Chapter 45
Chapter 45
45
[Main Story] No.1 Rebellion and Collapse (2)
I was dumbfounded by the sudden situation.
'...A hotfix notice?'
Come to think of it. What was the message that popped up every time I entered the [Error Space]?
───
⧉ Tip: This is the [Error Space]. This is a space where an error has occurred, and it will be patched in a future update. Details will be announced when a schedule is set.
───
Thanks to this, I had expected it to some extent.
'I didn't think this would actually come out.'
But since I was living as if it were reality, I felt a little strange.
'...Right. Jinxite, this doesn't make sense, does it?'
Let's put a little more gold on my face.
The reason why the damage wasn't great in the first battle with Jinxite was all thanks to me being there.
Because I know Jinxite's habits and patterns, I can read the battle patterns, and I can come up with countermeasures.
'If I wasn't there...'
If only 5 people other than me had gone to the [Error Space], I think they would have all died. They would have been swayed by the 『Curse of Domination』.
If everyone had died, Jinxite would have poured curses all over Zone 0 and run wild, causing catastrophic damage.
This is an exaggeration even for [Hell Difficulty].
However, my mind was relieved by the appearance of this notice.
I don't know how it will be *adjusted* or what the rewards will be, but it means that a safety device is in place.
After thinking about it carefully, I felt that this notice was very important. Beyond simply suppressing the Jinxite situation. It felt like it would affect my entire life in the game from now on.
'I should get treatment first.'
I headed to the infirmary to treat my damaged eyes.
I lay in the hospital room and rested.
After a few hours, a status window popped up, announcing the start of the main game.
「 ⧉ [Main Story] No.1 Rebellion and Collapse 」
Now it's really starting...
According to the information I had, it was three days later.
It seemed that Jinxite's appearance had moved it up a few days.
Outside, the Assassination War would be slowly breaking out.
The subsequent events unfolded as I had expected.
「 ⧉ Phase 1 - Disappearance of Neutral Professor Group 」
Neutral professors of assassins, warriors, and mages in Zones 0, 1, and 2 have disappeared en masse.
-
Eeeeeeek!!!
-
Air raid alert. Air raid alert. Students, faculty, and residents of Zone 0, please evacuate to the shelter immediately.
Soon, along with a noisy siren, a combat situation was declared throughout Zone 0.
「 ⧉ Phase 2 - Assassination War 」
Assassins from the enemy Kreutz Kingdom have begun to strike major facilities in Zone 2 (Faculty of Magic).
Dean of Assassination Shaman Kreutz and about a hundred elite assassins who had been preparing for the situation, including the branch leaders of the Black and White Ways, went to stop them.
Originally, I was going to try to take what I could from that gap, but now the situation has changed.
The next morning, Jinxite had three arms again, and assassins from the enemy country had infiltrated Zone 0.
Standing on the roof of the infirmary building. Behind the [Wall] created by Illusion Magic. I surveyed the scenery of Zone 0. Something invisible was stepping on the air and flying.
● Kreutz Assassin Ketrak
● Kreutz Assassin Balhaka
Judging from the 【Script】, they were not assassins who came to strike major facilities. They were clearly aiming for a target.
In our Hiaka Academy, during the last 2nd Assassination War. There is the son of a sniper who killed a member of the Kreutz royal family.
And that guy was my Student.
"P, Professor! You mustn't move yet...!"
"Get out of the way."
While my eyes were still throbbing.
I pushed the infirmary staff away and went outside the infirmary.
* * *
The sky split.
Something brighter than the sun pierced the clouds.
It drew a vertical line in the sky with its tail and fell.
Hiaka Academy Zone 2. A small Meteor was falling on it. A level 8 large-scale explosion Magic called 『Meteor』.
To that―
"H, Headmaster-!!"
The mage shouted. Towards a middle-aged man wearing glasses.
"Don't make a fuss."
The identity of the middle-aged man was Ezekiel Hiakium, the Headmaster of the Department of Magic at Hiaka Academy, and a [Challenger]-level mage.
He unfolded a super-giant Barrier 『Six Seas Tortoise Shell Wall』 that covered an area of 200m. At this time, the nearby mages were impressed, because a semi-transparent turtle shell-like thing that occupied the space of two soccer fields covered the sky.
Above it, a Meteor flew in.
With a tremendous explosion, a pillar of fire soared, and rock fragments scattered.
However, even the noise, vibration, and fragments of stone were mostly rendered useless by Ezekiel's protective Magic.
To some, it was a perfect defense, but in reality, it was not. Because the "Peacefulness☮" barrier that protects the academy was broken.
This was a barrier that imposed numerous debuffs on unauthorized intruders. Assassins rushed in through the gaps in the broken area.
"Move quickly, move quickly! Ugh..."
"Headmaster...!"
While Ezekiel was busy running around giving instructions. He felt the burden on his heart due to the aftermath of the great Magic and knelt down.
At that time, enemy infiltration assassins appeared.
"It's Ezekiel!"
Oh no. Already.
They rushed in with their swords.
"Die, Ezekiel!"
The head of the infiltration team member who rushed in first exploded.
Thwack!
Because an axe was vertically embedded.
The situation of the infiltration team member next to him was no different. He felt the floor suddenly collapse. 'Ugh!!' When he came to his senses, he was being sucked into the ground, and his body exploded at a depth of 30 meters.
The axe returned on its own and was held in a man's hand.
Next to him, another man took a step.
"...I'm late. You sewer rats."
Ezekiel said, clutching his chest.
"Hehehe. You look so funny. A Challenger mage kneeling down."
Baekwa, Head of the White Path Branch of the Assassination Faculty, Chief Professor.
"...Get up. There are many eyes watching."
Betelgeuse, Head of the Black Path Branch of the Assassination Faculty, Chief Professor.
And elite professors followed them.
"You sewer rats..."
Ezekiel suddenly thought. It was a strange sight. How long has it been since those two were in the same picture? Almost 15 years. It's the first time since the end of the 2nd Assassination War. Since then, the two have never been at such a distance unless it was for official occasions.
And there was one more person.
The Great Rat, who has been cursed as a traitor for decades.
He took a step in front of him.
"We're here. Ezekiel."
It was Shaman Kreutz, the plump Dean of Assassination.
"...Shaman, old man. I'll ask you one last time. They're your family. Are you going to fight?"
"What nonsense are you talking about? Of course, I have to fight."
A person who betrays once will betray twice.
These are the words that have followed Shaman like a label throughout his life.
There was no purpose to prove that it was wrong. He just came out to protect the academy as an adult.
"......Battalion. I didn't know you would prepare even this. If I had known this would happen, I would have killed you when you were young."
As Shaman Kreutz's eyes shone blue, an enormous Mana began to erupt.
Kugugugugung…….
At this time, Ezekiel thought.
Hiaka is a truly messed up country.
The conflict between the Black and White Ways is a long-standing brawl that only assassin sewer rats have. And Hiaka is particularly prominent compared to other countries.
I heard that Baekwa and Betelgeuse, these big sewer rats, were plotting to fight each other just three weeks ago. But, when a crisis struck, they gathered in one place.
Truly a messed up country, Hiaka, a messed up profession, assassin...
He clicked his tongue.
...Still, it wasn't bad.
In the end, they came out to fight together when they had to.
The same goes for the professors who were comfortable and lazy.
By now, they would all be jumping up and moving.
'I have to protect it.'
The future of the country.
The Students.
I have to protect it.
Ezekiel got up.
The official document sent by the chairman a few days ago was for Ezekiel to take command of this situation. He gave instructions to three special assassins and the Assassination Squad.
Meanwhile, urgent calls were pouring into his <Communication>.
< I'm sorry, Headmaster! We missed the infiltration team! Some are infiltrating Zone 0! >
He had a bitter taste in his mouth. Because it was the part he missed. The battle never goes as planned.
'...Protect them as much as possible.'
Ezekiel decided to trust the professors who remained in Zone 0.
< For the eternity of Hiaka! >
After Shaman Kreutz shouted the battle cry.
Finally, the Assassination War began.
* * *
The start of the incident was the siren that rang during the make-up training for repeaters.
Eeeeeeeek……!
At this time, Forte, Dominic, and Hwaru were with a neutral professor named 'Gula'.
Gula said that dozens of assassins had rushed in through a hole in the nearby barrier.
Since they couldn't match the number of people, they first evacuated to a nearby shelter.
Forte was calm, but Hwaru was trembling with fear, and Dominic also felt fear.
The faculty member in charge of the shelter reassured Hwaru.
"Student. Student! Calm down."
"Y, yes..."
"It's okay. Everything will be okay, so don't be too scared."
"Y, yes..."
"It's okay if you stay here in the shelter! External assassins can never come here! Do you trust me? Never-"
-Thwack
The head of the person who was speaking exploded.
He was hit by bullets fired indiscriminately from a distance.
With blood splattered on the faces of the trio and Professor Gula.
Hwaru collapsed on the spot.
Unable to even scream in fear.
"Damn it... Everyone come here...!"
Gula hurriedly locked the door of the shelter and took the three of them to the basement of the shelter.
"Shit... Damn it... I thought it was just a rumor... I didn't think this would really happen..."
It was a temporary escape.
In the meantime, Dominic asked.
"Professor. How about going to the Shelter Port?"
"What, you bastard?"
"Ah, there's a Shelter Port near here. It's connected to an underground bunker. And I know you have the Port Key, Professor."
"...You son of a bitch. How do you know that?"
"Ah, I'm sorry. It's information from "this industry", so it's difficult to tell you the source."
"What the hell are you talking about? Anyway, no! I can't go there..."
Gula was usually full of complaints about everything in the world and enjoyed slacking off. All neutral professors are like that, but he was a little more severe.
So much so that he was ranked 3rd in the dislike ranking in the [Assassin Town] professor vote.
"......"
At that, Dominic frowned.
It would be safe to go into the underground bunker.
It's a Port prepared for high-ranking officials... I know that if we go, we can definitely live. But we can't go?
Are we being ignored because we are young Students?
So the four had to spend half a day in the basement of the shelter. Gunshots and impacts continued to echo on the ground. The period was getting longer even for an assassin's fight.
When footsteps were heard not far away, Hwaru, terrified, started to cry, and Gula made all sorts of faces and scolded her to shut up.
In tension.
As the day waned.
Gula began to mutter. 'Damn. Why do I have to be here like this...', 'Why with these repeater bastards...' These were the words, which made the three who were listening even more afraid.
Then, as night fell.
An urgent message was delivered.
"Damn it! Hey! Everyone run!"
"Yes?! Why?"
"No time to tell you, run! Get up! Run, damn it, run right now!!"
Gula took the three of them out and started running, and soon the shelter they were in exploded.
Zone 0, which they came out of after half a day, was more miserable than expected, with buildings and infrastructure destroyed everywhere.
However, Gula, who could read the murderous intent, ran into the mountains. The trio also went together.
Then Gula's face became even more distorted, and the muttering became even louder.
"Ah, damn it... It sucks... Why me...? Why do I have to be with these kids I don't give a damn about..."
It was the same grumbling that had been heard for hours.
Forte, unable to listen, became annoyed.
"Professor. Are you talking about us right now?"
"What, you son of a bitch? Are you lecturing me now?"
"Stop it! Just stop it! We all have ears to hear!"
"Shut up, you bastard! I'm already annoyed...!!"
"......"
Forte was a little scared and had no choice but to shut his mouth.
At that, Gula's muttering grew louder and louder.
When they passed a place near the tallest tree with a 'outpost', he finally put a period on it.
"Damn...! If I had known this would happen...! I should have left last year when I received the retirement application...! I'm going to eat some more research funds... Era of Peace!? I like the Era of Peace, you royal trash bastards...!"
"Excuse me. Professor―"
It was when Forte, unable to listen, was about to speak one more time.
"Shut up, Asimov! You son of a bitch!"
Gula, who spat out a curse, suddenly stopped.
Click-
Then he raised his gun and aimed it at the trio.
"......Professor...?"
The trio froze.
"Huh?! What are you doing!"
"Professor Gula. Were you a traitor?"
Dominic also asked in surprise.
"Get out of here right now!!"
"P, Professor...! Since when... No, why are you doing this!? Please don't do this!"
"Why should I!?"
"......!!"
"Why shouldn't I? Huh?! Why shouldn't I abandon you bastards? Why me?!"
Gula burst out in annoyance.
"Get out!! You repeater trash bastards! Get out!! I don't want to carry around bastards like you anymore! I'm going to find my own way to live!"
"P, Professor...!"
"If you don't get out, I'll make a hole in your head. Huh!?"
The surprised Hwaru started to cry. However, Forte gritted his teeth and pulled Hwaru, and started running as he was running with Dominic.
"Bastard! Damn it!"
After the trio moved away.
The professor stopped in his place.
With a much calmer expression.
He didn't run away alone somewhere.
He was just standing there blankly.
"......"
Soon, the professor looked back.
Far away in the bushes.
Towards the approaching Kreutz assassins.
"...Damn it."
Then, he muttered.
"Why me..."