Chapter 43: - Thunderbird Subjugation (1)

༺ Thunderbird Subjugation (1)༻

Isaac was a bit of a celebrity within the Magic Department. In a bad way, of course.

He was in Class D with Grade E mana. In the class placement evaluation, he took last place with a score that would have been difficult to achieve even if he deliberately tried, and he was ranked at the bottom of the bottom among the first-years of the Magic Department.

He was, without a doubt, the weakest student of the Magic Department.

But now, things were different. If you stopped any student and asked them if Isaac was the weakest first-year, they would shake their heads.

During the duel evaluation, he used 5-star magic, albeit at a low level. Among the first-year students of the Magic Department, there were only a handful of students who could use 5-star magic. Isaac, who was thought to be the weakest, had done it.

It was an incredible growth rate.

Even so, it didn’t prove that Isaac was special. If anything, Ian Fairytale, who was also evaluated as having Grade E mana during the mana evaluation, was special. His growth rate was much faster, and he even had a constitution that allowed him to use the light element.

In addition, some students were already at a level where they could use 5-star magic at a high level.

This naturally overshadowed the fruits of Isaac’s hard work, as people’s attention was drawn to those who were more impressive.

However...

‘That man... Not only was he involved with the top seat and senior Dorothy, but also the second and third seats...?’

Eva Heilov couldn’t believe her eyes.

She was watching a large-scale battle while she secretly hid behind a tree in [Stealth] mode. From the looks of it, it seemed that Luce Eltania was very upset over Isaac’s injury.

During the battle, even Kaya Astrean, the second seat, joined in and took Isaac’s side.

And to Eva’s surprise, even Ciel Cardenas, who had helped Isaac find his Fell Cards, was on Isaac’s side.

‘Isaac, who the hell are you...?’

Eva wondered in fear. The thought that all the strongest students of the Magic Department were favoring Isaac was terrifying. What kind of fearsome man was he?

“Kyaaak!”

Suddenly, Luce’s water magic sliced through the trees around Eva. It was something that had been misfired in the middle of the large battle.

Eva trembled, covering her head with both hands, like when someone was caught in a crossfire between two sides.

* * *

“Isaac. Pass.”

The submission location was a small passageway whose entrance was adjacent to the barrier for the exam. I was greeted by a young female professor in charge of Class C who was on standby there.

I handed the 5 Fell Cards to the female professor as I caught my breath. She checked them all, nodded, and unlocked my bracelet.

When she inserted something that looked like a key into it, it clicked and unlocked.

“I didn’t expect you to beat out all those Class A students and get first place. Hoho, you must have had some tricks up your sleeve. You seem like a guy who’s good at taking the easy way out.”

I had already anticipated that I would be doubted over how someone like me could come in first place, and I had already thought about it a lot. But the female professor’s meek attitude still made me discouraged.

“If you walk out of here and go straight ahead, you’ll see a carriage. If you ride it, you can go back to your dormitory. Great job.”

“Thank you.”

I lowered my head and bowed, then walked out of the passage.

My suffering doesn’t end here.

I was barely at the starting line.

The sun was still shining in the sky. As soon as the setting sun disappeared over the horizon, the Thunderbird1The Thunderbird is a legendary creature, in particular, North American indigenous peoples’ history and culture. It is considered a supernatural being of power and strength. would be summoned.

Until then, I have to go around the outskirts, just outside the boundary of the end-of-semester evaluation. I headed towards the building called Carly Hall, which sat high on a hill.

I took off at full speed, using the calf muscles I had worked so hard on.

❰Magic Knight of Märchen❱「Act 3, Chapter 4, Thunderbird Subjugation」

Just as the sun was setting, Vera the Summoner rode on her familiar and flew towards the exam location like a speeding bullet.

As soon as the demon appeared, she immediately stole Thunderbird Galia from Luce, which caused her to lose all of her mana and faint.

Afterwards, Vera stormed into the exam location to kill the main character, Ian Fairytale. Because of this, the academy was forced to declare a state of emergency.

Subsequently, the old Märchen Academy was surrounded by the barrier of the mighty Thunderbird. As a result, the academy’s administration was unable to help. Anyone who approached would be electrocuted by the high-voltage current, and it would be difficult to break through the barrier.

Meanwhile, Vera the Summoner decided to go to ‘Carly Hall’ with Thunderbird Galia and Luce in order to observe the situation.

The inside of the Thunderbird’s barrier was infested with the Thunderbird’s minions called ‘Lightning Harpies’. These mobs would give exp when you defeated them.

Luce’s unconscious body was protected by the Thunderbird’s lightning shield, which made her the safest person in the Thunderbird Subjugation.

At that moment, Luce realized something she had overlooked.

For her, Isaac was her first friend. But she couldn’t have been Isaac’s first friend. He must have built up countless human relationships.

It wouldn’t be surprising if the girl with the light green twin tails in front of her was one of them.

“...”

She felt her heart ache. It was a fact that subtly irritated her.

She was already dissatisfied with the amount of time she spent with Isaac, and if he had many friends as well.... wouldn’t the already insufficient amount of time become even more scarce?

As Luce came to such a conclusion, she began to feel a deep repulsion towards Kaya.

She knew it was her own selfishness and childish thinking, but she wanted to monopolize Isaac’s time. He was her only friend. And being with him was really enjoyable.

“Tsk.”

Luce clicked her tongue as she handed Kaya the cards, then quickly turned around and left the scene.

As Luce walked away, Kaya stared blankly at her back.

‘Did she just get annoyed? Why?’

She honestly couldn’t figure out what the top seat was thinking.

──It was then that the demon appeared with her back to the setting sun.

[Good morning, everyone!!!]

The gazes of the students and the test proctors immediately turned to the three-meter tall woman.

The gray-skinned demon, Vera the Summoner. A creepy smile tugged at the corners of her lips.

* * *

My whole body was drenched in sweat. The school uniform I was wearing felt heavy.

However, I was able to run at full speed for quite a long time, perhaps thanks to the development of my stamina.

Throughout the run, I kept an eye on the scoreboard in the sky. It was difficult to make an accurate judgment, but it seemed that about thirteen people had passed the exam. This was all while the first, second, and third seats were in the midst of a fierce battle.

My destination, Carly Hall, was located at the top of a high hill.

The red palace-like exterior still exuded a beautiful grandeur, along with the traces of the passage of time. Along with Bartos Hall, it was a building that symbolized Märchen Academy.

A hill covered with colorful flowers appeared before my eyes. Without resting, I ran up the hill.

But as I reached the middle of the hill while running.

Kuooooohhh────!!

Kuwaaaaaa────!!

“...!”

A deafening screech rang out. I stopped in my tracks and immediately turned my head back.

The setting sun was disappearing beyond the horizon as twilight slowly crept down.

───────── [Kiaaaaaaahhhh───!!!!!]

Krrrrr──────!!

Clang-clang-clang─────!!!

The loud cry of a bird of prey. The screech of the Thunderbird rang throughout heaven and earth, and thunder rose from all directions.

Dozens of purple lightning bolts streaked across the sky, each carving its own shape into the ultramarine blue sky.

In an instant, dark clouds covered the sky.

From a location where you could capture the panoramic view of the old Märchen Academy with a single glance, a black Thunderbird entwined with purple lightning and darkness mana soared into the sky.

A massive creature appeared, and despite the distance between us, it felt as if it was right in front of me.

It was the 8-star magic beast that could destroy a country, ‘Thunderbird – Galia’.

[Thunderbird – Galia] Lv: 175

Race: (Demon)

Elements: Lightning

Danger: Highest

Psychology: [Hoping someone will stop him.] Footnotes:

1The Thunderbird is a legendary creature, in particular, North American indigenous peoples’ history and culture. It is considered a supernatural being of power and strength.