“Whoa, it’s so flashy?”
The fireworks shot into the sky of Elgrid, which seemed to have no light at all, as if even the stars were asleep, came crashing down towards the girls’ dormitory.
Boom! The explosion sound resonated as part of the dormitory was mercilessly destroyed.
However, the one who cast the magic clicked his tongue in frustration.
“No matter how you look at it, killing those kids feels a bit off.”
“What? No, how many people have you killed so far, Leader? And you’re getting squeamish over that?”
“Can’t a person think about such things?”
“Even if we estimate, you must’ve killed at least a thousand. Why worry about it now?”
The mage, called the Leader, was bickering with a girl next to him who had tiger ears popping out from her head while keeping his gaze fixed on the dormitory.
“That guy named Daniel isn’t here, right?”
“Yes, that’s correct.”
At the Leader’s words, another girl wearing a hood revealed herself. It was Hare, who used to attend Aios Academy.
She quickly figured out that the female students were attacking the stronghold of Tudogs and related characters and informed the Leader.
“What a shame. I was curious about what level it would be if Perimao got defeated.”
“He probably lost just because he got the power of Dopple Slime. He wasn’t an important guy anyway.”
The tiger-eared girl pouted as if sulking.
The male Leader scratched his head, agreeing with her but still looking uneasy.
“Still, since a mid-ranking guy died, I was a bit curious…”
‘He’s fine with casting magic at girls he just met today, but treating the death of his comrade so lightly…’
Hare felt a moment of anxiety about what she was to the Leader.
The man seemed to give off a vibe that was somewhat off. It was like he nailed the wall wrong when building a house; the concept of common sense seemed to be injected into him differently than others.
“I haven’t been able to come for a while, but it looks the same here.”
“You came last time when you used memory-erasing magic, right?”
“Right. I heard it was a tough magic, but I was disappointed to learn it was easily undone.”
The two spoke as if out for a casual outing.
Meanwhile, the other Tudogs members were waiting for the next order instead of listening to their conversation.
“Well, since I’ve wrapped up my busy schedule, I thought I’d come out to get some fresh air before we head into the Forest of the Demon Realm.”
“Only you would think about using Warp magic to get some fresh air with a large group.”
“Thanks to Hare, I have a perfect excuse to come play like this.”
“No, it’s nothing…”
Hare bowed deeply to the smiling Leader, always careful and cautious about what surprising action he might take.
“Oh? You held up pretty well?”
“That girl looks quite interesting, doesn’t she?”
The Leader marveled while the tiger-eared girl licked her lips.
The clothes of the maid who shielded the female students were burning from the flames just cast, and she seemed seriously injured, but she had become a shield for the students.
“Do you know who that girl is?”
At the question from the tiger-eared woman, Hare shook her head.
“No, she wasn’t there when I was attending.”
Elise had brought Bertia starting from the second semester, so Hare, who left the academy before that, naturally didn’t recognize her.
“Leader, I’ll go.”
“Hmm, she seems like she’ll come over anyway?”
Despite her serious injuries, Bertia’s eyes were sharply focused on this place. The ominous killing intent made the Leader chuckle nervously, and the others from Tudogs prepared to jump out immediately.
“Be gentle. Just think of it as warming up before entering the Forest of the Demon Realm.”
With the leisurely voice of the Leader, who seemed to view the prestigious Aios Academy and the trading hub city of Elgrid as nothing more than a playground, the attack began.
“Well then, shall I go fetch my new allies?”
Thud, boom!
“Huh?”
Ares, who had been sleeping in a hospital chair, slowly opened his eyes to the commotion and tremors outside.
He got up and checked the hospital room. Diana McLean was still sound asleep, while 5th-year senior Belin Mayas dozed off in the chair next to her.
The Mayas family, where Tana Krista was from, was known as one of the three great families of the Frisia Kingdom, and Belin was a promising talent from that family.
‘I heard they weren’t on good terms…’
As Ares knew, Diana McLean and Belin Mayas had somewhat of a rival relationship, often growling at each other when they met. However, in reality, it seemed like Belin had different feelings. Since Daniel left, Belin hadn’t left Diana’s side.
“Senpai, wake up. It seems something’s happening outside.”
“Hmm?”
Belin Mayas was demonstrating that you can still look handsome even when waking up from sleep.
Ares and Belin.
The two pretty boys went out to the corridor, curious about what was happening, but due to the building’s position, they couldn’t see anything specific.
They could only confirm that something was sparkling and exploding nearby.
“I need to go out. Senpai, please stay here.”
“Got it.”
Just as Ares was about to leave Belin behind, a man appeared from the dark end of the corridor, walking steadily.
Dressed in a black robe and somewhat thin, the man had an ordinary appearance.
He had the friendly atmosphere of a neighbor’s older brother, bland and approachable.
Yet, Ares, who had been weighing the opinions of many girls, could tell through his experiences and subtle cues.
‘This guy is the culprit behind all this commotion!’
And he had come here looking for Sister Diana!
“Hello, is this Diana McLean’s hospital room? I just came by for a quick visit.”
“Belin, go grab your sword from the room.”
Ares’ words surprised Belin, but he swiftly went into the room to find his sword without saying much.
In that fleeting moment, Ares thought.
‘Let’s run.’
He’d leave it in Belin Mayas’ hands and escape.
The magical energy emanating from this man was beyond what he could handle.
“Trying to run away?”
Ares’ pupils shook as he noticed the man quickly catching on to his intentions, but the man slowly turned to the side and pointed to the open corridor.
“Go ahead, it’s fine.”
“……!”
“Hurry. I don’t intend to shed unnecessary blood.”
Gulp.
Ares swallowed hard.
When he regained his senses, he was already running down the dark corridor instinctively.
“You’re quite obedient; I like it. Life is precious, after all.”
The Leader smirked as he watched the retreating Ares and then entered the hospital room.
Inside, Belin Mayas was hastily unwrapping his sword that had been bound with cloth.
“Hey, you! What did you do to Ares!”
“Don’t be a nuisance.”
Belin Mayas’ body floated in the air and slammed hard against the wall.
Ignoring the limp Belin, the Leader slowly reached out to Diana McLean.
“Now, it’s time for you to wake up.”
His soothing voice was like waking someone from a sweet morning sleep.
Diana McLean’s body began to stir as the horns rising from her forehead grew larger, and the tail sprouting from her rear and wings on her back started to appear.
“You bastard!”
Golden light filled the hospital room.
The Leader raised a barrier as if he knew what would happen, but to his surprise, cracks began to form in what he had thought was an absolute shield.
Ares, who had run away, returned.
In fact, he had already sensed the presence outside the hospital room.
But this was astounding.
The Leader’s eyes widened, and a snake-like smile crept onto his lips.
“……Helios.”
“What! Why do you make me have these troubles, you bastard!”
No matter what the guy said, Ares swung his sword fiercely.
He had no good memories of Diana McLean.
Even as a kid, especially during this vacation, he was pushed so hard he almost wanted to die, so he couldn’t even rest.
He realized he had grown more powerful because of it, but he returned to the village to relieve the stress he had built up at the academy, and not only did he not get to spend time with Rin, he barely had time with other girls either.
Still, he felt a sense of attachment.
He had cursed that crazy girl, Diana McLean, countless times, yet Ares kept swinging his sword for her.
Of course, it wasn’t just that.
‘Destiny said so! You’re the one who will save me! I’ve devoted everything to you, so now you have to save me!’
In reality, he had intended to run away.
But at that moment, the voice of Adriana from the festival clung to his ankle like molasses.
She cried out for help, covered in tears, begging him to save her from being pursued by a magical beast, and he had fled.
‘That’s a disgusting way of thinking. A belief formed from strong power is ultimately the belief of the mighty. Such beliefs are self-centered and arrogant. After all, you aren’t worthy of holding that power.’
The words of the elf Eris tightened around him brutally.
‘You’re on the opposite end of Daniel. He possesses power but holds the beliefs of the lowly. On the other hand, you lack power but covet the beliefs of the mighty.’
In the end, he couldn’t stand being compared to Daniel McLean and feeling inferior.
“I am! I am!!!”
With red eyes, the boy unleashed the power of Helios from his palm with all his might.
It was terrifying.
Although fear enveloped him,
He didn’t want to be remembered as a grotesque person again.
Ares’ desire for growth was indeed valuable, but reality was as cruel as ever.
“Helios’ power, huh? You’ve managed to obtain quite a precious ingredient.”
Before the Leader of the illegal organization Tudogs, it was nothing but meaningless flailing.
Ares Helias collapsed, feeling a ringing impact in his head, and closed his eyes.
