The red liquid staining the floor.
Most of those who see that horrific scene immediately turn and flee.
The majority likely come to this archive to handle paperwork or head-related tasks like Noah.
Seeing someone’s death was something they had never experienced before and should never have to experience in the future.
Even if they did, it was something they should only see through a monitor or in photographic records.
“Ugh…”
One of the students is heard retching, struggling to erase what they saw from their mind.
“Fuh…”
Noah’s hands tremble quietly.
Dying. Being cut apart, blood pouring out, going down the monster’s esophagus…
“No, it will be okay.”
However, she had experienced a similar situation in the past.
She grips her trembling hands with strength.
Surely, nothing serious will happen. She trusts that person.
She believes they can survive.
They are not just ordinary guards of the Academy.
They are people who can easily defeat typical monsters on their own.
Only those who meet that minimum requirement can be responsible for security at the Academy, so it was clear this situation could pass without further casualties.
Thus, Noah quickly regained her composure and began to lead those who still couldn’t fully understand the situation to the back of the archive.
“First, everyone, take cover inside! Don’t run too quickly and don’t push each other!”
Fortunately, since the archive was on the outskirts, there weren’t many students inside, and they successfully entered a space where the monsters couldn’t easily come in while maintaining order.
Tap!
As she left them and stepped outside again, what she saw were monsters trying to squeeze in through a narrow gap and guards piercing them with sharp movements.
Shink!!
Spears being thrust in and quickly withdrawn.
A massive hole is created, precisely penetrating a monster’s heart and creating a shockwave.
Creak crack!!
The monsters trampled over the corpse of their comrade, and finally, burst through the door of the archive to invade.
“Single formation.”
At the tip of the spear lightly drawn from above, blood spouts as one monster gets torn apart.
‘Stronger than I thought…!’
Indeed, Noah’s assumption was correct.
They can survive!
“····Are you not going yet?”
“Ah, is there anything I can help with?”
“Um…”
Rustle!
Once again, the guard cuts down a monster that stepped over its comrade, pondering briefly before speaking.
“If I make it back alive, please tell them to give me a raise. My dog’s food costs a lot.”
“Ah… yes! But you seem really calm right now…?”
“Well, that’s true, but you never know how things will turn out, right?”
The man said this and then silently began to repel the monsters again.
Thrusting, cutting, and hitting.
One at a time.
Slowly… but steadily, the number of monsters decreases.
“Damn, how many are there? No… how many gates are open?”
Even so, there were still many monsters, but it was certain they could hold out until the professors arrived.
Just as Noah felt relieved at this reassuring sight.
Wooooo!!
Boom!!!
A massive roar erupted outside as a giant monster, larger than any they had previously encountered, smashed through the entire narrow space and reached out a hand toward the guard.
“Horizontal strike.”
Firmly stomping both feet on the ground to anchor himself.
At the same time, the spear’s blade is drawn at high speed.
With movements that seemed to dance lightly, a red line is drawn on the monster’s arm.
Shink!
Crack!
Yet for just a moment, the monster’s arm begins to exert force to crush the guard.
Thud!
As he strongly thrusts the spear into the monster’s arm, the line he previously drew becomes clear and transforms into a mass of meat in an instant.
“Wow, incredible!”
Despite being just a guard, he never imagined he would be this strong.
Perhaps it truly seemed possible that no one would get hurt and they could return to their normal lives.
The death of the initial student was tragic, but the living must survive.
“That was close; the skin was thicker than I expected…”
Just as the guard sighed in relief.
Boom!!!
“Ugh…!”
The remaining hand came crashing through the wall of the archive, grabbing the man.
“No…!”
This time, the hand seemed intent on killing him, rapidly bringing its body close to him.
If it continued like this, the same tragedy that befell that student would undoubtedly occur.
And it would be only a moment before both Noah and the students behind her died as well.
The guard struggled to move, but his arms were bound, leaving no room to swing his spear.
“I can help you…!”
“Don’t come here!”
The guard yelled at Noah, throwing the spear wedged between him and the monster’s hand high into the air, catching it in his mouth.
Rustle!
And with a sound of something cutting, the guard escapes the monster’s grip.
“My arm…!”
However, upon seeing the escaped guard, Noah could only be horrified.
“I’m fine…!”
He had escaped from the monster’s arm and created the slight space needed to move his arm.
To create that space, the guard quickly severed his own left arm to escape.
Swish.
He tied some nearby clothing to stop the bleeding from his arm and raised the spear with the remaining right arm.
“Hoo… I can attach it later. I cut it cleanly, so… ugh, now hide behind me. You’re in the way.”
“Ah… yes!”
With a firm decision, he made the best choice.
However, because of this, the guard’s fighting ability rapidly decreased.
With a pained expression, he gripped the spear.
Swish!!
The monster’s hand swings at him in a rotating motion.
However, without the opposite arm, he couldn’t put enough strength into his body, and he couldn’t fully sever the hand.
Furthermore, an even worse situation awaited him.
Kiaaaaaaa!!
The creature that seemed to be their leader was not one.
Another gigantic monster howled in addition.
“Oh, crap.”
The guard spat out a simple but clear curse filled with emotion.
No matter how strong he was, solving this situation alone was impossible.
He couldn’t rely on him solely anymore.
But… what should he do?
Should he swing a sword? Or use the basic magic he learned?
“……..”
Fortunately, in the archive, there was a considerable amount of paper and pens nearby.
And in her memory, she recalled a magic that could enhance the opponent’s strength or stamina.
While she couldn’t cast the magic directly, she could write it down…!
However, since Noah’s major was not magic but paperwork and data, engaging in magic that was outside her field would take a significant amount of time, which was problematic, but this was not the time to be picky.
“First… let’s write down what I remember…”
The wizards Noah knew could interpret information directly in the air and activate spells, casting various debuffs and buffs in less than ten seconds.
But that was only possible for wizards.
Their absurd speed of calculation and intelligence in the field of magic made it feasible.
For someone without talent in that field, like Noah herself, just looking at that information could overload her brain.
A realm where geniuses and geniuses fought.
That was magic.
In the past, the magic of the old era was typically drawn on the ground or paper over a long period using magical power, but wizards had continuously developed more efficient methods, and the old ways had declined and disappeared.
But none of that mattered now.
Just having a method that even someone like her, who had no talent, could use was enough to be grateful for.
“Got it…!”
It took a long 10 minutes just to draw basic enhancement magic, but the glowing green magic circle indicated that it had been successfully drawn.
At the same time, the guard, slightly faster now, glanced back and expressed his gratitude.
“That helped. Stay behind me now; I’ll handle things somehow…”
As soon as he finished speaking, the guard’s hands moved hurriedly to block and stab at the monster’s attacks.
Thud!!
The spear pierced through its hand and shoulder.
However, the monster was still alive.
Kraaah!!
The remaining hand and mouth gaped wide, intending to tear apart the man’s upper body.
“Spiral.”
Yet, the spear that would take down the last remaining leader trembled.
A delicate shimmer appears at the tip of the gracefully rotating spear.
“Spear.”
Finally, with the shape of a vortex, the enormous monster collapses as its belly bursts.
“Hah…”
Having just expended a significant amount of stamina, the guard dripped with sweat, yet the monsters’ attacks ceased.
Surely, more monsters would come from further away, but the ones in this area had undoubtedly all been killed.
“Done it!!”
Piles of monster corpses lay in front of the guard.
Underneath, the guard slowly rose, still sweating.
“First, some treatment…”
As there was no longer a need for significant strain, just as Noah approached the guard.
Shlick.
Something severed the guard’s remaining arm.
“Kuhhh!!”
“!!!… What is this…!!”
A red thorn pierced through his arm.
It seemed like that enormous thorn, made of blood, floated and returned to its owner.
“Hello, everyone.”
What caught her eye was an old man wearing a goat mask.
“You are…”
“We are in the midst of a great undertaking.”
Who on earth was this suddenly appearing person?
No, judging by the situation and the dialogue, it was clear he was not a person who was at all favorable to them, so Noah tried to move to help the guard as best as she could, but…
“You must assist for his sake.”
Thud!!
“Ugh…!”
Red thorns pierced Noah’s legs, inflicting tremendous pain.
“Who the hell are you…?”
She gritted her teeth but did not scream, yet could not move.
It was clearly dangerous.
‘Am I dying?’
Death loomed closer.
“Then, goodbye.”
The old man’s hand was raised, and countless blood-red thorns appeared behind him.
Noah squeezed her eyes shut in anticipation of the coming pain.
At that moment.
Bang!!
A clear sound resonated in the air, shaking the world.
“……..”
Clattering…
A long bottle rolled into Noah’s direction.
“Ah…?”
“Senpai! Thank goodness! You’re not too late!”
And in the girl’s view appeared a small figure with white hair.
“Eh…Sha?”
Also hearing the familiar voice, she inadvertently felt relief wash over her.
