“What is that…?”
Linus murmured as he saw the black wolves that had surrounded the academy.
Though there hadn’t been any sign of them before, suddenly they were encircled.
Faced with such an unexpected event, he was momentarily stunned.
However, his mind was still functioning.
The Imperial Army quickly began their advance on the capital.
They intended to leave the academy to the monsters.
Given the situation, it was clear that the monsters and the Imperial Army were coordinating. The reason they left the academy to the monsters and rushed to the capital was because they had to capture it urgently.
The movements of the Imperial Army had always been swift.
The three nations were constantly a step behind.
Even if they were delayed at the academy, it wouldn’t take much time.
Even with a day’s delay here, the Imperial Army would still have ample time.
Yet, they were in a hurry.
Why?
Because something unexpected had happened.
So, what was this unexpected event?
The Imperial Army, which had moved to feint, was attacked.
In other words, the Sword Saint would arrive soon.
Knowing this, Linus tried to raise his voice.
But.
“Stand firm! It’s just monsters! You’ve faced them many times in training! Don’t be swayed by their numbers, prepare for battle! Whether it’s the Imperial Army or monsters, what we need to do doesn’t change!”
Yukina shouted first.
Linus widened his eyes in surprise.
This was because Linus knew for certain that reinforcements, the strongest Sword Saint, were coming.
Even Linus was slightly overwhelmed by the horde of monsters in front of him.
But Yukina, who did not know that the Sword Saint was coming, recovered and encouraged those around her faster than Linus.
Linus smiled wryly at this fact.
As expected, there was a reason Roy allowed her to be by his side.
Roy disliked having anyone he didn’t acknowledge near him. If he truly didn’t want to be followed, he would use any means to drive them away.
The fact that he hadn’t done so meant he acknowledged and somewhat liked her.
When he heard the story, Linus thought it was unusual, but now he understood.
Regardless of her skill as a swordsman, Yukina already had a first-class determination.
Because she had made up her mind, she could remain undisturbed and do what needed to be done.
“As expected from someone aspiring to be the Sword Saint.”
Impressed, Linus climbed the rampart.
The black wolves were slowly approaching the academy.
Beyond them, Linus spotted a figure in a black hood and immediately realized this person was the cause.
Monsters don’t just appear out of nowhere. Something had to have been done.
But what that something was, he didn’t know.
“As I thought, a demon…”
A being that existed only in documents, a legend that now only appeared in myths.
The rulers of the ancient continent, feared for their ability to create monsters.
But.
“Don’t let them get close! Alternate between magic and magic rifles, don’t leave any gaps in the shooting!”
There was no need to engage directly.
As long as they could buy time. That was his instruction.
However, a scream drowned it out.
“Kyahhh!!”
A student’s scream.
Looking back, he saw a monster had appeared inside the academy.
It was a werewolf over two meters tall, with long limbs ending in sharp claws.
Realizing the werewolf’s eyes were on him, Linus quickly descended from the rampart.
That was an assassin targeting the commander. Staying on the rampart would involve the students.
Thinking this, Linus acted, but his bad leg slowed him down.
By the time he descended the rampart, the werewolf had already cut him off.
“Damn…!”
Linus drew his sword, but the werewolf’s arm swing broke it in half.
This monster was on a different level.
He was going to be killed.
Just as Linus thought that.
“Father!”
Rena stepped between Linus and the werewolf.
“Rena!?”
Linus tried to push Rena aside, but the werewolf’s arm swung down before he could.
But.
“Whirl, [Gale]!”
A swirling wind enveloped Linus and Rena.
A defensive wind magic.
Normally, it would be a solid defense. If a human touched it with bare hands, they would be shredded.
However, the werewolf thrust its hand into the vortex without hesitation.
“Damn…!”
Rena intensified the wind, but the werewolf’s right arm gradually penetrated the vortex.
A defense sufficient against humans was merely a stalling tactic against a werewolf.
Watching the approaching claws, Rena desperately held back a scream.
This was her first real combat. The first time her life was in danger.
Her breath grew ragged from tension and fear. Even so, she didn’t stop her magic.
If it stopped, she and her father would die.
Death. Death. Death. Death.
The moment she fully realized this.
Rena’s body briefly glowed.
It was just a moment, and few noticed within the swirling wind.
But it did happen.
After the light, the wind barrier disappeared, and Rena fainted. Linus hurriedly caught her.
“Rena!? Rena!? Rena!!”
The werewolf didn’t miss this opportunity, but it too was not unscathed.
Its right arm, exposed to Rena’s light, had completely vanished.
Because it thrust its hand into the wind barrier. That was the common interpretation, but it was wrong. The light from Rena had entirely erased it.
Instinctively withdrawing, the werewolf had only lost an arm. If it had been closer, more would have been lost.
The werewolf severed the half-missing arm and began regenerating from the shoulder.
Such regeneration speed was impossible for ordinary monsters.
Losing an arm was no reason to stop.
Biting his lip in frustration, Linus tried to distance himself from the approaching werewolf while carrying Rena. However, with his bad leg, it didn’t go well.
Why won’t this leg move properly?
Frustrated, Linus shielded Rena as the werewolf closed in.
But.
Yukina intercepted the werewolf’s claws.
“Please step back…! Baron Luver!”
“Don’t do anything reckless!”
Linus, though somewhat skilled with a sword, recognized the werewolf’s abnormal strength.
Even Yukina would be in danger.
It was a warning born of this realization.
“I’ll be fine. Don’t worry. I’m the woman aiming to be the Sword Saint. I won’t lose to mere monsters here.”
With that, Yukina began fighting the werewolf.
The werewolf, deeming Yukina more dangerous than the unconscious Rena and Linus, focused on her.
Yukina froze the werewolf’s feet and slashed at it, but could only inflict shallow wounds.
In retaliation, the werewolf swung its long arm, sending Yukina flying.
She crashed into a wall and knelt with a grimace.
She remained unscathed by anticipating and defending against the counterattack.
Still, she suffered damage even through her defense.
Her entire body ached, her consciousness blurred.
Meanwhile, the werewolf closed in.
Realizing the danger, Yukina instinctively stepped forward.
The werewolf’s claws grazed her cheek, but she barely dodged.
With all her strength, Yukina thrust her sword.
However, it only pierced the werewolf’s side.
The werewolf could still move.
She aimed for the heart but judged the chest too well protected.
As a result, it wasn’t a fatal wound.
Despite this, Yukina smiled.
“Thought you could relax since my attack didn’t work, huh?”
The werewolf tried to attack Yukina, but it was too late.
Her magic sword had frozen it from the inside.
Having dismissed her attack after it failed once, the werewolf paid no heed to her second strike.
That decided the fight.
While external freezing failed, internal freezing succeeded.
Even monsters were living beings.
Yukina pulled her sword free and knelt, breathing heavily.
“Haa, haa, haa…”
Panting, Yukina looked up.
At that moment, two more werewolves appeared before her.
Startled, she stood up.
“Come on…!”
The longer she could distract them, the more time others had to deal with the monsters outside.
Determined to fight for as long as possible, Yukina readied her sword.
But she didn’t have to strike.
A man descended from the sky and effortlessly beheaded the two werewolves.
