Ch.77Chapter 77. The Real Purpose (1)

“… It doesn’t look like they need my help here either.”

BOOM CRASH- ROAAAR-

Amidst sounds that were hard to imagine as sword meeting bone, Erika carefully landed on the roof, avoiding the shattered debris.

The Corps Commander was engaged in fierce combat with the undead wyvern.

To be more precise, rather than combat, it was more like…

‘Taming’ would be a better description.

“Hmm.”

The imposing Death Knight who had been riding the undead wyvern was nowhere to be seen.

That thing embedded over there was probably the Death Knight.

The Corps Commander continued to face off against the undead wyvern that had lost its master.

ROAAAR-!

“Oh, good stamina.”

Black mana momentarily rippled as the wyvern’s front paw touched the Black Shadow Sword.

It was obvious he was holding back while dealing with it—the Corps Commander was playing with the wyvern.

“Commander!”

“Hey. Did you clean up everything below?”

“Yeah. Yuria is probably taking care of everything.”

“That’s good. Less trouble than expected, huh?”

‘Less trouble isn’t exactly how I’d describe it…’

Wasn’t it already a major incident from the moment the undead wyvern crashed into the building?

Swallowing her thoughts, Erika called out to the now relaxed-looking Commander.

“Let’s finish up and go? Nothing good comes from staying outside too long.”

“True. Oh, do you sense Landgar anywhere?”

“No. He’s not in this area or anywhere in the Academy. Seems like he ran away after his plan failed.”

“Really?”

Erika concentrated again to track the Vice Chancellor’s presence, just to be sure.

Still nothing.

“Is he not in the Vice Chancellor’s office either?”

“No. I’ve searched the entire area and—”

‘Huh?’

Following the Commander’s question, Erika focused specifically on the building where the Vice Chancellor’s office was located.

Her detection wave clearly passed through the Vice Chancellor’s office, but she felt no presence inside.

Yet something felt off.

It was very subtle, but there was a strange sense of dissonance.

The wave didn’t pass through smoothly without obstacles—it felt like it had to climb over something.

“…What is it?”

“Wait. Something seems strange.”

Erika closed her eyes, concentrating harder as she spread her mana thinly.

This time, instead of spreading it in a circle around herself, she directed it specifically toward the building with the Vice Chancellor’s office.

Whoosh-

‘Something’s covering it.’

“Commander.”

“Yeah? What’s going on?”

“I think there’s some kind of barrier around the Vice Chancellor’s office. It’s so sophisticated it can even deceive detection magic.”

“…Really?”

Erika nodded.

It was so subtle that most people wouldn’t have noticed, but it definitely wasn’t a normal wave pattern.

As Erika’s expression grew troubled, the Commander’s face turned serious.

“I thought this was too easy.”

“Should we go check right away?”

“Yes. We should. Let me put away the dragon first.”

“…Dragon?”

Woong-

Erika’s question was immediately answered.

As the Commander extended his hand toward the approaching undead wyvern, it vanished as if being sucked into something.

‘Seriously. Even at a time like this.’

“I’ll go alone just in case. If I leave my post, they might attack during that time.”

“…Alright.”

By the time Erika nodded, the Commander had already disappeared.

Erika quickly surveyed the surroundings.

Surprisingly, apart from where the wyvern had first crashed, there wasn’t much damage.

The only damaged area was where the Death Knight had fallen.

‘Clean.’

Was the Commander deliberately minimizing damage to the surroundings, unlike his usual style?

**

Thump- Thump-

Emily had been rubbing her eyes repeatedly, wondering if what she’d seen was a dream or reality.

Yuria Phrysis.

A magician considered a genius even among the Phrysis Family.

A magician whose talent was said to surpass even the current head of the family.

A magician who left her family and cut off all contact with them.

And Emily’s only aunt.

“Everyone, exit through this path!”

“Who created this path anyway?”

“I don’t know. Is it Professor Kelster’s ice magic?”

“You think Professor Kelster could use such massive magic?”

“Is that really important right now?”

Emily was hiding behind a huge ice wall, eavesdropping on the professors’ conversation.

Yet her gaze remained fixed on one person.

Since the end of her dance with Ryu, Emily hadn’t taken her eyes off Yuria.

Even when the sudden roar caused chaos, Emily had followed Yuria even more persistently.

Aunt Yuria had entered a room, and someone dressed in black emerged from it.

Though their face was covered, Emily instinctively knew it was Yuria.

From that point on, Emily followed only Yuria in her black outfit.

She almost lost her several times, but Emily persisted.

Perhaps due to the chaotic situation, Aunt Yuria didn’t notice she was being followed.

After breaking a window and going outside, Yuria headed toward the building entrance.

Emily almost screamed at the sight at the building entrance but managed to hold back.

Countless skeletons and Death Knights were walking toward the entrance.

And blocking the main gate was someone dressed in black like Aunt Yuria.

A woman in black clothes, swinging her sword relentlessly to block the undead’s approach.

Aunt Yuria seemed to know this person.

Though Emily couldn’t hear what was said, Aunt Yuria approached the main gate, speaking in a friendly manner.

What followed was Aunt Yuria’s magic, which was nothing short of amazing.

With just one spell, Aunt Yuria froze all the undead before her.

It was such powerful magic that Emily could barely comprehend its magnitude with her current level.

‘Why isn’t she coming out?’

After freezing the undead, Aunt Yuria began creating a massive ice wall.

Starting from the building entrance, she created a path leading safely to the back.

After creating this path surrounded by ice walls, Aunt Yuria stared at the wall briefly before disappearing into the forest.

Into the forest unaffected by the freezing magic.

Gulp-

Emily was worried about her aunt who hadn’t emerged from the forest despite considerable time passing.

Though she knew Aunt Yuria didn’t need her concern, still…

Emily touched the cold ice wall once before heading toward the forest.

On her way, she passed many frozen skeletons and Death Knights.

Perfectly frozen undead.

Emily instinctively calculated how precise the magic would need to be to emit such intense cold.

It was beyond what she could imitate at her current level.

Step- Step-

Emily soon reached an unfrozen area.

Whether Aunt Yuria intended it or not, the forest remained unfrozen starting exactly where the trees began.

And just as Emily stepped onto the unfrozen soil…

“…Emily.”

“Oh.”

Someone appeared from inside with a gentle voice.

It was Aunt Yuria.

Not in the black clothes with a hood, but in the dress Emily had seen at the party.

“Aunt.”

“Why did you come here? You should evacuate.”

“…”

“Let’s go quickly.”

Emily didn’t listen to her aunt who was trying to pull her away as if nothing had happened.

“I saw everything.”

“…”

Emily could tell from Aunt Yuria’s lack of response.

Her aunt didn’t seem interested in making excuses or hiding anything.

“Did you know this was going to happen?”

Face to face with her aunt after so long.

Though she had countless questions, the words wouldn’t come out properly.

Focusing her thoughts, Emily asked what she was most curious about.

To Emily, Aunt Yuria seemed like someone who knew something would happen today.

From the moment the roar sounded, she had changed clothes and gone outside without hesitation.

“…Have you been well?”

“…”

Emily was momentarily speechless at Aunt Yuria’s question.

Yesterday and just now, Aunt Yuria’s voice had been kind and gentle, but not like this.

Now, Emily could feel the old tenderness in Aunt Yuria’s voice.

The warm, soft voice that had comforted Emily during her difficult childhood.

Hearing that voice again made Emily feel as if she’d returned to those days.

“It must have been hard for you.”

“…”

A deep sense of regret was conveyed through Aunt Yuria’s voice.

Emily still couldn’t respond.

In her childhood, she had been filled with resentment toward her aunt who suddenly disappeared.

Resentment toward the aunt who abandoned her in such a difficult place.

But as time passed and she grew older, Emily began to understand Aunt Yuria.

Hadn’t she herself left home, even changing her surname?

“I’m sorry. For disappearing without a word.”

“…”

At her aunt’s continued words, Emily almost burst into tears.

Even though she understood why Aunt Yuria had left home, underneath lay resentment and pain.

But with that one apology, all her past resentment seemed to wash away.

Hug-

“Ah…”

While Emily was struggling to hold back her tears, Yuria moved first.

With eyes as watery as Emily’s, Yuria embraced her.

Though a sharp chill spread around Yuria, perhaps due to her magic, Emily ironically felt no coldness.

Instead, it felt warm, even hot.

Being in Aunt Yuria’s embrace after so many years…

A tear finally escaped from Emily’s eye, unable to be held back any longer.