Chapter 34

Chapter 34

I Became the Only Non-mage in the Academy.

Episode 34: Invasion (3)

Control Room.

Numerous professors were there.

They observed the dome-shaped stadium through hundreds of screens, each displaying a different part of the scene.

All these individuals possessed talents related to observation.

“Who will be the first this time?”

“I vote for the top student, Lee Seo-ha. You really can’t see anything in him.”

“Not just that he’s invisible… the really scary part is, no matter how much you peel, something keeps coming out of him.”

Most of them took an interest in Lee Seo-ha.

While professors usually paid great attention to the top student, this one was exceptionally special.

He had been the first to clear the Tower of Trials, and even a glimpse of his talent was difficult to guess.

Seo Ye-bin, known as the Emperor, had been paying the most attention to him lately.

Emperor, Seo Ye-bin.

Considering the school had been founded 35 years ago and she had shown interest in fewer than ten individuals, he was someone to watch carefully.

“His movements are ordinary. No signs of physical training.”

“That’s the proof he was chosen by mana.”

“He might not have needed training. Haven’t you seen Professor Song Ra-hee’s practical session data? He broke her curse as if it were nothing.”

Describing that boy was like attempting to describe a strange anomaly.

Something beyond their common sense.

“He defeated the Shadow Snake that was close to becoming an Imugi with just three people.”

“And in that process, he killed the Shadow Snake with a single strike. The cause was a blow dealt by Lee Seo-ha.”

Saint Royalrose.

He was an impressive figure, known as someone who might be born once in a hundred years in a place called heaven.

Yet, if asked whether he was a match for Lee Seo-ha, they would respond with a question mark.

Still, they all hoped.

To catch a glimpse of that boy’s splendor.

“What’s that?”

A professor muttered blankly, staring at the screen.

This space was designed for observing the dome, and their talents allowed them to perceive even more.

They witnessed a scene where the sky appeared to crack like glass.

The archer, known as Emperor Seo Ye-bin’s star, had emerged to intercept the threat.

His opponent was a monster known as the Seven Evils.

“…Vicious Abomination?”

Suddenly, the screens broadcasting the scene began to malfunction. The screens flickered to black and white before shutting off entirely.

“It’s an attack by a Mine! Inform everyone immediately!”

“The phones aren’t working! It seems electronic devices have been neutralized or communication has been blocked!”

“It’s like a space-separation type. We can’t see inside the dome at all!”

“Then move! Now! The students are in danger!”

Instant chaos erupted in the control room.

Seo Ye-bin was impressive indeed.

Yet, the school’s strength, reliant on her and her subordinate stars, was not as formidable as one might assume.

A professor swallowed hard, nerves on edge.

There was no question that a major disaster was imminent.

“What is this…”

I watched in horror.

The scene before me was too shocking to comprehend.

Tock! Tock!

My phone continued to ring in real-time.

There was only one explanation.

It was because the spare phone number I had given to Seolhwa Ryeon wouldn’t stop ringing.

More than ten messages from Seolhwa Ryeon already.

…Was she always like this?

Having played this game countless times, I believed I understood Seolhwa Ryeon well, having played as her and even won her heart as Kim Seo-hyun.

Yet, I had never witnessed this side of her.

She would always approach with a radiant smile, asking to go on a date.

-Hey, it’s a lovely day today, want to go catch some Mines?

I recalled her inviting me out in that manner.

…But this seemed different.

Or was it?

I exhaled deeply and replied.

Seolhwa Ryeon:

-Elder.

-Is this really the Elder’s number?

-Some guy named Lee Seo-ha gave me your number, so I’m contacting you.

– If it isn’t you, please just send a message.

– Lee Seo-ha… he’s a tough genius, but I’ll give it my all.

It felt a bit creepy.

But to say he was just a bit good-looking would be an understatement.

Isn’t he extremely handsome?

I really did a great job shaping my original self into a peerlessly handsome man.

Me:

– Don’t do it.

Seolhwa Ryeon:

– Yes.

– But are you really the Elder?

Me:

– The man with the mask from two weeks ago.

Seolhwa Ryeon:

– It is you!

After that, Seolhwa Ryeon casually sent about 50 messages.

I looked at the phone with tired eyes.

“Are you ready, Student Lee Seo-ha?”

“Yes.”

The assistant professor, who was substituting for Professor Han Yoon-bi, asked me.

I stood up and walked to the practice arena.

In a mock battle, you had about 10 minutes to assess your condition and strategize to defeat your opponent.

Those 10 minutes passed.

I downed three potions in quick succession and headed into the mock battle.

– How do you feel?

‘Fine.’

My condition was at its peak.

It was just that the opponent was formidable.

‘The problem isn’t just this.’

Mines always targeted Seo Ga-yeon.

The star power Seo Ga-yeon possessed was the natural enemy of Mines.

It was an unbelievable power that could weaken Mines simply by shining upon them.

If Hong Yu-hwa had the nickname “Usurper,”

Then Seo Ga-yeon’s nickname would be…

I cut off my thoughts there.

Saint entered the match with a confident smile.

“Ha, on such a fine day, I must offer prayers to the God of Light I worship.”

“……”

I was dumbfounded by his ridiculous behavior, then realized that was just his way.

I sighed internally and noticed the Black Heavenly Demon Sword staring intently at something.

‘Black Heavenly Demon Sword?’

– Master, it’s better not to fight.

‘What do you mean?’

I looked at the Black Heavenly Demon Sword with a puzzled expression.

The Black Heavenly Demon Sword was fixated on one spot. Following her gaze, I looked up at the sky.

“What’s that……”

At the same time, Ershil muttered in a daze.

…The sky was breaking apart.

“From now on, all matches are suspended! All students, gather together!”

“Professors, cover the students from the outside! The first priority is the students’ safety!”

I stared blankly at the sky.

They’re really invading the school?

To face Emperor Seo Ye-bin, someone of her level must come.

That person would have to be as powerful as the Seven Evils.

And I was quite familiar with this phenomenon.

The character known as Vicious Abomination was crushing the space of the sky with his power.

…Then this place wasn’t safe either.

I quickly looked around.

The first thing to do was to find Seo Ga-yeon.

“How about communications with the outside?”

“It’s not working! We presume that a barrier is blocking everything inside and outside!”

If it’s a barrier, that’s good.

I could break it soon with the Energy of Defying Heaven.

But more importantly, where was Seo Ga-yeon…

“Who are you looking for?”

“…Just found her.”

Seo Ga-yeon, who was beside me, smiled brightly.

“Were you looking for me?”

“Yeah, like I said before, Mines can’t handle the magic power you possess.”

Previously, although they were evil spirits, the spirits targeting Seo Ga-yeon evaporated as soon as she awakened her star power.

“So you need me now?”

“That’s right.”

At my words, Seo Ga-yeon’s smile brightened.

“Are you willing to help even if it’s dangerous?”

“Of course. How much has Seo-ha helped me until now?”

“Thanks.”

“But what will we do?”

“Can you use your star power to some extent?”

“I can only use a very little bit now.”

“That’s enough.”

Even a little bit was enough.

It could be used to restrain the Mines.

I took Seo Ga-yeon and headed toward the barrier.

Such barriers usually had a core at their center, and if you deactivated that core, the barrier could be released in a surprisingly simple way.

‘The purpose of a barrier is to make it difficult to reach the core and try to trap whatever is inside.’

Thus, escaping a barrier was tricky.

But for me, it was too easy, almost to a fault.

The issue was that the same didn’t hold true for others.

“Professor Song Ra-hee, is it possible to identify what kind of barrier this is?”

“…This barrier is too advanced. It appears to be of at least a medium to high level, created by a master who likely spent a month’s time on it.”

Professor Song Ra-hee’s face turned ashen.

Pama.

Even for her, a specialist in breaking magic, the barrier now erected represented a challenge of a different caliber.

Yet, her expertise in dispelling was formidable enough to take it down.

“It’s a barrier that completely severs the space. Any external interference would warrant the principal’s direct involvement to destroy it easily. If I attempt it alone, it will take at least three hours.”

It would require too much time.

“So then…”

“It seems unlikely that we can escape on our own.”

“Do we need to protect the students here until the principal arrives?”

Despair painted the professors’ faces.

The attackers had targeted the school intentionally.

They found themselves unable to discern the methods of the invaders, yet they were responsible for the safety of the students.

Kwaang!

An explosive sound erupted from one side, and the presence of dark magic became palpable.

…The Mines had emerged.

“Professor Song Ra-hee, please begin by deactivating the barrier. We’ll handle the Mines.”

Taking the lead, Instructor Seo Woo-ju and others, weapons at the ready, advanced.

Then the fierce battle commenced.

Professor Song Ra-hee focused on analyzing the barrier’s core to dismantle it.

But her efforts would have been in vain, had it not been for the top student who appeared beside her.

“…That’s not how you do it.”

Lee Seo-ha, who had blurted out without realizing it, suddenly caught himself.