Chapter 52: Ruthless Action (4)

Aurax Northern Ramparts.

At the top of the watchtower overlooking the Northern Hunting Grounds, three elderly men stood by the window, gazing out over the hunting grounds.

Twilight had begun to fall, and the golden-tinged scenery outside the window carried a rather serene charm.

“Good heavens! What on earth is going on there?”

“C-Could it be that the monster prison has collapsed?”

“……Hoo.”

The old men were left speechless, their mouths agape.

Confusion and shock.

Their aged eyes were all filled with a sense of utter bewilderment.

Right before their eyes.

Rumble…

A huge boulder resting atop the hill toppled sideways and began tumbling down the slope.

Thud!

A cloud of dust rose up so large it was clearly visible even from a distance.

At the sight, Erek Kaid, the Deputy Commander of the Revolutionary Army, frowned deeply.

“Ugh, that’s where the girls’ dormitory is located…”

Immediately, another old man responded.

“W-What! Then have our girls been hurt? We must dispatch the Kishiris Grand Cathedral’s rescue team at once!”

The elderly woman with long white hair tied back was Grace Miller, Grand Priest of the Order of Kishiris.

As a member of the all-female clergy, she was naturally sensitive to such a strange collapse.

However.

“Calm down, Grace.”

Varmilo Dimarque stepped slightly back from the window and spoke calmly.

He was here representing the Eolem Grand Church.

Of course, he too was quite surprised to see the boulder rolling down the hill.

‘Ah, so the Third Prince is making a move!’

He nodded quietly to himself upon realizing that belatedly.

But Grace’s pale face flushed red with anger.

“A boulder fell on the girls’ dormitory! Our children must have been killed or seriously injured!”

These were girls just coming of age, and she was agitated as if her own priests had been hurt.

So Varmilo watched her silently, deep in thought.

‘Does Grand Priest Grace know about that mad plan?’

And would she have tacitly allowed it?

……It was still unclear.

Despite the rivalry between the two churches, they had worked together inside the Revolutionary Army’s stronghold for a long time.

So if this suspicion were to prove true……

‘It would be very sorrowful.’

At that moment, Erek Kaid spoke quietly.

“High Priest Varmilo is right.”

The Deputy Commander firmly blocked the Kishiris Grand Cathedral’s interference.

“We cannot dispatch a rescue team, Grand Priest Grace.”

“Erek, even you!”

“As you all know, our Rite has clear rules and traditions. Once the Rite of the Crimson Wind begins, everything must be carried out by the children themselves.”

“But the collapse of that rocky hill is unprecedented! Is it our tradition to lose children to natural disasters?”

It was a sharp point.

But the Great Mage smiled quietly.

“Fortunately…… it seems none of the children were killed or injured by this incident, so there’s no need to worry any further.”

“……!”

It was not an empty claim.

It was likely the result of the Great Mage’s sensing abilities, so Grace could no longer argue.

“Then that’s a great relief.”

The priestess exhaled a sigh of relief and stepped back.

Varmilo carefully observed every expression on Grace’s face as she withdrew.

If she were to suggest rebuilding the girls’ dormitory……

‘It would almost be certain.’

The mastermind behind the Ultra Wave had exploited the fact that the dormitories were separated by gender to target the boys.

If Grand Priest Grace brought up the need to rebuild the collapsed hut,

‘That would align perfectly with the culprit’s intent.’

But that did not happen.

“Very well, let’s continue to watch.”

The Kishiris Grand Priest quietly stepped back.

In the end, there was nothing certain at the moment.

As the orange sun set in the sky, the three men fell into silence once again.

“By the way, High Priest Varmilo.”

Erek Kaid suddenly spoke, turning to him.

The Deputy Commander’s eyes were impossible to read.

“What is it, Erek?”

As Varmilo blinked in confusion,

“That child called Shan Alledro.”

“……!”

“What kind of child is that? I’m curious.”

The unexpected question slipped out abruptly.

It was a full sprint.

As soon as the six of us escaped through the narrow rock crevice, we ran like wild stallions.

“Ahhhhhh!”

“S-Sui! No, En! Faster! Faster!”

“Shark! Watch over Barel!”

“Got it!”

Despite still feeling the aftereffects of losing one member, Hexter and Barel—whose physique wasn’t as strong—gritted their teeth and ran.

It was instinct.

Anyone would run like this when sensing the presence of a rock mountain shaking behind them.

“It’s coming! It’s coming!”

Even I, who knew exactly where that rocky peak would fall, only had one thought amid the terrifying tremors: to escape as far as possible.

How long had we run through the forest?

Crash!

A powerful impact, as if the earth itself was tearing, engulfed my body.

“Ugh!”

I grabbed Barel’s shoulder and collapsed onto the ground.

When I looked up…the shaking had stopped as if it were a lie.

Then a system message suddenly popped up before my eyes.

[Sudden Event: Eye for an Eye, Rock for a Rock has ended.]

[As a success reward, you have gained 3 Strength Points!]

[Achievement ‘Terrain Change’ unlocked.]

[New Title ‘Mimic of God’ acquired!]

“Phew……”

I let out a sigh of relief as I stood up.

Of course, I never thought I would fail.

But.

‘Wow, this was the tensest moment since I fell into this world.’

Escaping while rocks crashed behind me was something I’d only ever seen on a movie screen……

‘I never thought I’d have to do it myself.’

I don’t think I’ll do it twice.

At least I managed to increase my lacking strength stat.

While everyone else sat down clutching their still-shaking chests,

“Team Leader.”

Barel gestured toward me.

He looked at me with unexpectedly bright eyes.

“Why?”

“Did the Drake die? Or did it survive?”

“…You’re curious about that right now?”

“Yes! Of course!”

Seriously, wizards.

‘You can’t even stand properly, and you’re already worried about that.’

What kind of curiosity was that, coming from someone who prioritized the Drake’s survival first?

I clicked my tongue and answered.

“Of course it’s alive. It’s a Rock Drake.”

Just then, Tirvaen suddenly interrupted, looking more alert now.

“Right, it’s alive. Like my unlucky brother said…… it’s a Rock Drake.”

There was a reason the Rock Drake was also called the Stone Horned Dragon.

It controlled the rocks and was impervious to rock attacks.

That was how it was able to shake this massive hill as if it were its own fist……

As a result, even if the hill partially collapsed, it could survive unharmed.

“If anything, my poison magic would’ve been the dangerous part. Since it was plant-type poison magic, it must’ve been pretty painful.”

Tirvaen stood up and dusted off her cloak as she muttered.

Her words weren’t just confidence.

Just as swordsmanship has strengths and weaknesses,

Magic had attributes and relational strengths and weaknesses too.

‘Naturally, the Rock Drake is fundamentally a rock attribute monster.’

Plant attribute magic was its worst counter.

If you imagined a sprout growing stubbornly between the cracks of a rock, it was easy to understand.

I smiled.

“Probably didn’t die, but must’ve been quite spicy.”

Thanks to that, the Rock Drake spat out all the young Grol it had swallowed in one gulp, thrashing wildly.

As a result, I succeeded in wiping out the girls’ dormitory in the east.

“Is everyone’s legs back under them? Let’s go check it out.”

I led the group and started moving again.

If we circled around this rocky hill a bit, we’d reach the site of the eastern dormitory.

The collapsed cliff would surely be there.

“En’s powerful magic is impressive, but……”

Barel’s eyes sparkled as he took hesitant steps on his still trembling legs.

“Team Leader, how do you know all this? You don’t even look older than me!”

“Hmm.”

He was starting to show the curiosity typical of a wizard.

‘Well, I can see why he’s curious.’

The existence of a Rock Drake trapped here was something completely unknown to the children.

And it took an intermediate-level mage like Tirvaen to gauge the sheer destructive power it could unleash.

So it made sense that a young wizard’s eyes would shine like that.

“This kind of strategy, I think I’ve only read about it in books!”

“In books? What books?”

“War heroes’ tales and stories!”

Ah, biographies?

“Puhahaha!”

I burst out laughing at Barel’s embarrassing praise.

Then, avoiding his awkward gaze, I spoke.

“The reason I know these things is……”

For some reason, I let out a small chuckle.

‘Because I’m a hardcore gamer who poured his soul into this game.’

But I couldn’t say that outright, so I patted Barel on the shoulder and said,

“I just prepared thoroughly and focused on one thing.”

In other words, I mastered the strategy through thorough study and spent all my waking hours playing the game.

‘Well, it’s not a lie.’

Just as I was awkwardly smiling,

“Focusing on one thing, my ass! What a load of crap!”

Somewhere came a sharp curse, filled with hostility.

‘Eve Wyler!’

I instinctively activated a skill.

[Evasion Technique: Gale’s Commission]

Just like countless times in the tomb dungeon.

I twisted my body to avoid the incoming arrow flying straight for my neck.

It seemed impossible to avoid getting hit by that shot.

But at that very moment.

[Skill: Defensive Cut]

Bang!

A flash of silver clashed in midair.

Karls had drawn his sword so fast it was almost invisible, blocking the arrow.

“How dare you! Shooting arrows here as if it were safe!”

And then came the seriously overused guard knight line.

……How can he be surprised by his own words?

‘This loyal soldier, seriously.’

Anyway, thanks to him, I avoided even being grazed by the arrow.

“Thanks, but you’ll have your mouth shut later.”

I patted Karls on the shoulder and stepped forward.

“All units, prepare for battle.”

The team adjusted their grips on their weapons and took new positions.

Karls followed half a step behind me, pointing his blade ahead.

I shouted toward the brush.

“Hey! Looks like you want to talk now, huh?”

With a rustle, she slowly stepped out.

The stubborn player who refused to talk with me and insisted on her own strategy.

But she just royally messed it up……

‘A defeated player.’

Yes, that was the kind of level we were at now.

Eve trembled with rage, the bowstring drawn tight toward me.

“You bastard!”

A sharp curse with impact.

But I scanned the surroundings and realized.

“Coming alone means you really did want to talk, right?”

Eve fell silent for a moment.

A complicated moment where rage and calculation clashed.

“……Yeah.”

Finally calming down, she lowered her arrow.

Karls stepped back slightly, and I nodded quietly toward the path.

“Let’s talk while walking toward the huts.”

At last, we were able to have the conversation that had been left unfinished since last night.