ALL NOVEL Chapter 179
“What the…?”
A massive boom. Thick dust. Sticky magic.
The vanished mountain peak. As I lightly landed on it, I sipped a potion while narrowing my eyes.
“…I didn’t do this.”
Pummeling it into the air and slamming it down—that part I did do.
But this kind of result? That’s not something I made happen. I didn’t want it to happen either.
I only decided just a minute ago to fight while keeping the kids safe. There’s no way someone like me would be fighting like this.
In the first place, with my current strength, I couldn’t possibly generate this much power. How could a mere 6th Rank like me erase a mountain peak?
This was the work of an Apostle.
It seemed I unleashed magic along with whatever I swallowed right at the moment of the descent.
Beneath my feet, human femurs, radii, and skulls were being crushed. The concentration of magic had thickened.
Did it realize I might go in for another hit?
Did it instinctively understand that it could die if it took a few more hits?
If that’s the case, it means it still had a bit of intelligence regarding battle, not just the instinct of gluttony.
“Not exactly the same as 400 years ago…”
I scratched my ear as it started to tingle and moved forward.
Fortunately, the student who died in that explosion isn’t here for now.
However, there are three students who are critically injured, teetering on the edge of life and death.
First, I approached those students and sprinkled potion on them. Then, one by one, I grabbed them by the scruff of their necks and tossed them down below.
The broken bones from falling would heal with the potion, but the magic wouldn’t be purified.
But if they have the will to live, they should be able to hold their breath until this battle ends.
If they give up, well, there’s nothing I can do about that.
I fixed my bandages. I tore my sleeves to make them sleeveless and boldly ripped my pants into easy-to-move shorts.
I tied back my loose hair and took off my already-torn bra.
“…It was definitely better being a guy.”
If I were a guy, I would’ve just ripped my shirt off without hesitation.
Grumbling, I checked my physical condition.
Yep, both shoulders are dislocated. Left elbow is barely holding on, and my right ankle is already wobbling.
I took a single potion, and yet it didn’t help.
I wasn’t attacked by an Apostle.
I just exhausted my body by pushing myself too hard.
Celestial Moon and Falling Star.
A technique that Arisa used regularly.
I knew what it was but didn’t know the name, yet her book detailed the name and power distribution quite meticulously.
So I tried using it once… but in this body, it’s definitely too much. Of course, the fact that the thing is ridiculously tough might also be a factor, but my body is just too weak.
“Someone who’s a chimpanzee really is using only unnecessarily brute techniques.”
I downed a higher-grade potion than the last one and walked toward the spot where the Apostle crashed.
I can’t see clearly ahead, but judging by the quiet, it seems to be focusing on recovering while absorbing the magic it unleashed.
In fact, the concentration of magic, which had almost suffocated me, was slowly thinning.
Of course, I wasn’t planning to let it recover in peace.
If I give it just a little more time, the monsters that consumed the gluttonous magic will swarm to protect the Apostle.
If we’re talking about the local monsters, there’s no doubt there are dozens of them. It would be a perfect massacre waiting to happen for the students sprawled out and unconscious on the ground.
That would be a huge headache for me, too.
So, I’ll kill it as quickly as possible.
“Yurasia’s side… should be fine, right?”
Stella should be there, so there shouldn’t be any issues.
Even if Stella runs out of mana, I’m sure she’ll somehow protect the kids.
I believe in Yurasia.
Thud-Thud—
I checked my ankle and firmly planted my feet.
*
The professors scraped at the floor of their Dantian to break through the barrier of magic and poured mana into it.
Their skills were certainly not low.
To become a magic professor at Karela Academy, one must complete at least the 6th Circle.
Moreover, the professors gathered here had all completed the 7th Circle.
Yet, the barrier remained intact.
The interpretation had long been finished. They accurately understood what had formed this barrier.
So now, all they had to do was pour mana into the basis of the barrier like filling a water jug.
But that jug was enormous.
Even with thirty professors pouring in mana, it barely filled halfway.
But that’s not the end of it.
Dozens of monsters were swarming in.
Over a hundred beasts had become monsters.
The tiny insects, the bugs burrowed underground, the ones hiding in the trees.
The roots of the trees, the pitiful wildflowers, the fallen leaves, the flower petals, the wind.
Everything was out to kill humans.
Why?
Those gathered here didn’t know what was causing this phenomenon, but one thing was certain:
Everything around them, except for humans, was the enemy of humans.
In such a situation, the students fell into a panic.
They were only first-years. No matter how many of the continent’s prodigies were gathered, they were still first-years.
They weren’t equipped to handle this as 17-year-old students.
The professors were no different.
The era of peace.
An imperfect peace, just a truce, yet they lived in the era of peace. Professors who lived in that era often had little to no experience on the battlefield.
So even if they possessed the strength to wield, many professors were paralyzed by fear, unable to utilize it effectively.
But they didn’t remain idle.
Out of a desire to live, because their livelihoods were at stake, out of pride, because they had to protect their students—those damned monsters.
Everyone did their utmost for their own reasons.
Among those professors, there were those with rich experience on the battlefield who were leading the situation, stepping forward to vanquish the monsters.
Among the students as well, those from the Signia Class were doing their best to fight against the monsters.
And in front of those humans, a blonde girl was slaughtering monsters.
Swoosh—!
The cherry blossom-patterned sword of Eustetia gleamed sharply. The blood of monsters splattered.
“Behind you, Yurasia!”
Swish—
Before Stella’s words could finish, Yurasia’s sword swung. The head of a monster missed by another professor flew through the air.
Then, the arm of a monster that had shot up from the ground was sliced to pieces. Before the blood even touched the ground, the azure blade exploded outward, cleanly severing the limbs of the monsters targeting the students.
And then, above the writhing remains of the monsters left only their torsos, other students’ magic, blades, fists, and kicks came raining down mercilessly.
Without watching any of those monsters die, Yurasia once again firmed her stance.
She cut down the monsters charging towards the professors who were struggling to break through the barrier.
The priests struggling to purify the dispersed magic, the ones healing the injured students, the high priests creating holy water.
The monsters threatening them were also brutally felled by Yurasia’s sword.
This chaotic battlefield also had other professors. They too were casting spells, wielding swords, thrusting spears, and striking with their fists.
But Yurasia was overwhelmingly faster and more brutal in killing the monsters than those professors.
“Yurasia, are you… hurt anywhere…?”
“Yeah, I’m fine.”
Covered in the blood of monsters, Yurasia roughly let her hair down as she caught her breath.
Stella, who was watching that scene beside her, couldn’t help but shiver.
It was the first time she saw Yurasia wear such an expression.
Had she ever seen her sister brandishing a sword seriously? Had she ever looked so filled with murderous intent?
Never once.
And it was the same for Pina.
Yurasia always embraced her every time Eliaernes cursed, always treating her to delicious things, always wearing a kind smile to everyone.
But now, she seemed… like a different person.
Her eyes, which once held such a clear and refreshing light, were now filled with a strange aura. The corner of her mouth, which had never twisted down, was now contorted viciously.
The slender jawline was taut, muscles protruding as she clenched her teeth, and in the hand that had once gently patted her head was the bloodied sword crusted with the monster’s flesh.
It was terrifying. Frightening.
Without a doubt, she was moving to protect me, to protect us, to protect people.
Yurasia would never harm herself.
She would protect people.
Surely that’s how it was.
Pina found Yurasia frightening.
It wasn’t just because she was holding a sword, or because her expression was fierce, or because she was exuding killing intent.
It was primal fear.
A fear that was fundamental.
The spirits were trembling in fear.
Like facing a predator.
“…I’m sorry, Pina. It’s scary.”
Perhaps sensing Pina’s true feelings, Yurasia smiled bitterly and tried to move away.
“…Pina?”
But Pina firmly held Yurasia’s hand and shook her head. At that moment, a light burst forth from Pina’s fingertips and seeped into Yurasia’s body.
Her wounds healed completely.
But the speed of it was just too fast.
For a moment, Pina felt a sense of bewilderment.
But there was no time to ask Yurasia as monsters were swarming again.
“Thank you.”
Smiling lightly, Yurasia shook off the monster’s flesh stuck to her sword and gently caressed her temple.
On the tips of her delicate white fingers, something sturdy and rough could be felt.
Something that doesn’t exist in humans.
Something that shouldn’t exist.
In this world, only the Demon Race possesses it.
Because of that, it should never be discovered.
Black, ominous, and hideously-shaped.
A half-formed demon horn.
Yurasia touched the small horn protruding from her left temple and bit her lip.
It had grown a fortnight earlier than expected.
Why? I don’t know. It doesn’t matter.
There’s no time.
If I’m exposed to this ominous magic any longer, the suppression of the magic may break.
If that happens…
The one who always smiled at me, helped me, believed in me, and supported me no matter what.
Eliaernes Eustetia.
The Young Lady.
My master.
My most precious person is in danger.