Ch.119119. Raid (1)

The research was progressing without any issues. Barrier and spatial distortion. Daphne picked up a paper filled with incomprehensible formulas and terminology, set down her pen, and let out a long sigh. Her once-tidy office had long since become a mess of documents, materials, reference books, and research papers. Daphne picked up a book that had fallen to the floor with crumpled pages.

“What a foolish endeavor.”

Daphne turned her head at the sound of the voice. Today, Nella had tied her grass-green hair back as she entered Daphne’s research lab. She carried several more books in her hands, ready to add to the chaos of the disheveled laboratory.

“I never expected to receive help from you.”

“Perhaps you should set aside that pride and remember we agreed to cooperate as fellow mages? As for me, I’m just glad to have someone to put our heads together with to solve the calamity.”

There was no hostility in Daphne’s words. Nella, who had expected a curt response, deflated as she placed the books on the makeshift desk.

“I can certainly see why Ilroy chose you.”

Though Nella had seen Daphne angry before, she was fundamentally much more patient than most mages. Unlike herself, who was quick to anger. Talented, and as for her appearance… no, there was no need to make that comparison. Nella secretly pursed her lips.

“How’s the materialization process coming along?”

“We might need to gather every notable mage in the country. It seems beyond the capabilities of a single magic tower. It’s not a simple magical structure, and the scale will be unprecedented…”

“So, can it be done or not?”

Daphne looked at the impatient Nella and nodded firmly.

“It must be done. It will be difficult, but we’ll find a way. If I were at a higher level, I might see things differently, but as a mere 6th circle mage, this seems to be my limit.”

A mere 6th circle? Is she mocking me? A vein bulged at Nella’s temple. But since the speaker was being completely sincere, Nella couldn’t bring herself to get angry.

“I’ll have the framework completed by today. And I’ll report to the Tower Master as soon as he returns tomorrow. He’ll make any necessary corrections to the plan. We can also discuss the feasibility in more detail then. I’m sure he’ll have his own countermeasures prepared.”

Nella sighed and pulled up a chair to sit beside Daphne. The Tower Master was away from the tower, attending meetings with other regional Tower Masters.

“You want to help that guy that badly?”

“Of course. But I’m not just doing this for Ilroy. Naturally, I don’t want this world to be destroyed either.”

Daphne said as she picked up one of the books Nella had brought. The comet defense operation was based on magic jointly designed by Nella and Daphne. Nella discreetly pointed to a part of the formula.

“There’s no need to design it based on higher circles. While performance might improve slightly in certain areas, stability is the most important factor, isn’t it?”

Daphne looked at the section Nella had pointed out and nodded with difficulty.

“…You’re right. We should prioritize maintenance and stability, but I hadn’t considered that properly. Let’s review and recalculate the other formulas while we’re at it.”

“I shouldn’t have said anything.”

Nella groaned at the doubled workload as she accepted the stack of papers Daphne handed her. If they had to recalculate everything from scratch, who knew how much time it would take.

“…We’ll need to recruit more graduate students.”

Thinking of her juniors and disciples who would already be wrestling with formulas, Nella rubbed her throbbing head. She felt bad for treating them like calculating machines, but it couldn’t be helped to prevent the world’s destruction. And to wipe that smug look off Ilroy’s face-!

“Alright. Let’s do this.”

Nella rolled up her slender arms and picked up a pen. She could handle an all-nighter starting now. As long as they didn’t keep her awake for an entire month.

Just as Nella’s pen tip touched the fresh page of her notebook—

BOOM!!!

With a deafening explosion, a shock wave shook the foundation. Nella’s notebook, papers, and books went flying, and both Daphne and Nella reflexively activated protective magic. Soon, the acrid smell of something burning filled the air, accompanied by sporadic screams echoing throughout the tower. Daphne appeared slightly startled but remained composed, while Nella grimaced as she gathered the important documents that had fallen to the floor.

“…What’s happening?”

“How should I know? We need to protect all the documents first.”

Nella began stuffing the materials into a box she had pulled over with telekinetic magic. The data they had collected was far too much to fit into just one box. Nella stared glumly at the remaining documents, mentally cursing.

“…Damn it. Why is there only one box in the room?”

“I think we need to cast a protective spell over the entire room. To ensure the data is protected even if the tower collapses. Will you help me?”

Nella clicked her tongue in displeasure but began casting protective magic on the walls. Just then, a belated emergency announcement came through the mana crystals installed throughout the tower.

“[This is a real emergency. Intruders have entered the tower. All faculty and students, please follow emergency procedures. Repeat: This is a real emergency…]”

“Intruders?? How? And why now?”

Nella looked at the room’s mana crystal with confused eyes. Daphne was finishing the protective spell while simultaneously casting a detection spell to sense presences.

“They’re getting closer to us too. The protective spell should keep them from approaching properly, so there’s probably no need to worry too much…”

BOOM!!

Another explosion. Even Daphne, who had maintained her composure, now began to show signs of anxiety on her face. The commotion seemed to be spreading from the top floors downward.

“I’ll go out and check the situation. Nella, please stay here and guard the documents.”

Nella contorted her face in opposition to Daphne’s suggestion.

“What are you talking about? You should be the one to stay here. You don’t even know the tower’s layout yet. Do you really think you’d be helpful in resolving this chaos?”

“It’s dangerous outside, Nella.”

Nella snorted incredulously. There was probably only one person in the world who would worry about the safety of a fully-fledged 5th circle mage like herself.

“Dangerous? It seems more dangerous for you to leave this place. As a mage, you should protect your research materials with your life. Especially when those materials could prevent the sixth calamity.”

Nella pulled Daphne back as she spoke.

“You should stay here since you’re one circle higher than me. Despite the intruders, this is still a magic tower. Even with the Tower Master absent, it’s not such a weak place that outsiders need to step in to protect it.”

Daphne looked at Nella, who was pushing her away. Her green eyes had now almost completely regained their composure.

“If even one document is lost, I won’t let you off easy. Guard them well until this chaos is resolved. Like your life depends on it.”

Nella deliberately spoke harshly, then partially dispelled the protective magic and stepped outside the research lab. The door closed behind her.

“[Repeat: This is a real emergency. Intruders have entered the tower…]”

The warning announcement continued endlessly with an alarm that could drive someone insane. The sounds of things burning, exploding, and collapsing grew much louder. Everyone seemed to have already evacuated from the research wing, as not even a mouse could be seen.

‘Wait, this is the 10th floor… if it started above here, could something have happened to the Tower Master?’

As Nella’s speculation was heading toward the worst-case scenario, someone interrupted her monologue.

“Monster!! A monster has appeared!!”

Not a magical beast, but a monster? Nella frowned at someone’s scream. Soon, she understood why they had screamed when she heard an inhuman howl and sensed an unfamiliar presence.

“…It really is a monster.”

What landed on the floor after destroying the ceiling was a person with tentacles attached instead of limbs. Nella felt an extremely unsettling magical energy and drew up her mana. The monster writhed around before slowly turning its head toward her.

“I really don’t want to fight something that looks like that.”

The monster didn’t roar but lunged straight at Nella, who immediately shot a stream of fire at it.

==

An explosion. From the direction of the magic tower.

I launched myself toward the source of the blast, not even feeling the pain in my side. Whether I had just been attacked or whether Natalie was revealed as a demon worshipper—none of that mattered now.

“Where are you going, Professor?”

Damn it. Natalie was still following right beside me. Why is she so fast? I dodged her incoming fist by turning my head, then grabbed her arm and slammed her to the ground.

CRASH!!

The stone floor shattered into pieces. I couldn’t let this child interfere. Intending to throw her far away, I twisted the arm I was holding and flung her backward.

“…The timing couldn’t be worse.”

The Holy Sword and the veil are currently on the 10th floor, in Daphne’s research lab. Seeing people fleeing the tower in panic, I realized I wouldn’t have the luxury of going up to the 10th floor to retrieve the sword.

“Please, don’t be too late.”

I rushed into the tower, even opening my crown. Pushing through the people in the lobby, I opened the emergency exit and entered the stairwell, only to let out a groan.

“This is the worst.”

People were fleeing down the stairs, being chased by something. They were pushing and trampling each other in complete panic. Behind them came the chilling roar of something. I gritted my teeth and gathered my magical power. Then I began to release that massive power without filtering it.

RUMBLE.

The entire tower vibrated. The people who had been in panic became even more confused, but when they saw me appear on the stairs, they all stopped moving and speaking.

“Help everyone who has fallen.”

At my words, people began to move in unison. I don’t understand how such skilled mages could act so disorderly in an emergency.

“Make sure no one is left behind as you evacuate. I’ll handle what’s above.”

The enemy’s presence seemed to freeze in place upon sensing me. I continued releasing magical power until the last person had escaped. Then I launched myself toward the enemy’s presence.

“As expected.”

It was a monster that appeared to be an “implantee.” I brought down the temporary sword in my hand onto the monster’s head. The monster died instantly, split in half without even a death cry.

“…Have the demon worshippers begun to move?”

I gritted my teeth and extended my senses. Then I detected a presence rushing toward me at lightning speed and leaped upward in shock.

“Natalie-!”

Damn it. I didn’t think it was time to properly confront you yet.

I bit my lip as I watched Natalie flying toward me, her eyes emitting a pitch-black mist-like glow. From that eerie magical power, I could sense a very familiar presence.

It was the magic of the Calamity.

“Class isn’t over yet, Professor.”

A mass of black magical energy flew toward me. I reflexively raised my temporary sword to block Natalie’s attack. The magical power I had drawn up coated the sword with a silver-white aura.

BOOM!!

I crashed down onto the 7th floor of the tower. The temporary sword shattered from the impact of blocking Natalie’s attack with my aura. Natalie slowly approached me, beginning to draw out her magical power. I grimaced at the sight of her transformed appearance, no longer recognizable as human.

“That form… what have they done to you?”

“Done to me? This is my true form.”

Skin covered in snake-like scales, vertically contracted sharp pupils. Inhuman leaping speed and movements. And those ominous tentacles extending from her waist. This wasn’t like the implantees who transformed into monsters.

A homunculus.

Natalie had been an artificially “created” life from the beginning.

“You’ll have to choose, Professor.”

Natalie made no attempt to hide her killing intent.

“Either defeat me, or ignore my destruction and head upward.”

Once again, I was presented with choices. Only then could I compose myself to face her. I don’t hesitate. Because I’m a hero who is full of greed and doesn’t compromise with reality.

“You still have much to learn, Natalie.”

I don’t make such choices.