Roy had just departed.
The academy had entered a defensive posture.
The citizens of Undertail were evacuated, and those capable of fighting gathered at the academy.
The students were given the choice to evacuate or stay.
Most students chose to evacuate, with the kingdom’s students heading to the kingdom’s border and the empire’s students to the empire’s border.
After all, this was a matter concerning another country.
The majority of the students felt it was unrelated to them as they were still students.
Nevertheless…
“Thank you for staying, Yukina.”
“Unfortunately, it’s not for the Grand Duchy. I stayed for my own pride and resolve.”
“Even so, I’m glad.”
Rena and Yukina were in the academy’s watchtower.
From the academy on the hill, they had a clear view of the surroundings.
Since the enemy was targeting the capital, they would need to pass near the academy.
The academy’s strategy was twofold.
If the imperial army passed by, they would threaten the enemy’s rear and slow down the attack on the capital.
If the imperial army came to capture the academy, they would use defensive magic to fend off the enemy and buy time.
In any case, early detection of the enemy was crucial.
Since the enemy could come at any moment, Yukina and Rena were stationed in the watchtower.
Unlike the capital, the academy was designed with battle in mind.
It was an institution for training stronger students, with an excellent staff of teachers.
Therefore, as soon as the alert came, they moved assuming an enemy attack.
Their approach was that not knowing when the enemy would come did not mean it was safe, but rather that they needed to be prepared immediately.
Their quick response proved beneficial.
Yukina noticed something unusual in her field of vision from the watchtower.
The port was to the west of the academy, and the capital was to the east.
Yukina felt something was off in the west.
Something was wrong.
But she couldn’t put it into words.
She knew something was wrong but couldn’t articulate it.
“Rena, doesn’t that area look strange?”
“Where? No, I don’t see anything…”
Rena looked at the place Yukina pointed to but felt nothing.
However, Yukina’s sense of unease didn’t fade.
Her intuition told her something was wrong.
And she trusted that intuition, as it had always helped her.
She followed Roy persistently because of this intuition.
Hence, Yukina focused her vision.
Yukina seldom used her magical eye because her grandmother had warned her not to use it recklessly, and because it consumed a lot of magical power.
Activating her magical eye now was equivalent to playing her trump card. Nevertheless, she did not hesitate when she had to use it.
And this time, she wasn’t wrong.
In the area where Yukina felt the unease, shadows emerged.
Yukina’s magical eye, often described as a “box that captures stars,” revealed the hidden presence.
Upon discovering the enemy, Yukina quietly closed her eyes and deactivated her magical eye.
Then,
“Rena, it’s going to get a bit cold.”
“Y-yes!”
“Magic Sword—Ice Flower Flash.”
Yukina’s sword transformed.
She elevated her sword to an ice magic sword, freezing the entire area.
The temperature dropped instantly, and Rena hugged herself, but soon had no time for that.
A massive magical creature emerged where Yukina felt the unease.
It had a green body, with only forelegs, a snake-like lower body, and slithered as it moved.
It was several dozen meters in size, carrying imperial soldiers on its back.
“W-what is that…?”
“From the literature I’ve read, it’s a Tarantacio… also known as a Mimic Snake. It’s a creature that blends into its surroundings by emitting smoke.”
As she explained, Yukina glared at the Tarantacio.
Yukina swung her sword, intending to freeze whatever was there.
However, the Tarantacio didn’t freeze. While its camouflage was seen through, it remained intact.
Such a large creature was a threat on its own.
“Why is the imperial army on the back of a magical creature…?”
“I don’t know. But now that we’ve been discovered, they’ll come here. Ring the bell!”
“Y-yes!”
Rena rang the bell to signal an enemy attack.
The entire academy became bustling.
But…
“W-what is that!?”
“Why is the imperial army acting with a magical creature!?”
“What’s happening!?”
Although the teachers might have had some combat experience, most of the students did not.
They had never seen such a large magical creature, and the abnormality of the imperial army moving with it caused great unease.
Rena was no exception.
Meanwhile, part of the imperial army disembarked from the Tarantacio and headed towards the academy.
If they got too close, there would be no chance of victory.
Thus,
“Stop panicking! Look! The enemy’s creature is just large! Its movements are slow! Don’t be fooled by its appearance! Our real opponents are the approaching imperial soldiers! Remember that if they get through here, the capital is close! Reinforcements will surely arrive! Our role is to buy time until then! Take your positions immediately! We’re going to intercept the enemy!”
Yukina’s voice resounded.
She then jumped from the watchtower towards the interception point.
When attacking the academy on the hill, the enemy’s approach was limited to certain routes.
“Everyone, to the walls!”
Issuing commands, Yukina looked around.
The students’ movements were slow.
Most of them were experiencing their first real battle.
Even Yukina had never faced the imperial army before.
But Yukina was different from the other students.
Yukina had been clearly aware of and preparing for an eventual real battle.
The difference in resolve showed in their actions.
Yukina climbed the wall and watched the imperial army’s movements.
Judging it impossible to pass through unnoticed, the imperial army began advancing towards the main gate.
However, the academy on the hill had a slope.
Moreover, there was only one path to the main gate.
The imperial army deployed heavily armed soldiers with shields at the front and slowly advanced along this single path.
The students from the magic department, driven by fear, unleashed their magic, but all were blocked by the shields.
In retaliation, the imperial soldiers fired magic guns through the gaps, but they were stopped by the academy’s defensive magic. Still, it was enough to terrify the students.
Realizing the situation, Yukina took a deep breath.
The approaching imperial soldiers were the vanguard.
Their goal was to reach the wall at any cost.
While the defensive magic was strong, it was not infinite and couldn’t prevent the enemies from entering.
Once inside, it would be meaningless.
Understanding everything, Yukina decided to do what she could.
That was to cut into the enemy.
“One’s coming at us!”
The imperial army shouted as Yukina jumped over the wall.
They fired their magic guns through the gaps in the shields, but Yukina created multiple ice walls to block them.
Getting close to the heavily armored soldiers with shields, she pierced the joints with her sword.
Yukina’s magic sword was an ice magic sword.
The soldiers, pierced by it, were flooded with cold air from within and froze to death.
Her targets were the heavily armored soldiers with shields.
Drawing her sword, the heavily armored soldiers tried to take her down, but couldn’t keep up with her swift movements, falling victim to her magic sword.
The soldiers behind, with magic guns, fired at her, but she dodged them easily with slight movements of her head.
“She dodged by sight…!?”
“What is she!?”
“Don’t let her have her way! Use more men!!”
The commander shouted, but the path to the main gate was narrow.
There wasn’t enough space for many soldiers to spread out.
Moreover, the soldiers were continuously neutralized by Yukina’s magic sword.
After confirming that she had eliminated all the heavily armored soldiers, Yukina froze the surrounding imperial soldiers and withdrew.
Seeing their comrades turned into ice sculptures, the remaining imperial soldiers hesitated.
Back on the wall, Yukina addressed the imperial soldiers.
“Did you think you could break through just because we’re students? Stop underestimating us. This is Glass Rain Academy. The best from the three countries gather here. Every student here is stronger than you. Approach with resolve.”
Hearing Yukina’s words, the students cheered.
Seeing the rise in morale, the imperial commander chose to retreat temporarily.
Yukina steadied her rough breathing and calmed her trembling arms.
For now, they had pushed back the enemy.
The first battle was a win for the academy.
Feeling satisfied, she heard the bell ring again.
“Three more magical creatures are coming!!”
Hearing the report, Yukina furrowed her brows slightly.
