Chapter 10: A Leaf-Clad Wanderer Emerges from the Thicket
As if he'd been rolling around in the underbrush, a man decked out head to toe in leaves came sauntering over.
"…Who're you?"
"Hesitant, aren't we, Lady Jerman? You don't even recognize a promising rival."
He was that guy from Class 2 who'd left such a strong impression before afternoon classes began, blending in with the crowd. Maness inwardly sighed as he eyed Boltman Gail.
"Boltman Gail. A name that'll be etched deep into Snowrobe—and the Magic Tower beyond. Make sure you remember it."
"Uh… doesn't he talk kinda cringey?"
"Couldn't agree more."
From his looks to his speech, everything about Boltman oozed sleaziness. The two shared a perfect understanding.
"Cringey… Not all nobles have class, huh."
"More importantly, what're you doing here?"
"You're here, so why can't I be?"
Maness tried to piece together the mystery while watching the heated back-and-forth between Iris and Boltman. Normally, Boltman should be down at the mountain's base by now, snatching loot from some easy mark in Class 1. They weren't that high up; running into him midway shouldn't have happened.
"Cut the crap and tell us why you're here, Boltman."
"Kuh."
Sensing something seriously off, Maness sharpened his tone. Overpowered by the intensity, Boltman took a step back.
"As expected from a total failure of a noble—no manners whatsoever."
"I told you to cut the crap."
"Simple. I decided there's no need for me to bust my ass over the professor's homework."
Boltman, who'd flinched for a moment, grew bolder as he explained his scheme. Arms crossed, chin jutted out arrogantly—it screamed his personality.
"No need to bust your ass?"
"The professor just said bring back something infused with mana. No restrictions on how. That means we can steal from each other."
"…Fair point, but why climb all the way up here?"
"Excellent question, Lady Jerman."
Was he trying to sound refined? His overly dramatic voice just grated.
"Because I hold you in high regard. Be thrilled—you've earned my approval."
"What the hell? You're creeping me out."
"So you followed Iris?"
Maness wanted to call out the cringey tone like Iris had, but priorities first. He needed to figure out how things had gone so sideways.
"Exactly. Word in high society is you're brimming with magical talent. I spotted you passing by, and my brilliant mind cooked up this genius plan."
Maness sifted through the rambling BS, rearranging the key points in reverse.
We're midway up the mountain and run into Boltman. He's been tailing us the whole time—spotted Iris at the base and hatched his theft scheme. She entered his view because someone suggested teaming up. And that someone suggested it after taking an interest in morning class…
Damn it, it's all because of me.
"So you're gonna steal what we busted our asses for?"
"I chased you down and suffered plenty too. It's my right."
"Is this guy's head on straight?"
Iris had nailed it—the guy's brain was fried. He genuinely believed the world revolved around him.
"Hand it over nicely, and no one gets hurt."
"You got the chops to make good on that?"
"You underestimate me."
Boltman extended his right hand forward, palm open, and placed his left atop his right arm. Eyes closed, he began muttering something.
"……."
"…Should we just bail?"
As impatience set in from waiting for his big show, "Oh."
A small orb of mana formed in front of his palm.
"This is the 1st Rankpure magic called Mana Bullet, the foundation of all offensive spells."
Boltman wiped sweat from his brow with his left arm, looking utterly drained yet smug. Maness almost felt like clapping for the effort—but nah.
Mages earned ranks matching their spell tiers. Once you learned basics like 1st Rank spells after starting mana studies, you were officially a 1st Rank mage.
Boltman hyped it up, but it was just a basic 1st Rank spell.
"You know magic?"
"Even abstract, mystical stuff can't escape my talent."
"Learning magic outside school or the towers is forbidden."
"When did I say I learned from anyone? Anyone from the Gail family masters this much on their own."
Finding your Mana Well solo was talent enough. Self-teaching spells went beyond that—into genius territory.
But Maness knew Boltman lacked that gift. And he'd learned it through shady channels.
"…Right."
He wanted to expose the truth for Iris's sake, staring at the manifested Mana Bullet, but no proof. And now wasn't the time.
"Let's head down and talk?"
"Pass. No reason to give up my advantage."
"Fine then."
Maness dropped the pointless persuasion. They weren't at the base anymore—mid-mountain. The professor's "things" should be closing in soon.
As if on cue, gaunt shadows popped up over the cliff's edge.
"So, impressed by my magic? Ready to hand it over yet?"
"Boltman."
"I won't move, so toss the orb this way."
A small pebble dropped from the cliff beside Maness. That was the line.
"That Mana Bullet of yours? Aim it at the cliff, not us."
"Hmph, as if I'd fall for that cheap trick…."
Even as he spoke, Boltman's gaze shifted upward, face hardening. Confirming it, Maness grabbed Iris's wrist.
"Run!"
"What? Hey, wait…!"
Kicking off hard, the two bolted as the skeleton horde smashed into the ground behind them.
*
"Forty-five now, huh."
Conien shook out his sore hand and checked the item in his pocket. Numb to mana, he'd stuffed it with fake gems and trinkets unfit for the wilds.
Just as he figured he couldn't grab more and turned to leave, a horde of skeletons swarmed him.
Crack! A bone trying to rise flew through the air from his brutal kick.
"Undead aren't supposed to move in daylight, right?"
Conien recalled a book from his northern days. Undead favored nights. Active in broad daylight meant a summoner's will drove them.
The conclusion baffled him further. Who summons hordes of skeletons midday on a magic school's mountain?
The mystery cleared soon enough. Undead basking in sun without issue? Their master was no amateur.
Snowrobe's top mages—the professors. Likely their setup.
Sorting his thoughts, Conien eyed the cliff below. The skeletons charging him veered toward it, leaping off and vanishing.
Drawn by mana, no doubt. Either a huge mana source or someone casting.
Obvious student harassment ploy—the latter.
Conien stretched, eyeing the bracelet on the last skeleton he'd dropped. It read "ELIMINATED."
Fetching mana items from a skeleton-infested mountain. Tests mana sense and physical prowess at once.
Expecting newbies to solo it? Nah. Probably grading teamwork, reminding them of its necessity.
To check their target, Conien accelerated after the horde.
*
"W-Wait… Lunch… is… coming… up…."
"Hang in there! We're almost down!"
"Almost" was a lie, obviously. Maness raced down the slope, praying Iris—slung over his back, stamina spent—wouldn't puke.
He was deeply grateful for his natural endurance.
"Uwaaaah! Somebody save meeee!"
Boltman was somehow keeping pace—a miracle. Maness marveled at the unknown power born of mortal terror from the scrawny-looking guy.
His Mana Bullet? Whatever poise he'd faked was gone; now just pathetic screams. Maness gritted his teeth, averting his eyes.
He'd expected skeletons, but not this many. They should've scattered everywhere—instead, clustered like moths to a flame.
Something drew them. Mana Bullet was the only candidate.
Iris's orb, professor-made, wouldn't trigger them.
"Hey, Boltman!"
"Y-You got a plan?!"
"Good luck!"
Decision made, Maness kicked a loose stone into Boltman's path. Accelerating, Boltman tripped hard.
"Gahk!"
As predicted, skeletons swarmed the fallen bait. Low-intelligence, they clamored to slap "ELIMINATED" bracelets on him.
But bait only lasts so long. Those tagged would catch up soon.
With distance gained, Maness set Iris down.
"Iris!"
"Urk… we… there yet?"
"No. You go solo from here."
"Wh-What?"
Mid-heave, Iris glanced at the horde at his words.
"Not splitting up forever. I'll draw them—you head straight down this path."
"Draw how?"
"They're fixated on Boltman while he's down. Super sensitive to mana. I'll lure 'em somehow."
"You can't even handle mana properly…."
"Wanna swap?"
Iris had no comeback. She didn't fit bait—lacked stamina to lure and endure.
"Got it? Hurry down and submit the orb."
"…You better survive."
"Whoa, you'd think I was off to war."
Hesitating, Iris dragged her weary body downslope. Eyes off her back, Maness faced the horde again.
Boltman, terror-struck into fainting, slumped over a skeleton's shoulder. Bracelet already on his arm.
Now what…
Boltman's mana had pulled them hard. With him caught, they'd scatter for other students. Iris wouldn't last long exhausted.
Needed Mana Bullet-level or better.
Maness took position. Like Boltman: right palm forward, left atop right arm.
Steadying breath, he focused.
Mana Bullet—pure mana condensed. Imagined a sphere before his palm, packing it with mana.
Dense as a steel ball. Calming wild energy, he noticed skeletons turning his way, one by one.
Push more mana out. Hold it from scattering.
The completing sensation flooded him.
"It was you, Maness."
A cold voice chilled his eardrums.