novelraw Chapter 55 : Chapter 55
Chapter 55 : Chapter 55
Chapter 55: Killing Existence (2)
The next day, on the campus of Cia-Harpe Academy.
As half-formed shouts echoed here and there,
“Do you know what day it is today, gentlemen?”
Abel asked as he walked toward the training ground.
The students, dressed in training clothes, were following Abel. Ernst, Demian, Roberta, Fleur, and Monika. All of them were students from Abel's class.
“Why is there no answer, Ernst?”
“……Why do you single me out and ask?”
Ernst let out a sigh.
“It is the day when the use of combat-type golems is permitted. It means it will be a very tiring day.”
Abel nodded his head.
Ernst was right. CIAR permitted the rental of combat-type golems every month. Combat-type golems were stronger than most monsters, but they were tools that could be controlled. Thus, students could spar with combat-type golems under the guidance of a professor. In other words, they could experience training that was close to a real battle.
“May I ask a question too, Professor?”
“Go ahead.”
“How strong are combat-type golems compared to monsters?”
“Golems are objects that move based on commands. Monsters are different. It is difficult to discuss their superiority or inferiority.”
Monsters could not be considered objects. Because there was no way to control them.
But it was also impossible to consider them as living beings. Monsters ate living beings, but they did not feel hunger. They only ate living beings to add to their life force. The only emotion they had was the murderous intent toward living things. At the same time, just as humans created equipment using monsters as materials, monsters also strengthened their bodies using the creations of the Main Gods as materials. It was like a disaster prepared to target all living things.
They were something with a nature too different to be compared to golems.
“Today's training aims to build teamwork.”
Training could not be done against monsters.
One would only experience a real battle.
“Therefore, it would be better to face combat-type golems.”
“Comradeship……, that is indeed the virtue of knights.”
Demian said, checking the condition of his Walloon sword.
“A small bonfire lit on the battlefield……, isn't the warmth contained in it what comradeship is?”
“You must be careful when lighting a bonfire on the battlefield. You might be discovered by the enemy.”
“……You know too little of romance, Professor.”
“That may be so. The last time I read knightly literature was 900 years ago. I don't even remember the contents well now.”
“You are making a mischievous joke because you dislike me……”
Demian's head drooped.
Meanwhile, Roberta was wearing a mischievous smile. Abel's shoe-clad feet were reflected in her round pupils. An opportunity to trip him. She aimed for the moment with only that in mind. Imagining Abel's unsightly staggering over and over again…….
“Don't do it, Roberta.”
Even so, it was no use.
Abel was aware of everything.
“……Tch.”
Roberta clicked her tongue.
“Can't you just fall for it since it's come to this?”
“No.”
“You always fell for my traps. Even this morning, you took a chili powder bomb……”
“That was to experience your skills. Anyone can trip someone. Think of a more novel method. Then I will fall for it.”
“How absurd.”
Hmph, she went.
Roberta puffing out her chest.
She turned her head and looked back.
‘By the way, Unni Fleur is…….’
Roberta thought, pursing her lips.
‘Why does she look so unfazed?’
It wasn't just Roberta who was wondering. Ernst and Demian also occasionally checked Fleur's expression. But Fleur was not aware of the three's gazes.
“Monika.”
Fleur opened her mouth.
Monika and Fleur were walking at the end of the line.
It was a scene of Fleur following the slowly advancing Monika. Looking down, Fleur matched the order of her footsteps with Monika's. Right foot, left foot, right foot, left foot. And then she kept tripping over her own feet.
“Your walking posture is a little unstable. You look like you're staggering. Did you not sleep well?”
Monika did not answer.
It was true that she was short on sleep. It was because she had lost sleep finishing her assignments.
“Aren't you going to answer me? Should I bring Lisian again and ask him to ask for me?”
“……Just be quiet.”
Monika frowned.
Fleur, who was constantly hovering around, was like a gnat. What on earth is she thinking? She was tired of even having such a question. Monika just stared straight ahead, facing the gazes of her classmates who were glancing at Fleur.
‘They must all know.’
Monika thought, brushing her hair back.
Reports were continuing through the ‘Daily Watcher’. The murder cases happening to the Saint-Pierre family. The rumors from it had spread throughout CIAR. It was not a matter that could be easily overlooked since members of a noble family were dying one after another. For some reason, the Saint-Pierre family was not showing any reaction, but news spread that various institutions of the Empire had launched investigations.
Rumors that guessed the inside story of the case, such as it being due to a power struggle within the family, or the work of an outsider with a grudge, also became widespread. But Monika's question was directed at a different point.
Why is she not agitated?
Fleur de Saint-Pierre.
‘It's none of my business.’
Monika shook her head.
So what if they died?
Death is common. In the alleys of the slums, a dead body must have been found today as well. And what about an assassin's gold coin pouch? It would be undoubtedly thick. Moreover, a member of the family that had wiped out her hometown had been murdered. Monika could not feel any emotion.
Not even sympathy, let alone a sense of satisfaction, stirred within her.
It was just empty.
“We've arrived.”
Meanwhile, Abel stopped.
The 6th training ground of Cia-Harpe Academy. There was no one on the wide sandy field.
Only a magic circle was engraved. It was a pattern for summoning the combat-type golems stored in the armory. The armory of CIAR was a huge pocket plain, and the professors were given the authority to rent weapons. That is why Abel stood facing the magic circle.
“Form a line and wait.”
When Abel spoke, the students lined up horizontally.
Monika was standing at the right end. Fleur, adjusting her floral wreath, asked Monika.
“Have you ever fought a combat-type golem, Monika?”
No response.
Fleur didn't mind.
“You must have a few times. Since you're taking the 「Basics of Imperial Swordsmanship」 lecture. But you probably haven't sparred with multiple combat-type golems. Am I wrong?”
No response.
Fleur nodded her head.
“That's right. The 「Basics of Imperial Swordsmanship」 lecture probably doesn't teach battles between multiple opponents. In times like this, it's better to rely on me. Do you know why?”
No response.
Fleur continued without hesitation.
“You're probably thinking the same thing as me, right? Divine magic has the property of blessing. It means you can help others through spells. So I can make your body stronger, and I can make you faster. Healing wounds is no big deal. And besides……”
“Be quiet, Fleur.”
At Abel's command, Fleur clicked her tongue.
Monika was looking at Abel. Abel, who was standing with a gap between him and the students, bent his body. After wiping the sparkling magic circle with his palm, Abel muttered softly.
──Pzzzt, he went.
A wave made of mana soared up.
At the same time, the magic circle flickered. The busily engraved patterns melted into the air. On the other side of the violently swaying flow of mana, the outlines of the combat-type golems were revealed.
That's why it happened.
The students of Abel's class all stepped back at once.
A sense of bewilderment crossed each of their faces.
‘Something's strange about the magic circle!’
Roberta felt a sense of strangeness from the magic circle.
It was thanks to having used it to set traps. A magic circle should be a pre-completed spell in the form of a geometric shape, but it looked as if the strokes had increased at the same time as Abel's command. As if it had been concealing another spell.
‘He should have summoned five, but why…….’
Ernst examined the outlines of the combat-type golems.
The flow of mana was obstructing his vision, but he could count the approximate number of heads. Five? Not a chance. Close to ten combat-type golems were summoned. Above all, they looked as if they were already in operation. As if they were preparing for an ambush.
‘……A child?’
Demian re-gripped his Walloon sword.
He had noticed that something was amiss. But he couldn't move. The moment he was about to instinctively make the first move, it was because he had witnessed a child on the other side of the flow of mana. A boy who seemed to have fainted was being held by a combat-type golem.
‘Emilio Mackenzie.’
Fleur recited the boy's name inwardly.
Why did that child appear? The thought lasted only a moment. The Mana Reactors of the combat-type golems caught her eye. The red-hot Mana Reactors. It was just a signal that an error had occurred, but Fleur took it differently. That the ghost residing in Emilio's inner thoughts had played a trick.
<──Sarrifis.>
Monika muttered, extending her prosthetic arm.
A halo of light swirled around her prosthetic arm. The great sword was summoned from the pocket plain. Monika shouted, gripping the hilt with all her might.
“Get away! Teacher Abel!”
It was a futile worry.
Abel was already moving.
──Swoosh.
A straight line cutting through the flow of mana. A straight body movement like a line segment pierced through the gaps of the combat-type golems.
It was truly an instant. The flow of mana scattered, and the full bodies of the combat-type golems were revealed. Abel was standing beyond them. With Emilio in his arms.
[Fire, fire, fire!]
Suddenly, a cloud of sand burst forth.
[We are the ember!]
Abel looked back.
A heavy shadow covered Abel. The combat-type golems were blocking the front.
[To this world,] [to this world,] [to this world,]
[The flame that will catch fire!]
Thud, he went.
The sound of the wind being pushed.
The moment the fists of the combat-type golems were about to rush in,
Abel's right hand extending toward the front.
Thud──!
A deafening roar followed. A translucent protective shield blocked the attacks of the combat-type golems.
“What are you doing!”
Abel shouted.
The students, who had been standing there dumbfounded, flinched.
“This is a real battle!”
Thud, thud, thud!
The offensive of the combat-type golems continued.
Cracks spread across the protective shield that enveloped Abel and Emilio.
“Don't just stand there blankly, move! If you don't, this child and I will die!”
That's right. This is not a training but a real situation.
It didn't take long to organize their thoughts. The expressions of the five students hardened at once.
And so, a formation was formed. Monika and Demian stood in the front, and Ernst protected the center and drew his cutlass. The rear was Fleur and Roberta's share. Because support through divine magic was needed.
‘Be that as it may…….’
Although it was a clumsy formation, the students' views were in agreement.
‘……Mr. Abel Argento, I don't think you're going to die?’