Hunt (4)
“The retreat is blocked?”
“Yes, the southern path we took to enter is completely swarmed with orcs.”
I answered Professor Schud Rapens without hesitation.
It was the truth.
Mana realms were activating everywhere, whipping up vortices of magical power, and I could sense murderous presences closing in.
The professor hurriedly cast Observation, and his brow furrowed.
Observation
“It's true. The orcs are heading this way. This seems like...”
“Probably because of the Lure spell I used.”
“Oh, dear.”
Of course, it wasn't my intention.
I'd only used Lure purely to hunt kobolds.
Professor Rapens let out a deep sigh and shook his head.
“No helping it, then. Let's get out of here together. I was planning to guard your backs and ensure your safety, but now we have no choice.”
Frustration flickered in the professor's eyes.
He might even be regretting preparing this hunting exercise at all.
If he'd just stuck to basic drills per his curriculum, we wouldn't be facing this sudden crisis.
But I was thrilled.
'This means I can claim the source of magic Ulfrik hid here myself.'
So I couldn't possibly turn back now.
On the contrary, we had to push forward.
Convincing him wasn't hard.
“Professor, wouldn't it be better to use the 'Escape Magic Circle' at the center of Zone 1 instead?”
“That would...”
“Sure, we'd have to fight our way there. But if you cast protective spells on us, it's doable. It'd be faster that way.”
I'd heard each zone had an Escape Magic Circle at its heart.
It wasn't there five hundred years ago—apparently added after several safety incidents.
In straight-line distance, it was quicker than retreating, and I'd get the source I was after.
Professor Rapens sighed again.
“Kirian, a mere protective spell won't...”
“I'll take the Goldsmith family enhancer I have. I can get another from Libiel if needed.”
“I said I'd give it?”
“You won't?”
“You left it with me... Here, take it now!”
Libiel tossed me the potion vial.
But Professor Rapens still hesitated, face etched with indecision.
Then came the sound of trees snapping—crack!
Something was closing in.
“...”
A breathless silence and tension swirled around us.
But I just stared at the professor calmly.
Silent pressure.
After a brief moment, he nodded, having made up his mind.
“Very well. That might be better. But Libiel, you head back.”
“Huh...?”
Libiel's face paled in shock.
How was she supposed to retreat alone with orcs swarming?
But the professor was right.
“The Lure affecting the forest now is yours, right, Kirian? So Libiel can slip away safely if I cast Concealment on her.”
“Ah...”
We'd act as bait while she escaped unseen.
The professor cast the spell immediately.
"Special Spell Concealment deployed."
A potent spell.
Strong enough to extract one person like Libiel.
“Hurry back.”
“Got it!”
Libiel turned and hurried off into the woods.
Her figure vanished into the forest, and moments later...
The monsters arrived.
Dozens of orcs wielding all sorts of blades.
Defensive Spell Emblem of Armor deployed.
The professor's powerful barrier enveloped me.
I slipped the potion vial between my lips and stepped forward.
'First, clear a path.'
My prepped one-shot weapon would do the trick.
I thrust the unicorn horn wand forward and murmured,
“Explode.”
Mihaden hurried along, carrying the unconscious, floating Lorang.
He'd replayed the earlier scene a dozen times, but it still baffled him.
'Why did orcs show up?'
The hunt was halted because of it.
He'd come prepared to Eternal Forest, so the disappointment stung.
But with the professor calling it off, a disciple had no choice but to obey.
'They'll grade us on the magic crystals we've gathered so far. How many did Kirian get?'
Lost in such thoughts, he pressed on.
Then—
Boooom...
A distant explosion rumbled from behind.
Mihaden froze, startled, as a wave of shaking leaves swept past.
Followed by a gale of churning mana.
“...!”
Every hair on his body stood on end.
Thanks to his Competitiveness trait.
The mana in that blast—
'It's Kirian.'
It clearly belonged to his rival.
Competitiveness made him hypersensitive to those he saw as rivals.
Thus, he sensed Kirian's mana more keenly than anyone.
“Insane...”
A chill ran down his spine anew.
The density, flow, nature, composition of the mana.
Nothing he could match.
And the blasts kept coming, stirring complex emotions.
'He's fighting orcs. I wanted to fight too.'
He meant it.
But Professor Rapens had ordered retreat so firmly he had to comply.
'Kirian will turn back once he meets the professor anyway.'
Escorting the passed-out Lorang was important too.
Mihaden steeled himself with that thought.
Then, at Zone 1's entrance, catching his breath—
“Phewww... I survived...”
He ran into Libiel, who'd returned alone.
Mihaden frowned.
“What? You alone? Where's Kirian?”
“He's coming back with Professor Rapens. They're using the 'Escape Magic Circle'.”
“Why?”
“He convinced the professor it's better. I think he just wants to hunt orcs, though.”
“Hunt...”
Mihaden's hand trembled involuntarily.
A twisting ache in his chest.
His Competitiveness was blazing.
Offensive Spell Wrath of Fire deployed.
With Kirian's incantation, the magic circle etched into the unicorn horn wand flashed.
Flames gathered, compressing into a tiny orb in an instant.
The air shuddered and warped.
What shot out was a fireball.
BOOOOM!
A deafening roar tore the ears.
A massive pillar of fire lit the forest in blinding light.
The lead orc's chest had taken a direct hit.
The shockwave staggered the rest, limbs flailing amid surging flames.
“Graaaah...!”
They glared at Kirian with bloodshot eyes, crouching to charge again.
But they couldn't move.
Wrath of Fire was just the opener.
Bang! BOOOOM!
So powerful their heavy bodies briefly lifted into the air.
Before the first shock faded, second and third blasts chained off.
Kirian kept casting relentlessly.
Watching briefly, Professor Rapens tilted his head.
'Overloading the artifact aside, spamming spells like that will drain his mana heart in no time...'
Spell power scaled with mana cost—his doubt was reasonable.
Yet Kirian's assault showed no sign of stopping.
It even seemed to grow fiercer.
Then, at some point—
“Huuuuh...”
He took a deep breath and pulled out a pouch.
Filled with low-grade magic crystals from the hunt—pre-gotten from Libiel.
He plunged his left hand deep inside and began another cast.
Professor Rapens clicked his tongue in admiration.
'He had a plan. And the skill to back it.'
Absorbing external mana while manifesting attacks simultaneously.
He had to admit it.
'But orcs are smarter than they seem.'
With the mana realm wide open, their numbers were overwhelming.
Dozens of crystals wouldn't last; firepower would soon wane.
'What then?'
Kirian's wand belched fire again, unleashing even fiercer barrages to push back the orcs.
“Oooooh!”
The pinned orcs roared in unison—a feint to disrupt his casting.
Seizing the gap, they stomped the ground and scattered every which way.
Thud! Thoom! Thooom!
Dust billowed as their formation shifted completely.
Laid out to advance despite blasts.
Forcing firepower now would be inefficient.
'Another trick up his sleeve?'
Kirian withdrew his wand, eyes sharpening.
A new spell lanced toward the orcs bursting from the dust.
"Special Spell Sensory Distortion enacted."
Their yellow eyes flipped wide.
Suddenly, they veered, charging each other, blades clashing as they fought.
Recognizing kin as foes.
Watching, Professor Rapens swallowed dryly.
He could scarcely believe it.
'Strategies like a veteran of decades on the battlefield.'
Bigger spells left gaps for the next attack—a given.
Small spell chains couldn't cope.
Even he had planned to call other professors for an all-nighter sweep.
Yet Kirian casually presented a counter.
'Spam delayed attacks via artifact and crystals, then exploit enraged monsters' mental weakness to make them fight each other...'
Brilliant linkage that drew awe.
Not the work of a first-year trainee.
Not even something he could've devised better.
“Groooar!”
“Grrrrr!”
Heavy impacts sent orcs flying repeatedly.
Pummeling, biting, axes crashing down.
As the melee intensified, Rapens's gaze shifted to Kirian's back.
The boy pressed on, lips sealed to maintain the spell.
No chance to ask.
'What's next?'
Sensory Distortion was complex; effect hinged on caster skill.
Kirian had shown tremendous prowess.
But not omnipotent.
Minds recovered fast; couldn't spam it two or three times quick.
'And orcs always have a leader in groups of three or more.'
Right then—
“Kraaaagh!”
The biggest remaining orc bellowed long, whipping toward Kirian.
An elite 'Orc Warrior.'
It shook off Sensory Distortion, striding forward.
Wounds everywhere, blood pouring, but still mobile.
Rapens raised his mana slightly, thinking,
'If he doesn't crush it here, the rest will overwhelm. They'll swarm once the spell breaks.'
What now?
Kirian drew his third weapon.
A dagger whipped out, tip aimed at the beast.
“Oh no.”
Mana exhausted, it seemed.
A first-year's swordplay couldn't handle an Orc Warrior.
Judging Kirian had hit his limit, Rapens prepared to step in.
“I'll take it from here, Kirian. Fall back now...”
But something unexpected happened.
The approaching Orc Warrior brushed past Kirian.
As if the boy were invisible.
“Groooar!”
It charged madly at Professor Rapens behind him.
With six or seven minions in tow.
“What in the—?”
Stunned by the sudden shift, Rapens hastily began casting.
That instant—
'Now's the time. Go.'
Kirian launched himself deep into Zone 1.