Chapter 14: The Childhood Friend Kidnapping Case (3)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 14: The Childhood Friend Kidnapping Case (3)
“Why are you…?”
Mateo’s brow furrowed. He never imagined that Kaya, the second seat, would intervene.
He had no idea how it had happened, but under these circumstances, it was clear she had sided with Ian. In other words, she was now his enemy.
He wanted to fight back, but against Kaya’s overwhelming magical prowess, the outcome of the battle was already a foregone conclusion.
“Mateo, where is Amy?”
Before Mateo could react, Ian was closing the distance. Mateo could only spare him a sidelong glance, his primary focus fixed warily on Kaya. The wind she controlled dominated the abandoned warehouse; if he made a single careless move, it would tear into him.
A bead of cold sweat rolled down Mateo’s cheek.
“Answer me.”
Chuck—
Ian spoke with a chilling edge, leveling his wooden sword at Mateo.
A man he considered insignificant—an aristocrat he loathed—was actually drawing a weapon on him. Mateo’s vision blurred as his eyes turned bloodshot with rage.
“How dare you command me!”
Drurrrrrrrrrrrrr—!
The moment Mateo attempted to cast a rock spell at Ian, a jagged wall of ice erupted from the ground, separating the two.
「Ice Wall (Ice Element, ★4)」
Startled, Mateo scrambled backward, fearing an attack.
He turned toward the source of the spell. Kaya’s wand was glowing with a pale blue magic circle, pointed directly at him. It was her [Ice Wall].
“Answer him.”
The [Ice Wall] dissolved into pale blue powder and scattered. Even the wind Kaya commanded seemed to tighten its noose around Mateo.
As long as she was there, Mateo was powerless. He couldn’t even land a blow on Ian Fairytale, who stood right in front of him. It was a desperate, suffocating situation.
Mateo gulped.
“…?”
At that moment.
A strange, ominous mana swept through the abandoned warehouse.
Kaya, Mateo, and Ian were all instinctively drawn toward the source. Their survival instincts screamed in their heads, setting off every alarm. Black mana rose slowly, concentrating in the center of the warehouse.
[Shaaaaa…]
[Sueuuuuuuuu…]
The black mana emitted a distorted cry, coalescing into a grotesque, two-headed creature. It stood three meters tall with leathery, gray-brown skin. Eyes protruded from the sides of its cheekbones, reminiscent of a hammerhead shark. Its torso was unnaturally short, while its legs were long, flaccid, and spindly.
Both arms were shaped like shark fins, yet they were long enough to brush against its toes.
In hoarse, overlapping voices, the two heads hissed: [Shaaaaa] and [Sueuuu]. The students’ expressions turned grim as they stared at the hideous monstrosity.
“W-what is that…?”
They didn't need to be told. They knew exactly what this presence meant.
“A demon…?”
It was a being considered a walking natural disaster—a "demon."
[Shaaaaa—!]
[Sueuuuu—!]
The two-headed shark demon roared at Ian and Mateo. A blue magic circle manifested beneath its feet, followed by a swirling ring of dark water that looked like it had been pulled from the deepest trenches of the ocean.
The ring of water instantly surged into a massive wave that slammed toward the students.
「Tidal Wave (Water Element, ★6)」 + 「Black Water (Water Element, ★5)」
= 「Black Wave (Water Element)」
Pyuuuuuuuuuu—!!
“Ugghhh!”
Kaya quickly deployed an [Ice Wall] to protect herself and Mateo’s unconscious lackeys. Mateo scrambled to erect a [Rock Wall] to shield himself from the raging torrent.
However, their defensive spells were obliterated by the [Black Wave] in a single strike.
Ian, who didn't know defensive magic, could only desperately concentrate light mana into his wooden sword.
“Khuhh!”
The [Ice Wall] managed to hold just long enough to protect those behind it, but the [Rock Wall] shattered instantly, failing its purpose entirely.
At the same time, Ian’s sword skill was nowhere near enough to repel the demon’s [Black Wave].
Ian and Mateo were both swept away by the surge. The impact felt as if something had exploded inside their chests. The [Black Wave] tore through the walls of the abandoned warehouse with terrifying force, hurling them deep into the forest.
The two tumbled across the dirt before slamming into a tree. As the murky black water finally settled, they lay huddled together like drowned rats.
“Are you okay?!” Kaya shouted urgently, but she couldn't afford to look away from the demon to check on them.
To survive this crisis, she had to defeat that thing.
[Shaaaaa—!]
[Sueuuuuuuu—!]
Once more, a ring of black water rose around the demon.
Mateo coughed up a mixture of blood and water. He tried to move, to dodge, but his body refused to listen. In the face of such overwhelming magic, even another [Rock Wall] would be useless.
It was a pathetic end.
He thought back to his plan—kidnapping Amy Holloway, defeating Ian, and using it all to threaten the nobility. The faint, throbbing doubt he’d felt during the gang meeting now felt like a gaping wound in his chest.
Consumed by skepticism and despair, Mateo lowered his head.
“What are you doing?”
A man’s voice came from directly in front of him. Mateo looked up.
A black-haired youth stood before him, gripping a wooden sword and glaring at the demon.
“Ian Fairytale…”
“If you don’t want to be protected by me, get up. It’s hard enough just looking after myself.”
Mateo couldn’t process Ian’s words.
Isn’t it only natural for him to use me as a shield or run away? That’s how nobles are.
But instead, he says he’ll protect me? Me, his enemy?
The idea that the second son of Viscount Fairytale would even think such a thing was impossible to accept. Ian didn't even have the strength to save himself.
Yet, as Mateo stared at Ian’s back, he felt a tightening in his chest.
In truth, he knew. He knew that not all nobles looked down on commoners. He had simply chosen to ignore it. He couldn't control the rage that had festered ever since he watched his parents—a commoner and a housekeeper—be abused and bullied in an aristocratic mansion.
“…”
Mateo reached out his arm, channeling the last of his rock mana. A wall of solid stone formed in front of Ian.
「Rock Wall (Rock Element, ★4)」
“You…?”
Startled, Ian glanced back at Mateo, but there was no time for words. The second [Black Wave] hit.
Pyuuuuuuuuuu—!!
Kaya threw up another [Ice Wall] to protect herself and the others, trying to counter the force with [Gust]. Even with her talent, she couldn't even slow the momentum of the [Black Wave].
The torrent surged toward them like a tsunami fired from a cannon.
“Keuk!!”
“Kyaaa!”
The [Ice Wall] protecting Kaya and the [Rock Wall] shielding Ian and Mateo were smashed once again. The shockwave sent Kaya’s body flying backward. Even though it was water, the pressure felt like being hit by a giant sledgehammer.
The tree Mateo had been leaning against was pulverized. He and Ian were swept away again, tossed through the forest like ragdolls.
Ian finally lost consciousness. His last act was using his remaining strength to shield Mateo from the impact.
Mateo coughed up blood, staring helplessly at the mud. His entire body was broken and soaked. He didn't even have the strength to lift his head.
“Ugh…”
Meanwhile, Kaya struggled to her feet, her limbs trembling.
The ring of black water was rising again, mercilessly. The third [Black Wave] was coming. The demon wasn't giving them a single second to breathe.
As the [Black Wave] hurtled toward Kaya and the unconscious boys, she felt the cold sting of certain death.
“…!”
Then, suddenly.
The air began to clear. A cold, overwhelming surge of basic elemental magic manifested, seemingly freezing time itself on the battlefield.
Kaya’s eyes widened.
「Ice Generation (Ice Element, ★1)」
Charaakkkkkk——!!
In the blink of an eye, the gushing [Black Wave] froze solid. The magic lost all momentum, turning into a jagged, stationary sculpture.
Kaya looked around in shock. Amidst the sudden, biting chill, the world looked as if it had been captured in a still photograph.
“Move aside, Kaya.”
“…Ah.”
The voice was as cold as ice, heavier than a glacier. A sudden sense of safety washed over her. She turned quickly to face the man behind her.
Blood-red eyes and silver-blue hair. A student dressed in the first-year uniform of the Märchen Academy Magic Department.
Kaya uttered his name in sheer relief.
“Sir Isaac!”
*
No, no, what is happening? What is going on here?
[Orpheus the Submerged]
Lv: 110
Race: Demon
Elements: Dark, Water
Danger: High
The moment I reached the abandoned warehouse, I nearly lost my cool. The building was a wreck, and a demon was already emerging from the center.
The sunset glow hadn't even faded from the sky yet… This was fast, way too fast!
Why is Kaya here…?
I had no idea how she’d ended up here, but it seemed Orpheus the Submerged had sensed her powerful mana and manifested sooner than expected. According to the original story, it was supposed to sense Mateo’s mana and appear while Ian and Mateo were fighting.
Whew, that was a close one…
I almost ran out of time. Ian would have fallen if I’d been even a second slower, and this world would have spiraled into a Bad Ending.
The original plan was to put on the Magic Cloak of Disguise, defeat the demon, and vanish. However, sensing the situation was going south, I’d rushed over without even having a chance to put the cloak on.
Anyway, we averted the Bad Ending.
Fortunately, Ian and Mateo were lying in the mud together. The fact that they were side-by-side meant Ian had successfully created a situation where he protected Mateo. Even though the timing was off, things had worked out the way I wanted.
Now, it was time to clean up. There was only one thing left to do.
[Status]
Name: Isaac
Lv: (130)
Gender: Male
Year: 1st
Title: First-year
Mana: 35990/36000
– Mana Recovery Speed (A-)
– Stamina (A)
– Strength (A+)
– Intelligence (C-)
– Willpower (S)
The moment I decided to fight Orpheus, the [Hunter] trait activated, sending my level and stats skyrocketing.
Freezing his [Black Wave] with a mere [Ice Generation] was only possible because my level and elemental synergy were vastly superior. Killing him should be no trouble at all.
The ice melted instantly. The frozen [Black Wave] dissolved into dark blue powder and scattered into the air.
[Shaaaaa?]
[Sueuuuuu?]
Orpheus the Submerged glared at me, looking genuinely perplexed.
I felt a gaze coming from the direction of Ian and Mateo. I glanced sideways and saw Mateo staring at me in utter disbelief. It seemed he hadn't fainted yet. Mateo had a big mouth, so I needed to make sure he stayed quiet.
“Healing magic—do you know how to cast it?”
“Yes? Ah, yes!”
I knew Kaya could use healing magic, but I deliberately asked to confirm. If I made her wonder how I already knew her skill set, it would just be a headache later.
Mateo’s subordinates looked mostly unharmed, so I gestured with my chin toward Ian and Mateo.
“Go over there. Heal them while I handle the demon.”
“Alright!”
Kaya flew toward them, her body lightened by wind magic.
I turned my attention back to Orpheus. This was about to become an exchange of large-scale magic. I had to ensure the others didn't get caught in the crossfire.
I lightly flicked my index finger, channeling mana. A translucent curtain of ice surrounded Kaya, Ian, Mateo, and the others.
“This…”
I heard Kaya’s voice trail off. She had stopped halfway to the boys. This spell had a much higher concentration of mana than a simple [Ice Curtain].
「Ice Barrier (Ice Element, ★6)」
A shield that protected the target with absolute ice. Even if I unleashed 9-star magic, they would be perfectly safe as long as they were behind my [Ice Barrier].
“Isaac, what are you going to do…?”
I heard Kaya’s worried voice.
What do you mean? I’m just going to kill the demon.
[Shaaaaaaaaa─!]
[Sueueuuuuu─!]
As Orpheus roared, a massive blue magic circle formed beneath my feet. It glowed with a deep, abyssal light.
Using the [Waterspout] pattern already?
Orpheus usually used [Waterspout] when his HP fell below 50%. When it dropped below 30%, he would combine it with [Black Water] as a desperate last resort. Seeing as he was jumping straight to the final move, he must be terrified of me.
Before I knew it, water mana began to swirl around me. It expanded in an instant, taking the form of a colossal whirlwind—a dark, murky water tornado born of water and darkness.
「Waterspout (Water Element, ★6)」+ 「Black Water (Water Element, ★5)」
= 「Black Dragon Ascension (Water Element)」
Pyuuuuuuuuuuu─────!!
The water prison tightened instantly, leaving no room for escape. The aquatic cyclone tore the roof off the warehouse and spiraled into the heavens, seemingly endless.
If I were swept up in that, I’d be dragged into the sky, suffocating while being torn apart by the sheer water pressure. That was the lethality of Orpheus’s [Waterspout]. [Black Dragon Ascension], in particular, was in a league of its own.
The black tornado reached for the clouds. Freezing such a massive, fast-spinning body of water would be impossible with a simple [Ice Generation].
However, now that I had a skill far beyond that, it didn't matter.
I gently extended my hand and poured out a massive amount of mana. A dark blue light exploded outward, spreading in an instant.
「Black Ice (Ice Element, ★5)」
Charaakkkkk—————!!!
The water tornado froze in a heartbeat. A gargantuan pillar of ice now pierced the sky. I immediately released the mana maintaining the structure.
Crack—!
The black ice pillar, soaring like the Tower of Babel, shattered into millions of pieces. It rained down as dark blue powder, shimmering in the air. The [Black Dragon Ascension] vanished without a trace.
For the first time, a look of pure panic crossed Orpheus’s faces.
I approached the demon and held out my open palm. As ice mana condensed, a pale blue magic circle manifested in front of my hand.
[Shaaaaaa…!]
[Sueuuuuu…!]
Orpheus couldn't run. When I used [Black Ice], the ground beneath him had frozen as well, locking his spindly legs in place.
“Let’s finish this.”
I released the condensed mana. A wave of absolute zero rushed forward.
「Frost Explosion (Ice Element, ★5)」
Kwaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaak—!!!
The exploding ice engulfed Orpheus, tore through the remains of the warehouse, and surged wildly into the Josena Forest. It grew until it resembled a massive, jagged iceberg.
A freezing gale howled. The warehouse was frozen solid, and a faint mist of cold air escaped my lips as I exhaled.
The other students remained untouched, perfectly protected by the [Ice Barrier].
Soon, the massive block of ice shattered all at once, turning into pale blue dust that scattered into the wind.
[Shaaaaaaaaa…]
[Sueuuuuuuu…]
Orpheus leaked purple blood, his entire body mangled and broken. He collapsed, his form turning into ashen dust before vanishing completely.
Tukkk—
A small earring fell and tumbled across the dirt where the demon had stood. I wouldn't have noticed it at a glance, but since I already knew the drop table, I recognized it instantly.
It was the "Abyssal Ring."