Chapter 23

Glaskan subjugation battle (3)

The phrase ‘dragon born in the stream’ alone cannot fully explain how miraculous Zix the Spear of Vegetation is.

The grasslands in the northern part of the empire are a barbaric land where not even the voice of the imperial family can properly reach. A world where you have to check whether your neck is still intact when it’s time to end the day. Ziggs was a descendant of a nomadic people who lived there.

By the time I grew up I was already separated from my family. I had no idea when they were abandoned why they were abandoned or whether they would ever be able to return to the life of the group.

I learned how to cut a deer’s neck before I learned how to read letters and I learned how to procure supplies from carcasses on the side of the road rather than how to buy things at a store. Needless to say it is already the life of an animal rather than a human.

– ‘Ziggs is like a wolf that walks on two feet.’

Hearing what Elka said when they first met Ziggs reflexively nodded.

It was obvious why Elka said that. This is probably because Ziggs at the time was dragging an elk carcass around with her bushy hair hanging down and looking kinky.

Now only Elka knows how much of a difference that is as Ziggs is the most trusted of all first-year students with a neat and tidy appearance.

Well anyway the reason why Ziggs nodded at that time was not just because of his miserable appearance.

Reuniting with the girl is now a story from the distant past. The world of civilization is moving much faster than Ziggs expected and he can no longer remember life in the grasslands where every day was the same.

When Elka’s father an archaeologist discovered Ziggs’ magical talents. When he collected Ziggs and brought him to his mansion. The first civilized meal I tried. Warm soup and bread. When learning the rules of civilization step by step. When the elemental magic I used for the first time uprooted an old tree in the mansion’s garden. When I was able to enter Sylvania with Elka. The day the two of us walked out of the entrance exam hall.

The fleeting memories of life have already become a distant past as we chase the fast-paced life of civilization.

But often when I look up at the night sky there is a moment that reminds me of that first time.

Ziggs is like a wolf that walks on two feet.

A life of roaming the infinitely wide northern grasslands. The boy who ate the corpses of animals on the side of the road preserved himself with the magic he learned on his own and slept with the moon as his roof... It is most likely a wolf cub abandoned by the pack.

When young Ziggs realized that fact he could only nod reflexively.

Now that I think about it I’ve lived a really lonely life.

The day he first met his life partner Zix realized the feeling of loneliness.

It was a very old story.

“Hehehehehehehehe...” ”

The date had already changed. It was well after 12 o’clock before Ziggs was able to reach the student library.

The corporeal spirits and lower-level spirits that interfered with his movement could not have been Ziggs’ opponent but the problem was that they were constantly coming. Even if you’re Ziggs shooting magic like crazy while sprinting puts pressure on your physical strength. If he had really fought Lortel wholeheartedly his arrival at the student library would have been much delayed.

At this point when every minute and every second is so precious I am truly grateful for Princess Fenia’s hand in stopping Lortel.

It became inevitable that the favor would be returned with vengeance. Paying for those sins is postponed for now.

“Huh... Huh... Phew... ..”

Unexpectedly the area near the library was completely quiet.

The group of pesky spirits that persistently interfered with my movements every time I passed through every street corner of the teaching building are nowhere to be seen here.

However traces remained.

“This is...”

Inferring the situation by looking at traces was not a task for Ziggs who had an extremely developed sense of practical combat.

Traces of magic spread sporadically around the main entrance of the student library. What cut the floor and cut the bench is probably a ‘wind blade’ and burn marks on the bare floor or wall are traces of ‘ignition’.

Ziggs first calmly looked around.

It’s still quiet. As if the disaster that occurred in the faculty building was something.

This student library on a small hill... It’s really just holding its position without a care in the world.

The traces of the fight start at the entrance of the student library and go all the way around the outskirts. This is not simply a trace of a defensive battle to protect the base. Traces of having subdued all the spirits seen wandering around here.

There are even footprints in the same location multiple times. It appears that the safety of this student library has been secured as if standing guard.

Someone had subdued all the spirits around this student library.

... It doesn’t matter who left these traces. Ziggs quickly entered the entrance of the student library to find Elka. When you enter through the large wooden door you will see a lobby with stylish hallways extending on both sides.

And the entrance to the lobby.

A familiar boy was sitting with his back against the statue in the lobby. The man’s name just flew out of Ziggs’ mouth.

“Ed Rosstaylor!”

A boy resting completely exhausted. The name that actually made Ziggs lose his senses.

Ziggs shot out like a bullet and arrived in front of Ed in an instant.

“Oh what? you.

He is resting with his back to the statue one knee raised and his elbow supported.

Ed Rosstaylor’s condition could not be said to be normal even with empty words. My school uniform was torn and frayed here and there my body was a mess and my stamina was completely exhausted.

Traces of repeated battles to the extreme limit. But right now Ziggs did not have the time to observe such things calmly.

“Elka! “Where is Elka!”

“Are you... . Why are you here... ?”

“Tell me first where Elka is!”

Ed’s eyebrows furrowed as he looked at Ziggs. In any case Ziggs who has lost his mind will not be able to communicate.

“Reading Room 3.”

Before Ziggs could finish answering he ran out toward the hallway toward the reading room. He had to ensure Elka’s safety first right away.

As I ran like crazy to the end of the hallway a door plate that said Reading Room 3 came into the corner of my eye.

The condition of the entrance was unusual. A blackout curtain at the entrance and bookshelves built around it as a barricade. The entrance to the reading room visible in the corner of the eye was simple but clearly fortified.

Ziggs who shot out like a bullet removed the blackout curtain on the door and smashed open the sliding door.

“Elka!”

I entered the room shouting his name.

As he wished Elka was lying on the desk in the reading room unharmed. He had lost his mind.

“Elka! Are you safe? “Elka!”

Ziggs took a deep breath and quickly looked at Elka’s condition.

I was breathing hard. If you look at her from head to toe there isn’t a single scratch. It doesn’t seem like I was attacked by a spirit.

I felt like black mud that was persistently pressing down on my esophagus was being pushed down.

ha... .!”

All the strength in his body disappeared and Ziggs collapsed onto a nearby reading room chair. Elka Islan is safe. That fact alone was a great salvation for the boy.

thank god... I’m really... glad... ”

With the girl fast asleep in front of him Ziggs stroked his face for a long time.

Has about 5 minutes passed? Ziggs came to his senses again.

After my breathing calmed down and my body’s stamina recovered to some extent my senses began to return. Anyway now that we have confirmed that Elka is safe it is time to objectively judge the situation.

Ziggs sat in his chair and looked around.

The window was well covered by large bookshelves. All visibility was blocked to prevent a runaway spirit from checking Elka’s location through the window.

On the other hand the entrance was blocked from view with a rolling blackout curtain. It is not a good idea to block this side with a bookshelf as it will block the view. If you end up in a situation where you have to flee you will have blocked your own escape route. So blackout curtains were used as a compromise.

This is truly a reasonable and experienced judgment. Because there weren’t enough blackout curtains the back door was blocked off with a bookshelf and a simple defensive wall was erected on the outside in case there were spirits entering the hallway.

It is an environment where it is difficult to be exposed to danger unless you go out from Elka first.

“Okay Elka... No matter how critical the situation was you always remained calm and made the right decision... “I didn’t know that but...”

It’s not that I didn’t trust Elka but I was so worried that I couldn’t bear it.

But soon with time a strange sense of discomfort came. If you look around you will see a barricade of bookshelves along the outside of the classroom. These bookshelves are so large that even an adult man would have difficulty lifting them properly.

It is difficult to believe that Elka who was born with a weak body did all this alone. Elka has such strength that it takes a whine to even lift her hatchet.

So who made the reading room like this?

If you think about it using the method of elimination there could only be one person.

Ziggs the Spear of Vegetation is one of the most talented first-year students in the Magic Department at Sylvania Academy. The presence or absence of Ziggs will determine the success or failure of the subjugation. If this bastard is here the subjugation itself cannot be established at all even before the scenario goes as planned.

I’m not sure if it’s enough to break through with a subjugation team without Ziggs in Phase 2 but ‘High-ranking Fire Spirit Tarkan’ in Phase 3 is a completely different problem.

According to the main scenario you can only break through Tarkan if you have Ziggs.

The main character Tailly uses the ‘Elemental Slash’ skill to peel Tarkan’s skin and cut off its tail. Then Ziggs who possesses excellent practical sense and agility climbs onto Tarkan’s body and accurately inserts magic into the torn flesh.

After roaring in pain like that Taily jumped down from the ceiling and cut Takan’s head off again.

In order for this battle structure to be established the presence of Ziggs who creates a gap for Tarkan is essential.

“Go and help Tailina. “If you just do what he says everything will be resolved somehow.”

“Taylor... “You mean Tailley McLaure?”

okay. “That guy who narrowly avoided failing exams every day.”

Well since we have come to the final chapter of Act 1 I am not a weakling at all. The relevant stats will have been trained and since you have experienced various events you will have gained some special skills and special abilities.

If you really trained with optimal efficiency without wasting a single inch you might be able to use intermediate magic at all... I guess not to that extent...

When it comes to training from my point of view which has become somewhat stagnant it is definitely not a satisfactory level of ability. Still she must have tried her best... Starting from this scenario the Sword Saint Ceremony will also be opened so from then on there will be enough for one person.

As he thought about that Ziggs made a strange expression.

“Didn’t senior Ed hate that guy?”

Oops.

If Ziggs had watched the entrance exam scene the words he just said would have definitely felt unnatural.

“You talk a lot. “Is that important now?”

I waved my hand and dismissed the topic. In any case he is also an important character in the scenario so there is no reason to give out more information than necessary or to become close to him.

“And I don’t know why you think so highly of Taily... . I’ve never even had a proper conversation with that guy... ”

“This was a problem before overvaluation. In particular the shell of the high-ranking fire spirit Tarkan would not be damaged at all unless it was Tailley’s ‘elemental cut’. “It’s not about destructive power it’s about compatibility.”

Since the situation has come to this this kind of instruction is probably okay.

“So listen carefully. Instead of awkwardly trying to pierce Tarkan’s shell with magic wait until Taily pierces Tarkan’s shell with ‘Elemental Slash’. There is probably no one among the current punitive force members who can pierce Tarkan’s shell with pure firepower. So it is important not to waste magical power and to wait calmly.”

The key is to attack the part of Tarkan’s shell that Tailly pierced with ‘Elemental Slash’.

Although it is not very advisable to recite what will happen in the future it was something I said as insurance just in case. When Ziggs appeared in a place like this there was a problem in ‘official affairs’ so it would be reasonable to do everything possible to deal with it for now.

“... “I will keep that in mind.”

Ziggs seems to have a lot to say but he is reticent and seems to agree.

This guy knows it too. Glaskan’s summoning circle that embroiders the sky continues to add color. We don’t have much time.

“There is a temporary station built by first-year students near the student plaza. “I will escort you there.”

it’s okay. Go alone. There’s not much time so move quickly. “I’m going to rest here for a while.”

“Senior Ed. You never know when the spirits might strike again.”

Phase 1 is over. If you have reached this point the student library is safe. It was understandable that Ziggs who had no way of knowing that fact was worried.

“It’s okay just go. “I’ll take care of it.”

“... ”

“The most important thing is to retake the student center. You know that.

Even though he was well aware of that fact Ziggs left everything behind and ran. Ziggs showed a dark expression for a moment as those words struck his blind spot.

“Whether it’s guilt or shame you deal with it after the situation is over. okay?

That’s how I clearly conveyed my intention to Ziggs.

Ziggs closed his eyes and thought for a moment then nodded with a stern expression. And she spoke clearly while carrying Elka on her back.

“Thank you for the advice.”

With that Ziggs made his way towards the entrance of the library.

As I watched Ziggs amble away I sighed and leaned against the statue again.

Wow that takes a lot of work.

Anyway the situation has come to an end. As long as Ziggs returns to the student center before entering Phase 3 things will somehow work out as planned.

It went well it went well.

“... “Just stay still..?”

The moment I thought that a feeling of discomfort rose up in my chest.

As I was looking at Ziggs’ back as he ambled away I felt a strange sound spreading through my mind.

Memories of ‘Failed Sword Saint of Sylvania’ which I have played countless times. They must have understood the trend well blocked various variables and adjusted them well so as not to have a negative impact on the scenario.

A feeling of discomfort of unknown origin seeps into a corner of my heart.

If you think about what it is...

– ‘And I don’t know why you think so highly of Taily... . I’ve never even had a proper conversation with that guy... ‘

It starts with that line from Ziggs.

The ‘Spear of Vegetation Ziggs’ that I know is a character who recognizes and helps the main character Tailley and builds a bond with her by harmonizing with her in times of crisis or need.

In short it is a fairly common ‘reliable colleague’ or ‘friend’ position.

It’s certainly strange that he doesn’t have much appreciation for Taily... Isn’t this just the first act? There may not have been enough time to build sufficient bonds yet.

but... Anyway the sight of Ziggs talking about Tailley as if it was his first time seeing her... It’s definitely strange.

So if you go back and remember when Tailley and Ziggs first became friends...

Act 1 scene 9. This is the end-of-semester evaluation episode.

It was a scenario where Tailly and Ziggs dueled for the first time and Ziggs acknowledged Tailley’s continued growth as the fight progressed.

... ..Once my thoughts reached that point all sorts of possibilities unfolded in my mind like the roots of sweet potatoes tangled together.

Suddenly a ray of tension runs down my back.

“Hey Ziggs.”

“... yes?

Ziggs who was quietly leaving the student library was called back.

“My thoughts changed. “I have to go to the student center too.”

A place where important people from all kinds of scenarios throng around like a market floor. Normally there is no need to go.

however... Unfortunately the whole premise has just collapsed.

Currently the final scene of Act 1 the Glaskan subjugation battle is underway.

I don’t know why but the final chapter of Act 1 which was supposed to be the end of the semester was pushed forward by a month.

There is no way to know right now why Jenica’s actions were so early or what variables were involved and how. I don’t know if we will find out in some way later but at this point all of Yenica Failover’s actions are empty puzzle pieces.

Still there was one fact that became certain.

Due to the Glaskan subjugation battle being held earlier than scheduled Act 1 Scene 9 the end-of-semester exam episode was not conducted at all.

What does it mean?

Suddenly a phrase from a strategy book I saw a long time ago came to mind.

■Page 3. Nail Hall Corridor Battle Achievement Conditions:

Reach the combat training center where Elementalist Yenika is located.

Enemies that appear:

High Fire Spirit Tarkan * 1

※ The key is to continuously inflict damage to the tail using the ‘Elemental Slash’ learned in ‘Act 1 Chapter 9’. If you cut off the tail use ‘Elemental Slash’ again to attack the head.

At this point Act 1 Chapter 9 has not progressed and Tailly has not mastered elemental cutting.

Therefore the current Tailley cannot defeat Tarkan.

Needless to say it meant the collapse of all major premises.