Chapter 83 — Dazzling Growth and Futile Dreams

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Monsters.

Long-time enemies of humanity, referring to groups of different species.

Some had intelligence, while others did not.

Concepts like human compassion or morality were utterly unnecessary for them.

Monsters were beings even lower than livestock.

Not just wild animals, but truly described as ‘enemies’ with hostility.

Such monsters began pounding on the iron bars with ferocious breaths.

“What’s wrong with them today?”

“Yeah. Do these things know it’s their time to die?”

The monsters were supposed to move under magical restraints.

As preparations for the evaluation were in full swing, caged monsters began to be placed in the arena.

Monsters whose identities were unknown to anyone until the cages were opened.

Every time their roars echoed, the faint-hearted trembled.

This was a battle where lives were at stake.

Of course, safety personnel and professors would step in if necessary, but-.

“Lady Kael.”

“-Ah. Head Maid.”

“I have a message from Young Master Manus.”

Kael nodded and blinked her eyes to listen to Aden’s words.

Feeling Kael’s greatly increased mana, Aden slowly relayed Manus’s message.

“The monsters seem to have become more ferocious. You’ll need to fight with more caution than usual.”

“I understand.”

“I’ll inform your friends as well.”

Kael nodded.

Watching Aden disappear through the shadows, Kael slightly furrowed her brow.

For Manus to warn to this extent.

It was the first time since the Night of the Dead.

She must not let her guard down.

[Kraaaaa-!]

A chilling roar was heard from one side.

Kael felt an inexplicable chill.

There were certainly monsters stronger than demons.

A monster like a drake could trample not only ordinary demons but even patrollers.

Surely they wouldn’t have brought such monsters.

She prepared to take the stage, clutching her pounding heart.

Once this is over, the month-long journey ends.

‘I can do this well.’

Looking around at her teammates, they nodded as well.

Kael’s team consisted of Melanie and Anais.

Pearson and Emerson formed a team with a warrior friend.

[We will now begin the hunting evaluation. Please stand in your designated positions.]

The students stood in their respective areas.

The evaluation starting with the first years.

The monsters’ struggles could be vividly felt through the rattling cages.

“Phew-.”

[First years will face Lesser Ogres. We wish you luck.]

Lesser Ogres.

Monsters that second years could handle alone, but challenging for inexperienced first years.

The first round mostly consisted of ‘nobles’.

The rattling cage rose onto the stage.

“I’ll grab its legs.”

“You know what to do, right?”

Melanie and Anais smiled confidently.

Clank-.

The door opened.

Everyone’s eyes changed.

Golden light radiated from Melanie’s eyes.

Chrrrrr-!

The sight of her donning armor with elemental power was always mystical and awe-inspiring.

[Grooooooar-!]

The Lesser Ogre emerged from the cage with a fierce roar, charging towards the only escape route.

With physical abilities incomparable to humans, the monster threatening human territory charged at Melanie.

Its thunderous approach reminded her of the giant patroller they had encountered before.

The same pattern, the same punches.

Unlike typical mages, Melanie didn’t avoid head-on confrontations.

The spirits whispered.

-Go, crush it.

“Hnngh-!”

She inhaled, drawing up mana.

An intangible aura of mana formed above her outstretched fist.

Kwang-!

Even with the collision, she didn’t budge.

‘I’ve grown too-.’

“Now!”

[Necto]

Crack-!

Chains of mana bound the Lesser Ogre’s limbs.

It was an excellent binding spell.

Anais delivered the finishing blow.

As if she had known the two’s actions from the start, she completed the strongest magic.

[Ignira]

[Altus]

Like the sun blooming, a massive fireball swirled above her head.

Her reddened eyes fixed clearly on the Lesser Ogre.

She pronounced death upon the monster.

“Die-!”

Kwararuk-!

The giant fireball became a beam of light, incinerating the ogre.

It was enough firepower to cripple or kill an ordinary Lesser Ogre.

All the professors were impressed by their clean teamwork.

As expected of Class A.

Some cheered, praising their performance.

“It’s not over yet.”

Kael dampened the mood with those words.

Her eyes shimmered with the influence of mana.

A crackling sound was heard from within the flickering flames.

[Kraaaaaaaa-!]

“The binding’s broken!”

“I’ll bind it this time.”

Anais prepared a binding spell.

The Lesser Ogre, with its skin stretched, leaped high over Melanie.

But Melanie had anticipated even this situation.

[Always consider the unexpected.]

It was a merchant’s teaching, but why would combat be any different?

A strong wind blew.

Melanie’s form, now green, moved leaving afterimages.

[Enchant: Sylphid]

“Where do you-!”

Surpassing the ogre’s speed, Melanie delivered a powerful slap.

Accelerated by wind power, she flew like a gust and kicked the ogre’s back of the head.

-It was a jet kick.

A crisp sound that would make one’s back ache just hearing it rang out.

[Urrrgh-!]

The ogre collapsed with a pitiful cry.

Seizing the opportunity, Anais cast another binding spell.

The ogre was spread-eagled on the ground, its limbs bound.

Sensing its extraordinary strength as it struggled, Anais said to Kael:

“Whoa, are Lesser Ogres usually this strong?!”

“There must be a reason the seniors warned us to be careful. Focus, Anais.”

Only after Melanie struck the ogre’s back once more were they able to subdue its struggles.

Kael decided to prepare one big attack.

She had originally planned to showcase it in front of Manus, but-.

“Come, wind-.”

Kurururuk-!

Overwhelming mana burst forth.

Seeing this, the professors jumped up in surprise.

Not just them, but representatives from various institutions were also shocked.

“Wait, isn’t this a first year?”

“A first year using such magic?!”

“Which family? Who is it?”

Kwaruruk-!

Fierce winds swept through.

It was the same magic Manus had demonstrated in his duel with Professor Trail before.

Even if enhanced, it was still a Lesser Ogre, and it couldn’t possibly withstand this magic.

[Tempesto]

4th Class.

Magic that only accomplished mages could demonstrate was unfolding from a first year’s hands.

Kwarururuk-!

A spear of wind tearing through the atmosphere advanced.

The wind magic, slicing the air in a spiral shape, began to pulverize the sprawled ogre from the crown of its head.

Blood sprayed everywhere, and innards, bones, muscles, and fat were ground up whole.

It was a grotesque sight, but no one thought it disgusting.

“Oh, ohh-.”

“Woooooah-!”

“Waaaaaah-!”

The safety barrier turned bright red.

Huff-.

Kael regulated her mana while catching her breath.

Anais and Melanie high-fived with bright smiles.

“Well done!”

“When did you learn 4th Class magic?”

“Hehe-.”

Kael grinned as she left the stage.

Then suddenly, she met someone’s eyes.

There were blue eyes looking at her with arms crossed.

His slight smile made her smile even wider.

But that happiness didn’t last long.

[Urrrrrgh-!]

“Isn’t, isn’t that dangerous?”

Melanie said, looking towards the source of the sound.

Arenas where Lesser Ogres had started rampaging madly.

The skilled ones were managing well enough, but those who weren’t were gradually being pushed back.

“Yeah. Looks like the professors will start intervening soon.”

“There, there won’t be any dangerous situations because of us, right?”

All eyes were on Kael’s team.

What if something happened in the meantime?

Tragedy always strikes when one lets their guard down, and this was precisely that moment.

It was only natural that problems started occurring one after another.

Not everyone was a protagonist, and not everyone was skilled.

“Aaaaargh-!”

Things started happening simultaneously.

As professors stood up to intervene in earnest, it seemed like nothing major would occur.

They were skilled enough to handle Lesser Ogres with one hand.

Injuries were occurring here and there.

The Lesser Ogres attacked the still unripe students mercilessly, rampaging like mad.

“The monsters’ condition is strange?”

“Yeah. Why are they rampaging like that? Even drooling?”

“But our professors aren’t ordinary people, right?”

There were professors in charge of not just the Snake class, but also the Eagle and Deer classes.

There was even a Sword Master from some country, and a Guardian with the title of Guardian Master.

With them present, it was no exaggeration to say that student safety was absolute.

There were injured, but no deaths.

Those bleeding profusely had medical teams attached, healing their wounds with recovery magic.

However, a small fear had already sprouted deep in their hearts.

‘As expected. Hehe.’

Lupera watched the scene leisurely while waiting.

Fortunately, the situation was well contained, and from then on, the Lesser Ogres’ ferocity noticeably decreased.

It was a shame that the nobles sandwiched in the middle received good scores, but that much was fine.

“Doing well. Hehe.”

The later order was mostly commoners, and most of them were members of Leveli-Malito.

Having frequent exchanges normally, they had continued the ‘playtime’ training Manus had mentioned.

They could sufficiently defeat Lesser Ogres with such training.

[The first year evaluation is over. Good work everyone.]

[The second year evaluation will begin next. Students, please prepare.]

Lupera quietly stood up.

It was now his turn to show his skills.

The huge rattling cage.

If he just did as practiced, he could show good results.

‘All the monsters have gone up anyway.’

Shouldn’t he become the best in at least the second year?

He steeled his resolve and stepped onto the stage.

He already knew what monster the second years would face.

“Everyone, just do as we practiced. Got it?”

“Yeah.”

“Ah, okay.”

He didn’t quite trust his teammates, but it was fine.

Rote learning was excellent, and with some violence added, a somewhat usable team was formed.

He could see the crazed monsters rampaging.

[Ah, your monster will probably rampage a bit too.]

[This is when you need to show your skills. Understand?]

[Show how much potential you have as a mage, that you can overcome any crisis.]

He too had to hunt a monster with reddened eyes.

But he was confident.

He grinned and prepared for the match.

There was a somewhat strange kid in the first year, but that had nothing to do with him-.

Now all that was left was to become the star of the second year.

He prepared for battle, imagining that someday he too would stand shoulder to shoulder with those monsters.

Not knowing how futile that dream was-.

–TL Notes–
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