Chapter 24: But then, a monster appeared Part 2

The exam hall for the “Mana Design” course.

A tower where monstrous creatures with massive bodies lurk from the very entrance.

A place modeled after the so-called “Tower of Ruin,” now filled with the screams of students.

“A-Are we really not gonna die? We’re not, right???”

“If you’re that curious, go take a hit yourself!!”

Fire-attribute monsters—creatures they had only encountered in books, never in person—were appearing before them.

Each one had a terrifying form, and the heat and killing intent radiating from them were anything but illusions.

Most of the students who had entered the tower had lost their composure for that very reason.

What on earth did these monstrous beings have to do with the “Mana Design” course, and why were they being forced into such a terrifying ordeal?

***

“That’s probably what they’re all thinking….”

Letter, watching over the students, murmured to herself before lowering her gaze again.

Before her lay a parchment, one she had personally prepared in the past.

It contained clues that would be crucial in helping the students advance to the next floor of the tower.

“If they don’t get confused, this should be easy.”

The reason Letter had released monsters into the tower wasn’t to force direct combat between students and creatures.

Her goal lay beyond that—application and adaptation.

After all, “Mana Design” was a course meant to teach the theory behind operating magic circles.

Thus, overcoming this challenge wasn’t about fighting the monsters, but about choosing the right magic circle to use.

The key to success was modifying and utilizing the magic circles drawn at the entrance of each floor.

If the students used the correct magic circles, they wouldn’t need to analyze the monsters or look for their weaknesses.

The magic circles they created would serve as keys, opening the path to the next floor.

“Well, Ifrit might be a bit tricky. But as long as they get the hang of it….”

There was a solution to every situation the students faced.

They had simply failed to find it yet, too overwhelmed by panic.

So, Letter made up her mind.

She would start by drilling some sense into these sheltered greenhouse flowers.

Students who had lived their lives in peace, never once expecting to face real monsters, needed a reality check.

‘That way, at least fewer of them will die.’

No matter what, that was better than dying.

Death was the worst of all possible outcomes—it stripped away any chance to try again.

Only about ten years remained until the events of the original story began.

Letter had already done her part by eliminating some of the hidden villains lurking among humans.

But as for those that weren’t human? There was nothing she could do about them.

Therefore, while she remained at Primus as a professor, she would strengthen the academy, whether the students liked it or not.

After all, the beginning of the original story was set to take place at Primus.

So, she watched.

She observed as the students desperately sought solutions, failing time and time again.

And she watched as they finally succeeded—faces bright with joy as they hurried to the next floor.

“…Learn to appreciate how much of a blessing it is not to die.”

***

While Letter was watching over the students attempting the assignment, another group had an entirely different problem on their hands.

The ones responsible for broadcasting the students’ progress to external spectators—Primus’ student council—were…

“KYAAAAAH!!”

“I-I GIVE UP! I GIVE UP!!!”

“…Grandma? Why is a dead person over there…?”

“…What do we do?”

“W-What do you mean, ‘what do we do’?! Don’t show anyone but the vanguard team on screen!!”

They alternated between silent screams and very loud ones.

And for good reason—most of the students inside the tower were in no condition to be shown to the public.

No matter what, they had to hide the trembling, terrified figures of the students.

At the same time, they needed to highlight the valiant efforts of the vanguard team—the students steadily pushing through each floor against all odds.

‘What was the headmaster even thinking…!’

It wasn’t just Professor Letter Yurt of the “Mana Design” course—the students couldn’t help but resent Headmaster Ainel as well for approving such a perilous assignment.

Even so, as members of the student council, they had to fulfill their duties.

That single reason alone was enough.

「Ah! Evan Krauss and Lucas Brier have just cleared the 8th floor and are heading to the 9th—!!」

They shouted at the top of their lungs into a magically amplified broadcasting device.

Right now, there was no other choice.

***

“D-Dad, do you think I can really defeat those monsters?”

“Lady Letter said the difficulty for the beginner class is slightly easier, so you’ll be fine.”

Isabelle’s father, Dreven, reassured her with a light pat on the shoulder.

At his words, Isabelle flinched slightly before slowly leaning her head against his shoulder.

Watching the two from a slight distance, Orphion then shifted his gaze beyond them—toward the VIP seating area.

More specifically, toward the first princess, Lilian.

‘How carefree.’

From Orphion’s perspective, Lilian showed no interest in the “Stage of Ascension” event.

She was simply passing the time, leisurely enjoying the food brought by her knights.

She seemed utterly unaware that she had become the target of an assassination plot orchestrated by a cult.

Orphion, dissatisfied with her obliviousness, narrowed his eyes briefly before turning away completely.

***

At that very moment—step.

A figure that had been seated among the audience, silently watching her old friend Evan, finally began to move.

“…All for Lakael….”

Iris muttered to herself, her vacant eyes fixated on a destination near the VIP seating area—the storage room.

In order for the Apostles’ plan to succeed, Iris had to remain hidden until the fated moment when Lilian and Irina met.

The moment the two princesses stood before each other, she would activate the sacrificial ritual.

By completely erasing both their bodies and souls, she would spread the names of Lakael and the Apostles across the entire continent.

That command, deeply engraved in her mind, was the sole guiding principle of her existence.

Even knowing that she would die in the process, there was not a single trace of hesitation in her steps.

After all, this was for Lakael.

Her own life meant nothing when it came to serving Lakael and the Apostles.

Step.

Step.

Iris walked forward, finally reaching the storage room.

Inside, she made contact with the Apostles who had been waiting for her, receiving the artifact necessary to trigger the ritual.

“Your noble sacrifice will be remembered by all, Iris.”

“…Thank you.”

Spreading Lakael’s name.

That was the sole meaning of her existence.

An unquestionable, absolute truth.

The deep-rooted indoctrination of the Apostles ensured that Iris was fully prepared.

And yet—for some reason.

Before the event had even ended.

Shhh…

“…Hm?”

The storage room, where Iris now stood alone.

And in the secret passage leading to the Apostles’ hidden gathering place—tiny lights began to flicker.

A series of small magic circles started forming.

“…Wait. This is…!”

One of the Apostles, recognizing what was happening, shouted urgently.

“Everyone, get out! We’ve been discovered!”

But—

“You’re too late.”

『Another Space』

A young voice rang out from the empty air as a spell was invoked.

The very space itself began to fracture.

Crack.

The void split apart, forcibly separating the area where the Apostles and Iris were gathered.

The Apostles, their bodies now wrapped in layers of protective magic, looked down to see the ground beneath them slowly breaking away.

“This—this damn—”

Before one of them could finish speaking—CRACK.

A deep, resounding noise echoed through the space.

Something massive was being crushed.

***

Moments later, with a tremendous burst of dust and debris, the underground passage was forcefully pulled to the surface.

What was now visible was a colossal structure, wrapped in chains.

In reality, it was the entire network of underground tunnels, forcibly excavated and lifted into the open.

“…Damn, you really dug a lot of tunnels. What are you, moles?”

A young shadow hovered in midair, their hand moving in a slow, deliberate gesture.

The structure—along with everyone trapped inside—began to collapse in on itself.

Crunch.

The Apostles, too, were crushed within the folding mass of stone and earth.

And then—thud.

What had once been an extensive underground system, now compressed to an impossible size, dropped lightly onto the ground.

“Alright, then. Now that all the ritual casters are gone…”

The figure turned toward Iris, who was suspended in midair, unconscious.

After confirming that all of her ‘masters’ had been completely annihilated—

Snap!

With a flick of their fingers, the oppressive force that had been suppressing Iris’ mind and soul finally began to release.

…Ah…. …Aaaaaaaagh!!!

Her body thrashed violently, overwhelmed by a flood of sensations that no sane mind could endure.

Almost immediately, a high-level sleep spell was cast.

『Coma』

Thud.

Iris’ head drooped limply as she lost consciousness.

It was a full week before her tear-stained eyelids finally fluttered open again.

By then, the secret underground tunnels—built over years in secrecy—had completely disappeared.

As if they had never existed at all, they were buried beneath layers of dirt and stone.

And the only person who noticed the drastic change in the underground landscape—

Was Karian.

“They excavated the entire space….”

Reading the residual traces embedded in the earth, Karian added a new hypothesis to his theories about Letter.

People who could pull off something this insane without batting an eye…

They were all a certain kind of person—one Karian was quite familiar with.

“…I didn’t expect him to have another disciple.”

Suspecting Letter Yurt to be the fifth disciple of the Sage, Karian muttered to himself and walked away.