Monster Season (2)
Monster Season. It was a term even Evan was familiar with. After all, every professor emphasized it in every monster-related lecture.
But it was happening now? During this practical training session?
Evan immediately asked into the connected communication line.
"Professor, is that really true?"
> "Evan? Any other students around? Are you alone?"
"Yes, it's just me."
> "Tch, of all times..."
> (The sound of a tongue click and a deep sigh.)
Evan realized this wasn't some prank meant to heighten the students' tension. The professor continued.
> "Is the situation safe?"
"I haven't encountered anything."
It had only been ten minutes since the practical started. Evan hadn't run into anyone yet, so he hadn't made any progress.
> "That's a relief. Anyway, Evan, get down the mountain right now. We're professors are holding them off as best we can, but there are too many. The barrier will break soon. Don't get tangled up!"
Sounds of battle echoed through his earpiece. At the same time, the ground shook and the air vibrated. It must have been the professor.
"But Professor, what about the others? Do they know?"
> "The other professors are... ngh! Relaying it, but... time's short! Can't reach everyone!"
"Then..."
It was then.
BOOM!!
A massive explosion from the west. It sounded like something had slammed into a wall.
And in the air in that direction, a single line appeared.
Crack, crack!
The line widened rapidly. Once it started, it didn't stop, soon cracking the entire sky.
> "Damn it! Block it somehow! If it breaks, we're done for!"
The professor's desperate shout. Mana surged from outside the barrier, trying to seal the gap. But their efforts were futile.
Bang! Boom!!
Consecutive impacts hit the repairing barrier, cracking it rapidly. Destruction outpaced restoration. The result was immediate.
CRASHHH!!!
The barrier shattered. Shards of mana rained from the sky. For a moment, wind from outside engulfed Evan.
> "Evan, listen carefully! Right now...!"
But the professor's voice cut off mid-sentence. Interference waves carried on the wind disrupted the communication.
Left alone, Evan.
"Hoo, haa..."
But Evan didn't panic. After a deep breath, he drew his pure white sword, Raman, and expanded his senses.
Familiar presences prickled his skin. The aura of monsters he'd killed and been killed by countless times in that dogforsaken space over the past few weeks.
His realm was still too low to pinpoint locations exactly, but he could roughly identify their types.
"They're all coming."
Common orcs and goblins were baseline, plus mana-mutated beasts and snow mountain-evolved variants. Every kind of monster imaginable.
The number he sensed immediately exceeded 10,000. Given the professors' reactions, it was probably more.
"Where the hell were this many hiding?"
The professors wouldn't have missed them. They must have cleared them out beforehand. So they'd been lurking somewhere, waiting...
For now, he'd chalk it up to his first experience with it—and given the circumstances, a trait of Monster Season.
"First, find the others."
Evan couldn't head down the mountain as the professor said. Only a few students had been contacted. Far more hadn't.
Those uncontacted would die 100%. The pressure and killing intent from such numbers was beyond what students could handle.
That was a lesson learned in his hyung's space.
Of course, some would grasp the situation quickly and act. But only a rare few—like Veil and Cloi. No need to worry about them. Veil had trained with him, and Cloi would yawn her way down with her personality and magic prowess.
"Guess that training paid off."
If he hadn't trained under his hyung beforehand, he wouldn't be this calm. He'd have gotten cocky trying to save friends and died.
"As expected of a Saint—can he read the future or something?"
Even as a reserve, that power didn't just vanish. Saints and saintesses had always been said to see the future.
Anyway.
Tak!
Thoughts sorted, Evan kicked off the ground. To find his friends.
Locations whipped by in an instant. Moving on snow was unfamiliar, but he'd gotten the knack after walking a bit.
Then, presences ahead. Monsters first, then human auras mixed in.
"Damn, already...!"
Evan launched himself forward. Two groups facing off came into view. One monsters, the other students.
25 against 3. Students outnumbered. One heavily injured, the other two protecting him. Obvious outcome if it continued.
Evan locked onto the monsters, ignoring his friends. He swung wide, mana-infused.
Whoosh—!!
Sword ki shot forward. It cleanly severed the monsters' necks.
"Hoo..."
Exhaling held breath, Evan ran to his friends.
"Guys, you okay?!"
"Ah..."
"Evan..."
His friends were out of it, hands trembling. But the injured one was priority.
Evan approached the fallen student. Blood poured from wounds. He hurriedly cast recovery magic.
But it was slow. Checking the status, the snow mountain's chill had frozen the blood, hindering healing. His magic tool for it was long destroyed in battle. Still exposed to the cold.
"Ah, so that's why hyung said..."
Don't piss outside? Thought it was a joke. Should've just said it straight. Always veering off in weird ways.
"Hoo, got it."
Spotting the issue, Evan mixed in magic to finish treatment.
Then he briefed the students on the situation. As they prepared to move together.
"More, more coming...!"
"30 this time...!"
Monsters swarmed again. Evan had expected it. Monsters flooding from the distant center meant they were spread nearby.
Evan drew his sword again.
"Wonder if I can save 'em all."
Hope so. With that thought, Evan charged the monsters.
Monster Season—a phenomenon called a natural disaster or catastrophe.
It has three characteristics.
One: A central leader commanding the monsters.
Two: Infectious nature turning any monster into an ally, regardless of type.
Three: Aggressive attacks on humans on sight.
That's why it's tricky. Without eliminating the leader, it persists. Left alone, monsters multiply, causing widespread damage. Not to mention the human raids.
"Evan's probably under attack by now."
The Thousand-Year Mountains were the leader's path. Teeming with monsters. Humans swarming there? Attacks inevitable.
What, not worried? You don't know Evan. He only looks dumb next to me. He's the protagonist. The center of this world.
Him getting done in? Impossible. Minor hardships maybe, but no dying. He'll even gain enlightenment from it.
And above all.
'I didn't train him for nothing.'
I'm not clueless. Trained him for this. He'll return fine.
Anyway, that's not my worry.
"Kyle, the air's changed..."
"I know."
A quiet, heavy atmosphere enveloped Tianis Academy. Like the calm before a storm.
And I knew the cause.
"Rana."
"Yeah, Kyle?"
"How many can fight at the academy right now?"
"Hmm... Not many. Maybe 4-5 thousand?"
Guards, second-year knight and magic departments, professors combined. Fewer than expected. Makes sense—few mana users among staff and other departments. Guards topped at Expert Upper.
Why ask Rana? Because monsters were attacking Tianis.
"Whoa, wyverns...!"
A voice rang out right on cue. Over a hundred wyverns flew in the sky.
"Why are monsters at Tianis...!"
Hundreds more monsters from the ground swarmed the academy. Chaos erupted in an instant.
But the monsters couldn't attack humans right away. A pre-prepared barrier held them back.
"Phew, good. The barrier's holding."
People sighed in relief. I thought differently.
"Rana, gather everyone. Anyone who can fight."
"Huh? Isn't the barrier fine?"
"No, it won't hold long."
Strong, yes—but not against tens of thousands. Not the founding emperor's barrier.
"Why is this happening?"
"Of all times, when the academy's empty..."
"The first-years too..."
Professors panicked meanwhile. Naturally. End of semester meant one term ending. Exams made it hectic.
First-years on joint practicals, third-years on graduation exams. Related professors absent too.
Only second-years and some professors left. Many professors out on business. Worst timing. Too few fighters for the enemy numbers.
In the novel, Tianis was half-destroyed because of it. Casualties beyond description.
And I planned to stop it.
Students gathered before me under Rana's lead. Eyes trembling.
Barrier holding, but monster numbers visible. Clear numerical inferiority terrified even these prodigies.
I spoke to the fearful crowd.
"Why's everyone so scared?"
One student replied.
"Y-you're the weird one... How aren't you scared seeing that..."
Another continued.
"Look at the professors. They don't know what to do. We can't... stop that."
Despair spread. Once broken, it wouldn't recover easily.
"So. Gonna die like this?"
I asked softly.
"No..."
"Don't wanna die..."
Right—who wants to die? But my words didn't fix them.
So, just this once, I'd invoke those damn names. Surest way.
"Kids. Who am I?"
Students chorused.
"Saint..."
"Saint-nim..."
"S-Saint..."
Eyes shining, they looked at me.
"Yeah, Saint. Provisional, no faith like those Holy Kingdom guys. But remember this."
I met their gazes.
"I'm behind you. Trust me and fight. I'll protect you—no dying."
Heads lifted one by one, voices rising.
"Yeah, can't die like this..."
"So much left to do..."
Weapons gripped tight. Courage spread like fear had.
"Hehe, Kyle's so sweet."
"What're you saying. Rana, you prepare too."
"Okay!"
Rana readied for battle at my words.
Confident of victory? Obviously. Who am I?
In this world, our job's unwelcome. But in mine, we were heroes, admired.
What was I? Hunter. Called that here and there.
I stood at the pinnacle.
Crack—!!
The barrier around Tianis shattered.
"Time to start the hunt."
