Is That Really Mosik?
‘......Isn’t that Count Karma?’
I thought that the moment I saw him.
Those healthy muscles that looked like they’d been honed for years, his towering height, that wild yet neatly worn uniform and impeccably combed hair......
No matter that he was in his growth spurt or that three weeks had passed, did it make any sense for him to change this much?
“......You’re really Mosik, right?”
“Yes. Shall I show you my ID? Ah, better yet, my student card.”
No way it’s him.
Not a trace of his old self remained.
Actually, now that I looked closer, he was the spitting image of Count Karma. Just a few more years and a beard, and...
“You look just like Count Karma.”
“My eyes take after my mother.”
The Mosik I remembered from way back was the complete opposite of the man standing before me now.
‘If only Professor Nipella were here...’
But my senses were telling me plain as day.
This was the Mosik Karma I remembered.
And not only that—his current look evoked Count Karma himself.
“Guess you’re off the booze now, huh?”
“They say alcohol causes muscle loss. So no more drinks for me.”
As if sensing my disbelief, he nodded with a gentlemanly smile.
“I get it if you can’t believe it yet. Even my father and mother couldn’t at first. So I won’t ask you to right away. But first things first—we’ve gotta take down the boss, yeah?”
“Oh yeah, you weren’t in that mob that came charging at me earlier.”
“Didn’t wanna do something stupid like picking a fight with you, Eugene.”
......Is this really Mosik?
But I shoved the doubt aside. After all, I was the one who’d told him to change.
No point dwelling on suspicions.
“......Alright. What’s your position?”
“Tank.”
“Level?”
“Just shy of Low Knight.”
“Then... Ash and I’ll take the front. Mosik, you protect Adria.”
“Got it.”
Mosik pulled the shield from his back and strapped it to his arm. The snake clinging to it naturally dropped off with a thud.
Adria and Eodukshini stared at him in shock and disbelief.
“......Is this really the Mosik Karma I know?”
“Yes. Long time no see, Your Highness. You’ve only grown more beautiful.”
“......You’ve gotten very healthy. Anyway, looking forward to working with you.”
“Likewise.”
It wasn’t just “a little,” but Adria swallowed the rest of her thought.
More than doubts, surviving this situation mattered most.
“Alright. Positions...”
“Ash and I front. Eodukshini and Mosik guard Adria. Adria, focus on max AoE damage from the back with your magic.”
“Okey dokey.”
She gripped a tree branch.
Not a staff, but holding something seemed to help her control.
“Good. Then on three—”
I confirmed everyone was ready and nodded.
As I crouched to launch, a notification spell cut me off.
New party detected.
Boss fully recovers HP, fatigue, and mana.
“Ah.”
“......They’re blocking exploits, huh.”
Dirty trick!
Then what was the point of luring all these students here?
Ash saw my face sour and tried to console me.
“Don’t think of it too badly.”
“?”
“Taking down a boss at full health boosts our score more, right?”
“!”
True.
Better than deductions for a weakened state.
My efforts dragging students here were just wasted, that’s all.
‘Gotta settle for previewing the patterns.’
I shook it off and nodded.
“Alright. Let’s go.”
“Yeah.”
Ash raised her sword with a serious glint this time.
And together, we charged the vampire.
-!
The vampire sensed the two charging students and thrust out his arms.
With mana and stamina restored, his sluggish movements sharpened, mana surging vigorously.
Blood Wave!
Crimson bloodstreams erupted from both arms, forming a massive wave. I cursed inwardly.
‘Pattern changed!’
He’d spammed weird orbs at first!
But my body moved on autopilot regardless.
I planted my feet and braced. Dodging the blood wave would leave Adria exposed behind me.
A large-scale spell even Mosik couldn’t block yet!
“I’ll sync from the side.”
At Ash’s whisper, I nodded faintly and gripped my sword hilt two-handed.
Conserve Divine Power? That’d just invite death now.
Blood-red Divine Power reminiscent of flowing blood climbed the blade and coiled around it.
Crackle, crackle!
My eyes burned scarlet as the War God’s Blessing activated. Not just the sword—my whole body wrapped in red aura.
The blessed eyes read the mana flows forming the blood wave.
Impressive size, but beyond a Mid Knight-level vampire.
Just brute-forced with sheer mana volume! Slicing it apart was doable, but I aimed higher.
‘Pierce the wave—and cleave the vampire in one.’
Crackle!
The Divine Power coursing the sword Amplified a stage.
The surge nearly slipped control, but I’d gripped it once—no way I’d fumble now.
Divine Power amplified, sword aura swelling massively.
Like swinging a greatsword, I twisted my body and slashed down from overhead.
----------!
Red and blue sword strikes launched. The “sea” parted, carving a huge gash across the vampire behind it.
-Graaaaaah!
Massive mana sucked toward him.
Like draining blood, my instincts screamed—and I obeyed.
Thud!
-!!!!!!!!!
I’d hurled the sword. Not a dagger or spear, but my monstrous physique sent it flying straight into the vampire’s chest.
-Graaaaaah!!!
“Ash!”
“Right here!”
Ash hadn’t committed to one weapon, packing multiples—including a short spear tucked away.
I snatched the spear she tossed and flung it. Like smashing the goblin shaman’s head before, the motion flowed perfectly in my mind.
-Grrrraaah!
The vampire snarled like a wounded beast and snatched the incoming spear.
But I’d never aimed to hit with it. Goal: disrupt casting!
Ash and I lunged together. A belated blood spell shot at me.
But Ash’s sword flashed, tracing a beautiful blue arc to bisect the blood magic.
-!!!
Distance closed on the shocked vampire.
Weapons out of reach for now.
I clenched my fist. The vampire mirrored me with an incredulous sneer.
Our fists collided. Winner: me.
Crunch!
The vampire’s fist shattered mercilessly. His eyes bulged in horror.
Mana gathered to heal it. But I’d already grabbed the hilt of the sword embedded in his chest.
The vampire’s eyes reflected my demonic grin.
“Gotcha.”
Shrrriiiip!
The sword rocketed upward, cleaving his shoulder. Blood sprayed from the rift.
Ash vaulted behind me. I dipped my head and offered my shoulder for footing.
Thump!
She sprang higher, regripping her sword midair.
The vampire reached with his good arm toward the exposed girl.
“Eyes over here?”
I slashed at the outstretched hand.
Already slashed multiple times by my blade, he yanked it back hastily.
I didn’t stop, unleashing a flurry. Recalling Ash’s sword paths, I mimicked them perfectly.
Air tore, pressuring the vampire. He scrambled red mana to parry.
“Huuuuh—.”
But stalling was my goal. Ash inhaled sharply and plummeted downward.
Blue mana shimmered on her falling sword.
-!
I clamped the retreating vampire tight.
He raked my arms and bit my nape like he wanted me gone.
But his fangs couldn’t pierce my skin. And my wounds knit seamlessly.
-......?!
“I heal, y’know?”
-......Fuck...!
Wait, he talks?
Stab!
Ash plunged her sword into his skull. I saw the brain pierced, but as a boss, he endured without screaming.
We pressed on undaunted. Weapons targeted limbs and joints in sync.
Like battle-hardened comrades, Ash matched me perfectly—and even without, my body adapted instinctively.
“!”
Heightened senses caught something. I glanced up. A stone doll inflated like a balloon.
“Ash!”
Stab!
Without hesitation, she hurled her sword, pinning the vampire’s leg.
I slashed to disrupt mana flow and backpedaled.
“ŦðÞðŦŦðŊ!!”
The ballooned doll crashed atop him.
Collision triggered a massive explosion.
KABOOOOOM!
“......What the hell are we even watching right now?”
“......”
The control room had buzzed at first, but now it was dead silent.
With most students wiped and Eugene and Ash’s insane performance.
What student handles a Mid Knight-level boss like that?
Their teamwork was like veterans who’d fought years together, and Eugene’s skill rivaled professors.
“No, what the— Who the hell parts a wave with a sword......”
“No way that’s Mid Knight level......?”
Nipella sighed inwardly in relief.
‘Good thing the Divine Power isn’t too obvious.’
Few would even peg it as such.
Feels different up close, but on screen...
Plus, the vampire’s mana was red too. Even if spotted, it’d blend.
‘But he’s way too flashy.’
What’d he say at first?
Won’t stand out?
‘......Just don’t cause an incident. Please, no incidents.’
Nipella prayed fervently.
Though it felt like one had already happened...