Chapter 32
Chapter 32
Sure enough, a message appeared.
A win rate well over fifty percent!
Considering that my opponent was a Fragment of a Great Existence, that was an astonishingly high chance of winning.
‘But there’s a problem. How am I supposed to protect the students while I’m taking control?’
There was a high chance this would turn into a long, grueling battle.
If that Fragment fully descended in the meantime, the students would be wiped out in an instant.
Just then, I received some welcome news.
Support has arrived from outside!
Former President Randolf and Professor Bernstein are here!!
My eyes widened in surprise.
The entrance to the Phantom Dream was still blocked, but it seemed the two of them had managed to break through.
‘Former President Randolf is an Eighth Star Rank Archmage!’
He was one of the most important characters in the Rubines Scenario.
Even though he had grown much weaker compared to his prime, he was still an incredible asset.
‘The students should be safe for a while.’
However, a new problem had arisen.
‘…What if I solve this mess and end up catching Former President Randolf’s eye?’
Some might say that was a frivolous thing to worry about in a situation like this, but it was a serious problem.
Former President Randolf was one of the people I absolutely had to avoid getting involved with.
‘He plays the role of the protagonists’ patron in the Rubines Scenario. If I get on his radar for no reason, things are bound to get incredibly troublesome.’
Especially since the Rapalt Ducal House and Director Karak were the ones currently holding power in the Academy.
Even if I grew closer to Former President Randolf, all I’d do was draw the attention of both factions.
After thinking it over, I came up with a clever solution.
“I have something else I need to do, so you two go to where the students are gathered right now. You’ll be safe with Former President Randolf here.”
I’d send the two protagonists to the forefront!
Former President Randolf would recognize their true worth at a glance. He wouldn’t pay any attention to someone like me.
‘Things have turned out this way, so I’ll have to consider my plan to send them to another Academy a failure. I’d be better off using them to find a way to make things as easy as possible for myself.’
But the two of them gave me an unexpected answer.
“No. Who said you could decide that for us?”
“…What?”
“Aren’t you going to take on something dangerous all by yourself again, like you did when you fought the Lich last time? I’m not going to let you hog all the glory by yourself, you obnoxious show-off.”
It wasn’t just Katrinne.
Libel spoke up too.
“…N-no… I’m the one who’s supposed to help the professor. I won’t yield that to anyone else, so you should go.”
“What nonsense are you talking about? You’re the one who’s useless here. Get lost.”
“Y-you’re the one who should get lost. Or else, I’ll teach you a lesson.”
I blinked as I watched the two quarrel.
‘But I don’t need your help?’
More than anything, this was dangerous.
These two were supposed to become my precious marks in the future. I couldn’t let them get hurt or killed in a place like this.
“I told you to go somewhere safe.”
“I said no.”
“I-I don’t want to….”
“How insolent. I’m ordering you as your professor.”
As befitted the two protagonists, they were both stubborn as mules.
I had to be firm with them.
“Don’t get the wrong idea. What good do you think you can do by following me? The best way you students can help me is by staying somewhere safe.”
After that, the two of them were supposed to have their fateful first meeting with Former President Randolf.
“……”
“……”
Perhaps they had nothing to say after I put them in their place, because they fell silent.
Katrinne clenched her fists, looking frustrated.
“Fine. Just like you said, Professor, I’m still not good enough. But you’d better be ready. Someday, I’ll make you regret looking down on me.”
Katrinne abruptly turned around and disappeared.
Libel was no less troublesome.
“I understand… the professor’s feelings… and how much you care about me.”
“……”
“But… I still can’t accept something like this. I will definitely become your star pupil and stay by your side.”
Libel’s eyes shone with a dark, intense gleam as he said that, and I was horrified.
‘…Why do both of them keep acting like this? Is this really going well?’
A foreboding sense that something was going wrong came over me, but there was nothing I could do about it for now.
Resolving this crisis came first.
‘I have to hurry.’
After the two disappeared, a chilling groan rang out.
-Gooooooo.
I flinched.
A ghostly knight clad in armor steeped in sinister energy.
It was a Death Knight!
A Level 5 Monster, no less.
And it wasn’t alone.
‘There are even Level 4 Spectators serving as retainers, along with Level 3 Skeleton Veterans.’
They were Monsters I could never hope to face with my abilities.
I should have turned around and run for my life right then and there, but I simply stood still, arms folded, and stared at them.
Perhaps my behavior struck him as strange. The Death Knight at the head of the group tilted his head.
-A puny human, as insignificant as an insect. Kneel before my majesty this instant. If you worship me, I shall grant you mercy and bestow upon you a painless death.
-Ki-hee-hee.
The Skeleton soldiers surrounded me, laughing as though they were mocking me.
A desperate moment.
And yet, I still didn’t unfold my arms.
I didn’t even look at the Monsters.
My gaze was fixed on an empty spot in the air, far away.
The Death Knight’s manner turned menacing at my apparent disregard.
-Dare you ignore me, an anointed knight of Gehenna? I’ll tear you to shreds and cast you into the fires of hell—
Just then, an insane thing came out of my mouth.
“Quiet. Shut your mouth.”
-…What?
“I said keep quiet. I have something important to do right now. You’re distracting me.”
It wasn’t simply because of the Black Flame Dragon.
There was a reason I was so composed, unlike usual.
-Hah! I’ll make you repent amid the torments of hell! Tear him to pieces!
-Kheeheehee!
First, the Skeleton Soldiers charged at me.
Unlike ordinary, Lower Rank Lv. 1 Skeletons, every one of them was an elite soldier of hell.
Their swords, wreathed in a menacing killing intent, were just about to hack my body to pieces.
Then, suddenly, something changed.
Thud!
The Skeleton Soldiers’ bodies came to a halt.
As if they had been turned to stone.
-…Magic? No, there’s no sign of mana moving at all…?
The Death Knight reacted in confusion.
But the surprises had only just begun.
Fsssh.
The Skeleton Soldiers’ bodies began to disappear.
They hadn’t been destroyed by an attack.
It was as if they were being erased with an eraser.
They vanished as though they had never existed in this space to begin with.
Only then did the Death Knight realize what I had done. It cried out in shock.
-I-is that even possible?! There’s no way a human could do something like that?!
“I can.”
I turned my gaze toward the Death Knight.
-I won’t accept this! Gaaaaah!
The Death Knight, overcome with fear, tried to thrash about in desperation, but it was useless.
I murmured a single word.
“5%.”
At the same time—
Fwoooosh.
Like a lie, the Death Knight disappeared.
Just like the Skeleton Soldiers before it, as though it had never existed in the first place.
And it wasn’t only the Death Knight.
Every monster that had been prowling nearby disappeared.
At the same time, the wind began to blow.
A pleasant breeze.
Feeling it against me, I murmured one more word.
“10%.”
I cast a sidelong glance at the ground.
Then, a flower bloomed where my gaze fell.
A sight like a miracle, defying the laws of nature.
That was right.
I was now taking control of the Dreamworld.
The “nearby” area was already entirely under my control.
“15%.”
Until this world became mine.
85% to go.
“Good heavens. How could this happen?”
Randolf.
The former president of Rubiness Academy, who had once reigned as a Level 8 archmage, lamented as he looked upon the shape of a giant’s arm.
‘Could it really be those Ouroboros bastards? The time of the prophecy hasn’t come yet, so why?’
Ouroboros.
Beings from the abyss whose very existence was uncertain.
Randolf had only vaguely heard the name.
‘At this rate, everyone here will be slaughtered. I have to protect the students, no matter what it takes.’
It was impossible.
He might have been able to do it in his prime, but Randolf, as he was now, could never stand against that Fragment.
But he had no choice.
“Bernstein, stay here and protect the students. I’ll face that Fragment.”
“Director, surely you don’t mean—?”
Bernstein’s face stiffened.
Randolf was planning to sacrifice himself!
“If I sacrifice myself, I should at least be able to hold that thing back. The entrance to the Phantom Dream is open outside, so get everyone out while I hold it off.”
“No, Director!”
“I’ve already lived long enough, so I’ll be fine. But if I die, I’m leaving Rubiness Academy in your hands. I’m sorry to leave you with such a heavy burden.”
There was no time to say any more.
Randolf rose into the air and confronted the giant’s arm.
“Even if you are a Fragment of a Great Existence, I will not let you lay a single hair on my students.”
Fwaaaash.
A fierce energy surged from Randolf’s body and spread to cover the surroundings.
A power wielded by Level 8 Transcendents, binding their surroundings to themselves.
Within their Territory, Transcendents could wield absolute power beyond the limits of mortals—but the problem was Randolf’s condition.
As the price for failing to Ascend, Randolf had lost his rank as a Transcendent.
He was not supposed to be able to unfold a Territory at all.
‘I have to hold on.’
Randolf swallowed the blood rising within him and set his eyes with determination.
“Come. I’ll show you the power of Randolf, the ‘Heaven-Shaking Mage.’”
Heaven-shaking—shocking the heavens.
Randolf was a great mage, worthy of having earned such a title.
Sure enough, blocked by Randolf’s resistance, the Lord of the Phantom Dream’s Fragment could not advance even a single step.
“Waaah!! Long live the former Director!”
“That’s the Archmage’s ultimate spell!!”
Cheers rose from below, but Randolf’s expression was grim.
He was barely holding it back, and yet his limits were closing in by the second.
‘Still, I won’t retreat. Even if my very soul is extinguished here.’
While the Fragment hesitated for a moment, Randolf looked over the students.
A battle with the Monsters was raging below, but fortunately, all the students seemed to be safe.
That was thanks not only to Bernstein’s efforts, but also to the extra security personnel who had been brought in beforehand.
‘Why had Director Karak increased the security staff for once? That was unlike Karak.’
Unaware that Ban had arranged it, Randolf thought to himself.
Just then, two students in particular caught his eye.
A girl with a prickly look about her, and a boy in shabby clothes.
Unlike the other students, who were huddled and trembling as they received protection, the two were fighting the Monsters alongside the others, leading from the front.
Randolf’s eyes glinted.
‘Impressive. Both of them have what it takes to become stars. Heh. What a shame. If only I could survive here, I would have guided them and helped them grow properly. Still, with students like those, there’s hope for Rubiness Academy.’
As he looked over the scene below, one person suddenly came to mind.
‘…Come to think of it, where did that Ban the Trash bastard go? Wasn’t he supposed to be an examiner?’
—Of the newly appointed professors, I have the highest hopes for Ban Ecclesia.
I’d been quietly looking forward to seeing him after hearing Bernstein say that, but he was nowhere to be seen.
‘…Looks like he ran away because he was scared. And I was actually expecting something from him. Hah.’