episode_0117

Episode 117 Monster Season (2)

Monster Season.

It was a term Evan was familiar with. Every time he took a lecture related to monsters, the professor emphasized it.

But it’s happening now? In this situation where the field training is taking place?

Evan immediately asked through the connected communication.

“Professor, is that true?”

-Evan? Are there other students around? Are you alone?

“Yes, I’m alone.”

-Tsk, why now….

The professor clicked his tongue. At the same time, a deep sigh is heard. Evan realized that this wasn’t some kind of prank to raise the students’ tension.

The professor continued to speak to Evan.

-How’s the situation? Are you safe?

“I haven’t encountered anything.”

Only 10 minutes after the start of the field training. Evan had not yet encountered anyone. Therefore, he couldn’t proceed with anything.

-That’s a relief. Anyway, Evan, get off the mountain right away. Our faculty is blocking them as much as possible, but there are too many. The barrier will be breached soon. Don’t stick around persistently!

The sound of battle is heard through the ear. At the same time, the ground shook and the atmosphere vibrated. It seemed the professor did something.

“But Professor, what about the other kids? Do they know about this too?”

-Other professors are also… Keuk! Trying to inform them… but time is running out, so it’s hard to inform everyone!

“Then….”

That’s when it happened.

Kwaaaang!!

A loud noise from the west. It sounded like something strongly hit the wall. And a line appeared in the air in the direction of the sound.

Jjeojjeojeok!

The line gradually widened its range. Once started, it never stopped, and soon cracks appeared all over the sky.

-Damn it! Block it somehow! If it breaks, it’s over!

The professor’s urgent cry. Mana was emitted from outside the barrier, blocking the gaps. However, the professors’ efforts were in vain.

Kwaang! Kwaaaang!!

As the barrier under repair was hit by successive impacts, it cracked rapidly. Destruction was faster than restoration. The result appeared immediately.

Jjeoeoeeoeong!!!

The barrier shattered. Fragmented mana falls from the sky. Instantly, a gust of wind from outside covered Evan.

-Evan, listen carefully! Right now…!

However, the professor’s voice was cut off in the middle. Interference waves flowing in with the wind were interfering with the communication.

Evan was left alone.

“Hoo-eup, Hoo….”

But Evan didn’t panic. After taking a deep breath. He took out the pure white sword, Raman, and expanded his senses.

Then, a familiar presence is felt on the skin. The energy of the monsters he had killed countless times in that dog-like space for the past few weeks.

He couldn’t pinpoint the exact location yet because his level was low, but he could roughly tell what kind they were.

“They’ve all gathered.”

Common orcs and goblins are basic, beasts influenced by mana, species that evolved under the influence of snow mountains, etc. Everything that can be called a monster is there.

The number that is felt right now is over 10,000. Judging from the professors’ reactions, it wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say there are more than that.

“Where were all these guys hiding?”

There’s no way the professors didn’t check. There’s no way they didn’t clean up in advance.

Then that means they were hiding somewhere waiting….

First of all, since it’s the first time experiencing it, and given the situation, he decided to understand that this is a characteristic of the ‘Monster Season’.

“First, I need to find the kids.”

Evan couldn’t go down the mountain following the professor’s words.

According to the professor, only a few students received contact. There are more students who didn’t.

Then the remaining students will 100% die.

The pressure and bloodthirst coming from the enormous number were difficult for students to handle. That was what he realized in the space his brother made.

Of course, some will quickly grasp the situation and act. But only a very few students are capable of that.

For example, Veil and Chloe. Those two will do well enough not to worry about.

Veil trained with him, and Chloe will come down yawning with her unique personality and magical skills.

“More than that, it’s worth rolling around.”

If he hadn’t trained in advance under his brother, he wouldn’t have been so calm. And he would have died trying to save his friends out of recklessness.

“As expected, the Saint is reading the future.”

Even if it’s preliminary, that power doesn’t go anywhere. It’s been said since ancient times that saints and priestesses can see the future.

Anyway.

Tak!

Evan, who had finished organizing his thoughts, kicked the ground. It was to find his friends.

The place changes quickly in an instant. He wasn’t familiar with moving on the snow, but he learned the knack as he kept walking.

Then, a presence is felt in front. First, the presence of a monster was felt, and soon the energy of a person was felt within it.

“Damn it, already…!”

Evan immediately jumped out.

Then he saw two groups confronting each other. One is of course monsters, and the other is students.

The numbers are 25 to 3. The student side had fewer numbers. In addition, one was seriously injured and collapsed, being protected by the other two. If it goes on like this, the result is obvious.

Evan put the monsters in his sights. Evan, who only captured the monsters excluding his friends.

Hwoong-!!

Swung his sword greatly with mana. Sword energy extending forward. It went forward fiercely and cut off only the monsters’ necks at once.

“Hoo….”

Evan exhaled the breath he had been holding back. And then ran towards his friends.

“Guys, are you okay?!”

“Ah….”

“Evan….”

Friends who were out of their minds. Everyone’s hands were trembling.

However, the friend who was seriously injured was more urgent than the other two. Evan approached the collapsed student.

A guy with blood gushing from his wound. Evan hurriedly used recovery magic. But the recovery speed was slow.

When he examined the state to see why, the blood was frozen by the cold of the snow mountain, slowing down the recovery.

Of course, there is a magic tool with magic applied, but it has long been destroyed in battle. He was constantly exposed to the cold.

“Ah, so that’s why my brother.”

I thought the words not to pee outside were a joke. Or just say it right away. Anyway, you go off on tangents in strange places.

“Hoo, that’s it.”

Evan, who realized the problem, immediately mixed magic and continued treatment.

After that, Evan conveyed the situation to the students. And the moment they were about to move together.

“More, more are coming…!”

“This time, 30 are coming…!”

The monsters were swarming again.

Of course, Evan expected it. The fact that monsters had rushed into the center far from the barrier meant that they were spread nearby.

Evan drew his sword again.

“Can I save them all.”

I hope so.

Evan thought so and rushed towards the monsters.

***

Monster Season, a phenomenon referred to as a natural disaster or catastrophe.

And this Monster Season has three characteristics.

One is the existence of a focal point that controls the monsters.

Two is contagiousness that makes monsters allies regardless of their species.

Three is aggressiveness that causes them to attack humans indiscriminately.

That’s why this phenomenon is tricky.

If you don’t eliminate the leader, the phenomenon continues, and if you leave it alone, the monsters increase and cause damage to the surroundings. Not to mention attacking humans.

“By now, Evan must have been attacked.”

The Millennium Mountains are the path the leader has passed. In other words, it’s swarming with monsters. Since humans have flocked to such a place, they must be under attack by now.

Huh? So you’re not worried? That’s because you don’t know Evan.

He looks stupid when he’s next to me, but Evan is the protagonist. He is the center of this world.

That guy is defeated? That’s impossible. There will be some hardships, but he will never die. Rather, he is the type to gain enlightenment in the meantime.

And more than anything.

‘It’s not like I trained him for nothing.’

It’s not like I don’t have thoughts. That’s why I trained him in preparation for that. He’ll come back perfectly fine.

Anyway, what I need to worry about is not that.

“Kyle, the air has changed….”

“I know.”

A quiet and heavy atmosphere surrounding Tianis Academy. In other words, it’s the atmosphere before something like the calm before the storm happens. And I know the cause of this phenomenon.

“Lana.”

“Yes, Kyle.”

“How many people in the academy can fight right now?”

“Hmm… not many. About 4~5 thousand?”

That’s about how many guards, 2nd graders from two departments, and professors combined. It’s less than I thought. Well, there aren’t that many mana users among the staff and other departments.

Besides, the guards’ highest level was Upper Expert, I think.

So, the reason I asked Lana this is because monsters are attacking Tianis.

“Wow, a wyvern…!”

The sound comes just in time. Over a hundred wyverns were flying in the sky.

“Why are monsters in Tianis…!”

And on the ground, hundreds of various monsters attacked the academy.

Tianis became a scene of chaos in an instant. But the monsters couldn’t attack humans right away. That’s because a barrier was prepared for this.

“Phew, that’s a relief. The barrier is blocking them.”

People sighed in relief, and I thought differently.

“Lana, gather the people. Everyone who can fight.”

“Huh? Isn’t it okay because of the barrier?”

“No, it won’t last long.”

It’s true that the barrier is strong, but it’s not strong enough to block tens of thousands of monsters. That wasn’t the barrier of the founding emperor.

“Why is this happening.”

“Why when the academy is empty….”

“Currently, from the 1st grade side….”

In the meantime, the professors were in a frenzy. Of course.

The end of the year and the end of the semester mean that one semester is coming to an end. And this period is really busy with exam-related matters.

The 1st graders are out on joint field training, and the 3rd graders are also gone for graduation exams. The related professors are the same.

In the end, the only ones left in the academy are our 2nd graders and the professors. Of course, not all professors are there. They are not in the academy due to business trips and other reasons.

In the midst of that, monsters attacked, so the situation can be said to be the worst. There are too few people to fight compared to the number of enemies.

In fact, Tianis was half destroyed because of this in the novel. The casualties were so many that it’s hard to express in words.

And I’m going to stop that.

Students gathered in front of me at Lana’s guidance. Everyone is shaking their eyes.

Although the barrier is blocking them, the number of monsters is visible. The clear numerical inferiority in front of their eyes is bound to be scary no matter how talented they are.

I said to them, who were afraid.

“Why are you all so scared.”

Then one student said.

“You, you’re the weird one… how can you not be scared looking at that….”

And another student continued.

“Look at the professors too. They don’t know what to do. We can’t… stop that.”

Spreading frustration. Once broken, it seemed like it would not recover.

“So. Are you going to die like this?”

I asked them in a low voice.

“No….”

“I don’t want to die….”

Yeah, who wants to die.

Of course, the students’ condition did not improve with this one word.

So, just this once, I decided to use the names of those damn things. That was the most sure way.

“Guys. Who am I.”

Then the students said in unison.

“Saint….”

“Saint-nim….”

“S, aint….”

They looked at me with shining eyes.

“Yeah, I’m a saint. Well, I’m still preliminary, and I don’t have faith like those guys from the Holy Kingdom. But keep this one thing in mind.”

I said as if to repay those eyes.

“I’m behind you. So trust me and fight. I’ll protect you so you never die.”

One by one, they raised their heads that had been drooping and opened their mouths.

“That’s right, I can’t die like this….”

“There are still so many things I haven’t done….”

They clench their respective weapons tightly. As fear spreads, the courage that once bloomed gradually spread.

“Hehe, Kyle is kind.”

“It’s nothing. Lana, you get ready too.”

“Yes!”

At my words, Lana also prepared to fight the monsters.

So. Am I confident in winning this war?

Of course. Who was I.

It’s an unwelcome profession in this world, but in the world I was in, we were heroes and objects of envy.

So what was I?

Hunter. We were called that here and there.

And I was the person at the peak of it.

Jjeojeojeok-!!

At that moment, the barrier surrounding Tianis shattered.

“Let’s start the hunt now.”