Chapter 24
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 24
Chapter Title: Demon Hunt (4)
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Steps light, fists heavy.
A phrase I'd heard somewhere before. Back then, I hadn't understood it, but now I felt like I could.
With every step, I could feel the ground trembling beneath me. My senses were razor-sharp, drawing out every ounce of my innate power.
With the Genius trait and the Terminally Ill penalty.
Deron's body was sounding the alarm.
Don't fight the enemy in front of you.
"Grrooooaaarrr!"
The demon had descended into this world, borrowing Luberic's body.
It was supposed to appear right in the middle of the town square during the Spring Festival, but I'd twisted the plot, making it show up now instead.
To be honest, this was somewhat intentional.
What good would it do for a demon to descend during the upcoming Spring Festival?
Better for it to appear inside the academy, minimizing casualties.
And keeping the rumors down, too.
My body tingled at the demon's roar. It wasn't even directed at me with killing intent, but just the demonic energy alone made my body react.
"You okay!?"
Somehow the interference had lifted, and Professor Ardin rushed to my side.
I couldn't say "no," so I just nodded silently.
"This is... don't tell me?"
"A demon. Probably."
It was clawing at its own body frantically and letting out pained shrieks, so it didn't seem like a complete summoning.
There had been signs of this in the original story too. But back then, the demon's descent itself and evacuating the citizens had taken priority, leaving no room for a proper response.
But now was different.
There were no citizens to evacuate. Sure, some students were panicking in shock, but Professor Ardin was here.
Compared to the original, where there were no professors and only students had to hold it off, this was better.
Even so, taking it down would be tough.
Incomplete summoning. Better situation than the original. That's why it was 'tough.'
The first main boss of Iliad Academy's Hero. A high-rank demon.
Morax
It had used up most of its power escaping the demon realm to descend here, yet it still overwhelmed most of the protagonist's party.
The boss that first revealed the threat of demons in the novel.
Luberic's true name for the demon he'd thought was Dante.
Against Morax, who had an overwhelming advantage over magic, only aura-based attacks would work.
The hard shell covering its body absorbed nearly all magic-based attacks that touched its surface.
But even aura wasn't a guaranteed win.
Low-grade aura could only make scratches, mid-grade was needed for real wounds.
At this point, novel readers would realize:
'This guy's not going down easy.'
Of course not. This was the boss meant to unlock the protagonist's hero trait, after all.
Originally, after building bonds with his companions, the protagonist witnesses one fall gruesomely, unconsciously unleashing the hero's power to defeat it.
But now, it was an event mob I had to raid and kill with everyone.
Clang!
"No good. It's completely blocked."
Zig, the Class A student who ranked second to none in raw strength, hammered away with his blunt weapon, but the barrier didn't budge.
Luberic had been talking to Deron when he suddenly let out a bizarre cry, unleashing a sinister energy that spread a barrier everywhere.
Sophia had sensed something off and tried to lead everyone—Classes A and B alike—out of the training grounds.
But it was sealed tight.
"What the hell is going on...?"
"And what's with those black things in the sky!"
Instead of clouds, black energy floated lazily in the sky.
Terrified students screamed or pounded on the barrier, but nothing happened.
Sophia gritted her teeth. No way out no matter how hard they hit it, so they needed another approach.
But how?
No solutions came to mind. Finding them had always been her role.
In the village, at the academy.
"Looks like everyone's here."
A sudden voice. Sophia whipped her head toward it.
It was Deron, appearing out of nowhere.
The one who'd been dueling Luberic, back without a scratch.
Professor Ardin was with him.
"Professor?"
The grim mood lightened a bit. With a professor here, they'd find a way.
"A demon has descended."
But the professor's next words plunged the students into despair.
Demon.
A being they'd only heard of, never faced. A terror whispered from mouth to mouth, page to page.
It didn't take long for that fear to spread among the students.
The silver lining: no one was screaming uncontrollably.
True to Iliad Academy students, they showed maturity beyond their years.
The problem was they were still kids who couldn't fully hide their youth.
Sophia approached Professor Ardin and reported the situation, like she always did after hunts in the village.
"Class A: 10 present. Class B: 9 present. Everyone except Luberic Keias is here."
"Only Luberic is missing."
"Yes."
Ardin nodded in acknowledgment, but instead of stepping back, Sophia asked:
"The barrier prevents escape. Any other options?"
"We kill the demon."
Deron, who'd been listening quietly, spoke up.
Sophia frowned at the outsider butting into the professor's conversation.
"You think that's possible right now...?"
"Deron's right."
Sophia's eyes widened. Professor Ardin agreeing with Deron?
Did that mean they really had to take on the demon?
Ignoring her shock, Deron continued.
"It's a high-rank demon, but the forced descent left it in bad shape. Plus Luberic was in peak crap condition, so it's resting now. The longer we wait, the more it'll recover its true power."
"So we attack now? What's the guarantee we win?"
"You need a guarantee to even try?"
Sophia wanted safety first. If they held out, other professors would come.
But Deron's response was unexpected.
"What do you...?"
"Can't leave thanks to the barrier, no other escape. And it's only getting stronger over time."
Deron smirked.
"Isn't this screaming 'time to raid'?"
"...Other professors might break the barrier."
"Sure, other professors would be great. Dean would be better. But what if they're late? What if the demon recovers faster?"
He stated flatly.
"We're all dead. Everyone."
Dead. The heavy word made Sophia's eyes tremble.
Death was always distant to everyone, yet staring right back when confronted.
A concept everyone pretended was far away.
Hearing it from Deron made that death vivid in her mind.
She shook it off and spoke.
"But that's unrealistic. The aura alone has everyone terrified. Even rushing it together, no chance."
Sophia's view was realistic, rational. Hold out without losses, wait for rescue.
That cool-headed flexibility would make her a grand mage.
"Frankly, the risk is too high."
But Deron cut her off bluntly.
"Risk is for when you have a retreat. Sophia. Hold out here? Good idea—if it doesn't get exponentially stronger."
Sophia's gaze shifted to Professor Ardin. Is he right? Please be wrong.
But Ardin nodded. Deron was correct.
Seeing that, Sophia fell silent.
With the professor agreeing, no other solutions came to her.
"Not saying we kill it. It's resting. We just interrupt that. That's all."
Silence fell. Students had been listening to Sophia and Deron.
Deron, the noble disgrace. But considering what he'd shown so far.
And his words weren't wrong.
He'd offered something trustworthy.
"Not telling everyone to go."
Deron stepped back, and Professor Ardin spoke.
"Just buy time. You'll be at the front against a demon. Scared students, stay here."
Following Deron's judgment, Ardin addressed the group.
"That's... that's basically deciding who dies first!"
One student shouted.
But no one contradicted him.
Not even Professor Ardin.
Because it hit the nail on the head.
"You choose."
Instead of arguing, Ardin gave two options.
"Stay and wait for rescue, or come with me to disturb the sleeping demon."
Silence.
The first was tempting, but after Deron's words, no one could ignore the second.
"I'll go."
Agnes started it. She held Absolute Shadow, which emanated chill as if eager for battle.
"M-Me too."
Adel, with her brown hair, raised her hand next.
The overwhelming holy power user, rivaling top first-years with Deron.
Her saintess-like holy power could deal massive damage even to demons.
Then Sophia sighed and joined.
Erina Philstein followed, her red hair flashing as she volunteered for disruption.
"Anyone else?"
No response to Professor Ardin's call or Agnes's gaze.
First real combat.
The fear of possible death turned their eyes away.
As Ardin's gaze darkened.
A final voice came.
"I'll go too."
A thin, feminine voice.
A man with womanly grace.
"Lee Han. That's seven."
The protagonist, Lee Han.
Deron's gaze lingered on the stepping-forward Lee Han.