The Academy Guard with a Terminal Illness - Chapter 20

The ground shakes violently. The gravel and twigs on the ground bounce up.

The teachers, now with serious faces, each summon their staffs and grasp them tightly. The other guards also draw the swords from their belts.

Trees shake and birds fly away startled into the sky.

They’re coming!

─Kraaa!

Hideous figures are pouring in between the trees and brush.

Centipedes larger than humans and giant spiders.

Beasts with three eyes.

A slimy mud monster exhaling a purple breath.

All of them are dangerous monsters with poison.

[Dangerous monsters invading. Protect the students.]

The golems standing guard around are the first to move.

The golems charge at the monsters, swinging their fists or grabbing and hurling them away. The monsters retaliate by attacking the golems.

A brawl breaks out as the golems and monsters clash.

Students panic in the sudden chaos.

At this point, a teacher’s stern command makes the students come to their senses, and they follow calm instructions to retreat to a safe place away from the brawl.

“Derek!”

“I know!”

I, along with my fellow guards, move immediately.

We confront the monsters breaking through the chaos.

─Keeee!

I charge towards a giant spider with very long legs.

The giant spider sees me and spews a web from its mouth.

I mustn’t cut that. I have to dodge it.

Gathering strength in my legs, I increase my speed, dodging the web. Ignoring the ominous sound beneath my feet, I continue running.

As I get closer, the spider rapidly strikes with its leg, but I dodge it easily.

Simultaneously, I deliver a precise strike at the joint of its leg.

With one leg cut off, the spider stumbles and wobbles.

I quickly take advantage of that gap to do the same to the other legs.

With all its legs lost, the spider collapses as other guards finish it off.

─Growl! Grr!

A beast charges at me, nose in the dirt, with its mouth wide open.

It’s fast, but not too fast to react.

The inside of the mouth is a weak spot. I grip my sword tightly and thrust it in.

─Grrrr.

“?!”

It would have been nice if it died from that, but the inside of the beast’s mouth looked unusual.

Seeing crimson haze, I quickly let go of the handle, gathering strength in my legs to kick the beast skyward with all my might.

With legs enhanced by magic, the beast’s body breaks apart, scattering flesh and blood rain down from above.

I catch the falling sword, casually swinging it to shake off the blood and flesh from the blade.

─Kiyoyo.

─Grumble.

A giant centipede and a mud monster race towards me from the sides.

Slightly fatigued, I sigh and brace myself.

Just before engaging them.

A torrent of water bullets bombard the giant centipede and beams of light target the mud monster.

The water bullets break through the hard shell, piercing holes, and the light beams purify the poison, engulfing and burning it in white flames.

“Hey!”

“Guard!”

The shouts aimed at me furrow my brows slightly.

It’s Sonia and Aria.

“What are you doing here? Don’t interfere with our work and follow the teachers’ instructions.”

This is not a situation for students to step in.

The current scenario is neither a lesson nor training.

It’s a real-life situation, a truly dangerous one with the risk of death.

There can’t be a student who dies at the academy.

“I can fight too.”

“My abilities could be of help.”

I sigh, looking at the disobedient students.

Indeed, if they listened well, they wouldn’t be here.

I glance around.

While some students have evacuated, the ones accustomed to combat have already formed groups to support teachers and guards from behind.

A headache throbs as I press my temple.

So many unruly students.

If words don’t work, then maybe….

The decision was quick.

“Alright. Stay where I can see you and make safety your top priority.”

The two students’ faces relax slightly.

Since they’ll act independently anyway, it’s better to keep them under watch beside me.

Two people should be manageable. In fact, with skilled magic users combined, the situation might even turn favorable.

Other students will be well looked after by others.

I look at Sonia and Aria.

Their eyes show no fear.

Well, Sonia has experience, and Aria has the guts from reading forbidden books in the library.

They do have guts.

But they say bravery and recklessness are only a hair’s breadth apart.

So, they must be more cautious.

Too many have died not knowing the difference.

“Aria, especially, should be careful.”

A sticky gaze is felt.

The owner of the gaze had a very displeased expression.

“Why?”

“Why not warn me to be careful too?”

“Well, that’s….”

Sonia’s complaint embarrasses me.

Aria is a noble. She might also be a target of the enemies.

Thus, she needs extra vigilance and caution.

I was about to explain but decided not to since it was unnecessary to elaborate.

“You be careful too. I won’t let it pass if you get hurt.”

Sonia expresses satisfaction at my advice.

Her lips twitch slightly.

She steps forward.

A myriad of droplets float in the air around Sonia.

“You be careful too.”

With those words, she gestures and fires many droplets at the monsters.

◆◆◆

Sonia and Aria have joined forces.

The situation indeed turns favorable with skilled magic users.

Sonia uses water magic to pierce the monsters or halt their movement.

Aria purifies poison with holy magic, and casts various supportive and healing spells on allies.

That’s not all.

The students’ minor magic reduces allies’ casualties.

The teachers, each showcasing their excellent magic skills, quickly eliminate the monsters.

“So easily resolved.”

It hasn’t been long since the battle started.

All the incoming monsters were defeated.

With the golems taking the lead in the battle, casualties are minimal.

Sonia approaches, breathing heavily.

She wipes sweat off her forehead and, looking at the scattered monster corpses around, speaks.

“Luckily, it was resolved easily.”

“No, it’s not over yet.”

“What do you mean?”

Sonia tilts her head in confusion.

Another person explains what I intended to say.

“Exactly as he said. There’s no way the barrier conjured by the combined strength of the teachers would be broken by such monsters.”

Understanding those words, Sonia’s eyes widen.

“Does that mean─.”

Thump.

The massive mana shakes the air.

Clearly no longer hiding its presence, it flaunts its power as everyone turns their heads in unison.

Serious faces across the board.

The teachers, once brimming with pride in their power, now wear shadows on their faces.

The fellow guards grip their swords, trembling.

Especially the students, their faces pale, covering their mouths or collapsing to their knees.

It’s the demon clan I met last time.

Someone emerges from between the trees.

A beautiful woman, yet I couldn’t bring myself to speak to her.

Her wavy violet hair and horns protruding from her temples.

The demon calmly strides between the monster corpses, drawing nearer.

I focus my senses.

Other than the demon in front, no significant mana is detected.

While there’s a possibility of concealing it similarly, with her level of power.

Being inherently arrogant, if she had more mighty companions, she wouldn’t resort to such underhanded methods.

So, it’s safe to assume there are no other companions.

Ironically, Ede is nowhere to be seen.

That student might be able to handle this.

As everyone stands speechless, the demon slowly speaks.

“So many humans gathered. I heard the news and came. Here─.”

Bang!

The demon’s words were interrupted by a golem’s fist.

A loud impact resonates.

A strike powerful enough to shatter even a strong monster’s body.

It would be nice if that killed her, but the golem slowly dissolves with an ominous sound.

Soon losing its form completely, the demon concealed by the golem is revealed.

In perfect condition, a bitter noise could be heard around.

“To think a mere tool interrupts me. As I was saying, I am under the direct command of the Pandemonium Legion─.”

Fwoosh!

This time, flames and light arrows interrupt again.

The teachers’ magic.

A power level that would obliterate any normal monster. Heat waves of light and fire fill the air.

As the light and fire subside, the intact form of the demon is revealed.

Her face is harsh, seemingly very displeased with the interruptions.

“How rude, humans.”

The mighty dark power sweeps violently.

“Introducing ourselves seems unnecessary. I just need to accomplish my goal.”

Right after those words.

All the still-functioning golems charge at the demon.

Thud, thud. The ground thunders, and massive arms swing ready to strike.

The demon wears a chilling smile.

A purple aura bursts forth from the demon’s body, quickly taking the form of ominous snakes.

Countless giant snakes writhe, simultaneously opening their mouths.

They bite into all the golems.

The golems stop functioning, rotting to dust and scattering.

Students recoil in horror.

The other guards hesitate to step forward.

As everyone is frozen in fear.

At that moment, teachers rush forward and simultaneously cast spells.

Ten fiery arrows rain down.

A giant rock fist larger than any golem launches forward.

Spears of lightning are thrown.

Magic beams zap.

A barrage of spells targets the demon, but snakes envelop the demon’s body.

From the dust, numerous eyes glint as purple snakes spring out, targeting the teachers.

The teachers swiftly deploy shields, but the radiant barriers turn black and shatter.

If the secondary shields hadn’t deployed just slightly slowing the attack to provide time to move, they too would have met the same fate as the golems.

Despite knowing the overwhelming difference in power, the teachers step forward to confront her.

The other guards focus on evacuating the students.

‘As expected.’

The attacks are consistently blocked, and the shields are easily destroyed.

While the teachers fight desperately, the demon leisurely plays along.

The opportunity is there—striking her hard might turn things around.

“Let me help too!”

I hurriedly stop Sonia from stepping forward.

“No, no. Do you think you’d win if you go? You’d just be a hindrance.”

“But if it stays like this?!”

“I know. Everyone will die.”

Sonia’s ocean blue eyes tremble violently.

She appears pale as if recalling unpleasant memories.

“Do you have a plan, Guard?”

Seeing Aria’s calm inquiry, I cast a quick glance.

And fix my gaze back to the front.

If the demon were serious, the teachers wouldn’t have survived this long.

Arrogance befitting her kind.

Complacency born from an overwhelming disparity in power.

An opening to exploit and land a blow might turn the tide.

“Hey, don’t just stand there. Is there a plan, or isn’t there?”

Sonia paces back and forth, nervously looking at me.

When I faintly smile, Sonia’s eyes widen in frustration.

If the situation permitted, I’d tease her by remaining silent longer.

But now is not the time.

“I have a plan that can only be used once. But it absolutely requires your strength. Can you do it?”

Suddenly burdened with such an important role, the two seem visibly baffled.

They hesitate to immediately answer, probably realizing the demon’s strength.

However.

Resolve firms in the blue and green eyes, and they nod.

“With the students stepping up like this, it would be embarrassing if I didn’t join in. The chances are slim, but since we’ll all die if things continue like this, let’s give it a shot.”