Time flowed on, and the day of the raid arrived.
– Lev! It hasn’t been long since that incident happened, right…?
– Yeriel is right. You’ve suffered serious injuries, so it would be better to rest…
Wherever they picked up the news of my raid participation, Yeriel and Aria followed me around, trying to persuade me.
– Lev, you’re really going to get scolded! I, I will scold you…!
– As someone involved in healing, I can’t just let this slide…!
How did I end up with two people so perfectly in sync with each other?
Though they were clearly angry, it felt 1% threatening and 99% cute.
– It’s okay. I’m not alone this time.
– That’s true, but…!
The professor Diana had already written me a recommendation letter, and since I had just been discharged, there was no obligation for them to stop me.
– Don’t worry. I’m really fine.
– …Really…!
Yeriel puffed her cheeks.
I always appreciated their concern, but for her sake, I must participate in this event.
…
Following the guide dispatched from Claris, I arrived at the place…
The guild supported by the Principality of Prominence, [Eternal Flame].
As a magical guild focused on fire magic, the building made of red bricks exuded a heavy atmosphere.
– Ooooh!
– This is!
The freshmen, who had come here for raid experience, were full of admiration.
Eternal Flame is one of the seven major guilds, a place that every student from the Magic Department dreams of joining at least once.
So, such reactions were to be expected.
Anyway, as people gathered in the guild headquarters, someone who appeared to be an executive of Eternal Flame stepped up to the podium.
“First, let me briefly introduce myself. I am the captain who will lead this 17th batch, Teiron. During the raid, things will be chaotic, so just call me Captain.”
The students nodded, and Teiron continued.
“First of all, I understand that your participation in this raid is entirely voluntary. Therefore, the guild takes no responsibility for any unfortunate events that occur.”
Just like Instructor Sylvester, even with his somewhat intimidating words, the students didn’t seem particularly shaken.
Those who had signed up here were all at least S rank, with a few top students of A rank mixed in.
In other words, they were elites, confident in their own abilities.
‘The only B rank here is me…’
“However, the executives of Eternal Flame and Divine Valhalla have no intention of killing you. As long as you are in this raid together, we are comrades, that is the only fact.”
His words were blunt but stirred a sense of comradeship among many of the students, their eyes sparkling.
“Well, enough of the introduction. Let’s start the explanation. Everyone, pay attention to the front.”
Like a raid leader briefly briefing the boss in a game, the explanation of the target for this hunt began.
A hologram projected by a magical item appeared before my eyes.
And soon, the shape formed into that of a red bird flapping its wings.
“B-rank monster. [Pitbit Jae].”
At that, I could hear whispers from around me.
– What’s this, B rank? It’s nothing special!
– Right. I mean, we’ve heard about it often enough…
The students had a point.
It wasn’t extremely large, and its rank was even lower than the Pleasure Lord.
“You’re probably thinking that just because you see the Pitbit Jae and think it’s nothing special, that means you’re being careless. And carelessness leads to death.”
With the word “death”, the murmurs quieted.
Teiron continued:
“The reason the Pitbit Jae is classified as a B-rank monster is twofold. First, it is currently consumed by dark magic. Therefore, its aggression toward humans is high, and in the past, it has indeed harmed villages. If we fail to subdue it every quarter, it will inevitably harm civilians.”
I already knew this.
The reason we were able to practice raid hunting every quarter was precisely because permanent subjugation was impossible.
“The Pitbit Jae…”
In summary of Teiron’s explanation…
In the [Reincarnated Academy], the [Pitbit Jae] is akin to a typical phoenix.
It flies, controls fire, and its entire body is aflame, making it hot and blinding when approached, while being weak to ice and water.
It’s a monster with abilities that match its appearance.
Since its weaknesses and patterns are perfectly analyzed,
it’s suitable for raid practice that requires teamwork.
However, unlike regular bosses like the Pleasure Lord, monsters consumed by dark magic have unique mechanics.
The reason is because of the original game [Reincarnated Hero].
Unlike the demons in Pandemonium, monsters exist in nature or sanctuaries, and players can farm low rank monsters solo with inflated characters if they put their minds to it.
I wondered if the author was conscious of this advantage, giving the [Pitbit Jae] an ability for immortality.
This monster, when its health drops to a certain level, turns to a handful of ashes like bursting blood droplets and enters an ‘immortal’ state.
During this time, it cannot take damage and instead revives in the next quarter.
What’s worse, it gives no rewards during this process.
Still, the reason [Eternal Flame] and [Divine Valhalla] are eagerly supporting this hunt is simple.
There’s a legend that if you successfully kill this phoenix, the essence obtained will open the ninth circle of fire magic.
Of course, knowing the truth, I already know the fate of the Pitbit Jae.
Towards the end of [Reincarnated Academy], this phoenix eventually gets captured.
By none other than Caeran, who had copied Edwin’s [Execution] trait…
That guy gets to use [Instant Execution] before Edwin through [Absolute Growth], and while it isn’t accurately depicted in the novel,
it’s stated that this power nullifies the Pitbit Jae’s immortality condition.
And Caeran uses this reward to completely make Melissa his.
Ultimately, this is why Melissa betrays Edwin once again.
On the other hand, the original heroine, Yeriel.
She is also an excellent elemental magician capable of manifesting the phoenix, but she pales in comparison to Melissa, who acquired the essence of the Pitbit Jae.
This is ultimately why she loses her presence later in the story.
To summarize…
Melissa is an upgrade of Yeriel,
Selena, although she learns Wind Archery late, gets caught off guard by Crimson Wind Archery.
And the healer, Aria, is overshadowed as Lily gains healing magic through the essence after losing her dragon.
This is the whole story of the rootless Caeran party.
‘Huh.’
As I let out a sigh, Teiron’s final comment continued.
“Detailed explanations about the raid process will now be given by the elders corresponding to each division. Everyone, gather around your elder.”
With that line, the students scattered.
*
“Lady Melissa, you also participated, huh.”
“Yep. It’s been a while. Aveline.”
Discussing the royal class’s positions, the two, who hadn’t seen each other since the festival, exchanged simple greetings before parting ways.
Melissa watched Aveline’s knightly form and pondered thoughtfully.
‘I must… figure it out for sure.’
The mountains of Faephs, boasting the longest ridges in the Empire.
The monster believed to be “immortal.”
[Pitbit Jae].
The guild supported by the Principality of Prominence discovered this first.
[Eternal Flame].
However, since the [Pitbit Jae] cannot be completely subdued and keeps reviving…
The Empire has been monitoring it, bringing in Divine Valhalla and Claris under the pretext of using it as teaching material for the academy.
‘Before Aveline… I need to find out how to defeat the Pitbit Jae…’
For the Principality, she would do anything.
The hopes of Prominence resonated with this as well.
Most importantly, Melissa, proud of her fire magic, firmly believed in the legend of the Pitbit Jae, making this day extremely important.
If she could obtain the essence of the immortal, it would be possible to take the lead and become the protagonist, standing out among many talented geniuses of Claris.
‘It’s regrettable that I couldn’t bring Edwin…’
Melissa thought that Edwin had good intuition and instincts.
‘Just like when he overcame Caeran…?’
At that moment, a superhuman figure appeared.
So, she wanted to discuss the complete extermination method of the Pitbit Jae with him.
– No! Edwin has just entered the recovery phase.
Aria rejected her, saying they couldn’t let someone still recovering join the raid, so Melissa ended up coming alone.
‘…I wonder if there’s anyone useful here.’
Although she wasn’t fully satisfied…
She approached a man, an elder from the Magic Department, and greeted him with a smile.
“Hello! Senior!”
“Ah. Um, cough. So you’re the one called the Blazing Flame among the first-years, huh?”
“You can just call me Melissa!”
While she was chatting with her seniors…
She caught sight of a familiar face over there.
Selena. And… a gray-haired man.
Lev Denec.
“What’s up with him again…?”
*
“Everyone, gather over here.”
The elder of the Marksman division…
was a familiar face.
A breathtakingly beautiful woman with violet hair that reeked of nobility.
Violet de Crescent.
– Wow! I’m so glad I came! It’s Violet-senpai!
– Hey, wake up. Even someone with decent skills said they wouldn’t stand out.
– Dude, I didn’t say a word!
“Please be quiet.”
When Violet spoke expressionlessly, it instantly fell silent.
For some reason… Selena and she shared a strangely similar chilly vibe.
It was noted that Violet, who normally didn’t easily open her heart, had wanted to take Selena as her junior.
Anyway, that’s for later.
I went over to Selena.
Even if I wanted to keep my distance, I couldn’t help it since we were in the same position.
As I lined up with her, she looked at me and said, as if to make sure I heard.
“Looks like the care you gave those two worked pretty well?”
“?”
“Those two?”
Did she get close with Yeriel and Aria…?
“I heard you just recovered not long ago.”
“You worried about me too?”
“……”
Selena smiled faintly and then seemed to probe me.
“With the appearance of a Great Demon, I’m curious about how you handled it this time…”
“Hmm… why do you think so highly of me?”
At that, Selena finally looked at me.
“There must be a reason why you participated in the raid…”
“……”
‘It’s because of you.’
Not answering out loud, I thought silently and when I didn’t respond, Selena went off to check her gear, looking bored.
With her pale skin and platinum hair… she truly fit the image of an elf.
‘She’s just too perceptive.’
By the way…
‘What’s this?’
Next, my eyes landed on a pink-haired girl.
It was Melissa, subtly flirting with the seniors, playfully wrapping her tail around them.
‘What would Edwin say if he saw this?’
He’d probably be like, ‘Haha! That’s Melissa for you! So popular!’
Of course, that wasn’t Melissa’s true intention.
She just had the tendency to make connections with capable people for the sake of the Principality, to bring them to her side if they seemed worthy.
That’s why she was leaving ‘room’ like that.
Despite Caeran’s departure, maintaining her royal class was consistent with that mindset…
‘…Will she be my salvation…?’
As I sat in contemplation, unexpectedly,
– …!
Just like the dungeon exploration practice OT,
my eyes accidentally met Melissa’s.
She momentarily made a flustered expression before glancing around and coming over to me.
“You… why are you here?”
“…?”
“You’re supposed to have a professor’s recommendation…!”
She frowned slightly as if sensing something off, then bit her lower lip tightly.
She came closer and whispered.
“Just tell Edwin.”
“…”
‘Huff…’
Just as I expected…
I guess I will be the one to take the essence of immortality.
