Chapter 120
Chapter 120
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 120
Chapter Title: Paradise
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Grand Archmage.
That title carried immense weight. Among the hundreds, thousands, even billions of mages in the world, she was one who had reached the pinnacle.
She had seen the end of magic. Vague words, to be sure, but with only five people in the world who truly understood her, there was no room for complaints.
Equivalent to a Sword Saint among swordsmen, a Saintess or Pope among priests, or a Spirit King's contractor among spirit users.
They possessed an aura far beyond the reach of ordinary folk.
And that was why.
Justitia had stood firm for over twenty years. And even after enduring multiple assaults in the past six months, it had been swiftly contained.
All thanks to Rosaline's presence.
As long as she was there, no ninjas would suddenly appear to slaughter the students, no dragon would hover overhead spewing acid, no demon would breach the mortal realm to steal souls.
Unless it was a calamity beyond human means to stop, the academy could not fall.
"They're all gone."
Standing on the ship's deck, Rosaline murmured as she watched the students disappear into the island. The sea breeze blew fiercely, but her hat didn't budge an inch.
After confirming with her own eyes that not a single person remained behind, she turned and headed into the ship's interior.
Her destination was a particular room. Not dark, but not bright either.
The only furnishings were a crystal chair, a desk, and a crystal orb resting on it.
Even their placement felt eerily centered, adding to the room's strange vibe.
Rosaline walked in as if it were the most natural thing, settling casually into the chair. She crossed her legs, but it didn't feel elegant.
More like a kid trying to look cool.
Tap tap.
Seated at the desk, she tapped it twice. The crystal orb erupted in a brilliant glow.
And what it projected was—
A man. A black-haired man in his middle years, wearing a stoic expression.
"What do you mean, what? The thing I asked for."
[Haa... I'll send the documents.]
"Can't you just tell me?"
[Too much. Key points: the cultists are getting active. Vampires are the same as ever—only lesser ones on the surface. No sign of the progenitors.]
Rosaline groaned at that. This would throw off her plans.
"Better find it before summer break. I don't know why, or well, I do, but there've been too many incidents lately."
She had a pretty good idea. All the trouble centered around two students. Impossible to miss from her position.
"I'm this close to exploding. I even set up barriers, and cultists still snuck in recently."
[Special case.]
"I know. I know, but it pisses me off. That's why I'm trying to eliminate the root cause. Find out. Got it? You're the only one I trust."
No sane mage exists. Imagine the one at the top of that heap. Even compared to Isiu and Rosaline, they were the relatively normal ones.
"If you don't find it, I might have to remove another cause."
[Another cause?]
Isiu on the screen sipped his black tea and asked. An elegant motion, but it didn't stay that way for long.
"Yeah. This guy named Lee Seong-hoon. Things keep happening around him— What are you doing?"
Pffft—!!
A sprightly sound rang out as liquid sprayed into the air. The man, uncharacteristically disheveled, wiped his mouth and spoke in a rush.
So frantic he even tried to grab the intangible screen.
[Rosaline.]
"Are you insane?"
[I warned you. Don't touch that monster... no, that madman.]
What was he on about? Rosaline scowled at his ugly, unfamiliar look.
Island 6.
An untamed isle overgrown with grass, trees, and all manner of plants.
A great forest in its own right.
"What if an elf pops out...?"
In such a place, Isia wandered alone. No matter where she looked, all she saw was...
Grass, grass, grass, grass, and trees.
Nothing else. She slashed through the impenetrable undergrowth and vines with dark blades from Chantless Severance, pressing forward.
Three hours since landing here, and Isia was a mess.
Part of it was moving solo in a place meant for pairs, but the island's environment was the real culprit.
No progress without cutting grass. Even walking brushed against something everywhere.
The ground was disgustingly uneven, roots everywhere to trip her up. She'd fallen at least five times.
And that was the least of it. Hidden monsters, ambushes from other students.
Three hours in, the mental and physical exhaustion was immense.
"Shing."
Truth be told, monsters and people weren't big threats. Even alone, Isia was a mage who'd mastered Chantless Severance.
Few students could match her.
Yes. The real problem lay elsewhere.
"Where the hell are you!!"
She yelled in frustration, but no reply came. She'd been searching nonstop since arriving.
Not a single break, yet no sign.
Her solitude tied directly to the search.
Isia scanned her surroundings, recalling her partner's words.
—Let's split up.
—Searching this huge island together is like finding a needle in a haystack.
—We have one goal. Knock out Lee Seong-hoon.
—He ditched our team, stuck to Raphael all day. He deserves it, right?
—When you spot him, fire magic into the sky. Promise.
—Okay, going. Oh, the great Isia won't get eliminated alone, right?
Recalling even that smug final grin, she trudged on silently.
Eliminate Lee Seong-hoon. She agreed completely. He snubbed her team; divine retribution was only fair.
However.
"Where the heck are you?"
How do you smite someone you can't find? And she had to beat Sophia to it.
They'd agreed to signal each other, but Sophia probably wouldn't if she found him first.
Isia imagined Sophia spotting him.
"Yeah, even if I die, I'll keep it to myself."
Nodding, she resumed her search. That guy was probably camping by the river, so she checked there.
Just monsters.
Maybe up a tree? Nope. Bugs only.
A crow familiar would help, but none on day one.
"What now. This is dangerous."
It really was. Isia's points were skyrocketing with no results.
Points rising sounded good at first, but it wasn't.
High points day one made you a target. Bad news.
But chasing Seong-hoon nonstop, points piled up insanely.
Monsters swarmed just from walking.
And points pooled by team.
Meaning—
"Oh my god."
Two people roaming meant massive points.
Seeing her near-top score, Isia made a face. Where was he?
That weirdo could be anywhere bizarre; no guesses. Cursing her poor imagination, she walked on.
"Cave? Sky? Ocean?"
All nonsense. Needed something plausible yet outlandish. Even magic research never strained her brain like this.
"Hmm."
Hand on chin, she groaned and walked. Tilting her head now and then, brainstorming every forest possibility.
Deep in thought, defenseless.
An obvious outcome. Lone high-pointer, partnerless, exposed—who wouldn't strike?
An arrow whistled fiercely. Isia snapped out of it, eyeing it.
A mana bolt, no chant needed, deflected it. No need to assess.
Battle stance quick, she scanned. Nothing. Grass, trees.
Bugs chirping. No sight, sound, sense of foe.
'Where?'
But there was one. Targeting her.
Normal Isia: stay calm, conserve mana, locate enemy.
Capture with optimal spells.
But—
'Is Sophia still searching?'
One thought: beat her to it.
Thus.
The usually cool, rational girl went a bit reckless.
Before next arrow, assessment flashed. Mana gathered at fingertips.
Infused pre-memorized formula. Ring on left ring finger aided calculations.
Minimized mana use, max efficiency. Less than half usual completed the spell.
A sphere formed at her fingertips.
It grew into a massive orb. Not plain: orb within orb, within orb.
Layers of spheres, a dark beauty beyond words.
Spinning. Like gears, innermost first, slow.
Arrow came—and
Sucked in. Not just arrow: nearby trees, grass, bugs.
Everything pulled. Eerie roar.
Crunch—!! Crackle—!!!
Lush forest turned wasteland. The archer aiming at her gaped, blinking.
Spotter beside him same.
Before Isia acted, they groveled, arms out.
"“Spare us—!!!”"
Feeling villainous, she thought:
'I'm screwed.'
Points shot up...!!!
As the two vanished, bracelets severed, Isia spoke, tears welling.
"...Shing!!!"
Boom—!!! Cracklecrack—!! Thud—!!!
Battle sounds echoed from afar. The intensity palpable from noise alone.
However.
"Got nothing to do with me."
"I told you. We're just here to chill."
"Yeah. Spot on."
I nodded. Two sunbeds bought en route, lounging atop them.
Blonde beside me in sunglasses. Tiny blonde on my belly in mini shades.
"Man~ Paradise."
Yes. While everyone's fighting, I'm enjoying the summer sea.