Chapter 60
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 60
Chapter Title: Fly!
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"Nayu-nim—!"
Nayu's magic blasted Chayuri and me from underground straight up to the surface in one go.
I had no idea what spell she'd cast, but its explosive power was insane.
We flew far enough away from the collapse caused by Professor Juery to roll across the ground.
"Ugh... Chayuri. You okay?"
"It hurts a little, but I'm fine. But Nayu-nim..."
A quick look around showed we were near the field trip site, the 'Ancient Ruins of the Blue Dragonkin.'
A volcano connected to the ruins loomed in the distance, and not far off were the cadets' lodgings.
Just as Professor Juery had said, the taboo mages had created an underground space not too far from the ruins.
"We can't just leave Nayu-nim like this! She only followed me, and now..."
"No time for that, Chayuri! If we go back there, we're both dead! Everyone's dead!"
"But...!"
Dawn was breaking as night gave way.
Any more delays, and Hisenna would fully become the 'vessel.'
We had to find and awaken that Gonic before then, at least.
The problem was, even that would take time.
I pulled up the GalLog again to check the method Gonic had given me in that secret post.
But then,
"Loser! Chayuri! Where the hell were you? I was looking everywhere! You total losers!!"
From the direction of the lodgings, a striking redhead came sprinting over, waving a broom gleefully.
It was Elrim. For some reason, she was holding my broom and looked thrilled to see us.
"Seriously! I searched all night! Why'd you go off having fun without me? You think you can pull attention without me?"
Elrim snorted like a puppy that found its mom, smacking Chayuri and me playfully.
She must've been lonely left behind.
All night searching for us?
"No way you wandered around all night, right?"
"Huh? I was gonna game and crash in my room, but Hisenna never came back. So I went to look for her, but the professors locked us in at night—no wandering allowed. Then you two vanished too. Super suspicious."
"Professors locked you in?"
"Yeah! But I was bored alone and couldn't sleep. So I waited for my chance, till 4:49 a.m.—when humans are the sleepiest. Sure enough, the professors patrolling the halls all night slacked off, and I slipped out!"
I didn't even know where to start with this girl. Impressive or what?
The professors easing up was probably because of our escape.
Meaning another one could chase us soon.
"Why do you have my broom?"
"This? Found it on the first floor and picked it up."
"It's mine. Hand it over."
"Eek!"
I snatched the broom from Elrim.
Strapping it to my back gave me some security.
Good thing I hadn't lost it.
"Chayuri. Take Elrim and head back."
"I can't do that! Whatever this is, I have to take responsibility too!"
"Two of us can't handle it anyway. Blending with the cadets keeps you safe for now. Sorry, but I can't watch everyone right now."
"But..."
"What? What's with the secret talk? Tell me too, you losers!"
Elrim had demoted Chayuri to loser status too.
Sorry, Elrim, but I had no room to babysit.
Sticking apart like this was riskier.
Elrim wasn't one to listen, so,
"Hey, loser. I'll explain later, so go wake everyone up. As noisy as possible."
"Huh?"
"Gonna stir something up soon. Needs max attention, right? Wake the cadets and stay center stage—you'll get the most eyes on you."
"Ooooh?! No idea what, but sounds good!"
"Only you can do this. Drawing every cadet's gaze at peak sleepy time? You're the one."
"Ooooh! Got it!"
"Take Chayuri too."
"C'mon, Chayuri!"
"W-Wait! Ian!"
Done. Elrim and Chayuri were off.
Now, just awaken Gonic.
But the process to do that was the issue.
Part of me wanted to head to the lodgings and hunker down safely.
But getting caught by a professor would end that.
Drag this out, and Hisenna becomes the vessel—game over.
I scrolled GalLog for the secret post.
Glancing around constantly.
The area was dead quiet.
Even with Professor Juery and Nayu fighting down there.
They must've warded the underground to hide from the cadets.
"Found it."
Idle thoughts aside, I quickly located Gonic's secret post.
He'd promised help if awakened, but skimped on how.
I'd read it multiple times, still no clue.
About to summon Gonic in comments for hints,
"Hohohoho... What brings you here, Cadet Ian Isaac?"
A chilling presence whooshed in, voice from behind.
"Chancellor...!"
The mastermind of it all, rage boiling just hearing him.
The hunched chancellor eyed me with his creepy grin.
"Stay still, and it'd be easier. You're making this troublesome."
"You think your dirty deeds wouldn't stink?"
"Hohoho. Fair point. Keeping it quiet was always tricky."
Before the vessel completes, they need cadets pinned here.
Can't force it—needs a pure-circuit mage untouched by entropy as sacrifice.
Ironic that taboo mages need untainted ones for taboo rites. Fitting for cowards.
"Curious, though. Cadet Ian Isaac, how'd a student pull this off? Turns out you purified Chayuri Floridel too. Never suspected a cadet, so I overlooked you. Cost us some snags."
"Not my problem. You still snatched Hisenna. Cowardly."
I stalled, scanning surroundings.
Run now? No, too risky.
Chancellor boiled with mana, ready to kill.
One twitch, and I'm done.
Still chatting? Pure curiosity, probably.
They hadn't offed me yet 'cause they couldn't fathom a cadet thwarting them.
Thought I was some forgettable peasant at first.
Now that peasant reached here—intriguing.
"That too got messy 'cause of you. Had Floridel heir prepped as vessel, but you cleansed it.
Schedule fixed, so forced a new one. Decided to do it right at the site this time—no repeats."
"You can just spill all that?"
What now? Yell?
No one's coming.
Escape solo. Can I beat the chancellor?
"I'll indulge your curiosity before death. Knowing the truth and dying helpless? Priceless."
"Kill me? Don't you need sacrifices?"
"A few's fine. Over a thousand cadets."
Lucky escape? He'd pursue instantly.
No outrunning with basic flight spells.
Need instant distance.
Fast-cast spell that gaps space reliably. Anything?
Then, one spell hit me.
But aftermath's the problem.
Fly to stratosphere, then plummet without flight.
Broom's all I got—nearly died practicing.
'Even if I pull it off, where to? No destination.'
No safe spot.
Blind flight gets me caught quick.
If I knew Gonic's spot, flee there—survive.
First, pinpoint Gonic.
"Why kill Archmage Dukes? Sacrificing innocent kids too."
"World's blind to their evil. Even their own spawn."
-I'll probably be at your field trip spot
-Find the mana-richest place? Toss the orb, it'll handle it, got it?
Man richest spot in ruins.
Gonic said find it, awaken him. Didn't know exactly.
Not even sure he's there.
"You curse us for taboo power. But Archmage Dukes ruin the world."
But I felt it vaguely.
Not sure if Gonic's spot, but since arriving at these 'Ancient Ruins of the Blue Dragonkin,' I'd sensed thick mana veins snaking underground along the mountains.
Dig? Veins sprawl everywhere—how to pinpoint?
'...Wait. That's the volcano.'
Flash of insight.
The volcano hugging the 'Ancient Ruins of the Blue Dragonkin.'
Dormant, but volcanoes have craters.
"You'll be part of a grand plan. Quite the honor..."
Chancellor droned on about abstract glory.
Plans to kill me anyway, but bought me time.
I glanced at the towering volcano.
It pierced the clouds, insanely high.
Fall from there? Instant death.
No artifact from the deputy chief now.
Cushion spells possible, but unpracticed.
Habitually checked GalLog.
Snapped eyes shut.
Won't solve asking now.
My skill gap put me here.
GalLog helped plenty, but they just gave methods.
Executing? On me. Building skill to execute? Me.
Depend on them, no growth.
All down to me.
"Die honorably..."
"Indeed. For this world. Hohoho..."
What bullshit. Killing masses for that?
Mana crept from chancellor.
Sensed my odd moves?
Thought him empty-headed from chatter,
But he'd watched my every twitch.
"Hohoho... Cadet Ian Isaac. Punishment for thwarting the grand plan. You crossed the line. Made things messy."
Chancellor computed spell; I started mine.
No clue his, but mine had to finish first to live.
Mine was mere 3rd circle. Connect last stroke—
Spurt—
But before completion, massive blade erupted from his array, slashing at my neck.
Not taboo—bracelet orb useless.
Split-second late, my computation finished; powerful updraft surged.
[Updraft of the Anvil Cloud]
[Instant massive ascent]
Boom—
Felt body lift amid brutal wind, but too late.
Blade tracked me—homing?—at blinding speed.
Frantic defense computation, but no.
Blade loomed over my neck instantly.
But,
Crack—
Sudden snap from my chest—unknown magic enveloped me.
-Cadet Ian. Take this.
The magic stone Professor Juery gave me last second.
Its stored defense spell blocked chancellor's at the perfect moment.
My body rocketed vertically to the stratosphere unhindered.
Whooooosh—
"Whooooaaaaa!!"
[Updraft of the Anvil Cloud] hurls target skyward on insane updraft.
No extras, but ascent's ferocious.
Buildings below ant-sized in seconds.
Updraft ended; descent began.
Acceleration shriveled heart and legs; freefall terror.
Face crushed by wind shear, I gripped broom tight.
Flailing midair, jammed it between legs.
All left: fly.
"Kyahaaaa!!"
Can I? Fly, damn it?
Flying impossible; even computing amid fall hell.
But screw it.
Can't just die.
Action breeds results, right?
Tossed by gales, I clutched broom, computed.
One thought, one word:
'Please. Damn it, please—'
Fly.
Fly.