Ch.38Reassignment Exam (6)

I looked up at the sky and said.

“I think we need to divide the work.”

“Divide the work?”

Rustila Kersil also raised her head. Despite the sun being right in the middle of the sky, the sky appeared slightly yellowish.

“…Ah.”

The anti-Aether barrier that appears with a certain probability when monsters emerge.

It’s a phenomenon that makes the monster’s activities more efficient.

Destroying that barrier was the priority.

Rustila Kersil nodded.

“What? Why are you two having a private conversation?”

Seti von Adelbein Rheinland abruptly inserted herself between us. I briefly explained to my sister. She seemed not to believe me, but when Rustila Kersil agreed, her expression turned blank.

“…A monster has appeared?”

“Yeah.”

“Aren’t we totally screwed then?”

“Sister, let’s refrain from swearing.”

“No, we’re seriously screwed!”

Seti trembled at the shoulders.

“I thought we were in real trouble during the reassignment exam. And now this too? Stop this nonsense!”

“Sister.”

“Ah, I know. I need to keep my wits about me.”

As expected of my sister. Her mental fortitude is impressive.

“Seti, Eidel.”

Rustila Kersil spoke.

“I’ll go look for where the monster is. You two spread this information to as many friends as possible.”

“What? That’s dangerous, unnie!”

“Dangerous? Hardly.”

Rustila Kersil shrugged her shoulders. She looked at me with an expression that suggested it was no big deal.

“When I fought against the B-class golem… how did my skills seem to you?”

“I’d say you’re well beyond A-class.”

A-class is the highest level among ordinary swordsmen. For someone with ordinary physical abilities like me, that’s probably as high as I could go.

But Rustila Kersil is different.

She’s heavily blessed by the stars, and her physical abilities far exceed those of ordinary people.

People like her are called irregulars.

You shouldn’t compare a genius’s body to that of an ordinary person. Rustila Kersil was a child who started at A-class from birth.

“Rustila Kersil.”

“Yes.”

“Go ahead.”

“…”

“Just don’t get hurt or die.”

“I won’t die.”

Rustila Kersil smiled brightly. In contrast, Seti jumped up after hearing my response.

“Hey! Are you trying to send Rustila unnie to her death?”

“No, I’m not.”

In truth, I wanted to stop her too.

But who is she?

The future sword saint.

She has enough potential, so all that remains is practical experience. Fortunately, her sword has proven its well-honed skill by cutting down dozens of B-class golems.

As I watched Rustila Kersil departing into the distance, I said to Seti.

“…Stopping Rustila Kersil now would be interfering.”

“What do you mean interfering…!”

“Sister, trust your brother.”

She will somehow make an impact through this incident.

Also, if she does well, she could resolve the issue of parental interference that she’s been agonizing over.

The odds are high.

If something happens, I’ll do whatever I can.

“Let’s inform everyone about this.”

I said to Seti. She shook her head.

[Attention to all students in the examination area.]

“I think everyone’s about to find out anyway.”

The grade director’s voice began to resound across the mountain range.

[A monster estimated to be A-class has appeared at the reassignment examination site. This is a real situation. Please evacuate safely according to the guidance of nearby instructors.]

“…”

What Rustila Kersil asked for was easily accomplished.

“Let’s change our objective.”

“To what?”

Back to what was originally planned.

I pointed at the sky and answered.

“Let’s try breaking that barrier.”

***

The teachers quickened their pace.

They had just received news from the on-site supervisor that an unidentified monster was roaming around.

It didn’t take long to realize it was a monster released by an outer god.

“Is the S-class swordsman coming?”

“We just got word from the Ministry of Defense. It’s uncertain when they’ll arrive…”

“Damn it!”

Grade Director Evan Lotus threw down the receiver and sighed.

“How did things end up like this?”

“I suspect there might be a hole in the Aether Belt.”

His colleague, teacher Karlen Hubblewei, answered while stroking her chin. She was checking a map of the forest that served as the examination venue, circling several areas.

She continued.

“We learned a bitter lesson during the entrance exam. There are no safe zones in our universe. But don’t you think it’s strange that this school is being targeted repeatedly?”

“Teacher Hubblewei, we don’t have time for regrets now.”

“I know. That’s why I’m checking the monster’s location and various other things.”

Karlen was a teacher of social studies or history, but her original major was the study of outer gods. She had some understanding of the general habits of monsters.

“There’s a small clearing to the northwest. Looking at the CCTV, there’s a high probability it went that way.”

“Then let’s send the swordsmen in that direction.”

The Academia had deployed swordsmen to prevent a repeat of the disaster that occurred during the practical exam.

Most of them were well-trained B-class or A-class.

Since a C-class appeared last time, they judged that a B or A-level monster would appear this time.

That’s why the broadcast mentioned A-class, which was realistically the highest grade. In reality, they didn’t know what grade it was.

If it were C-class, that would be truly fortunate.

However, comparing witness testimonies with the strange life form overlaid on the monitor, it was determined that it was certainly not C or B-class.

“What is that?”

“Its outer skin seems to be like steel.”

“Is it from Maxwell’s forces or Darwin’s Legion…”

The four types of outer gods modeled after the four demons of scientific history. And the characteristics of monsters are divided according to these types.

“If it’s armored, it’s obviously from Maxwell’s Forces.”

Karlen answered toward the non-specialists who were having a heated debate about whether it was Maxwell or Descartes while watching the relay screen.

Just then, a swordsman with green epaulets entered the control room and spoke.

“We have a problem. There’s an anti-Aether barrier up, making it difficult to approach the interior!”

“What did you say?”

The swordsman continued his report. In summary, there was a barrier preventing entry with plasma weapons.

“Damn, things have gotten complicated.”

However, soon another swordsman appeared and reported.

“The barrier has disappeared!”

***

[— Successfully removed the barrier placed by the Maxwell-type avatar.]

[— Received 3000 Pron as a reward for completing the sub-quest!]

Nice, that’s sweet.

The method to break it was simple. I just tapped it with the Callipers, and it shattered. As expected, outer god weapons are truly overpowered.

“Seti, you go back and rest.”

“No.”

Seti stuck right behind me.

“I’m not going to a safe place until I see that unnie is okay.”

“Hey, if you keep being stubborn like this…”

“Do I have a reason to live if Rustila unnie isn’t around?”

“…”

I sighed.

“Sorry. I was being shortsighted.”

Seti had grown up being ignored even by her real family. Rustila Kersil, who was like a real sister to her, was someone so precious that she would exchange her life for her. Why had I forgotten that?

“Let’s go together.”

Seti nodded weakly.

Rustila Kersil headed northwest. If we move quickly, we might be able to meet her as she encounters the monster.

Though what good would a weakling like me be, I think I can manage somehow with the Callipers.

And so we arrived at a spacious clearing to the north.

There were about a dozen swordsmen there. They were confronting a giant reptilian chimera that stood 10 meters tall.

“W-what is that?”

Seti covered her mouth. Her yellow pupils trembled.

[— The basic protection of the Descartes-type outer god is activated.]

[— Due to the effect of ‘Mental Stability,’ you will not be disturbed even when seeing shocking subjects or scenes.]

Well, that looks difficult to handle.

“Everyone, spread out widely!”

A woman with blue epaulets was commanding the entire force. She was an A-class swordsman. She had a face clearly gripped by fear.

She couldn’t help it.

[— S-class monster ‘Renanyai’ subjugation: (0/1)]

Basically, a swordsman of the same class can win one-on-one against a monster of equal or lower class.

None of those present could guarantee a one-sided victory against that monster.

[— ‘Renanyai’ uses <Paralyzing Sting>.]

Poisonous stings are fired from the monster’s tail. They moved at considerable speed. Seti and I hurriedly hid behind a tree.

Glancing around, it seemed everyone else had managed to dodge as well.

[— ‘Renanyai’ uses <Smash Down>.]

Boom!

The physical attack that followed. B-class swordsmen who couldn’t dodge in time were pushed back by the shockwave. Among them were familiar faces.

“Aah!”

“Mezulen Hueritia!”

As Mezulen Hueritia fell, Kristin Heresset quickly pulled her out. A crater immediately formed where she had been.

“R-Rustila unnie…”

Seti searched for Rustila Kersil with trembling pupils.

Fortunately, she was still alive with all limbs intact. But her clothes were dirty, and there were a few scratches on her face.

It wasn’t just her. There were many familiar faces. A significant number of elite class students had gathered in this clearing.

“Over here, over here!”

Despite the swordsmen’s attempts to dissuade them, they were each doing their best from their positions to divert the monster’s attention even a little.

I made my decision.

I have no choice but to join in.

Just as I was about to stand up with the Callipers drawn, someone flew right next to me.