Academy’s Genius Swordsman

#286

“The Kratir is opening the door. Have you made up your mind?”

【Hmm.】

Navardoze twisted his lips when he heard Lohrhon’s question. There were ten people in the makeshift conference room, including her. They were the staff in charge of the Allied forces’ brains.

They were deeply troubled, with expressions not much different from those of Navardoze. The absence of a certain person was driving them crazy. Navardoze, who was drooling, looked back at Adeshan.

【Hey, you still haven't been able to contact me?】

“Yes. Ever since it was cut off on the first day···.”

Adeshan trailed off. Even at this moment, he was sending a telegram, but Ronan’s reply did not come back. Did something really happen? Navardoze sighed softly.

【This is difficult. Honestly, I thought you'd come back around this time.】

“It’s starting to get a bit dangerous. As time goes by, it’s going to be more disadvantageous for us.”

The Allied Commander, who had been folding his arms, opened his mouth. The others nodded in agreement. The purpose of gathering the Allied Forces on the continent was to increase their forces, but it was also to wait for Ronan.

However, Ronan, who left to find the answer, did not return even after two days. Now was the time to make a decision. The staff members all turned their heads and their eyes were focused on Navardoze, the final decision maker.

【···Yeah. I guess I can't just wait forever.】

She sighed after a moment of silence. She had to rush in while there was still enough military supplies and blood. Now that all the scattered powerful men had gathered, it would be possible to defeat any opponent that wasn't a formidable one.

【I'm sure you've prepared a defense plan against the cult leader, right?】

“For now, yes. Of course, we’ll have to wait and see what the long and short of it is.”

Lorhorn agreed. They did not listen to Balzac's warning not to make fun of the cult leader. Lorhorn, who looked like a child, smiled.

“I think so too. Why don’t you give an inspiring speech and leave?”

【Speeches. I have no talent for that.】

Navardo smiled. As soon as she snapped her fingers, flames shot up the walls and ceiling of the tent-like conference room. Whoosh! The tent blew away to ashes, revealing the outside scenery. The Allied Forces, who had completed all preparations, were lined up in an orderly manner.

【Looking at it this way, there seem to be quite a few.】

Navardo raised his eyebrows. The armor and weapons, bathed in the sunset light, sparkled like stars. Even though only the best of the best had gathered, it seemed like there were at least a hundred thousand of them.

“amazing···.”

Adeshan couldn't help but exclaim in admiration. It was a sight that made his heart pound. A scene that he believed he would only see after ascending to the position of general in the distant future was unfolding before his eyes.

The empire and its friendly nations, the barbaric enemy nations that wanted to prove their worth through war and conquest, and even the small countries on the outskirts that no one had ever heard of. All the warriors who lived for justice gathered under the same flag. They had the conviction that they would definitely save the world.

However, no one among them was interested in Navardoze and his staff. They were all watching Kratir open the dimensional gate. Kukukukukuku…! The dimensional gate, which was already 500 meters wide, was getting wider and wider.

“This is truly amazing. Is this magic?”

“I heard that he is Lord Lorhorn’s disciple… Once this war is over, I will have to send my child to Pyleon as well.”

Even veterans who had been through all sorts of adventures couldn’t take their eyes off her. Adeshan, who had wiped her wet eyes, was about to speak to draw people’s attention. Navardoze, who placed a hand on her shoulder, shook his head.

【Let's just leave them to watch. This is the first time I've seen spatial magic on that scale.】

“Ah, yes.”

Adeshan collected the shadow mana. It was certainly a sight not to be missed.

Beyond the dimensional gate, a large lake appeared from above. It was the entrance to the headquarters that Balzac had spoken of. The sky covered with clouds was reflected on the still water surface.

“Ughh …

Kratir was squeezing every bit of mana out of his body as he expanded the portal. The convective mana made his long beard dance in the air. The bulging veins looked as if they would burst out of Kratir’s forehead at any moment.

A few more minutes passed. The cracks had widened to the point where they completely cut through the Allied positions. Boom! Kratir dropped to one knee and slammed his palms against the ground.

“Haaah-!!”

Choaaaaaaah! At the same time, the water filling the lake split left and right, revealing a world beyond the surface. And once again, the viewpoint tilted, revealing a landscape under a cloudy sky. The soldiers' eyes widened.

“Hey, it’s open!”

“That’s the headquarters···!”

“Those vampires really found out. This is disgusting.”

A horrifying sight unfolded. Everything, up, down, left, and right, was white. The sky, of course, and the few trees and grass. Even the earth beneath them was dyed an eerie white. Kratir, who had exhausted most of his magic power, staggered as if he was going to fall. Fault! Lorhorn, who had leaped through space, supported him.

“You’ve really grown a lot, Kratir.”

“Haha… I just sit in the principal’s office every day and dodge things, so I guess they should do this much for me.”

Kratir let out a weak laugh. Thunderous cheers erupted from the camp. He would now be providing support and recovering mana along with the other wizards. Suddenly, Adeshan, who was looking out the other side of the dimensional gate, narrowed his eyes.

“That is···.”

The enemy had not yet come into sight. However, defensive structures such as watchtowers and fortresses were erected at regular intervals over the wilderness. The Pale Castle, the headquarters of Nebula Clazie, stood proudly at the rear of the defensive line made up of buildings.

He looked exactly like a king escorted by soldiers. I didn't hear this from Balzac, but it seemed like they had prepared their own way. The Doge of Navarre muttered softly.

【It would be better to make it short.】

She knew well the power of a proper speech in this situation. Of course, she had no intention of dragging it out.

The eyes of the Allied forces, who had finished their appreciation, were already focused on her. Just as Navardoze was about to speak after a brief moment of contemplation, a shrill scream erupted from the middle of the quiet barracks.

“Hhhhhhhhhhhh! Up here, it’s dangerous!”

【hmm?】

It was a familiar voice. A small boy was pointing inside the dimensional gate, his face pale. It was Asel, a wizard she also knew well.

Navardo's eyes widened as he turned his head in the direction he was pointing. In the distance, a giant with a pair of wings was flapping its wings in the air.

Compared to the titans the Allied Forces had faced so far, it seemed somewhat weak, but that wasn't what was important right now. A spear made of light was thrown from the titan's hand, cutting through the wind.

“Hey, it’s a giant!”

“Did you know we were coming…!”

The soldiers who saw the sight belatedly burst into shock. Axel's face was filled with despair. The sky was still too bright to activate the star's protection.

“Oh, no!”

I never expected it to turn out like this right from the start. The spear of light was rushing straight towards where he was. Marja, who was swearing, ran forward.

“Damn it, Axel!”

“Everyone is in danger!”

Marja pulled Asher back, holding her arm around her. Braum, who was blocking the two, raised his great shield. Asher was about to chant a spell to try something. Kwaaaaang-!! Suddenly, a shadow appeared above their heads, and a loud explosion sound rang out.

“Huh···?!”

Asher and his party raised their heads urgently. Everyone's eyes opened wide. Tens of thousands of red scales were sparkling like jewels. As the thick smoke dispersed in the wind, a gigantic red dragon appeared.

“I, Lord Navardo!”

Assel was startled. It was Navardoze who had returned to her original form. She had shrunk in size to pass through the gate, and was now no different in size from Itargand. Of course, her unique majesty had not diminished at all. Navardoze let out a deep sigh.

【They don't even give me time to say a word.】

Those who survived were shocked. She simply took the spear of light with her body without any defensive spells and blocked it. The scales where the spear had struck were scorched, but that was all.

“I, I stopped that?!”

The followers of Nebula Clazie who were watching the scene from the watchtower were terrified. Even if it was an attack by an artificial giant that had descended into Lycopos's body, it was absolutely not something that could be handled with bare hands. It had been strengthened through countless improvements since Darman, who had been active in the Sword Festival.

“This. This can’t go on. The cult leader and the archbishops···!”

They were about to take their next action after failing to attack first. Suddenly, Navardoze spread her wings and rushed into the dimensional gate. Crunch! With a single flap of her wings, she closed the distance and bit the artificial giant’s neck.

【Cough···!】

The sound of crunching neck bones echoed. Ronan's blood-stained Navardo's teeth tore through the deteriorated star protection like a piece of paper.

Blood burst from the giant's mouth and soaked the white ground. The thick liquid had an eerie purple hue, as if to prove that it was neither human nor giant.

Kwaaaaang! As Navardoze swung his head as if to shake off the giant, the giant’s body crashed down onto the watchtower. The giant, whose spine had been broken, could no longer stand up. The screams of the believers who barely escaped being crushed to death rang out.

“Now, just a moment!”

“Kyaaaaah! Sa, save me!”

It was a desperate scream that made one feel sympathy. But unfortunately, that wish was not fulfilled. From Navardo's mouth, which was wide open, the hottest flame since the creation of the world poured out.

“Whoaaaaah!!”

There was no time to leave a will. The tidal wave of flames spread out, swallowing up people, giants, and watchtowers. Each watchtower had personnel who knew how to use the protection of the stars, but it was not enough to stop her fire.

Hwaruk! The flames that had stopped only after reaching the fortress, or rather the defensive wall surrounding the fortress, swept away in waves. Unlike the flimsy watchtowers, the huge fortresses stood firm like a breakwater. Navardoje clicked his tongue at the sight of the defensive wall that had become noticeably thicker.

【That's right. I don't think I'll give in that easily.】

Breaking through that defensive line seemed to be the first priority. The pale castle where the cult leader was located was far away. It seemed that I would have to exert some effort. At that moment, a pair of winged giants flew up from the fortresses located here and there.

“I, I···!”

The soldiers were astonished. It was as if three birds were flying above the forest. The sound of their wings flapping spread across the fields.

Their power was incomparable to that of the existing giants, but their numbers were not trivial. There were at least a few hundred artificial giants, and each one of them had powers similar to Darman, who had caused nightmares in the Sword Festival.

At that moment, when fear was about to spread across the soldiers' faces, Navardo, who had been holding his breath until his chest was about to burst, looked up at the sky and shouted.

【Advance! Destroy before it is destroyed!】

If this was a speech, it was a speech in its own right. Adeshan's voice, repeating the order over and over again, echoed in the heads of the entire army. An excited Orsay pulled out his own bone spear from his chest.

【Come on! You rascals!】

The spiral-twisted spear still belched out a sinister aura. The Shadow Archduke and his vampires shot out in the form of a rushing cloud.

Schlieffen, who was the first to arrive at the enemy camp, swung his sword widely. The wind drawn along the sword's path cut across the sky. Choo-a-a-aak! The head of the artificial giant that was about to throw its spear rose into the air.

【…..!】

The giant falling, blood-spraying creature announced the start of the final battle. The Allied forces began to charge, accompanied by a roar that shook the world.

****

“So. How are you feeling now?”

“Damn, how many times are you going to ask the same question?”

“I think it’s been about twenty times. Since you asked if there were any side effects, I’ll just keep quiet and answer.”

“Oh, really. Okay. So···.”

Ronan scratched his head as he listened to the Savior's words. A dizzying smell of blood wafted from all directions. The dismembered bodies of monsters were rolling around him.

Ronan, who had finished the ritual of the sea, immediately moved to the desert where Dinehar was with his savior. The scorching heat of the night had become a cold night wind and was brushing his cheeks. He scratched his head and blurted out.

“Just, ordinary.”