I Will Carry as an Academy Veteran

93

The boss of Act 3, Scene 1, the Imperfect Chimera.

[You are the boss of Act 3, Scene 1. You have encountered the ‘Imperfect Chimera’!]

[The ‘Chimera’ bestows ‘Extreme Fear’ on everyone!]

[All movements slow down to the maximum due to Extreme Fear!]

[Your bloodline strongly resists!]

[Your bloodline boils! It rages against the byproduct created by demons!]

[You cannot feel ‘Fear’!]

[Overcome all debuffs!]

[The surviving search team members join the assault team. You must defeat the ‘Chimera’ with them alone!]

[Assault team members: Adrian, Lien, Ernan, Reyna.]

[Pray for good luck.]

…Really.

That’s why it was described as uncomfortable, disgusting, and abominable.

In the original, the missing ones all ended up as ingredients for monsters.

Naturally, since they didn’t die by the hands of monsters but were directly used by ‘her’ as ‘test subjects.’

In the first place, the monsters leaving their habitat was just one of the signs of this horrible experiment.

And not stopping there, even in death, they became ‘her’ playthings, unable to truly die.

“Why is this happening like this…?”

“Step back.”

Yeah.

How could one not feel uncomfortable with this?

However.

“…Adrian, fortunately, Daisy von Schkross seems to be alive.”

“Mm.”

“I don’t sense Daisy von Schkross’s magic in this uncomfortable and twisted magic… Rather, behind that monster… Inside the cave, I can feel her magic. She seems to be trapped inside the cave.”

“That will happen.

The students of the Knight Department or the Magic Department in the original work had entered that monster… But Daisy von Schkross couldn’t become ‘one’ with that Chimera.

The ‘Chimera’ is a terrible monster created by mixing living people, and its magical characteristics are so strong that it cannot be easily dealt with.

It was mentioned in the setting book that if you touch it wrong, ‘the body you were developing can completely collapse….’

Her magic is special, a magic that has been passed down through generations in her family and cannot be replaced by anyone else.

Therefore, the possibility of Daisy von Schkross entering that Chimera is infinitely low. There was a possibility that she was killed by the Chimera, but fortunately, she seems to be alive.

“Senior Lien, Ernan, Adrian. Let’s get rid of that disgusting monster.”

As Reyna said this, a powerful magical energy surged beside her as she drew her staff.

Lien also nodded, and Ernan activated his ‘Hero Sword’ and tightly gripped his greatsword.

Yes.

With this level… it should be fine. Ernan has also grown, and although Lien is a Tier 2 character, she is stronger than most characters at the current point in time, and Reyna has already fulfilled the requirements for awakening.

I felt it when I shot the Lightning Arrow earlier. I invested too much magical power, but you can’t easily achieve that level of power with intermediate magic.

“Reyna.”

“Yes, Adrian.”

“Can you two handle that Chimera on your own?”

“…You mean, just the two of us?”

As I nodded, Reyna and Ernan had a slightly hesitant expression.

“It’s not difficult. Look at that Chimera. It can only do downward strikes and swinging with its arms. It has no blind spots due to its numerous eyes and faces, but because its eyes are focused in one direction like that, it is weak against frontal attacks or long-range magic.”

“…Wait a minute, then what about Adrian? After leaving that to us, what else are you going to do…”

“It’s nothing special. But it’s something that must be done. Of course, I’m not going to run away. When the time comes, you will know what I did.”

“I know that Adrian doesn’t do such things, and Ernan and I are well aware of that. But…”

As Reyna said this, she looked at the Chimera and then at me.

─Wooooo!

The Chimera let out an inhuman cry, shaking the ground with its numerous legs and arms.

“…I understand. We will try to handle that Chimera on our own, so Adrian, please be really, really careful.”

She’s worried.

I raised my hand and gently stroked Reyna’s head, then looked at Ernan.

“Ernan, I’m counting on you to take care of everyone.”

“Yes, understood.”

“Focus on the battle over there! Here it comes! The direction of its arm indicates a downward strike to the left! Wolfgang will use magic from the rear, and Ernan, please follow me!”

“Yes!”

“Understood!”

I watched as they entered into battle with the Chimera and then looked at the edge of the cliff.

Good, it’s visible. It’s there.

I have given them the strategy to defeat that monster. I entrusted it to those I can trust, and I ran to do what I have to do.

Now.

First, let’s meet the owner of that terrible pet.”

* * *

After Adrian left, Reyna decided to focus more on the repulsive presence in front of her than on Adrian, who was not present at the moment.

It is of enormous size.

Like a giant.

The hefty fist swung by that giant, and the seamless movement from the closely packed face.

However.

“Adrian told me.”

They say there is a pattern.

The terrifying and repulsive monster, with low intelligence, can only repeat the same actions several times.

It was said that if one targeted that, they could defeat it.

“I can’t be a burden anymore.”

Realized.

In the jungle area, his Lightning Arrow wouldn’t have had much effect if it weren’t for his ‘Create Water.’

In a flash, combining the situation and using the appropriate magic, what did he feel when he saw that?

“I am… not someone following behind, but a partner walking the same path together!”

Magic erupts.

Mastering magic of brilliant iridescent properties, Reyna literally began to dominate the battlefield with magic.

“Strangely, I don’t feel a lack of magic power as before, even though I just shared my magic power… It feels like it’s overflowing instead.”

Back in the days when she was a perennial vice-chair, using magic like this often led to magical exhaustion more than once.

But now, she feels like she could handle even more magic power without feeling depleted.

As Lien’s shield takes a hit, the spear, powered with magic, covers the surroundings in ice, halting the movement of the dreadful monster.

Then, Erhan, clad in a Hero’s Sword, carefully slices through the flesh to find the ‘core.’

“Erhan, your movements have changed.”

“Ahahahaha, it’s because Senior Adrian gave me enlightenment.”

Watching the junior scratch his head and move forward nonchalantly, Reyna realized.

I see.

This junior, too, is trying to follow Adrian.

A good way.

If the previous Adrian was hated by everyone, hated everyone, and despised everyone, now…

“It’s not the time to think about that.”

“Wolfgang! Get ready! I entrust this to you!”

“Yes! I’m ready!”

Now.

It’s time to rescue the foolish rival trapped in that cave.

“If I’m rescued, how embarrassed would I be? hehehe.”

It would be nice if he didn’t wail.

Thinking so, Reyna summoned 80% of her magic power and created a large ‘magic sword’ containing five attributes.

A brilliant greatsword of iridescent colors rested in her hands.

A magic she had always thought about.

A magic she couldn’t perform due to lack of magic power, but now, for some reason, she succeeded!

“Now’s the time! Wolfgang!”

“Yes, let’s go! [Unique Magic: Elemental Sword]!”

As Lien defends, and Erhan strikes, aiming for the ‘heart’… the core of the Chimera that has been exposed.

Rayna plunged the large magic sword with her own hands.

“…Those sacrificed, may you rest in peace!”

─Kieeek!

* * *

Always.

While playing the game, I had a question.

For instance, there could be a boss who summons minions, and while dealing with those minions, the boss might just stand there watching from afar, observing my actions.

In the ‘game world,’ there was an invisible barrier preventing me from getting close to the boss, and I couldn’t use ranged weapons like bows or throwing knives due to an invincibility judgment outside the system.

So, I pondered.

What if.

If it became a reality that when it wasn’t ‘me’ but other companions dealing with the minions, I could approach the boss.

What if the game, where I couldn’t advance due to an invisible barrier, turned into real life?

Running past bushes, crossing forests, a clearing emerged.

Taking out the staff from my bosom, then the dagger, I murmured in succession.

“I found you.”

Next.

As I extracted blood from the fallen human bodies and engraved symbols of rebellion on parchment, the girl looked up.

“What, what is this place…?”

Well.

“Because you kept informing me every time.”

I was watching all of you struggling in the boss battle of Act 3.

And there’s no other place where I can oversee all those battles at once except here.

“Great lineage.”

“Your bloodline boils.”

“The one you are ‘watching’ now is a descendant of the demons from hundreds of years ago!”

“Your bloodline is enraged!”

“Now, shout to punish those ‘demons’!”

A surge of disgust engraved in the bloodline rose up.

Yes.

The appearance of a girl like a porcelain doll.

However, covered in gold all over, with dim white skin, and red eyes.

Called a ‘marionette,’ but I know the true nature of that demon.

“Belanio.”

“Huh? How do you know my true nature, you, uh, you couldn’t possibly…?”

Without giving any room, I swung the dagger straight at him.

But as if not willing to just take it, he swiftly turned his head to dodge my attack, covering his mouth with his hand and chuckling.

“Oh my, ahahahaha, are you angry? But with that level of attack, I…”

“You’re noisy.”

I immediately dropped the dagger in my hand and drew a new one.

Seemingly not willing to stay idle, he tried to move his body away, but I was faster.

Remembering the boss’s evasion pattern when launching the first attack is the most basic of basics.

The end of the curved dagger, much like a fang, mercilessly pierced the ‘doll’s’ body.

At that moment.

Her calm face slightly furrowed as if sensing something.

[“You… This is… Surely not.”]

“Do you know that the Basilisk’s venom petrifies not only the body but also the ‘soul’?”

And before she could move, she took out a ‘yellow bead’ from her pocket, inserted it into the wound opened by the dagger, and shattered it once again through the dagger.

[“W-What is this…?”]

“This is the ‘Crystal of Petrification.’ From what I’ve learned, combining this crystal with the Basilisk’s venom allows you to track the prey affected by the venom.”

I know.

I can’t kill this guy here anyway.

As a safety measure, this guy’s body is now ‘dispersed.’ In the first place, he is a being without a physical form.

Whether or not.

If there is no given body.

Wouldn’t it suffice to strike directly at the soul?

“The venom will leave unhealable wounds on your soul, while the magic crystal lodged in your soul will reveal your ‘true location.'”

[“W-What is this…?”]

“Vellaneo, the bug that managed to escape without being sealed in the great war three hundred years ago, now hiding deep in the ‘darkness.'”

Whispering close to the face of the startled guy, as if terrified.

“After spending hundreds of years fat and warm underground, intelligence seems to have deteriorated as well. You must have had the audacity to crawl out with such mediocre confidence.”

The staff forcefully pierces the guy’s forehead.

The ceramic doll shatters mercilessly.

Kicking the staggering guy, completely crushing his upper and lower body.

[“Ugh…!?”]

Being ‘dispersed,’ he wouldn’t even feel the pain of his own body breaking.

“So rest assured, you will surely meet a ‘demonic’ end. Just as I have killed you over a hundred times with bare fists and tree branches.”

[“W-What nonsense. H-Hic!”]

Applying an irremovable debuff to the boss in Act 3 and attaching a magic crystal that can detect his location.

Now. Pitiful demon.

Try running away with all your might.

Wherever you go, I will come for your throat.

Stepping on the rolling guy’s head, crushing it.

At that moment.

A message appeared.

[Congratulations!]

[You have subjugated the boss Chimera in Act 3-1!]

“Hmm.”

Since it seems those guys have also succeeded safely, shall I head back now?