Chapter 170: Frist Act 39: Hero's Arrival 2

It was supposed to be one normal day for Principal Victoria, a day where she whimsically decided to investigate a suspicious student who had mysteriously vanished after a catastrophic accident.

Little did she know that this seemingly routine task would unfold into a surreal and disorienting experience.

As Victoria set out to find the missing student, her memories became hazy, like broken images fading in and out of focus.

The attempt to teleport to a specific location left her feeling as if she were floating in the air, and suddenly, she found herself trapped in a golden garden.

The fields of petals surrounding her were so smooth and soothing that Victoria felt a serene lethargy, as if she could sleep for eternity.

Beside her stood a man of exceptional beauty and gentleness.

His presence exuded a commanding aura, and despite finding him captivating, Victoria couldn't recall the details of his face.

Why was it blurry? What had led her to this golden garden in the first place?

These questions nagged at her subconscious as she drifted in a daze.

Eventually, Victoria woke from her stupor, finding herself back in the real world. She stood in the midst of her students as they diligently took their dungeon exams.

The vice principal's criticism echoed behind her, but Victoria struggled to focus. A massive headache added to the confusion, making it difficult for her to comprehend the events unfolding around her.

Before she could make sense of the situation, chaos erupted. The normal day she had anticipated took an unexpected turn, and Victoria found herself at the center of a tumultuous storm.

Blood was raining, people were dying, and the academy was burning.

"Principal...!"

One of her colleagues' urgent call snapped Victoria out of her thoughts, and she turned to witness a gruesome scene. A bloody red wyvern lay on the ground, its large body and crimson eyes exuding a terrifying presence. The creature's pained cries echoed like ringing bells, filling the air with a haunting melody.

Despite the inflicted injuries, the blood wyvern used its remaining strength to create a blood barrier, attempting to defend itself against its aggressors.

"It's not dead yet...," commented Gunther, the head of the combat department. Despite his appearance resembling a mad old man, his knowledge of monster biology was extensive.

He understood the regenerative abilities of the blood wyvern, noting that the massive hole in its chest would likely heal in a matter of minutes.

Tsk...! Clicking his tongue in frustration, Gunther contemplated the dire situation. Many students had already perished because of the monstrous creature, and several colleagues had sacrificed themselves attempting to restrain it.

Even Principal Victoria, hailed as an archmage, struggled to fight effectively in the midst of the blood rain that hindered her magical abilities.

The academy, once a bastion of knowledge and learning, had become a battleground. Gunther grappled with a sense of helplessness, realizing that the situation was spiraling out of control.

"Calm down, old man!"

A rowdy yet gentle voice cut through the tension, belonging to Head Professor Camiel of the magic department. She joined the fray, her gaze fixed on the pained blood wyvern below them.

"That thing can't move with that giant hole in its chest. Can you cut the barrier, old man?"

Puffs of smoke erupted from Gunther's red face.

"Who are you calling old man, you hag? Tsk... Anyway, I can't. In fact, no one here can."

The admission hung heavy in the air, and the shame was palpable among the professors and knights on the scene.

....

"Where exactly were you?" Euphemia's inquisitive voice cut through the chaotic atmosphere as we traversed the hallways of Estelle Hall. Her questions were a constant, a familiar part of our interactions. Even amidst the turmoil that had befallen the academy, she maintained her composure surprisingly well.

"And are you sure we should leave those guys behind?" Her gaze lingered in the direction of her laboratory. I could sense the concern in her eyes, not just for the experiments and projects left behind, but for the students who had chosen to stay, paralyzed by fear.

"Well, we can't exactly force them to come with us, right? And, long story short, I was in the bathroom when everything happened."

I offered my excuse, fully aware that it might not be taken seriously. Euphemia responded with a noncommittal "hmm" while fixing me with a suspicious stare. However, instead of pressing further, she chose to let it go, a testament to the unspoken understanding between us.

As we continued to navigate the hallways, Euphemia's trust in me, even when faced with dubious explanations, struck a chord of worry. While her willingness to accept my words made things easier, the underlying question of why she placed such trust in me lingered.

'I feel like I can easily make her join a cult if I just tell her to'

"What about your maid, is she alright?" I asked, attempting to divert Euphemia's attention away from the worrying situation at hand.

"I don't know... but I'm sure she's alright. Marie is smart, so I'm sure she already evacuated," Euphemia replied, her head bowed. Despite her reassurance, the anxiety in her eyes betrayed the concern she harbored for her maid. In the midst of the chaos unfolding outside, the chances of Marie's safety seemed uncertain, and Euphemia, treating Marie like a sister, could only hope for the best.

"By the way, you said we should escape, but how exactly are we going to?" Euphemia's question revealed a shift in her focus from the immediate concern for her maid to the pressing issue of their own safety.

It seemed that the gravity of the situation had finally prompted her to address the critical questions.

I couldn't help but feel a twinge of surprise that it took this long for Euphemia to ask such a crucial question.

"There's a mass teleportation spell that Bella and Aria are preparing right now, alongside some professors. I'm sure they could probably complete it within 30 minutes or so"

I informed Euphemia, hoping that the promise of a swift escape would alleviate some of the tension that had gripped her.

I'm just glad Aria took the initiative to cast that spell together with Bella, though I was planning to tell Euphemia another lie just in case. Knowing that it's the truth would save me a ton of questions later.

'I guess it was a good choice to stick those two together, Elena should be with Louise right now so she should relatively safe with her spirits around'

Even though the blood rain interfered with magical activities, the staff in Aria's hands possessed the capability to counter its effects, ensuring the success of the teleportation spell.

As we reached the entrance door, Euphemia hesitated, taking a step back and wrinkling her nose at the nauseating scent of the blood rain.

The magic-induced rain, though harmless, carried the unmistakable aroma of freshly spilled blood, and its blood-red hue was enough to give anyone pause before stepping outside to be drenched by it.

Sensing her discomfort, I tightened my grip on her hands, locking eyes with her and offering reassurance. "It's okay," I said, hoping to ease her unease.

The nod of understanding she gave suggested that the reassurance had its desired effect.

'I wish she was always this quiet though...'

With a collective breath, we stepped outside into the ominous downpour. However, our respite was short-lived as monstrous growls immediately echoed around us.

"GRRRRHGH!!!"

"Run!"

Without hesitation, we sprinted as fast as we could, cutting down any monsters that dared to block our path.

I looked at the crow perched on a tree nearby and smiled.