I realized I was late as I passed through the back gate.
The intervals between the ground shakes were getting shorter, and the speed was absurdly fast.
In just a matter of seconds, that beast was going to engulf the Imperial University.
“Barrier…?”
But the extensive barrier only held it back temporarily.
*Ka-boom…!*
Magic spells shot out in bursts, stopping the creature again.
The result gave me about 30 seconds.
Enough time for me to arrive.
“Time buying. Good job.”
“…!!”
As I placed my hand on his shoulder, Ludwig looked up at me with a surprised expression.
Through his expressionless face, I could catch a glimpse of joy and expectation.
But the problem was…
‘What now?’
I had hurried over but had no plans in mind.
Initially, I thought of using ‘Selection and Concentration’ on my mana, directing all my power at the beast.
But seeing it remain unfazed by the barrage of spells from the faculty changed my mind.
Even if I shot at it, it likely wouldn’t make a significant difference.
Moreover, my magic was far less refined than the professors’, so I couldn’t concentrate it effectively on a single point, reducing its power.
I needed to find another way.
A method to strike that gigantic, grotesque ancient monster.
Fortunately, an idea came to me in an instant.
‘What if it’s Vafe?’
I wondered if that sword of light could pierce the skin of the beast.
It was a sword that could slice through thick trees without resistance.
If swung quickly enough, it could even break a steel sword.
Yet, a problem remained.
In order to stab with Vafe, I needed to approach it.
Even if I did stab it, I doubted it would pierce deeply enough to inflict a fatal injury.
‘Increase its size…?’
Then an incredible thought struck me.
When I was swinging Vafe in the Great Forest, I had to use magic to stop an axe flying at my head.
At that moment, I ran out of mana, causing Vafe to dim for a moment.
But the instant I used ‘Selection and Concentration’ to recharge my mana, Vafe burst forth brighter and larger than before.
So theoretically, the amount of mana I poured into the circuit could adjust its size.
Now was the time to prove that theory.
Failure was not an option.
Taking just one step back would lead to massive casualties.
‘Selection and Concentration. 1 second on mana. 3 seconds on mana sensitivity.’
In an instant, my mana level surpassed 100,000, soaring like a rocket.
Also, all the mana energy emitted by the beast was being converted to mana on my end.
“Go back, Schlus Hainkel! This is something you cannot handle…”
*Wheeeeeeng…!*
The internal circuit began to whirl, echoing a sound like an engine starting.
I was flooding the circuit with the largest amount of mana ever.
The circuits spun violently, causing my heartbeat to race and my body to heat up.
The internal circuit was overloaded.
If I pushed any further, my blood vessels would burn away.
The internal circuit spun rapidly, and the mana energy accumulating in my body began to rise madly.
My head was spinning, and I was on the brink of a nosebleed.
Now was the time.
I stretched my right hand high into the sky.
*Ka-a-a-a…!*
Light burst forth from my palm as if firing a light cannon.
The beam of light shot out with enough force to pierce my hand, immediately soaring past the treetops into the sky.
I forgot the professors were fleeing and stared up at the sky.
Were they placing their hopes on me that much?
If so, I had to respond to that expectation.
“ROAAAAR!!!”
The creature, freed from its paralysis, rushed toward me with its ugly face in full view.
It was moving much faster, likely due to excitement.
5 seconds until impact.
‘Damn. It’s heavy?’
But the pressure on my right arm was no joke.
It felt like something was pushing down on it hard, making it immovable.
Suddenly looking up, I noticed the beam of light had grown tremendously thick.
Swinging it with one arm was definitely impossible.
I raised my left hand and clasped it around my right.
Like gripping a longsword.
Then the light split apart, suddenly forming a shape.
“That, that’s…!”
“A greatsword shape…?”
It was indeed in the shape of a sword.
A massive sword of light rose above the mountain peak.
It was tall enough to be seen even outside the institution.
Now it was time to bring it down.
“GRRAAAAHH!”
Channeling all my strength, I forced my arm down.
Yet the sword only budged frustratingly little.
The beast had now approached within swinging distance.
I could see its massive eye details closely.
1 second until collision.
At that moment, the sword that was slowly descending accelerated, plummeting ferociously.
0 seconds until collision.
*Ka-BLAM!*
Just as the beast’s mouth was about to swallow me, a blue light surged forth and split its body.
In an instant, the shockwave ripped through, slicing the creature in half, and the two severed halves narrowly zipped past Ludwig and me.
*Crash! Crumble…!*
The severed fragments rolled around the mountain, causing chaos.
Not a single tree remained where the shards had passed; all were snapped or uprooted.
I quickly turned back, and the professors were all sprawled on the ground.
Were they all safe?
No. One was missing.
Who could it be?
“Hu! Huh?!”
At that moment, I heard a sound resembling a pig being slaughtered coming from below.
Chasing the origin of the sound, I found Professor Relic lying in front of the massive claws of the slain beast, just barely avoiding the sharp tips.
When did he escape all the way to here…?
Well, at least Professor Relic was safe as well.
There were no casualties.
“Huuh…”
With a sigh, I inspected my arm.
It looked so blue that at first, I thought it was stained with a strange light.
It took me a moment to realize they were all bruises.
Looking around, the mountain had been utterly stripped bare.
Seeing the half-slain body of the beast rolling down below felt surreal.
At that moment, I first felt the reality of it.
‘Am I actually really strong?’
At this point, I realized that among humans, I could be considered among the strong.
I had thought I was a mediocre guy who fell behind Hertlocker in close combat, behind Peline and Trie in swordsmanship, and behind Aintz and Erica in magic.
But with all the embodiment perks and enlightenment muddled in Schlus’s body now, I might be quite strong.
“Schlus Hainkel.”
“Ow ow ow!”
As a strong grip locked around my arm, I let out a reflexive scream.
Actually, it wasn’t even that tight.
At the sound, Ludwig flinched and trembled slightly.
Damn, how embarrassing.
“Good work. Now let’s evacuate.”
“Yes?”
Ludwig’s gaze was fixated on one point.
As I followed his gaze, I let out a gasp.
Uninvited figures cloaked in black hoods loomed above, looking down at us.
*
“Is there anyone here with remaining mana?”
“……”
A heavy silence ensued.
Ludwig ground his teeth in frustration.
We had found ourselves faced with an unexpected ambush.
Everyone here was in a state of exhaustion with not a drop of mana left.
It was truly a dire situation.
“I’ll buy some time. In the meantime, professors… ahk!”
“What do you plan to do with those shredded arms? Stop talking and go down. Go down and contact the empire’s police to seal off this mountain.”
“……”
Schlus Hainkel’s expression twisted.
He had done more than enough for his role.
No, he had more than exceeded it.
Now it was time for the professor, the adult, to step forward.
Soon Schlus Hainkel clicked his tongue and began to back off slowly.
‘They’re after the faculty, after all.’
Given the circumstances, it wouldn’t be unreasonable to assume they had freed the ancient monster, Untier.
The attack target was likely the entire institution, but the fact they lay in ambush while preparing for Untier’s potential defeat suggested that the first target was the professors of the Imperial University.
What grudge could they possibly hold against the faculty…?
“Yousek! Isn’t it frustrating? Why not just take off that hood?”
“What?”
Schlus suddenly began saying something strange from behind.
Yousek? Yousek…? Yousek von…? What was it again?
No matter how much Ludwig racked his brain, he couldn’t recall the surname.
He had definitely been my assistant, but due to submitting terrible papers, I had lent him to Chairwoman Alexia temporarily.
No way that pathetic guy would be standing over there…
“HA HA HA! Schlus Hainkel! When did you realize?”
As the hood was pulled back to reveal a youthful face, Ludwig couldn’t hide his shock.
Had that guy devised a plan to unleash Untier and wipe out the faculty?
What skill or guts did he possess to pull that off?
“Hey, graduate students! Take off your hoods too! It must be hot under them.”
“……!”
The moment Schlus said something absurd, the hoods slid off one after another.
The professors’ expressions shifted to one of horror.
They had just discovered their graduate students under their supervision.
Most of them were students who hadn’t managed to write proper papers for years, stuck in the same courses.
If this was the case, then all this was part of a plan spawned from hatred for the faculty.
Some professors fell into a panic, unable to accept that shocking truth.
“Good. Well done. Now that you’ve unmasked their hoods, what’s your next move, Schlus Hainkel?”
“……”
“You wouldn’t say you have no plans after going this far, right?”
“……”
Schlus kept his mouth shut, maintaining his silence.
He must have a plan.
Certainly, he must.
Schlus Hainkel had never failed up until now.
Naturally, he wouldn’t be lingering here without a plan.
“Ludwig von Wermannstein! Do you remember me?”
“……Yousek.”
“At least you remember my name. That’s good! After a year stuck with that damn Majin, I thought you’d completely forgotten about me!”
“……”
“What? You think I’m useless? Just a punching bag for the Majin chairwoman? How ridiculous! Who is useless? I have been reborn, Ludwig! I’ve received the Majin’s authority—”
“Enough with the incessant babble.”
“……?!”
Just when I thought Schlus Hainkel was going to remain quiet, he stepped forward.
What method would he use?
A way to subdue them with words.
Ludwig looked at the back of Schlus with a hint of expectation.
“Your tongue is long. You’re not even a graduate student, are you? I can see why you’ve been stuck in this lab without graduating. You’re like life’s losers.”
“That bastard!!!”
Ludwig felt a wave of dizziness wash over him in an instant.
Instead of thinking of a method, he attempted to provoke them.
He hadn’t planned on trusting that madman.
