Chapter 72
Chapter 72
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 71
Chapter Title: Pioneer
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Was there such a powerful creature outside the tower? It didn't seem like one of the modified lifeforms Philip had created.
Kwa-ang!
A massive monkey's fist burst through the wall, sending me flying.
Thud.
"Urk!"
I'd instinctively unleashed Aura to envelop my entire body, but it wasn't enough to fully block the unexpected impact.
The pain surging up from my organs was so intense that bile nearly erupted from my mouth.
Thump.
I crashed into the wall at the end of the corridor and immediately adjusted my stance, ready to draw my sword at a moment's notice.
...That thing, huh.
Thud thud thud—
The giant monkey was charging straight at me. It was a bit smaller than an ogre, but still incomparably larger than any human.
Its muscular frame reminded me of a Minotaur from the northern monsters.
"Koooeoeoeo!"
The creature let out a bizarre roar as it swung its fist at me.
I couldn't predict its trajectory in advance—it was too erratic—and its movements were so swift that I was barely able to react in time to its attacks.
Clang! Clang! Clang!
I parried the fists with my sword, but each clash rang out like striking a lump of iron.
This was on par with the physical prowess of one of the Five Generals from my previous life, the man called the "Pirate King."
Ka-ang!
It's not an unbeatable foe.
But if this whole incident turned out to be a trap by some shadowy force, it could lead to complications I wouldn't be able to handle later.
I shouldn't cause any trouble inside the Academy.
Instead of blocking the monkey's fist, I dodged and dashed between its legs, leaping back into the room.
Fwoosh!
"Jony."
Jony de Strange lay bloodied under a shattered desk in one corner of the room.
"Ber... Berddin."
I unleashed Mana upward, collapsing the ceiling.
Rumble.
As the falling debris blocked the doorway, I asked Jony,
"What about Tony?"
"Bro... Brother was eaten by that monkey...."
"Eaten by the monkey?"
"Yeah.... That thing's mouth suddenly got huge...."
Same story as Rony's.
Philip didn't have that kind of ability, so the odds were even higher that this was some modified lifeform I didn't know about.
"Got it. Rest here, then."
"You.... You're gonna fight it alone...?"
"No. Rony went to fetch Instructor Veratir. Just hold on a bit longer, and others will come to help us soon."
Even if it wasn't Instructor Veratir, with this much commotion, someone was bound to show up.
There were more than a few people here capable of handling that monkey.
Kwaang!
The monkey smashed through the pile of rubble. I quickly hid the injured Jony behind a bookshelf and drew its attention.
"Hey, your opponent's me."
I gathered a light coating of Aura in my palm. The monkey's face twisted in rage as it charged.
"Kroooar!"
I layered Mana over the Aura in my palm, creating Lightning.
Bang!
I detonated a flash right in front of its eyes, blinding it.
"Kraaak!"
The monkey clutched its eyes and staggered.
Tony's inside that thing's stomach, huh?
If so, then cutting open its belly to rescue him would be justified—no one could make a fuss about it.
But...
If he wasn't in there, I'd be in deep trouble. I'd turn the entire Louisnes Academy against me and earn the infamy of trying to kill my own brother. The rumor would spread across the continent from the students' mouths.
Better play it safe.
Stick to the original plan: hold out until Veratir arrived. With that in mind, I tried luring the monkey out of Philip's lab.
"Is that the monkey you were talking about?"
A familiar man's voice came from behind me.
Thud thud thud thud—!
Bloody Rony de Strange burst into Instructor Veratir's office.
He flung open the plain wooden door and stepped inside. There was an ancient, worn desk that looked impossible to date, four chairs, a tattered sofa against the wall, and a muscular old man with brown curly hair sprawled on it, drunk.
"Veratir!"
Rony's voice echoed loudly through the room.
"Huuuuh?!"
The muscular old man jolted upright and glared at Rony.
"Which crazy bastard dares call me by name like that?!"
He glanced at Rony by the door, then ruffled his messy curls and continued.
"What the—? Isn't this that idiot Roys's son? You damn brat, how dare you call an instructor by name?!"
Veratir charged at Rony regardless of his bloodied state and smashed a fist into his head.
Thunk!
It sounded like a hammer striking an anvil. Rony let out a short "Hng!" and clutched his head, stumbling back a step.
"Agh!"
"Shut up! My ears are ringing, you punk!"
"You're a mad dog after all."
"What'd you say?"
"You resort to violence just because I called your name once?"
"Heh, you brothers try to kill each other with swords, but whine about violence now?"
Rony started to retort through gritted teeth but suddenly remembered something and shook his head.
"This isn't the time. Your friend Philip's gone insane."
"...Philip?"
Veratir finally took a proper look at Rony's condition and asked.
"Why are you covered in blood?"
"Philip turned into a monkey and went berserk. I got slashed by its claws."
"What the hell does that mean?"
"No time to explain—hurry to Philip's office. Otherwise, we're all dead!"
A barrage of incomprehensible nonsense.
"Then just die, problem solved."
"...What?"
"I wish all you rude brats would drop dead. Now get out of my office and go die."
Dialogue wasn't getting through.
Should never have come to this instructor! Rony inwardly cursed Berddin. He'd already sensed the man was beyond saving after just a few exchanges.
As Veratir shoved Rony out and tried to close the door,
"Please go now, Young Master Strange, who hates violence."
"W-Wait! Berddin told me to fetch you."
"...Berddin?"
"Yeah, my little brother Berddin."
Veratir's eyes changed.
His previously drunken, hazy gaze sharpened like a hawk's, focusing intently.
"That kid's here right now?"
"Yes! It's an emergency—he specifically said to get you. I suggested someone else, but he named you."
"......"
"So I came all this way, and you tell us to go die? Is that what an instructor says?!"
To a third party, it might look like a rude student clashing with a delinquent instructor, but their bond was deeper than anyone else's at the Academy.
"Fine, let's go."
At the mention of Berddin summoning him, Veratir started moving.
"Y-You're going...?"
"You called me."
"But when I said it was dangerous, you told me to die?"
"You were always rude—even back when I visited your father's estate, so I wasn't gonna help."
"......"
"Berddin always called me 'Master' and came to learn martial arts. He wanted to master close combat, something he lacked."
Rony scowled and turned away.
"Whatever—just help us already."
"Say 'please help me,' you hopeless punk. Talking without thinking—you take after your old man!"
Who dared speak to a Strange like this? Rage boiled in Rony, but he bowed his head anyway.
"Please help."
"Nah."
"...What?"
Veratir chuckled and slapped Rony's back with his palm.
Smack!
"Just kidding, punk! Come on, let's see what that bastard Philip's done."
It took just one strike.
Veratir, breathing heavily as he arrived, crushed the monkey—which I'd thought as strong as a hatchling—with a single blow.
Kwaang!
His Aura-infused fist caved in the monkey's steel-like abdomen. I could have taken it down in one slash too, but not with such overwhelming raw power and speed.
Impressive as always.
Worthy of being Father—called the continent's strongest swordsman—'s comrade, his Aura was on a level no ordinary martial artist could dream of.
"Hey, Berddin. Long time no see."
I greeted him with a warm smile.
"How have you been?"
He ignored the subdued monkey and walked right up to me.
"Yeah, your old man's still kicking?"
"Unfortunately."
"Too bad. I was gonna kill him."
The kind of banter only close friends could share. Rony, uncomfortable, cleared his throat and entered the room.
"Din, what are you doing? Hurry up and slice open that monkey's gut to get Brother out!"
I shook my head.
"Sorry, but I can't be the one to do that."
Academy rules strictly forbade outsiders from interfering in internal matters.
Of course, only a few knew that. Rony hadn't caused trouble inside the Academy yet, so he was unaware.
Of the punishment for breaking it.
"Why?"
Veratir answered for me.
"If they open that monkey's belly and Tony's not inside, they'll have to open Berddin's too."
"......?! W-What do you mean?"
"You idiot. How long have you been here, and you still haven't memorized all the Academy rules?!"
Rony clamped his mouth shut, unable to take the scolding. As he hung his head, Jony, who had been huddled under the desk, cautiously crawled out.
"H-Hello."
Unlike Rony, he at least greeted properly.
"Hey, Jony. You doing alright?"
"Yes. You saw me at the tavern yesterday. You were drinking, so I just gave a quick greeting and passed by...."
"Oh yeah?"
"You asked if I was well, and I said yes."
"Uh, right right. Kinda rings a bell."
While they chatted, I examined the monkey.
As expected.
This thing wasn't a living creature.
Neither was it Philip transformed, nor one of his modified lifeforms.
Some ability I don't know about.
Hiss—
Smoke billowed from the monkey's body as it began to shrink. More precisely, its skin decomposed, evaporating into steam that scattered everywhere.
Whose power is this?
Someone working with Katarina, using this kind of strength.
Once all the smoke cleared, Tony—who they'd said was swallowed by the monkey—came into view. Unlike Jony and Rony, he looked unscathed, as if he hadn't fought at all.
I see.
I'd wondered who was so strong. What I'd fought wasn't an enemy—it was Tony's power.
He'd forcibly awakened the Aura core hidden within him.
That's why it had strength I hadn't anticipated.
Doesn't matter either way.
Right now, I'd secured someone to prove that someone in the Academy had targeted Tony.
"Jony, Rony. Take Tony to the infirmary."
Jony and Rony replied in unison.
"Got it!"
"On it!"
With this incident, they could recognize the shadowy force as enemies.
"Instructor Veratir, could we talk for a moment?"
Staying here now meant I'd get a chance for retaliation.
"Sure. First, let's sort things out with my pal Philip."