Book 1 Chapter 70
“Our mission is to investigate the anomaly in the Fairy Forest. An investigation into the reason why the undead are appearing.”
At Rauta’s words, Lunia raised her hand.
“I heard that Death Knights are also appearing in the Fairy Forest now. Have you ever fought a Death Knight, Rauta-senpai?”
“Yes.”
“Then you must have prepared countermeasures against Death Knights as well.”
“Is there a need to prepare countermeasures against Death Knights?”
“What? What do you mean…?”
At Rauta’s question, Lunia’s expression was flustered.
“If Death Knights really appeared, we would need to prepare countermeasures. But.”
Rauta glanced at Leo.
“Only one person has seen a Death Knight, hasn’t he?”
“Are you saying Leo-kun is lying?”
“He probably didn’t lie. But he must have mistaken it for another undead. Skeleton Knights can look like Death Knights.”
“Even so, I think it's right to prepare countermeasures just in case. It’s not that difficult to devise a strategy against Death Knights, is it?”
“A proud class representative of Seirun knows one thing but not the other.”
Rauta chuckled.
“High-level undead like Death Knights are dispelled if they don't receive continuous mana supply from a Necromancer. That’s why there are always demons where there are Death Knights. But this is Berkia, the capital of Elsalvecia.”
“……”
“As a student of Seirun, you should know, right? A large-scale stellar magic is cast around Berkia. Magic created by the great ancestor, Luna-sama, prevents demons from ever approaching. Even if they approach, their location is immediately detected.”
Rauta spoke as if he was certain that Death Knights would not appear.
As Lunia hesitated at his words, Leo spoke.
“There’s no rule that a Necromancer has to be a demon.”
“What?”
“Beings other than demons can also wield dark power.”
Hearing Leo’s words, Rauta said,
“That’s even more absurd. Do you think proud elves would do that?”
Rauta, speaking irritably, turned around sharply.
“Let’s stop wasting any more time and depart.”
Watching Rauta walk ahead, Kal whispered softly.
“Doesn’t his attitude seem completely different from before?”
“It probably means there’s no one else to mind anymore.”
At Leo’s words, Kal clicked his tongue.
“I don’t really like that type.”
After a while.
Kehehehek! Kyahahaha!
A group of goblins appeared.
“Let’s see how good Rumen’s skills are.”
Rauta laughed and gestured towards the goblins with his chin.
“Do you two want to handle them?”
As Leo stepped forward at his words, Kal said,
“Leo. Is it necessary for you to step in for mere goblins?”
Kal smiled and took out his magic staff.
“Leave these little fry to me.”
‘Kal’s battle… Come to think of it, I’ve hardly seen it since the beginning of the semester.’
Kal had wanted to be a supporter since his admission.
As such, in combat classes, he mostly supported other students rather than being on the front lines.
In addition, his magic was mostly support or enchantment magic, not offensive magic.
“Goblins are a piece of cake.”
Kal, laughing playfully, spun a short staff between his fingers and dropped it.
“Ugh?”
Lunia looked bewildered watching Kal scramble to pick up his staff.
“Why is he so clumsy?”
Kal, having retrieved his staff, grinned as he saw the goblins forming a circle.
“Now, shall I show you my creations?”
Kal opened an extradimensional space.
Along with it, weapons poured out of the extradimensional space.
Seeing this, Eiran’s eyes widened.
“Weapons…”
“Well. That guy specializes in alchemy magic, though.”
Leo tilted his head in confusion, and Kal generated magic.
Rauta scoffed.
“Crude magic.”
Indeed, Kal’s magic was barely at the average level for Rumen.
Although Kal was a wizard with excellent talent, it was unavoidable that he seemed lacking in Rumen, where only the best gathered.
‘But still, Kal never gave up.’
Knowing his limits, he didn't give up.
Instead, he chose to move in a different direction.
Woong-!
The weapons, reacting to Kal’s magic, floated in the air.
Leo’s eyes widened slightly at the sight.
“What, it’s just telekinesis?”
Lunia, watching with a little interest, looked slightly disappointed.
Using telekinesis to wield weapons was a very common attack method.
“No, that’s not telekinesis.”
“What?”
The weapons from Kal began to emit magic, and powers of various attributes started to manifest.
Eiran was surprised at the sight.
“What happened?”
“Enchantment.”
“Enchantment?”
“Yes.”
Leo instantly deciphered the magic Kal used.
‘He engraved telekinesis magic patterns on the weapons. Those magic patterns reacted to the enchantment magic.’
Enchantment magic is a simple magic that any wizard can use.
And the idea of engraving telekinesis magic patterns on weapons was also simple.
However, implementing enchantment magic with such a complex structure was difficult even for experienced wizards.
‘Were those weapons made with alchemy? Pretty good?’
“Go!”
The weapons, obeying Kal’s command, flew towards the goblins.
Weapons enchanted with diverse elemental magic adorned the sky.
Krrrk?
Kyyyaak!
The goblins scattered in terror.
“Where do you think you’re going!”
However, the weapons imbued with Kal’s will moved complexly.
The weapons that instantly cut down the goblins returned to Kal.
Kal, putting his weapons back into the extradimensional space, wore a smug expression.
“Hmph. What do you think of my trump card?”
“Kal-sama! Amazing!”
Eiran shouted excitedly.
Leo was also impressed.
“Why didn’t you present this magic as your unique magic during the midterms?”
“It’s just using simple enchantment magic and weapons made with alchemy, so it can’t be called unique magic.”
“The fact that you can approach magic in this way is worthy of being called unique magic.”
“Really? It’s just an idea that came to me while I was desperately trying to create something decent.”
Kal was a wizard specializing in enchantment, which is a type of alchemy that imbues objects with something.
However, a simple enchanter cannot achieve great success as a wizard.
‘Yet, Kal has focused on researching enchantment magic since his admission, utilizing his strengths. That’s how he completed this magic.’
“Professor Ren would praise you immensely if you showed it to her!”
“Oh! Really? Then can I survive until the second semester with this?”
At Leo’s words, Kal beamed.
No matter what anyone else said, Leo’s endorsement was certain.
Leo chuckled, watching the motivated Kal.
Lunia and Rauta also looked at Kal with surprised eyes.
“Hmph. It’s still just simple enchantment magic.”
Rauta scoffed, but Lunia thought differently.
‘For someone in a lower-tier class at our school to come up with such magic.’
Lunia looked at Kal with a complex expression.
“Well, let’s move again.”
After that, there were several more monster battles.
However, the undead showed no signs of appearing.
“Even though the undead aren’t appearing, and you’re talking about Death Knights? Ridiculous.”
Rauta’s mocking voice could be heard.
But Leo’s face was grim.
The group had now arrived at the entrance of the past Fairy Land.
The magic cast by the former fairy king was still intact, and it looked no different from a few days ago.
But…
‘The land is cursed.’
Leo, who had lived through the age of calamity, was the only one who could discern the subtle curse.
‘Curse of the Dead.’
Among the many curses used by demons, this curse was special.
It was a curse that only one person could use.
The Legion Commander of Tartarus, who survived the age of calamity.
Erebus’s most loyal subordinate and the most terrifying being among demons.
‘The Necrolord Hell Kaiser.’
He is practically the commander leading Tartarus.
‘He wouldn’t have moved directly.’
If Hell Kaiser had moved directly, it would be truly alarming.
‘According to records after the age of calamity, he has never moved directly. But it is certain that at least a subordinate under his command is here.’
Leo looked at the entrance to Fairy Land with a stern face.
‘Beyond this… there is something Silod wanted to protect.’
While Leo was thinking, Lunia said to Rauta,
“Rauta-senpai, since there are no signs of undead, shall we return?”
“No. We will explore this area further.”
“Understood.”
“From now on, let’s split up and search the surrounding area.”
Lunia faltered.
“On our own?”
“Of course. Should I clean up after you?”
Rauta’s expression was irritable.
At his appearance, Lunia was flustered, and Rauta, scoffing, began to investigate the surroundings with a serious face.
“No. Isn’t that guy here to lead us? What is he trying to do?”
“It seems like he’s looking for something…”
Kal grumbled with an absurd expression, and Eiran looked confused.
“Leave it. Let’s ignore that annoying guy and search the area on our own.”
Lunia stuck her tongue out at Rauta and rounded up the group, but stopped when she saw Leo.
Leo was staring intently at Rauta, who was diligently searching for something.
Seeing Leo’s eyes narrow, Lunia had a premonition.
‘He knows something.’
***
That evening.
The students of Rumen and Seirun, who returned after the exploration mission, felt a sense of doubt.
“Chelsea, your group didn’t find any undead either?”
“Yeah. Not just our group. All groups couldn’t find any undead.”
“Is that so?”
The appearance of undead had already been confirmed by the Elsalvecia Council.
That’s why they had formally requested Rumen and Seirun.
‘But the undead disappeared in just one day?’
If the undead themselves had disappeared, it would be strange.
Undead have a limited activity time if they don't receive mana supply.
However, in the central part of the Fairy Forest, the ‘Curse of the Dead,’ a curse that endlessly generates undead, was in effect.
‘But the undead have disappeared. It’s as if there’s a Necromancer controlling them.’
“Professor Herdium.”
At that time, Rauta spoke to Herdium, who was listening to the report from the Seirun students.
“What is it, Rauta-student?”
“Although there are no undead, an anomaly has indeed occurred. The Fairy Forest is a sanctuary of elves. I believe we should root out the ill omens as soon as possible. While it might be dangerous for the first-years, the second-years can explore the forest even at night. Therefore, I request permission to search at night.”
At his words, some of the second-year students whispered with annoyance.
“Ugh, he’s buttering up again.”
“That annoying guy.”
All the second-year students except Rauta were in the lower and middle classes, so the gaze of their peers towards Rauta was not favorable.
“Rauta-student, your intentions are appreciated. However, night exploration is dangerous even for second-years. Night is when the aura of undead becomes stronger. Therefore, I cannot grant that request.”
“But Professor!”
“Rauta-student. Even good intentions can cause problems if they are excessive.”
Seeing Herdium speak firmly, Rauta clenched his teeth and retreated.
Leo muttered to himself, watching Rauta’s reaction.
‘He’s becoming more suspicious.’