第２５２掘：大魔術師出陣 (Part3)
"Lara, assume the worst-case scenario and organize a rescue team to rush over! I’m going ahead—if I can make it in time, I’ll save them!"
"Understood. Leave that to me."
As expected of Lara; it warms my heart to see her look at me with such unwavering trust. Receiving that gaze, I leap out the window.
"P-Principal!?"
"Don't panic. Have you forgotten the Principal's moniker?"
I hear those voices behind me, but I don't have time to respond. I pour magic into my staff, weave a wind spell, and launch myself into the sky. It’s been a while since I’ve used high-speed aerial movement, but it feels natural. Should I push the speed even further?
"I-is that the 'Little Archmage' Popuri?"
I hear an unnecessary comment from behind, so I leave a little magic behind as a parting gift.
"Gah!?"
"…Calling the Principal 'little' is an insult, so please be careful."
Now, will I make it in time? I increase my speed, rushing toward the Monster Forest.
"If Samantha and Eris’s groups are being attacked, they should be able to hold out, but..."
As I travel, I recall the groups assigned to this monster subjugation mission. Among them, there is only one group capable of fending off a wyvern: the one containing Samantha, who is in the top ten of the Academy, and Eris’s group, who even managed to push me back. If a wyvern were attacking any other group, it would already be too late. Even for Samantha and Eris, protecting the first-year students while fighting will be incredibly difficult.
"…I don't want to see the remains of little ones."
I have lived a long time, but nothing makes my chest ache more than the sight of children who have passed away.
Without taking too much time, I arrive above the Monster Forest in about five minutes.
"Where are they!?"
I scan the area, but there is no telltale smoke rising. Dammit, is it not a fire-breathing wyvern? We prohibit the use of fire magic in the forest to prevent wildfires, so this makes it impossible to track them…
*Awooooooo!!*
A massive howl echoes through the air. I immediately look toward the source. There, I see Samantha and Eris’s groups shielding the first-year students behind them… confronting a wyvern and a Black Wolf of truly unbelievable size.
That’s bad. I feel the magic power radiating from the Black Wolf and realize the truth in my gut. To feel this much pressure from such a distance means this creature possesses an immense amount of magic. Even the wyvern lurking behind the Black Wolf doesn't emit a detectable aura from this far away.
"…Is it a remnant of that era? But I’ve never seen a type like that."
If my calculations are correct, it appears to surpass even the Holy Sword Users and the Guard World. But there’s no time to ponder that. The giant Black Wolf opens its jaws, and the magic power I sense begins to swell. It’s preparing an attack. There is no way Samantha and Eris could defend against an attack with that much concentrated magic while protecting the first-years.
"Don't you dare lay a hand on my students!!"
I instinctively unleash my strongest spell, one I can cast without incantation: a surge of extreme heat, refined from fire into a blinding flash. It might cause some collateral damage to Samantha and the others, but if I worry about that, I’ll never draw the Black Wolf’s attention.
*BOOM!!*
The ground shakes, and dust clouds rise, obscuring my vision. A perfect surprise attack from the air. It’s a level of power that would fell a wyvern in one hit. It should have done some damage, and in that opening, the students could escape…
But that thought was far too naive. Before the smoke even cleared, the Black Wolf soared into the air, locked onto me, and hovered perfectly still.
"…What kind of joke is this?"
Flying and hovering in place is something only wyverns, specialized flying monsters, or liches who have mastered magic can do. A quadrupedal beast classified as an animal-type monster shouldn't be capable of such advanced magic control. That’s why I could only call the sight before me a joke.
"…Little magic-user. Why did you attack me?"
The Black Wolf speaks. This is beyond my understanding. All I know is that if I don't take this thing down, not only the students, but the Academy and the city will be wiped off the map. In other words, if the continent’s greatest fighting force falls, then…
"Answer me."
The monster’s voice resonates from the depths of the earth. If the Academy falls, no one will be able to stop this creature.
"Good grief. To be destroyed before the Holy Sword Users' plans even come to fruition—what a pathetic punchline."
I’ve held on this long for the sake of a promise made to *that person*. To have both sides annihilated before either answer is reached… isn't that just sad?
"…I will ask once more. Why did you attack me?"
"Shut up! I’m going to take you down!"
Either way, a clash is unavoidable. Even if we exchanged words, this level of strength isn't something that can be dealt with by stalling for time. Therefore, I have to defeat it right here, right now! A surprise attack—if I aim from this close range!!
*THUD!!*
The sound ripples through the sky.
"Everyone, run!! I’ll hold this thing off!!"
I use the split-second I created to scream at everyone on the ground with all my might. They seem to be shouting something back, but I don't have time to listen. The monster leaps out of the smoke and slams into me with its massive body.
"Guh!?"
My flight magic flickers for a moment, and I start to plummet. Damn it, it tore through my magic barrier like it was nothing. If my barrier hadn't been at my level, I would have been reduced to mincemeat already.
"I shall ask no more. Die, while regretting that you ever dared to wound me."
As the monster howls, a multitude of ice spears suddenly manifest and fly toward me. No way—it can even master magic!? I desperately dodge while launching my own attacks, but with every blow I land, I feel my heart crumbling and breaking.