Chapter 69 — The Oracle

1

Several hours must have elapsed.

No, perhaps even a full day had passed.

How could less than a day have transpired with her stomach growling so fiercely?

If there was anything edible to scavenge, she would have cast aside all noble pride without hesitation.

The reason she could still maintain a semblance of nobility was because there was absolutely nothing.

The amenities that were supposed to be present on every floor had all vanished, not a single one in sight.

Her watch had completely stopped, and the academy had transformed into a labyrinth itself.

‘Will someone come to my rescue?’

She had been continuously descending, but she was reaching her limit.

Mana could be replenished through rest, but physical strength didn’t recover merely by resting.

Humans naturally experience physiological phenomena.

With all natural processes obstructed, it was truly hellish.

There was a limit to overcoming hunger with mana alone.

The situation was becoming increasingly desperate.

However, Emerson was not one to succumb in the face of crisis.

‘I must survive and keep descending no matter what.’

Didn’t she possess an ability more specialized for survival than anyone else?

She had analyzed a few things.

One of them was that the mana emanating from the monsters decreased as she descended.

Usually, more mana correlates with more potent abilities.

So if she kept going down, she might encounter monsters she could overcome even at her current level.

If she vanquished them, wouldn’t there be something to drink, or at least some detritus?

The Freya family didn’t discriminate when it came to survival.

“Is this about halfway down now… Just a little further…”

She sensed the aura from below clearly weakening.

Occasionally, she detected those with overwhelmingly high mana, but strangely they were solitary.

Judging it would be easier to evade the attention of such beings, she continued her descent.

Unaware that this was a gravely mistaken assumption-.

Emerson pressed on towards the thorny path.

It felt as though she could touch solid ground if she persevered just a bit longer.

‘There’s only one monster below. So-.’

If she skirted the periphery, she should be able to avoid detection sufficiently.

Emerson’s specialty was tracking and pursuit.

She was oblivious to the fact that this came with a fatal weakness.

Thud-.

The carefully placed footstep resonated unusually loudly.

Beyond the darkness, she discerned the source of that terrifying mana presence.

A being with a massive form came into view.

“…Ah.”

Simultaneously, she could also ascertain the structure of the room.

The moment she comprehended the room’s layout, she felt the budding seed of hope being mercilessly crushed.

Skirting the periphery?

Avoiding detection?

In this confined space, how could that be feasible-.

Crack-.

The leg that alighted on the stairs lost its strength, and she stumbled.

That sound reverberated loudly through the chamber.

[Hmm-?]

Ah-.

Beholding the mask staring directly at her, Emerson’s mind went blank.

She couldn’t formulate a course of action.

Her body refused to respond.

Now, what will you do?

Fate presented her with a choice.

Whether to fight even if it meant certain death, or to flee ignominiously.

“Hup-!”

Her legs were rigid, refusing to obey her commands.

When hearing accounts of such scenes in occasional experiences, books, or historical records, she had dismissed them as nonsense.

How could a human in crisis perish helplessly without taking any action?

She had believed it was all just dramatic embellishment.

She frantically pounded her legs with her fists.

She attempted to stand by forcibly circulating mana.

[Hmm-!]

The guardian, having discovered the intruder, advanced.

Thud-.

A visage reminiscent of an ogre with a mask haphazardly affixed, its form rippling with muscle.

With each ponderous step the massive entity took, it felt as though the grim reaper’s scythe was grazing her nape.

‘Move-, move!’

Blood trickled from her bitten lips.

Her trembling body still refused to respond.

Move!

No matter how fervently she screamed internally, her body remained unresponsive.

[Hmmm-!]

Guardians are the sentinels who protect those ascending from below.

They serve the God of Death and were born from their essence.

The only time intruders can ascend past them is when their lives are extinguished.

That’s why the guardian erupted in fierce indignation.

Its roar, resonating from within the mask, further paralyzed Emerson.

Intruders are not granted clemency but are dispatched to the God of Death’s domain.

That is the guardian’s sacrosanct duty.

2

First day.

The group explored a new section of the tower.

They confirmed that the explorable time had increased to eight hours.

Second day.

The group continued their ascent of the tower.

Third day.

Today, too, they scaled the tower’s heights.

“Up there-.”

“Yes, I sense it.”

“Did she descend this far alone?”

Five students cleared the path while unleashing a barrage of magic.

Their footsteps never faltered.

They had to conserve even a modicum of mana to display their full capabilities in future confrontations.

Stairs materialized before their eyes.

And above, they could perceive an immense mana presence.

-Emerson is there.

Alano and Kael, acutely sensitive to mana, immediately grasped this fact.

“You mentioned she’s from the Freya family, correct?”

“Indeed. They’re mages renowned for their tracking prowess.”

Alano’s pace accelerated even further.

At the foot of the stairs, she deployed a boost magic and ascended to the next floor in a single bound.

It was an action taken with the knowledge that the Freya family lacks substantial combat prowess.

‘I’ll safeguard the student. Manus isn’t present now-.’

Crackle-.

Ice flowers blossomed in midair.

She prepared her swiftest spell.

In the distance, a massive entity resembling an ogre came into view.

“Hup-!”

Alano unleashed her magic without hesitation.

2nd-Class, her specialty magic [Glacia].

She hurled an ice spear and immediately adopted a combat stance.

Swish-!

The ice spear struck the back of the guardian’s head.

Scattering silver powder filled the space.

The fluttering silver powder appeared as divine salvation to Emerson.

Perhaps it’s more apt to call it a miracle.

Tears began to flow from her eyes, liberated from the imminent fear of death.

“There! Are you alright?”

“Y-Yes-! I’m okay! I’m okay!”

Her sobbing voice revealed the extent of her ordeal.

Emerson was unaware, but it had been three full days of relentless searching.

The depth she had descended was truly befitting of the Freya family’s reputation.

Regardless, it’s fortunate she’s safe.

Now all that remains is confronting the guardian.

The first-years and Alano had thoroughly scoured the tower each day during their ascent.

Without time to acclimate to the new terrain, they had recklessly vanquished enemies while climbing the tower.

“We encounter this when Senior Manus isn’t present, of all times.”

“Emerson! It’s Emerson, right?!”

Melanie excitedly called out to her classmate.

At the familiar voice, Emerson nodded fervently.

She had been terrified.

Convinced no one would come to her rescue.

Believing she would perish in a place unknown to all.

Beyond her noble status, she didn’t want to face such an ignominious end to her life.

Now she’s saved.

She doesn’t have to die.

“Everyone, prepare for battle. The opponent is formidable.”

“Emerson! Make your way here when you see an opening!”

“O-Okay!”

Emerson nodded, her voice quavering.

The battle commenced without delay.

Brilliant magic circles materialized in the air.

Those who completed their incantations in an instant unleashed their attacks.

[Ignio]

[Glacias]

[Atabulus]

The three mages responsible for the team’s offensive power unleashed their magic.

Boom-!

The guardian absorbed all those attacks head-on.

It was an assault powerful enough to shake the entire floor.

“Did we inflict any damage?”

“Let’s observe for now.”

“I’ll advance.”

Melanie stepped forward.

Though she appears fragile, she’s actually a dependable tank with the most robust defense among them.

Pearson further augmented her physical abilities.

-We’ll support you!

-It’s so invigorating being with you these days!

The spirits laughed brightly even in this dire moment.

Melanie’s pink hair transformed to a golden hue.

Simultaneously, stone armor crafted from mana enveloped her body without gaps.

[Enchant: Gnome]

[Grrrr-!]

As the smoke dissipated, the unscathed guardian swung its massive arm.

Boom-!

Melanie met the blow head-on, infusing mana into her defense.

A simple fist.

She believed she could withstand it sufficiently.

“Kuhek-.”

“Melanie!”

An overwhelming impact.

Not even a shrill scream, but a groan that couldn’t even vocalize as her breath was forcibly expelled.

The stone armor she had deemed impenetrable shattered miserably, and she was flung to the corner like a kite with its string severed.

Alano hurriedly rushed to the fallen Melanie.

Fresh blood began to trickle from her mouth.

It was a grievous wound at first glance.

“Melanie, hang in there.”

“Ugh… th-that… too…”

Melanie’s lips moved as she painfully articulated words.

It was difficult to discern if she was speaking or merely exhaling her obstructed breath.

“Kyaaak-!”

While Alano was attempting to employ healing magic, another scream pierced the air.

The red-haired woman who had been thrown aside, Anais.

Already, the guardian was rampaging through the middle of their formation.

Witnessing this, Alano painfully realized the fundamental flaw in their party composition.

Until now, they had somehow prevailed through their innate genius and exceptional magic.

But now, that limitation has been starkly revealed.

‘We require a warrior, and a guardian.’

“Emerson, can you make your way here?”

Pearson shouted urgently.

Alano utilized healing magic to urgently tend to Melanie.

A blue magic circle took shape along her hand.

[Profector] (This is a 1st-Class healing magic.)

It was the only healing magic Alano had mastered thus far.

If she had anticipated this, she should have learned more potent healing spells.

She squeezed her eyes shut in frustration.

That demon even absorbed Kael’s magic with its body unflinchingly.

[Grrrr-!]

Boom-!

The guardian that withstood her lightning magic without flinching.

Without anyone to shield the front lines, she couldn’t even contemplate casting her next spell.

Having expended mana excessively, her blue hair fluttered in disarray.

There was no time to remove the strands clinging to various parts of her face.

Anais, Melanie, and Alano were incapacitated.

It was natural for the guardian to target her next.

“Ba-Back!”

Boom-!

Dust scattered in a thick cloud.

Kael blinked and stared at the fist embedded in the ground before her.

Just now, clearly-.

“Duck!”

She lowered her head, her hair fluttering from the force.

Whoosh-!

A chilling sound of air being cleaved passed right above her head.

Kael’s body erupted in goosebumps and then settled at the realization of the force that would have pierced through even formidable protective magic.

“Roll to the side!”

Instead of rolling, Kael expelled mana to propel her body with recoil.

The enraged guardian pounded the ground with both hands.

Kael gulped at the impact that shook the entire floor.

Then she looked towards Emerson.

Her eyes were glistening with mana.

The ability to glimpse the future for a fleeting moment.

The power that allowed the Freya family to stand tall as a noble house began to manifest.

“Ugh-.”

“Melanie, are you alright?”

“-Yes. Thank you.”

She rose, clutching her ribs.

Her bones had been shattered, but they were barely restored to their original state thanks to Alano’s swift first aid.

As a consequence, Alano had consumed a substantial amount of mana, but-.

She spoke, looking at the senior who had exerted herself for her sake.

She loathed herself for being incapacitated by a single blow.

Simultaneously, the desire to give that arrogant mass of muscle a taste of its own medicine grew rapidly.

‘Spirits.’

-What is it?

-Are you okay?

-We’re sorry! That entity is formidable!

‘Lend me more of your power.’

Melanie extracted a small flask from her bosom.

An item she had always kept close since the Night of the Dead, believing it might prove useful someday.

It was cracked in places, but the contents remained intact.

“Senior, please tend to Anais.”

“I cannot permit you to rejoin the fray.”

“I’ll deliver one strike and withdraw.”

Melanie’s eyes burned with the same fierce determination as when she first properly awakened her ability.

While she was aflame with fighting spirit, Emerson’s voice rang out.

“That being is only susceptible to pure physical attacks! For that, we require a warrior-.”

“I’ll fulfill that role.”

Melanie, her hair now a brilliant golden hue, took a resolute step forward.

Kael hastily retreated behind her.

Melanie yearned to prove herself here.

That even without relying on magic, she could be invaluable to the party.

That she too could save her friends in their hour of need.

Hiss-.

Yellow oil cascaded over her head.

“From this moment, provide me with directives.”

“…Melanie?”

Boom-!

Melanie, who blocked that tremendous fist with both hands overlapped, spoke as if expelling words through gritted teeth.

Emerson trembled at the sight.

The trampled seed of hope sprang back to life like a resilient weed.

“I’ll pulverize this bastard’s face.”

Melanie’s words infused courage into her very being.

–TL Notes–
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