Episode 19: Queen of the Snowstorm (2)
There are several reasons why Lycansroff is threatening.
Ignorant strength and unnecessarily keen sense of smell. Specializing solely in eating humans yet possessing a regeneration ability that makes it difficult to kill.
And even patterns of spewing lightning from its mouth.
As a monster, it’s not particularly remarkable to possess abilities that are basic to its kind.
Moreover, the specimen that has appeared now is wearing a brown fur coat, indicating it’s an intermediate-level individual among Lycansroff.
It’s at a level that can only be barely captured by seasoned mercenaries or hunting parties. It’s woefully inadequate to confront novices who have never even ventured outside the fence.
In the main story, only two such monsters appeared, yet the Academy falls into chaos.
The timing is impeccable. Just when they’re not enjoying the Friday night party at the square.
If two monsters appear in such a gathering, it’s inevitable that they’ll be wiped out.
“But without the guidance of professor… It must feel like facing an incoming typhoon.”
But even so, there are only two of them. As far as I know, a number of inferior Lycansroffs that match their numbers are within the range that can be subdued when the main forces among the novices come out.
In the actual main story, it proceeds smoothly with such a situation…
“Five of them, how can that be?!”
The typhoon evolved!
The intruders were not two, but five Lycansroffs. I couldn’t fathom how this happened.
Certainly, there was no interference regarding their appearance.
I don’t think the variables that had contact with Jenny and Maryd so far had a butterfly effect that increased their numbers.
Perhaps a new turning point has arisen in a narrative I’m unaware of? But I can’t even guess when that might be.
I don’t know how they suddenly multiplied like they’re from a prequel, but it’s a confusing situation.
Even in the main story, they would have barely prevented casualties. If they increase like this, the damage will be even worse… And if that applies as a butterfly effect, it could cause significant disruptions to how the Academy operates.
Regardless, the situation has become dangerous even for me.
“I’m really going crazy!”
I hurried down from the noisy rooftop and dashed towards the professors’ unique building.
Compared to students who might freeze in panic or still mistake the situation due to confusion, my actions would seem very swift.
Visiting the unique building where there are only lingering novices and a few staff members would be meaningless. But I’m not going there to request support.
The destination is the office of Cage Rebela, the head of the Combat Department. Because there are equipment there that can mitigate this total crisis.
I don’t know about anything else, but there are plenty of aristocratic resources here. If casualties occur, it will be a headache.
Above all… I can’t afford to be food for those wolves either!
– I want to live long and prosper!
* * * * *
It was a moment of enjoyment.
Who the hell interrupted the time when some damn guy was falling from the sky with a parachute? It was unforgivable.
“You… back then…!”
A werewolf, easily ten meters tall, stood there drooling. Something flashed in Jenny’s mind as she faced it.
The flashback that brought up the past made Jenny unable to move a muscle.
The pupils trembled.
The lungs contracted.
The diaphragm tightened.
Symptoms that mixed various senses to the point of not allowing breathing. She already knew what the culprit was.
Seizures brought about by unspeakable terror.
It became shackles enveloping her whole body, sinking her into a deep, dark abyss.
“I’ll postpone the showdown for later.”
Crona Delluware, who had not yet grasped Jenny’s transformation, exclaimed in dismay. Before the words could finish, one of the Lycansroffs raised its fist threateningly.
The simple gesture clearly indicated its intentions, but suddenly Crona sensed something strange.
“Jenny Chainsilver…? Why are you just standing there?”
“….”
“It’s dangerous!”
Crack!-
There was no time to question why she was standing there like a lump instead of being vigilant.
The ground strike from the Lycansroff happened in an instant. The floor of the outdoor training ground split in half.
Designed for training purposes, the floor’s sturdiness surpassed imagination.
Despite the fierce battle between the two, the floor that should have remained intact… was simply shattered by a mere fist!
If Crona hadn’t intervened, Jenny would have been at death’s door.
“Get a hold of yourself! You almost died just now!”
“….”
“Jenny Chainsilver… Why is your expression…”
The complexion of her eternal rival, Jenny Chainsilver, had strangely changed.
The woman she knew was not someone who would cower before such monsters.
Always calm, exemplary, and diligent… Seeing her in such a desperate state was a betrayal of her respect for her.
“Argh!”
The creature howled and swung its arm again.
Realizing it was no time to hesitate, Crona triggered an explosion spell from her heel.
Boom!- With a small explosion from the ground, she could quickly propel herself away, creating distance.
Avoiding the creature’s claws, she moved outside the training ground.
“How did a monster with that much power get into the academy?”
The surroundings of the academy are surrounded by a transparent barrier, preventing powerful monsters from entering.
Only low to mid-level monsters, considered to pose minimal risk, are allowed entry based on the novices’ combat experience.
Anything beyond that usually fails to recognize the academy itself or gets bounced back upon approach. As long as the barrier holds.
“Could it be… someone deliberately weakened the barrier?”
The most likely cause of the intrusion was them.
But only the professors can interfere with the barrier. So, it might be related to the professors.
Come to think of it, even in this chaotic situation, there were no duty professors or security guards in sight. While it might be the worst-case scenario coming true, there was no time to be anxious.
“I’ll do everything to take them down!”
Crona Delluware suddenly dropped the practice staff to the ground. Before questioning why she abandoned her weapon, a new staff appeared in her hand.
It had a magnificent appearance with a glossy red handle and decorations resembling a sun at the end.
Just by looking at it, one could tell it was different from a practice staff and meant for real combat.
“Come out! Sunread!”
Then, a grotesque creature with flame wings emerged from the staff’s quickly drawn magic circle.
Responding to the summon, the intermediate elemental spirit Sunread, just by floating in the air, made it difficult to distinguish between day and night.
“Jenny Chainsilver. This power I’ve been saving to defeat you… But I have no choice!”
Magic circles appeared on both wings of the Sunread soaring into the sky. They burned fiercely, expanding the heat, eventually forming a ball of light.
The explosion!
The projectile, temporarily coloring the academy’s night yellow, streaked straight ahead.
It hit the ground of the training ground where the Lycansroffs were standing, causing a massive explosion.
As the spherical flames rose, a gust of wind strong enough to blow away anything not caught spread.
Having hit accurately, Crona Delluware made an exaggerated expression.
With a real combat staff and a contracted elemental, there was no way they could escape. Thinking so, Crona straightened her shoulders.
“Jenny Chainsilver. This is the difference between you and me…”
Argh!
The sound of a wolf’s howl was heard, and Crona looked at the trembling figure with shaking eyes.
Despite receiving burns all over his body, the creatures were unharmed. Even their wounds healed instantly.
It seemed they could withstand as much heat as a senior student… They easily endured it.
“This can’t be…”
There was no time for pessimism. The creatures, their fur bristling like hedgehogs, were propelled into the sky.
What seemed like arrow-like attacks from them came in an unexpected form.
Hundreds, thousands of wolves fell like rain. The purpose of these wolf-like creatures, likened to Lycansroff’s minions, was clear.
The novices who had just been awakened by the explosion sensed the seriousness of the situation.
Those who could fight grabbed their weapons, while those unrelated to combat sought refuge deep in the professors’ quarters.
However, among those gathered in the playroom, few had weapons. Because students who possessed dedicated equipment like Crona were rare.
In such a helpless situation, Crona grabbed Jenny by the collar and shook her.
“Why are you doing this! This isn’t the you I know!”
“….”
“But, your body…”
Jenny’s hand was cold. Crona felt a shiver at the temperature, as if touching a refrigerator with her bare hands.
At that moment, two Lycansroffs approached. It would be risky to confront their fists, but Crona couldn’t just abandon Jenny Chainsilver like this.
“Sunread!”
Once again, as the creature raised its fist, Sunread flew over and enveloped them with its wings.
But it was effortlessly pierced through.
“Ugh!”
“Kyaah!”
As the wings were pierced, Sunread vanished with screams, and Crona, struck by the fist, staggered back lifelessly.
Thanks to the spirit acting as a shield, she survived, but the bleeding was severe.
“Crona….”
Seeing her friend bleeding and collapsing… It entered Jenny’s field of vision.
The ambient temperature dropped sharply. Eventually, the accumulated cold burst free, breaking the chains of reason.
Shhhhh!
Frost arrived. The spreading freeze not only engulfed the two creatures but also created an iceberg on the opposite side of the training ground.
The blizzard that had been approaching Jenny’s surroundings froze the wolves. Without any means of distinguishing friend from foe, everyone had to stay away from Jenny.
With reason lost, there was no one to stop the Snow Age.
Crack! Surprisingly, the creatures broke through the ice and rushed forward. Astonishingly, they endured the blizzard and discharged lightning from their mouths.
However, despite losing reason, they leaped over the ground, avoiding the attack, and froze the chests of the creatures after landing.
“Die!”
Then, with all her strength, she struck the frozen areas with her sword.
It was clear they would explode, and her venomous expression made her look even more menacing.
Crack!
Everything shattered. The ice that restrained them, the sword that attacked them.
Everything was futile.
Before she could even rage at this, Jenny was hit by an incoming punch.
“Crack!”
She rolled on the ground, bleeding just like Crona.
Perhaps they were accustomed to the cold. Despite being trapped several times in the Snow Age, they endured. There was no way to inflict any wounds.
This time, the creatures raised their spears. Another flashback occurred at the sight of the menacing weapon.
Would she die pierced by that spear, like her mother? Unable to avenge herself, helpless… Would it end in such disgrace?
“I won’t allow it. Never…!”
Jenny gritted her teeth. Rather than ending like this, she would sacrifice herself to drag them to hell.
In that moment of determination dominating her mind, a blizzard swept across the entire academy.
A bleak and hateful storm formed over the academy’s landscape.
“Jenny!”
At that moment, Maryd Ryudsiehl’s shout was heard, and a large lightning spell was cast. It struck and toppled the Lycansroffs who were trying to skewer Jenny with spikes.
Trying to whisk Jenny away quickly with a wind spell, another Lycansroff appeared and blocked her path. There was still one left by Jenny’s side!
“Get out of the way!”
If it had been the one blocking the way, it could have been blown away with a gust spell… But it was just before being impaled by a spear.
If it hadn’t been obstructed, she could have flown away in an instant to rescue her. She tried to kick off now, but it was already too late.
Pierced about 5 centimeters.
“Grrr?”
The spear… the creature’s arm stopped. The sight puzzled Maryd Ryudsiehl, but there was no need to look for long.
“It’s trouble if you lay a hand on her!”
As thick as a fishing line, a fishing line was tied around the creature’s arm.
Following that trajectory, there was a fishing rod. Holding it was Radon Crowler, known as a swindler.
“Friend!!~”
Maryd Ryudsiehl’s eyes twinkled with excitement. I had three fishing rods in my arms.
The number matched, and it wasn’t just one creature whose hands were tied with fishing lines. The hands of the three creatures, intending to soak in the novices’ blood, were immobilized by the fishing lines.
“Why are you breeding like crazy, you beastlings!!”
I yelled, swinging the fishing rods like clubs, knocking them into a tangled mess.
