Ch.253253. Mir Park Blockade Battle (2)

“Ahem.”

Muniher, who had been watching cautiously, clears his throat toward Denis, who was tapping his fingers on the table at regular intervals.

If asked how long those fingers had been tapping the table, one could say that the once steaming hot coffee had gone completely cold, turning into a chilled soup.

The origin of this concern began when Denis was waiting in the office.

‘It’s awkward to just keep reading the atmosphere.’

Suddenly, Denis, who had supposedly been investigating ruins without any contact, was waiting in his office.

Muniher had to be on high alert.

‘Judging by that grim expression, the research results must have been a complete failure.’

He had simply assumed Denis had returned after completing her research.

Knowing from his wife that Denis’s hot-tempered nature emerged during research season, he was careful not to upset her.

However, what came out of her mouth had nothing to do with research at all.

“The Battle of Mirum. You haven’t forgotten it, have you, Muniher?”

“…What’s with that sudden question?”

“It was the day that determined the fate of not just the Empire, but all of humanity. Surely, you haven’t forgotten…”

“Of course not.”

Muniher cut off Denis’s speculative question sharply, as there was no way he, of all people, could have forgotten such an event.

Denis then let out a deep sigh that seemed to sink into the ground.

“Haah… Don’t you think we’ve been too complacent?”

“Complacent?”

His face showed confusion, but Muniher soon recalled that Denis had just returned from the ruins.

‘She went to interpret the oracle at the ruins… Did she actually see something?’

Having seen her often as his wife’s older sister, he could tell. This reaction wasn’t about failed research.

There was only one reason: the oracle had revealed something.

The words “complacent” and “Battle of Mirum.” With those few words from Denis, he finally felt a chill run down his spine.

“Don’t tell me the oracle was related to Alkaid?!”

An affirmative silence.

Denis swallowed hard with a grim expression.

“Senia’s black hair, the oracle related to Calix—yes, all true. But what we completely missed… was dismissing the possibility that she might not be Alkaid at all.”

“Senia… is not Alkaid?”

She defeated Shanberesh and saved the Seirens.

She certainly has enough capability to qualify as a hero of the Tembris Party.

But thinking about it carefully…

‘No. The very premise that she might just be weaker because her power hasn’t fully manifested…!’

That was the mistake.

That’s what “complacent” meant. They had dismissed the very possibility that Senia might not be Alkaid.

They had accepted the vague conclusion that she defeated Shanberesh and saved the Seirens.

They had become convinced she was Alkaid based on the common trait of being a black-haired Calix.

A heavy atmosphere filled the office. Even without Denis speaking, it was obvious who she was referring to.

“Even among the Calix, strictly speaking, there’s one more. Deporniche III—there were testimonies of superhuman strength during the subjugation of Pimpert the Distorter. And… what if he was the one who defeated Shanberesh?”

“No way…”

“The Lakan tribe says they are indebted to Junon. In fact, the Seirens might be too. And… there’s no easier way to bury the truth than for the person involved to remain silent.”

It was a sharp analysis.

Senia’s abilities were far too insufficient to claim she had defeated Shanberesh alone.

On the other hand, what about Junon, who could indiscriminately manipulate mana and magical energy with his remarkable magical control, nullifying his opponent’s power?

One couldn’t say it was impossible. Nor could one deny his ability to conceal the truth.

“One last thing. From a magical theory perspective, while unique magic can be quite diverse… is that really magic at all?”

That one irrefutable question.

It transformed Muniher’s suspicion that Junon was Alkaid into certainty.

Having delivered her conclusion in the form of a question, Denis trembled slightly and added one final remark.

“We cannot let that child save the Duchy. You know what I mean, Muniher?”

“…Yes.”

With a heavy heart, Muniher ran his palm over his face before finally answering.

Then he picked up a pen, scribbled something, and handed it to Denis.

“Denis, please warn him clearly.”

Denis nodded and took the letter.

As soon as the door closed, Muniher let out a deep sigh. Looking at the empty space where Junon’s withdrawal form had once been, he continued to sigh.

“I should have let you withdraw as you wanted.”

Rather than selfishly keeping him at the academy, that would have been the right thing to do for Junon’s sake.

“How could you… bear such a heavy burden…”

Muniher desperately hoped.

That the boy carrying such an enormous burden would choose to withdraw again after hearing the truth.

***

The news of Ronelion and Lenias’s hospitalization spread like wildfire throughout Levrant.

People initially trembled with anxiety, fearing the appearance of an undefeatable magical beast, but this soon transformed into anger.

The battle scene left abundant evidence, allowing them to quickly identify the hooded figures.

“What?! Humans transformed into magical beasts?”

“That’s what I’m saying!”

As word spread, their identity became clear: humans who had accepted the power of magical beasts—Mein.

“Don’t tell me… like how the Lakans transformed into Lycans, did the Temple intervene again?”

“No, that’s not it. At the scene where the Arkab Party fought—”

Initially, the Temple was suspected, given the precedent during Deporniche III’s time when Lycans were revealed to be artificially created magical beasts. However, that ritual was already firmly sealed by ritual sealing objects, and the ampules left at the scene bore entirely different ritual markings.

Therefore, the nobles of Mirpark who had contact with Deporniche III were identified as the culprits.

The nobles didn’t even bother to deny their actions, and now they had brazenly carried out their plan.

Mein and under-researched magical beasts from Mirpark were rushing toward Levrant.

With an attitude suggesting they no longer cared what happened to the duchy, the people of the duchy responded with anger, taking up arms, and Levrant retaliated by completely blockading Mirpark.

‘The Mirpark blockade is progressing well.’

Thanks to the nobles’ self-destructive actions, I no longer needed to take action myself.

The process of proving their research labs and ampules was eliminated, so all that remained was to tighten the blockade around Mirpark.

Then slowly close the encirclement to choke off the nobles’ escape routes.

Though they artificially created colonies and caves to spew out magical beasts, Levrant did not fall.

Those who realized it was the nobles’ doing showed greater unity and solidarity as time passed, firmly holding their ground.

Now, I had two options.

‘Do I intervene directly or indirectly?’

First, I could join the frontlines with those who were furious, heading directly to Mirpark.

Having faced them once before, I could lead the attack on Mirpark and land effective blows.

I could observe the battle situation firsthand and adjust formations in emergencies to compensate for any weaknesses.

Second, I could proceed with my original plan to complete the synchronization-type magic armor for the remaining Tembris members.

Currently, we couldn’t spare attention for Badlight and Elcherium, so the strengthening of the Tembris Party had been delayed.

If asked whether I could choose both options…

‘No. To put it bluntly, proceeding ambiguously would accomplish nothing.’

Rather than finding a compromise, now was the time for a “choice.”

Just thinking about it makes my teeth clench—who knows when it will come for me? Time is not on my side.

There was only one consideration for this choice.

Once again, it was time.

“Yes. This is the right choice.”

Reflecting on past memories, avoiding them from now on would be the correct option.

In the midst of this—

—Where’s Junon?!

I heard someone calling my name.

“…Finally found you.”

“Pardon…?”

It was Professor Denis.

.

.

.

‘The combat simulation room?’

I followed Professor Denis silently as instructed, but bringing me here meant…

‘She wants to see my progress.’

As if confirming my intuition, Professor Denis took a combat stance.

And then.

-Swish!

“Whoa…!”

Without time to tense up, vines formed beneath my feet and shot upward.

This attack was noticeably fiercer than before, making it clear that she had been holding back significantly during our previous encounters.

“Come at me with everything you’ve got.”

Gulp.

It seems she’s going to beat me mercilessly this time.

***

Crack!

Tree roots collapsed helplessly against a fist filled with pure magical power.

Although he was using mana to strengthen his body, it was clearly excessive.

It was fundamentally different from ordinary enhancement magic.

Even if he had increased his proficiency and devised efficient methods, both Jake and Junehen would shake their heads if told this attack was pure enhancement magic.

They would ask if it contained some unknown unique magic.

But Denis wasn’t trying to figure that out right now.

“Kuk!”

There were too many irregular patterns among the swarming vines.

Targeted water jets, control-type magic, and diagonal pillars of flame attacked from various angles, gradually narrowing the space.

“Tch…!”

Junon was slowly being pushed back by the diverse magic, widening the distance he had worked hard to close, so he needed to make a move.

-Swoosh!

Junon climbed up a massive root using chains—a root that was originally meant to obstruct vision.

He evaded some magic through aerial maneuvers.

But having moved to an open area with clear visibility, he was surrounded by magic circles in all directions.

“Damn, too fast!”

Reverse calculation was impossible. The casting speed was too quick to stop with a spell break. So—

-Zing!

He had no choice but to rush forward while neutralizing some of the incoming magic.

He wasn’t charging like a bulldozer. He maneuvered through the air using iron chains wrapped around the giant tree, deflecting and destroying incoming magic.

He exploited the weakness that once a placement-type magic was created, it took time to disappear, turning the huge vines into mobility corridors.

Of course, since this tactic relied on physical endurance to push through, time was not on Junon’s side.

The continuous sound of ritual activation in the air and the explosions meant to conceal them—now even sound was blocked to hide the direction of the ritual activations.

“Four… no, five!”

Magic spells breaking and returning to magical energy. Just when he thought he had dealt with them all, acidic rain fell from above.

He had missed one.

-Hiss.

“Huff, huff…”

Barely avoiding the spot, he saw the terrifying trace of the tree being thoroughly dissolved right next to him.

“Do you have time to stand around?!”

Denis shouted, refusing to give him time to catch his breath.

Even more powerful magic rained down. In such an extreme situation, there was no choice about using or not using certain abilities.

With no other option, he had to bring out his magic shield to deflect the attacks.

After several exchanges—

Junon, whose training uniform had accumulated damage bit by bit, declared surrender after nearly closing the distance to just a few steps away.

Though he had gradually adapted and seized opportunities, Denis’s merciless onslaught slowly eroded Junon’s stamina, and reaching his physical limit, he had no choice but to surrender.

The sound of approaching footsteps.

She approached Junon and said with a voice full of conviction:

“That magic shield of yours. It’s not some unique magic. So stop using it.”

“Huff, huff… What?”

At Junon’s bewildered reaction, she raised her voice.

“I said stop using it!! That’s not magic at all—it’s a power that consumes your very life force!!”