Real Combat (2)
Crunch— crunch—
Ifrin lay sprawled on the study room floor, gnawing on squid jerky.
Her throat felt a bit dry, so she took a swig from her drink.
Gulp— gulp—
After three sips, something still felt missing, so she rummaged through her plastic bag.
Her eyebrows wiggled flirtatiously when she found the chocolate.
"Brought a ton of tasty stuff. Mind if I dig in?"
"Uh... yeah. The assignment's mostly on you guys anyway, so I figured... But aren't you hurting?"
Yurojan stared at her, a mix of exasperation and disbelief on his face.
"Huh? Oh~ Well, it was my fault for spouting nonsense this time."
Dreams and all that crap. No self-respecting mage focused on reality should say shit like that.
Munch— munch— Ifrin chewed her chocolate while glancing at Sylvia.
Speaking of which, this taste isn't something you find in the sticks. What kind of chocolate is this white stuff?
"......"
Sylvia had her eyes closed.
She was sharing vision with her swift hawk outside the tower. The hawk soared near the tower, surveying the area.
The tower looked fine at first glance. No one from the university seemed to care.
But if she infused mana at that moment... the entire lower floors would be buried in ash.
Crackle— crackle—
The connection with the hawk felt precarious, on the verge of snapping.
Sylvia issued the command to return home before opening her eyes.
"It's serious."
She said it flatly.
""""Serious?""""
All four widened their eyes and echoed her.
"The tower's engulfed in ash."
""""The tower?!""""
"So we're trapped?!"
Dain blurted it out. Sylvia nodded.
"The lower floors are overrun, and the entrance is sealed tight. No one seems to know what's happening."
"No one?"
"The ash itself seems laced with an illusion property."
"What about the professors? Can't they help?"
The ash blanketed from the 1st to the 25th floors.
The professors on the mid-to-upper floors probably didn't even know yet—and even if they did, most would be out prepping for finals.
Thud—! Thud—!
"Ugh!"
Then the study room door rattled.
Thud—! Thud—!
Roton was pounding from outside. Consumed by ash, he'd forgotten how to open a door, but the smoldering embers from his fist were charring the wall bit by bit.
"That crazy bastard Roton—what the hell happened?!"
"......Hoo."
Ifrin took a deep breath.
Eyes closed, she began constructing a ritual.
Elements: wind and earth.
Thud—! Thud—! Thud—!
"I-Ifrin, what are you doing? Just leave him!"
"If we do, the door'll burn."
Ifrin gripped the doorknob. Roton's unfocused eyes were creepy as hell, but she didn't flinch and yanked it open.
At the same time, she unleashed her magic.
Imbues wind with the properties of earth to restrain the target.
Kraaaaaah—!
Roton lunged the instant the door opened, but wind erupted from Ifrin's hand, ensnaring him.
His body shriveled like it was trapped in a coffin.
"There we go—?!"
Suddenly, ash spewed from his mouth.
Whoosh—! The black powder surged right at their faces—but halted abruptly.
Sylvia's barrier.
"......Whoa. That startled me."
"Move."
Sylvia strode forward in her heels, peering into Roton's face.
Unfocused eyes.
Blackened, bulging veins.
And bare feet caked in ash.
"......"
His bare feet fused to the floor.
As if... connected.
"He's being controlled."
Sylvia reached her conclusion from the clues.
She didn't know the ash's origin, but it was imperfectly dominating the mage's brain.
"Controlled?"
"A form of puppetry. Basically a zombie."
Ifrin nodded and slipped outside to scan the hall.
Ash clung to the ceiling and walls like pulsing veins. The whole thing reeked of scorching heat, as if consumed by embers.
"Hot. The entire hall's burning."
Ifrin shut the door and turned to Sylvia.
"This place is dangerous. We need to find somewhere safe until rescue comes."
"Somewhere safe."
"Yeah. I think..."
The safest spot came to mind for both Ifrin and Sylvia.
A place of cutting-edge magitech design and mana stones that no mere ash heat could penetrate.
The head professor's classroom only.
3rd floor, A-Class.
Poke—
Ifrin's face peeked out the door.
Poke—
Sylvia's appeared above it.
The two scanned with just their eyes—whirr—
The hall was creepily blanketed in ash, but no zombie-fied Rotons lurked.
"Clear."
At Ifrin's whisper, the three guys emerged. Gas masks on, they crept forward.
Study room on the 5th floor.
Elevator in this mess? Suicide. Route: emergency stairs.
Whoosh— whoosh—whoosh—
Ifrin glanced at the study room windows while moving. Everyone must've bolted at the first sign of trouble—no debutantes left behind.
"!"
Mid-advance, lead Ifrin halted sharply.
Sylvia asked.
"What."
"Hall's crawling with monsters. Over ten, easy."
The emergency stair entrance—and the nearby hall—swarmed with them.
Ifrin bit her lip.
"Can't kill 'em all..."
Real monsters, she'd smash without hesitation.
But fellow debutantes? No way.
"Sylvia. Can't make a passage below?"
"Tower floors are magitech. Can't breach ceiling or floor. But..."
Sylvia sketched a floor plan on the ground.
│Emergency Stairs││★│ │Central Hall │Study Rm 1│Study Rm 2│
Monsters swarm the space between Central Hall and Stairs.
Plan: Reach 'Study Rm 1', open passage (★) to stairs.
Rough sketch of the 5th floor.
Monsters clogged the path from central hall to stairs.
"Reach 'Study Room 1', I can make a passage at the star to the stairs."
"What if stairs have monsters too?"
Yurojan asked. Ifrin replied firmly.
"Subdue 'em. I'll draw aggro—you guys hit Study Room."
Ifrin channeled mana into her bracelet.
Then hopped into the hall.
"Hiyah—!"
She summoned a gale. Typhoon-force winds blasted the hall, sweeping monsters away helplessly.
Sylvia and the others slipped into Study Room 1. Ifrin, causing the chaos, followed safely.
"Ifrin! You okay? Nothing bit you? You're not turning monster too, right?"
Ifrin just nodded at Yurojan.
Sylvia had already drawn a passage on the Study Room wall.
"Go."
They traversed it to the emergency stairs.
But.
Grrraaah— grrraaah—
Stairs crawling with monsters. Way more than imagined. One per step—not subdue-able numbers.
"Too... too many?!"
"Sorry. Didn't see this coming."
Ifrin frowned in panic, but Sylvia stayed cool. She pressed a finger to her lips.
"Shh."
Then gathered mana in her retinas. Her eyes swirled with colors.
Tri-Color manifestation.
"......"
Sylvia glared at the stairs. Solid steps rippled violently, melted like an illusion, then erased completely.
Like an eraser wiping pencil—gone with a glance.
Ruuuumble—!
Dozens of prowling monsters plummeted whole. Sylvia restored the stairs, then closed her eyes.
Cold sweat beaded her forehead.
"S-Sylvia... that was straight-up archmage-level..."
"No time for chatter."
They descended together.
"Stop."
3rd floor emergency passage entrance.
But they didn't blunder in.
Sylvia made another door a safe distance away. They entered the 3rd floor through it.
Sure enough, monsters blocked the emergency passage.
"Move."
They sought A-Class first.
Familiar weekly path, but today bristled with obstacles. Dozens patrolled the hall.
"What now?"
"I'll draw eyes. You open the door."
Ifrin said. Crack— she rolled her joints, scanned around, then broke from the group.
"—Hey, kids! I'm over here—!"
Her shout pulled hall gazes. She bolted; Sylvia and crew crept to the A-Class door.
Rattle— rattle—
Locked. Yurojan and guys paled. Sylvia bit her lip.
"Sh-it. We're screwed..."
But Sylvia heard a whisper from inside.
"Someone's there."
"Inside?"
Thud—! Thud—!
Sylvia knocked.
"Open."
Chaos erupted inside.
Thud—! Thud—!
Yurojan and guys joined, pounding.
"Open up! Open it!"
"Sylvia's here too! Don't open and you're all dead!"
Sylvia.
That name sparked pandemonium.
Thud—! Thud—!
"Uwaaah!"
Perfect timing—Ifrin, aggro magnet, barreled back from the passage. Monsters in her tail: at least a hundred.
"Open the door—!"
Ifrin yelled.
Creak—
Door swung open. Commoner Julia opened it. They rushed in.
"Me too—!"
Last, Ifrin dove in just in time—door slammed shut.
Ifrin clutched her chest, collapsing.
"Whoa, haa, haa, whoa... somehow made it..."
"Ipi! Ipi, you good?!"
Familiar voice to Ifrin: Julia.
"Julia!"
She grinned, hugging her tight.
"Man... if not for Sylvia, you'd drag every monster here? I'm such an idiot."
Grumbling too. Lucia, Ifrin's budding nemesis lately. That purple long hair grated extra today.
Thud—! Thud—! Thud—!
Monsters battered the door outside. Startled Julia glanced at it.
"......Ipi. Now what?"
Thud—! Thud—! Thud—!
"No choice."
Thud—! Thud—! Thud—!
"Wait for help."
Rustle— Ifrin pulled her bundle. Snacks galore. She'd clutched it tight even running.
Food was life in this mess.
"But what's that?"
Ifrin eyed the blackboard.
— Four Things to Remember —
1. Discern the barrier's core.
2. Avoid direct confrontations.
3. Survive.
4. Remember: this blackboard is your sole link to me.
"Just... exam notes from last time?"
"Hmm......"
Julia's answer didn't satisfy. Ifrin stared at the board.
Your sole link to me.
Chalk below it.
"......"
Ifrin grabbed the chalk and scrawled.
Thud—! Thud—! Thud—!
"Ack, scared me."
Thoughtless, she sat back down.
"Your Majesty. Professor Deculein requests audience."
The emperor's study—Hall of Learning.
The attendant knocked the golden lion's mouth handle. The emperor's voice flowed sternly.
—Enter.
Door opened. Emperor Sophien lounged casually.
Her boredom-rotted eyes unchanged.
Head tilted, scanning me top to bottom.
"I greet Your Majesty."
"Hmph. They say your style sets the capital's trend. Indeed, unlike those palace rabble."
I approached silently, sat before her. Chessboard on the table.
"Chess again today."
"No. Talk first. Chess is getting stale."
I nodded. Made sense.
She lost interest in everything fast.
"Heard you met Rohakan."
"Yes."
"Let him slip, unfortunately."
"......My skills fell short."
Sophien snickered.
"How short must knights be, compared to you. Rohakan your master, right?"
"Hardly. Learned nothing."
"......True. Nothing to learn from that scum. He ruined the late emperor's health—not just the dowager, but him too."
Her tone recited facts, no anger. Just feigned outrage.
Emotions bored her too.
"Deculein. Eunuchs say you're among the continent's sharpest minds."
"Me?"
"Yes. Genius raking millions at auctions."
Rumors I didn't start lately. Rohakan's nemesis, smartest man alive, etc.
"So, I ask. I'm planning an expedition."
"Expedition?"
"To conquer Mieolji."
Sophien placed a map on the desk.
"First, eliminate internal threats. I'll crush Altiegue."
Her words grated.
I met her eyes.
"Why so."
"......Altiegue isn't an internal threat."
"How would you know."
"Because I'm among the continent's sharpest minds."
"......"
Sophien shut her mouth silently.
Her ever-dull, half-lidded eyes curved slyly.
"Ha— ha— ha—"
Robotic laugh.
"Funny one."
"No jest. I see the world differently."
Block Altiegue massacre? I'd take 'smartest' title gladly.
Sophien twisted her lips.
"Hmph. Fine. Whatever you say, Altiegue displeases me. I'll smash them first, then march on Mieolji myself."
"......Yourself."
"Yes. I'll stand at the forefront. Swing sword, wield magic. That's how I etch myself in history."
Her mischievous eyes fixed on me.
Expecting reaction. I read her authority via character lens.
──「???」──
◆ Rank
：Authority
◆ Description
：???
⟨ Unknown Authority ⟩
Lens couldn't decipher the authority, but I knew her secret without it.
......Death Regression.
Her boredom stemmed from lacking death.
Humans strive knowing death looms; deathless Sophien wallowed in sloth and ennui.
Thus, dangerous.
In-game, emperor's death = game over, regression like Saber Road. But I'm no player.
This world's emperor must not die. No matter what.
Can't let her abandon life.
She herself is my death variable......
"I see. Yet Your Majesty speaks as if death won't claim you."
......I asked.
Sophien's face hardened. Sly eyes flared crimson.
"......What do you mean."
"Your Majesty seeks my counsel only on magic."
"What. Do. You. Mean."
"Master enough magic, and if I can't offer more, seek 'other counsel' then."
After mastering magic.
I'll tell you then.
Bang—!
Sophien slammed the desk.
"......Insolent. I commanded: speak plainly."
Her glare burned murderous, as if ripping out my guts.
"Your Majesty."
I held her gaze.
Endured the emanating pressure, seated.
"I am Deculein."
Her brow twitched.
"Once resolved, no one sways me."
Delivered with a smile.
Veins bulged at Sophien's temples.
Tick...... tock......
Ifrin checked the clock.
10 PM.
12 hours since outbreak.
Or maybe 24.
Windows ash-sealed.
Pure dark—no time sense.
Thud—! Thud—! Thud—!
No rescue.
Just endless door-thuds.
Thud—! Thud—! Thud—!
"Fuck, driving me insane, those shits......"
Thud—! Thud—! Thud—!
Door held, but the noise was torture.
Ear-plugged, it pierced anyway. Damn echo.
"Can't activate the barrier? Fuck, seriously. Fuuuuck!"
Beck screamed fitfully. Ifrin sighed back.
"Don't know the code. Only prof does."
"Shut the fuck up!"
"You asked, why curse me?"
Thud—! Thud—! Thud—!
Again.
The sound maddened.
Thud—! Thud—! Thud—!
Mental stress? Or ash draining psyche?
Going insane.
"Hoo......"
Ifrin pulled her bag. Emergency snacks.
Rustle— Everyone stared, hunger-glazed eyes gleaming.
"Wh-what's that?!"
"Ifrin, where'd you get that?!"
"Yeah. Was gonna share—"
"......Wait. That's mine!"
Yurojan lunged, snatching the bag.
"Yurojan? Wh-what the hell?!"
"Bought it with my money!"
His eyes bloodshot.
"O-okay—"
"I bought it!"
Ifrin recoiled at his deranged look. Then fury hit.
Why bitch at me?
"I bought it!"
"I said okay, let go!"
"You let go!"
"Quit acting childish! You gonna hog it now?!"
"I bought it! Fuck, gimme! Broke-ass bitch!"
Riiip—!
Bag tore. Snacks, chocolate, drinks spilled.
Plop, plop, plop......
Eyes followed rolling food.
Chaos about to erupt.
"Stop."
Sylvia halted them.
"Pathetic. Over food."
"......Heh~"
Impudent snicker intruded.
Lucia.
"So, what now, Sylvia?"
Lucia asked. Rotten smirk on her lips.
"Curious what noble solution highborn Sylvia offers~?"
Sylvia eyed her coolly, thinking.
What would he do?
......Probably this.
"Nobles yield."
"......What? Nobles should eat, lead commoners—"
"Always obsessed with dignity. Even now."
"......Tch."
Noble clique glared, faces twisted.
Meanwhile, Ifrin gathered snacks to the podium.
"I'll divide fair."
"No dividing! I bought it!"
"Shut it!"
Ifrin snapped; Yurojan flinched.
"Stay put. I won't eat. Already stuffed—"
Rumble—!
Enormous quake shook the room. Thunderous.
"What?!"
All eyes on the door.
Thud—!
Entrance shuddered.
......A-Class toughest room, supposedly.
Thud—!
Ominous debris trickled from walls.
"B-barrier. Gotta activate barrier?!"
Kaboom—!
Imminent shatter roar.
Blackboards crashed down.
Kabooooom—!
"Kyaaaaah!"
Screams filled. Sobs grated. Panic-yelps deafening.
In the wretched pandemonium, Ifrin clutched her head.
Kaboom—!
But then.
Ifrin saw the podium blackboard.
"......"
All others ripped away.
This one stood firm.
— Four Things to Remember —
1. Discern the barrier's core.
2. Avoid direct confrontations.
3. Survive.
4. Remember: this blackboard is your sole link to me.
"......'This blackboard is your sole link to me.'"
This blackboard is your sole link to me.
Sole link......?
"Ah!"
The moment Ifrin realized.
Scratch scratch......
Words etched on the blackboard.
Thud—!
Escalating quakes.
Strikes threatening to pulverize walls.
Screams, sobs, shouts in hellish mix.
Finally, the completed sentence.
That instant.
Ifrin felt like bursting into tears.