Rampaging Werewolf in the School Market
But I'm no expert—Awooooooo!!!
“Gahhh!”
“Help!”
“The werewolf escaped!”
“Over there! Hold on just a bit longer!”
“Wrong! The magic artifact with the sleep spell malfunctioned! We have no choice but to call a mage!”
“It was so docile until yesterday... Why now of all times...!”
“Damn it...! Isn't there a mage around?! I'll pay handsomely, so please help! I beg you!!”
The werewolf standing on its hind legs exuded overwhelming menace. Its eyes gleamed with yellow ferocity, and its claws were abnormally long.
Snap!!
Finally, the last iron chain tore free. The beast kicked off the ground.
“Gahhh!”
The werewolf closed in on a member of the troupe up top, raising its vicious claws to strike.
“N-No!”
The beast merchant screamed. If the werewolf drank blood, it would be unstoppable. It was weakened by hunger now, but absorbing even one person would make the damage incalculable.
“D-Dodge!!”
Clang!
At that moment, a clear ringing sound echoed. The werewolf's claws bounced off, and it turned its bright yellow eyes toward the source.
“Are you alright?!”
Blond hair and a white cape.
“L-Lunaris!”
It was a knight school student.
“Now that this Elian Hugo has arrived, you're safe!”
His sword blade glowed with blue mana. It wasn't perfect, but it was aura!
The beast merchant spotted the insignia and said, “As expected of a second-year! Body enhancement and aura to boot!”
To maintain such freshly learned aura for that long!
Elian swung his white-glowing blade at the werewolf. A series of ear-piercing metallic clashes rang out. He hadn't landed a solid hit, but it was enough to push the beast back.
The fight dragged on for a few dozen seconds.
Then he took a hit from the werewolf's paw and was flung back hard.
Screeech.
“Ngh...!”
He'd slipped up and let the attack through. But the werewolf wasn't unscathed either. It knew even an immature Aura Blade could slice it.
They stared each other down. Both he and the werewolf now understood: any opening would lead straight to a lethal blow.
Then, a low voice rang out.
“Why're you only focusing on him? I'm right here too.”
A small figure leaped from behind the werewolf's silhouette. She spoke like she was complaining, but the fault probably lay with her.
“You're asking for it.”
Neither he nor the werewolf had sensed her approach until she was that close.
The beast's reptilian eyes flashed murderously. She slashed deeply into the werewolf's back.
The werewolf whipped around in a frenzy, swinging its claws. They missed by a paper's thickness.
It looked like it had the weight and power advantage. But she was the one steadily accumulating effective hits, even if slowly.
“Isn't that... the one from earlier?”
The Sword Millia dummy famous for its toughness. The first-year dark horse who'd sliced it clean without mana.
She was now battling the werewolf.
***
“That's the underclassman I saw earlier! Perfect timing!”
The guy in front of me shouted cheerfully as he joined in. His cape was caked in dust—probably from fighting here before I arrived.
“But what's with the underclassman bit?”
“Hm. A bit prickly one, eh? Good. Gotta have some edge.”
Handsome face dropping that cheeky misunderstanding without a care. No time to correct him, though.
“Let's handle it from here as a duo.”
“Sure, why not.”
I hadn't landed a proper cut anyway.
...Yeah. Without sword-related traits, even solid hits on C-grade or higher meant squat. Isera would've cleaved it in half clean. That jerk had SSR swordsmanship traits and skills.
I should pick some mana-infused sword traits later.
Grrrraaawr!!
But that didn't mean I couldn't win. Blood dripped steadily from the werewolf's back. I might've eked out a win solo, but...
Coming back injured would piss off Aris.
“Even better this way. Would've been lame if it dropped in one go.”
“Full of confidence, I see. Call me Elian.”
“Yumia.”
We exchanged names quick. To sync up.
“Looks like you're a first-year, so no aura yet.”
“Sadly.”
Probably won't learn it even in second year. Not at your school.
“Then you create the openings. I'll thrust.”
“Fine by me.”
His attack power was higher anyway. We had the edge, so chipping away at stamina while facing off would win it. Or hold out till someone stronger showed.
Victory conditions: sorted.
We hadn't even synced up yet, but we waited for its move. No overreaching—when you hold high ground, you win sure.
Out bleeding, it was at a disadvantage. We had the edge, so neither side budged.
Cool-headed and knows how to fight.
I shot him a surprised glance. He met my eyes and grinned.
Grrr!!
“Here it comes!”
We dodged sideways as the werewolf swung its claws. Metal clashed again.
The difference? Occasional rips of flesh now too.
“Going your way!”
“Got it!”
The werewolf dashed through the market street, trying to use the terrain. But it was 2v1 now. Even matched 1v1, two sealed the deal.
Wounds piled up on the werewolf. Minutes passed, street slick with its blood. Hide soaked crimson. It staggered, blood loss heavy.
Chance!
“Hyaaah!!”
I kicked off the ground, aiming for its eyes. A blatant opening. A feint trap, luring it in.
...Or so it'd think.
My lips curled in a huge smirk.
“Haha. Beasts really are dumber than humans.”
Inventory
A shield materialized in midair. Fresh from inventory, it easily blocked the dulled claws.
That instant, Elian stabbed the werewolf's flank and twisted.
Awooooo!!
The werewolf shook him off in panic. But Elian flew back gripping his sword tight. Blood already pouring.
Victory locked.
We closed in for the finish.
“Thrust on three!”
“Got it.”
Then the fallen beast merchant yelled.
“Wait! Don't kill it!”
What?
I flashed to modern monster protection groups. The kind using combos like “protect monsters” that induced instant cognitive dissonance just hearing them.
No way, right?
I shot back incredulously. “Dude, people are about to die—what're you...”
“If you don't one-shot it with massive firepower like a bomb, the werewolf burns its last mana and turns red!”
The merchant pleaded desperately. “In that state, it'll rampage and cause casualties for sure!”
“That's a problem.”
I'd hoped to wrap without big damage. Guess it had a berserk phase.
Elian yelled in frustration. “Ngh. Only Aura Experts or mages can output that burst... Where's the mage?!”
Classic: these monsters trigger berserk below certain HP. Minimize casualties then.
“Oh yeah. Got a good idea.”
Got a swordsman, rode the flow with swordplay, but...
“Underclassman, got a bomb or something?”
“Kinda... used to carry 'em, but got something better.”
I swapped my sword for a staff. Doubt filled his eyes.
“...Underclassman? Why do you have a staff?”
I approached the groggy werewolf, arms crossed guarding itself. It didn't budge even as distance shrank. Planning to eat one hit and berserk?
Cocky bastard.
I channeled mana. Definitely grown—natural mana swirled around my own.
Adjust the magic circle. Max power, min stability.
Dragon Eye
“Casting Bullet.”
"Casting Bullet"
⟨ Basic Fire Magic ⟩
Drop stability on purpose: accuracy suffers, power spikes. Turns basic attack magic into rare-skill level.
Enough light and heat to incinerate a humanoid monster instantly.
“...U-Underclassman?”
“Who're you calling underclassman, punk? Stay back there.”
Head still wet behind the ears. I'm older.
The werewolf finally sensed danger, claws out to shred me.
“Too late.”
Dragon Eye maxed dynamic vision. Boosted further thanks to Adrian. Full tilt: slow-mo only.
“Like I'd take that hit, idiot.”
A thick white beam sliced the air.
Kabooooom!!
The werewolf's form vanished in light. Superheated air blasted out, kicking up dust and sandstorm!
Need shield...!
But no response. Already used it!
“GyaAAAAAHHH!!”
“En Code, Cleans!!”
Stock a spare shield next time. With Aris's voice ringing, I blacked out.
***
“National Reinhardt Magic School first-year Yumia, just a day ago in the School Market, bravely confronted a rampaging werewolf and ultimately subdued it.”
“Elevating Reinhardt's name, valiantly battling humanity's wicked magic beast, thwarting devil worshippers' schemes. All acts deserving utmost praise.”
...Devil worshippers? Never fought any.
“Engaging in combat in the School Market. Considering freshmen face heavy restrictions on combat in the first semester, this warrants clear disciplinary action.”
“...Thus, we award Yumia 10 demerit points, alongside 15 commendation points and this certificate.”
Official Commendation
National Reinhardt Magic School
Student: Yumia (1st Year)
Award: 15 Commendation Points
Penalty: 10 Demerit Points
Reason: Werewolf Subjugation in School Market
The long-white-bearded Headmaster muttered something in front of me. I lay on the infirmary bed, eyes half-lidded, listening.
Yeah. These folks had crowded the infirmary to pull this stunt.
“Ugh...”
Something buzzed in my ear. Shut up already. And if you're giving points, make it cash.
“See? My eyes were right! You did great! Karnaroph, I told you!”
Isabel grabbed my hand, voice thrilled. Even the professors who'd eyed me warily via student affairs when I caused trouble now praised in unison.
“Subduing a werewolf—impressive feat! Well done!”
“With just basic attack magic and hand-to-hand, no less?”
“A first-year felling a werewolf! Can't wait for the tale. Swing by the faculty office later!”
“Come to my lab afterward. I'll treat you to red bean tea.”
Getting sketchier toward the end.
“Finally, the badge.”
The professors left the badge by the bed and filed out en masse. Only first-year advisor Karnaroph remained.
“You sure see a lot of me.”
Wasn't telling him to leave, but...!!!