1-Second Invincible Player in the Game

99. The Hunt for Instructors (2)

The shaggy professor, Gomon, had heard countless tales about Hessel.

He was a figure of great interest even among the professors.

Not only had he subdued the two intruders in the forbidden library, but he had also withstood attacks from Professor Rockefeller, a foe even he found difficult to handle, with nothing but his bare body.

‘He should be able to take down someone like Vermi with ease.’

On the battlefield, he was known as the Twilight Sorcerer, Rockefeller.

—

If he acknowledged it, then it was not only possible but more than enough.

‘Well, he must be confident to be hunting those b*stards, right?’

Gomon found such a boldness appealing.

He tore his gaze away and looked at the assembled troops.

‘The ratio of knights to mages is well mixed. Considering each individual’s abilities and personalities, the efficiency is commendable. The primary target is the mage’s neck, but the squad with the keen-eyed Limberton must be the mage-hunting team. The barbarian Asley also excels in mobility among the thickets. This is definitely promising.’

Gomon, as a professor, was well aware of the traits of his exceptional students.

Each possessed talents that complemented their foes quite well.

“Then, Hassel Ben Tenest. I’ll entrust Vermi to you. Let us pursue the other two.”

With a flourish of his staff, Gomon set the course.

Blue footprints began to emerge in three distinct paths along the forest trail.

This was a tracking spell, a blend of earth elemental magic and manifestation magic.

Rix’s eyes sparkled with excitement.

“Professor, that’s incredible! When can we learn such magic?”

“You’ll learn it in your second year. But don’t get your hopes too high. If the opponent is determined, they can erase their traces even from this spell. In this case, they likely left traces on purpose, hoping you would follow.”

At that moment, Hassel stepped forward.

Gomon appreciated his initiative.

Yet, the direction was wrong.

“Hassel Ben Tenest. The right path is where the mage went. You lot are to the left.”

“······.”

The professors led the students into the chase.

Left alone before the thicket, Hassel furrowed his brow as he watched Gomon’s back.

“…Do you hold some grudge against me?”

* * *

Standing blankly before the thicket, he turned his head.

He gazed wistfully at the Shulafe encampment, formed through logging.

What would happen if he returned like this?

Best to refrain from such pointless questions.

The chances of being exposed as a hollow shell would only increase.

If he did not wish to hasten the nightmares he had been having for days into reality, his legs had to move.

Moreover, the strategy he had envisioned had completely unraveled, necessitating his oversight on-site.

—

Ten minutes into the thicket, Donathan spoke.

“Well, the situation we feared has arrived sooner than expected.”

“Indeed.”

“You seem surprisingly calm. Do you have a plan?”

“Of course I do.”

Just pretending to be in pursuit, and with a simple, ‘I missed it,’ it would all be over.

Yet, such negligence would introduce a variable of increased difficulty.

That was a problem to deal with when the time came.

“Shall we at least feign a leisurely search for now?”

As the moment approached, I cast the most basic of basic spells, the White Light, at the tip of my staff.

Nothing happened.

…What’s wrong with my head?

I had momentarily forgotten that after casting a self-destruct spell, I couldn’t use magic for three hours.

With no other choice, I pulled a small lantern from my backpack and lit it.

Ping!

As expected, a transparent thread reflected near my feet.

One could say these were the kind of folks skilled at eliminating competitors.

This was a trap that could be quickly set up on the spot.

“Hmm, did they set this up even while fleeing?”

“They’re experts at taking down Pathfinders. Mad enough to develop their own tools.”

I attempted to disarm the trap.

In a rather reckless manner, I might add.

With a kick, the thread snapped! and high-voltage currents surged from both sides, enveloping my body.

Crackle!

At the ends of the thread were devices embedded with magic stones.

From there, lightning erupted in a fierce display.

Had it not been for the ‘one-second invincibility,’ my insides would have been charred.

“…Why did you stop again?”

“I just wanted to take a minute to rest.”

I planned to gather some excuse about getting caught in a trap and missing my chance.

—

Tattered clothes, a deliberate mess, and a chance to let my mana recover.

To achieve this, I walked, searching for traps like a treasure hunt, every minute.

Whirring—

There were beehive traps that even knights found hard to face.

As expected from creatures raised on honey laced with deadly poison, a sting could mean a fatal wound.

But really, they were easy enough to handle if you knew how.

Rustle!

In an instant, I sliced through three scouting bees and pulled out a sack.

Swiftly, I covered the beehive with the sack and brought the lantern’s flame close.

With a crackling sound, I pressed on.

‘Such cunning tricks, I am always amazed to see them.’

‘One must know such things to survive, wouldn’t you agree?’

‘Heh, perhaps.’

I was a bit taken aback.

It was the first time I had seen Donathan smile.

‘Why the sudden change? It’s giving me chills…’

‘It just struck me as odd.’

‘What do you mean?’

‘Do you know? Until now, I had only thought of you as a scoundrel. Your actions were nothing but cunning schemes far removed from honor.’

Now, that felt like an insult.

I didn’t know how to respond.

‘But as I observed, I came to realize something. You were doing your best in your own way. Despite your frail body, you never despaired or grew lazy. And in the end, you bore fruit, did you not?’

It seemed he was referring to the artifact of the swordmaster.

‘You mean the Mana Blade?’

‘Indeed. That is truly commendable.’

‘When you usually curse your unfortunate master, where did that come from?’

‘That’s why it holds even more meaning, I believe.’

Donathan’s voice was buoyant.

Now that I thought about it, when we first demonstrated it, I remembered how he had been happier than I was.

‘So what? It’s just a weapon in the hands of a rookie.’

—

—

After all, it was merely a pale imitation, trailing slightly behind the real thing.

What I learned from Henderson was nothing more than a coating of hundreds of golds infused with mana upon the blade.

‘That’s true enough. There’s still a long way to go.’

“Enough of that. Let’s focus. The beast isn’t lurking nearby, is it?”

‘Don’t worry. I sense nothing but small creatures.’

Next came the cursed talisman, said to be affixed to a tree, or perhaps an automated device that would unleash poisoned darts.

Those could be passed by without a second thought, requiring no particular action on my part.

Thus, I followed the green footprints, navigating through traps of a similar nature.

Had I traveled halfway, perhaps?

No more traps lay ahead.

And Vermi’s footprints veered sharply to the right.

“Hmm.”

The creature’s thoughts began to lay bare before me.

Despite the passage of time, I had yet to reveal myself.

In this scenario, the thoughts of a fugitive would likely be as follows.

Either they had been annihilated by traps, or the enemies had never pursued them at all.

Or perhaps, having waited so long without a sign, they were now watching from afar, terrified of a madman charging headlong through the traps.

In any case, all three speculations nudged toward a singular conclusion.

“The creature must have joined another instructor.”

A simple deduction.

If I believed they had been wiped out, I would have no reason to linger here.

If I concluded that no enemies had followed, it would naturally instill the thought that we were solely hunting the two instructors.

This, in turn, would lead to a situation where reinforcements would be summoned.

Well, if they had witnessed the trap’s devastation and felt a sense of crisis, it would be more akin to ‘That, that monster!’ and rushing off to seek help instead…

“Let’s see. This was the left path of the forest. Then, the instructor must have fled toward the center?”

‘That makes sense. To join up, they would need to pass through the center first.’

“Exactly.”

There was no reason for Vermi to take a roundabout way to meet the right-side instructor.

This meant that the likelihood of battle brewing was high.

“Our central position was surely led by the shaggy professor, Gomun…”

—

Facing two instructors was quite a daunting task.

If left unattended any longer, the likelihood of total annihilation loomed large.

Swish—

I pulled out my pocket watch.

Seventeen minutes remained until I could cast my spell.

With time enough to spare, I followed the footsteps to aid them.

* * *

Vermie darted through the trees, a grimace etched on her face.

Only one pursuer was hot on her trail.

How absurd that the professors would send just a single student to confront her.

Her pride took a hit in that moment, but it was fleeting.

After a long stretch of silence, she peered through her telescope to assess the situation, and it all made sense.

“That ridiculous fool…”

Vermie was left speechless, astonished.

What kind of wretch would fumble around for traps only to ensnare themselves?

It was chilling enough, but what truly gnawed at her was something else.

‘…How on earth can he still be standing?’

Even cloaked in aura, it was bizarre.

One would expect broken legs or at least some fractures.

Or at the very least, a scratch or two.

‘I don’t want to face him alone.’

Vermie tucked the glass vial filled with pills into her pocket.

For now, it was wiser to join forces with the instructors rather than engage in a one-on-one battle.

And if those professors dared to swarm that monster, it would spell trouble.

‘Swordmaster, I’ll take your head after I’ve dealt with the others.’

Vermie twisted her lips into a smirk as she gazed at the tree marked by the signs of battle.

Close.

The instructors and the Frost Heart were undoubtedly locked in combat nearby.

* * *

Gomon took no action.

Aiming his staff, he could only marvel in silence.

‘Better fighter than I expected?’

The opponent was an instructor.

In the dance of blades, Leana was clearly at a disadvantage.

Yet, there were moments when she pressed forward, taking a step closer.

Her recent rapid growth played a part, but it was the magic support from Rix and Klave that truly enabled her.

The instructor, shackled at the ankles, ground his teeth in frustration.

Clang!

As he struck with his sword, the shackles shattered into dust.

Though conjured by illusion magic, their weight was all too real.

The instructor readied his blade once more, pressing the attack on Leana.

Swoosh—

As he thrust, Leana twisted her blade to deflect the strike.

Still, her defense was clumsy at best.

A flicker of vulnerability flashed in the instructor’s eyes.

“Gah!”

Without withdrawing his sword, he unleashed a horizontal slash in a fluid motion.

With the might of his aura enhancing his strength, the blow was as powerful as a full swing.

Thud.

But a jolt of static electricity surged through his arm, paralyzing him for a moment.

Klave had struck him with an electric spell.

Leana, sensing the urgency, executed a backstep, escaping the threat of his blade.

“Annoying little pests…”

The instructor swallowed hard.

‘Impressive achievements for her age. Especially that red-haired girl… Is she not tiring at all?’

Even a talented student should be showing signs of fatigue by now.

Yet Leana showed no signs of breathlessness.

The instructor narrowed his eyes, channeling more aura into his form.

His focus was not on Leana, but elsewhere.

‘What a troublesome situation this is.’

Behind them stood a professor, staff aimed, merely observing.

He seemed ready to intervene should the students dare to kill with all their might.

To ignore him and attempt to take a life would reveal a gaping vulnerability to the man.

Especially against a Pathfinder, one who had made a name for himself even among the wandering troupe…

‘…Rock Owl Gomon.’

Yet, it was not possible to fight solely to the rhythm of Gomon’s whims.

With time, only stamina would be drained.

In this predicament, the instructor reluctantly drew forth a long-saved secret weapon.

It was a small box.

‘Who would have thought I’d need to use this precious thing here?’

Gomon grinned, as if he had been waiting for this moment.

“Have you finally brought it out?”

“Apologies for the wait, Gomon. Now, let us play among ourselves, shall we?”

Crack!

The instructor crushed the box beneath his foot.

Smoke billowed forth, seeping into the instructor’s nostrils.

* * *

Rix turned to Gomon, bewildered.

“Professor, what on earth is this?”

“It’s like a trademark of the wandering troupe. A potion that allows one to harness a fragment of a monster’s power.”

“Is such a thing even possible?”

“The resources of the Abyss are filled with the unknown. You cannot think in conventional terms. There are substances that provoke truly bizarre phenomena.”

The existence of the Life Herb, which purportedly extends human lifespan, had been proven.

This meant countless materials had been acquired and verified.

Among them were herbs that elicited strange reactions from specific monsters.

“As you heard when I explained the traps, those in the wandering troupe only study the twisted nature of the heart, you know? That too is a result achieved through human experimentation. In any case, consuming it could lead to disabilities, so you must never touch such things.”

Gomon’s jovial explanation left Klabe fidgeting.

“I-I don’t think this is the time for a lecture.”

With every breath the instructor took, smoke billowed forth.

Gomon, seeing the instructor’s bloodshot eyes, began to weave his incantation.

Stones began to gather around Gomon’s body, and soon a thick armor was forged.

“Ahem. Anyway, staying nearby will get you seriously hurt.”

It would be troublesome if he were to become a hostage.

“You should join the right flank.”

As if understanding Gomon’s words instantly, Rix stealthily led Klave and Leana away.

The students grew distant, almost appearing as mere dots.

In that fleeting moment, the instructor charged forward.

Thud!

The instructor’s sword struck Gomon’s stone armor.

Gomon grinned slyly.

“Hmph, looks like you’ve made a potion from Burrowbit.”

Burrowbit was a rabbit-like creature the size of a human.

From the instructor’s eyes and the bulging muscles in his legs, it was unmistakable.

The instructor spoke.

“The name Rock Owl suits it well.”

“Ugh, I hate that name. There are plenty of other cool names; why an owl?”

“Doesn’t your house even have a mirror?”

“Hmm, if I lost some weight, maybe I’d have a better nickname?”

“Well, fine. Let’s hope you have a satisfactory nickname in your next life.”

With all his might, the instructor pushed his sword away.

Crack!

His armor splintered.

But the feel of the sword was strange.

The instructor sensed the oddity and swiftly withdrew his blade.

Upon inspection, he found the sword blade smeared with a lime paste.

‘…Is this the curse of petrification?’

He couldn’t tell how many spells had been cast on the stone armor.

The instructor enveloped the entire sword in an aura, shattering the curse.

Gomon’s expression turned serious.

“With that sword, you might just be able to kill me. If that’s the case.”

From the ground where the instructor stood, stone spears erupted.

Shusush!

In a hurry, the instructor leapt into the trees.

Gomon, with a leisurely flick of his wrist, swung his staff.

Rocks shot forth in a straight line like cannon fire, and the trees began to crumble.

Crash!

The instructor hastily stomped the earth, cleaving the stone spears that rose from the ground.

Each time he dodged, he used his aura to accelerate; when evasion was impossible, he defended with invulnerability.

Cold sweat trickled down the instructor’s brow in this reckless war of attrition.

Meanwhile, Gomon showed no signs of fatigue, continuing to weave his magic as if playing a score.

‘…Damn it, the rumors were true; his mana is terrifying.’

If this continued, the situation would only worsen.

The instructor released all the aura within him.

He intended to settle it with a single blow, regardless of who emerged victorious.

Gomon raised an eyebrow, questioning.

“Hmm? Are we finishing already?”

“It stings my pride, but I must admit the truth. Had there been no elixir, I would have been dead long ago.”

The instructor charged, pouring all his aura into speed and blade.

Tatata!

Dodging the stone spears and rock cannon by mere inches, the instructor pressed on.

Just as his sword aimed for Gomon’s throat, the latter’s stone armor melted and surged like a wave, engulfing the instructor.

Crash.

In an instant, solidification began.

The instructor found himself trapped, his face the only part left exposed, encased in rock.

Gomon gazed at him with merciless eyes, aiming his staff at the instructor’s forehead.

“This is quite disappointing, you know. It was a splendid opportunity to teach the students about combat.”

The tip of the staff began to glow.

At the moment the instructor squeezed his eyes shut, they flew open.

A voice echoed from above.

“Use all your strength to unleash the destruction, Gurt.”

“Vermi?”

As the instructor’s expression brightened, Gurt stepped back, his eyes wide with shock.

Vermi, falling from the sky.

He aimed to land upon the rock that had bound the instructor.

Crash!