Chapter 34

Ofilis Hall Occupation (4)

It’s still raining heavily.

The sound of rain spreads like an echo through the spacious main hall of the Ofilis Hall.

As Taily and his group enter the front door closes and the sound of heavy rain rushing directly into the hall is replaced by a thudding sound hitting the exterior wall.

A refreshing strike of lightning briefly brightens the entire hall. Ed sitting in the center welcomed Tailley and the others with an expressionless face.

“Ed... Ross Taylor... ”

It is now the family name of Ross Taylor who cannot even call himself that because he was excommunicated but it still remains an odd name to Tailley.

“You... why are you in the Ofilis building?”

Tailly’s voice subsides coldly. Now that it’s been almost half a year her emotions have calmed down quite a bit but to Tailley Ed Ross Taylor is still someone she can’t get close to.

Ayla and Elvira are also well aware of that fact.

“... ”

Elvira quickly judged the situation in front of her.

The marble floor of Ofilis Hall which was always clean is full of muddy footprints and the cabinets that have fallen here and there are no longer in their proper place.

Traces of a group of students passing by and a man sitting quietly on top of them guarding the street.

“Ahaha. Well this isn’t a normal situation. It’s fun. “I didn’t expect it.”

Elvira burst out laughing. She wasn’t sure what was going on but she knew that things were going to be interesting.

“I’m sorry.”

Only then did Ed who was sitting in the center of the hall open his mouth.

“I can’t go past this.”

If you want to ask the reason of course there is no reason to answer. I have no intention or inclination to do so. Even if you don’t have to put it into words you can understand it well enough by looking at Ed sitting with her mouth closed and an expressionless face.

In that case what Elvira would say was obvious.

“Ahaha that’s fun. “If I say I’m going to pass by can you stop me?”

Elvira Anniston is a valedictorian of the first year of the Pension Department at Sylvania Academy.

In fact Pension Department students are not directly classified as combat workers. Most interpret the structure of magic formulas explore the properties and origins of substances and analyze and study the efficacy of various herbs and magic reagents.

However if you ask whether it is okay to ignore the military power of a Pension Department student in a combat situation you can only shake your head.

The students of the Alchemy Department possess a lot of all kinds of magic reagents wear a lot of magic tools and control the situation of the entire battlefield... It is a joker card that creates variables in a battle situation and overturns the difference in power.

When I look at the pension department students who are overflowing with uncontrollable antics I almost start to respect the professors who manage them. They are even worse than the students at the Ministry of Magic who are rumored to be full of eccentrics.

Elvira Anniston was the eccentric of eccentrics considered the most self-indulgent in the pension department.

Although direct close combat abilities and magic abilities are not areas of expertise they are by no means inferior to a second-year student who can at least use basic magic.

Elvira burst out laughing.

“If you don’t want to get hurt it’s better to get out of the way.”

Tailly’s expression is already completely hostile towards Ed. Ed who had no connection to this situation seemed to have already realized that something was strange just by sitting in a place like this and blocking our path.

It seems unlikely that the story will end with a peaceful protest by low-ranking students. That intuition began to bother the group.

Still I don’t think the situation itself is to the point of being burdensome.

Ziggs once said that Ed’s basic magic proficiency itself was quite excellent but that level could not overcome the absolute lack of firepower and the difference in numbers.

It’s 3 to 1.

A swordsman who is already starting to do his part a wizard who can use magic at an average level for a first-year student and an alchemist who boasts the best skills in his grade.

A fearsome figure was waiting for the group in the center of the hall but that did not mean they could overcome the overwhelming difference in power.

Tailly pulled out his sword.

“What is your intention Ed Rosstaylor? “Tell me what’s going on upstairs right now.”

Ed didn’t open his mouth. She just sits quietly and looks at the group.

then... “I have no choice but to force them to open their mouths!”

Those words signal the start of the battle.

Taily kicks the ground and Ayla takes a stance and collects mana. The moment Elvira was about to reach for the alchemy supply bag full of all kinds of reagents... Ed kicked off his chair and stood up.

– Kwadangtang!

The chair rolls on the floor and magic energy gathers in Ed’s hand. In Elvira’s eyes the flow and tone of that magical power can be immediately grasped. The basic wind magic is ‘Wind Blade’. Who is the target?

Taily Ayla Elvira.

Among the three wizards Edgar is the one he needs to be most aware of.

The most important thing in a wizard’s battle is to maintain a thorough distance. Victory can only be achieved if an environment in which magical power can be constantly collected and magic chanted is maintained.

In a wizard vs. wizard fight the importance of maintaining distance is less emphasized but when a warrior skilled in close combat is involved it becomes key.

The moment the swordsman gives distance the wizard’s chances of winning completely disappear. So the first target Ed will attempt to subdue is Tailley McLaure who is attempting to approach him.

Meanwhile when Elvira and Ayla’s support fire hits Ed... It is a very simple victory for the punitive force.

– ‘Wheeik!’

However the direction of the wind blade was not in the direction of the party... It was heaven.

Blind spots in psychology. It was right on the ceiling.

The link that supported the majestic and large chandelier in the main hall was cut off with a single knife. The sound of screeching metal is heard and then a huge chandelier crashes into the center of the main hall.

– ‘Bang!!’

– ‘Patter.’

Of course Tailly reacts well enough to that extent.

The momentum of the body that was moving forward is counteracted by kicking the ground again. After a while the main chandelier sticks out where Tailly was trying to go and dust rises blocking the view of the hall.

“Aaaah!”

“Ayla! are you okay?!

“It’s okay Taily! “I just fell because of the shock for a moment!”

As a loud noise passes through the hall murmurs can be heard from all over the Ofilis Hall. Students trapped in their rooms will slowly begin to tremble with anxiety. You will begin to seriously consider whether you should really break down this expensive building and escape.

The first to succumb to that fear is Clevius. It looks like he hasn’t come out of the room yet.

“Elvira! you!

“I don’t care...” !”

– ‘Hwaak’

Elvira’s tangerine-colored hair tied back flutters. A few strands are cut off by wind blades and are floating in the air.

The target of the blade was not Elvira’s hair but the bag of alchemy supplies she was wearing. The leather is torn and all the magic reagents contained inside are pouring out.

-Kaga River! Kang!

The act of lowering a large chandelier to the floor and sticking it in without hesitation was completely unexpected.

I was thinking that this was an opponent that I would overpower after a few fights.

Doesn’t the antique interior of the Ofilis Hall give off an atmosphere that should never be damaged? What an unconventional act of destroying that expensive-looking chandelier without hesitation. How are you going to take responsibility?

To Elvira Ed’s actions seemed reckless but from Ed Rosstaylor’s point of view they were not that bold.

If things go according to plan the Ofilis building is going to be completely destroyed so no one cares that the main hall is damaged at that time and no one wants to take responsibility for it.

Since I am well aware of that fact even that magnificent chandelier seems like nothing more than a tool to create variables in battle. Of course from Elvira’s point of view she feels uncomfortable seeing Ed trying to block the group’s entry even to this extent.

‘Anyway that one too... You mean sincere right? ‘There’s something going on upstairs.’

Elvira turned her gaze back to the reagents scattered on the floor.

It was full of all kinds of low-level reagents but nothing was broken. These are reagent containers that have been given Elvira’s strengthening formula. It maintains its strong strength until Elvira herself cancels the reinforcement ceremony.

The moment Elvira tried to move her body towards it.

– Grumble!

The pillar of fire extending from Ed separates Elvira from the reagent.

That wall of fire extending straight was created by the basic magic ‘ignition’. However the scale and heat itself are not normal. It is a sign of extremely repeated mastery of the same ignition magic.

The wall of fire caused by Ed’s ignition magic divided the main hall into several pieces like cutting a cake.

A wall of fire made of two three and four layers. A flame centered around a hanging chandelier separates the main hall into separate rooms.

‘This... ‘It’s not good.’

Build a battlefield that flows naturally like water.

Ed Rosstaylor’s judgment is quick and accurate.

The core force of the punitive force is Elvira. However the most fatal drawback of the students of the Alchemy Department is that their direct combat power is almost non-existent unless they rely on magic tools or reagents.

So the most important thing is to make Elvira’s reagents and magic tools unusable.

Even if it is a full bag of alchemy supplies just pouring out the contents and building a wall of fire to block access will halve Elvira’s power.

Usually students in the pension department wear emergency magical tools in the form of rings or necklaces just in case but Elvira who is overconfident in her own skills doesn’t go that far because she finds it annoying.

I wondered if he had figured it all out but soon shook his head that it couldn’t have been so.

In any case if ignition magic is used on that scale it will be difficult to maintain it for a long time with Ed’s ordinary magic power. It seemed like they were aiming for something.

If so the current situation is also strange.

If you can’t use magic these flames are just a piece of paper in front of Tailly.

With just one preparation stance and attack timing you can cut down the flames and clear the path to Ed. When that happens your field of view is wide again and you can even see the opponent’s movements at a glance so you can even receive support from Elvira.

So is that brief gap the key? However Ed Rosstaylor can no longer use magic... .

“No Taily!”

When the thought reached that point Elvira screamed.

However Tailley’s move to close the distance with Ed and cut away the fire using ‘Elemental Slash’... . The momentum is already too strong to stop now.

Inducing this situation means that there are still ‘numbers left’... !

You can attack without using magic... There remains a physical means of long-distance attack that Tailley and the others don’t know about!

By the time I thought of that possibility it was already too late. In the hands of Ed Ross Taylor who appeared after the flames were cut off by Tailley’s sword strike... A short bow is lifted. It was probably put in the fallen decoration cabinet beforehand.

“The bow... I know how to handle it... ?”

Aiming is already done.

Taily cannot be suppressed with one arrow. Rather he might swing his sword with his natural reflexes and deflect the arrow. Rather than restricting movement it may only create an opportunity for a counterattack.

Therefore in order to reliably restrict Tailley’s movements you should not aim at Tailley herself. The target is Tailley’s companion sitting in the corner of the hall.

“Ayla... !”

By the time I thought it was too late it was already too late. The force in the bowstring is released and the arrow advances mercilessly toward its target.

Basic defensive magic is one of the things first year students learn the most.

It is a self-defense magic that minimizes the ‘physical force’ that comes upon one’s body and it is a magic that Ayla also knows how to use... Coincidentally the effects of Elvira’s night butterfly flower reagent are equal to all wizards.

Arrows fly at Ayla who has no means of defense. Taily turns and lunges at Ayla with near-superhuman reflexes but she can’t outrun the arrows that have already started flying.

– Whoosh whoosh!

But the arrow never reached Ayla.

“Whoa... ”

The sound of glass beads breaking was heard.

‘Rake Hand’ one of Elvira’s more than twenty magic tools.

It is a glass bead that generates enough force to pull small-sized objects from a great distance as long as they are within the field of view.

The arrow that flew into Ayla’s abdomen lost its physical power and flew into Elvira’s hand and was caught.

“Finish it Taily!”

As soon as she saw that Tailley’s eyes burning with anger turned towards Ed.

Elvira also didn’t want to be touched anymore. No matter how much you want to block Tailley’s entry knocking down the chandelier and setting it on fire is truly insane.

Wasn’t it just a simple occupation protest by inferior students?

Other than that I don’t know what’s going on that’s stopping people from going upstairs to the Ofilis building... In any case shooting Ayla with the arrow really crossed the line. This is completely different from simply threatening with magic.

If an arrow like this got stuck in Ayla’s fragile body she might lose her life. This is clearly a criminal act.

Thinking like that Elvira tried to relax the hand holding the arrow. And the moment my vision reached the end of the arrow... She took in her breath again.

Arrowheads are excised.

The arrowhead which was originally supposed to be made of iron with a sharp tip was cut off and tied around a wide hay bale to offset the physical force as much as possible.

Clearly traces of the killing power being eliminated.

Did you know that it would be difficult to check the condition of the arrowhead in an urgent situation?

Of course if you are unlucky you could be blinded or injured just by the impact of the arrow shaft but even then the aiming direction was between the lower abdomen and thighs where there are almost no vital points. Even if I was unlucky enough to get hit squarely I would have only suffered a few bruises.

‘I was watching... .?’

As soon as her thoughts reached that point Elvira screamed again.

“Taylor! be careful! Still... ”

There’s still something left... The moment you want to say that.

– ‘Kwaang!’

A coward screamed from the second floor accompanied by a sound like a wall breaking.

When I came to my senses Ed had already been hit by Tailley’s sword and was pinned to the wall.

“... .what?

As I watched Ed quietly leaning against the wall and trying to get his bloody body together... Elvira felt a strong sense of discomfort again.

*

“Are you crazy?!”

The chandelier has collapsed. Most of the decorations are on fire. Ed sat down leaning against the messed-up wall of the main hall shaking off his blood-soaked clothes from his familiar... He was still expressionless.

“I don’t think there must be a reason for doing this!”

Taily screams shaking her fists.

Elvira kept her mouth shut as she watched that scene.

Ed eventually allowed Tailley to approach and was ultimately subdued by the natural compatibility between a wizard and a melee warrior.

It was a bit of a struggle but I was able to overcome it in the end.

But Elvira did not feel refreshed.

Throughout the battle Elvira’s heart... She just felt like she was being pierced again and again.

It feels like the battle situation and structure are all played out in Ed’s hands.

If Ed Ross Taylor had really tried to subdue Tailley and his group he would have immediately knocked down the chandelier without even showing up.

It might have been different if he was just an idiot wizard who was overconfident in his abilities but the difference from Ed’s appearance in the middle of the battle was indescribable.

I can’t shake the feeling that there is some intention behind it.

It seems that Tailley and Ayla’s thoughts did not reach that point due to the urgent situation but Elvira’s expression was completely frozen unlike her usual immature appearance.

‘As expected something is strange.’

Behind Tailly who was screaming loudly Elvira looked straight at the other person’s face.

Although he is in a defeated position he does not feel any resentment at all. I just sat there leaning against the wall waiting for Taily’s shouting to end.

Finally when Tailly was catching her breath and regaining her strength she raised her head and spoke.

“Are you done?”

Even when the situation has come to this point he does not lose his calm tone.

“When you’re done go up. “Stop whining.”

There isn’t even an appearance to tell them not to go.

I beg your pardon... ?”

Pushing Tailley away who was questioning her question Elvira stood straight in front of Ed and looked down at him. He couldn’t help but come here and ask.

The main hall of Ofilis Hall is filled with the sound of rain hitting the exterior wall.

“Why did you watch it?”

Ed’s expression does not move at that question that pierces his heart. It was Tailly and Ayla who were surprised by those words.

“What do you mean Elvira?”

“You watched it? This person? Us?

Elvira didn’t even listen to Tailley and Ayla’s questions and glared straight at Edman.

Answer me.

Another moment of silence. But Elvira has no intention of allowing that silence.

I continued to stare at him as he sat leaning against the wall refusing to make a move until Ed responded.

With the sole intention of questioning him for the rest of his life.

But of course that questioning cannot last a lifetime.

– Bang!!

The main entrance to Ofilis Hall opens again.

The soft sound of rain hitting the outside wall is momentarily drowned out by the sound of heavy rain coming through the front door.

Lightning strikes once.

The world that shines brightly for a moment clearly shows the image of a girl shaking off the moisture from her robe and hat. The persimmon flower hairpin that was briefly revealed in the darkness was chosen after the girl stayed up all night thinking about it.

Who could criticize the girl’s innocence? Even if it is an illusion it is your freedom to imagine happiness.

However the gap between imagination and reality is sometimes cruel.

The boy who thought he would appear at the pavilion with a cool appearance is somehow attacked by a group of assailants and falls down covered in blood.

Open front door.

The expression on the girl’s face is cold as she emerges from the darkness with the pouring rain in the background.

The usual lively and lively eyes are gone and are filled with only shade.

“... What are you doing?

The tone of questioning was also heavy.