Ch.5050. Osoftera Defense Battle (2)

The central area of Levrant Academy, which runs through the western part of Levrant city, is no longer quiet.

The morning tranquility had given way to an evening more chaotic than usual.

Throughout these vast buildings, human voices had completely shattered the silence.

What filled the evening at Levrant Academy were human voices—screams.

‘What the hell are those guys doing?’

According to my expectations, we should be able to defend this place smoothly.

Although I would absolutely hate it, if we use that method here, we could easily take care of these Osopteras.

No matter how much Aris and Erica hate and despise me, they should have enough sense to understand that. No, when human lives are at stake, that’s just common sense.

Besides, unlike before, we have enough frontliners now. So why am I hearing human screams? It sounds like they’re being routed.

‘Damn it… what the hell is going on?!’

As I curse while putting on protective gear, I hear hoofbeats from behind.

-Clop-clop, clop-clop.

“Found you, Junon!”

“Silvia?”

There’s a possibility that the academy is surrounded by monsters, and she’s just a civilian with no real combat experience.

That’s why I deliberately told Silvia to delay her return.

“Didn’t you hear? There are monsters here!”

“I came knowing that. I can help too.”

“Sigh, there’s no way there’s just one of them. Besides, these aren’t the monsters you’ve only seen in mock battles.”

Most academy students only encounter monsters in simulations, so they tend to be complacent when real ones appear.

This isn’t just limited to arrogant noble children.

Even commoners tend to underestimate the danger, thinking they’ll be fine since they’ve fought monsters in Talbert Arc simulations.

Then they meet real monsters and realize their foolishness. That’s why such incidents need to be prevented beforehand.

“No matter how high the synchronization rate is in mock battles, facing the real thing is completely different. So please, get away while you still can.”

I thought she would understand with this explanation, but Silvia didn’t back down.

“I fought a Giant Cud Rat in the beginning-of-term evaluation, so I know what I’m doing. I can handle this.”

“That was weakened! If those things swarm us…!”

“Weakened…?”

I realized my mistake immediately.

The Giant Cud Rat from the beginning-of-term evaluation was weakened due to Misteris. Silvia wouldn’t know that. I should make up a different excuse.

“Anyway, the monster you saw isn’t the type that travels alone. If they attack you in groups, it’ll be dangerous. It’s not too late, so please go back now.”

Silvia made a sulky face and said,

“No.”

She continued to firmly refuse.

“I promise I won’t hold you back. So… Junon, please?”

“…”

This wasn’t like the Silvia I’d known.

From the end-of-term evaluation through the beginning-of-term assessment until today, she had been quite obedient to my instructions.

For some reason, she usually listened to whatever I said, and sometimes even did things I told her weren’t necessary.

But she had never refused—never expressed her intention to reject my words and take action herself like this.

That meant Silvia was equally determined not to back down.

Feeling there was no other choice, I racked my brain a bit.

Actually, the conditions weren’t bad. I had already confirmed Silvia’s skills when she caught her first monster, and I’d heard that during the beginning-of-term evaluation, she had properly handled team activities while capturing the Giant Cud Rat.

At that level, the possibility of a major accident was quite low.

“Fine. But even if I’m in danger, no independent actions without specific instructions.”

“That’s…”

“This is life or death, Silvia. One impulsive action could put me in danger, or you could get attacked and leave me isolated.”

“…Okay. I’ll only do what you tell me to.”

Good thing she’s not being stubborn.

I hope she understands that I’m worried about her, but considering the number of monsters, this is a real battle against monsters that can’t be compared to any mock combat.

The fact that some Osopteras have leaked into the city means a significant number must have already arrived.

A disorganized group of humans can never defeat a horde of monsters.

“Listen carefully to what I say from now on, Silvia.”

In the worst case, this Osoptera invasion might cause the academy to cross a river of no return, just like back then.

***

“Ugh—I’m dying, seriously.”

“Monsters at the academy? How does that make any sense?”

Once again, I found Jon and Noel who had been isolated somewhere. Though they’re complaining, these two are quick learners.

That’s why they were able to survive like this, drawing on their memories from the beginning-of-term evaluation.

But to the two sprawled on the ground, Junon fired off some cruel words.

“Get up. Lying there won’t solve anything.”

“Hey… we just fought four monsters, can’t we rest a little longer…”

“If you rest longer and all the Osopteras we’re holding back come this way, what then?”

Noel, who was about to agree with Jon’s complaint, shut his mouth immediately.

“We don’t have time. We need to join up with the other students right now. Otherwise…”

“”Otherwise…?””

“The remaining academy students will all be sliced up like meat and chewed on. Even if they try to run, they won’t get far. Do you think humans can outrun monsters in terms of stamina?”

-Gulp.

Jon and Noel’s Adam’s apples visibly bobbed. They must have realized they were in no position to slack off.

“Damn it… why do we keep getting caught up in this stuff.”

“I thought something was off during the beginning-of-term evaluation too. Guess this is just our fate.”

Despite their complaints, they dutifully followed Junon’s words, dusting off their backsides and grabbing their weapons.

“So, what do we need to do?”

“I’ll do whatever you say. Junon, you’ll find a way for us to survive, right?”

Having properly witnessed what kind of person Junon was during the beginning-of-term evaluation, they were prepared to accept whatever he said this time too.

Junon smirked at their reaction and repeated what he had already told Silvia.

“”WHAAAAAT????””

They jumped in shock.

“Junon, seriously? How does that make any sense?”

“Yeah, man! We just finished dealing with those things, and now you’re saying we can’t defeat them with just the academy students’ strength!”

“Sorry, but it’s the truth. It looks like they’re fighting over there, but if we don’t step in, they’ll all die. And then we’re next.”

“No, no, no!!! I get that part perfectly well. But what difference will just four more people make!”

“Noel’s right. If we join in and just die anyway… shouldn’t we use the time they’re buying us to escape as quickly as possible?”

“But… didn’t you say we can’t escape? Where would we even go?”

“That’s true…?”

As I told Silvia earlier, the academy students alone cannot stop those Osopteras.

It was true in my previous life, and that fact hasn’t changed.

“Right, running away is pointless. You’ve experienced how well they can run, haven’t you?”

Thanks to that reminder, Jon and Noel recalled the jumping power of those creatures leaping on their hind legs. Shadows immediately fell over their eyes. They clearly didn’t want to think about it.

“So here’s the plan. When they jump, they noticeably slow down, so we can intercept them at that point and just stall for time.”

“By stalling, you mean…”

“Help will come. So we just need to hold out until then.”

I’ve realized that the situation isn’t going according to plan, and the only option is to create aggro from those creatures.

Jon and Noel frowned, holding their noses as they looked at buckets filled with sloshing liquid.

“Ugh… so you want us to do this?”

“Blegh… the smell…”

Given the plan, I understand why Jon and Noel are concerned.

‘Still, you guys have it better.’

Silvia also wrinkled her face at the pungent smell of the liquid, but her reaction was completely different from the two male students.

Though they all shared the experience of facing monsters directly, Silvia lacked something the two boys had.

While Jon and Noel merely covered their noses, Silvia covered both her nose and mouth with both hands. That’s a tremendous difference.

Therefore, I figured these two, unlike Silvia, would be sufficient to create openings against the monsters.

As Jon and Noel began their preparations, he started explaining the strategy to Silvia.

***

Monsters occasionally appear at the borders of the Ardelion Principality.

In fact, they too are living beings, individuals adapted to the cycling ecosystem of nature.

Therefore, it’s common to see smaller ones appearing in places like rice paddies, fields, or old waterways, like Cud Rats.

However, no one could have expected to witness such large creatures in groups, especially at the academy—the core institution in Levrant, the capital of the principality, considered the safest place.

“Aris! The frontline is…!”

“Aris senior…! We can’t hold any longer!”

“Lady Aris…!”

Aris, who at least had some experience, was gathering the remaining students to resist, but even this was proving difficult.

“Let’s retreat… one more time.”

“Erica, this side is fine, please help the urgent cases first!”

“Got it!”

Erica had rushed to the east gate where the monsters first appeared, joining Aris, and they had been fighting for over an hour already.

Considering the number of students, they thought they could handle it adequately.

Osopteras are E-rank monsters. They’re not particularly threatening, as even ordinary people could exterminate them if given light weapons.

But the problem was their number.

Even lowly minions become quite challenging when they gather not just in groups but in swarms.

A skilled and competent team might still maintain formation and defend easily, but sustained combat seems difficult.

─Why are there so many?!

─We fired so many powerful shots earlier, how can there still be this many left?

─This is all because you frontliners didn’t block properly! Useless bastards!

“Shut up and take down one more. Is this the time for us to fight among ourselves?”

This wasn’t the first time Aris had stepped in when she couldn’t bear it anymore.

Although it was a temporary measure, Aris had warned them several times that they needed to maintain this system, but those creatures showed no signs of stopping.

And then, the situation finally erupted.

“What are you… where are you going in the middle of battle?!”

─We’ve done our part, so we’re leaving!

─That’s right, the rest of you can handle it yourselves!

Hearing those words, Aris nearly lost her mind. What were they doing?

“Are you crazy?! If you desert the formation, what about the rest of us?! Hey!!”

As if they didn’t want to talk anymore, they forcibly broke through one path within the monsters’ encirclement and fled.

And suddenly, in the now-empty human flank, only Erica remained isolated.

Their stupidity had effectively isolated just one person. And that person was the healer who could extend the duration of this battle the most.

Thanks to their selfish actions, the core of the formation had been exposed.

“W-wait! You…!”

“No!!!”

In an instant, about six Osopteras pounced on Erica from all directions.

-Bang!

Aris hurriedly bloomed a lotus flower, followed immediately by an explosion.

Along with the acrid smell of gunpowder, the shattered bodies of the Osopteras began to fall and scatter on the ground one by one.

However─.

“Ar… is…”

Just one had already made contact with Erica’s body as it fell.

A non-human blade that had pierced through her clothes had already deeply impaled Erica’s abdomen.

“Sorry… *cough*!”

Fluid surging up through her esophagus spurted from Erica’s mouth.

It was the same color as the liquid flowing down the Osoptera’s forelegs from her pierced stomach.

Blood.

“Buffer! If anyone has capacity, come this way…”

No, there couldn’t be anyone with capacity.

The limit was just holding on. The reason they couldn’t defend at the east gate was because no one had any margin.

They would hold for a while. Then get pushed back. Hold again, then retreat to another building for cover when overwhelmed by the sheer numbers.

“Aris, on this side…!”

“The front is about to break! Senior!”

“Three support mages have completely run out of mana!”

From everywhere, people asked for directions, asked what to do, but she could no longer give instructions.

‘Why am I… so dizzy?’

It was her limit.

She couldn’t even muster a voice to issue commands.

She tried to draw on her magical power, but her body simply wouldn’t move.

Mana exhaustion.

The lotus flower she had hurriedly bloomed to deal with the creatures rushing at Erica earlier had been her last.

Due to the excessive magical power she had drawn upon, Aris’s body was already exhausted to its limits, and her eyes gradually closed.

“Everyone, ────!!!”

In her darkening vision, Aris heard someone’s shout.

‘Is it reinforcements…?’

It was a human voice.

She couldn’t hear it all clearly, but it sounded like everyone was being told to take some kind of formation.

It was completely different from the arrangement Aris had directed earlier, but at least it might be someone who understood the command system.

“─! ──!”

He’s shouting something. Her vision is blurred as if clouds had settled over her eyes, and she can’t even see his appearance properly.

Yes. It must be reinforcements.

Forces returning from monster subjugation might have arrived.

Otherwise, who would be giving commands here?

Something touches her hair. Her body no longer has any strength left.

It felt like some unpleasant liquid was dampening her hair.

As she sensed the fishy odor, she identified the liquid.

Probably. Blood. Erica’s.

She should prioritize Erica’s severe injury from being impaled by the Osoptera’s foreleg.

She wanted to squeeze out whatever strength she had left to ask for Erica to be treated first, but Aris couldn’t move a finger.

As her hair completely settled over her heavy eyelids, Aris finally fell asleep.

“There’s no time. If you want to live, do as I say!”

Without ever hearing his final words.