Running while holding a fire sword.
There are repeated loud crashing sounds behind me.
It seems Mastema and Evans are going at it fiercely.
I don’t think Mastema will lose to that instructor. She’s strong enough to have nearly killed me.
I continue forward, relying on the light from my fire sword, but the surroundings are strange.
The sounds of Mastema and the others wreaking havoc are quite loud.
Even though it’s the middle of the night, it wouldn’t be odd for someone to come out and check on the situation.
The answer came quickly. Just as I was about to pass by the entrance of one of the dormitories, the door suddenly opened.
When I turned, thinking it was a student from the magic academy coming to check, I was right… but…
They clearly looked completely insane, their face ashen like a corpse. Almost like a zombie.
Their uniform had a skull badge on it.
They must be a member of the Hell Research Society. An upperclassman, by the looks of it.
Should I be calling them “senpai” or something?
I’m worried about Arnella and the others. Even though I’m concerned, I decide to ignore the upperclassman and keep moving forward. But then, they open their mouth and bite at me with their ashen face.
So they really are zombified!
I sliced their neck, and they turned to ash and vanished. Evans had mentioned something about Sena’s ritual.
It’s likely that the students who were tampered with by the Hell Research Society have become like this due to the effects of that ritual.
…The Hell Research Society is the largest faction in this magic academy.
If all of their students have turned like this… and not just the students, the instructors must also be involved.
“Noel, Arnella. Get out of there immediately.”
I use wind magic to relay the message to the two of them.
“Is it alright? Wouldn’t it be better to keep watch for a little longer?”
“No. It’s too dangerous. Get out of there…”
Where could they even escape to? At this point, there’s no safe place anywhere…
No, wait. There is.
“Listen, go to the place I tell you to.”
That place should be the safest in the magic academy right now. After finishing my communication with Noel and the others, I head back towards Sena’s room.
By now, zombified students have flooded the surroundings. They seem to have no reason left. Among them, some have bodies that have swelled up, though not to Evans’ extent.
I ready my fire sword.
I have no grudge against them, and I feel hesitant, but… unfortunately, it doesn’t look like I can save them.
What a joke, calling this the largest mage training institution on the continent.
The people here are those who chose not to pursue true training.
And at the same time, it means that this institution has failed as an educational facility.
They should have dealt with the sweet poison that is the Hell Research Society first.
That girl principal… she’s a complete fool, and now, she’s not even around when she’s needed the most.
I slash, and the students turn to ash from where they fall.
This is the worst feeling.
I didn’t come here to do something like this. I just wanted to become a mage.
As I’m cutting my way forward, I hear screams.
I debate whether to ignore it, but decide to check it out just in case. It’s one of the elite students who had sprinkled powder on Noel, fighting against zombified students with that incomplete golem.
Behind him are two lackeys assisting him in the fight, and a terrified student.
It seems they’re protecting the students who can’t fight, even though they’re shocked by the sudden turn of events.
But the situation is not in their favor.
That student’s golem was poorly made to begin with.
They can manage against ordinary zombified students, even with magic, but it seems ineffective against the swollen ones.
In a contest of strength, the golem is destroyed, and when they generate a new one, it’s immediately crushed as well.
Behind the swollen student, more zombified students line up.
Unlike the ones found underground, these seem to actively attack people.
At first, I thought this upperclassman was pathetic, but it seems he’s fulfilling his duty as a noble. Though he’s still not fit for Noel. She belongs to me.
I tear through the line of zombies, cutting down the swollen student.
Their regeneration is thwarted by the carbonization from the fire sword.
It seems they can’t regenerate from carbonized wounds.
Eventually, the students I’ve cut down turn to ash.
“You…”
“There’s no time to talk. Get those who have collapsed on their feet, quickly.”
Among them, there’s a girl who wet herself, but that doesn’t matter.
Staying here any longer, and the outcome is all too clear.
One of the lackeys lends his shoulder to the girl. His face is filled with disgust, but a glare from the upperclassman forces him to comply.
What was that upperclassman’s name again… No, I don’t know it. I only know he’s related to the Cartofell barony.
“But where should we go?”
That’s a reasonable question. This phenomenon is occurring throughout the academy.
They were probably searching for a safe place while escaping themselves.
I first give them directions to the lower-class dormitory, then tell them about a safer location.
Colgus and Lulise should still be in the lower-class dormitory.
Also, there are relatively few people from the Hell Research Society there.
Instructor Garlun is also there.
He used to wear the skull badge, but at some point, he took it off.
He probably has some issues with the Hell Research Society.
It’s a shame about Instructor Evans.
I’ll have them gather those people and move.
If I go, I can definitely save them, but I’m also the only one who can stop the root of all this.
And to top it off, I’m doing this for free. This is the worst.
Mastema will probably join up later, but who knows when that’ll be.
It’s possible they’ll ignore the lower-class dormitory, but judging by the look of things, I don’t think that’ll be an issue.
The upperclassman gives quick instructions.
“I appreciate your help. I was a burden to you before.”
“It’s fine. What’s your name again?”
Might as well ask.
“I’m Izart Cartofell. Remember it, junior.”
With that, Izart and the others move out.
He’s a bit cocky, but I suppose it’s fine.
There aren’t many zombified students on the path I took.
The rest is up to luck.
I head back towards Sena’s room.
I kick away the approaching zombies and cut down the swollen students.
Some have even turned into what looks like demon minions.
Luckily, they’re just tough, so I burn and slice through them.
As I near my destination, the wall that surrounds the academy begins to glow.
This is… a barrier?
“What the hell is this?!”
With a shout, the girl principal on her broom lands in front of me.
Sepia is completely rattled.
It seems the barrier was activated by her.
Guess it makes sense to prevent the zombies from getting outside.
“What’s going on!? I rushed back, and what’s all this?!”
I kick down a zombie that came too close and slice off its head with my sword.
Principal Sepia lets out a scream at the sight.
“Welcome back, Principal Sepia. I have a lot to say, but for now, help me out. You’re a capable mage, right?”
“You just cut down a student right in front of me, and now… oh, they turned to ash…”
As I say this, Sepia stares at the ash pile that was once a student, holding her head in her hands.
It seems she had a rough time wherever she went.
And now she comes back to this chaos.
I feel some sympathy for her, but Sepia is also partially responsible for this.
Who knows what’ll happen from here on. I’ll need her to work.
Besides, if I think about what comes after this…
Whether Sepia contributes to solving this or not will literally be a matter of life and death for her.
Maybe she understands that too, because she lets out a deep sigh and nods, looking like she’s about to faint.
