times better than the dim light from before.

It was then.

“Ki-ri-rik, Ki-rik….”

“Oh….”

A mechanical spider was watching me.

I thought they had all disappeared… perhaps one remained. The spider was looking precisely at the stone in my hand.

Silence descended. Only the mechanical sounds from the spider filled the cave. Then… the spider fired a beam.

“R-run!”

“Kkang!”

Fwoosh-!

A warm red laser beam grazed right past my tail. It wasn’t incredibly strong, but it was enough to burn my fluffy tail fur. I wrapped my tail around my body to reduce the surface area.

Then, after placing Seol-gu on my head, we started running along the cave, “uda-da-da.”

Fwoosh-! Phew-!

“Agh!”

The lasers are coming.

I could hear the sounds of mechanical joints devoid of any emotion. I never liked bugs, but the thought of killer mechanical bugs chasing me made it even more terrifying.

“Huk… the path is blocked!”

But our escape was short-lived. We eventually reached a dead end. I never thought I would resent dirt and stones so much.

The spider, realizing we were trapped like wolves and foxes in a jar, leisurely approached us.

Whirrr, Clack, Whirrr, Clack….

“Grrr… Kkaeng! Don’t come…!”

I growled at the spider. It was a terrifying wolf’s howl that would normally make any creature cower in fear, but it was useless against the emotionless machine.

The mechanical spider took a step closer.

With a “whatever happens, happens” attitude, I held out the stone and shouted. If I could use magic like Seol-gu said… please react, stone!

“Stop!!”

The stone glowed, and a cold wind swirled.

“…… Huk!”

Where the light subsided, only the frozen mechanical spider remained. I asked Seol-gu, dumbfounded.

“Did… it work?”

“Kkang!”

“It worked!”

I hugged Seol-gu and laughed. The relief of having narrowly escaped and the surprise of actually being able to use magic created an indescribable wave of emotions.

“I can actually use magic…! Like you said, I must be a magic wolf, Seol-gu! … Huh?”

The stone lost its light again.

At that moment, the entire cave began to shake.

Kugugugung-

“Uh….”

Something is coming.

Its mass is on a completely different level than the mechanical spider, and it’s advancing towards me. There’s no need to say what it is. All that’s here are the mechanical spiders… and.

“Kiiiii-!!”

The super-giant mechanical worm!

“S-stop! Stop…! Stone, give me strength…!”

I tried to use magic like before, but the stone didn’t react at all.

Perhaps the battery ran out from the magic I used earlier? Will it work again if I cry “Kkang-kkang”? But I didn’t have time to confirm that.

The mechanical worm was gathering energy towards me.

“Ah….”

I covered Seol-gu with my body.

It might be a meaningless action, but I wanted to protect Seol-gu like that.

My life flashed before my eyes. Being reborn, opening my eyes, having the most precious family….

If I had known this would happen, I would have told my parents and Sister more often that I loved them. If I could be reborn in this world, please let me be born to the same Mom and Dad-

“Seol-ah! Get down!”

“Whoa.”

At that moment, the worm’s face, which had been gathering energy, split in half.