I Will Carry as an Academy Veteran

13

Incident of Act 1, Scene 1.

The official title is “First-Year Dormitory Monster Summoning Incident.”

The core of the incident is quite simple.

A monster unexpectedly pops out from the summoning magic circle of a freshman doing a summoning magic assignment.

As a result, what was a normal dormitory turned chaotic, with knight students passing by, including Ern, and finally, the 3rd-year “Knight of Light,” Lumen Reibns, rushing in to safely subdue everything without casualties.

…However.

For some reason, the start of the main story was pushed up by two days, causing everything to be twisted out of shape.

“Cursed.”

The incident had already occurred.

However, there were no passing knight students now, and thus, the protagonist Erhan was absent, and there was no ‘Knight of Light’ to step forward and deal with the demon.

That was when it happened.

A girl who had hurriedly run from somewhere grabbed my arm and said, “S-Senior! W-We need to bring the professor! I, I have to deal with the demon…!”

When I looked at her sharply, the girl blurted out something unsolicited.

“I-I’m sorry. I, I never even dreamed something like this would pop up…!”

Tears streaming, the girl looked towards the courtyard, her foot tapping nervously.

It was impossible for a demon to come out of the first-year basic summoning magic circle.

Someone had intervened to alter the summoning.

There was only one person at this academy who could make that possible.

‘Melud Elion.’

The fact that he had caused such a thing probably meant he had not been accepted by the Royal Mage Corps.

Are they keeping the basic premise intact?

Truly, it faithfully follows the original work in a ghostly manner.

“I-I… did something unnecessary… I-I wasn’t supposed to be doing… assignments.”

“Pull yourself together. A demon cannot come out of basic summoning magic.”

I placed my hand on the trembling girl’s shoulder.

“I have one request, can you listen?”

“Y-Yes…”

I looked directly into the eyes of the beige-haired girl.

“Run to the Rubrium Hall right now and bring Erhan from the first year and Lumen from the third year. Can you do that?”

“I-If it’s Lumen from the third year, the Knight of Light…”

“No matter what, you must bring them.”

At that moment.

“Everyone, step aside!”

In the crowd rushing out of the entrance.

The white sword of Kalen, shining brightly, flashed as it blocked the hand of Lycanslope about to reach the chest of a student who hadn’t managed to escape.

Without even turning her head, Kalen shouted towards the female student cowering behind her.

“Run, quickly!”

-Grind!

Dodging the enraged Lycanslope’s foreleg swing, she turned to the side of the wolf’s body and thrust her sword.

Of course, Lycanslope, who couldn’t just stand by and watch, raised its claws and countered.

-Clang! Clang!

The blade and the long claws clashed successively, sparks flying.

“I… I’ll try.”

The girl watched that scene and resolutely nodded her head.

“No, please leave it to me!”

With that, she left the dormitory and began to run towards the Rubrium Hall.

I licked my lips and looked around.

From the collapsed dormitory building to the screams coming from everywhere.

Think.

What is the wisest decision?

If left alone, the academy could be completely destroyed.

Then my safety, my survival, everything, would be at stake.

“Kalen….”

Rolling on the ground, despite being in a complete mess, Kalen was still fighting against the Lycanslope.

No matter how high a character’s potential is, that’s a story for after sufficient growth has been achieved.

At this starting point of the main story, Kalen was nothing more than slightly stronger than an average student of the Knight Department.

“Ellic….”

Yet, she stubbornly rolled, hitting her shoulder against the ground, gripping her sword tight.

‘Indomitable knight.’

A noble knight who doesn’t yield to any trial.

It was a movement befitting her to earn such a title in the future.

I watched her and walked forward.

Various emotions boiled inside me.

How much time had I invested in Seleneum Saga.

The sight of a character I had seen hundreds of times, covered in blood and in a vulnerable state… It was absolutely, absolutely not good.

“Do not come any closer!”

Kalen Snowhite shouted with a voice full of cracks.

“Kalen.”

As I blinked, a blue sphere appeared near me.

“Step back and prepare the Elemental Sword.”

“…!”

Kalen’s pupils widened as if realizing something.

Unlike monsters, ‘demons’ are incredibly resistant to physical damage.

Especially the thick-skinned Lycanslope is almost immune to physical attacks.

The only rival we had was the ‘Elemental Sword’ infused with elemental magic.

And only Kalen can freely wield the Elemental Sword here.

Whether she understood my words or not, Kalen jumped back behind me.

“Come, demon.”

─Kreaaargh!

The Lycanslope howled and leaped towards me.

A truly disgustingly fast movement.

I reached out my hand.

Casting a spell.

【Low-tier Wind Element Magic: Wind Blade】.

The magic that was cast turned the surrounding wind into blades, rushing towards Lykanslof.

The advantage of Wind Element affinity is the ability for quick casting within the same wind magic category.

This means that the unique effects of Wind Element apply even to low-level spells.

In particular, at Level 2, Wind Blade can cut through thick tree trunks in just three strikes.

*Thwack!*

“…I expected this.”

But the opponent is not a monster, nor a demon.

Not even intermediate, a low-level spell couldn’t pierce through my defenses.

I immediately ducked to avoid Lykanslof’s attack.

In that precarious position, a few strands of hair fluttered in the air.

“I know everything.”

In the eyes of Lykanslof following my movements, for a moment, my blue eyes shone.

How many times do you think I’ve played through this Act 1 Scene 1?

Even though it may seem like this, I’ve watched all the cutscenes and events without skipping each time a new chapter starts.

I know all your attack patterns.

As I stepped back, the demon’s left arm swiftly struck the air faster than a gust of wind.

“Even if you’re this strong, it’s hard to believe you become a low-level mob after Chapter 6.”

In the case of Lykanslof, the first attack always swings the right arm diagonally, then crosses with the left arm, and finally strikes the ground with both arms to cause a wide area stun.

The following attacks repeat these three movements, and you can identify them by the position of the arms. Sometimes it goes 1, 2, 3, or conversely, mixes 1, 2 in the middle, or repeats two movements side by side.

“3, 1, 1, 2, 1, 2, 3. Is this it?”

Upon hearing my muttering, Lykanslof swung its arms more ferociously.

And I deliberately dodged the creature’s attacks as if I were almost touched.

─Kreeeaaak!

Next to me, two blue magic circles appeared in succession.

Reaching out my hand, I chanted the spell.

【Low-tier Wind Element Magic: Wind Blade】x2.

*Thud! Thud! Thud!*

Successive magic strikes hit the demon’s side. Targeting the same spot consecutively, a few drops of purple blood splattered from the already marked area by the blade.

─Krrrunch!

I still had enough mana left to use Wind Blade one more time.

Aiming at the wound, as I was about to cast the final Wind Blade…

“Sir Adrian!”

Upon hearing the voice, I leaped aside.

At that moment, with frost swirling around the blade, Kalen, wielding a gleaming white sword, leaped high and…

*Swoosh!*

The blade descended from above.

Frost and chill spread through the air where the blade touched, and Lykanslof, belatedly noticing Kalen, looked shocked.

Her face covered in frost, she screamed, her light blue short hair flying wildly.

“【Attribute Sword: Truth】!”

‘Please.’

Please let it end like this, let me tie his feet.

I hoped for that, but this damn monster twisted its body with all its might, and Calen’s attribute sword ended up just cutting off the right arm of Lycaonslop.

Kwaaah!

Purple blood scattered on the courtyard, the arm flew spinning to the other side.

─Krrr!

Lycaonslop roared, clutching his opposite shoulder.

“Lord Adrian, that’s…”

“…I unintentionally triggered the blood clotting.”

The ice that spread widely where the attribute sword touched was stopping the bleeding of the severed left arm.

─Krrr!

Boooom!

As the enraged Lycaonslop swung his arm, the surrounding magic turned into waves and surged.

Damn it, what kind of tutorial boss is this.

Engulfed in immense magic, we were soon flung over the courtyard.

“Ah, Lord Adrian. Your body…”

“This is nothing.”

I stood up, supporting Calen.

Stamina 5.

If I had taken a hit properly up close, covered in blood as I was, I would have been dead on the spot.

Calen, seeing my bloodied body, clenched her teeth.

“…It’s my mistake.”

“You’re not exactly clean yourself.”

“I can still hold on.”

“I can’t trust someone who talks like that.”

It approaches.

My body writhed as if broken, but I stood up.

Lycaonslop, gripping my shoulder covered in sharp ice, bared his teeth and growled.

“Take the opportunity and escape, Calen.”

If I focus my mind to the extreme, I should be able to hold out for about 3 minutes.

I can dodge attacks from the likes of Lycaonslop even blindfolded, but stamina is the issue.

I have to endure somehow, no other choice.

“I can’t do that.”

“…”

“No one will be sacrificed here.”

Calen, who immediately manifested 【Attribute Sword: Truth】, stood beside me with a shining white sword, saying so.

Her staggering steps, just standing there, seemed burdensome.

Her arm leaning on my shoulder was trembling.

But she never wavered.

I saw it. Hands full of scars, swinging a sword of unknown history.

A realistic appearance never seen in illustrations.

Her personality and inner self that could not be fully understood through text.

I…

Reached out my hand and grasped her sword.

“Ah, Lord Adrian cannot wield a sword…”

“If you can’t do it alone, then let’s do it together.”

“… “

“Isn’t that the solution?”

As my hand gently wrapped around the hilt, frost and storm began to gather in the 【determined eyes of white】 that we held together.

Raising our swords side by side, we aimed towards Lycanslope.

Blood trickled down, but one eye remained open.

It didn’t matter.

As long as I hold the sword, with a flawless 1-hit non-failure count, I am nothing less than the strongest.

Did you enjoy it?

I hope you thoroughly enjoyed our battle.

Fiend.

“【Attribute Sword: Truth】.”

Immediately after.

A freezing wind swept through.