Behemoth Slain, The Dying Knight Awakens

Ep.05 Midterm Exam, Knight Department 1st Year Class A. Noah Sielail.

Honestly, this is better than I expected?

Her skills were surprisingly solid.

"I-is this okay?"

"From what I can sense, it looks like you've cleared this whole area."

"R-right…."

"Your skills are pretty good, more than I thought."

Honestly, I figured she'd survived on luck. She'd avoided fights until the very last enemy.

"Really? I don't think it's that impressive…."

She took down almost everything by herself, and she's downplaying it.

After bringing Noah on board, I hadn't done much. I'd just pointed out enemy directions and given her a bit of support to make things smoother. The whole pile of monsters right in front of us? She'd handled that solo.

"We're getting close to the south boss, right?"

"Yeah. I can feel it."

Noah shook out her yellow ponytail and gripped her greatsword tightly. She'd been relaxed until now, but the boss had her on edge?

"No need to tense up."

"Huh?"

"It won't be tough."

I flashed a smile at the nervous Noah and stepped forward slowly.

The four bosses overseeing the midterm exam. They had a vibe like the Four Guardian Beasts of the East—pretty famous in their own right.

"They've recreated Behemoth pretty well."

"Of course. This is the academy."

As Lilia said, the south boss was named Behemoth. A massive body boasting overwhelming strength, with horns crowning its head. It was a brute god in the form of a bull.

Yeah. A legendary monster straight out of myth.

"I-is that the real one!?!"

"No way. It's just magic-made."

If it were the real Behemoth, we'd be dead the second it appeared. This thing was tuned to a level students could handle.

"C-can we take it down…?"

Noah's voice trembled as she asked. Fair enough—she was panicking. It looked even bigger up close.

"Obviously. They designed it to be beaten by a party."

"R-right!"

Though whether two counts as a party is debatable.

"I'll back you up."

"Huh?"

"The horns. Aim precisely for the horns."

The moment I gave her the weak point, I charged straight at Behemoth.

"Wha—what!?!"

Until now, I'd hung ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠back, supporting Noah. But that was just me slacking off. This is how I fight.

"Hup."

I created barriers in midair, stepping on them one by one to match the beast's eye level. The instant our gazes locked—its red eyes glaring.

—GRRRRAAAAHHH!!!!!!

I focused my breathing and wrapped my body in mana. A basic combat mage spell from neutral magic: Mana Armament. Mana surged rapidly through my veins.

"Master. I'll assist."

Lilia joined in, enveloping me in a massive surge of mana. Black lightning coiled especially around my arms and legs.

I poured every ounce of my 4th Circle output into it….

—BOOOOMMMMM!!!!!!

I grabbed Behemoth's charging horns with both hands.

Even reinforced like this, it feels like my grip could tear.

Aura users sounded enviable right now. They could get even better efficiency from a fraction of the mana.

"Noah!!!"

"Yes!!!!"

Noah kicked off the ground and leaped. Behemoth was briefly halted by me. With gravity's acceleration from height plus her aura on the greatsword….

—CRACK!!

"GRRAAAAHHH!!!!"

…she could sever one of the monster's horns.

"You cut it!!"

"Hold on a sec."

They'd even recreated its berserk state—Behemoth's eyes turned even bloodshot. Mana Armament alone wouldn't hold now. My grip was literally tearing.

"Noah!"

"Yes?"

"Toss me your sword."

"Huh!?!"

"Quick!"

I released the horns, kicked off a barrier, and leaped. I snatched Noah's thrown greatsword midair… and slammed mana into it—not aura.

A hack spell for mages imitating aura users, but whatever. I had lightning to amp the damage.

Something like this, right?

I pulled the technique from memory and recreated it as best I could. Even with talent support, it was imperfect….

The Sword Star's technique.

Star Manifestation Style—Stargazer.

Cracks spiderwebbed across the greatsword, unable to withstand the mana output. But it didn't matter. I needed one precise strike. Targeting the horn's side.

A meteor shower plummeted.

—SLASH!!!

A clean cut no greatsword could make—Behemoth's horn hit the ground. The berserk state vanished completely. A flawless victory.

"Huh?"

"Wh-what?"

"Wh-what was that just now!?!"

Noah stared blankly before blurting the question. Fair—she walked the path of the sword, so curiosity was natural. Even imperfect, it was the Sword Star's technique.

"Just… swordplay?"

"You handle the sword better than me!"

"Thanks. But I'm still magic department. Nice work with the greatsword."

I handed the sword back. The edge was a bit nicked, but it'd be fine… right? I'd compensate later.

Yeah.

"Master."

"Yeah?"

"Can I ask too…?"

"Oh, that?"

Same question as Noah. I got why she'd be curious, but….

"Not telling."

"…Why!?"

"Kidding. Later."

I brushed off Lilia's question and snapped Noah out of her daze.

"So, what do you think? Manageable?"

"You could've done it solo…."

"Nah, not enough hands."

Honestly, at my level, midterm bosses were a breeze. But solo meant heavy stamina and mana drain… and limited tactics.

"Alright, shall we ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠hunt the rest?"

"You're taking them all…?"

"Except north."

"Why not north?"

"Just a bad vibe."

I'm not crazy enough to head there. No interest in needless risks.

*****

The Super Magic Forest. The northern exam zone was a total warzone.

"Whew… Even I can't handle this solo."

Magic Department vice-top, Belloa Lamier. Black hair whipping around, blue eyes sharp despite her fatigue.

I expected it, but the ganging up is intense.

Midterms allowed top students to get eliminated fast with the right strategy. In other words, ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠top ranks like her became targets for score-hungry others. Just like with Dante—a swarm tactic.

"Need a hand?"

As Belloa fended off charging students, a gentle voice whispered in her ear.

"…Lady Valencia."

"An honor—you addressing me that way."

Reflected in Belloa's eyes: a woman with dark blue hair. An air of elegance, cold gaze. The empire's prodigy, drawing everyone's expectations. Famous for her magic talent and beauty….

Celine Valencia.

"Helping me won't do you much good."

"My situation's rough too. Better to team up, right?"

"…Sigh."

Belloa closed her eyes briefly.

"Fine. Let's clear these guys first?"

"Agreed."

Belloa and Celine's party. All-mage backline, but their synergy was insane. Overwhelming mana reserves and firepower. Playing to mage strengths, they dominated.

They'd slaughtered the north boss, Hydra, one-sidedly.

"Cleared safely. East next?"

Celine adjusted her sleeve and casually probed Belloa.

"East? How about south."

"I don't mind…."

"Heard there's someone interesting there."

Truthfully, they figured they'd win anywhere. They believed in their victory.

Yeah. You can't do it solo, Dante.

Personal limits were clear. Belloa knew that.

"Rest's over. Let's move?"

"Yeah."

As Belloa and Celine finished resting and prepared to go—

It happened in an instant.

"Professor Barhen…?"

"Thanks."

"What…."

Barhen appeared out of nowhere, a single word. He was smiling. A smile so unsettling it overshadowed his usual blank expression.

"You two cleared the Super Magic Forest so neatly. Makes my job easier."

Super Magic Forest. As the name implied, a mana-dense holy site for mages. In its recreation, a massive black ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠magic circle began glowing.

Signaling the game's story truly beginning….

One of the 92 demons, grudge of the knights.

The Dying Knight.

Falling into the Super Magic Forest.