Chapter 58
Chapter 58
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 58
Chapter Title: Magical Beast (8)
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"Ugh…."
"So stubborn."
Yeon Ji-eun slowly descended to the ground while cradling the staggering Camella.
"L-Lady…!"
As Paul and Eric rushed to Camella after she touched down, Yeon Ji-eun pushed them aside and spoke.
"Calm down. It's just mana exhaustion."
"I have a mana potion. Here!"
"Fine."
She took the potion from Paul and trickled it into Camella's mouth. Camella's breathing soon stabilized.
"Hoo. Thank you, President."
"Glad you're safe. But mana exhaustion right in the middle of the battlefield? That was too careless. Think about mana distribution in future fights."
"Yes, I'll keep that in mind."
With that, Yeon Ji-eun stepped back from her, and Paul and Eric quickly moved in to support Camella.
"That was reckless, Lady."
"No choice. Among my summons, Surtr has the strongest firepower."
"There were other powerful summons that didn't require that giant."
"No, the others aren't suited for aerial combat. To hit a flying bird from Xanthus, Surtr was perfect."
"Well… true, but…."
"Don't worry too much. The consumption wasn't as bad as I thought. More importantly, what about the named boss? It couldn't have come out unscathed from that attack."
"We took it down."
Camella's words were followed by Noah's voice from above.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ Its buffs have ended. Noah appeared, scattering blue starlight from her body, and pointed in one direction. "Must be the firepower. It got neutralized in one hit."
"…!"
"That's quite…."
"Impressive condition."
Turning toward where Noah pointed, they saw the cockatrice sprawled on the ground, its entire body perfectly roasted to a golden brown.
With its feathers and skin completely burned off, transformed into perfect fried chicken, Camella and the others gulped involuntarily.
"Come to think of it, I heard cockatrice is edible."
"Are there edible magical beasts?"
"Yes, not all, but cockatrice is commonly eaten."
"…."
Maybe because of all the intense action earlier.
Their stomachs suddenly started rumbling at the sight of the golden fried chicken.
"Uh, um…."
"We should collect the proof of subjugation first, right?"
"I'll do it."
After subjugating a magical beast, you had to collect proof.
It was to prove you'd taken it down, by harvesting a specific part, and since the loot spot varied by beast type, it required considerable skill.
Even the Adventurer's Guild had dedicated looters.
Luckily, their party had the experienced Eric, so he stepped up.
Gripping a small dagger deftly, he dismantled it skillfully, soon extracting the comb from its head and the magic core from its heart before returning.
"Here's the proof for the named boss."
"Good. I'll submit the comb to the academy. Taking down a named one—not just any beast—should give great scores."
Taking the comb from Eric, Yeon Ji-eun pointed to the large magic core.
"You guys use that. A named boss core will fetch a high price. Sell it for cash or have it made into good gear."
The magic core, infused with a faint breeze, glowed softly green, asserting its presence.
Noah pondered it briefly before looking at her party members.
"Hmm… Should we convert the core to cash and split it? What do you all think?"
"I'm fine either way."
"Same here. Honestly, we didn't help much."
"Is that so. What about you, Camella? You did the most, so we'll go with your call."
Camella thought for a moment at Noah's words, then nodded in agreement.
"Do as Noah says. She was the leader from the start. Items should be up to the leader."
"Got it. Then we'll handle all future drops separately later."
"Yes, please."
With the drop item disposal settled reasonably, the silent Yeon Ji-eun spoke up.
"With the named down, you've definitely cleared Slane Academy's bar. The academies are setting up defense lines now, so no more worries about civilian safety."
"Yeah. More instructors on the front lines, and beasts are getting cleared out."
"How about it? We can head back now."
"Sh-Should we…!?"
Camella beamed at Yeon Ji-eun's subtle urging to retreat, but Noah gave a wry smile and shook her head.
"No, I'll keep going."
"Noah…!?"
"The terrorist hasn't been caught yet. We're gaining ground bit by bit, but if we don't nab them, who knows when it'll happen again."
"True, but…."
"That's not for you to worry about. Academy City isn't so desperate as to leave it to mere examinees."
"But more people means catching them faster. Gates could spit out more beasts anytime, so better nab the culprit quick."
"…I agree we need to catch them ASAP. But tons of instructors and seniors are already on it. No need for you kids to push."
Noah eyed Yeon Ji-eun, who wouldn't budge.
'She won't yield without a solid reason.'
Her gaze was unwavering.
"Taking down a named is beyond expectations for examinees. That's brag-worthy. Leave the rest to seniors and instructors and fall back."
"Yeah, Noah. We've done plenty."
Not just supervisor Yeon Ji-eun, but her party subtly agreed too.
In that atmosphere, Noah calmly closed her eyes.
"Or is there a reason you must stay on the front?"
"…."
"If not, you should withdraw—"
"I have a suspect for the culprit."
──!!
The group erupted in shock at Noah's words.
"You know the culprit?"
"What do you mean?"
"Wait, Noah!?"
As her party panicked and Camella stared in horror,
"What does that mean?"
Yeon Ji-eun asked Noah with a serious expression.
…
…
…
"I see."
Yeon Ji-eun nodded lightly after hearing Noah's explanation.
"Got the situation. To think you'd spotted the terror signs beforehand…."
Noah's story was hard to believe, even for the student council president.
Spotting and acting on a terror no one, not even instructors, noticed.
Well, that's why big brother noticed her.
'As expected of brother! You already knew her talents!'
Yeon Ji-eun smiled contentedly and nodded.
"Demons, huh!"
"Unbelievable…."
Meanwhile, Paul and Eric, hearing it cold with no prior explanation, freaked out.
Camella, who'd been briefed earlier, stayed calm—at first.
Then a thought hit her, and she rushed at Noah.
"Wait, Noah! So you were going after a demon!?"
She'd heard demons were behind it before, but dismissed the absurd tale, forgetting entirely.
Realizing Noah's target was a demon, she paled and lunged.
"W-Wait! Calm down, Camella!"
"How can I!? Do you even know what demons are!?"
What demons were.
Creatures of the Demon God, born with vast mana.
Unlike continent folk, they wielded demonic energy, a special inner force, crushing average knights effortlessly!
That was demons.
"With demons involved, this is active heroes' turf! We'd just die pointlessly!"
Holy swords, demons' bane, belonged to active heroes.
Even without, active heroes had demon-slaying experience, so demon sightings always prompted hero calls.
"Plus, this is Academy City. Retired heroes galore. No need for you to push!"
"But I…."
"…You have your reasons?"
As Noah opened her mouth to reply to Camella,
Yeon Ji-eun cut in.
"You know the danger. Yet pursuing demons means you have cause."
At Yeon Ji-eun's words, Noah glanced aside.
To the icon pulsing in her vision's corner.
'Main scenario says to slay the demon.'
Whether she had to do it personally or not, unclear.
But failure risks made gambling impossible.
⚠️ FAILURE PENALTIES ⚠️ [This Year's Entrance Exam Canceled]
[War Demon Appears on Front Lines]
[Related Characters' Favorability Drops]
This year's exam? Fine.
They'd passed with the named anyway.
Favorability? Recoverable.
Relations weren't just numbers.
The issue: War Demon on front lines.
'Fail to catch the demon, and the Four Heavenly Kings appear.'
If the system was right, disaster.
'But explaining this? No buy-in.'
Noah knew.
The president believed without proof—rare.
Couldn't tell the truth.
Yet needed conviction.
What to do….
Then she recalled the president's words.
{This terror's a good chance for you. Others'll evacuate you, but if you truly aspire to heroics, gain experience there.}
{If resolved to the front, use my name.}
{It'll sway blockers effectively.}
Recalling that, Noah spoke naturally.
"It's the president's will."
"…What?"
"The Grand Student Council President told me to slay the demon."
Would it work?
Absurd claim.
President never said that directly.
Subtly suggested beasts, sure.
But if this president respected the Grand one, she'd yield….
"…?"
"What're you waiting for? Let's move!"
Too yielding──?!