Chapter 57
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 57
Chapter Title: The Earth Dragon Begins to Stir
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The Earth Dragon began to stir.
The university was finally catching on to the gravity of the situation and making preparations, but it wasn't exactly inspiring confidence.
Even with security forces doubled after the previous training disaster, that was just for maintaining order.
It had no effect whatsoever against an enemy that had come prepared for war.
No, it would only increase the number of victims.
‘The Magic Tower seems to have made some preparations, but...’
It was nowhere near enough.
The regrettable part was that I didn't have the time to go around rescuing every student in danger one by one.
That Earth Dragon right in front of me.
A creature optimized for burrowing through the earth.
If left alone even for a little while, it was obvious it would tear up the entire academy grounds.
The campus was vast, but the Earth Dragon was hundreds of meters long.
Once it started digging, it would reach Elise's residence in just a few hours.
‘It wouldn't even bother with the outskirts anyway.’
Even they wouldn't plan to churn up the entire university grounds.
If they focused on the key facilities, it might be over in one or two hours, let alone a few.
It would be a disaster if the Earth Dragon spotted Elise while moving, but I couldn't lightly dismiss the human casualties either.
The people at Ri Sete Academy—faculty and students alone—numbered lightly over a thousand.
In the game, their deaths weren't highlighted much, so I ignored them, but now that it was reality, I couldn't just brush it off.
‘I can no longer think of them as mere game characters.’
I couldn't dismiss the affection Isel showed me as just because she was a character.
Elin's grumbling, Radia's wandering in search of her straightforward self, and Arion's somewhat awkward demeanor.
Charlotte's unconditional trust and expectations toward me could only be explained as blood ties.
I was accepting them as equals far beyond my imagination.
‘Therefore, I'll save as many as I can.’
Even if the game demanded I ignore them and stop the heretical mages, I'd find a way to do both.
That brought me to the root problem...
‘The Earth Dragon churning up the university grounds itself.’
It wasn't going to dig while minding the people above.
If something that massive ripped through beneath a building, the structure above would collapse outright.
A sinkhole would be fortunate; if it sheared a building in half, holding the line would be impossible.
Buildings crumble, and students trying to hold out nearby get buried under falling debris.
Even if they survived by luck, they'd be trapped in sealed spaces to die or hunted by incoming monsters.
In any sense, the Earth Dragon's movement led to the worst outcomes.
‘So, I'll stop it.’
By blocking the Earth Dragon's movements, I'd minimize the damage to the students.
Isel clutched the enchanted sword I'd given her, leaning unsteadily.
Its edge was sharper than ever before.
Her eyes showed she understood exactly what I intended and had steeled herself.
That was why I couldn't bring myself to stop her.
‘Don't abandon me.’
“I never said I raised you.”
In this situation, it felt like a joke, but Isel used the banter to ease her tension.
“If that's the case, you shouldn't have given me your affection. The giver might not think much of it, but the receiver ends up obsessing on their own.”
It reminded me of the time I brought home a stray cat, only for the family to oppose it and make me let it go.
It had wailed near the house endlessly.
Isel's words were similar.
You shouldn't have given me affection.
“Obsession, huh...”
It felt overly generous for obsession, but it was a somewhat light reason for heading into the jaws of death.
Reading my doubt, Isel shook her head as if to deny it.
“That's enough for me. That's why I follow you, Professor.”
It wasn't a question demanding an answer, so I didn't press further.
A single word couldn't capture the multitude of meanings in Isel's obsession.
Breaking it down would take all day, and weaving in her stories and emotions would take even longer.
Everyone has their own reasons for risking their life, so I didn't pry.
The most I could offer was respect.
“Isel, since you've decided to follow, I won't say more.”
Isel nodded and looked at me. Resolute eyes.
As I suddenly thought her eyes shone anew, I snapped back to focus.
‘They brought the Earth Dragon.’
That meant they'd scraped together everything, including the beast tamer's masterpieces and even the malicious leftovers.
I'd have to take out three thousand, maybe more.
They'd come for war in earnest.
“There are a huge number of monsters swarming ahead. Possibly three times the total personnel on campus.”
Isel hadn't expected that scale and widened her eyes.
But she didn't collapse in hesitation like before.
She just asked if there was some plan.
What she needed to do.
“Those things roaming the campus slaughtering students is bad enough, but the real danger is if they push straight into the capital's residential districts.”
“...The citizens.”
“Yeah, who in the capital is prepared to evacuate on sudden notice? They'd face mass slaughter. Of course, that doesn't mean academy students should die...”
“We have to avert the worst.”
I nodded.
“We need to thin out their numbers as much as possible. Rally the scattered students and respond. I know you're students, not proper combat forces. But...”
Isel closed her eyes, mulling over my words.
When she opened them again, any trembling was gone; only a swordswoman gripping her blade stood there.
“No one else can respond right now but us.”
“Yeah. That's right. I'll block the Earth Dragon as best I can. Gather the students—Radia, Elin, Arion—and bring them to me.”
I paused there.
Monsters were scattered everywhere, and people might be dying this very moment.
Asking Isel meant sending her through all that danger.
It was an excessive burden for a single student.
I closed my eyes.
“It'll be hard and tough. Plenty of crises ahead. Even if you push too far, I won't blame you.”
“No, you don't need to say that.”
I looked at Isel, and she shook her head, saying that wasn't it.
“Someone has to do it. We're just the ones who can.”
“...”
“Entrust it to me. I'll do it.”
I stared at Isel, dumbfounded.
Then a small smile tugged at my lips.
When had my student grown so mature?
Struck by a sudden pride, I almost patted her back but hesitated.
Aiden had mysophobia.
He despised touch, whether from others or himself.
I'd been following Aiden's traits unconsciously, so I stopped.
But what did that matter? I patted Isel's back.
Startled by the unexpected touch, she stared at me wide-eyed.
Eyes demanding an explanation.
Finding it suddenly cute, I chuckled and smirked.
“Isel.”
“...What?”
“I trust you.”
“...”
“So go now. I'll do my part, and you finish yours, gather the students, and come to me.”
At that, Isel froze mid-step, eyes widening.
She bit her lower lip, realizing it was time to part.
“...I'll be waiting.”
“Yeah, wait for me.”
“Come back safe. Definitely.”
“That's what I wanted to say.”
After that trivial exchange, Isel turned and ran.
To not waste a single second of the time I bought.
I inhaled deeply.
Why ask Isel to gather the students and bring them to me?
‘I can't handle it alone.’
I'd do my utmost, but I couldn't overwhelm them—just hold out.
It wasn't about winning; it was about protecting.
That's why I needed protagonists like Elin.
This was insurance.
‘There sure are a lot.’
At the bottom of the tunnel the Earth Dragon had bored.
From the impossibly deep pit below, monsters crawled out one by one.
The beast tamer had linked it to their main base, so monsters would pour in endlessly.
Even now was just the beginning.
They let out eerie, metallic howls, their hunger making them even more savage as they bared their ferocity.
The first thing they saw emerging from the tunnel...
Was me.
Starving and blind with rage, they licked their chops at the sight of me.
‘Haa...’
The beast tamer couldn't have pulled off this massive ritual alone, so heretical mages swarmed everywhere.
I could clearly hear the chants of their spells.
‘Monsters around me, heretical mages in the distance, and above, the Earth Dragon and the beast tamer.’
Completely surrounded.
My exhaled breath chilled, sinking low.
Widening my pupils, I saw the Earth Dragon grinding its saw-like teeth toward me.
Above it, the beast tamer overlooked the whole scene.
Our eyes met with the old man in white robes, and tension flooded my body for a different reason.
“Beast Tamer.”
“Hoh, I didn't expect the empire's third Master to remember me.”
He thought the overwhelming odds would pressure me mentally.
Whether he deluded himself or not, I silently relaxed my body.
Anyone else seeing this would predict my death...
But Masters were superhumans in uncharted territory, transcending all assumptions.
Those who bore the name were powerhouses gazing down from beyond the heavens.
‘Aiden stands at that pinnacle too.’
Even if limited to a single sword, defeat wasn't in the cards.
I looked up at the beast tamer.
“To dare look down on me—absurd.”
I confirmed his veins bulging and slowly let my own anger show.
I'd been tempering my temper lately, but Aiden, that lofty genius, was an arrogant man who couldn't tolerate anyone above him.
It had led to remarkable achievements, but that temperament wasn't going anywhere.
This time, I unleashed Aiden's emotions fully.
Rage spread through my body, melting into my aura.
The scattered feathers responded to my emotions, fluttering busily.
The subtle glow gained luster, rapidly illuminating the surroundings.
A jubilant halo of white light filled the area.
Srrrng.
The rapier's hilt settled into my hand.
The snug fit felt alien yet familiar.
Even if the rapier was still unfamiliar to me, this body had swung it countless times.
The strangeness and familiarity I felt signified that.
‘It wasn't that I couldn't control it.’
I'd avoided it after leveling mountains or whatever, but there was no need to control it from the start.
The rapier was already part of my body.
A third arm.
Feeling my senses expand vastly, I neatly spread the scattered aura.
Subtle silver glows diffused.
In response, the feathers, shrouded in sunset hues, gradually revealed their true colors.
“I'll drag out your arrogant true face.”
I glared at the beast tamer, who looked intrigued.