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Translated By Arcane Translations
Translator: FusionX
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KABOOM!
“What was that?!”
Sergei, who had been working in the Imperial University’s investigation department, rushed out of his office.
“What happened?”
“Professor! Look at this!”
“…”
A staff member showed Sergei a holographic image. It was a security camera feed of the main gate. The gate was gone. Only a blackened crater remained.
Several suspicious individuals were entering the university grounds.
“They broke the barrier…!”
They hadn’t even tried to analyze the spell. They had simply blasted through it with brute force. Sergei, horrified, rushed out of the building.
There had been terrorist attacks before, but this was the first time the barrier had been breached. He knew who was responsible.
“Those damn Kingdom bastards…!”
It had to be the Kingdom’s spies. He had been wondering why they hadn’t targeted the Imperial University after their attack on Magic Day. He hadn’t expected them to possess this level of firepower.
Had they somehow involved the Crows?
No, that was impossible. Even the Crows wouldn’t openly act against the Empire’s interests.
After the incident where Crown Prince Henderson was assassinated by the Crows, and the Imperial family retaliated by publicly executing several Crows, they had been surprisingly obedient.
Then who…?
KABOOM!
“Oh my god…”
Another explosion echoed in the distance, followed by a plume of smoke. That was the direction of the chairman’s residence.
Schlus Hainkel was the most valuable target in the university, even more so than the professors.
It was no surprise that they were targeting him. But the barrier around the chairman’s residence must have been destroyed by that explosion.
BOOM!
“Haa…”
Another explosion.
Then silence.
Sergei closed his eyes. He had anticipated an attack on Schlus, but he hadn’t expected it to be so swift and devastating.
He shuddered at the thought of the Kingdom’s spies’ capabilities. But he quickly gritted his teeth and ran towards the source of the explosions.
-Professor Sergei. We’ve spotted multiple intruders in the East Wing.
“Chief Professor!”
Ludwig’s voice crackled through the communication magic.
The audio was distorted, but Sergei could understand him. He changed direction and headed towards the East Wing.
-We’ve evacuated all the students and activated the barrier, but—
KABOOM!
—it just broke.
This was an emergency.
Even Ludwig, a master of barrier magic, couldn’t withstand an infinite amount of mana.
“Don’t engage them! Just hold them off! I’m on my way!”
-Professor Sergei, be careful. They’re not using magic.
“What? What do you mean—”
-They’re using suicide attacks. They’ve modified their internal circuits. It’s impossible to stop them. Don’t get too close.
“…”
Sergei’s eyes widened.
They had turned their internal circuits into explosion spells? They would have had to open their chests and rewrite their circuits.
He was surprised that anyone could survive such a procedure.
-They’re using silencing barriers to approach. I’ll conserve my mana and stop trying to break through. How long until you arrive?
“Three…”
-Three minutes? I’ll try to hold them off.
“O…”
-…
“ne!”
Sergei arrived at the East Wing, his body aching. He focused on the mana fluctuations.
“Huh?”
There were no mana fluctuations. No signs of life.
Where had they gone?
Then—
“Kyaaah!”
“…”
A faint scream echoed in the distance.
“Chief Professor! We’ve been tricked! They’ve moved!”
—!
The scream had come from the dormitory. Most of the students were in the dormitory at this time. If an explosion powerful enough to destroy a Majin’s barrier occurred in the dormitory… everyone would die.
“Ugh…!”
Sergei pushed himself to his limit, his muscles screaming in protest. He couldn’t let that happen. He didn’t want a repeat of the Wyst Forest incident.
Back then, Schlus’s quick thinking had saved everyone. But Schlus was gone. They had to handle this on their own.
“Ah! I’m too late!”
Sergei was already running faster than he ever had before, but he knew. He wouldn’t make it in time.
If only Schlus was here… He shook his head, dismissing the thought as wishful thinking, when—
“There are twelve intruders. Surrender immediately, or I will kill you.”
“…”
Sergei’s eyes widened at the sound of the familiar voice. It was the voice of a dead man.
A blue light flashed in the distance, moving at incredible speed. Blood splattered in all directions.
“Ugh…”
Three intruders, who had been approaching the dormitory, turned and charged towards Schlus.
They were emitting powerful mana fluctuations. But as Schlus snapped his fingers—
Thump thump thump!
—three mana arrows pierced their hearts, destroying their internal circuits and preventing the explosions.
“Haa… Haa…”
Sergei arrived at the scene, panting. Eight bodies lay scattered on the ground, their limbs dismembered. Three more had holes in their chests.
“Ah, Professor. You’re here. I was getting scared.”
“Haa…”
And Schlus was holding the last intruder by the scruff of his neck.
It was over.
Sergei stared at the calm and composed Schlus, speechless. Then, the hooded figure opened his mouth.
“Schlus! Put something in his mouth!”
“Huh?”
“Ugh! Gah!…”
“Ah…”
A crunching sound was followed by violent tremors. The intruder went limp. Schlus checked his pulse and shook his head grimly.
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That had been close. The fanatics, with their modified internal circuits, were easy to track thanks to their powerful mana fluctuations. Of course, only someone with my level of mana sensitivity could detect them.
I had realized that they were feigning an attack on the East Wing while their true target was the dormitory. So, I had decided to set up an ambush.
I couldn’t use magic because of the interference, and I couldn’t approach them with my sword because of their suicide attacks.
So, I had waited until the bombers and the non-bombers separated and then ambushed the support team, killing all nine of them.
With the spellcasters dead, there was no one to interfere with my magic.
I had then intercepted the remaining bombers, piercing their hearts before they could detonate.
The situation was finally under control.
But despite my quick action, there had still been casualties. The five guards at the main gate were dead.
And now…
“Schlus, help us out here. You’re the one who dismembered them. You should know which limbs belong to whom.”
“How would I know…?”
I was helping with the cleanup. I had tried to slip away, but Sergei and Ludwig had stopped me.
I was exhausted.
“Hmm… Judging by the cross-section, this must be his leg.”
I couldn’t rest when I saw Sergei’s bruised and bloodied legs. He had pushed himself too hard.
“Schlus Hainkel, come here. Let’s take a break.”
“…”
Ludwig gestured towards me, holding his pipe. It seemed like he was inviting me for a smoke, but something felt off.
“Ah… I need to use the restroom!”
Sergei excused himself. I finally understood Ludwig’s intentions and followed him.
We gathered in a quiet smoking area. Ludwig lit his pipe.
“Schlus Hainkel, how much do you know about this incident?”
“I don’t understand your question.”
“Let me be more direct. Do you understand how the suicide spells work?”
“…”
Both Ludwig and Sergei were staring at me with serious expressions. I could pretend to be ignorant, but that would be a bad move.
They had brought me here, away from the investigation department. They were about to discuss something they didn’t want others to hear.
It would be wise to participate. This was a chance to build a connection with the university’s higher-ups.
“Yes. They modified their internal circuits to resemble magic spells. I attempted to analyze them, but the mana fluctuations were originating from within their bodies…”
“I see. You’re quite perceptive. Then I have a request, Schlus.”
“What is it?”
“If anyone asks you about this incident, I want you to say that you don’t know anything. It doesn’t matter who asks. Even if it’s the Emperor or the Crown Prince. You had nothing to do with this incident. Can you do that?”
“…”
Their gazes were cold.
It wasn’t a request.
It was a threat.
“I refuse.”
I answered immediately.
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