episode_0247

Outside the barrier, people had already formed dense lines.

The number of armed personnel guarding the surroundings steadily increased, and observation posts and various facilities were erected in various places, creating a defensive perimeter.

However, there was no sign of them entering immediately.

“These guys. Do they even intend to come in?”

The movements seen beyond the translucent barrier were somewhat passive.

However, seeing them deploy vehicles, turrets, and strangely shaped tower-like objects—probably artifact weapons—in advantageous positions for entry, it seemed they had something in mind.

Furthermore, they kept sending in various unmanned reconnaissance drones whenever they felt like it.

Given that they kept repeating this, despite knowing they couldn’t retrieve them, it seemed they had some method of checking the situation inside.

“They’re just watching. Like monkeys in a zoo.”

“Right.”

Seeing them merely observe without entering, the people outside seemed indecisive, like someone watching meat on a grill.

Unsure if the meat was cooked, they kept poking it with a fork and flipping it over repeatedly.

Meanwhile, the people who had just left the exhibition hall arrived in front of the barrier.

They searched around the barrier and checked for passage, just as I had done.

“This way is blocked too. Waiting is the best option.”

“Can’t we break through with calculations?”

“No! It’s like trying to stop a waterfall with bare hands. The process of finding a solution is excessively large and complex. Some spells are constantly changing in real-time.”

Listening to their conversation, it seemed they hadn’t found any particular solution either.

Some remained in front of the barrier, attempting to communicate with the people outside, while the rest trudged back to the exhibition hall.

“Unit 229. You go back too!”

“Understood.”

While the external Violets were surveying, I discreetly returned to the convention center.

Some people who remembered the Violet who had just died approached with puzzled expressions and spoke.

“Oh, aren’t you the girl who got sniped earlier? I clearly saw you die…”

“That was my clone!”

Unit 229 casually tossed out a remark and quickly entered the building before they could inquire further.

Inside, numerous people were already waiting with temporary lights turned on.

Seeing them take out and set up camping equipment from the corporate promotional booths, everyone seemed to be adapting quickly.

“It smells good!”

The people inside were already distributing food.

Others took out the displayed equipment and prepared to arm themselves temporarily or use it.

Watching that scene, Violet realized something.

“Oh, there are quite a lot.”

There were more people than expected.

Before the entire exhibition hall dropped here, many people had evacuated or fled when the commotion grew, so there were fewer than before the incident.

Still, there were quite a lot. It seemed well over a thousand people at least.

“There seem to be a lot of ordinary people.”

A slight worry arose.

Was it because my heart was unsettled by the female student whose head had burst open from a sniper shot just moments ago?

Although it was unclear exactly how many non-Awakened were here, there were quite a few people who had visited to see the exhibition.

The problem was how long ordinary, non-Awakened people could endure in this unstable space filled with Aether.

Aether interacts with surrounding matter, causing capricious events.

“They might get cancer, or tentacles might sprout from their bodies!”

Although it seemed stable now, it was impossible to know when or how the environment inside this dungeon would change.

Stable dungeons could be entered without issue, but the problem was that this one didn’t seem to be.

“It’s prickly, isn’t it?”

“Yeah, it feels dirty somehow!”

The nerves of the Violets wandering inside the ruins grew slightly frayed.

A strange sour taste lingered in their mouths, and their skin and hair felt itchy and stinging, as if they hadn’t been washed for days.

I could instinctively tell.

This was not a place for ordinary people to casually enter.

If the situation worsened, it was doubtful whether ordinary people could endure.

“This could easily lead to…”

They might be swept away by dangerous Aether waves and turn into ghouls. Or perhaps face an even worse situation.

My worry was short-lived, as I realized the people around me were thinking the same thing.

“Alright, everyone! Please gather here. Your cooperation is requested!”

Awakened students and Hunters were seen gathering ordinary people in one place, deploying various magic spells, or installing temporary barriers like shields and tents.

“You must stay inside here for now. Outside can be dangerous.”

“Stick one of these on! Never throw it away!”

As if this wasn’t enough, those who could use magic on site even created talisman-like objects and distributed them one by one.

Perhaps due to the calm demeanor of those accustomed to emergency situations, the ordinary people obediently followed the Awakened’s instructions and help.

Anxiety was evident on people’s faces, but they seemed to feel a strange sense of relief watching the magic circles and barriers being deployed around them.

“Well, somehow it’ll work out.”

It was, after all, an academy expo; there must have been at least a few hundred Awakened.

Though there would be variations in individual abilities, whether magical beasts swarmed or a terrible epidemic broke out, they would somehow be able to respond.

“First, Command! I’m going to grab some supplies!”

Unit 229 requested material support from Violet Command.

Since it was unknown how long they would be staying, a lot of food seemed necessary.

“They’ll need to eat to regain their strength.”

I took out boxes of combat rations and discreetly moved them to a visible spot inside the building.

These were surplus foods I had bought on sale previously. This amount would be more than enough for everyone here.

Violet Command quickly issued orders to other Violets.

“First, assemble the hang gliders and start aerial reconnaissance. The search teams, scour every inch!”

The Violets briefly discussed what to do.

“What do we tell people if they see us?”

“Let’s make up some excuse for now. But we’ll have to reveal ourselves if necessary, right?”

“Ariel Group!”

Our Ariel Group is a liberal democratic organization that spreads democracy and freedom in the Academy City.

Even magical beasts are subjects to whom democracy should be spread, so there’s plenty of justification to step forward.

“Let’s liberate them!”

Before long, 20 powered hang gliders ascended into the sky, which was covered in gray vortices.

“Launch!”

On the ground, Violets scattered in all directions through the ruins.

The landscape of the Violet tactical map, covered in the murky fog of the battlefield, gradually changed, and then a map appeared.

Yellow dots moved in all directions, detecting enemies and allies.

“Advance, advance!”

As the Violets on site began their search, Violet Command, which had been discussing countermeasures, suddenly realized something they had forgotten.

“Right, I need to let our friends know our situation.”

“Everyone must be worried, right?”

We immediately informed our friends about my situation.

Coincidentally, all media outlets were reporting live on the incident where the area around the exhibition hall was covered by a giant barrier.

“Look, look at this!”

“Breaking news. Academy Expo Hall Erosion Incident…under blockade? Oh dear, this is indeed serious. But why is this…”

Daphne, who was reading the headlines one by one, glanced at my face and then opened her mouth as if she realized something.

“No way, right?”

“Yeah, I’m trapped in there too!”

Daphne let out a short sigh as soon as I finished speaking.

“Nothing serious, right?”

“No big problems yet!”

“Then listen carefully to others and cooperate as much as you can. Understood?”

“Understood!”

**

A monastery in Asteria City. A man and a woman stood atop a precariously tilted, towering spire.

Their eyes narrowed slightly as they gazed beyond the barrier. The increasing human military might was clearly visible.

“The worms will soon crawl in. How large is their army?”

“Enough. This was a battleground during the Great War. The quality of the servants we can command is relatively good. If need be, we can open the gates right now and summon more. What should we do?”

In response to the woman’s question, the man, who had been staring blankly into space, opened his mouth.

“Summon the servants of the Origin. The southern region is under the influence of the Restrade Knights. To deal with them, these indigenous creatures alone are insufficient.”

In his hand, a box with complex patterns appeared, which humans called a small miracle box.

“Conveniently, we have a portion of the power left by His Majesty. There’s no issue in principle if we use it a little before retrieving it.”

The woman expressed her agreement.

“That’s a good idea. The indigenous creatures of this planet are too weak. Even these bodies we inhabit are incredibly inconvenient.”

The creatures of this world are so crude and fragile, like hothouse flowers. Even if we bestow grace to increase their power, their limits are clear.

The two concluded their conversation and leaped down from the spire. Four legs landed quietly and lightly on the marble floor.

Inside the monastery, their followers stood blankly, awaiting instructions.

“Our mission was to cause chaos. What’s the next step now? To defeat the forces of Restrade and the Federation and advance outside?”

“That was the original objective. But an interesting idea just occurred to me.”

Their gaze turned towards a distant building on one side of Asteria City.

A modern building, unsuited to the classical style of the cityscape, stood there like a temporal drifter.

“Let’s add this to the mix. They will soon come to rescue their imperiled brethren. Let’s use them.”

The miracle box in the man’s hand shattered into pieces.

Inside, a shimmering solid, indescribable in color and with mineral characteristics, was revealed.

“It should be enough to spread distrust and fear.”

Light extended from the solid held in his hand.

A jellyfish-like form undulated, tracing an unstable trajectory.

The woman’s eyes sparkled as she understood the man’s intention.

“I made it rather crudely due to lack of time. Because of that, there’s the issue of it needing our control, but the effect will be very potent. It will rot blood and paralyze nerves, destroying society like a poison.”

“It’s an effective method. However, there’s a possibility they might ruthlessly abandon their brethren. If so, the effect you intended will be weakened.”

The man’s expressionless face subtly wavered, as if he had heard something absurd.

“Abandon them? Humans are cruel. But you know…”

The light rippling within his hand instantly stopped.

“What lunatic would burn hundreds of their own kin, with nothing but suspicions, in their right mind?”

He slightly raised both hands, as if unable to imagine such a thing.

**

Violet 1st Company, 2nd Platoon, 3rd Squad traversed the ruined cityscape.

“Levia! Where are you!”

“Eonni! We’re here!”

Some Violets, risking danger lest they not be seen, walked around with megaphones turned on.

Whenever the booming voices echoed, snipers occasionally fired, but they retaliated with counter-sniping each time.

“Sophieel Eonni is a potential scholar, so there’s no need to worry, but…”

“The problem is Levia!”

Perhaps it was seeing the female student who died from a sniper shot just now, but worry kept growing inside me.

When she held the artifact ballista inherited from her grandfather, her attitude would completely change, like a Vietnam War veteran who loved the smell of napalm, but at her core, Levia was a very tender and timid girl.

It was impossible to completely change a person with just the Violet-specialized courage infusion training.

“Let’s find her quickly before any problems arise.”

“Wait, if there’s a real problem, couldn’t we find it by sound?”

“Ah, you’re right!”

Shortly after the search team strained their ears, a loud noise came from nearby.

–Clang! Clang!

The familiar sound of home, the din of battle, tickled our ears.

The source of the noise could be immediately tracked from the sky.

“Who is it? Someone we know?”

Unfortunately, it wasn’t a friend. Strangers were being chased by magical beasts.

“Report to Command, 2 people! An adult man and woman! They’re being chased by a pack of magical beasts!”

The hang gliders, one by one, turned and flew towards the target area.

“We’re coming!”

–Boom! Bang! Bang!

Four Violet guided bombs successively struck the ranks of the magical beasts. Fragments of monsters soared with the explosions.

The approaching Violets drove back the pack of magical beasts with gunfire and close-quarters combat.

“We won!”

We approached the fleeing people.

Judging by the magic sensed from the man and woman, they seemed to be Awakened Hunters. They appeared to have engaged in combat with magical beasts, as they were injured.

The family seemed to feel relieved upon seeing us.

“Thank you so much! For helping us…”

The man said, panting heavily. The woman also smiled weakly, seemingly relieved.

“We suddenly opened our eyes and we were here! It was definitely the exhibition hall before…”

These people seemed to have been caught in the recent incident and transferred outside.

Just then, the man made a terrified expression, as if he had remembered something.

“R-right. You all. You shouldn’t be here! You need to leave quickly!”

“Why? What’s the problem…”

As if something had just dawned on her, the woman also tried to flee.

–Thump!

I immediately understood why.

Something long, stained with magic and blood, burst out from the man’s chest.

“K-cough!”

Blood gushed out.

“Ah, no. Run! Hurry!”

The woman, her face pale, tried to escape. Immediately after, attacks also flew towards my body and the woman’s.

“Ahhh!”

“W-what is it! Agh!”

As Unit 2021 fell, a blurry silhouette was caught in her eyes.

“An invi-invisible magical beast!”

In the early stages of the search, we encountered an unexpected formidable foe.