Chapter 18
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 18
Chapter Title: Avatar (4)
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My eyesight is just a tad over 1.0.
Not bad, but not exceptional either—perfectly average.
Obviously, I can't spot a small object high in the sky at a glance.
Even so, I was staring straight at that demon.
"It's not coming down."
Using mana to strengthen the body applies to the nerves as well.
Right now, with my eyes enhanced, I could clearly make out objects pretty far away.
This was the principle behind the "inhuman reflexes" that people here always showed.
And.
If you can handle mana properly, things like shooting out like a bullet are entirely possible.
"Guess I'll have to go to it."
I poured strength into my lower body.
Mana converted to aura and seeped into the spaces between my muscles.
As my bulging muscles twitched like they might burst, I bent my knees and lowered my stance.
What happens when you shoot a gun straight up into the sky?
More precisely, how far does the bullet fly?
Kuuuuk.
Pang—!
I kicked off the ground hard and shot into the sky.
I bulldozed through the air resistance blocking my path with overwhelming propulsion.
Just like that, I reached the sky where the fleeing demon was.
"...You can fly?!"
"I jumped."
Black wings.
Similar to a bat's, but different. Not a vampire.
Horns on its head, and a thin tail just below the waist...
"A succubus?"
"Haha, correct!"
The succubus's eyes gleamed.
It wasn't just light reflecting—it felt like some kind of trick.
"Pledge your loyalty to me!"
Mental interference detected.
This body is an 'Avatar'.
Interference failed.
I felt something bounce off my head.
I could see the succubus looking flustered.
Something wasn't working right for it.
Anyway, its attack missed, so now it was my turn.
Mana has endless applications.
Basically divided into enhancement and magic, but by my interpretation, even "this kind of thing" was possible.
I stepped on the air.
No matter how strong a human is, stepping on air is impossible.
It's not a matter of strength—it's the inherent limitation of a gas.
So I enhanced it.
Like reinforcing a weapon, I wrapped mana around the air to make a solid foothold.
Of course, this method makes it fragile and short-lasting.
But if I could step on it just once, that was enough.
"Kek!"
I stepped on the foothold and charged straight ahead, roughly grabbing the succubus by the throat.
I clamped my hand tightly around its slender neck and began plummeting together.
"Let gooo!!"
The succubus flapped its wings frantically, but it wasn't enough to regain balance.
Current Avatar damage - 35%
Excessive movement will accelerate damage!
I knew for sure that crashing like this would shatter the avatar.
Protecting it with mana might prevent immediate destruction, but this damn consumable seemed vulnerable to enhancement itself, so better avoid that too.
I tightened my grip even more.
Kuung!
I slammed the succubus into the ground like discarding trash, while I landed relatively stably.
"Ugh, it huuuurts...!"
Its writhing in pain was crystal clear.
It must have used some protective magic, and its natural body was tough, so no fatal wounds.
Sure enough, the succubus shook off the daze and flapped its wings again.
Looked like it was trying to flee back to the sky.
"Everyone, come over here!!"
As it shouted that, the ground began to rumble.
The orcs that had been attacking cadets from all directions started gathering here.
Perfect timing. Any more casualties would be a problem.
I grabbed the leg of the succubus that was trying to flee first.
No hesitation—I slammed it into the ground.
To prevent any more escape, I stabbed my sword through its wing.
"Kyaaaaak!!"
Even for a demon, that scream was grating on the ears.
I grimaced slightly.
Honestly, I didn't know I could be this bold.
Back on Earth, I was just an ordinary office worker.
...Am I even alive right now?
"Seeing blood must be making me think weird things."
The orcs arrived.
I thought they'd charge mindlessly and attack, but surprisingly, the orcs did nothing.
They reacted like they were terrified of something.
Trembling, they dropped their weapons one by one.
A sign of surrender.
"What are you doing!? Kill this bastard right now!!"
The succubus shrieked.
I could feel it activating that same power on me, but stronger.
"Wh-why..."
The orcs didn't move.
Seems the dominating force couldn't override the fear of death.
By the way.
Even in this state, no gate.
Some kind of restriction?
It appeared with other demons, so it wasn't "can't teleport itself."
Probably needs time to activate.
"Demons have blessings too, huh."
No magical elements detected in the 'gate,' and it's ambiguous as a racial trait.
For now, safest to assume it's a power like a blessing.
Nothing strange about it anyway.
They probably have gods they worship too.
I pulled the sword from its wing and hauled the succubus up.
"You can't run."
Our eyes met, and its legs gave out.
I forcibly held it up to keep it standing.
"I could kill you right now, but the orcs you unleashed are a pain. Deal with them, and I'll let you live."
"Y-yes! I'll do it! Pl-please spare me...!"
I released the succubus, and it collapsed on the spot.
I stepped back a few paces and watched its actions.
Any funny business, and I'd slit its throat.
The succubus trembled as it activated its power.
A massive gate opened on the ground, and the orcs charged into it.
Thanks to them already gathering, all the orcs vanished from the Academy in under five minutes.
"Th-then me too...?"
"No."
I grabbed the succubus again as it tried to enter the gate.
"Never said I'd let you go."
I wouldn't kill it as promised.
With two high demons captured alive, the Academy should be able to extract something from them.
If not, I could step in again.
Right on cue, the barrier over the entire Academy shattered.
Cigarette was back.
I struck the succubus in the solar plexus to knock it out and tossed it next to the wolf demon.
Current Avatar damage - 60%
"...You said repairs aren't possible, right?"
A few fights, and it's already this wrecked.
I let out a deep sigh, then looked at Roel, who was still standing there.
"Y-you're..."
"You've got the eyes for it now."
Finally, the protagonist's eyes.
The eyes of one ready for sacrifice, the leader who guides.
I smiled contentedly.
I wanted to talk more.
But that would mean running into Cigarette.
She's sharp—might figure out my identity like last time.
That's enough for today.
"See you."
Retrieving Avatar.
"Professor Cigarette, these things are running away?"
I first sensed something off when I encountered the orcs.
Orcs are aggressive monsters. It's not common to see them retreat.
Especially ones that came out during a dungeon break?
They should be rampaging to destroy everything, yet fleeing?
"Take them out for now."
What should have been quick work dragged on because the orcs were hell-bent on escaping.
Even capturing one took quite some time.
And once targeted, they'd suddenly resist fiercely.
A total pain in the ass.
'What the hell...'
Never seen or heard of anything like this.
Not even cunning goblins fight this way.
For stupid orcs' desperate tactic, they didn't even seem to understand their own actions.
What is it?
What did I miss?
"...Hold on."
Ten minutes after leaving the Academy.
Cigarette realized.
There were no orc dungeons nearby.
So why did orcs appear?
A new dungeon?
Impossible. A break in a freshly formed dungeon doesn't happen.
Think.
Fleeing orcs.
Scattering movements.
...Buying time?
If so, why?
"...The Academy."
"Pardon?"
"We need to go to the Academy."
A bad premonition hit.
The feeling that this entire orc army was a "decoy."
"I'll head out first. Leave minimal personnel and come to the Academy."
"Pardon? Wait, Professor Cigarette—"
She pushed to her maximum speed.
Each step left small craters.
Thanks to that, Cigarette arrived in a flash and confirmed her hunch was right.
A barrier covered the entire Academy outskirts.
She could tell at a glance: it blocked information and external entry.
Not unusual for the secretive Academy, but the problem was she was treated as an "outsider" too.
"This is..."
Not cast by Academy staff.
No time to go easy.
Cigarette unleashed full power.
She poured aura into her fist and smashed the barrier.
Kuuuung—!
The dome-shaped barrier shook violently.
Shockwaves visibly spread from the impact point.
Creeeak.
Creeeak.
Cracks formed in the barrier until it shattered.
"...Trouble."
She sensed three ominous presences so intensely she wondered why she hadn't noticed sooner.
'One's Roel.'
Probably her other personality had emerged.
Roel should be fine, but the other cadets were worrying.
Cigarette headed straight for the demons' location.
The destruction she saw en route stirred a quiet rage toward the demons.
"...Huh?"
But that rage didn't last.
Because the scene at the destination was utterly unexpected.
Two fallen demons.
Subdued in quite a miserable state.
Subduing a resisting opponent without killing is hard even with a big skill gap.
With two demons of that level, even Cigarette might have had to kill them.
Yet they were clearly alive and down.
Cigarette looked at Roel.
Roel looked back at Cigarette.
Their eyes met.
"I-it wasn't me!!"
Roel frantically started making excuses.