Episode 40

The figure looked like an ordinary traveler, but he was by no means a normal one.
No regular traveler would be standing in the middle of an empty imperial highway at dusk, blocking the road.
A cloak and coat hid his body, but from his exposed face, a ferocious and menacing gaze radiated.
The workers’ voices grew harsher and more forceful.
“Final warning! Identify yourself right now!”
When there was no reply, the workers instantly fired their crossbows. With a harsh sound, the crossbow bolts shot forth.
Thunk!
Instead of piercing flesh, the bolts struck something hard. The workers didn’t hesitate and immediately reloaded.
The workers who transported goods for the magic school were no ordinary laborers.
ID checks were a given, and if need be, they could fight to protect the cargo.
These were workers—former imperial adventurers, mercenaries, and soldiers!
So even in a situation like this, they didn’t panic. Nimbly, they leapt from the wagons and readied their crossbows, aiming at the foe.
“Fire!”
“You fools. Do you even know whom you’re siding with right now?”
“…!”
The enemy spoke in a rough, deep voice. In the darkness, his voice sounded even more sinister.
“You’re siding with the sorcerers who are corrupting the Empire. Free yourselves before you’re seduced by evil magics!”
“By the beard of my cursed ancestors! Antimagic zealots!”
A dwarf worker shouted at the top of his lungs.
Empire’s antimagic zealots.
Among the countless villains of the great Empire, these were the most infamous.
As their name implied, they hated all magic.
—Magic disrupts order, destroys nature, and corrupts mankind!
Of course, it went far beyond simply disliking magic.
They attacked wizards or raided magic schools.
There was only one reason such violent people would be lurking here.
“In the name of the Twilight Dawn Brigade!”
“In the name of the Twilight Dawn Brigade!”
After their warning, the opponents charged. The moonlight glinted off their weapons, making the workers instinctively swallow.
“Veil of Order!”
A surge of intense mana erected a massive magical shield around the carts.
The attackers were sent flying, coughing up blood.
It was Professor Garcia’s magic.
“Oooh…!”
“As expected of the professor!”
The armed workers admired the power of the spell.
But Garcia’s expression was not bright.
Because of his appearance, people often mistook Professor Garcia for a battle master, but he wasn’t skilled at combat.
There was a misconception that high-ranking mages were naturally good in battle, but that was a fallacy.
Magic and combat were entirely separate domains.
A mage who’d spent their life researching spells at a desk could hardly maintain their composure and cast in the chaos of battle.
Slip up or lose concentration and a spell could instantly backfire.
A deadly double-edged sword!
There was a reason those mages specially trained for combat were called “battle mages.”
‘I need to buy time.’
Professor Garcia swung his staff, and birds made of light soared into the sky.
Those birds would alert the other school professors to the situation.
“Bones that rot, muscles that wither!”
Attackers near the shield screamed in pain.
The spell’s curse-tinted mana wrapped around their bodies, beginning to weaken their flesh.
“Activate it!”
But the enemy was not to be underestimated.
Garcia’s face darkened.
The Empire’s mages were never weak opponents.
And the antimagic fanatics who had continually attacked them knew exactly how to deal with mages.
Wuuuung—
A deep vibrating hum rattled their eardrums as the surrounding mana was violently disturbed.
Then, as if sucked into a single spot, all the mana was drawn in.
“!!!”
Professor Garcia’s Veil of Order melted away in an instant, as if it were a snowbank in midsummer.
The sheer force of it stunned Garcia.
‘An ancient relic!’
There were ways to counter magic.
The Empire had metals that could absorb or repel mana, and spells that could erase other spells.
But among all those, nothing could absorb such a vast area of magic at once.
Only one thing in the Empire could work such a miracle.
An ancient relic.
Treasures found in ruins or dungeons, relics from the distant past imbued with forgotten mysteries and knowledge!
Who would’ve thought such men would get their hands on an artifact like that?
“Professor! Get back!”
As the shield vanished and the attackers advanced again, the workers tried to hustle Garcia to safety.
Garcia tried to cast again, but before he even could, the magic unraveled and the mana was sucked into the relic.
“You evil sorcerer! May heaven judge you!”
A triumphant attacker drew his sword and swung at Garcia.
Wham!!!!
In that instant, the attacker’s head twisted violently to the side.
“…?!”
“???!?”
Both Professor Garcia and the workers were aghast.
What just happened?

• * *
  ‘Definitely not the headmaster’s trap.’
  Hearing the name “Twilight Dawn Brigade” from the carriage behind, Ihan could no longer deny reality.
  If the headmaster could set up an ambush this far out, there would be no hope left. It would be better to accept eternal grad student life under him.
  The Twilight Dawn Brigade.
  The largest and fiercest of the Empire’s anti-magic zealots.
  Of course, Ihan had heard the name before, being from a mage noble family.
  He never imagined he’d meet them here…
  “Wh-what are you going to do?”
  “Ratford. You hide.”
  “No way…?”
  As Ratford gaped, Ihan began chanting.
  “I go veiled by night.”
  With the spell, Ihan’s body turned invisible. Even before Ratford could be surprised by the artifact’s effect, he hastily whispered.
  “It’s dangerous! Those guys aren’t ordinary!”
  “I know that. That’s why I’m being careful.”
  There was no use missing the opportunity by cowering in hiding here. Better to be ready in advance.
  Ihan always prepared for the worst.
  —Veil of Order!
  ‘Maybe the professor will stop them?’
  When the massive shield sprang up and Garcia’s curse knocked down the attackers, Ihan felt hopeful.
  But the intruders pulled out a bizarre relic and erased all the surrounding magic.
  It wiped out even Professor Garcia’s spell!
  ‘!!!’
  Ihan was shocked, but there was one thing to be grateful for.
  His own belt had still endured.
  Even as all magic was pulled in, the invisibility spell didn’t break.
  Was this the blessing of Frisinga?
  ‘…No, it was my mana.’
  Ihan could sense the flow of mana around him.
  All the local magic was being drawn toward the relic, and so was his mana.
  But the key—no matter how much mana was pulled, it was instantly replenished in the belt from his own bottomless well.
  So no matter how much it absorbed, the magic couldn’t break.
  He had a giant battery right at his waist.
  ‘They’re coming!’
  Ihan had no more time to hesitate.
  The enemies charged Professor Garcia.
  Wham!!!!
  As confirmed by both old knight Alarlong and elf swordmaster Ingerdel, Ihan had a knack for swordsmanship.
  With even invisibility on, landing such a surprise attack was a given.
  “Professor! It’s me, Ihan!”
  He immediately called to Professor Garcia.
  If he were mistaken for an enemy and got attacked by his own allies, there’d be no one to complain to.
  “Ihan?! Why are you…?!”
  “It’s a long story! Please, tell me what I need to do!”
  Ihan grabbed the fallen attacker’s sword as he called.
  The professor regained his composure at the student’s shout.
  “I’ve sent word to the school, so support should be here soon. Just hang on and don’t get hurt until then!”
  Thwack, thwack—
  Crossbow bolts from the workers tore through the night.
  On the surface, they seemed to have the upper hand, but Ihan saw the enemy’s movements were sharp.
  ‘They’re all master swordsmen!’
  The crossbows had power, but there was an interval while reloading.
  The attackers were timing their approach perfectly in those gaps.
  “If the workers can’t last, can’t you use magic, Professor?”
  “All the surrounding mana’s being… Wait.”
  Garcia looked at invisible Ihan, puzzled at how he’d maintained invisibility.
  How… Ah!
  The professor realized exactly why.
  A bottomless well of mana!
  “Ihan, lend me your power!”
  Garcia grabbed Ihan’s hand. Mana poured from him.
  He wasn’t surprised—Professor Voladi had done it once before.
  “Petra’s Diamond Spear!”
  Without hesitation, Garcia chanted toward the relic.
  He’d tried to buy time with defense out of fear of backlash, but with the enemy wielding such a cheat of a relic, that was no longer an option.
  Even at the cost of sacrifice, he’d crush the relic!
  “!”
  Ihan was stunned to see a huge diamond spear form out of thin air.
  For a weapon like that to appear from nothing!
  “Dodge!!”
  “Move!”
  The attackers, recognizing its power, scrambled out of its way.
  Even though the relic kept absorbing mana, shrinking its power, the already formed spear did not vanish.
  Crash!
  With a roar, the spear smote the relic. The surrounding mana flow returned to normal.
  “Lightning wolves that rip flesh!”
  With crackling sound, a huge bolt formed in the air, transforming into a wolf and leaping in all directions.
  It tore apart every enemy in range.
  “…!”
  Watching the lightning wolf slaughter and burn the foes, Ihan shivered.
  It was a scene that inspired true awe for the professor.
  Wuuuung—
  “!?”
  Ihan heard the same ominous sound as before and looked up.
  The half-shattered ancient relic was starting up again.
  “Kill that wizard… At all cost!”
  Dozens had fallen, but some attackers, screaming, rushed Garcia.
  Ihan confronted them, swinging his stolen sword.
  Thud!
  “There’s an invisible one! They’ve got an invisible mage! Curse these mages!”
  As the anti-mage was run through, he vomited blood and hurled it in Ihan’s direction.
  Ihan felt a chill down his spine.
  ‘Not just skilled fighters!’
  To handle an invisible foe so calmly and quickly—
  It felt just like fighting Alarlong.
  And the leader was now approaching. Just from his stance, Ihan could tell he was a master.
  Could he handle all these and protect Professor Garcia?
  “I appear at dawn.”
  “!”
  At the spell, Ihan’s shape reappeared.
  The enemies glared at him in shock. For their opponent to be a mere young priest!
  “Whatever guts you have, I’ll send you to your sorcerer comrades.”
  “Suit yourself.”
  “?”
  “I’m going to smash that relic!”
  With those words, Ihan dashed forward. Straight at the relic.
  The enemy, seeing their prize unguarded, was horrified.
  “No! Stop him!!”