Chapter 29
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 29
Chapter Title: Not a Single Day of Peace (2)
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There wasn't even one day of rest.
The chains that had been restraining the magical beast's movements shattered.
That meant this place had become its hunting ground.
Damn it, why the hell...!
"Everyone, run with everything you've got—!"
I shouted at the top of my lungs.
Perhaps my voice snapped them out of it. The students who had been staring blankly at the beast began running toward the training ground's entrance, one by one.
Everyone except for one person—Elena. She was looking at me with anxiety written all over her face.
Great, another person here who just wouldn't listen.
I sighed inwardly and ran toward her.
"Milady, you need to run."
"Yes, let's get away quickly."
Elena nodded and started running toward the training ground's entrance.
I'd been worried she might try to step up like she did at the entrance ceremony, but thankfully, she didn't.
Well, if she had, I would've stopped her somehow anyway.
I was even thinking of knocking her out if I had to.
We soon arrived right by the entrance together.
Kuwoong—!
The excited beast thrashed violently. Its massive body slammed into our iron bars, producing a deafening roar.
The impact snapped two of the bars. It wasn't quite enough for its huge body to squeeze through yet, but we didn't have much time.
'One more time...'
One more time, maybe two at most. If it repeated the action, it would break free.
By then, everyone should have evacuated the training ground...
But the real problem was what came after. It would surely chase down the fleeing students.
No matter how hard they ran, it was only a matter of time before it caught them. And in the end, many would die.
Elena might even be among them.
'If you value your life, running is the right choice.'
The slower magic department students would be sacrificed first. I might even survive with my life.
On any other day, I'd prioritize my own survival without a second thought...
But today, I might have to wear clothes that don't fit.
Tak—.
I placed a hand on Yubel's shoulder.
"Yubel, take care of milady."
"What...?"
Playing dumb, huh? Take care of the girl you like yourself.
I swallowed those words and turned to face the vast training ground. At its center, the beast was straining desperately to escape its cage.
"...Don't die."
Did he understand my intentions? Yubel asked no more questions. He simply uttered those words and stepped away.
"Luke? W-Wait a minute...! Yubel, let go of me...! Let go, I said...!"
Elena's voice faded into the distance. Good thing Yubel had listened to my request.
Friend, huh...
Next time we met, I could call him that.
'Alright, time to move.'
I couldn't just wait for it to break free. While it was still trapped in the cage, there might be an opportunity.
I started heading toward the center of the training ground.
Students vanished from the edges of my vision. Every one of their faces was filled with terror.
Hoo—.
I steadied my mind with a short sigh and drew my sword. It was the one Elena had given me someday.
I planted my feet firmly and kicked off the ground, launching my body forward.
Ash-gray mane covering its body, blood-red eyes, savage claws and fangs.
The closer I got, the more its oppressive presence crushed my body and mind.
But I didn't stop. No, I couldn't stop. This was my duty.
Finally, arriving right before it, I leaped high.
It had been watching me too, swinging a massive forepaw through the bars...
But it was still caged. There was no way that attack could reach me.
Kwajik—!
The sharp sword pierced straight through its red eye.
──── ! ── !
With an ear-shattering screech, it shook its head violently. Even a magical beast felt pain, it seemed.
The problem was that I hadn't pulled the sword out of its eye in time. My body was whipping around wildly, like laundry caught in the wind.
For a moment, the sword yanked free from its eye, and my body was flung to the ground along with it.
I rolled across the floor several times amid intense pain.
When I came to, there was an eyeball stuck on my sword. It was so gross I shook it off in a hurry.
'Well, success for now, I guess.'
The beast, which should have been breaking the bars to escape, was just staring at me from its spot.
Maybe it was merely watching its prey's desperate struggle...
Either way, I'd bought time. That was enough for now.
After that, I circled around the cage without doing much else, as if I were looking for an opening.
It watched my every move warily, never taking its eyes off me. It seemed to have forgotten about breaking out.
Thank goodness mana boosts didn't raise intelligence. If it had been even a bit smarter, it would've burst through and torn me apart right away.
'Just hold out a little longer like this.'
My role wasn't to kill it. It was just to stall until the professors arrived. It was still dangerous, but not a fight with zero chance of victory.
Or at least, that's how it had been until now.
Kwaaang—!
Suddenly, it turned its back to me and rammed the cage's weak spot. With a thunderous crash, the ground shook, and the remaining bars vanished.
From within the cloud of dust, a single red eye fixed on me. The clear killing intent in that gaze sent chills racing across my skin.
Now, my goal wasn't stalling anymore—it was survival.
Kwadududuk—!
The beast burst from the dust, swinging its forepaw. Everything caught by its savage claws was shredded. The training ground's walls and floor were no exception.
'What kind of speed is this...!'
It was a speed that didn't match its massive bulk. I barely dodged, but I had no confidence I could keep it up.
Now I understood why knights struggled against a single magical beast.
Monsters—that word wasn't enough. To humans, these things were calamities.
What followed was utterly one-sided. It unleashed relentless attacks, and I dodged by the skin of my teeth.
It was only because it had lost one eye that I was still alive. If it were unharmed, I'd already be its meal.
That's when it happened.
Its massive forepaw came rushing at me with blinding speed.
I flung myself toward its blind spot, like always...
'This crazy bastard...'
Unfortunately, it was a trap. It planted its extended paw into the ground and immediately raised the other one.
My stance was unstable from the leap, making it hard to dodge again. Death was right in front of me.
'This is so unfair.'
I'd sworn to live my life leisurely as Elena's exclusive attendant, playing around and eating well. So why wasn't there even one peaceful day?
I let out a hollow laugh and gripped my sword tighter. I had no intention of giving up from the start.
Something bubbled up from my dantian. Soon, the sensation spread through my body, heating it up.
It was exactly like what I'd felt when clashing swords with Yubel during the entrance exam.
I can do this. I can win.
Those thoughts filled my mind as my burning-hot body began to move.
The surge of power from stepping forward flowed through my legs and waist, growing stronger.
Finally, the power converged in one place and unleashed as a single intent.
The sword, cloaked in a blue shimmer, cleanly sliced through the beast's massive forepaw.
Like cutting tofu with a sharp knife, there was only the sensation of severing—no resistance.
──── !
The beast let out a screech and thrashed wildly. Red blood spurted from the severed stump in all directions.
A little more. A few more swings of this sword, and I could kill it.
But why? Despite my will, my body wouldn't move. My vision was blurring.
Like an overheated machine grinding to a halt, my body lost function.
Did it see this as a chance? Or was it just venting rage? It opened its maw wide, revealing its savage fangs.
'Is this really the end...?'
As I thought that and resigned to death,
"Luke, Luke Nineheart, you've done splendidly."
A shadow fell over me, and a voice rang out.
My memory cut off there.
* * * * *
Inside the swordsmanship department building, students huddled together with faces full of fear.
What was there to say? They were students from both the magic and swordsmanship departments who had been in joint class just moments ago.
Naturally, Elena was among them. She glared at Yubel with wide eyes.
"Yubel Lutwalt...! Why, why did you drag me all the way here?!"
"Let me ask you the opposite. Would anything change if you stayed there, milady?"
"Th-That's...!"
Elena was at a loss for words.
Because he was right—nothing would change if she were in the training ground.
"Do you know what kind of resolve the knight who stayed behind to protect you had?"
"I know. I know that. But..."
"That's why I brought you here. I'm sure he'll understand."
He, who was always smiling, wore a rare serious expression.
He probably wasn't at ease either, having left his friend behind.
Elena ended the conversation with a short sigh and headed to the window. Outside, she could see the training ground where Luke had stayed.
'Luke, when you get back, you're getting a lecture...'
So please come back alive to hear it.
How much time had passed since then?
It was after nearly ten professors entered the training ground and quite some time had elapsed.
"H-He's coming out...!"
"Th-That guy's the top of the swordsmanship department, right...?"
Elena, who had been watching out the window like them, bit her lower lip hard. The metallic taste of blood spread, but now wasn't the time to care.
There, cradled in the arms of a swordsmanship professor, was definitely Luke.
His entire body was drenched in blood.