Chapter 213
Chapter 213
“Sigh…a filthy pack of beasts, the lot of them.”
The girl dressed in a maid’s outfit let out a deep breath.
She looked fragile at first glance, but who in this dormitory didn’t know her?
Tired expression, her maid dress torn in places. Broken brooms scattered to one side, soldiers sprawled about.
“I never thought a maid could be that strong…”“My word. The rumor that she ran out to save everyone during the high-level fiend attack was true…!”
The students who had hoped to fight stole glances behind them.
Respect and awe aimed at the Archmage. Batory scratched her cheek with an embarrassed smile.
“Is it worth all the fuss?”
For a maid she spoke with brazen arrogance toward nobles, but no one dared scold her.
There was no denying it: Batory was the shield protecting the dormitory. To the mages, she had become a role model to emulate.
‘It’s been a while since someone looked up to me like this.’
Before the Demon Lord took her territories, Batory had been a dominant figure of a region. She was used to reverent gazes.
Still, one regret lingered in her chest…
‘If only you were here with me…’
The man who had always guided her in this strange human land wandered her thoughts more than ever—she hadn’t seen him in a long time.
“Hans has arrived?”
Like a ray of light, the news reached her: over the communication crystal, Frostmane’s voice.
“Right. ‘My retainer’ just arrived here.”
She’d emphasized those words, which prickled Batory’s nerves for a moment, but the irritation melted away almost at once.
‘Well, whatever.’
He was not far. Just that news made strength surge through her.
“Right now…!”
Before she could say she’d go at once, she shut her mouth.
‘If I abandon this place now, you’d be more than a little disappointed.’
Even if they were prey, Frostmane was fond of humans.
Knowing his disposition, she couldn’t just leave.
“…No. I hope we meet soon.”“Oh? Don’t you want to hear his voice?”“What would I do if I heard it?”
If she heard him, she felt she might not be able to hold herself together—might simply run.
She swallowed that desire with bitter saliva.
“Well then. Don’t make me wait too long. My followers are probably just as eager as I am.”
“…Nonsense. Fine. Finish your duty there.”
The communication cut, and Batory chuckled.
“He really hasn’t shed his human puppy ways yet.”
Not only did he fail to hide his feelings, he didn’t even seem aware of them.
“Well then. If my strongest rival is fumbling, I’ll be happy enough to follow up the rear.”
With that mindset, several days passed while holding the army at bay.
Though she held the line as an Archmage, her mana reserves and accumulated fatigue were slowly running dry.
“Ugh…at least that old professor is gone.”
A human who used both mana and aura was difficult to deal with, Frostmane had sensed. He had been troublesome.
—Grrr.
A white-furred beast padded up beside her: a Dire Wolf, the monster the Heir of the Great Warrior had insisted on calling a pet.
“You’re so picky about food. What’s wrong with this jerky?”—Arf!
It wasn’t that the creature disliked the food; it picked people.
The noble, proud wolf no longer let just anyone touch it.
Only its owner, the Heir of the Great Warrior, and Frostmane—who always fed it—could handle it.
Now there were no such owners present, so the clever beast compromised as best it could.
“Here you go.”
Batory took out a strip of jerky from her bosom as always, ready to give it to the creature.
—…!
“Huh? What’s this? It usually devours whatever you give it.”
The Dire Wolf lifted ears and tail, then—growled and bolted past her, running off somewhere.
“Hey, where do you think you’re going? Stop! That’s a battlefield!”
The beast darted straight for the dormitory gate—the very place where it had fought fiercely moments ago.
Monsters by nature, their powerful jaws and swift movements made them a threat even to elite human soldiers.
“Run wild if you must, but if you get hurt Frostmane will be heartbroken! Stop that right now!”
Batory started an incantation without the verbal flourish, trying to grab the animal by its leg.
—Arf!
“Damn it. Why is it clinging to me when Luciana is right beside it? Is it starving? Well, it does have a pig’s appetite.”
The mana simmering through Batory’s veins quieted instantly.
“Ah—Batory. Long time no see.”
“Hans!”
A new pulse sounded from the very center of bloodflow—her heart.
“Cough. Didn’t take you long to get here. I thought you’d come to me straight away.”
“Sorry. The situation was more complicated than I expected…had to handle a number of things, so I’m late.”
He scratched the back of his head and dipped his chin.
“Still, you stood guard here despite my absence.”
“Of course. I figured you’d want me to.”
That answer made a smile appear on his face.
“Really? You kept watch for me?”
“Heh. Why would I protect ordinary humans just for the fun of it?”
“My goodness. I don’t know where to put myself.”
His satisfaction spread to Batory’s lips as well.
‘Heh. See, Heir of the Great Warrior? I’m indispensable to Frostmane.’
She sent a smug look over at him.
—Enjoy yourself.
Frostmane’s preening arrogance—knowing he had the Frostmane on his side—came across in the transmission and made Batory clench her fist.
“Oh, right. This isn’t the time. I brought you a gift.”
“A gift?”
“Yes. The West is a haven for mages. I prepared something marvelous.”
Like a peddler of the demon realm, he produced an item from his bosom.
“…A staff?”
“Yes! I selected it carefully—an artifact. What do you think?”
“Ha. I appreciate the thought, but I don’t need such a tool.”
That was the Archmage’s way.
Chanted phrases that improved precision, staffs, wands, and orbs that helped with mana formation—all of them felt like encumbrances at her level.
“Still, I’ll accept the sentiment. This staff might help refine your mastery…”
She hugged the mana-gem necklace he had given her, about to refuse the staff.
“Ahem—what’s this?”
Hans’s face had grown ice-cold. For a moment, Batory froze.
‘Did I do something wrong?’
It had been a touching reunion; she’d even magnanimously offered the gift. What could be the problem?
Before she resolved the doubt, he said:
“We need to talk. Now.”
There was a quiet madness behind his narrowed eyes that sent a swallow down her throat.
‘Vampires, honestly.’
Because of blood-craft and inborn aptitude for magic, many of them looked down on tools that assisted magic.
‘What nonsense.’
I’ll say this clearly: stronger firepower comes from better weapons. My inner loot-obsessed zealot flared up.
“Didn’t I tell you before? For revenge, use any means necessary. Even small gear matters.”
“Um…that’s true, but staffs are bulky to carry. In real combat, isn’t it better to carry nothing and rely on barehanded casting?”
It wasn’t entirely unreasonable. In mage duels, skipping chants and going barehanded could be an advantage; a long staff could be cumbersome on some maps.
But to give up gear for such minor reasons?
“This is so anachronistic! If you cling to naked casting for combat, you’ll never reach the next level.”
“Hey—wait. I’ve already reached the pinnacle as a mage…”
“What arrogance! Do you think learning the Imaginary Barrier means you’ve mastered all magic?”
Batory slapped her forehead at Batory’s naive expression.
Apparently she really thought acquiring the Imaginary Barrier was the end.
Batory pressed her forehead, then leaned in and whispered into Batory’s ear.
“Listen. Those who walk the path of Aura have a final rank called Master, right?”
“…Yes. Tyren used to say the same thing.”
“Mages have something comparable. There’s a higher rung—those who command all magic and truths. People revere their knowledge as the ‘Akashic Record.’”
“Akashic Record…”
Batory muttered the name and offered a faint smile.
“…Heh. How do you, barely starting as a mage, know of such things?”
“I picked up a lot wandering about.”
“Alright. You’re a good liar, but right now you seem honest. I can see you worry about me.”
Batory gave a wry smile and finally took the staff.
“Fine. You’ve forced my hand—you win. I can’t refuse when you make such a fuss.”
There was not the ennui typical of vampires in her red eyes; rather curiosity and eagerness that suited a novice mage.
‘What a hassle putting up sleeves.’
Still, the staff had found its rightful owner; that was good.
“Truly, thank you.”
“A present? Hah, that’s an item, yes…but—”
“It’s not about that.”
Meeting Batory caused her expression to soften into a smile.
“The staff and knowledge of the next stage aside, meeting you may be the greatest fortune of my life.”
Full of goodwill, that clear smile rewarded the giver.
“We are in the bond of retainer and liege.”
“…Indeed. Then let us serve each other well. Until you, too, reach the Akashic Record.”
That was a bit overambitious. She had a long way to go.
Batory returned a sheepish laugh to the solemn declaration.
“Enough chatter, yes?”
“Ah—Lady Luciana.”
“It’s good to reunite, but there are more urgent matters.”
She was right.
The rebellion was still ongoing, and the academy was still in chaos.
“With the dormitory forces joined, I summon all students under my authority as Student Council President.”
“Would you…hold a meeting?”
“I don’t want squabbling in this chaos. I want those who will join the battlefield.”
“Join the battle?”
Clang!
Luciana’s blade pointed north.
“We’ll put down this rebellion.”
She focused her gaze on the academic building where the Headmaster stayed; a pure white aura bloomed with her zeal.