Chapter 248
Ratatatat!
Thud!
"Argh!"
"It hurts..."
Children groaned in pain after hitting their heads on the roof of the carriage.
It was only natural that the ride was uncomfortable.
After all, we were not in a luxury coach but in a cargo wagon used by merchants for their trades.
These were the cargo wagons Caron had requisitioned to transport all the students of Annwood Academy.
The sight of hundreds of wagons lined up at the training ground was truly a spectacle.
Clunk!
"Aaaaah!"
"I'm flying! Somebody catch me!"
The interior of the wagon was no less spectacular. Every time the wagon lurched, children flew between the roof and the floor.
It was because the cargo wagon was racing as if it were flying.
Ah, I think I just saw a student flying... But it must be my imagination.
'Well, the instructors will save them.'
Rising dust clouds, following horses and wagons, the sky and earth tumbling every time the wagon shook.
Lost in thought while watching the landscape speeding by outside the wagon.
'There are two important things in this episode.'
First, using the 'Predation' skill on a Named Monster to gain four skills.
As you can see with Luna, who grows rapidly even from getting beaten up, skills in this game are being built into a system where they eventually upgrade.
The faster and more numerous the skills obtained, the better.
Currently, I possess the 'Predation' skill, capable of acquiring one of the skills held by a Named Monster.
In this episode, no less than four Named Monsters appear, making it an excellent hunting ground.
And the second most important thing in this episode.
'Capturing Mabelga, a sixth-grade demon no one has caught before.'
It's also to gain an additional skill using 'Predation'.
'There's something hidden.'
When Mabelga's health reaches one, and it's on the brink of death, a shield activates.
And the amount of this shield is a staggering 10,000.
This figure isn't meant for players to defeat on their first playthrough. It's set for players on multiple playthroughs.
'The problem is, even in those multiple playthroughs, no player has caught Mabelga.'
Now, in the middle of Chapter 2, achieving 10,000 damage is virtually like being told not to break it.
Because of this, most players speculated.
'Maybe they're planning to reintroduce it in a later episode?'
'But that's not it.'
Having played the game tens of thousands of times, there was no hint of Mabelga reappearing, not even its tail in sight.
With billions of plays worldwide combined...
And nowhere had Mabelga appeared means it met its demise somewhere unknown to players.
'The only chance for players to kill Mabelga is during the Carpathia invasion episode. That's what it means.'
Of course, there was a slim chance that the developers forgot about the existence of the demon Mabelga and did not include it in the later story.
But that was unlikely.
'If that was their plan, they wouldn't have gone through such trouble.'
At the moment Mabelga's health hits one, a shield of 10,000 unfolds, and all characters regain their ability to act.
An opportunity is given for each character to strike Mabelga once.
The developers had created a 'gimmick' just for Mabelga.
'So, they made this elaborate demon Mabelga and it doesn't appear in the later part of the story?'
The reason is simple. It's because it's dead.
From the developer's point of view, they set it up so that Mabelga would meet its end during the Carpathia invasion.
But Mabelga reappearing stronger in the later part of the story?
That would be absurd.
In other words, breaking the 10,000 shield and capturing Mabelga undoubtedly unlocks a 'hidden piece.'
Although it's unclear where or how this hidden piece connects...
It simultaneously signifies a new path to strategizing the final boss.
'And that means the reward will be enormous.'
Just how big of a reward did they intend to give by creating such a challenging gimmick?
'Sacred Sword? Vast riches? Or perhaps an item crucial for defeating the final boss?'
Just the thought was enough to make one salivate.
Anyway, using 'Predation' to gain free skills, and achieving feats no veteran has ever accomplished.
An episode with absolutely no downside.
'The Invasion of Carpathia' it is.
Of course, my grand plan to catch Mabelga...
"It, it might just be the final carrot..."
...seemed like it had already gone down the drain.
Yes. The essential requirement to catch Mabelga, Rezé's growth.
That had completely fallen apart.
As I watched Rezé chew on carrots while crying, I was lost in thought.
'It's partly because the skill she got from Adonis is useless... But ultimately, I didn't get any substantial information.'
The reason Rezé hesitates to 'kill', presumed to be why her criticals aren't landing.
I had a fair amount of discussion with Rezé under the pretext of psychological therapy, but I failed to find even a clue.
All I got was various unwanted information and knowledge about 'carrots'.
It was a situation that naturally brought a sigh.
"Sigh..."
"What's with that sigh? Uncharacteristic of you. Are you scared of the battlefield?"
Luna, concerned by my demeanor, quickly asked.
"A bit, yes. Aren't you afraid, Luna?"
"Well, I am scared. But it's also an opportunity to become stronger. Actual combat from the first year, I think I'm actually lucky."
"Keke, Luna is strong. It would be good if someone took a leaf out of your book."
Zap!
Perhaps sensing my gaze, Rezé quickly hid inside the box.
Dealing with such a spineless rabbit like this in order to catch Mabelga... It's utterly disheartening.
It was when I was poking the box Rezé was hiding in.
"Hey! Stop bothering my friend!"
"Keke, Luna, think about it. This is a real situation. If she can't fight in such circumstances... You know what the consequences will be, right?"
"..."
Annwood Academy had declared that they would substitute midterms with this deployment, and score accordingly.
But instead of fighting earnestly, if someone kept running and hiding like Rezé?
It was a sure way to flunk.
"She'll even fall out of the advanced class. Is that what you want, Luna?"
"...You can't just force someone to fight."
"Keke, what if there was a secret weapon?"
"A secret weapon?"
"Yes, a tremendous secret weapon that could solve Rezé's fears."
At that, Rezé cautiously poked her head out of the box. The idiot hair on her head curiously shaped like a question mark.
Luna asked with hopeful eyes.
"What's the secret weapon?"
The incredible secret weapon I had prepared for the fragile Rezé was...
"To kill it first."
"Huh?"
"Since it's scary, kill it first. Send the demon to hell before it can play any tricks."
"..."
Whack!
Luna smacked my forehead.
"What nonsense are you spouting!"
But I'm right, aren't I! If you kill it first, it's over!
If the source of fear is gone, there's nothing to be afraid of anymore!
"...Fine, I'll kill you first. If we keep going like this, you might not even survive expulsion!"
Luna started trampling on my back with a disdainful expression.
Oh, the feeling is getting better.
Not because I'm a pervert. It's the joy because my skill proficiency is rising.
Suddenly, I noticed Rezé's idiot hair drooping.
Was it regret?
'It seems like she wants to change when you see such expressions...'
But whenever the situation arises, she's quick to flee. I just can't understand why.
But there will come a time when she has to choose.
Either to continue as she has been, giving up everything and running away, or...
'To stain her hands with blood to save a friend.'
If Rezé's attitude doesn't change until the end, there's nothing I can do.
Either use her moderately and then discard her, or use her as a tool to awaken Luna.
That was the plan.
Cruel? It can't be helped. What I'm doing now.
That's the kind of game this is.
"Die! Die! You pervert!"
Look at that. Luna is still stepping on me as if she's trying to kill me.
Trampling on a comrade. Truly, it's a cruel game.
Clunk-.
As I pondered how to beg Luna for forgiveness while watching my HP decrease, the cargo wagon came to a halt.
"Everyone, get off! We will run to the next set of wagons prepared for us!"
"What!?"
"Come on, quickly! We're short on time!"
Ah, I had forgotten two things.
It takes two days to reach Carpathia and, unlike in the game, I had to physically move my own body.
*
Riding the cargo wagon, running on foot, eating while sleeping, and even crawling(?).
Two days flew by in no time.
I never realized the pain when moving with my own body in the game.
As the students gradually got used to the wild rides of the cargo wagon and began to fall asleep more easily, there was another clunk-.
"Everyone, get off!"
"Ugh... Are we running again?"
"Yawn... How far is it to the next cargo wagon?"
The students chattered as they disembarked one by one.
However, it didn't take long for them to fall silent.
"Is that... right?"
"...Yes. That's the wall of Carpathia."
The first thing that captured the children's sight was the massive wall standing solidly.
Specifically, one side of the wall was completely demolished.
Inside, noise and occasional clouds of dust rose up.
Koong-.
The children swallowed nervously feeling the slight tremors in the ground.
"The distance is so far, and we can still feel the vibrations here?"
"What exactly is happening inside..."
"We're not going inside there, are we?"
As the children unwittingly stepped back, a mounted instructor shouted.
"Second and third years will head inside with the instructors. First years, stay here with the soldiers."
First years were not given the opportunity to enter the fortress.
Realizing this, the children sighed in relief.
Teron stepped forward and asked.
"What is our task?"
"Guard duty and transporting the injured. They will bring out the wounded from inside to the gates, and you will transport them here. A commander will arrive soon to give you detailed instructions."
"Hold on! Who's the commander?"
"...You'll find out soon enough. Second and third years! Move out with me now!"
The second and third years and the instructors started running towards the fortress.
The remaining children shuffled their feet restlessly.
"Is it really okay to just stay here?"
"Who's the commander?"
"I don't know who it is, but I hope they're competent..."
Unlike the children, I was relaxed. I knew who the commander was.
The commander who would be in charge here with the first years.
A teacher named 'Dargon', and a sixth-circle mage.
'A fine teacher. He also dealt significant damage to one of the demons.'
When the first demon appeared, he was a grateful teacher who halved its health.
As I remembered his flashy skill effects, a voice called out.
"Everyone, calm down! With me here, the demons are nothing!"
It was a voice I knew well.
But it was also a voice that shouldn't be here.
"...Principal?"
Yes. Perched proudly atop a gaunt horse was the man.
Dwener, the principal of Annwood Academy.
...Why is he here?
--TL Notes--
Hope you enjoyed this chapter. If you want to support me or give me feedback, you can do it at /MattReading
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