Chapter 53
Chapter 53
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 53
Chapter Title: Magical Beasts (3)
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"…?"
What the hell?
Suddenly, a chilling surge of mana rippled down from the sky above.
I looked up to assess the situation, only to see a pale crimson magic circle blanketing the heavens.
"…What is this?"
An ominous aura emanated from the faintly glowing magic circle.
"……."
I-hwa-ryeon, who had been overseeing the imperial princess's exam, froze with a hardened expression at the abrupt turn of events.
At the same moment, the instructors on standby nearby rushed to gather around us in an instant.
Each one drew their weapons and scanned the surroundings, clearly sensing the instinctive threat.
"This is that, right?"
"Tch, looks like it."
"Student safety first, everyone."
"Exam's on hold! Nobody move—stay put and wait!"
With that, I-hwa-ryeon sealed the test gate and approached us.
As the imperial princess, who had been the last to take her exam, joined our group, I-hwa-ryeon spoke on behalf of the instructors.
"Hmm... Looks like something's gone down in the city, huh?"
Even with the unidentified magic circle hovering overhead, Instructor I-hwa-ryeon casually stretched her limbs.
"Sorry, examinees, but the test is provisionally suspended. Stick around here for a bit."
She brushed off her hands lightly, then drew a sword from thin air. Scarlet flames erupted alongside it, spreading a scorching heat through the area.
"Don't go wandering off."
She was just about to leap into the sky when—
──Wait.
An unfamiliar voice rang out, and a group of instructors entered the testing grounds.
I-hwa-ryeon halted upon spotting the elderly man at their forefront and cried out toward him.
"President!"
The old man with the long, trailing beard chuckled heartily in response.
"Yes, you've worked hard."
"What brings you here…?!"
"Funny thing, it had to happen on exam day. Got curious how the sprouts were holding up, so I came to check."
The old man's eyes, half-buried beneath his long brows, gleamed sharply as he stared up at the magic circle overhead.
Right then, a massive gate materialized from within the circle.
"Hmm. Bigger scale than I thought."
"We'll cancel the exam immediately and handle it ourselves."
"Hmm? Cancel the exam? The frontline instructors are already deployed."
"Then we'll wrap up here and join them right away."
"Heh heh, hold on a moment."
The academy president's voice stopped I-hwa-ryeon, who was moving with haste.
"Can't go making rash calls like that."
"Pardon?"
"You haven't asked the students what they think."
"…Pardon?"
Finally catching on to his intent, I-hwa-ryeon stammered.
"Th-that... Mr. President, this is real combat. Not some half-baked exam. You can't send these green rookies into a death trap like that!"
"No need to put it so harshly. I'm just asking the kids."
True heroes step forward in times of crisis, don't they?
A strange power laced the old man's words, making a few safety-minded examinees flinch.
"That's…!"
"Instructor Hwa-ryeon, heroes aren't made—they're forged."
"……!"
"Even the great heroes said as much."
──Heroes bloom amid trials.
At that very moment, magical beasts began pouring from the colossal gate—
"Like right now."
A deafening boom echoed, followed by a ferocious energy that shredded the beasts apart.
───
At that time, atop the Acropolis rooftop.
Yeon Je-seong gazed calmly at the sky after wiping out the emerging beasts from the gate in one fell swoop.
"The other academies should start moving soon."
He had cleared the first wave to buy them time.
This should give even G2 or G3 academies enough notice to react.
It'd be a short window before the second wave, but more than enough for them.
⚙ SYSTEM LINK ⚙ {Master, the illusory barrier preparations are complete.} "Good. Deploy it immediately."
⚙ SYSTEM LINK ⚙ {Chairman, the demo equipment is ready. Shall we begin?} "No, hold off on the equipment demo. Student experience comes first right now."
⚙ SYSTEM LINK ⚙ {Chairman! Don't forget—zero blemishes on Academy City, got it!} "Don't worry. The beasts will be cleanly erased from Academy City."
⚙ SYSTEM LINK ⚙ {You promised! Fine, I'll trust you this time!} "Good. Handle Noah's support."
⚙ SYSTEM LINK ⚙ {Hmph! Time to show off Haiho's skills!} He swiftly responded to the incoming reports from all directions, grasping the overall situation on the ground.
Starting with the student council executives, then the control AI Haiho, and even the department heads.
As he compiled and organized their reports, a faint smile crossed his lips at the next voice.
⚙ SYSTEM LINK ⚙ {Chairman, we're ready to deploy anytime.} ⚙ SYSTEM LINK ⚙ {Same here, Chairman.} ⚙ SYSTEM LINK ⚙ {Chairman, why not just jump in already?} ⚙ SYSTEM LINK ⚙ {Chairman, commercial district prep complete. Awaiting orders.} ⚙ SYSTEM LINK ⚙ {Chairman, drinks after?} ⚙ SYSTEM LINK ⚙ {Hold up! Chairman!? The researchers here have lost their minds...!?} ⚙ SYSTEM LINK ⚙ {...Research district, prep complete.} Listening to the voices of active heroes on the frontlines, including the lightning specialist Alensia, he replied.
"Use your judgment. If there's a battlefield where we're losing ground, step in and turn the tide."
──Acknowledged.
With communications cutting off in unison, Yeon Je-seong turned his gaze back to the sky.
"…Big one."
'Heard the device caps at 4 or 5, but how the hell did they mod it to spit out swarms like that?'
Nah, considering it's an EXP event, probably some game mechanic leeway.
He muttered to himself, then shifted his eyes to the ground at the explosions echoing from various spots.
"No named ones... yet."
Named beasts—enhanced variants—were each uniquely overpowering.
Some had innate abilities, others high intelligence. Typically, top-tier heroes handled them solo, or mid-to-low tiers formed parties to take them down.
'Could emerge from the gates too, but...'
Still, no signs of new ones yet.
Probably won't summon more until their numbers drop below a threshold.
As he nodded, watching students battle the beasts, a thick mana pulsed from empty air.
Woooong—!
"Illusory barrier's up."
Immediately after, a massive dome enveloped Academy City, separating reality from illusion.
In this space, destroyed buildings would regenerate in seconds.
'Rischel Kingdom tech, but damn if it isn't impressive every time.'
Not something you could whip up just with advanced magic—exclusive to Rischel across the continent.
Ultra-secret even there, but Academy City could activate it via special devices—
'Good thing the girl-king repays debts double.'
That's what he got for saving her kingdom.
She grumbled it wasn't enough, but honestly, it was plenty.
"Oh yeah, she invited me to visit last time."
As a royal guest—come anytime, the letter said.
He'd declined for being busy, but she kept pushing.
Making excuses every time was getting awkward.
.
.
.
.
"…Hm?"
While scanning the scene amid stray thoughts, his gaze naturally drifted toward a surge of energy from one direction.
"As expected. They went that route."
After staring that way for a bit, the chairman operated Flu to summon Haiho.
⚙ SYSTEM LINK ⚙ {Ho? What's up all of a sudden? Haiho's busy!} "Academic District 1, point K-276—target spotted. Guide them naturally."
⚙ SYSTEM LINK ⚙ {Ho ho hot! On my way!} Finishing the call with Haiho, the chairman casually flicked his hand.
Nature's energy coiled around it, then shot out to pierce a distant beast's throat.
──?!
The student on the verge of being attacked stared around in confusion.
At that moment, as bewildered students scratched their heads at the inexplicable aid—
──Damn! Damn! Damn!
Ricardo dashed down the road, oblivious to being kited for a hunt.
Gone was his usual cool demeanor—he ran desperately.
His face mirrored that of prey fleeing a predator, etched with urgency.
And closing in on him: Noah.
Spotting her hero-like figure in ornate gear, the chairman found his eyes drawn despite himself.
"…Starter pack?"
More precisely, to her flashy equipment.
'Growth type? Or complete? Wonder about the specs...'
Damn, never thought not seeing stats would sting this much!
That's when he finally noticed the sword in Noah's hand.
"──!!!"
The chairman's stoic expression cracked under the shock.
Staring at the crudely forged blade, he screamed inwardly.
'Forgot to give her the EXP farm weapon!'
His eyes shook rapidly as he recalled the gear tucked away in storage.