Chapter 54
Chapter 54
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 54
Chapter Title: Magical Beast (4)
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The Academy City's Failure Hero series featured several pieces of equipment famous for being game-changers.
Among the countless items, a select few stood out with their exceptionally high efficiency and unique traits, delivering performance that more than justified their value.
These weapons were so overpowered that they drastically lowered the game's difficulty.
And among those game-changer weapons, there was one universally hailed as the absolute best.
'Adelia's Growth Weapon'
It was equipment obtainable by completing a dedicated quest.
Though acquirable at a low level, its growth potential meant it dealt respectable damage, and players could choose its type, making it a favorite among many users.
But its true value lay elsewhere—
⚙ Item Description ⚙ Adelia's Growth Weapon A growth weapon prepared by Adelia for a budding hero dreaming of greatness. Perfect for beginners. 【Equipped Trait】
+100% EXP from hunting That's right! +100% EXP…!
This simple yet outrageously powerful effect struck a chord with me and countless other players alike.
Naturally, every player ended up acquiring Adelia's Growth Weapon—it was inevitable.
And I'd completely forgotten about this crucial piece of equipment.
Even though it was tied to the protagonist's strengthening event…!
"Damn it!"
I wasn't even without weapons.
I'd prepared a variety of them in advance, specifically for the protagonist who would eventually show up!
Yet here I was, failing to use them at the most critical moment!
In that instant, a sharply honed blade of aura tore through the magical beasts charging toward me.
"Hoo…."
'Calm down. It's not too late yet.'
I swept a hand over my face, forcing myself to stay composed.
I couldn't hand a weapon to the protagonist right now, but that was a problem I could fix anytime.
Having quickly sorted my thoughts, I scanned the ground below.
'There's still a ton of EXP left to farm.'
The monster wave had only just begun.
We had plenty of time.
The moment I let out a sigh of relief and patted my chest—
"……!"
My gaze caught Noah drawing closer to the demon.
"Hiho! Lure Noah somewhere else right now!"
{Ho? What the…?} No time for explanations.
Round the next corner, and Noah would be in the demon's line of sight.
No way Noah would spot the demon and just let it go.
With that thought, I immediately kicked off the ground and dashed toward the demon.
"…What!?"
My realm-attuned footwork traversed space in an instant, arriving before him. His eyes bulged as if they might split open.
He reflexively gathered mana in both hands, but I sent him flying first.
Kwarunggrrr—!
"……!"
My uninfused kick burrowed into his abdomen, sending the mana-reinforced demon body hurtling away at blinding speed, rendering his enhancements meaningless.
"Hoo."
A beat later, a ferocious gust erupted from where he'd stood.
The instantly gathered winds spread outward as a shockwave, then detonated in the direction he'd been launched.
{Ho? The demon's vital signs just vanished in an instant! Chairman! What did you do, ho?!} No time to reply, either.
Ignoring Hiho's shout, I moved.
Grabbed a named monster bursting from the gate at the demon's spot, infused my feet with aura, and leaped through space again.
Total time elapsed: a mere three seconds.
'That was close.'
I wiped my brow while eyeing Noah, who had just encountered the named monster.
This bought us a little time.
'Now, while Noah handles the named, I need to deliver the weapon.'
The weapons were definitely stashed in the warehouse.
Recalling the ones stored inside the student council building, I hurried toward the Acropolis.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ Meanwhile, a short while before Noah encountered the demon—
"N-No way… A real terrorist attack?!"
Carmella trembled in fear, staring up at the magic circle floating in the sky.
When Noah had warned about the attack, she'd thought it was a lie… To think it was actually happening!
"W-We can't just stand here! We have to run—now!"
"The non-combat instructors have already evacuated to the shelters. We should head there too."
Paul picked up after Carmella's words.
"Y-Yeah! Let's move to the shelter while avoiding combat as much as possible!"
She ignored the academy director's earlier words.
Common sense dictated that mere examinees like them couldn't possibly fight magical beasts.
'Bravery and recklessness are different! Taking on beasts unprepared is suicide!'
But apparently, Carmella was the only one thinking that way.
"Instructor, I want to join the fight too!"
"Count me in, Instructor!"
"If we form parties, we can help!"
"Let us assist as well!"
These geniuses, brimming with confidence in their talents, volunteered to subjugate the beasts.
'These idiots…!'
Carmella couldn't comprehend these students.
How could these unskilled fools act so recklessly!
Incomplete skills would only drag others down.
Some of these volunteers hadn't even beaten the exam monsters.
Unable to handle entrance exam beasts, and now rushing into real combat?
What if they died out there!
The moment anxiety-ridden Carmella started biting her nails—
The academy director suddenly burst into laughter.
"Heh heh! This batch of sprouts shows real promise! Excellent! The instructors will provide support, so go wild to your hearts' content!"
"Director…?!"
"You lot assist the students in taking down the beasts. No need to intervene unless it's life-or-death."
"This is real combat! People could be dying right now!"
"Heh heh, no need to worry. The student council president wouldn't let that happen."
"…!"
"I don't know why the gates are still open, but with 'him' around, the city will be fine."
"…Understood."
Instructor Yi Hwa-ryeon closed her eyes briefly at the director's words, then nodded.
"Let me say it again: this is real combat. You could get injured… or even die."
Gulp—
Tension rippled through the examinees at the instructor's warning.
"But if you still want to help subjugate the beasts despite that, step forward. Prove your courage isn't mere bravado."
Hmph, as if anyone would fall for that…
……Huh?
"W-Wait, Noah!"
She hurriedly grabbed Noah, who was striding forward.
"You're really going? This is real combat, Noah!"
"I know, Carmella."
"No, you don't! It's dangerous! From the scale of those beasts, this is definitely a monster wave! You, lagging behind in skill, going there… You'll get hurt for sure!"
Noah shook her head at Carmella's desperate pleas.
"I don't want to be the kind of person who ignores danger just because death scares me."
"…Noah."
"It's fine. The instructors will help. I won't get hurt easily."
"It's not about getting hurt—it's about dying!"
Especially for a failure like him—what help could he possibly provide?
If he didn't become a burden, that'd be lucky.
Carmella watched Noah shake off her hand and walk ahead, then turned anxious eyes to the other examinees.
'Stupid fools! Charging in without a plan—what do you think you're doing!'
Research the enemy, devise a flawless plan, secure perfect victory.
Raised as a perfectionist since childhood, Carmella couldn't understand this atmosphere.
Why rush into an uncertain fight!
She bit her nails, staring endlessly at Noah's back.
"…Paul, Eric."
"Yes, Miss."
"……."
"What should I do?"
"…I'll follow your will, as always, Miss."
"I'm just your mercenary. I have no right to decide your path."
Foolish.
Pathetic and stupid.
Biting her lip hard in deliberation, Carmella finally spoke to them.
"If I follow Noah, will you come with me?"
"If it's your command, Miss."
"That's my job. Obviously."
After a brief hesitation, Carmella dashed forward.
"…Carmella?"
Grabbing Noah's hand, Carmella bowed her head for a long moment before forcing out the words.
"This is reckless."
"Carmella?"
"Pathetic. Idiotic."
"Uh…."
"It's obvious you'll get hurt. You might die, yet you walk into the jaws of death. I can't understand it."
"But I—"
"That's why!"
Carmella cut Noah off sharply, squeezing out her words with effort.
"I'll go with you! Alone might be tough, but as a party, we can do something!"
Noah didn't respond, so Carmella added hastily.
"B-Because it'd be awkward if my first friend got hurt, right!"
Expecting a simple thanks, Carmella was thrown by the unexpected reaction.
"Carmella…!"
"Eek!?"
And understandably so—Noah had suddenly pulled her into a hug.
'L-Letting a strange man touch me!?'
Do friends do this?
But Noah was a guy friend?
No, his looks were kinda androgynous, so maybe okay?
Carmella, who had never made a friend in her 17 years, froze stiff at Noah's bold skinship.