episode_0022

The sirens I hear in my ears clearly indicate the precursor to the activation of a large-scale defensive barrier initiated by Principal Iris when the Ardent Academy is invaded in the latter part of Sung Yong.

‘Even if they realize that the warehouse barrier has been breached, they wouldn’t activate it.’

Simply knowing that the barrier has been breached wouldn’t trigger it; she must have come to the academy warehouse herself to assess the situation first.

Given the immense magical power required to activate it, it’s inefficient.

It’s correct to think that simply activating it because the warehouse was breached is not the case. It was clear that something had happened.

Most defensive barriers and spells aim to protect the interior from the outside, but the purpose of this large-scale defensive barrier activated by Iris is different.

A huge dome-shaped barrier is created, allowing intruders to freely enter the academy from the outside without any resistance.

Even attacks from the outside ignore the barrier and enter the academy.

The primary goal is not to prepare for external shocks but for Iris to control the entire Ardent Academy under her magical influence, using it as a kind of domain.

Exiting from the inside is different from entering; it is nearly impervious to attacks and secures significant control over magical powers throughout the academy, preventing intruders from effectively using magic attacks within the academy.

It is only activated to annihilate enemies.

Since the siren is still sounding, it seems that the defense barrier is not completely sealed, so one must quickly gather the necessary items from the warehouse and escape.

Although it’s unclear where Iris is currently located, the moment the barrier is fully activated, its amplification is such that one could detect even an ant crawling into the forest, making it instantly apparent that there are intruders in the warehouse.

‘We really don’t have much time, so we need to hurry.’

It might be impossible to reach the dormitory before the barrier activates due to lack of time, but one must go as far as possible to secure an alibi for any injuries sustained.

After quickly planning, I entered the gap in the warehouse thanks to the sacrifice of the wooden sword and began frantically searching for items.

Originally, I intended to grab items to lift the penalty and perhaps bring a useful artifact for Claire or a decent sword, but it seems there’s no time for that now.

‘I think it was around here.’

Passing through a sinister aura, I opened an old pouch and finally found what I was looking for.

Now all I have to do is leave quickly. As I tried to put the pouch in my pocket and leave, I thought I was halfway successful.

Until the owner of the least desirable voice appears from behind.

“What are you doing here?”

Turning around, I saw Iris staring sharply at me with a chilling voice.

‘The defensive barrier isn’t fully deployed yet.’

She seemed closer than I had thought. Gradually expanding her detection range, she must have confirmed the presence of intruders in the academy warehouse and teleported here immediately.

“Answer me. If you don’t properly explain why you’re here and what you were doing, I will consider you not as a student but as an intruder who has trespassed into the academy.”

As Iris constrained me with her magic and emitted a threatening aura, a warning signal tingled in my head.

It felt like my fate would be determined by just one word.

‘I have no choice but to tell the truth.’

If it were her, she would easily detect my lies through blood pressure, respiration, heart rate, sweat secretion, etc.

Calming my anxious mind as much as possible, I cautiously began to speak.

“I know that in the eyes of the principal, I am nothing more than a thief who came to steal items from the academy warehouse. However, I risked danger and came here because there is something I truly need.”

Feeling Iris silently demanding further explanation with her gaze, I continued.

“I cannot say that I have no personal attachment to the items in the academy warehouse. However, I acted like this to gain strength for the people I want to protect and to reach a happy ending.”

“What do you consider a happy ending?”

“A happy ending is everyone living happily according to their own wishes, without needlessly losing their lives while trying beyond their limits to protect someone, overcoming deep-seated wounds in their hearts, and not giving up even in seemingly hopeless situations.”

Watching Rachel and other students dying or struggling any longer is unacceptable. Especially now that it has become a reality.

Iris, who had been observing me throughout my response, soon began pressing her forehead as if in pain.

“Come over here.”

As I hesitated to approach her, she sighed slightly and spoke somewhat irritably.

“I’m not trying to catch you or anything, so don’t worry and come quickly. I have things to do right now and need to hurry.”

Approaching her, the natural height difference of two heads made her look up at me.

Kneeling down in case my looking down made her uncomfortable, Iris closed her eyes while holding my hand.

I soon felt green magic enveloping my body and aiding in my recovery.

As she delicately infused more magic into my right arm for treatment, she soon opened her eyes.

The treatment has been done, but it’s not perfect, so don’t act like everything’s fine. You know this too, especially your right arm was completely shattered. It would be best not to use your right arm at all for a while.

I was taken aback by her unexpected offer to treat me, and she tossed me a small vial containing purple liquid.

“Saying you have someone to protect. Take it, it might help someday.”

The moment I received and checked the vial she threw, I almost screamed.

“This is an elixir!”

Even those with fatal injuries that are certain to die use the elixir, known as a panacea that can save lives.

This is extremely rare; I heard that even the Ardent Academy doesn’t have more than five bottles, yet she’s giving it to me now.

Of course, I won’t use this on my current wounds. It’s like using a sword for cattle on a dragon hunt, not for catching chickens.

If a situation arises where I sustain serious injuries during a scenario later on, I might be able to save someone’s life once.

A sense of gratitude towards Iris was growing inside me.

Drawing a teleportation magic circle shining bright blue under my feet, Iris spoke without looking at me.

“If you raid the warehouse again, I won’t go easy on you next time, so don’t think about doing this again. Also, what I allowed you to take is what’s in your possession and what I gave you, so don’t touch anything else.”

Thinking about the significant burden using a large-scale protective barrier would impose on her, I responded to her words simply.

“Understood. I hope the principal didn’t push you too hard.”

“…It’s just unnecessary worry. Hurry up and go to the dormitory to get some sleep.”

Iris glanced briefly in this direction before disappearing into the light.

Since there was something that needed to be resolved urgently earlier, it is highly likely that she went to finish that task.

“But at this point, would there be a threat significant enough to deploy a large-scale protective barrier?”

For a moment, images of Syniria’s Black Moon organization members crossed her mind, but she doubted it.

The people accompanying her were probably no more than a single squad; surely they wouldn’t use a protective barrier just to capture one Black Moon Guild squad.

Dragging her exhausted body, still not completely healed even with healing magic, she headed towards the dormitory.

She had to climb up using a rope made from the curtain she had lowered initially, but her strength was insufficient, and no matter how hard she tried, she couldn’t hold on and climb up.

In the end, trying to sneak in through the main gate of the dormitory to avoid the security guard, she was caught.

Fortunately, being her first offense, she was let off with just a warning. It seemed like they were a bit more lenient, believing my story about coming back from training all dirty.

After cautiously hiding her pockets and elixirs under the bed, she fell asleep without even properly washing up.