Final Battle ⑩

There was a mix-up between the print and web versions in the previous chapter, which has now been corrected.

In the print version, Melazofis and Kunihiko Asakai were engaged in battle at the elf village, but in the web version, they had not even encountered each other.

Only the wording in that section has been revised. No need to review the rest.

Apologies for the confusion.

Teacher (Okachan) perspective

I stare at my unique skill: Student Roster.

The Student Roster lists the past, present, and future causes of death for former students—recorded succinctly.

The past section specifies where each student was born. This information never changes.

The present and future, however, do change.

The key point lies in the future cause of death.

I have acted throughout my life to avoid the deaths listed here.

Most former students were destined to die young.

And the cause of death listed was: death by skill剥夺.

That World Quest was issued. We learned its meaning after obtaining the Taboo.

To be stripped of a skill meant the system was severed.

And during this process, the skill forcibly attached to the soul could not be endured—this caused death.

Those reincarnated with "death by skill剥夺" as the cause were children with many skills.

The more skills one possessed, the higher the risk.

Thus, to ensure the survival of children with many skills, the collapse of the system had to be prevented.

That was what I believed.

"Indeed, it has come."

I looked at the scene displayed on the monitor and let my shoulders drop.

I had wished it would not come to this, yet the scene before me made it undeniable.

"Teacher. No time for dwelling."

"I understand."

I forcibly pull myself back from the mood of despair stirred by Kudo's words.

"Didn't expect we'd be fighting aboard a space battleship, huh?"

"Gets the blood pumping, doesn't it?"

"Enemy vessel detected!" they said.

"Enemy isn't a ship, nor are we in space."

The students, protected within the elven village, chatter excitedly and lightly.

But the levity is only a distraction to ease tension.

For them, raised away from threats like monsters, this is their first true battle—life and death at stake.

"Everyone, you know how to operate the system?"

"Of course."

"OK."

The children, each seated at their assigned positions, respond to Kotoko's confirmation.

Before each of them, a monitor is mounted—configured to allow operation according to their designated roles.

This includes operating the cannons installed on this UFO, and piloting unmanned combat drones.

We are currently inside a UFO hidden within the elven village.

Having been brought here by the Demon King Ariel, we reached the vicinity of the Elro Great Labyrinth—but it was impossible to bring the UFO into the labyrinth itself.

Thus, we left a surveillance unit behind and have been flying above the area near the Elro Great Labyrinth.

Then, the enemy arrived.

Their silhouette appears on the monitor.

Shadows moving through the sky, approaching from above.

Their form is a creature that, in a previous life, could never have been seen in reality—only in legend.

A dragon.

"Death by dragon attack."

The cause of death for the reincarnated individuals present here had changed since the world quest was issued.

The future death cause field for the children with low skills, protected in the elven village, had been blank.

It had changed to this.

Conversely, the death cause fields for the children with high skills who had gone into battle were blank.

The meaning of this blank state remains unclear.

One might hope it means the system has ceased to record further data.

If so, those with blank fields would survive.

That is what one hopes.

But there is no room to dwell on such thoughts.

First, one must overcome the cause of death now before them.

I recall the conversation I had with the Demon King, Ariel, before this came to pass.

“…Killed by a dragon?”

“Yes.”

The existence of the student roster is restricted from being revealed to reincarnated individuals.

Information derived from that source cannot be transmitted directly to reincarnated individuals.

However, this restriction does not apply when a third party is involved.

Therefore, the information was relayed to the third party—Demon Lord Ariel—regarding the students’ deaths at the hands of the dragon.

“Dustin targeting reincarnated individuals? For what purpose?”

Demon Lord Ariel listened to my explanation, paused, and remained silent for a moment.

“…I can’t say I fully grasp the motive. Several hypotheses are possible, though.”

Then, Demon Lord Ariel appeared to cease further contemplation.

“I understand the situation. So you’re aligning with our side, correct?”

“Yes. There is no alternative.”

“And as compensation, you wish for the dragon to be repelled and protected?”

“Yes.”

“Ah, I see. I see.”

Demon Lord Ariel nodded, as if satisfied.

“Besides, protecting reincarnated individuals was always part of the plan from the beginning. That part presents no issue.”

“! Thank you!”

“Just—!”

The Demon King Ariel cuts in, voice firm, halting my joy.

“Even though we intended to protect you from the start, the cause of death has been identified. That means our ability to fully safeguard you is highly questionable.”

“…Yes.”

That was indeed the case.

“And frankly, we have few resources left to spare.”

“Really!?”

“So you’ll have to fight yourselves. Not anyone else. Yourself.”

And so, our decision was made.

And now.

We are using this UFO, the hidden weapon of the elves, to intercept the dragons.

This UFO was constructed by Potimas as an emigration vessel for travel to other stars.

And cautious Potimas installed defense systems—excessive, some might say—on this UFO.

We will use these systems to repel the dragons with our own hands.

Fortunately, the UFO is reported to contain sufficient energy for the purpose.

The energy already stored within it may be used freely, as permitted.

It has already been extracted from the stars; returning it is no longer possible.

The Demon Lord Ariel has dispatched Ael, a combatant and supervisor, as a subordinate.

Though appearing as a young child, Ael possesses strength comparable to that of a high-tier dragon.

Leading this group are four additional puppet-like entities known as Talatectors.

In total, five individuals, including Ael.

Originally intended to be Ael alone, the Demon Lord Ariel, having heard my report, has provided additional personnel.

Though the Demon Lord Ariel’s own resources are limited, gratitude cannot be expressed enough.

"Right! Everyone, let’s go!"

Affirmative response.

I am the one who aided Potimas and imprisoned everyone in the elven village.

You still do not forgive me.

But I will consider that later.

I will do only what I can do now.

I dispatch the unmanned combat drones I am responsible for.

And launch them toward the dragon swarm.

I am the teacher, so I will not allow students to interfere.

In the print version, only four puppets survive Talatekt, but in the web version, ten survive.