episode_0048

It was a day that started no differently than usual.

In his own family, even after entering the Ardent Academy, he never missed a simple stretching and jogging before the morning class.

“Come to think of it, today is the day when Yukal’s training ends.”

Although there weren’t many interactions, considering the entrance ceremony, the brief moment they moved together during the mock dungeon exam, and how well he got along with Claire, a female student he often encountered inside the academy while attending swordsmanship classes, his behavior that seemed like a rampage was strange.

He seemed to have a competitive spirit, but he didn’t seem like someone who would recklessly draw his sword.

“I will explain about this later if the opportunity arises. Unfortunately, it seems we don’t have time right now.”

Since he had promised to answer clearly, he decided to ask right away once the training ended.

As he was quietly heading back towards the dormitory, until he heard a strange sound.

-Whyyyy

“It sounds like the emergency evacuation alarm that goes off incorrectly during an academy crisis.”

Thinking something was happening due to the loud noises at night, he was about to gear up and go out, but the professors stopped him.

Informing him that the emergency evacuation alarm at the Ardent Academy had been triggered incorrectly.

Thinking it might be another false alarm, he tried to ignore the ominous sound hitting his ears and move forward, but he began to sense monsters lurking around from all directions.

“This time, it’s not a false alarm!”

Quickly surveying his surroundings, the level and sheer number of monsters he detected were incomparable to those in the mock dungeon.

Perhaps the only fortunate thing was that it was early in the morning before the first period started, so there wouldn’t be many students outside.

Having just finished a simple jog and planning to return to the dormitory for a shower, he wasn’t wearing his usual black armor, so engaging in combat recklessly could be dangerous.

As he rushed towards the women’s dormitory to get his armor, he heard a desperate voice asking for help.

“Ahhh! Please, someone help me!!”

“Calm down. Even if I intervene now, if the opponent turns out to be stronger than I anticipate or if the fight becomes unfavorable numerically, it could endanger other students as well.”

Apologizing silently to the unknown female student, he closed his eyes and tried to head back to the dormitory, but—

“Sob, I don’t want to die like this, please, anyone help…”

Unable to turn a blind eye to that voice, he quickly cut down the monster reaching out its eerie arm towards the female student with his sword.

“It’s fortunate that I always carry my sword with me.”

Otherwise, dealing with that monster would have taken quite some time.

Considering the ominous aura emanating from it, it was likely a monster dwelling in the demon realm.

After confirming his own safety and perhaps feeling relieved, the female student ran towards him, tears streaming down her face.

“Calm down. I understand it’s a difficult situation, but not everything has been resolved yet. We should try to quickly join other students or professors and evacuate to a safe place without making unnecessary noise.”

Fortunately, the female student seemed to have understood his words, as she restrained her tears, covered her mouth with both hands, and cautiously got up.

“In the current situation, there are probably two suitable places to go.”

The first was to proceed directly to the female students’ dormitory he had intended to visit.

There will likely be many students remaining in the dormitory, and even if they are the only ones there, they may be able to withstand the monsters based at the dormitory.

Due to the high likelihood of many students being present, the faculty members are likely to prioritize the dormitory highly, increasing the possibility of securing the safety of the students.

Equipped with black armor prepared in their private rooms, they will be able to arm themselves.

Secondly, they will move to the Department of Swordsmanship building as it is.

Considering that the distance is only about half compared to the female dormitory and the condition of the female students, it seems best to quickly take them to a safe place for protection.

The hesitation was brief, and she opened her mouth, meeting the eyes of the female students so they could see her.

“From now on, we will move to the female dormitory. Considering the current situation, the risk becomes too great if we do not act quickly. I would appreciate your cooperation in urgently moving me.”

Naturally, the professors will notice the emergency and make efforts to address it, but it is clear that there is a shortage of manpower unless it is a simple invasion.

“If I want to minimize the students’ losses even a little, I have to step up.”

That must be the mission given to me.

Successfully carrying the female student and four more students along the way, they managed to fend off the monsters and almost reached the destination.

“Just a little further.”

At that moment, instinctively pushing the female student behind, they barely managed to block the attack by raising their sword.

Resembling a bat but with huge wings spread out, a demon facing this way smiled.

“Why are you in such a hurry? Hehehe.”

Feeling a significant threat as they noticed the slightly dented sword hilt compared to ordinary swords, they felt a chilling threat throughout their body.

“If it got dented from that attack just now, it’s dangerous. At this rate, everyone…”

They hurried to speak, realizing that even if other students escaped, it was already too late.

Surrounded under the command of the demons, they were trapped.

“It’s my mistake. Sacrificing the present to prepare for what comes next would be meaningless.”

If they had headed to the Department of Swordsmanship building, they would have arrived sooner.

Was it their own greed to not want to give up on everyone that caused this disaster?

Moreover, the recent attack reminded them of sparring with knights highly regarded in their family.

“At least I have to create an opportunity for the students entangled by my mistake to survive.”

Exerting their unique ability, they perceived the battlefield, enhancing their abilities and widening their field of view.

“Your opponent is Rachel Astrea! Come at me, you filthy demons!”

The demon, closely observing their response, seemed to realize something and grinned.

“Haha! Impatient, aren’t you! In that case, there’s no reason for us to respond to your provocation here.”

Ignoring it, they rushed towards the demon intending to throw a quick blow, but they couldn’t overlook casting magic towards the students behind them instead of themselves.

-Klang!

In the end, they had to step back and deflect the magic with their sword.

Right now, just holding off the monsters converging from all directions would be overwhelming; if hit directly by magic, they wouldn’t be able to endure it.

“Not getting carried away by one’s strength but excelling in intelligence as well. It’s dangerous.”

Skillfully pushing the magic away just enough that they couldn’t reach them, they gritted their teeth and intended to hold out until the professors arrived, but the exhaustion was too much.

“Heuk… Heuk…”

Their hand holding the sword trembled slightly, and blocking attacks became more challenging than before.

-Kaang!

In the end, my magical and physical strength ran out, and I stopped using magic just now, cutting off my unique ability.

Seeing the demons attacking with full force after confirming that my unique ability had faded and squeezing out the last of my power, I couldn’t help but sense death approaching.

I can’t avoid this.

As if all the previous attacks were just jokes, a palpable sense of hostility was felt.

Facing death, why does the image of my father and mother, and the fact that I couldn’t share my story confidently, come to mind?

“I wanted to share my story…”

I don’t know if my body will be properly delivered, but for those left behind, the only comfort will be that I didn’t yield to the enemy until the very end.

With such thoughts and a determined expression, a stranger appeared in front of me who never looked away until the end.

At that moment, a man with knuckles suddenly appeared and with one punch, crushed the demon in front of him.

-Boom!

Even though most of the impact was focused on the demon, the force was enough to shatter the ground in the area.

I’ve never heard of a professor who uses knuckles in martial arts.

The mysterious black hood covering his whole body bothered me.

Confused, I stuttered and opened my mouth unlike my usual self.

“W-who are you-”

“Forget the fact that I intervened. It’ll be better for your mental well-being moving forward. Yuukal sent me here, nothing more, nothing less.”

Interrupting me, he neatly dealt with the monsters around and then disappeared immediately.

Staring blankly at the spot where the man in black vanished, Rachel thought she needed more answers from Yuukal.