Chapter 76
“Graaahhh!”
“Damn thing’s tough as hell.”
The beast, which had been feeding on the life energy flowing through the land for years, had grown large and durable. Taking it down the usual way wasn’t going to work.
“Then we just go for the weak spot.”
Spinning her sword, Cillia lunged toward the beast’s belly—the spot that looked the most vulnerable.
A good move.
“It went in!”
“Grahhh!”
Krondel, who had just regained his senses, drew his sword and readied his stance. Instead of telling him to retreat, Cillia charged again. Her blade slid between the creature’s slashing claws, stabbing deep as she infused it with mana.
“Graaaahhh!”
“What’s the point of living so long? You’ve probably eaten more hand-fed prey than anything you’ve hunted yourself.”
The beast’s mana, built up over centuries, was powerful enough to warp the weather—but it didn’t know how to use that power.
It had only ever learned to swallow what was given to it.
“Big body, no brains.”
With her strength, it wouldn’t take long to bring it down. That thought had barely crossed her mind before the beast twisted its body. Its direction was obvious even without looking.
“You’re not getting to the village, you bastard.”
Cillia darted in, slashing at the beast’s leg. Her sword, Periot, unleashed its full power. The beast screamed, then thundered forward again.
“Where do you think you’re—”
Whoooosh. The blizzard intensified. And in that instant, Cillia realized how the beast survived.
It didn’t rely on speed or agility—its power came from the blizzard itself, which it used to crush villages and scavenge sacrifices. If the weather worsened any more, she’d lose it for sure.
Cillia hurled Periot at the monster. When she heard the satisfying thud of impact followed by the beast’s cry, she sprinted toward the sound and shouted to Krondel:
“You find the village chief! He said he’d be nearby!”
“But—!”
“That’s how you help! Just don’t let it reach the village!”
No answer came, but Cillia was sure he’d gone. He was the kind to act rather than argue.
As she extended her hand, she felt a response—Periot’s presence.
“Been a while since we’ve done something worthwhile.”
The faint hum of the sword echoed in her mind. Through the storm, Cillia stretched her hand forward and moved as fast as she could, focusing on the pull that connected her to the blade—like reeling in a fishing line.
Woom—
“…Got you.”
Yanking her arm, she opened her mana circuits. Energy surged outward, weaving into a magic circle before bursting forward. Blades of fire fell in rapid succession.
“Graaaahhh!”
A crashing sound followed—the tree nearby had fallen. The strike had gone slightly off, but the blizzard began to ease. Ahead lay an open cliff, trees toppled in its path.
That the cornered beast chose this as its escape route was… unexpected.
“Graahhh!”
And then—it stumbled backward and plummeted off the cliff.
“Damn it!”
She rushed to the edge—and froze.
Now she understood why the beast had chosen this place.
As it fell, the snow piled precariously on the cliff gave way, collapsing in a massive avalanche. From the neighboring peaks, more snow began to slide.
And the worst part—
“That damned thing…”
Right below, not far from where the beast had landed, stood the lodging house where the students dispatched from the capital were staying.
“…Cillia.”
Fleure stared at the pendant clasped in her frostbitten hands—the red one Cillia always wore, the one she’d given her as a gift.
It had been a full day. A full day of searching.
Ozca had ordered them to retreat after thirty minutes, but Fleure couldn’t. Even after returning to the lodging, she’d gone out again and again, combing the area in short bursts, unable to rest. The weather made it impossible to go far, but she didn’t care.
Despite everyone’s protests, she had to.
She knew Cillia always threw herself into danger, but this time—she’d truly lost sight of her.
“It must be my fault.”
She should’ve known better—should’ve been prepared for this.
Her hands, numb from fending off the wild beasts and lesser monsters outside, trembled. Thankfully, she’d trained enough to handle small threats—but without Cillia watching her back, the cold and exhaustion crept in fast.
“I know you’re alive.”
She whispered softly. And just then—the blizzard stopped, as if cut off.
Before she could even process it, a deafening roar echoed from behind. From the direction of the lodging.
“What the—?”
Something massive and black was falling toward the ground at terrifying speed—followed by an avalanche the size of a house.
And then—
“……!”
A red meteor.
Fleure ran with everything she had. Her legs burned with cold, but she didn’t stop.
“Fleure!”
From the sky, Cillia shouted, twisting midair to position herself. She pointed toward Fleure’s sword. Instinctively, Fleure sprinted to where Cillia would land and raised her blade.
Thunk!
Cillia landed on the sword, using it as a springboard. Fleure heaved upward, giving her extra lift.
With that momentum, Cillia shot forward like a ray of light, diving straight into the beast.
Rumble—
“Get the magic division students out here, now!”
“Graaaaahhh!”
Cillia grabbed Periot, still embedded in the beast’s back, and unleashed her mana. The sheer power was terrifying. Fleure’s heart pounded—Cillia had been injured not long ago. If she overdid it again…
“Fleure!”
The beast thrashed wildly and charged straight for her. Fleure parried its claws perfectly, but its massive weight was too much to hold back. Behind her, the avalanche was closing in fast.
Rrrrmmmble—
The rushing snow smashed into a sudden barrier that had appeared.
From afar, Krondel came riding on a snow ram, with the village chief behind him. The staff in the old man’s hand glowed, releasing waves of magic.
“I can’t hold it alone!” the chief cried, biting his lip.
“…What the hell is happening!?”
Students and instructors from the Academy had rushed outside at the sound, eyes wide in shock. Ozca, quicker than anyone, drew his sword. The beast lunged toward the frightened students, who scattered in panic.
Crunch!
“Your opponent’s me, you bastard.”
Cillia whispered, driving Periot deep into the creature’s neck. Its massive frame shuddered and began to crumble as life drained from it. Yet its final roar sounded almost joyful—because the avalanche behind it was about to engulf them all.
Even if she killed the beast, everyone would die to the snow.
Cillia shouted before the thought could finish:
“Cast your barrier spells!”
The academy’s magic instructors and students quickly began casting, aiming to reinforce the chief’s barrier against the oncoming avalanche. But most were too inexperienced—many dropped out from mana exhaustion almost immediately.
“Don’t dump all your mana at once!”
Cillia leapt off the beast and raised her hands. She had to be careful. If she collapsed first, the defense line would break.
Her red and silver mana flared simultaneously, and she began to draw an intricate magic circle in the air. The avalanche surged forward like a devouring wave, swallowing trees in its path. Behind her, students and nobles fought to complete their own protective circles.
“Match your mana flow with others!”
Cillia focused everything into her mana circuits.
More precisely.
More carefully…
Can I save them all?
She glanced back—so many people were out in the open. Could she really protect them all?
If she focused only on Fleure, Krondel, and a few nearby, she could form a perfect barrier for them… but the rest would die.
“Think only of yourself.”
Eilod’s words echoed in her head.
And she answered instinctively:
“I told you—I won’t run.”
She had said it before.
“I’m not like you. I won’t run or abandon anyone.”
So she wouldn’t.
Her words to Krondel came back to her—
“…Face it head-on.”
The phrase branded itself in her mind.
One by one, the students straightened, determination replacing fear. Taking Cillia’s lead, they began linking their circles—synchronizing their magic into one great formation.
They could do it.
Right now—they could.
Click.
She felt it—the final piece of the puzzle locking into place.
With conviction, Cillia extended her circuits and drew a massive sigil in the sky. It encompassed every student’s magic circle, merging them into one flawless system.
Gasps of awe rose from the magic division.
“Now!”
Pouring all her power into it, Cillia completed the spell. A vast, transparent barrier expanded, covering the students and the lodging.
KRRRROOOOOOM!
The avalanche struck a moment later, swallowing the shield in a deafening roar.
