Chapter 72
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Translator: Ebonarch
Chapter: 72
Chapter Title: The Butterfly Flaps Its Wings Twice (2)
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Boom!
Anticipating a fight the moment we arrived, I'd been running while moderately conserving my stamina when an explosion echoed from the main gate.
Truth be told, every time I heard an explosion like that, it filled me with relief more than anxiety.
Most of these intruders were physical fighters, so such blasts meant Lucia's side was holding strong.
Of course, there were exceptions like the knights of the Aslan Empire or the Ain tribesfolk, whose raw physical prowess outstripped even magic in destructive power...
But we weren't at the stage where we needed to worry about them yet.
Truth be told, with a bit of exaggeration, the raid was as good as cleared the moment I stopped the birth of the "Crawling Terror."
Skipping one entire phase of the two-phase main event on Chapter 2 made failure impossible.
On top of that, the main gate—which we originally had to defend with just Lucia and me—now had extra special forces deployed.
I didn't know how Lucia had lured them out, but once those two stepped up, victory was sealed.
...Even if they don't show for some reason, it doesn't matter.
We had confirmed forces: Lucia and half-awakened Vivian.
Those two alone outclassed the specs I'd have after clearing the main event.
In theory, defeat was impossible.
It sounded like tempting fate, but this time, there was no way we could lose.
Boom!
Another explosion rang out, and I flashed a pleased grin as I charged forward.
What the...?
Hikart, who had infiltrated Carnea, could scarcely believe his eyes.
He might not have been this shocked even if all of Carnea's professors had come out to greet them en masse.
But the scene unfolding before him was beyond imagination.
"...Ugh...! Kate...!"
"...Right there... Yes...! Haah... Nngh!... Harder...!"
In Carnea Academy—the empire's beacon of the future—outdoor sex was in full swing.
And it wasn't amateur hour; the woman, bent over, gripped the tree with natural ease.
"...Something's off."
His subordinate whispered discreetly, but he already knew.
Of course it wasn't normal.
Stay calm. Nothing's changed.
No need for other thoughts—just carry out Nameless's orders.
Hikart steadied himself with a short sigh.
"...Continue the operation."
"What about them?"
"Take them out."
The subordinate nodded and silently drew his sword, creeping toward the couple.
"Haah... Haa... I... I'm almost... Kate... Getting close..."
"Yeah... Greg... Me too... Gonna cum! Together...!"
As the couple cried out in climax, the sword swung down.
And then...
Splat!
A spell shot from the darkness pierced the subordinate's chest.
"Kyaaak!"
The female student who'd been moaning moments ago now screamed, and the male student reacted a beat later, drawing his sword.
But Hikart couldn't spare them a glance.
The presence lurking in the shadows felt several times more dangerous than some screaming girl.
"Who goes there!"
Hikart shouted, and someone emerged from the darkness into the moonlight.
Silver hair like molten silver, blue eyes like embedded sapphires, a fairy-like figure.
First time seeing her in person, but Hikart knew her at a glance.
"...Lucia Ursula."
"Hmm, I don't recall permitting you to say my name."
"...Why are you still in the academy?"
He hadn't even considered a noble from House Ursula sticking around during break.
Ignoring him, Lucia addressed the couple.
"Hello, seniors."
"Hic... Lu... Lady Lucia...!"
"Situation's urgent, so straight to business. I'll overlook your indecent act in sacred Carnea Academy. Catch the fleeing intruders."
"...Wh-what... right now...?!"
"Then, if you please."
Ending the talk unilaterally, Lucia turned back to Hikart with a smile.
"...Well then..."
"Pierce—Earth—Spear"
Lucia's spell shot out abruptly.
The seamless, fluid attack caught Hikart off guard.
...Danger!
As the spell closed in, he channeled mana into his ring. The inscribed runes glowed, instantly reinforcing his body.
Boom!
Tanking the spell head-on, Hikart ground his teeth.
...Impossible!
Stories of Lucia Ursula, the Empire's Moon, had reached his ears despite his disinterest.
Among them, tales of her talent.
...But he'd figured she was student-level at best.
That he'd win in a real fight.
Yet her display shattered expectations.
Veteran-grade, at least a decade on the battlefield.
Her magic was impressive, but the total lack of hesitation in killing was especially chilling.
"Scatter!"
Her skill outmatched his, but they had numbers.
Judging they could still fight if they swarmed, Hikart ordered his men to disperse and encircle—but...
"...Heh... Hehehe...!"
"Flame—Arrow"
"Flame—Arrow"
The purple-haired madwoman laughing and firing flame arrows joined the fray.
What's she?!
A normal lunatic he'd just kill, but her dual-casting in seconds marked her as no ordinary foe.
"...St-stay still... and we'll kill you painlessly."
His men sensed it too, hesitating to approach the purple-haired woman.
"Then! That one! Break through the weak encirclement point!"
Hikart pointed at the bespectacled woman.
Lucia and the purple-head were clearly prepared.
But the outdoor-loving couple looked unprepared.
...Or so he'd thought.
"N-no... Don't come...!"
"Pierce—Earth's—Spear"
The trembling female student's spell far exceeded an average mage's.
Jayhark Style Form 4—Gale Descent
And the male student's swordplay matched Hikart's own.
What the hell...!
Even in Carnea, losing to four mere students? Absurd.
Lucia giggled at his shock.
"Oh my, they may not look it, but those two are the top and runner-up of second year."
Top and runner-up.
Short words, heavy meaning: pinnacles amid Carnea's talent sea.
Hikart bit his lip.
Nearly half his men were already dead.
"All retreat!"
No point staying; mission impossible. He lunged for the gate—but
Kaboom!
A massive blast hit where the gate had been, instantly sealing it with rubble.
"C-can't... escape..."
Climbable with time, but not with Lucia watching.
"Damn it...!"
Realizing he was trapped like a rat, Hikart cursed.
Kraka-boom!
Spells rained down from above.
By the time I arrived, the situation was already wrapping up.
Most intruders dead or gravely wounded; the few intact ones bound.
I approached Lucia to commend her efforts but held back as she chatted with second-year runner-up Greg.
"Lady Lucia..."
"Oh, just Lucia is fine. You're seniors, after all."
"...Then, Lucia... About today."
"Of course it'll stay secret. In exchange, you seniors too..."
Lucia pressed a finger to her lips.
"...Take it to the grave."
"Perfect. I keep my grades secret, you keep ours. Win-win."
Second-year top student Kate adjusted her glasses and asked,
"...B-but how'd you know? That we were here... No, you acted like you knew the intruders were coming."
"Fufu, want to hear?"
"N-no! I-I said nothing! We'll be going!"
Lucia smiled crescent-eyed, and Kate dragged Greg away fleeing.
Conversation over, I spoke to Lucia.
"Lucia."
"Ah! Master! You're here. No injuries?"
"I'm fine. Where's Hikart?"
"...Sorry. He got away. I hit him, but that ring foiled us again."
Well, unavoidable.
The ring was the real boss; its power suggested as much.
Per my Academy Tamer measurements, piercing its defense needed at least advanced spells.
Lucia's current specs came from her first-run memories; canonically, a designed un-catchable boss.
That's why the clear condition is 'repel' intruders, not 'exterminate'...
Gazing at the gate where Hikart fled, I saw a stone wall instead of an entrance.
"...What's that?"
"I-I did it! Eugene!"
Vivian raised her hand eagerly, approaching with a praise-me face.
I sighed shortly at the sight.
Figures...
Was it the flag I'd mentally raised earlier?
Things had gone too smoothly.
"D-did I do something wrong?"
Not getting praise but a sigh, Vivian trembled.
I knew she'd meant well to trap Hikart, but it was regrettable.
This twists the route...
Main gate collapse: a 1% bad-end probability I hadn't mentioned...
And here it was.
Tsking, Vivian knelt on the spot, apologizing profusely.
"Sorry. Sorry. Sorry. Sorry. Stupid Vivian's sorry. Sorry."
"...It's fine. Stand up."
Gate blocked, Hikart would storm the dorms for hostages instead of fleeing.
Good news: per his terms, release him quietly and no one gets hurt.
He knew touching students in defeat meant his death too.
...So why this unease?
Victory certain, yet a premonition screamed: catch Hikart soon or irreversible disaster.
"I'll chase Hikart. Lucia, stay with Vivian and handle cleanup—"
Mid-instruction, lightning struck: the source of dread.
Hmph, whatever! If Eugene stays in Carnea, so do I!
...The dorms held a nuclear bomb.