CHAPTER 165: TOO MANY INTERFERING ELEMENTS [1]

"So you’re saying that guy is an evil species?"

"Yes."

"So he really is an evil species."

───!

The massive rock shattered into pieces. The fragments flew in all directions, but a translucent ice barrier blocked them.

"Y-you! What are you? How dare you attack me!"

Unharmed but furious, Byron shouted with killing intent.

"It seems you still don’t understand the situation."

"What?"

The three warriors guarding the desert tribe removed their robes and turbans. However, their revealed appearances were hardly those of desert tribe members.

"You...! You’re not from the desert tribe!"

"Of course not. I’m from the Goldenheim family. And this one is from Berchef, and that one from Wienderk."

"Please don’t pass unnecessary information to the evil species, Gerhard."

"You’re Gerhard Goldenheim?"

"And you just passed my name to the evil species."

"Both of you, stop bickering in front of the enemy."

They were Professor Rosalia, Gerhard, and Luina, disguised as desert tribe guards.

The day before, they had joined a desert tribe wandering in the southern part of the Tacklakan Desert.

The tribe members, who maintained good relations with Altriark, were wary of allowing a large force into the tribe, but promised cooperation, nursing their grudge against the magical beasts.

That was now.

"How on earth did you get here?"

"Is that important right now? I don’t think so."

Gerhard shrugged. The vibrations of the earth that had felt distant were now right before them.

Byron belatedly recalled that two knight orders representing Altriark were galloping toward them.

"Damn it all...!"

Why, how, for what reason—none of that mattered.

With his life hanging by a thread, there wasn’t even time to panic if he wanted to survive.

"Damn it...!"

Wheeeeeee-

Byron whistled.

"Clearly air is coming from his mouth, but I can’t hear anything. A strange and unpleasant energy, different from mana, is dispersing like a wave."

"He seems to be mixing in magical energy."

"How interesting."

The sounds of hoofbeats and stirring magical beasts blended together.

"Kill them all! Buy me time to escape!"

Dozens, no, hundreds of magical beasts appeared, turning the desert upside down.

"Shouting his intentions loud enough for enemies to hear. I can’t tell if he’s stupid or just dull."

"Aren’t those the same thing?"

"It means he’s hopeless either way."

At some point, a staff had appeared in Rosalia’s hand. The processed magic stone at the end of the staff began to emit a soft light.

Ice spreading from the dry desert bound Byron’s lower body.

"What a pathetic trick...!"

However, the ice Rosalia created broke more easily than expected.

Luina’s slash struck where Byron had been. Byron was already shooting backward like an arrow.

Right after that.

────!

KWAAAANG!

Neeeigh-

GRWOAAARRR!

The spear tips of the two knight orders galloping across the desert collided with the group of magical beasts.

A very brief hesitation—it was a momentary retreat for a faster advance.

Iron Blood and Light Blood. The two knight orders effortlessly split the magical beast formation like a sharp knife cutting through fish.

Just before the split wound could be replenished with new magical beasts, Altriark’s elite soldiers rushed in.

"Indeed, Altriark’s reputation is well-deserved."

Luina expressed pure admiration at the charge of the powerful knights.

"So do you think Aint Armian and Rudger Schwaben can defeat that dull fellow?"

Despite her magic being easily broken, Rosalia didn’t show any particular surprise.

That was because it was closer to letting him go than losing him.

Rosalia Wienderk could have stopped him if she wanted to, but deliberately allowed her magic to be broken.

"I’m not sure. At least I wasn’t confident I could win."

"Same here."

Though momentary, the magical energy Byron had displayed far exceeded Gerhard’s expectations.

It wasn’t for nothing that he had triggered a monster wave overseeing this area.

"I too couldn’t guarantee victory."

She said, putting a black cigarette in her mouth.

Rosalia Wienderk was the person who had earned the title of youngest professor since the Academy was established.

While several conditions were necessary to become a professor, the most essential requirement was skill.

As someone said to be the next Arch Mage, her skill was beyond doubt.

The fact that someone like her couldn’t guarantee victory meant the evil species was that strong.

"Though Professor Grad might be different."

If anything, Professor Grad was even stronger in terms of pure combat ability.

While power is generally considered most important, in Professor Grad’s case, he was someone hired solely based on combat ability, excluding all other factors.

"So it means they’re not at the level of Academy students."

"But we have Armian."

"Yes, that’s the thing. The power that disintegrates magical energy, which is the antithesis of demons."

The reason why Armian is called the enemy of demons.

Before the holy light they emit, demons cannot exert their original power. The same goes for evil species, their servants.

"This is your work, isn’t it?"

The forces were clearly in our favor. But Altriark wouldn’t use those forces fully.

Their role stops exactly at hunting magical beasts.

Professor Rosalia and Gerhard block the front, while the Iron Blood and Light Blood knight orders advance from both sides.

Naturally, the evil species had no choice but to flee to the rear, where Academy students were waiting.

"Didn’t the Academy students come to gain experience? Combat with an evil species will be the most valuable experience."

"And what about you?"

"I don’t particularly have a talent for combat."

"Luina."

"At the Academy, we were taught that knights and wizards fight together. Shouldn’t at least one knight be here?"

"You’re quite insolent when I’m here with you."

Rosalia clicked her tongue but said nothing more.

"Then why are you here, Professor?"

"Because we can’t leave students by themselves."

"Did Professor Grad say that?"

Rosalia didn’t answer, but that was answer enough.

’Do well, Aint Armian.’

Gerhard looked in the direction the evil species had fled.

Although he ended up setting the stage for all Academy students, not just Aint Armian, this was the best he could do.

He hoped that Aint would gain sufficient experience and use it as a stepping stone for growth.

’Except for Aint, I also removed Luina, who is the strongest force...’

In fact, Luina being here was largely due to Gerhard’s request.

"While Professor Rosalia is certainly trustworthy, I think it’s better to have a knight along in case of emergency."

"...Understood."

"Then I’ll go finish off the remaining magical beasts."

Luina ran toward the battlefield. Every time her sword flashed in the reflected sunlight, a magical beast fell.

"You should go too."

"Me as well?"

"As you said, students came to gain practical experience, and you are also a student."

"I’m too tired, so can’t I rest a bit?"

"What have you been doing?"

"..."

Under the pressure of the silent rebuke, Gerhard reluctantly picked up his staff.

==

He’s coming.

Even without Gardner’s words, Aint felt it too.

The opponent approaching from the distance was trying to move as stealthily as possible, but moving quickly meant he couldn’t conceal all his energy.

At least he couldn’t deceive Aint and Gardner, who were extremely sensitive to magical energy.

"He’s coming."

Aint drew his sword. He took a stance and swung his sword downward.

From top to bottom.

──!

A sharp slash cut through the desert and struck the evil species. Along with the shockwave, the form of the creature moving stealthily was revealed.

"This disgusting...! It’s you! You’re that cursed bloodline!"

From the instinctive hatred rising within him and the magical energy being eaten away by the light, Byron instantly realized who was blocking his path.

At the same time, he also discovered others waiting for him.

"A trap? You were waiting for me, knowing I’d come this way!"

Damn it. Despite finally encountering the much-desired Aint Armian, Byron couldn’t be happy.

If it were just Aint, it might be different, but there were too many interfering elements.

No, the Altriark forces pursuing him from behind were also not to be ignored.

There was no time to dawdle here. Capturing Aint was important, but what use was glory after death?

Even if he had gained power by offering his soul to a demon, he couldn’t transcend death itself.

"I don’t have time to dawdle with you...!"

It was at that moment.

"What should we do? We have plenty of time to dawdle with you."

Wind spears flew in, targeting his blind spots. The moment he expelled magical energy to destroy them, lightning struck.