Chapter 164
"Everyone. Fulfill. Your mission."
At the chilling resonance, the thugs recalled the essence of their mission.
It was for one purpose only.
'Collapse the academy.'
The mission content was simple.
Infiltrate the academy without being detected and make contact with the designated target.
Afterwards, it was to germinate the seed of destruction again.
The target to become that sacrificial lamb was as follows:
"Target... Regia. Philertz."
Regia Philertz.
The girl known to handle a dragon as a summoned beast.
Samples related to dragons are extremely rare.
Moreover, a strength said to become close to omnipotence when mature.
The heretics were aiming for such power.
This mission wasn't an abduction or anything.
After contacting the target, they intended to carry out the ritual right there.
A ritual that injected demonic energy into the subject and dyed their essence black.
It was a process called [Corruption] in the world.
After subduing the weakened target and forcing the ritual, the defiled essence would soon change like a monster.
In short, an operation to inject demonic energy and turn the subject into a chimera-like form.
'If that happens.'
A corrupted dragon.
They would be able to descend such a disaster in the middle of the academy.
The death dragon sealed in the underground temple... perhaps, it might even call forth a more terrible existence.
The reason Regia had been constantly targeted by heretics before was also for the following reason.
Because the dragon sample had such infinite possibilities.
Especially now when the summoned beast hadn't fully awakened as a mature being.
It was nothing short of a golden opportunity for the heretics.
'Today... Galimar's lifeline will be cut.'
The reason for such obsession with the academy was simple.
Because it was a place that had become a symbol of peace after the Great War that left a huge scar on the empire.
Black magic is a study that takes fear as nourishment.
Every time people lose hope and learn despair, the aura of evil becomes a little clearer.
This was exactly why the heretics had to collapse the academy and cathedral.
To approach their long-cherished wish.
"Only. For His. Revival."
The tombkeeper muttered as if praying.
He hadn't thought of the case of mission failure.
Because he intended to move within a thoroughly prepared plan.
This mission even borrowed hands from outside.
'The businessman, and Beniti.'
The two forces cooperated.
Currently beside the tombkeeper stood 'hounds' known as the businessman's direct unit.
Moreover, there were also pawns planted by Beniti inside the academy.
They investigated the security situation in the academy and the target's schedule, and informed of the appropriate execution timing.
Thanks to that, the mission proceeded smoothly.
The tombkeeper tore the scroll taken from his breast.
Rip-!
Parchment tearing along with a sharp bursting sound.
Right after, the thugs' forms disappeared.
It was magic that completely erased the presence of designated subjects.
This was a relic discovered in a corner of the labyrinth, and likewise contained ancient mystery.
It was also an item saved for several years for the execution of today's operation.
The thugs crossed the academy area.
"Time. 17 minutes."
The grace period was at most about 20 minutes.
If they exceeded that limit, faculty who detected abnormalities would rush over.
Even for the tombkeeper counted as strong within the heretics.
If the number of faculty exceeded ten, it was difficult to guarantee victory.
They had to complete the mission and leave within 15 minutes at least.
It wasn't ample time, but it wasn't to the extent of causing problems either.
It was sufficient time to corrupt one neutralized student.
The tombkeeper stepped forward.
His gaze was directed towards the opposite alley.
Step step-.
Footsteps gradually approaching.
Before they knew it, pink hair was reflected in the thugs' vision.
The target was on her way back to the dormitory after finishing training.
The tombkeeper who had been following soon signaled.
"Carry out. The funeral."
A bizarrely gloomy voice.
The shadows spread on the roadside all began to move their feet at once.
***
Meanwhile.
Regia who had finished training was in the process of returning to her dormitory.
Training that had been intense enough to exhaust all her energy.
Thanks to that, the girl's steps were groaning like a sick chicken.
The desire to collapse on the bed right away shimmered.
The pilot breathed quietly.
"Huu... it's still hard."
Recently, Regia had many days of overdoing it.
Should I say she was pushing her abilities to the limit?
Thanks to that, when she finished her daily schedule, it was common to not even have strength to walk like now.
There was a reason she was so obsessed with training.
It was none other than a certain boy.
'Yuda Snakers.'
A person no different from a benefactor to Regia.
After seeing him sitting in a wheelchair, the girl received intense motivation.
It was a desire to become strong enough to protect someone.
When the boy was continuing fights somewhere.
Because she hadn't been able to be by his side.
She didn't want to experience such frustration anymore.
She wanted to become a person trusted and relied on by the other side.
So the girl tried hard.
"...But it's rewarding."
Was it a response to her admirable heart?
Regia was certainly becoming stronger.
Her bond with her summoned beast was tighter than before, and she had mastered most basic magic too.
Now she could even overwhelm professors if her condition was good.
The girl held a smile with some pride.
"Heheh..."
Fingers moving habitually.
Regia fiddled with the ring worn on her left ring finger.
The faint light dyed the girl's cheeks slightly red.
As she was turning a corner while immersed in idle thoughts like that.
"...?"
A chilly sensation brushed her spine.
It wasn't particularly that she felt a presence.
But... an indescribable sense of incongruity was tickling the back of her neck.
Regia quietly turned her head and looked around.
The surrounding scenery was the academy with nothing special.
Spring that had approached before they knew it, fresh colored foliage, sunlight shining between branches.
Blue and red sky creating twilight as the sunset gradually approached.
And...
A strange silence settled on the whole alley.
"......"
No sound could be heard.
Not even the chirping of birds that had been singing cheerfully until just before.
Not even the whispering of foliage that rustled occasionally.
Not even the clattering of daily life heard from far away, all of it.
'Something...'
Something was wrong.
The girl hurriedly began to be wary of her surroundings.
But it was already too late.
A whip flying from somewhere bound the pilot's body.
At the same time, a reddish light isolated the surroundings.
-Whoosh!
"Ugh...?!"
Arms, legs, neck, waist.
Ropes tying up every part of her body without missing.
Regia resisted in confusion, but strangely strength wouldn't enter her body.
No matter how much she concentrated, it was impossible to draw up mana.
This was due to the 'Dispel' magic coated on the whip.
Thanks to that, the girl couldn't even use summoning magic which was her specialty.
"Ugh, ugh...!"
Regia struggling desperately.
Though she would have somehow undone the bindings normally, her current self was in a state of depleted energy.
Her powerless movements soon just sprawled on the ground.
Unidentified thugs were standing before such a girl.
An eerie killing intent was circling nearby.
'Dangerous.'
There was no way to escape.
Though she tried calling for help outside the alley, her voice couldn't properly extend out.
Regia's voice was muted due to the barrier's effect.
Step-.
As she lost strength in her futile resistance, soon a man approached.
Judging by his attire, he seemed to be the leader heading the group.
Something sticky was flowing down from his hand wrapped in rags.
It was none other than demonic energy.
"Sacrifice. Destruction. Will now. Be. Carried out."
A resonance as if evil was boiling.
The shadow directed his palm containing demonic energy towards the girl just like that.
Terrible stench, and fear swallowed the whole alley.
Shadows extending stealthily aimed at the girl.
There was no way to escape.
Regia closed her eyes without realizing.
Crackle-!
But.
The hand the man had extended was roughly bounced away.
Sparks originating from somewhere shook off the demonic energy.
'Ring of Fate.'
The accessory that detected danger had deployed an instantaneous defense.
The ring worn on her finger soon shattered.
As it was a consumable item, it disappeared right away.
As she followed the green light crumbling like dust, suddenly a voice brushed her ear.
-The ring... you've been wearing it constantly.
-Please make sure to keep it with you. Don't forget it or lose it.
-Because it will protect Miss Regia someday.
Light disappeared from Regia's eyes.
Though she had miraculously blocked the attack, nothing had changed.
Because she was still in a state unable to even counterattack.
The opponent before her eyes just shook off his numb hand and deployed demonic energy again.
The time the ring had bought was only about 10 seconds at most.
The girl was helpless before approaching death.
"Disaster. Dragon. Be born. Again."
Following the continuing incantation, the sky gradually darkened.
By now, not even the ring's form remained.
Just 10 seconds.
"Hey, you guys."
But.
Those 10 seconds were enough to create time for someone to intervene.
Some shadow was rippling at the end of the alley.
A red straight line bisected the air.
Swish-!
A strike drawn without time to react.
The man quickly lowered his head.
Unlike some who reacted nimbly, some of the group had their heads fall off.
They hadn't been able to dodge. The cross-section was chillingly clean.
The man who had been carrying out the ritual slowly turned around.
"......"
"What are you doing to our kid?"
A fox was standing there.
A fox holding a sword while wrapped in dense red flames all over her body.
She was glaring at the man with fierce eyes.
The fluttering flames drove away darkness.
"Stop the nonsense and get lost."
It was the appearance of reinforcements.