CH 132

Students at a certain level are subject to conscription. Eugene and Cora volunteered before the draft was even decided. It wasn’t out of patriotism or a sense of duty to protect others; it was a calculated realization that they were destined to enlist anyway and that their actions would improve their family’s reputation.

“Everyone has a plan. Until they get punched in the face.”

Eugene muttered as he stood on the city wall. These were the words of a famous fighter in the arena. He had only vague expectations until he saw it with his own eyes. Part of him thought it was time to show off the skills he’d honed at the Academy, and part of him was surprised that Professor Elroy was right.

“I hope they don’t hit too hard.”

He realized why the professor was so intent on getting his students used to fighting monsters. Even after Eugene and Cora enlisted, many of the Academy’s best students were drafted and deployed.

Eugene’s group consisted of a wizard, two knights, and ten common soldiers. One of the knights was an elderly man and was their leader, and Cora was the other.

“What do you think when you see that?”

Eugene asked, nudging Cora. Cora squeezed her eyes shut and opened them. The shadows in the distance remained as she closed and opened her eyes. No, they weren’t technically in place. Little by little, they approached like the night eating away at the blue sky.

“Why the hell are they just standing there? Aren’t they mindless creatures that charged at humans?”

Eugene raised an eyebrow at Cora’s attitude. It didn’t matter how hard she tried to pretend it was normal. No one was keeping their composure here. The knight in command was silent. No words of comfort, no words of encouragement, no words of reassurance.

“Do you remember what we heard in class?”

Unlike Eugene, who skimmed through his lessons, Cora had been a model student. Although now, their relationship was reversed.

“No. I don’t remember anything. I think I heard him say something about it once.”

“Their behavior tells us there is an intelligent monster controlling them. He told us to treat them as a human army in this situation…”

It wasn’t something they wanted to imagine. Eugene and Cora recalled visions of the Named demon they’d only faced once in class. Aside from Natalie, none of them had been able to last more than two minutes against it, let alone confront it alone.

“…Is there really something that can control all of them?”

Eugene muttered. Is this what fighting a Disaster meant? Has the Hero had to fight such an army, overcome them, and destroy the monster that controls them all? They weren’t even fighting the Disaster. It was a literal rock, its white tail slowly approaching.

“…Perhaps, like us, it divides its forces and commands in chunks.”

“That means it would be a monster capable of controlling commanders.”

Answering their questions was the old knight. Those were the first words he spoke. He thrust his sword forward and looked out. The Capital’s thick walls had never looked as fragile as today.

“What do you think happened to the other great cities?”

“If they faced something like this, they’re probably just ruined.”

He didn’t say anything hopeful.

“Never take your eyes off the battlefield. It’s the only advice I can give chicks in their first real battle.”

The wind blew a faint, musty stench. It was the smell of monsters. The wind came from the front, not the back. The sound of a beast growling traveled over the walls and lingered in the crevices of the stones.

“Don’t die. That’s all you should think about.”

It was a warning. Eugene and Cora nodded their heads, then looked over the walls. There was no fight yet. Perhaps they were waiting for the night to fall.

Eugene’s attention was drawn away by an unfamiliar sound coming up the ramparts. Slowly, something in chains was climbing up the ramparts.

“Remember, the moment you attack a human, the Lasso will bind you. After that, all that awaits you is death. Do you understand?”

A harsh voice accompanied the threatening question. There was no answer. Natalie’s black eyes caught Eugene and Cora’s, stiff and rigid, as she climbed the last flight of stairs. The man who had brought her was dressed in his priestly robes.

“This is your place. When the fight starts, jump down the ramparts and fight. Or fight on the ramparts; it’s up to you. As long as you’re killing monsters, I don’t really care what else you do.”

“Do I have a guarantee that you won’t kill me after the fight is over?”

“I told you I promised, and our promises are much heavier than you realize.”

The priest, who must have been an inquisitor, untied the chains that bound Natalie’s hands. She looked down at the chains as they fell to the floor. There was no trace of red on her wrists, even with the chains as heavy as a boulder.

“Go and kill. When all is finished, I’ll ensure you have a place to stay.”

With that, the priest turned and walked away. Left alone on the ramparts, Natalie was the center of attention. The sudden appearance of a girl with black hair amid such a tense scene could not help but draw attention.

“Natalie.”

Cora whispered. Natalie was dressed in a clean, almost shroud-like white robe. There were no signs of abuse. Her hair was shiny and flowing as always. Cora was relieved that her worst fears hadn’t come true.

“You shouldn’t spend your time worrying about me.”

Her voice was filled with venom.

“Most of the people here will die.”

Natalie said harshly, but the soldiers’ faces didn’t change. Death was an acceptable word on the battlefield. Only Eugene and Cora reacted to her words.

“…Please don’t say anything demoralizing. I’m already depressed.”

“I don’t want that to be you.”

Natalie’s following words made both of their eyes widen. She shrugged nonchalantly.

“That’s how I rationalize why I gave in and fought. Because you guys can.”

“Oh, I’m flattered. But should I worry about my back being wounded?”

Eugene said sarcastically, and Natalie snorted. It was a common sight at the Academy.

“I don’t have your back.”

As Natalie says this, both Eugene and Cora’s faces go blank. Natalie narrowed her eyes and looked off to the other side of the wall.

“I need to fight in an open area to show my full power, and if I fight on these narrow walls, you’ll all die because of me.”

Natalie said with a smile. Eugene couldn’t understand the meaning of that smile. She dangled her feet over the edge of the ramparts. The horizon was covered in black shapes, writhing, slowly sliding over and down. Closer, closer, and closer.

“So, try to stand behind the area I’m in.”

Then, a bolt of lightning fell from the sky.

***

“A gift.”

It had been a long time since she had drawn on her power. The first time she’d used magic at full force was ten years ago after she’d reached the Seventh Circle when she’d reached the point of perfection. Laura’s opponent then had been the young Quenor Stroff. Perhaps the Northern Archduke was the only person on the entire continent who could match her.

“Even though I was at the mercy of power….”

Magic swirled in Laura’s hands. Seven rings intertwined, creating seven nuclei for the magic to flow through. The power accelerated through nucleus after nucleus, exploding from within, forming a volcano-like conglomeration of power on the verge of erupting. What kind of magic it would manifest into was now up to Laura.

“Now that I have grown.”

Laura’s body rose. A natural disaster embodied by one woman. The seven rings made it possible. The world shuddered and shook. The drifting clouds gathered and swirled in the sky above Laura’s head as if trapped in a vortex. They pile up, slowly burgeoning in the sky. Cumulonimbus lay thick in the sky above the Capital.

“I wonder who would win this time.”

Her arms felt heavy as she lifted them above her head. A torrent of magic flowed through her heart. Enough to shoot a few spells instead of a quick greeting. The outline of the magic to be fired was forming in her mind. Lightning. The fastest, most merciless destructive magic.

It sang of her fury.

The target: monster-no, that ridge outside the kingdom. The magic was sucked completely into the sky, and a giant cumulonimbus with lightning snaking through was at Laura’s command.

“I don’t think I’ve ever seen such powerful magic before.”

“It’s a shame I have to show you, Your Majesty, as I had hoped I would never have to use it in.”

Laura let out a bitter laugh. It wasn’t a joke. Only the Archwizard of the Seventh Circle stood there, watching.

“We shall begin, Your Majesty.”

“Thank you for your support.”

“First impressions are important.”

Laura rose higher and higher. She and the sky were connected. A tingling sensation ran through her fingertips. The target, the heaviest concentration. The ridge to the east.

Go.

The thunderbolt was released. A roar rumbled through the air. Like a god descending to earth in a gilded chariot, the great fury was released as a crack of light.

The ridge collapsed. The monsters evaporated on the spot, leaving no ashes behind. Like a scythe slicing through a field of rye at harvest time, there was nothing but an empty crack where the thunderbolts had swept.

“What the hell!”

“It’s a wizard! The Tower Lord has used great magic!”

The people cheered. Debris tumbled from the burned mountain. The scars left looked like wounds that would never heal.

“…But what was that?”

But even so, the monsters did not stop advancing. Like water filling a gap in a canal, it pushed in more from somewhere, replenishing it. Hundreds, even thousands, of the creatures the Archwizard had slain, could come from anywhere, at any time. They didn’t even run but continued to march at their leisurely pace.

“…All units, prepare for battle.”

The hardened voice of the commander-in-chief broke the chilling silence. Soldiers and knights raised their swords, fleshing out their demonstrations. As the wizards chanted and the cannons loaded, a tidal wave of monsters began to run.