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Silla gave a sharp flick to Melin’s head with a loud smack.

“Ouch!”

“Do we look like traffickers to you?”

“But it’s suspicious. How can you say you’ll let us live without asking for anything in return? Does that make any sense?”

Silla scoffed.

“Even if we tried to sell you, your price wouldn’t even cover my dog’s food. Do you even know how well-off our family is?”

“…So then, what happens to us now?” Melin dropped her gaze helplessly, causing Silla to scrunch her face and scratch her head in frustration.

“You’re set to join the Ben Tenest family, right? Well, that’s great. There’s a saying in the Empire: ‘Even if you live like a flea, make sure it’s on a rich man’s bed.’ That place is so sought after that even high-class commoners would do anything to get in. Consider yourself lucky and just keep your mouth shut.”

Melin started to say something but hesitated, her lips trembling.

Silla clenched her fist again, but Melin, mustering her courage, spoke.

“But what about the other kids? What’s going to happen to them?”

“Hey! Who do you think you are, talking to me like that?”

“Uh, I mean, what’s going to happen to them…?”

Belman, who had been quietly listening, adjusted his glasses and looked at Melin. In his hand was a red rod, slowly blinking.

“To be honest, I don’t know what’s going to happen to you all. We’re just students, after all. The academy will probably make the final decision.”

The children’s expressions darkened.

Belman thought it was better to give them a straightforward answer. Sugar Coating would only breed suspicion.

“I’ve answered everything I could, without any lies. Now it’s your turn. How strong are those instructors?”

Melin hesitated.

“That’s a bit of a tricky question to answer…”

“Didn’t you get training from the instructors? If so, you must have an idea of how proficient they are in Aura usage and what level their magic is. They must have set some goals for you.” Ꞧ

Instructors are supposed to guide students, after all. In the Magic Department of Frostheart, professors even demonstrate high-level magic and the top-tier magic above it. It’s much easier to understand when you see it in action than just hearing about it theoretically.

Melin opened her mouth slightly.

“If it’s about that, I think the instructor who handled magic mentioned he was at an advanced level. He bragged about it a lot.”

“Hmm…”

Belman thought it might be easier to deal with the mage. Even among the professors, some only reached the advanced level, and their status wasn’t that high.

“The other three are swordsmen, and they all excel in Aura manipulation, with one of them—”

“Wait, three? Weren’t there four instructors in total?”

“Yes. I heard one of them went to eliminate a magic swordsman in the highlands.”

It seemed likely they went to hunt down Luon’s group.

“Alright, got it. Continue.”

“…Anyway, one of them is on a different level. His name is Berme, and he’s a well-known figure in the Roaming Band for hunting down dozens of Pathfinders. I heard recently that he’s become capable of using an Aura Blade…”

“An Aura Blade?” Belman’s eyes widened.

An Aura Blade is a sword that’s completed by incorporating all three characteristics of Aura. It’s a legendary weapon that accelerates on its own when swung, increases cutting power with immense strength, and has unparalleled durability. It’s considered the pinnacle of Aura manipulation.

This is dangerous…

Even in the academy, there was a professor known for his prowess, Professor Gomon. But even he couldn’t be sure he’d win against a swordsman wielding an Aura Blade.

The same went for Hersel.

‘Hersel Ben Tenest. I’ve never seen that guy wield a Mana Blade. I might need to step in.’

Belman looked around at the students from the Magic Department. They were all absorbed in following the barrier techniques he had taught them.

“Are you not done yet?”

Belman asked, and the students responded with troubled faces.

“Ugh, it’s not easy.”

“I taught you the method, didn’t I?”

“Do you think it works just because you tell us to? This is the best we can do.”

One student pointed to the barrier they had cast over the one Belman had made. Their barrier wasn’t very solid. It wasn’t even a neat square, but rather looked like a jellyfish, all wobbly and irregular.

Belman quickly realized they had cut corners.

‘This isn’t barrier magic… These brats are using shield magic and trying to pass it off.’

Shield magic is a lower-grade spell than barrier magic.

Nevertheless, the key was not the defense, but ensuring that the smoke from the magic herb didn’t escape.

Satisfied with this, Belman stood up.

“I’m going to scout the situation for a bit.”

Silla, leaning on a splint, stood up as well.

“If you’re going, I’m coming with you.”

“Injured people should stay put.”

Belman left the sulking Silla behind and walked toward the bushes.

Using the red rod as a compass, he set off to rejoin the others.

***

Instructor Gurt’s forehead was wrinkled with blood vessels bulging, a testament to his frustration.

Facing two knights and two mages alone was no easy task.

Dodging or deflecting the relentless attacks from the silver-haired man and the tireless red-haired woman, he was constantly under pressure.

Zing!

A bird made of electricity grazed his cheek.

‘This is getting annoying. Where is this magic even coming from?’

Meanwhile, the ponytailed man was busy supporting the other side.

Gurt glanced at the other instructor.

“Is it still not done, Gurt? Hurry up and finish so you can help me!”

The situation was just as tough for the other instructor.

A black-haired man defended against magic with a large sword enveloped in Aura, while a brute forcefully subdued the magical tree monster.

If they closed the distance any further, death was a real possibility.

‘Damn it, this is all Berme’s fault. If only he hadn’t recklessly smashed through those rocks, we wouldn’t be in this mess…’

Gurt gritted his teeth and squeezed out the remaining Aura that had somewhat recovered.

‘Alright, I’ve recovered enough. This should be sufficient.’

Now, he could win. No matter how skilled they were, they were still unripe flowers.

Gurt had already figured out all their weaknesses after crossing swords with them a few times.

‘First, I’ll take out the silver-haired one.’

Swish!

He faked a thrust, causing Erucel to back off with a shocked expression.

“Hah!”

Gurt kicked out, driving his foot into Erucel’s solar plexus.

Thud!

With a heavy impact, saliva flew from Erucel’s mouth.

“Ugh!”

‘That takes care of that idiot for a while. Now, onto that red-haired woman.’

Gurt charged at Leana, slashing his sword. A chain blocked his arm but he snapped it with sheer strength.

As he delivered a horizontal slash, a shield conjured by the ponytailed man’s magic intercepted it.

Slice!

But Gurt cleaved through that too, only to have Leana’s sword block his strike.

Clang!

Gurt clicked his tongue.

“You’ve got more stamina than I expected. You still have strength left…”

“Well, I do practice ten thousand swings a day.”

“That’s absurdly ridiculous. But it won’t help you!”

Gurt lowered his stance and swept at Leana’s legs. She jumped back in a hurry.

But Gurt’s sword rose in a diagonal slash.

Shk!

Gurt grinned as his sword lodged into Leana’s shoulder.

“You’re still just a beginner. Isn’t that right?”

“Ugh…”

As his sword tip aimed for Leana’s chest, a fiery bird swooped in.

“Tch.”

Gurt grabbed Leana by the throat and knocked her out, then threw his sword like a dagger.

A short scream followed.

“Aagh!”

It had struck Gravel directly in the thigh.

“Ah, found you at last. You were hard to locate, weren’t you?”

Gurt immediately charged at Gravel.

But Ricks intervened, firing off a barrage of magical attacks.

From flails to axes, various weapons rained down from all directions, but they were all illusions.

Gurt enveloped his body in Aura, using its indestructibility to break through the attacks.

He grabbed Ricks’ staff, causing sweat to bead on Ricks’ face.

“Got you, ponytail.”

With brutal force, Gurt snapped the staff in half.

He was about to drive the broken shard into Ricks’ neck when—

Thwack!

An arrow lodged into his back.

Gurt was taken aback, surprised that the arrow had pierced his back, even though his indestructibility had been somewhat neglected.

‘What kind of arrow is this…?’

Regardless, an arrow was better than a broken staff.

Gurt gripped the arrow tightly, ready to strike down Ricks.

But his hand froze mid-air.

Halt!

A green glass-like barrier appeared between him and Ricks.

Turning his head, Gurt saw a man panting heavily.

“Huff… So the right path was the correct one after all.”

Behind him, the red-haired woman who had been knocked out earlier seemed to have regained consciousness.

“Belman…”

Gurt felt something snap inside him.

He hadn’t managed to kill a single one of these students. Every time he got close, he was interrupted. And now, even those he had knocked out were getting back up…

“…This is pointless. I’m going to lose my mind.”

Gurt’s patience was at its limit. He glared coldly at the mage who was fighting four others.

‘I don’t care anymore…’

Gurt shouted at him.

“If you’re not going to use the drug, give it to me! Wals!!”

The monsterization drug was supposed to be used once a day. Anything more would be a reckless gamble.

***

Limberton watched Gurt with growing unease.

They had been tactically pushing him back, thanks to Aslay and Riamon leading the charge, while the short-haired girl beside them dispelled curses with magic.

But no matter how much they seemed to break him down, the swordsman instructor held on with relentless tenacity.

‘But now that Belman’s here, there’s nothing to worry about.’

Relieved, Limberton aimed his bow at the mage.

But then, he heard Gurt shouting something at the mage.

“If you’re not going to use the drug, give it to me! Wals!!”

“What? Gurt, what about your own supply?”

“Just shut up and give it to me!!”

“Tch, looks like you’ve already used it. Fine, do whatever you want.”

The mage used a wall of earth to block Riamon and Aslay’s advance. Beyond that, he tossed a small box to Gurt.

Limberton tried to shoot it down, but he missed, dodging an arrow Gurt had thrown at him.

“Agh!”

The arrow whizzed right over Limberton’s head.

He breathed a sigh of relief, realizing that his short stature had saved him.

But he couldn’t stop Gurt from grabbing the box.

Gurt pulled out a syringe from the box and laughed wildly.

“Ha ha ha ha ha!!”

At the ominous laughter, Limberton quickly fired another arrow.

Thud!

The arrow struck Gurt squarely between the eyes.

But the syringe had already been injected into Gurt’s arm.

“Huh?”

Gurt’s eyes widened before he nonchalantly pouted his lips.

“Hmm, that tickles. Why don’t you try shooting another one—urk!”

Gurt suddenly doubled over in pain, groaning.

“Urgh…”

Seeing the bizarre sight, Limberton began to sweat.

Gurt’s body started to bulge and then began oozing like slime.

‘What… what the hell is that…?’

Gurt screamed and clawed at his own body in agony.

“Aaaaargh!!”

As his body twisted in pain, it grew larger, surpassing the height of the trees until it became a grotesque, gelatinous monster with only a human head remaining.

“Wh-what’s happening to him?”

Ricks approached during the chaos.

“I heard from Professor Gomon that it’s a potion that borrows the power of monsters.”

“…Is that even possible?”

“The Roaming Band must have developed such things. But I also heard there’s a severe side effect. Maybe this is one of those cases…”

Belman urgently shouted.

“Save that for later and get ready to fight!!”

No sooner had he finished speaking than the monster’s body convulsed, and tentacles shot out.

Whoosh whoosh whoosh—

Belman cast barrier magic on eight people, but the massive tentacles shattered them with a single strike.

Everyone was sent flying, crashing into trees or rolling across the ground.

Even as Limberton lay with his face pressed against the dirt, he kept his eyes on the mage.

The monster seemed unable to distinguish friend from foe as it began attacking the mage as well.

“Gurt, you idiot! You’ve been consumed by the drug!!”

The mage desperately manipulated the giant tree he was perched on to evade the attacks.

But the sprawling tentacles, like a vast net, eventually caught him.

The mage thrashed about, foaming at the mouth, unable to breathe.

Limberton saw this as an opportunity.

“Let’s retreat… Once the mage is dead, it’s over. I don’t know what’s going on, but if we leave him, he’ll die on his own.”

Belman, who had collapsed nearby, nodded.

“Everyone, retreat!!”

Just as Limberton turned to flee, his gaze locked onto the moon.

More precisely, on the shadow within the moonlight.

It was the figure of a man standing beside what was left of Gurt’s head.

Limberton heard the man speak.

“How pitiful, Gurt. Stacking doses isn’t something just anyone can do.”

Berme slashed Gurt’s neck clean off with a 70-centimeter-long sword.

Shk!

Gurt’s head tumbled to the ground.

Simultaneously, the gelatinous mass lost its form and began to spill everywhere.

Soon, it turned into a flood, threatening to engulf the group.

Whoosh!

Injured and unable to escape, they braced themselves. Fortunately, the flood level decreased as it approached, submerging only their lower bodies.

Limberton tried to move his legs quickly, but the ooze began to harden rapidly.

“Wait, my legs… they won’t move!”

As panic spread among them, Berme stepped onto the solidified ooze.

Tap!

“Hmph, Gurt’s sacrifice wasn’t in vain. At least now you can’t run.”

“W-what happened to the professors?”

Limberton asked, as Berme approached with echoing footsteps.

“Oh, you mean the professors? I cut off one’s arm and the other’s leg. Aren’t you curious whether they’ll die from blood loss or poison first?”

Just as Berme was closing in.

“Don’t worry. I won’t make you suffer like those professors.”

Swish! Swish!

A small stone golem appeared in front of them.

“Huh?”

Limberton tilted his head in confusion as the mysterious stone golem stretched out its limbs.

A second later, a stream of lime slurry shot out from its tiny body like a water cannon.

Whoosh

Berme leapt to the side to avoid it.

“Tch, that fat guy… he’s still alive.”

Limberton turned his head in disbelief.

He saw Professor Gomon being supported by Hersel.

Gomon gasped for breath and let his staff droop as he spoke.

“…Hersel Ben Tenest, please take care of the rest.”

Hersel furrowed his brows.

“Professors asking a student for help again. If you have any conscience, you should return your salary.”

“Y-you little brat… Do you think we want to do this?”

“So, what are you going to give me this time?”

“Give you? What do you mean?”

“Well, there has to be some kind of reward for me to do anything, right?”

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