Chapter 111
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 111
Chapter Title: Burning Jörmungandr
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Scene 111 Burning Jörmungandr
I had been pondering how to best utilize Moon Magic all this time.
In this world ruled by magic, how to overwhelm the magesand ultimately, the players.
This magic offered endless possibilities.
I could alter the trajectory of bullets through mana manipulation.
I could increase or decrease the weight of objects by controlling the direction of manas force.
I could even draw in surrounding mana like a magnet.
However, the amount of mana I could handle was limited, so I could only use it in restricted ways.
But that was then.
Through daily training, I had mastered the magic and could now manipulate ever greater quantities of mana.
I approached them, completely swallowed by "Wrath" and unable to move.
There is only one way out of this barrier. Destroy the ritual from within.
If I had enough skill, there was something I wanted to try with Moon Magic.
And to destroy a barrier of this scale requires a considerable amount of mana.
Moon Magic was magic that utilized the surrounding mana. In other words, it was the power to manipulate mana itself.
So, couldnt Moon Magic also manipulate others mana?
I focused my mind and sensed the mana.
I recognized the mana flowing through their bodies.
The fresh mana continuously surging from their hearts.
I seized it.
?!
At that moment, the students all simultaneously held their breath.
They looked at each other with faces that couldnt comprehend the situation.
They felt the sensation of their mana being sucked away somewhere. As if a hole had opened in their hearts, mana was leaking out.
I showed the ring to those completely overwhelmed by "Wrath."
This ring is a unique-grade artifact that can absorb others mana. I will gather mana here and destroy the ritual.
Of course, this ring had no such ability.
It could only ignite and store mana. But if they realized it was my magic, it would be trouble, so I bluffed a bit.
Th-that cant be
And they had no choice but to believe my words.
Because even now, their mana was being absorbed into the ring.
They had probably never experienced it before in their lives. The feeling of having mana forcibly stolen. The sensation of a hole being punched in their living hearts.
Unable to endure it any longer, a male student shouted.
St-stop it!
Express your gratitude.
I spoke with my emotions as restrained as possible.
Thanks to you all so generously sparing your mana, Ill be able to escape this place.
!
The mana that had been smoothly drawn in hesitated.
The frightened students were starting to resist to keep from losing their mana.
But it was futile.
They were already trampled by my "Wrath." They could no longer resist my magic.
I experimentally increased the output a bit more.
Ugh!
The male student clutched his head and crouched down.
His bloodshot eyes swelled as if they might burst out at any moment.
How strange. Why are you hesitating?
P-please stop.
If you want to escape, hand over your mana quickly.
At that moment, I didnt know what kind of face I was making, but terror settled on the faces of the students looking at me.
It was the terror of death.
They realized that their very lives were entirely in my hands. And that I was in no way benevolent toward them.
Good. Then let me help you.
I increased the intensity of the mana absorption.
No, at this point, it wasnt absorptionit was ripping it out.
It must have felt like their hearts were being torn out while they were still alive.
Urp!
Unable to bear it, one female student vomited.
She had lost her mana in an instant and was overcome with nausea.
Even seeing her collapsed in the mud, spewing out her guts, stirred no pity in me.
The female student pleaded with me.
Its too much! Its impossible!
Then make it possible.
Just as my Wendy had.
Just as she had tried to protect against all of you.
P-President!
Perhaps sensing something ominous, another female student who had been vomiting in the mud cried out.
Please! Were going to die like this!
Die? No. That will absolutely not happen.
Wh-what?
You are students under my protection. I will not let you die.
In truth, I was carefully adjusting the output to a razors edge even while taking their mana.
However, the students whose mana was being taken writhed in agony, rolling in the mud without exception.
I looked down at that hellish scene with an expressionless face.
Seeing that, one female student shouted.
Y-youre not even human! Dont you feel anything seeing the students in pain?!
Of course it pains me too.
I brushed the mud splattered on my pant legs as I spoke.
Im pained that I have to save the lives of wretches like you, who tried to survive by using a 12-year-old child as a shield.
!
So, you vermin should enjoy the pathetic lives youve barely clung to, wallowing in the mud like the vermin you are.
Please spare us! Sp-spare!
With those as the final words, I mercilessly stripped the mana from them without mercy.
The rings capacity was beyond expectations.
Even after absorbing this much, there was still room to spare, which explained Alberts confidence.
The mana absorption continued even after the students fainted.
Just as I felt I had gathered enough mana. I confirmed only the faintest trickle of mana leaking from their hearts and stopped the absorption.
Its done
Now the preparations were complete.
I placed my hand on the ground.
Myohail had said it.
This place was no different from a living ritual in itself. Based on those words, I visualized this places ritual.
Then a familiar message appeared before my eyes.
Connecting to the ancient ritual Jörmungandr.
The worlds ritual had been translated into a form convenient for me to see. At the same time, my vision changed.
!
I discovered a swarm of snakes crawling across the ground. Snakes of all sizes filled my field of view.
The chilling sight froze me in place. But only for a momentupon closer inspection, they werent snakes.
They were sentences composed of an unknown language. And I intuitively knew they formed the ritual of Jörmungandr.
The world made of rituals was beautiful and mystical.
The spectacle of colorful snakes slithering about was mesmerizing enough to make me lose myself for a moment.
But there was no time.
Regaining my senses, I grabbed one of the rituals wriggling right in front of me with my hand.
The one that began wrapping around my hand like a real snake.
I injected mana into it. Mana that reacted to fire, at that.
Then the snake with vivid red patterns began turning pitch black.
Good
It was just as I had thought.
I released the ritual, now corrupted like a virus.
Wherever the corrupted ritual passed, black ink-like stains began to spread.
But this wasnt enough yet.
I quickly repeated the same process on the surrounding rituals.
Thus, I caught, corrupted, and released rituals several times.
By the time my vast mana was nearly depleted, my vision was filled with large and small black snakes.
Not only that, they were expanding their territory, leaving black traces behind.
Phew
Finally, the last step.
I touched the ring on my finger.
What I had made with my remaining mana was a small spark.
I dropped the spark that would burn and devour all of Jörmungandr onto the black snakes.
Whoosh.
Flames erupted.
!
Give me one reason why I shouldnt kill you.
At that moment, Helga was growling as she grabbed Ariel by the collar.
Do you even know what kind of place that is, sending the Count in alone? Are you insane? Do you have a brain?
Let go I have nothing to say to you.
Mana-depleted Ariel could only mutter weakly.
By the time Helga had brought the healers, Tristan had already vanished into the barrier.
Having lost her master, Helga interrogated Ariel, who had let him enter.
Answer my question. If anything happens to the Count, Ill tear you apart alive first.
That sounds delightful
If youre so delighted, shall I tear you half apart now?
With those words, Helga yanked Ariels collar roughly.
At that instant, the badge on Ariels collar gleamed. Recognizing the familiar crest, Helga frowned.
You youre from the Rishujet family? Whatever grudge your family has against the Count
Ahaha Thats funny.
You think this is a joke?
Seeing Ariel laugh out of nowhere, strength entered Helgas hand.
As if she would tear her apart right then and there.
But Ariel showed no fear.
A grudge? Yes. Its extremely personal, but I really hate the Count no, that man. To the point I want to kill him. But its hilarious that his subordinate distrusts him more than I do.
What?
I believe in him. Your master will definitely return.
Ariels eyes as she said that were serious.
Helga couldnt fathom how to interpret those eyes, filled with resentment and trust toward Tristan.
You
It was the moment Helga tried to say something.
Fire!
F-fire!
Shouts echoed through the stadium.
Everyones gazes turned to one place.
?
It was just as they said.
At some point, the barrier was burning.
The nearby professors tried to douse it with water magic, but the flames were fierce.
No, the fire was spreading at an unbelievably rapid speed.
Damn!
If Helga near the barrier hadnt quickly supported Ariel and retreated, she would have suffered burns from the flames.
The conflagration devoured the barrier that quickly.
Who the hell
Having put distance between them, Helga thought.
It was probably no ordinary magical flame.
In other words, arson committed by someone to break the barrier.
Anxious, Helga bit her lip.
Count
As Helga stared vacantly at the burning barrier, Ariels voice reached her ears.
See? What did I tell you.
?
Ariel spoke in a feeble voice. But a clear, deliberate one.
I said hed return.
No way?!
Helga quickly examined the barrier, and her eyes soon widened.
In the flame-wreathed stadium.
Helga spotted it through the gaps in the burning, disintegrating barrier.
The scores of fainted students collapsed there.
And behind them, the figure of the black nobleman holding a small girl in his arms.