Chapter 83
Chapter 83
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 83
Chapter Title: Bee Swarm Onslaught
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83
4
Bang! Bang!
Gunshots rang out without pause.
Each time, bees with perfect holes punched through their heads plummeted into the Pelludium Stadium.
It was like a rain of bees falling from the sky.
"Bees, huh."
"Bees, alright."
Even as a massive bee dropped right out of the sky, Kiriacos showed no reaction.
He was caught up in it himself, yet he carried himself like it was someone else's problem.
Ah, I get it.
Compared to what he's been through, this level of anomaly isn't even a threat, so he's just staying calm.
The diligent Leon, sensing the disturbance, reached for his waist, but his holy sword had been set aside for the match, leaving it empty.
That's why you should've kept it on you like I do with my demon sword.
Not that I drew mine, either.
By the time it got to Ethan, he was completely frozen stiff.
After seeing the first fallen bee corpse, he looked utterly lost.
At least he hadn't fainted... no, wait, had he passed out standing up?
I waved my hand in front of his eyes, but Ethan didn't react....
Thank goodness it was just bees.
When I saw Pollus among the early spectators, I was genuinely worried.
Pollus's academy raid was one of the most infamous assault events in Broken World.
The difficulty itself wasn't that high... but it let you experience human viciousness in a whole different way.
Pollus the Insect User.
Just as the name suggests, a manipulator of bugs.
He handled dozens of insect species, all sharing the trait of being human-sized.
His basic pattern was overwhelming with numbers using bugs that weren't weak by any means.
The problem was that the insects he used in raids were completely random.
This time it was bees, but he could also use centipedes or stag beetles.
That made him one of the trickiest foes to strategize against.
A single guy with dozens of patterns.
The especially tough ones were the stag beetles and longhorn beetles.
Both had tough shells that made them hard to kill.
But the absolute worst were separate.
Cockroaches or grimaces.
Even seeing them scurry around the house was enough to make your skin crawl, but imagine swarms of human-sized cockroaches and grimaces?
Either way, it was nightmare fuel you wouldn't want even in dreams.
Especially thanks to Broken World's devs pouring artisanal effort into their graphics.
If you got hit with one of those, you'd force-quit the game before autosave and pray for something else while restarting the event.
Anyway, bees meant we got lucky.
No force-quitting and restarting here.
I nodded in satisfaction and cupped my hands around my mouth, shouting toward the students.
"Run to the safe indoor areas!"
Kyaaack!
The students, realizing the assault, started fleeing toward the dormitory building.
The bees tried to pursue, but bullets from somewhere pierced their heads, sending them crashing down powerlessly.
"Noel Snow, huh?"
Leon, grabbing his holy sword from the bench, muttered lowly.
Sharp instincts, as expected.
I turned my gaze to the top of the stadium.
Something flashed, followed a beat later by the gunshot echoing out.
"She's over there."
I nodded toward where the light had glinted.
It was a fair distance, but I could make out Noel shouldering her rifle.
Her clean, efficient movements downed bees one after another in a display so professional it was hard to believe it was the usual Noel.
Where was Pollus?
I figured I'd hunt him down and neutralize him, but there was no need.
Pollus was slumped in the spectator seats, dead to the world in sleep.
A tranquilizer dart in his neck—must be Noel's handiwork.
The insect user was down.
These remaining bugs were probably all without reinforcements.
A swarm blotting out the sky dove toward the still-evacuating students.
Even Noel couldn't handle that many alone.
At that moment, Ethan stepped forward on trembling legs to block the swarm.
Crack!
Ice spikes poured down from the air.
An area attack using frost-attribute magic bullets.
Noel's work again.
The ice spikes swept through the swarm.
They couldn't pierce the shells, but the ones with torn wings fell helplessly.
Not a kill shot—perfect for disabling.
"Noel! Behind you!"
Ethan suddenly shouted.
Three massive bees ambushed from behind Noel.
Too late to respond with the rifle.
Noel spun gracefully, ditching the rifle.
She drew a pistol from her coat and put exactly three rounds right into the bees' heads.
More bees followed right after, lunging at her.
Judging blocking all sides pointless, Noel boldly leaped from the top.
A freefall with no safety gear.
What would happen if she just dropped was obvious.
Noel immediately drew a knife and jammed it into the stadium wall.
Crunch, screeeeech!
Sparks flew as the knife ground against the wall.
Mana reinforced the blade to prevent snapping while maximizing friction.
With exquisite skill, Noel downed a few more bees mid-descent.
As the ground neared, she kicked off the wall, landing shoulder-first and rolling at least three times.
She didn't stop there, springing up and squeezing the trigger until her mag ran dry.
No bees in sight around her.
Even so, with her guard maxed out, Ethan slapped her back hard.
"Amazing! Friend! You're incredible! Flying around solo like that!"
"Seriously impressive. Not just the skill—your judgment was spot-on too."
I gave her honest praise.
Only then did Noel relax, lowering her pistol, her face pale as her hands shook.
"I... I thought I was gonna die...."
5
"Thanks, I lived because of you...!"
"If you hadn't been there, who knows what would've happened. Thanks."
"Uh...?"
The evacuating students thanked Noel one after another.
Each time, Noel tilted her head like she didn't get it.
"N-No... I just did what anyone would... You don't have to...."
"What's natural about it? These are the people you protected. Take a good look."
I whispered quietly, and Noel rolled her golden eyes toward the students.
The way her lips curved up was definitely a good sign.
Training could instill killer instinct to mask low self-esteem, but it wouldn't recover it.
For real recovery, direct stimulus like this was key.
A few more real combats, and she might fully bounce back.
It'd take time, but seeing hope was a huge win already.
Once Noel fully regained her confidence, I could really slack off on training and step back.
That day, it'd be party time. Gotta prep the turkey and roast pig.
"You're... impressive as ever. The training paying off?"
"I just helped a bit from the sidelines. The impressive one's Noel, not me."
I brushed off the admiring Leon appropriately.
She'd join your party anyway—focus on her, not me.
But Leon stubbornly shook his head.
"Training others is tough work. I'd like some help next time too."
"You do fine on your own—no need. You don't need my help."
"...Did I mess up somewhere?"
What was this guy saying now.
Don't seriously stroke your chin with those downcast red eyes like you're pondering.
Anyone would think I was the one at fault.
"You're just strong. Stronger than me, so no need."
Leon was already a near-perfect talent.
Technically and conviction-wise, he just needed real combat experience.
Hone his skills and beliefs sharper through trials and tribulations.
I'd even passed on the weapon he lacked.
He needed combat, sure, but I couldn't just shove enemies at him recklessly.
Villains cornered might get stronger just to survive.
"Really?"
"Have I ever lied to you?"
Leon nodded.
Okay, maybe a few white lies, but way more truths.
Were their views of me surprisingly low?
6
"The insect user has been killed."
A man in a white robe pulled low reported in a raspy voice.
The elderly man hunched on the high throne, Galat, stroked his long, faded beard.
Deep wrinkles etched his face, showing the marks of time plainly, yet a vitality defying age emanated from him.
Galat, the Butcher by another name.
One of the twelve cardinals leading the Precursors and an elder black mage guiding the black mages under Noros.
Neatly trimming his beard, he asked,
"How'd the mission go?"
"The primary objective was achieved. But no additional damage was inflicted."
"Even a primitive bug-handler managed that much—fortunate."
Not a word about failing the secondary goal.
No one expected Pollus to deal meaningful damage to Esterro Academy from the start, so no disappointment.
Just fulfilling the main purpose was enough.
Disposable pawns didn't need much.
"Soon, the eggs he scattered will hatch."
"Yes, as per your plan, Lord Galat, it will cause great chaos."
Keh heh, Galat's satisfied laughter echoed through his lair.
Countless statues lining the long, dark, damp underground corridor stood silent.
"Who should take command of the next operation?"
The white-robed subordinate bowed deeper and asked.
Galat leaned back in his chair, smile fading.
Recalling a few names, he soon decided.
"Leave it to the Nagaraja lot."
"Understood."
The white-robed subordinate rose quietly.
At that instant, Galat furrowed his brow sharply.
The deep wrinkles deepened further.
Mana echoing his mood crushed the surroundings.
"More insolent than I thought, sending a mere doll to me. Anirza."
The moment the name was called, Anirza's doll lifted its head.
The doll of an ordinary middle-aged man smiled brightly, seemingly oblivious to the mana pressure.
"My apologies, Lord Galat. The mission I'm on hasn't concluded, so I had no choice but to send this doll. Please forgive the rudeness."
"For past merits, I'll let this slide once."
Contrary to his words, the crushing mana grew heavier.
In the space where even breathing was beyond control, the doll began to creak.
"But no next time. Remember that."
"I will."
Anirza's doll nodded with a smile.
In that moment, Galat flicked his hand.
The oppressing mana converged in one spot.
The doll, swallowed by the immense mana, shattered helplessly.
Like being fed into a massive press.
Gazing at the handful of powder it became in seconds, Galat snorted.
"Insolent fool. Think I don't see through your schemes?"
The doll was already destroyed.
No reply would come.
If Anirza were here, he'd deny it.
But with some conviction, Galat whispered into the empty lair.
"I'll use you thoroughly... and discard you most miserably."