Chapter 15
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 15
Chapter Title: 5th Grade Beast
-----------------------------------------------------------------
"What the fuck... This is really a 9th-grade beast?"
"No, it's not. This is... a 5th-grade beast. I've read about it in the family bestiary."
"A 5th-grade beast is supposed to show up?"
"No way. Newbies can't take that thing down."
What the hell is that thing doing here? Weren't there only supposed to be weak monsters?
And that beast was covered in something transparent that reflected light all over its body.
Its fur seemed to glow, or maybe mana was enveloping it.
At that moment, the beast raised its front paw.
"...Fuck! Dodge!"
Its front paw, easily twice the size of my torso, came crashing down like a meteor.
I reflexively shoved Chayuri aside and threw myself out of the way.
BOOM!
Cracks spiderwebbed across the ground where the beast's paw had flattened the earth.
If I'd jumped even a little short, I would've been crushed underneath. The thought flashed through my mind.
"I remember now! It's the 5th-grade beast 'Silver Fur Bear'!"
"What the hell is that, you otaku?! What do we do?!"
"That glowing fur reflects any magic below a certain damage threshold!"
"So what do we do about it? How the hell do we deal with that thing?!"
"I don't know! That's all I know!"
Fucking useless. Did he get top student for his looks?
The 'Silver Fur Bear' raised its paw again and slammed it down.
Chayuri and I dodged once more and started running.
Luckily, the thing wasn't that fast.
But we weren't pulling away because we were weaving around trees while it just bulldozed straight through them in a line.
For now, I posted on the gallery while running.
(Photo of silver bear charging while smashing trees)
Was facing off against top student but this guy suddenly showed up and jumped us. Running now
Top student says it's 5th-grade beast but magic doesn't work
Save me
You're actually running away? How are your posts not shaking at all
Posting on the gallery while running is basic etiquette
The guy who shakes when a girl talks to him...
LOL real girls scare Kim Muggle more than 5th-grade beasts lol
I knew this would happen. No way nothing goes wrong
Got ambushed constantly at the academy too lol
Academy's supposed to be weird if you DON'T get ambushed
Fuck no I'm running for real rn pls help
Looks like a mana repulsion field beast. Mana repulsion field is basically a magic barrier. Happens naturally or beasts evolve it. Gotta dismantle the field or hit harder than it can block. Or physical attack it.
This is why you carry a sword. So easy with a blade
5th-grade means the field's strong for your level. You can see it sparkling in the pic.
Fuck then what do I do? Can't kill it with my power?
Taking down repulsion field beasts isn't hard^^ But that looks slow so running's easier
Don't they have protection magic? Sure you'd get low class placement if you bail early
Kim Muggle rice-eating content would be hilarious lol
THUD-
While frantically reading comments as I ran, the Silver Fur Bear's paw came flying at me again.
The shockwave alone sent my body flying.
"Guh-"
I floated through the air before slamming into a nearby tree with a thunk.
In comics, when the hero flies into a wall and spits blood, I always thought it was just for show. But experiencing it myself, it was all too real.
The second I hit the tree at that insane speed, blood sprayed from my mouth as I hacked it up.
Agonizing pain. I'd hit sideways so my spine was okay, but a few ribs were probably cracked.
And my right thigh hurt like hell.
I couldn't tell if the bone was shattered or if the muscles and ligaments were torn. But running fast on this leg right now was definitely impossible.
"Shit... Why the hell is something like that here...!"
Even MagicIsNotHard said running was easier.
Just from that shockwave, I knew I couldn't face it yet.
Fuck. If I'd snapped out of it and run a bit faster...
Did checking the gallery get me into this?
No. It wasn't a direct hit—just the shockwave from afar did this much.
I'd need something like the speed spell Chayuri used earlier to escape safely.
"That bastard already ditched me, fuck."
Chayuri was already far off in the distance.
Should've learned a speed spell myself.
Chayuri's a real piece of shit. If he had that spell, why not cast it on me too? Just using it on himself and bailing?
No, he was trying to get me eliminated anyway.
Of course he'd leave me to get axed by the bear and run solo.
"...Huh?"
But why haven't I been eliminated?
If you take a major injury, the exam field's auto-protection magic should trigger and send you back to the waiting room.
But my ribs are cracked, thigh's wrecked, and I'm still in the field.
Since it wasn't a direct hit, just shockwave, maybe protection didn't activate?
But the academy wouldn't design the exam that sloppily.
Then, a cadet appeared from another direction in the forest.
Looked like another newbie nearby.
"H-Hiiiik?"
The cadet's face went pale seeing the Silver Fur Bear.
He trembled violently, backing away.
The bear spotted him and raised its paw.
Unfortunately, the cadet was too terrified.
He didn't notice the tree root jutting out where he was stepping back.
Instead of fleeing, he tripped and fell backward.
SPLAT
The cadet didn't even scream before bursting under the Silver Fur Bear's paw.
Gore and blood splattered all the way to me.
The cadet's blood soaked darkly into the vibrant forest soil.
"Huh?"
Protection magic isn't working.
My broken bones weren't a fluke either.
Why?
I blanked out for a second.
And the Silver Fur Bear was stomping over, crushing the exploded cadet's corpse.
I instinctively went to the gallery.
The archmages were still goofing off in the comments, sharing academy stories.
Guys we're fucked protection magic not working (pic of exploded random cadet)
I posted a comment with a pic of the mangled cadet under the Silver Fur Bear's paw.
No time for a new post. Gore pics get you banned, but it was the fastest way to explain.
I don't even typo while running, but my hands were shaking too much now.
?
?? What?
Translation: Guys fucked, protection magic broken. For real??? This real?
Run fast. Run for your life.
Fuck they tampered with protection too? What assholes. Run Muggle
Breathe deep and sprint. Fuck shoulda taught you escape spells. Run anyway, you can shake the bear
No meditation... just run. Stay calm. Don't trip or you're dead
Who the fuck messes with exam system on ambush
Expected something but this is serious
Limping away desperately, replies poured in.
Archmages grasped the situation instantly from one typo-riddled comment and a pic.
Even they could only tell me to run.
Meant running was my best bet with my skills.
Looking down at my throbbing thigh, frustration welled up.
I swallowed waves of despair and posted again.
Leg fuked up cant run
Translation: Leg smashed can't run. Fuck? With leg smashed you'll get caught quick?
You had time to post why didn't you run then. Fuck. Anyway fuck
Academy still watching? If they were cleaning up they'd have done it already.
Internal spy or issue but too late for that. Assume worst, Kim Muggle find way out himself.
Fuck should've brought sword from start!! Can't get one now...! (swordfight con)
This is easy... no, no way? Wait. There must be an easy fix.
Even scammers panic at Muggle King... not time for jokes. But seriously what to do. We could but Kim Muggle solo 5th-grade?
Still limping along, but no real solutions yet.
If archmages couldn't think of anything, neither could I.
Chayuri was long gone, no other cadets around.
Well, if there were, they'd be dead like that last one.
Thud- Thud- Thud-
The thuds grew louder.
Distance closing faster.
My leg hurt more, bear getting closer.
I racked my brain for a way out amid the pain.
But kept hitting dead ends and sinking into despair.
Then,
Ah was writing paper, late to gallery. Kim Muggle alive? Not totally hopeless. But something normal mages wouldn't think of, no-hope trio stuff;
The occasional poster obsessed with research, archmage SubsidyRiceEater commented.
Always grinding papers—maybe he knew something obscure?
I frantically replied.
Alive pls hlp step on it1k@
Spit it out already. No-hope trio means physical stuff, dignity aside can leg-broken Muggle do it? Anyway hurry
Our Muggle dyin!!
No Muggle no academy tales!
Protect the plot!!!
Hurry up already...!!!
Vhihihgilhit!!
Other archmages urged him on, mirroring my desperation.
Meanwhile, the Silver Fur Bear closed in.
Pain in my limping leg intensified.
Mages don't think about it much but research shows mana repulsion fields are usually 'shield' shaped. Like gravity around planet center whatever. Damage inside the shield bypasses it. Pic shows field right on fur so gotta get real close. Anyway spells from outside decompose on field but inside go straight to target
Fuck tl;dr what do
;; Cast inside the field. Stick right to the bear and cast
Ah fuck so that's why spells work in melee sometimes
This guy knew from experience lol but yeah non-nohope don't hug beasts so didn't know
But hugging and casting means your spell hits you too. Mutual death?
Layer defense on self
Obviously defense your own spells ㅇㅇ; Bear hits kill you tho unavoidable.
Replies flooded under SubsidyRiceEater's idea.
Glancing back, if I didn't choose soon, the Silver Fur Bear would catch me any second.
-GRRRRROOOOAAARRR-!
The Silver Fur Bear roared.
Imagining fighting it up close made my breath shorten and heart pound.
So... climb on that bastard and slam magic right into its body?