Chapter: 157
“Ugh, today was exhausting… I seriously feel drained every time Ms. Eve’s class rolls around lately…”
As soon as Daniel plopped down at the table and started complaining like he was about to die, the children around him all nodded in agreement.
It was true that Ms. Eve’s recent classes had been a relentless series of training sessions pushing us to our limits, so everyone resonated with his sentiment.
Meanwhile, Marin, who was approaching to sit near me, casually commented as she passed by Daniel, who was sprawled out on the table.
“But Daniel, haven’t you improved compared to when you first started? You got easily taken down by the demonic beasts during the initial training, but now you’re able to fight back decently.”
“Uh? Yeah, you’re right? Hahaha! I feel like I can handle them way better recently. Sure, our overall level has gone up too, but wow, hearing that from one of the ace students really lifts my spirits!”
At Marin’s words, Daniel, who had been slumped over tiredly, suddenly sprang up and shouted “Hoorah!” with a burst of energy, causing laughter to echo through the restaurant.
Seeing the kids’ bright faces, I couldn’t help but smile.
Yeah, the recent training was tough, but it came with its own benefits.
Not only were we improving our skills thanks to the practical and intense training, but repeatedly having to rely on each other for protection during battles had also brought the A and B class kids closer together.
Considering how I’d also made friends with my training camp buddies during military enlistment in just a month or so, it seemed that sharing hardships was the best way to bond.
Even though it was kind of sad that kids this young had to face military-level struggles in this world.
While I reminisced with a bittersweet smile about memories that no one else could resonate with, I noticed Dwight, who looked more exhausted than Daniel, coming toward me with his meal, so I casually asked.
“Hey Dwight, you look more tired than usual. Did you not sleep well last night?”
As I spoke, Dwight gave me a sidelong glance and settled down at the table, responding to my question.
“Well, I went out last night to check on the construction, and since it’s nearly completed, I worked a bit longer than usual thinking I could finish it today. So, not much time left to sleep.”
“…Honestly, you could’ve found a little time to sleep, right? I can tell you pulled an all-nighter doing magic research last night. You prioritize magic over sleep too much. Just don’t overdo it, okay?”
“I appreciate your concern, but I’m fine. One night without sleep doesn’t impact my condition at all, and since my health directly affects my magic research, I take care of my body better than anyone else.”
That was quite persuasive.
Nodding at Dwight’s response, Sylvia, who was sitting next to me, seemed intrigued and asked Dwight.
“So, does that mean the construction of the teleportation barrier is finishing up today?”
“Yeah. It should be done by lunchtime.”
When Dwight replied, Sylvia turned to me with a smile and said, “Then that means that despicable witch who kidnapped Scarlet won’t be able to pull that kind of stunt again.”
“Uhm… Sylvia, you just cursed a bit there…”
“Oops, well, Scarlet is just so— I would never say such things.”
With a playful tone, Sylvia laughed, but I noticed something.
Hidden behind Sylvia’s smile was a dangerously fierce glint in her eyes.
It was as if she was saying she’d kill anyone who dared to mess with us, witch or not…
Feeling a chill run down my spine, Marin snickered and said, “Well, thanks to the construction, I can enjoy some freedom at home for a while. My parents said they wouldn’t be home this week.”
Hearing Marin, I recalled a phone call I recently received from Yoon Si-woo.
Right, they had said they wouldn’t be home this week.
During that last incident, Yoon Si-woo had worriedly mentioned to me that he was concerned I might do something reckless while he was away, but I had reassured him that wouldn’t happen.
I had found some mental peace since then, and I didn’t feel anxious anymore just because Yoon Si-woo wasn’t nearby.
It just felt like everything would be alright.
Resting my chin on my hand, I enjoyed the sound of the children’s laughter while gazing out of the restaurant window at the view outside.
The sky was blue, and the weather was sunny.
Such tranquility.
As I was lost in my idle thoughts, suddenly I muttered,
“…Huh?”
I felt the gazes of the kids shift toward me at the sound.
And as I pointed outside with shaking hands, an unusually heavy silence engulfed the restaurant in an instant.
The sky outside the window I pointed at was splitting apart as if sliced in half.
“…What is… a barrier…?”
Dwight murmured, looking more shocked than anyone.
I realized that what was splitting wasn’t the sky but rather the barrier protecting the city from the miasma.
But after a moment, I saw the translucent barrier slowly return to its original state.
Could this be the property of the barrier that naturally heals itself, as I had once half-heard from Dwight?
Even though the barrier had regained its form, we couldn’t escape the deep shock of what had just transpired.
A barrier wasn’t something that could easily be damaged in the first place.
Unless someone possessed capabilities like the Holy Sword of Humility that Yoon Si-woo wielded, touching it was next to impossible.
Thus, what we had just witnessed was undeniably a foreboding of something serious happening.
As if to underscore the gravity of the situation, tiny spots began appearing in the sky within the recently split barrier.
We had no choice but to recognize the identity of those spots soon.
Especially since those spots emerged into black, spherical forms one by one.
“…That’s… the barrier.”
“…Mid-level demonic beasts have entered the city?”
We immediately recognized them; they were the same ones we had seen repeatedly during our training.
The expressions of the children paled.
Having anticipated the invasion of demonic beasts, we had been training to evacuate the people.
Each of those beasts could slaughter many innocent citizens.
So, without a second thought, the kids all rushed outside.
To save the people, as quickly as possible.
As we burst out of the building, we found the playground filled with teachers and students rushing out, likely having seen the same scene we had.
A large screen manifested right in front of us as we ran.
And as we saw Ms. Eve’s figure on the screen, a frantic voice was heard.
[Everyone! This is an emergency, so I’ll explain the situation quickly! You probably saw it, but demonic beasts have invaded the city! According to the testimony of a person who fled from the outskirts, an entity calling itself a witch broke through the barrier and unleashed demonic beasts into the city! The heroes in the boundary area cannot support us due to the side effects of the construction that just ended, so all academy personnel will be dedicated to protecting the citizens! Got it?]
We had no time to waste; we had to protect the people from the demonic beasts, so Ms. Eve explained the situation as she kept running.
Hearing that the powerful heroes deployed to the front couldn’t provide support rendered everyone’s expressions rigid, but no one slowed their pace.
In a situation where nobody else could do anything, there wasn’t a single person among us who would choose to flee.
[Most of the confirmed demonic beasts are mid-tier ones of greed! They crossed the barrier unscathed! Students who are still weak should not act recklessly; work together to confront the monsters! Remember, every time one of you falls, many more people die! We’ll start by assigning districts! The outer city, where most of the demonic beasts are concentrated, is under the care of the third years and teachers! The second years will handle the inner area, and the first years will cover the center! Remember, the top priority is the evacuation of citizens! Now disperse!]
Hearing the orders, the students and teachers scattered in different directions to the locations they were assigned.
At least it was a relief that the teleportation gate inside the city was still functioning properly since it was vital infrastructure.
The first years all teleported together toward the center of the city, discussing which area they would defend as they spread out.
The city center, being safer as it would take time for the beasts to reach it, was also packed with hospitals and other essential facilities, making it a place we needed to protect.
Specifically, the hospital, which housed critically ill patients, had to serve as a shelter to evacuate people.
While guiding the people to the hospital, I noticed Marin’s expression hardening noticeably as we passed by each other.
“That can’t be true… The direction where the barrier broke was supposed to be where my Dad was guarding, so how could it…?”
“Excuse me!! Emergency patient coming through!!!!”
While Marin muttered in disbelief, someone behind her shouted loudly, rushing in with a stretcher carrying a patient.
The patient being brought in was eerily frozen in place, as if turned into a popsicle.
Seeing that frozen patient with a neck half-severed, Marin’s face twisted in horror.
“…Dad?”
Hearing her despairing whisper brought a sudden realization to me.
In this place, this world, there was no peace to be found, as people of importance could be injured and killed so easily.
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