Chapter 68
Chapter 68
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 68
Chapter Title: 14. Terror
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We all jumped in fright and turned to look toward the classroom door. The sound had come from there. I immediately checked the mana in the classroom walls. The walls were under attack. I flinched and covered my mouth with my hand. The barrier over the classroom was definitely machine-made. But how long could a device mixed with mana hold out against that kind of assault? The kids looked shocked too.
“What, what is it? What’s going on?”
“That……it’s an attack, right?”
“What about the teacher?”
“No way…….”
Everyone’s voices cut off for a moment. But before the silence could settle, someone launched the next attack on our classroom. Bang, bang! The sounds didn’t stop. I swallowed hard.
……The situation was obvious. Even the kids could tell. The teacher……had been taken out.
“Wh-what do we do…?”
“Damn it…….”
A voice full of anxiety came from right beside me. Hansu and Inha reflexively grabbed my arms and pulled me into a tight hug. They were trembling too, at a complete loss in this situation. Even they, who had mercilessly aimed spears at the intruder coming for me last time, had no immunity here.
Of course, neither did I. My heart was pounding, my hands shaking. I squeezed my eyes shut and cursed inwardly. Damn it, shit……!
The thumping noises grew louder with each one, amplifying my fear. It felt like the sounds themselves were getting bigger.
“Mom…….”
“Hic……sob…….”
I looked at the kids huddled together, trembling and sobbing as they clung to each other. And I thought. So what? The teacher’s down. What next? If this barrier breaks, do we just get dragged off helplessly…? And then what happens after that?
My mind went blank for a second, but I knew the situation. They were targeting us. Why? Simple. It was just like the news in the papers lately. They were kidnapping us to turn us into organization members.
I could guess how much that would grind us down in agony. I clenched my trembling hands and pressed my lips tight.
Then we had to resist. At least until reinforcements arrived. There was no way this terror attack could succeed perfectly. Not with Daehyeon School’s forces. But, but if we got kidnapped before that……if we couldn’t hold out……then we’d……
I flinched. All sorts of thoughts surged up inside me.
‘No. Resisting will just get you killed. You think a terror group is a joke?’
‘But……if even one of us goes missing?’
‘Then…….’
Bang!!
The whole classroom shook. I clamped my hands over my ears, squeezed my eyes shut, and tried my best to calm down. Time around me seemed to slow. Screams, groans, my own ragged breathing echoing inside. My hands tensed and froze. Cold sweat dripped. But…….
‘You have talent!’
……Master’s voice.
‘You’re a perfect defense mage.’
Right. I’m a defensive mage. That’s what I wanted myself. Illusion magic, rune magic, and barrier magic made it possible. So……couldn’t I at least protect everyone……?
I tentatively stirred my mana. Even inside this disruption barrier, my exceptional talent for mana control allowed me to cast spells. So, so……
“Br-Bro……! What do we do…!”
……And besides, I wasn’t alone here right now.
Feeling everyone leaning on me, their warmth, the rapid pounding of their tense heartbeats, I resolved myself.
These were the precious friends I’d practically been born with in this life. If they got hurt? If they disappeared? I had to protect them. In this situation, I was the only one who could protect the kids. Yeah, because I had barrier magic.
“Hup……haa…….”
Call it reckless if you want. I might not be able to stand against an adult mage’s power anyway. Especially with the disruption barrier too. We couldn’t escape; we had to hold out, but who knew how long? It might even end up provoking them pointlessly.
‘But still, I can’t just let them take us quietly.’
In the space filled with sniffling voices and attack sounds from magic, my own breathing seemed especially loud. I bit my lip hard and opened my eyes.
Bang!! At that moment, the classroom wall crumbled. At the same time, fully armed terrorists with covered faces poured into the room.
And……that was when I activated my magic.
“……?!”
“What the?!”
It felt heavier than usual, but I didn’t care. Before they could react, a box-shaped hexahedral barrier enclosed the kids, who had clustered together in fear. I hid behind Hansu and raised my hand. I pulled the hat I’d manifested with illusion magic down over my head. To hide my face.
My magic could be cast on a designated spot without warning signs, and without detection skills, it was hard to pinpoint the caster. But even so, if……they found out I was casting, and if they survived Daehyeon’s counterattack and escaped. I’d definitely become a target after this. No doubt.
‘Still…….’
The warmth in my clenched fist gave me strength. Still, for my friends’ sake, if that’s what it took, I’d do it!
I glared at them from under the brim of my hat. The kids panicked at the sudden barrier. My friends were just as startled.
“Eunha…?!”
“Shh. Be quiet.”
But my friends quickly realized it was my magic. I pressed a finger to my lips while they were confused. Don’t speak.
……But of course, I didn’t want them finding out I was the caster. Feeling the disruption barrier weaken slightly thanks to my own barrier, I layered another one on top. Please……if we could just hold out without anything getting exposed……
“Barrier magic?”
A man among the terrorists muttered that and grinned.
“As expected of Daehyeon. To think there’s a kid in elementary with this much composure, unique magic, like this. No way the passed-out teachers put up this shield…….”
Click. The sound of a gun cocking made every hair on my body stand on end. I immediately wrapped the barrier in illusion. ‘Suggestion.’ It won’t break from your attacks. An illusory suggestion on the magic itself. Even if the barrier broke, only one layer would. I could overlay more illusions to make it look unbroken. Then the suggestion would take perfect hold.
I steadied my breath and recalled everything I could do now. I had to make full use of my specialties to survive. Next, I created invisible runes with illusion and overlaid them on the barrier. Reinforcement. Reinforcement. Reinforcement. I repeated it.
I bit my lip hard. The disruption barrier was still affecting my mana and spells……but I couldn’t show strain. They’d figure out I was the caster. I just kept my head down.
Bang!
“……!”
I squeezed my eyes shut. The moment the gun fired, an unbelievable roar came from the shot. As expected……a magic tool, mana bullet? Light attribute? I repelled it with my own light attribute.
“Hoo……so it won’t break from this much. Then…….”
The bullets slamming into the barrier only grew stronger. I endured, lips pressed tight. The kids’ voices grew restless as the barrier held. My friends glanced at me worriedly.
Step step
“Hm?”
At that moment, footsteps came from outside the classroom. I flinched and looked toward the door. Reinforcements…? Reinforcements? No, no. My senses screamed warning. I knew it wasn’t.
With a slide, the classroom door opened, revealing a man with long brown hair tied back and black smart glasses. His armor and weapon marked him as part of the terror group. The kids stirred.
“What the hell are you doing, not grabbing the kids yet? You’re too slow.”
“……!”
I widened my eyes. The man approached us.
“Dragging this out is dangerous. Daehyeon School’s forces aren’t a joke. We’re diverting them elsewhere now, but if they realize the brats haven’t escaped, they’ll come running. Hurry…….”
Diverting attention……a diversion tactic? So we had to hold out longer? ……Could we?
As I thought that, the man stopped and turned to us with interest. He lifted the sunglasses covering half his face slightly.
“Hoo……a barrier. Impressive for a fourth-grader…….”
“A barrier? Not defense magic?”
“Idiot. Look properly. That’s a ‘barrier.’ Who’d have thought a kid this age could use something like this.”
“How about the fifth- and sixth-graders, by the way?”
“Tch. That side’s gotten tricky. They scattered. Plus, fifth- and sixth-graders can actually use magic. It’ll weaken in this barrier……but still annoying.”
“Then…….”
The conversing men turned to us simultaneously. I tightened my tension again.
“We need to break that barrier and grab them quick.”
“Who’s the caster, by the way?”
“……No idea. Seems independent.”
“Impressive…….”
Right after, more magic flew at the barrier. One lightning, one rock!
‘Damn…!’
I kept my face from grimacing and boosted my mana.
‘Attribute, wind!’
Repel with wind and lightning!
I surrounded the barrier with sharp winds, then wrapped it in lightning. That diminished the lightning’s power and the rock’s destructive force. I placed a hand on my heart. It pounded wildly. …The barrier held. Though the shockwaves wrecked the surroundings.
“Eu……!”
Hansu started to call me but froze, flustered. I pretended nothing was wrong. Had I ever cast under this much tension before?
But then……the man laughed. Laughing, he pointed a finger.
“Found you.”
“……!”
That finger pointed straight at me. My heart sank. I swallowed.
The kids all turned to me. But I couldn’t care, staring at the smart-glasses man with trembling eyes. He grinned and swept back his tied ponytail.
“I’m no detection mage, but I’m sensitive to mana. I can read flows. Your barrier’s special, though. It blocks this place from the outside, hard to read mana. But just now……you used strong mana, right? To block our spells. Use that much, and it shows. Obvious, isn’t it?”
“…….”
I lowered my fist and bit my lip. The man looked at me with interest.
“Pretty crafty. Wearing a hat to hide your face? Don’t worry.”
“…….”
“I’ll take you for sure.”
I trembled and gritted my teeth. At that moment, Inha and Hansu flinched and stepped in front of me protectively. I looked at them in surprise. But their faces were resolute.
“Who says you get to decide if she goes?!”
“Don’t make me laugh.”
Mana rose from Inha and Hansu simultaneously. Trembling in fear, yet standing to protect me.
They both generated magic at once. The kids gasped and backed away. A massive spear of light and lightning formed in Inha’s hand. Tree vines sprouted and grew thickly from Hansu’s. Their magic targeted the two men.
“Hoo?”
But sadly……it was still kid magic. The two men cast simultaneously. Fire and earth mana easily neutralized theirs. The wooden vines burned. The light-lightning spear shattered with a clang.
“Not bad. Guess we’ll take you two as well.”
“─Don’t, you bastard!!”
At that instant, Minhee manifested a gun and fired. Mana bullets covered them, but a single punch from them sent them flying aside.
“You guys! Do you even know who these two are? Declaring you’ll target them without knowing their parents?!”
Minhee snapped. Her fear had overflown into fury.
“These two are…!”
Bang!
Then, I saw more magic flying at the barrier and refocused. The barrier shook. Like an earthquake, but I held. Kyaa!! The kids screamed.
I stood in the barrier. No choice now……to block attacks and maintain the barrier, I needed to be closest to the incoming strikes. Exposed, I chose the best option. Trembling, I moved forward. In the smoke from mana clashes, I clenched my fist.
So tense, so scared……it was fueling me instead. Magic flew continuously. I raised a finger.
『Reinforcement』『Defense』
I copied and spread the runes with illusion.
『Reinforcement』『Reinforcement』『Defense』 『Reinforcement』『Defense』 『Defense』
『Reinforcement』 『Reinforcement』 『Defense』 『Defense』 『Reinforcement』 『Defense』
『Reinforcement』 『Defense』
『Reinforcement』 『Defense』 『Reinforcement』 『Defense』
Letters scattered in multitudes. Strength reinforced by the number.
“……More magic, huh.”
“That kid’s no joke!”
I endured. Holding my breath, gritting my teeth, blocking everything. That was all I could do. Block the continuous attacks, block, block, block again……. Write runes, write more, write……
Hah, hah, I collapsed to the spot. The shockwaves threatened to crack the classroom floor before the barrier.
“Damn! This make sense?! Pouring this much mana and it doesn’t break….”
“Hup……sob…….”
“Eunha!!”
“……Can’t underestimate kids. Beat. Fall back. I’m casting for real.”
“What…?!”
At that moment, massive mana surged.
Flames……a giant firebird of flames and lightning targeted my barrier. I stared blankly.
“Fly, pierce! Firebird!”
Haa……haa……. I panted, head down. Even facing that mighty spell, fear frozen, I smirked inwardly.
‘Lame name…….’
Right after, I widened my eyes and glared at the fiery bird. Bad matchup with fire……I switched the barrier’s attribute to lightning. Poured max power. The firebird melted into the barrier, vanishing as if absorbed. Shocked voices rose.
“No way…! It didn’t break even from this?!”
I caught my surging breath. Lowered my gaze. Kept thinking.
‘Gotta do something. Somehow…….’
Just holding out like this would get us. I realized it.
Every block left me this ragged……could I last to the end? Ridiculous?
I’d blocked so far thanks to my magic’s efficiency, and my superior mana control and sensing. Targeting weak spots or deflecting their spells. But more attacks like this? Impossible.
‘My, barrier……something…….’
Then, I flinched, remembering. Head down, eyes wide.
‘Right! My barrier…!’
My barrier was fundamentally a ‘world.’
In my world, I could do anything. In practice, not yet, but.
If inside the barrier was my world, outside was another.
Meaning the barrier wall was the boundary between dimensions.
‘Then……maybe…….’
I opened my mouth. But clamped it shut, used telepathy magic.
「Everyone, teleport!」
The kids flinched and turned to me. Hansu raised a hand to stop them speaking, then asked me via telepathy, audible to all.
「Teleport? What’s that out of nowhere? Can’t teleport here.」
The kids had grasped the situation. They affirmed Hansu’s words, throwing panicked telepathies at me.
「Yeah!」
「That disruption barrier…!」
「Can’t go even if we want!」
「Wanna teleport!」
「Can’t contact anyone.」
「Plus, running just gets us tracked!」
「What do we do.」
「How…」
Voices echoed in my head at once, giving me a headache. I grimaced.
「Quiet down a bit.」
Telepathy transmitted thoughts basically. So I was firmer than usual. The kids went silent instantly. Then, I said.
「My barrier completely isolates inside from outside. That’s its base structure. So, maybe teleporting’s possible.」
「…R-really?!」
「B-but running away……!」
「Yeah. They’ll track our student IDs…….」
I cut off the kids’ words again, whispering.
「That’s why. Know any super safe place nearby? Somewhere they absolutely can’t invade even if tracked. With coordinates you know!」
「A place like that…….」
「……There is.」
Hansu answered. I kept the conversation going while focusing on magic, blocking intensifying spells, repairing cracked barrier parts, layering more, and listening to Hansu.
「My house! Mom’ll be home!」
「Right! Hansu’s mom is in the world rankings!!」
Minhee shouted ecstatically. The kids reacted instantly.
「For real?!」
「No way!」
「……Coordinates! Teleport there while I hold the barrier!」
The kids’ expressions changed. Fear, tension, surprise, then joy. The enemies sensed it too. They scowled.
“You brats……up to something…….”
But too late. I overlapped and cast magic. Space warped, hiding us from their eyes. As they panicked, we input the coordinates from Hansu into our teleport badges.
““Teleport!!””
The moment we shouted the activation word, our bodies whisked away.