Chapter 42 : Old Soldiers Never Die

“Iris, wake up. It’s an emergency.”

‘What’s going on, Nameless King?’

“A Grade 1 Devil Doll, the Vulcanic Turtle, is approaching this way.

You need to evacuate inside the barrier immediately and alert the Pantheon Peacekeeping Force.

First, wake up the nearby students, quickly!!”

Since I usually never showed this much urgency, Iris began forcibly waking the surrounding students.

Interestingly, Park Minwoo sprang up like a well-trained private even before being touched, while Priestess Marianne, on the other hand, was the type who couldn’t wake up easily once asleep—even slapping her cheek didn’t quite bring her to her senses.

In the end, Park Minwoo agreed to carry Priestess Marianne on his back, and as for me, I conveniently woke up just in time and helped Iris wake the villagers.

There’s a limit to how absurd a situation can be—being told in the dead of night that a Devil Doll is attacking and that we need to evacuate, you’d expect some resistance.

But the reality was different.

To the villagers living outside the barrier, Devil Dolls were a real and tangible threat, so they unexpectedly joined the evacuation without resistance.

However, there were people like the head nun with mobility issues, which significantly slowed down the movement.

More importantly, the real issue was that they had nowhere to go.

“How about using the sewer route that Hyunsoo and Hyunji took to get inside the barrier?”

“Sigh, even if we manage to make it down into the sewer, if we go beyond the barrier, we’ll all end up in prison. Neo Seoul City absolutely does not allow non-citizens to enter the barrier.”

“Then at least take shelter in the sewers for now.

Depending on the situation, it might be better to end up in prison than to die a meaningless death.

Oh, and Mother Superior, please let me carry you.”

Thus began a nighttime evacuation that stretched all the way to the sewer entrance.

But just as Iris, carrying the head nun on her back, lifted the manhole cover with one hand, she suddenly clutched her head and collapsed to the ground.

She was someone who could carry even adult men in a back carrier without issue, so sensing something was wrong, I quickly activated the Constellation’s Ritual.

Iris, what’s going on?

“Nameless King… I think the foresight ability you gave me just activated again.

If the villagers enter the sewers like this, the water temperature will suddenly rise and they’ll all die.

What should I do to twist this future?”

There’s no feature in the sewage system that raises water temperature.

There’s no reason for one to exist either.

It’s probably due to the unique ability of the Grade 1 Devil Doll, the Vulcanic Turtle.

In that case, we have no choice but to head toward the barrier and negotiate with the Pantheon Peacekeeping Force.

And just to be clear—don’t you dare try to face the Devil Doll alone like you did during the last field trip.

This isn’t about whether you’re strong or not.

Grade 1 Devil Dolls are practically strategic-level beasts.

This is war, not a battle.

And though the thought of abandoning the villagers and escaping with only the academy students came up to my throat, I didn’t bother to voice it.

Given Iris’s personality, there was no way she would follow such an order.

As expected, Iris didn’t just carry the head nun—she also grabbed little Hyunji, whose short legs made her slow, and began moving with both of them.

Fortunately, though the path through the sewers had felt like a maze, the aboveground route was surprisingly short and direct, allowing them to reach the barrier quickly.

However, just because they arrived fast didn’t mean they could get in just as quickly—the security was incredibly tight.

“Movement spotted at 6 o’clock. Stop right there! Come any closer and we’ll open fire!”

“I’m Iris Lunai from the Pantheon Academy. A Grade 1 Devil Doll is approaching from this direction. I’d like to hold a strategy meeting regarding that—can I speak to your commanding officer?”

“Did you say you’re from the Pantheon Academy? Wait a moment. I’ll contact HQ right away.”

The sentry ducked into the guard post and relayed the message via radio.

Not long after, a middle-aged dwarf wearing sunglasses appeared, flicking his fingers with a cigar in one hand.

It was an unmistakable gesture telling them to come up.

The guards prepared to lower a rope ladder for her, but Iris didn’t even wait for that.

With overwhelming jumping power, she leapt over the barrier and landed right in front of the sunglasses-wearing man.

“Well now, you’re a rather hasty one. I’m Lieutenant Colonel Anderson of the Pantheon Peacekeeping Force. Are you that famous Iris Lunai who’s making waves at the academy?”

“That’s me. We’re in a critical situation—could you please allow the villagers down there to enter the barrier for safety?”

“Whoa, calm down and listen to me first. In this world, everything has its procedures. Especially during wartime, ignoring protocol can cause chaos. You said a Grade 1 Devil Doll is approaching—do you know which one it is?”

“My Constellation told me it’s the Vulcanic Turtle.”

“If your Constellation said so, then the intel is 100% accurate. Of all the creatures out there, it just had to be the Vulcanic Turtle—this is a real headache. Sorry, but allowing refugees inside the barrier is out of the question.”

“Why not? They’re Earthlings too. Just because their identities are unclear, doesn’t mean we can—”

“That’s exactly the problem. Who can guarantee none of them are harboring a Demon Seed? You, of all people, should know what kind of catastrophe happens when one of those seeds blooms.”

Lieutenant Colonel Anderson was clearly referring to the incident with Philip during the school trip.

Iris flinched for a moment, recalling her battle with the Grade 2 Devil Doll, the Human-Faced Fish.

She frowned slightly but didn’t back down.

“Even so, I can’t just let them all die.”

“I never said they should die.

There’s a refugee camp at the 9 o’clock position.

Tell them to go there and get a thorough physical screening.

If the results prove they’re free of any Demon Seeds, we can grant them temporary shelter inside the barrier.

But any further arrangements will have to be negotiated with Commander Han Moosung of Neo Seoul City.

You might think we’re being cold, but this is reality.

You think this is the first time I’ve been in a situation like this, traveling across countless battlefields?

Your desire to help those in need is admirable, but if you push things further, we’ll have to deal with you under military law.

And really, why are academy students even outside the barrier?

Especially with Instructor Han Seongryeong absent—you should know better than to act recklessly.”

It was a relief that Lieutenant Colonel Anderson was a cool-headed and seasoned veteran.

He clearly knew how to handle students like Iris—those overflowing with justice but lacking experience.

So Iris said nothing more and obediently followed Anderson’s instructions.

A few soldiers emerged from the barrier and guided the villagers, including the head nun, to the refugee camp.

As for us academy students, since none of us had Iris’s jumping ability, we climbed up the barrier using the rope ladder.

Only then did I finally feel a bit of relief and activated the Constellation’s vision to check the status of the Vulcanic Turtle.

But instead of rapidly closing the distance as expected, the creature was hunched over, trembling all over as if having a seizure.

In that moment, I instinctively realized it was preparing to use its signature technique—Vulcanic Eruption—and I shouted to Iris at once.

“Iris!

Tell Lieutenant Colonel Anderson to deploy the barrier’s magic field at maximum power right now!

Just say it’s 10 seconds before Vulcanic Eruption activates—he’ll get the message.”

“Lieutenant Colonel Anderson, my Constellation says to deploy the barrier’s magic field immediately.

He also said it’s ten seconds before the Vulcanic Eruption activates.”

“What—what did you say!? Damn it, this is insane. Where’s my adjutant!? Stop dawdling and initiate WITCHICON Level 1—NOW!!”

With Anderson’s shout, the difference between Earth-born soldiers and the Pantheon Peacekeeping Forces became instantly clear.

The Earth-born soldiers, still unfamiliar with magic-based operations, could only flick off the safety on their guns, while the Pantheon Peacekeepers moved in perfect coordination, checking the magic stones and power supply units installed in the barrier.

Once all systems were confirmed, Anderson’s adjutant—who seemed to be a high-ranking mage—activated the magic field that enveloped Neo Seoul City in a massive dome.

It consumed an enormous number of mana stones each time it was deployed.

If the timing was off or the attack didn’t happen at all, it wouldn’t end with just a reprimand—it could spell disaster.

But I had seen it with my own eyes, so I knew it was going to happen for sure.

Glowing crimson fragments of lava rained down like a meteor shower.

It was a deadly moment with lives hanging in the balance—but somehow, it also felt breathtakingly beautiful.

BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!