Chapter 79: A Game of Chicken (1)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 79: A Game of Chicken (1)
The first demon I ever laid low, Trevion the Evil.
That bastard had returned.
“Kyaaah!”
“De-demons?!”
“Prepare for battle, now!”
Panic erupted as a female student’s scream pierced the air.
Cold sweat broke out among the students as they desperately roused their mana and unsheathed their swords. In response, a swarm of Trevions emerged from behind the stage. As they lined up, their faces twisted into grotesque, mocking smirks.
Despite their terror, the students didn't break. As expected of the academy's elite, they stood their ground. The Magic Department students struck first, weaving long-range elemental spells to initiate the assault.
「Water Wall (Water Element, ★4)」 + 「Black Water (Water Element, ★5)」
= 「Abyssal Wall (Water Element)」
Fwoosh!
The black water conjured by the Trevion mob whirled violently, completely neutralizing the students’ opening volley.
[[[[[[[[[[[[[HelloHelloHelloHelloHelloHelloHelloHelloHelloHelloHelloHelloHelloHelloHelloHelloHelloHelloHelloHelloHelloHelloHelloHelloHelloHelloHelloHelloHelloHello?]]]]]]]]]]]]]
The Trevions squirmed rhythmically, chanting their skin-crawling greetings in a rapid-fire loop. The sound grated against the students' eardrums, a relentless drone designed to drive a person mad.
“There’s another one!”
“Block it!”
「Ice Spear (Ice Element, ★4)」 + 「Black Ice (Ice Element, ★5)」
= 「Black Ice Spear (Ice Element)」
Schwook! Schwook! Schwook!
Suddenly, a demon clad in royal blue—Pernicus the Contemplative—leapt from behind the curtain, unleashing an onslaught of black spears.
[Hm—, Hm—, Hm—, Hm—, Hm—, Hm—.]
Pernicus exhaled rhythmic sighs through his nostrils, a discordant melody that no sane person would ever want to hear. The students pooled their strength, casting defensive spells to intercept the barrage of [Black Ice Spears].
However, their defenses were being neutralized as quickly as they were cast. They were forced into a desperate cycle of mana consumption, casting spell after spell just to stay alive.
[Shaaaa──!]
[Ssseuuu──!]
「Tidal Wave (Water Element, ★6)」 + 「Black Water (Water Element, ★5)」
= 「Black Wave (Water Element)」
Fwoooo!
Out of nowhere, the shark demon, Orpheus the Submerged, drenched the students in a deluge of corrupted water magic.
Kwaang! Crash!
Kkeeuuu!
A massive, humanoid queen ant—Garzia the Hermit—smashed through the outer wall, striking a pose of terrifying majesty. The students weren't impressed; they were paralyzed. Their faces turned ashen as they trembled, yet they continued to frantically layer defensive magic.
[Buong, Buong, Buong───♬]
[Buuu, Oong───♪ Buong───♪]
Through the jagged hole in the wall, a deep-red sky illuminated a forest of thorn trees. Something heavy stomped toward the breach.
A herd of pink elephants marched in on their hind legs, moving in a single file like cars of a train. They sang in an alien tongue, dancing to a private beat. Their choreography was unsettlingly perfect, a display of flawless synchronicity.
Kwaaaang!
[Buooooong────♬]
Behind the nauseatingly bright performance of the elephant herd, an even larger red behemoth followed. Standing ten meters tall, it completely demolished what remained of the wall as it entered. Behind it, the thorn trees and the hellish landscape flared like a sea of fire.
The giant’s head was shaped like a pulsing red brain, its hips swaying to a samba rhythm. It was Elphelt the Evanescent.
Everything was happening at once.
Before I knew it, Ian had fainted—which was probably for the best. Blood was spurting from his head, but I didn't have the luxury of worrying about him right now.
“This is one hell of a party…”
Every demon I had defeated in the past had gathered here like some twisted tea party, creating a scene of absolute chaos.
This was the dark elemental magic of Malrog the Envious: [Mad Banquet].
It was an illusion spell that preyed on the minds of those within its radius, manifesting previously encountered demons to slowly devour the target’s psyche. Since multiple people were caught in it, we were all sharing the same nightmare.
This explained why demons I hadn't personally fought yet—like Vera the Summoner, Leafa the Illusive, and Heinkel the Hoarder—weren't present.
Regardless, with Elphelt joining the fray, this nightmare regiment was complete.
In these illusions, one’s capabilities were projected exactly as they were in reality. The students using their elemental magic was proof of that. Furthermore, just like in the game ❰Magic Knight of Märchen❱, my [Vs. Demon Combat Power] buff was fully active.
Ultimately, this situation boiled down to one crucial fact.
'I'm the Demon-Limited Hunter.'
[The demons have been recognized as enemies.]
[The unique trait [Hunter] is activated!]
[Your level and stats are temporarily greatly enhanced!]
[Your skill tree temporarily becomes +10!]
I swung my hand nonchalantly, channeling my rock magic toward the students struggling against the horde.
「Stone Barrier (Rock Element, ★6)」
The students looked on in confusion as translucent, light-brown shields formed around them. Much like [Frost Barrier], this spell focused entirely on protection, ignoring all other magic—including my own.
Acknowledging the sheer weight of my power, both the students and the demons froze, turning to look at me in unison.
“What is this? How is a spell like this even possible…?”
“Isaac, you…?”
Even the arrogant blond noble, Tristan Humphrey, was speechless. His eyes lost focus and his jaw dropped. He seemed to realize the true scale of the magic I had just manifested. Amy Holloway and the others were equally stunned.
“Sir Isaac…?”
Kaya looked shocked that I was revealing my hand so openly.
No matter. It doesn't change anything.
Once Malrog the Envious was dealt with, the memories formed under this illusion would be altered. Those memories would randomly reflect the subject’s subconscious, so while it might cause some confusion later, it wouldn't be dangerous.
Besides, if I escape the illusion first, it won’t affect me anyway.
I was going to end this. If I successfully hunted Malrog, no one would remember a thing.
But even so…
I don’t want to leave them in the middle of hell.
Against a horde this size, even Dark Kaya wouldn't be able to stop them all. The students would die miserably, and this hall would become a slaughterhouse. Even if their memories faded, the trauma would remain etched in their souls. I wasn't going to let these kids go through that.
The demons shifted their focus, sensing that I was the only real threat on the battlefield.
“Let’s end this quickly.”
I raised my right hand, letting my rock mana surge. A massive, light-brown magic circle expanded across the ceiling of the majestic Atla Hall. The demons looked up, their expressions wary as they felt the ominous pressure.
I unleashed the spell.
「Meteor Shower (Rock Element, ★6)」
Rumbleeee!
It was a relentless bombardment.
Light-brown meteors screamed down from the ceiling, striking with terrifying velocity. There was no gap in the golden onslaught. The high-density mana created a deluge of stone so thick it looked like a solid wall of light. It was as if a divine machine gun was firing endless rounds of destruction.
The demons had nowhere to run.
Any meteors that strayed toward the students were harmlessly absorbed by the [Stone Barrier]. The demons, however, were reduced to an indescribable mess, their bodies pulverized by the deadly rain.
Finally, I cut off the flow of mana.
[Hughh—….]
[Shaaa—…]
[Sseeu…]
[Kkkieeuuu…]
[Kyaak…]
The venue was drenched in demonic ichor. As the demons died, they dissolved into gray dust, leaving the hall looking clean—though the physical destruction, like the broken walls, remained.
“What is this…?”
“There was such a monster among us…?”
The students’ voices trembled with awe. Honestly, having them stare at me with their jaws on the floor was a bit much.
It’s time.
When I used [Psychological Insight] earlier, Malrog’s goals were clear: ‘Obtain Cherubim’s Necklace and kill every student present.’
Whether he planned to flee or continue the massacre didn't matter. I had to kill him. Cherubim’s Necklace was the only thing that could fulfill his wish, and he would risk his life to get it. He was likely on the stage right now, moving to snatch the necklace while everyone was trapped in the illusion.
He wouldn't kill the students until he had the prize. Because everyone in the illusion was linked to his nervous system, killing them now would cause him unnecessary pain. He would release the spell first—just like he did in the game.
My plan relied on timing my escape perfectly.
If I break out too soon and I’m too close to him, I might be subdued immediately.
If I break out too late and he gets the necklace, we’re all dead.
[Hel…? Lo…?]
I had intentionally left one Trevion alive, though half its body was gone. It was the only demon left. To maintain the [Hunter] trait, I needed to maintain the intent to kill it.
At the same time, I prepared the magic to shatter the illusion. I reached out to the side, instinctively grasping the weapon deep within my soul.
Frostscythe.
Pale blue mana coalesced, forming the chilling outline of a great scythe in my hands. I let the weapon's freezing aura wash over me.
「Ice Generation (Ice Element, ★1)」
I conjured a massive icicle above the crawling Trevion. Simultaneously, I slammed the Frostscythe into the floor.
The scythe’s active skill roared to life.
「Ice Sovereign's Majesty (Ice Element, ★7)」
Hwaaaaaak!
[Ice Sovereign’s Majesty]—a magic that repels any spell cast upon the user. My body erupted in a brilliant, pale blue light.
Hwooooo—!
Kkung!
The icicle fell, impaling the Trevion. And in the blinding glow that filled my vision, I closed my eyes.
A massive black magic circle, large enough to swallow Atla Hall, pulsed on the floor. It was the source of the dark element spell, [Mad Banquet]. A black haze clung to everything, from the crystal chandeliers to the ornate walls.
[Mad Banquet] had created a separate ‘Illusory World,’ much like Leafa’s [Fictional Hell]. Outside that world, mana couldn't even be sensed. To any observer, the students simply looked like lifeless mannequins.
Malrog the Envious, sporting a shock of red hair, salivated as he stepped onto the stage. Luigi, the host, and the students assisting him were all unconscious.
Malrog scanned the treasures on the display carts. There, he found it: a necklace featuring an oval coin with a mysterious white gem. Cherubim’s Necklace.
A wide, jagged smile split Malrog’s face as he reached out.
Then.
—Rip.
“Kkeuk!”
A sharp, agonizing pain flared in his right eye, accompanied by an eerie tearing sound. Malrog clutched his face, groaning as blood leaked through his fingers like tears.
Every target in the illusion was linked to his nerves. This pain meant someone had forcibly broken out of the [Mad Banquet]. As if they were too powerful to be bound by a mere illusion, the spell had been violently repelled.
How?! How is this possible?!
Malrog didn't have time to think.
「Rock Wall (Rock Element, ★4)」
Crack!
A [Rock Wall] erupted from the stage floor, launching the display cart into the air. Treasures scattered everywhere.
[Kyuu!]
Suddenly, a small golem familiar, Eden, appeared out of thin air and lunged toward Malrog. Before the demon could react, Eden snatched the necklace, put some distance between them, and threw the artifact in a swift motion.
The Cherubim’s Necklace arched through the air, landing perfectly in a man’s waiting hand.
「Rock Prison (Rock Element, ★4)」
Kudududu!
Malrog hastily cast [Rock Prison] to trap Eden, but the golem vanished into motes of rock mana before the spell could close.
Intense, murderous intent radiated from Malrog. He turned his gaze toward the man holding the necklace, his rage seething.
In a dark corner, away from the light of the lamps, stood a man with tousled silver-blue hair. His sharp eyes glared back, a stark contrast to the mild impression he usually gave.
Malrog, standing in the spotlight of the stage, looked at Isaac as if he wanted to tear him apart.
“Who the fuck are you, you bastard?” Malrog growled, his voice deep and resonant.
Isaac didn't answer. He simply raised the hand holding the Cherubim’s Necklace.
Clink.
A light-brown magic circle formed right next to the necklace. Rock magic.
Malrog’s eyes narrowed.
“Breathe wrong, and I’ll shatter it,” Isaac said, his icy voice slicing through the air like a guillotine. “Understand?”