So, the fire seems to be getting closer, and I’m starting to hear a fairly concerning roaring sound. The ambient temperature seems to be increasing. On the bright side, it would actually be kind of cold until now, with the light fading, so it’s not like I don’t appreciate the extra warmth. Every cloud has a silver lining, even if the cloud happens to be a forest fire a few minutes from burning me alive.

Well, let’s consider what to do when the fire gets here. Assuming Anya doesn’t get back in time, I’ll have to get out of here on my own. Unfortunately, I’m not sure my safety harnesses will protect me from fire, so I’m going to have to find a way to remove them.

Following my initial plan, I pick up the largest scale I can find from what I peeled off the weird fruit earlier. They were sharp and hard enough to turn my hands into hamburger, so I think they might be able to pry open my harnesses.

Unfortunately the scales (and my hands) are too slick with blood and fruit juice to get an effective grip. But since there aren’t any other tools within reach, so I just have to try harder.

The fire spreads inside the cabin before I have any success, though. In a small bit of luck, the first area to go up in flames is at the other end of the cabin. I probably have a minute or two before it’s too late to escape. Or so I think.

It’s only a few seconds later, however, when the ceiling collapses on top of me and the bed in flames.

I black out.

*****

I’m not sure how long I was out, but when I come to, I’m still buried in flaming logs. I guess it hasn’t been very long. Quick status check: all my limbs remain attached.

I feel like I’ve been blacking out frequently. I hope I don’t have rbain damgae.

Amazingly, one of the log dropped rather neatly in between my legs, inches from my nether regions. It smashed the bed beneath me into wood chips, effectively destroying the object I was previously chained to. In other words, I can move now, even though my safety harnesses are still attached.

As soon as I discover that, I start shuffling between the gaps in burning lumber like a giant cockroach. I didn’t get beat up by Dad one-sidedly for years – or trained, I mean – for nothing after all. I’m pretty good at escaping danger as long as I have my mobility intact.

Don’t underestimate the cockroach. They never get depressed and don’t die easily at all. They’re the ultimate in living positively.

Well, I still kill them immediately every time I see them, like anyone else. I wonder if they exist in this world.

Suddenly, my eyes fall on a sharp-looking sword that seems to have fallen off the wall during the ceiling collapse. The flames don’t seem to be getting near the blade at all.

Actually, that’s wrong. The flames are actually getting sucked into the blade when they approach. In fact, the flames seem to transform into blue mist first, then get sucked into the body of the blade all at once.

Obviously, this sword is useful. I’m not stupid enough to leave it here, even though stealing is bad. I’ll just have to return it to Anya later. Since we’re friends, it should be okay if I borrow it to escape the fire.

I accidentally grab the haft a little too close to the blade at first. My fingers almost flash-freeze as I feel my strength rapidly leaving my body. Sure enough, the blue mist flows from my finger into the blade at a tremendous pace.

Fortunately the process stops when I move my grip down to the bottom of the haft. I’m glad I don’t have to leave it here.

With the sword in hand, it’s fairly easy to escape the house and sprint through the burning trees. Even so, I don’t waste any time.

Even if I can remove the flames in front of me with the sword, the fire is much larger than my immediate surroundings. Fire is hot even from a meter away, and I still need oxygen to breathe. I should keep running until I can’t smell smoke anymore or I’m going to suffocate before long.

*****

I’m not sure how long I’m running before I finally stop. Whether it’s adrenaline or something else, I think I probably beat my record for sprinting distance.

Actually, about halfway through, I started to feel like I couldn’t run anymore, but at that point I noticed some faint wisps of blue mist winding around my legs before sinking into my skin. Soon after, I felt like I could run a few more miles. Maybe the rules in this world might not be all that bad. That was pretty useful.

This sword is pretty fun, too. If I swing it really fast, some neat looking sparks come out. It’s not like I’m not interested in this new world with magic and such. Yeah, this is going to be an enjoyable experience from now on. No doubt about it, things are looking up.

Unfortunately I might not smell especially good right now. I never did manage to find a bathroom, and the stress just now may have solved that problem in the middle of running. So right now I smell like a mist of sweat, fear, mud, and, uh, the result of biological imperatives.

My first priority is to find some water. I hope it’s not poisonous.

Anya said previously that demons might try to kill me, but I haven’t met any so far. They’re probably fleeing the fire, so I should be safe for a little while.

Hopefully she’ll be able to find me soon. As expected, I’m a bit nervous without Anya nearby. Oh, but I have to wash myself first, this is really awful. If she finds me like this, her impression of me might fall.