My Ruin to You - Chapter 214

It had been like that ever since they departed. She didn’t want to think about it, but every time she saw the ribbon he had given her, saying it was all he had, Valen invariably came to mind. She wondered what he had been thinking when he gave this to her.

Of course, it was a bit absurd that he had not only embedded a mana control device into her property without permission but also boldly asked for it back. Still, since she had promised to return, she had planned to come back splendidly and return the ribbon first.

So why did things keep going wrong?

[We should hurry.]

When Roseline added her opinion in a serious voice, Merrick stepped forward, offering to lead the way. Just as the other mice, who had been guarding the perimeter, began joining the line one by one to retrace their path—

[Please wait a moment.]

Giorno, who had been looking dazed, came hopping over and stood before Roseline.

[How long does the mana last?]

[About half a day.]

[Is it impossible to dispel it now?]

[It’s not impossible, but even if we dispel it, there’s a problem. We have no clothes.]

[Ah…]

Giorno sullenly bowed his head. Instead, Merrick interjected.

[If you do it, would it be difficult to transform into a different animal? Anything but a screamer mouse is fine. A weasel would be good.]

[Actually, I was aiming for a field mouse, but we got screamer mice. I don’t know how the mana might go astray this time, and since we need to maintain the transformation and restore stamina, it’s best to conserve mana as much as possible.]

[One mouse… no, one person is enough.]

[…Pardon?]

[Please cast the transformation spell on just one person. We need a horse.]

Upon hearing it, it was a good idea. If just one person was transformed into a fast beast and the others rode on its back, they could significantly reduce their travel time. Why hadn’t she thought of that?

[Me. I’ll do it. Please transform me.]

Giorno stepped forward.

[I’ll try my best.]

Roseline slowly regulated her breath. Then, recalling the horse that had just sped past them, she drew up her mana. A horse, it has to be a horse. Not a camel or a donkey, but a horse. Solely a horse.

As mana gathered in Roseline’s tiny front paws, still in her screamer mouse form, Armenia quickly drew up her own mana in preparation for the rapid consumption. The mice, huddled together, stared intently at Roseline’s front paws, swallowing gulps of anticipatory saliva.

Poof—

With a short, intense flash, the mana burst forth. In that instant, Giorno’s form, standing at a distance, vanished, and a deep shadow fell over the mice. The mice tilted their large heads back, disproportionate to their bodies, to confirm the massive presence.

It was Giorno, who had become a donkey.

[…It’s a donkey.]

Edan muttered.

[…I’m sorry.]

[Not at all. You did well, Young Lady.]

Merrick praised Roseline’s effort in a dry voice. Armenia, who had quickly channeled recovery mana into Roseline, also tapped her slumped shoulder as if to say ‘well done.’ Clap clap clap. The other mice also clapped their dainty front paws together in encouragement.

Hee-haw…

Giorno bent his knees, sinking to the ground, and let out a bray. He seemed to want to say something, but his words, now that he was a donkey, were completely incomprehensible.

◇◇◇

Giorno, with eleven screamer mice on his back, plodded along the forest path. At first, in his impatience, he had dashed off at full speed, but the mice were far too small and weak to withstand that pace.

They had to cling desperately to his mane and fur with all their might to avoid falling off, and with no way to communicate, getting him to slow down seemed hopeless. It was only after they all bit Giorno’s back hard in unison that they managed to get him to stop.

The valiant knights remained vigilant of their surroundings even on Giorno’s back. Any remaining Carnoc stragglers nearby were a concern, but wild beasts were also a threat. Shortly after they set off, a fox had appeared, drawn by the screamer mice’s cries, and birds of prey eyeing them were a common sight.

After the sun set, a pack of wild dogs, feeding on corpses, had bared their teeth and prowled closer. Fortunately, the knights unleashed offensive mana, scattering the dogs in all directions, but the battleground was a horrific sight. Charred marks, barbarian corpses, and shattered equipment were strewn across the blood-soaked earth. The stench of metallic blood was so foul that everyone held their noses when passing near it.

As they moved past the battleground and neared the front lines, the sound of hooves came from afar.

Giorno’s ears shot straight up.

The screamer mice on his back also adjusted their postures. This wasn’t an ordinary presence. Someone was charging towards them at a tremendous speed.