Chapter 73

The sun doesn’t rise, it’s a gloomy dawn.

It was the fourth day of training.

“I will go in.”

smart.

After knocking lightly. I opened the door even though I didn’t hear an answer.

As soon as I entered the room, my body felt twice as heavy. It was the same sensation I felt in the security warehouse at Summer Turge.

Of course, in this room there was a magic core brought from Summer Turge.

“Ah, Rockstrin.”

It was because there was a haggard Baeller Rongrut.

“I’m glad you’re safe, senpai.”

“If you ask me to do what I did for five years for one more month, nothing will change.”

“I heard you didn’t even eat properly.”

“Haha, there is a magic core, but there isn’t one, but I didn’t skip the rice.”

Baeller, who held the magic core with one hand, threw it lightly and repeatedly received it. I was able to touch and play like a toy beyond the level I got used to.

“Because I don’t know what time it is. that you came… … .”

“yes. It’s time to leave soon.”

“okay.”

Baeller answered in a subdued voice, and took up Summerturgy’s uniform neatly folded.

There was only a bed and a magic core in the room, and not a speck of dust to be seen, so the symptoms seemed to have worsened.

Rather, it went well. That must mean that the magic has become more sophisticated.

“let’s go.”

Baeller’s steps were light as he exited the room.

When he came out, Coltman and other escort troops were waiting for him.

“Are you ready?”

A small army lined up in front of the barracks.

Those who will carry out the operation are 5 knights who will protect the wizards at the forefront and 5 wizards from the special lease.

It was a modest composition with only 12 people including me and Baeller.

“Rockstrin.”

“Yes, Father.”

Coltman didn’t say anything for a while after calling me. It seemed like he opened and closed his mouth once, but it was just a sigh that didn’t make it obvious.

“… … I believe you will do it.”

“sure.”

I replied with a smile, and Coltman, who soon turned his head, spoke to the wizards of the special lease.

“Commandment of the Special Support Group Operations Platoon is transferred to Major Lockstrin Aindarok. I told you to prepare for death, but I will order you to come back alive.”

“I take orders.”

“Go.”

Many words were not needed.

“Pass the direction of Outpost 6 and move for one day, then incubate at the marked spot for two days. This point is subject to change depending on circumstances.”

The detailed description of the operation continued as they moved.

The magicians of the special lease nodded their heads after seeing the map I gave them.

“Lord Baeller, what kind of magic are you planning to use with the magic core?”

“It’s a ‘blade whirlpool’.”

Baeller answered the question of the special lease.

Among the wide-range magic of the wind attribute, which he had used once during a night raid, it was the magic that Baeller was most confident in.

“I see, it’s magic befitting an empire.”

“haha. Is that so.”

“Everyone will highly praise the name of Sir Rongrult.”

Baeller laughed bitterly.

“Blade Vortex” was named relatively recently in the 2nd library of the Magic Society in the Empire.

It was a natural reaction since they knew Baeller was just a member of the imperial family.

“It is high.”

4 barrier.

The smooth surface made of steel is solid, and the towering top looks like a mountain peak.

After passing here, you will come to the neutral zone beyond the northern wall, which is uniquely dangerous even in ＜Academy Summer Turge＞.

It was a laughable joke to say that the ground had turned red from the blood of soldiers who had died for hundreds of years.

“You have to go down.”

rattle.

I passed through the thick iron door and went down the stairs. In the dark passageway, where there was no light, the special lease team lit up with magic.

Percussion, percussion, percussion… … .

The height difference between inside and outside is about a three-story building. No one spoke as they descended the spiral staircase.

“Good luck.”

The soldier guarding the exit of the barrier left the names and times of 12 people on the entry and exit log, then raised his arm and saluted.

That entry list is also an interesting setting.

If the name is written even number of times, the person is alive; if the name is written odd number of times, the person is dead.

It means that he did not come back alive after crossing the barrier.

“The weather is nice.”

I came out and stepped on the reddish soil. Summer is over, it’s autumn.

The sky was clear without a single cloud, and the sun was breaking far to the right.

With a click, the exit closed again. Looking back, the barrier is much higher than before.

Now I can’t see the top even if I raise my head.

“Equipment needed for movement and ambush has been prepared at Outpost 6. However, since my knowledge and capabilities are limited when it comes to formations, I need someone to take command as a deputy.”

“I will take it. I received a word from the corps commander in advance.”

“Good for you.”

Even among the wizards of the special lease, who were relatively young compared to their class, he was a middle-aged man with a fairly old age.

Six-Star Wizard O’Neil Cage.

Twelve people formed formation and began to move under his initiative, who had spent 30 years in the barrier and 10 years only as a scout.

“And be careful.”

“O’Neill.”

“Confirmed. “Terra Fin Adia Gress””

When the wizard on the right called his name, O’Neill immediately cast his magic.

At the same time as the empty, far away dirt floor suddenly caved in.

Kiek! A monster’s groaning sounded from inside.

“It can appear at any time out of sight.”

“Are you a Nydus worm?”

“Yes. This is why earth attribute mages are placed at each corner of the triangle.”

O’Neill told us a helpful story based on the experience of the scout during the short journey to the outpost.

After the appearance of the Nydus Worm, the criteria for organizing a scouting party changed drastically.

There must be at least three mages specialized in the earth attribute, and since they always move while consuming magic, it was said that it would be up to another mage to intercept the monsters on the ground.

‘The situation is good.’

Originally, the strategy was not built by the main character. It doesn’t even cross the barrier in the first place.

The magic core was placed next to the court wizard and was brought to improve the durability of magic.

It was abrupt for Baeller Rongrte to take advantage of this and sacrifice himself.

Even if the imperial family had been induced to some extent, it was not in Coltman’s plan. There were only 3 magicians in the special rental unit that were urgently hired as an escort, and there was only one earth attribute magician.

‘Infighting, knight’s escape, loss of magic core, ambush failure, Baeller’s death… … .’

Now we have to consider all the cases where this operation fails.

There may be infighting between the special leases, and when things go wrong, a frightened knight may escape.

There are cases where a monster rising from the ground bites the mana core and disappears, there are cases where an ambush fails and is surrounded by monsters, and there are times when Baeller dies on the way.

It’s like a manga.

In order to block such a variable, of course I have to be in this place.

“No, Bocchan? What are you doing all this way?”

“Uh huh, it must be the Major. The pronunciation was similar.”

“Yes… … ?”

The maximum effective range of projection magic cast from above the barrier, outpost #6.

The soldiers at the outpost had been briefed on the operation, but apparently did not know I was coming.

“Do, no, you mean the Major is going there himself! Why did His Excellency, Corps Commander, make such a decision… … .”

“It’s my decision, not my father’s. I will definitely annihilate the monsters and return.”

I packed up my prepared equipment and left the trench at the outpost.

Looking back from a reasonable distance, I could now look up at the top of the barrier and see the fluttering blue robes characteristic of a court mage.

Derek was waving.

‘It’s an amazing operation! You don’t even have to kill me with my own hands. Thank you too, hahaha!’

Yesterday, we ran into each other for a short time, and we had a gosa to die. After all, he was an eccentric old man.

I raised my middle finger and turned around. it won’t even be visible

“Is there someone in charge?”

“That’s me.”

A knight in armor stepped forward.

I didn’t know the name, but the medal on the shoulder joint caught my eye.

“When monsters attack in three days, support from the barrier may be delayed. About a minute late.”

“… … Yes.”

“It’s one story in a row, but students may not be able to use magic properly.”

“I will consider it.”

One minute is long on the battlefield where one second counts. Even if the scheduled support is delayed even a little bit, Outpost 6 will be crushed by the army of monsters in an instant.

“But it will never be too late. Trust your students. We must not retreat until Mage Derek’s magic is cast.”

“I will keep that in mind.”

“Then let’s go now.”

I turned around and said softly.

“For Aindarlock.”

The knight’s eyes widened.

For Aindarlock. It is a slogan that has disappeared since Aindarok, which was once an independent kingdom, has not been used since it was subjugated to Rongrult.

However, the Knight’s Medal was the crest of a family of loyal knights who had been protecting Aindarok for generations.

who will remember this As the creator of the settings, I know.

“For Aindarlock!”

Leaving behind the roaring shouts, 5 knights and 7 wizards stepped towards the Northern Neutral Zone, the continent’s worst forbidden land.

* * *

“You’re up already, Frid.”

“Ah, Sir Fabian. Are you awake because of me?”

in front of the temporary barracks.

Frid, who was sitting on the stairs, turned around. It was Fabian, who used the second floor.

“No, I just woke up and you weren’t there, so I came to see you. what is that?”

Fabian pointed to the round, wide object in Frid’s hand and said, I saw a few red dots on it. one is moving

“Lord Rockstryn.”

“Oh, yes?”

“This red dot is where Lord Rockstrin is.”

“that’s interesting. And how does Rockstrin get up so early every day? Because it’s great.”

Fabian stuck his head out and narrowed his eyes. Azimuth and scale are displayed, so you can measure the distance… … .

“uh… … .”

Even in Class A, Fabian is quick at calculations. A conclusion soon emerges.

“Here, outside the barrier… … ?”

“you’re right.”

“What happened? Rockstrin is out of the barrier right now?”

“It’s on neutral ground.”

“what… … .”

For four days, whenever Freed woke up, the first thing he did was check to make sure that Locktrin’s bed was not empty.

Because Frid was the first person to wake up every morning, followed by Rocktrin.

After confirming that the lockscreen was gone, Frid immediately took out the radar from the drawer and came out.

It was like that.

“How can someone like me understand Lord Rockstryn’s thoughts? Just accept it.”

“No, I don’t know if I ran away instead.”

“It can’t be, can it? Lord Rockstryn himself is Aindarroch.”

The red dot gradually moved away and no longer appeared on the screen.

There is no need to doubt.

I’m sure you’ll do something great. Frid put the radar in his arms and got up.

“Would you like to go to the playground or the city?”

“Playground?”

“Originally, I used to run with Lord Rockstrin every day.”

“It doesn’t matter, but I’ll get tired soon.”

Fabian looked around the spacious playground and said. Breathe in the cool morning air and wake up.

Magic training wasn’t too difficult for the 1st year A class, where Rockstrin uses Imagination Theory, so even though it was training, it was a boring day.

“Haha, Sir Lockstrin said the same thing. There is no difference.”

“I heard you ran every day?”

“In two laps he would be way behind me.”

“what. I’ll run two laps too. But how did you play together?”

“That’s right.”

Freed, who relaxed by turning his shoulders once, burst out laughing.

It’s just that sometimes you can’t understand that extraordinary thought, but if you watch from the sidelines, you know that the usual Rockstrin is actually a more ordinary person than anyone else.

“Everyone watching is exhausted to the point of suffering, even though I can’t even breathe properly… … .”

There is only one difference.

“I never stopped.”

I don’t walk even though I’m exhausted.

Some would say it’s stupid, but for Frid, it was the reason why Rockstrin had no choice but to become an idol.