A pure white ring hanging around Aria’s neck.
– Why are you giving this to me…?
– Well, you help me every time. Lately, you’ve been overworking yourself.
If Aria were to describe how she felt when she received the ring from him…
Given the circumstances, confusion was the strongest feeling.
Therefore, she never really thought about its significance until now.
However, since Edwin asked, it was only natural for Aria to become curious about the reason behind the gift.
‘Was there… another meaning…?’
At that moment, a new emotion surged through Aria’s heart once again.
-!
And, this feeling reacted strongly when she locked eyes with Yeriel just moments ago.
-……
The two awkwardly averted their gazes.
In fact, Aria also had something she wanted to ask Yeriel.
What kind of relationship do the two have?
Why did Yeriel’s name come out of the corrupted Lev’s mouth?
Knowing that the two had lived in the same dormitory only made Aria more anxious.
‘But, asking would be rude, right…’
Besides, where would this question of Aria’s lead her to?
Just to find clues about Andras?
Or perhaps it’s about her hidden feelings for Lev?
‘What… meaning am I hoping for…?’
In the end, was she wishing for some kind of significance attached to this one ring?
-!!
Her heart began to flutter.
– Hah.
Caught off guard by the sudden surge of emotions, Aria took a slow, delicate breath.
Jumping to conclusions isn’t a good idea.
“If it has a meaning… well, you said it would help with healing magic, so maybe it means I should strive harder… You haven’t mentioned anything else.”
With such an ordinary answer, Edwin picked up his utensils again.
“Well! That sounds like Lev! He helped me train too… Even if he’s sometimes completely unreadable…!”
Then, suddenly he looked at Yeriel and asked.
“Yeriel, what do you think?”
“I’m jealous…”
“?”
“Huh? Oh, umm? I think it suits you both well…!”
In that moment, the word “jealous” almost slipped out loud.
Yeriel hurriedly tried to manage her expression while avoiding Aria’s gaze.
‘They’re really not… dating…’
If Aria and Lev were in a romantic relationship, Yeriel would certainly feel guilty about her own feelings.
Yet in the end, this too was merely her misunderstanding.
A strange sense of relief enfolded Yeriel.
‘Thank goodness…!’
The girl, still lacking the courage to express her true feelings, smiled shyly while thinking of the boy with ash-grey hair.
*
[Pitbit Jae] Hunt.
The time has come.
Calmly, the raid leader Teiron gave his orders.
“1,2 parties, magic users, stand by! The marksman only attack to draw its attention!”
At those words, the arrows from the marksmen, including Selena from parties 1 and 2, were released in unison.
– Pibibit!
It was a precise wind archery, but since it was meant to draw attention…
– Sha-shashak!
It failed to inflict effective damage on the [Pitbit Jae], who was in peak condition.
– Shiiiiiiing!!
The creature began to descend slowly towards the 1,2 party, tracing a line as if painting something.
– “It’s a charge! Guardians, hold up your shields properly! Grip them tight!”
– “Protecting mage, get ready to raise the barrier!”
With that, the [Pitbit Jae] lunged fiercely.
– Shiiiing!
– Kiiiiiiii!!!
– “Now!”
The students’ battle cries clashed directly with the roar of the [Pitbit Jae].
– Kwau——kwang!!!
– Hoooom!
– Gaaak!!
As the creature’s body slammed into the shield, a tremendous sound erupted, and a hot wind swept through the area.
“Don’t mess around! Prepare the protective magic!”
“Yes…!”
– Chiiiii…!
The area where [Pitbit Jae] had flown erupted in pink flames.
– Jwoong!
Fortunately, the barrier wrapping around parties 1 and 2 was activated just in time, successfully blocking the ‘afterimage’ of the [Pitbit Jae].
– Kwakwakwakwang!!!!
Afterward, an explosive sound like thunder rang out.
Experiencing such an atmosphere for the first time, the spirits of the students within the barrier began to fade.
“Is, is this for real?”
“B-B rank is this… powerful?”
“Will, we die??”
– Shiiiing!
– Kieeeeee!!!
The [Pitbit Jae], which had absorbed quite a bit of damage, soared back into the sky.
“Teiron captain, this is…!”
“…”
Without needing to say anything, Teiron felt it instinctively.
‘This is insane…!’
It was only the first exchange, but this [Pitbit Jae] was completely different.
Originally, the creature’s [Dive] could easily be blocked by shields even without using sacred power, if the knight was of a certain rank.
Furthermore, its [Flame Afterimage] didn’t inflict damage, only creating a striking flurry.
However, the amount of dark magic he sensed from the creature now was not on the same scale as before.
It must be at least A, or even A+ rank in destructive power.
Most were first-year students, a raiding party consisting of rookies was likely doomed.
There was nowhere to escape.
With the remnants of annihilation looming over them, Teiron steadied his mind.
‘What will happen if I lose my cool here…’
– Beep.
First, he sent a support request to the academy via communication magical item.
‘…If we’re to avoid the worst-case scenario… we have to endure somehow.’
Revealing the situation to the raiders would only increase the chaos.
Though harsh for the kids, this was a time to conceal the truth.
“Don’t panic.”
Teiron began issuing orders as if nothing were wrong.
“1,2,3,4 parties, now is the chance to attack! Give it everything!”
– Babababam!!!!
– Kwakwang!!
– Kieeeeeeeeek!!!!
The flight path of the rising [Pitbit Jae] was predictable, and many attacks struck it accurately.
‘Did it work…!’
– Kiyoo!!!
Among them, the arrows of the third-year student, Violet de Crescent, hit their mark perfectly.
– Bang!
A crisp slice through the air.
‘Just as the rumors say… incredible… skill.’
– Pibibit!
– Kieee! Kie!
Even suspended in midair, the [Pitbit Jae] had to obey gravity, yet her arrows seemed to target its weaknesses flawlessly.
‘The possibility may be faint… but… it might work…’
This batch also included promising students like Melissa de Prominence and Aveline Valantes.
– Kieee!
– “Here it comes!”
As the [Pitbit Jae] showed signs of intensifying its movement, Teiron gave instructions towards parties 5 and 6.
“Next up is party 5 and 6. Prepare for defense!”
– “Yes!”
However, Teiron’s calmness, along with a glimmer of hope, quickly turned into despair.
Normally, according to his orders, the [Pitbit Jae] should have attempted to dive towards parties 5 and 6.
But…
– !!
– “Captain! It’s deviating from the predicted path!”
– Kiiiiiiiiiiiiii!!!!
For some reason, it seemed to have its sights on party 3 and 4, where Violet de Crescent was, hovering above them.
“Party 3,4! No need to panic! Calmly unfold your protective magic! The remaining parties, launch attacks! Block its path! Buy time!”
Teiron’s orders were swift, but the guardian of party 4, Raymon was not yet ready.
“W-wait! Are we ready for support yet?!”
– Kieeeeeeeek!!!
– Shiiiing!
But for a beast that had lost its reason, mercy was a nonexistent concept.
The [Pitbit Jae] charged directly towards the shield knight, Raymon.
– Ping!
Just then, Violet’s wrist flicked lightly, and a crow’s wing symbol representing the de Crescent family appeared at the arrowhead.
– Pibibit!
A total of four arrows, soaring gracefully, flew towards the [Pitbit Jae].
The sealing arrow, one of the blessings of House de Crescent.
– Thump! Thump!
– Kieee!
It struck the [Pitbit Jae] beautifully at its tail, head, and wing joints, as if trying to extinguish the flames.
– Chijijijijijik!
– Kieeeeeee!
Gradually, as the effect of the sealing arrow diminished the creature’s movements, Violet maintained a blank expression, this time drawing back her bowstring strongly.
– Chijijijijijik!
From the moment she drew the bow, sparks erupted, scattering flashes like branches, producing a thunderous roar.
– Kwakwakwang!
– “V-violet senpai??”
And when the gathered mana around her began to glow brightly,
– Bang!!
Violet released the bowstring roughly, as if tearing it apart.
Every movement was decisive and unhesitant until now.
– Pachijijijijik!!
Thick beams of light, shaped like spears of lightning, pierced into the creature.
– Kiyooorrrooo!
This electric attack seemed to be effective against the [Pitbit Jae], as it let out a different sound of distress, starting to lose balance.
– Hwaaaaarrrr!
The fiery form of the creature was desperately trying to reconstitute itself, but…
– !!
– Kiiiii!
The [Pitbit Jae] started to whirl about chaotically, plummeting with a tremendous noise.
– “W-we’re hit!”
– “It’s coming down this way!!”
– Shiiiiing!!
A falling [Pitbit Jae], glowing red like a meteor.
The shield knight from the 3rd party shouted to Raymon of the 4th party.
“What are you doing! Hold up your shield and raise the barrier!”
“Y-yes…! I’m coming!”
– Jwoong!
– Sparrrk…! Sparrrk!
In no time, the fiery body of the [Pitbit Jae] crashed into the dome-shaped barrier of party 4.
– Kkwaaaaawkwawawaw!!!
– Gaaahhh!!!
Like being subjected to carpet bombing, it incessantly pounded against the shield.
Numerous layers of thunderous echoes.
– Huuuuuu…
And as the noise faded, smoke billowed up.
“It… it worked!”
With the help of the 3rd party’s support and two layers of barrier magic, Raymon could barely hold out.
“Th-thank you… ugh.”
– Kiiiiiiiiii!!!
And the [Pitbit Jae] soared back into the air, painfully piercing through the smoke.
“Are the 3rd and 4th parties okay! The rest, now’s the chance! Pour everything into it!”
It indeed looked like some damage was inflicted on it, but what came next was the real problem.
“What’s everyone doing??!”
The pink afterimage left by the [Pitbit Jae] when it flew by signified death itself.
“Do you want to die? Raise the barrier!!”
“W-wait a moment! I can’t do it right away!”
In the urgent situation, Timon’s hands trembled.
No matter how talented he was in protective magic, in such a pressing situation, continuous casting couldn’t be compensated for by skill.
In short, his lack of real combat experience showed.
Fortunately, his survival instincts, albeit not perfect, helped him successfully cast the barrier spell quickly.
“I… I did it…!”
– Jwoong.
– Chiiiii!
– Kwakwakwakwang!!!
Once again, a small explosion swept through parties 3 and 4.
After several seconds,
“W-we’re alive…?”
At Raymon’s comment,
– Huuuuuu…
This time, an ominous wind sound approached them.
The identity was the hot wind blowing from behind.
“No way, is it still not over?!”
“R-run to the rear! Take cover!”
A backlash from not predicting the drop path resulted in consecutive explosions.
“Violet! This way!”
– !!
But it was too late.
The pink mist engulfed the area around Violet and Lev.
– Kwakakakakak!!!
Darkness enveloped them.
And soon everything fell silent.
.
.
.
– Beeeeeep.
A ringing sound.
– $#%$$@!!
And far away, the commands from Teiron and the shouts of the students could be heard.
When Violet opened her eyes again…
– Huuuuu…
– !!
An unidentified blue wind barrier embraced her.
