[No title provided]

The fight had only been going for three minutes, but the battlefield was utterly one-sided. No matter what the Yeti's shield did, it wouldn't break, so Siel's purely offensive momentum gradually waned. The blizzard slowed the Yeti's approach, the ice walls blocked its path, and the icicles drew its attention—her magic shifted entirely to defense. When her mana hit half, Siel started struggling. She couldn't keep up with the Yeti's movements. She was too busy blocking each attack and finally deployed a shield she hadn't used once since learning ice magic.

At that moment, her remaining mana dropped to a tenth. Siel let out ragged breaths as she stared ahead.

"Tch... haa...!"

The Yeti's eyes, corrupted by black demonic energy, gleamed. At the cavern entrance, the knight demon simply sneered at the sight.

Pathetic. Struggling to survive like that... how utterly [...ant-like].

The very fact that a mere ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠ant dared resist infuriated him. He was a mid-tier demon between low and high rank—being bothered by something like this pissed him off. Even as a subordinate to a demon count, infiltrating a human academy wasn't his level.

But...

"Go weaken the academy's forces. I'll grant your 'wish' in return."

Because it was the count's order, because he outranked him, Herpen had come to fulfill it out of knightly duty. The knight demon, Herpen, glared at Siel.

The academy's key figure. Their strongest asset. She breathed heavily, her eyes blazing with will from within the magic circle.

Time to crush her hope. It had been fun, after all.

[...Girl.]

Pulling demonic energy lines like manipulating a puppet from afar, the Yeti spun its iron-spiked mace overhead. It slammed down with an incantation.

[...I respect your courage.]

Kuoooong—!

"Kuh—!"

[But a puny thing that vanishes under one stomp...]

Kwaaaang—!

"Keheuk—!"

[Let your body experience what happens when you charge...!]

Ching-grang—!

In that instant, the shield shattered. Siel spat blood from the backlash and crashed into an ice wall.

Kwang!

"Cough—!"

A desperate situation. Her vision blurred. Siel mustered every ounce of strength, but only her fingertips trembled. A tiny mana orb—that was all she had left.

Burying her head in the pool of blood, Siel thought,

'Am I... done for?'

Defeat. A humiliating defeat. She'd only defended until everything ended. She'd ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠abandoned any thought of counterattack, bent defensively, and discarded her pride.

She'd had plenty of mana for high-tier spells—more than enough—but Siel hadn't used them until her mana ran dry. She instinctively knew that thick barrier wouldn't break. Regret lingered. If she'd just unleashed a high-tier spell for a clean shot, been more cautious without underestimating the beast, or fled outside the cave—would there have been a chance?

'What an idiot...'

All missed opportunities. Her poor judgment had endangered her comrades too.

Kuwoong—!

Siel shifted her hazy gaze. The demon advanced with massive steps to deliver her end.

She murmured faintly,

"Don't... touch the others..."

[...Your comrades? Sadly, they were still struggling inside the cave. I'll send them to join you soon.]

"......"

[Die...]

With that, the Yeti swung its flail. It approached in slow motion. Siel closed her eyes.

'Master.'

She thought of him. Siel felt guilty toward the Master who'd helped her so much. Seeing potential in someone as worthless as her—what a joke. Unworthy as she was, chasing after him on her own, getting excited at his every word—she pitied herself.

Siel moved her unmoving lips.

To her family, for failing the family name. To her comrades, facing death together. And to the Master who'd believed in her...

"Sorry..."

she said. Moonlight tears streamed from Siel's eyes—streams named regret.

Whirlic—!

The mace descended like lightning. In that split second, a brief flash gleamed.

Kang—!

Kwaang—!

[...!]

The Yeti stared at its repelled mace. It gouged the wall, creating a massive hole before shattering. His power, that stubborn strength in his weapon—defeated in a firepower contest. The implication was clear.

[...So you weren't just an ant after all.]

Herpen peered into the cave. Amid the deep darkness, a silhouette flickered.

[...]

A man walked in, rifle in hand...

***

Kyle watched the situation through his scope.

"Phew—not too late."

The ice cave was so long that escorting the two had taken time. By the time he arrived, Siel was on the verge of collapse. Deflecting the Yeti's weapon had barely saved her.

Thanks to that, Herpen's aggro was now on him. Perfect.

'Yeah, look at me.'

Don't hit poor Siel. Unlike the game, if aggro didn't pull to the player, it was unsettling. Kyle strode into the ice cave himself to keep them away from Siel.

Herpen roared and charged with booming steps. But the distance between them was vast. This was Kyle's one-sided time.

He raised his barrel, aiming the Yeti's head in his scope. And fired the second bullet just like that.

Tzpat—!

The silent bullet flew toward it.

Teoreung—!

Blocked by the shield. He'd expected normal attacks wouldn't work. That lord's armor was relic-grade gear.

"Still good."

But it wasn't over. Kyle calmly prepared the third bullet.

[Pointless tricks...!]

Meanwhile, Herpen smashed through the ice cave in a rampage. The straight-line shot tried to shatter the shield again.

Karrarang—!

The sound of mana friction against the shield filled the space as dust parted and the massive beast charged. He couldn't understand. Soon he'd tear the man limb from limb, yet he stayed calm, holding position.

Distance now about 50 meters. If he didn't dodge, Herpen would pulverize him thoroughly.

[Be crushed...!]

Kwang—! Kwang—! Kwang—!

Herpen barreled forward with momentum to erase everything ahead.

"......"

...Meanwhile, Kyle loaded the fourth bullet. Infusing his last mana, it glowed red. He drew a line at Herpen's charge distance. Blue lines gridded the cave for analysis. Optimal firing path, blue mist spraying. All calculations complete.

Kyle exhaled white breath.

"One more shot left."

The sniper rifle spat fire.

Tzuzuzut—!

Different from before. The rapidly spinning mana bullet tore through space, creating ripples. Like a vortex sucking in the air.

[...That!]

Herpen stared at the red spiral. No dodging, no blocking. Space sliced, speed accelerating. No air resistance at all. Even moving the Yeti's hand felt slow. In the sluggishly flowing world, only that bullet moved.

'Dangerous...!!'

Herpen instinctively boosted the armor's power. Black shield wrapped him swiftly, but the bullet approached leisurely.

Teong—! Teong—! Teong—!

The impenetrable relic armor cracked.

Teong—! Teong—! Teong—!

Unbelievable even watching it. This relic was the former Demon King's masterpiece that kept him a knight.

'Damn...! Impossible...!'

Herpen desperately overclocked the armor, and ching-grang—! It shattered like glass. Iron fragments scattered in the cavern. Herpen stared blankly ahead.

The mana bullet spun before his eyes.

Pishuk—!

Blackout. It pierced Herpen's forehead, severing the link to the beast. The Yeti's body crumbled. A boulder-sized hole in its upper body, lower half alone remaining.

Situation over.

"Hoo..."

Kyle let out ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠a long breath and lowered his barrel.