The swordsman waited no longer, rushing toward Ain at extreme speed.
“Damned brat...”
“Ain!”
Vanessa called out in warning, quickly pulling out her wand and dragging Ain behind her.
Although she still didn't understand what Erylin saw in him, and even disliked him a little, she was still a senior one year older than him. How could she just stand by and watch her junior get hurt?
Especially since he was the one Erylin liked!
“Vento... (Wind)”
Facing the approaching swordsman, a wind-element crowd control spell was usually the best choice.
But the opponent was a Tier 4 after all.
The sheer mana dispersion generated by his sword technique was enough to shred Vanessa's constructed spell to pieces.
The swordsman subtly tilted his blade.
They were just a few students; the flat of the blade would suffice.
Looking at the silver sword closing in on her, Vanessa instinctively raised her hand in fear, her body trembling uncontrollably.
But Ain's cold words reached their ears first.
“Get lost.”
Even as a battle-hardened mercenary, this was the first time he had ever seen such a frigid gaze in a student's eyes.
A strange sensation quietly crept into his heart, and the swordsman instinctively cast his gaze toward Ain's shadow.
This was the intuition of a Tier 4 swordsman.
Just as he had sensed, the moment he lunged at Ain, the shadow beneath the boy's feet had already shrunk into a small black mass.
In the next instant, a deep shadow shot out, wild purple lightning blocking the swordsman's attack.
Mordred's claws clashed with the sharp sword, producing a metallic ringing sound.
The swordsman also faintly sensed that something was wrong.
The mana infused into his sword technique had been shaved away slightly.
Vanessa slowly opened her eyes, staring blankly at the black-and-white magical wolf in front of her.
“This is...”
As if sharing a telepathic bond, Mordred instantly retreated after blocking the strike.
Whether intentional or not, as Mordred recoiled, it made a show of almost crashing into Vanessa, only to slip away at the very last second, melting back into Ain's shadow.
Vanessa was startled by this, her balance wavering as she fell backward.
Ain reached out with his left hand, catching Vanessa around the waist just as she was about to fall.
【Mordred is highly satisfied with its performance and looks forward to your praise!】
Ain was utterly speechless.
With Mordred no longer blocking his view, the swordsman could finally see Ain clearly.
Ain slowly extended his right hand, and a fiery red magic circle instantly materialized, expanding at an incredible speed.
So fast!
This was the first time he had ever seen a mage construct a magic circle in such a short amount of time.
【Tier 4 Spell: Explosive Spark】
【MP Cost: 2300/2300】
The swordsman sneered, a trace of disdain in his eyes.
He had learned plenty of defensive sword techniques to counter mages.
“I've seen plenty of this kind of mag—”
The swordsman immediately shifted his stance. But as he adjusted his breathing, his gaze accidentally fell upon Ain's right hand, and his pupils suddenly dilated.
There wasn't just one magic circle there.
There were five magic circles stacked on top of each other!
“Huh?”
Before he could even finish his sentence, and before anyone else could react, a powerful wave of energy erupted from between the man and Ain's palm.
Even though he had made a split-second decision, the swordsman was still sent flying. The clothes on his upper body were completely incinerated, and he crashed heavily to the ground in a pathetic state.
Complete silence fell over the area.
The heatwave from the aftermath blew against everyone's cheeks. The students, including Vanessa, all had expressions of sheer disbelief written on their faces.
“Are you kidding me? That guy...”
“Didn't they say he got in through the back door...?”
“At least... I can guarantee his name is definitely not in the top ten of the combat classes!”
Vanessa also stared blankly at Ain's back.
Had he always been this strong?
Meanwhile, a smile curled on the corner of Ain's lips, though the fury in his eyes had yet to fade.
He put on a show of pulling out a wand, a smile on his face, and pointed it at the other heavily armored swordsman carrying a shield.
“Do you want to take a hit too?”
Ain only wanted to find a few punching bags to vent his anger right now.
A moment later, the two swordsmen who had tried to extort them were lying on the stone floor. At this moment, their bodies were covered in soot, their eyes spinning with dizzy scribbles, and stars circling above their heads.
The two had been beaten unconscious by Ain.
Ain's gaze suddenly shifted to the group of students behind Vanessa, and he flashed them a meaningful smile.
Instantly, a chill rushed down every student's spine.
At this moment, Ain made everyone feel terrified.
They had just seen a monster this terrifying yesterday.
Erylin, who had fought so violently for Ain's sake.
It was as if they couldn't wait to beat their opponents to death, completely disregarding their own mana consumption.
“Ah, besides these two, did anyone else charge you money?”
Ain smiled.
“I'd like to pay them a fee as well.”
...
By the time the students turned and left, their attitude toward Ain had undergone a complete, earth-shattering reversal.
A few students even bowed respectfully to him before speaking, deeply afraid of offending him in some way.
Catching sight of the two swordsmen lying on the ground, the five students couldn't help but gasp.
Absolutely, positively, never make this guy angry!
Watching the students leave, Ain glanced at Vanessa beside him and asked casually, “Are you alright?”
“I'm fine, I'm fine...”
Vanessa's worldview had been completely shattered by Ain.
“Ah, um...”
“What is it?”
Looking at Ain's profile, Vanessa's heart rate gradually picked up. She immediately averted her gaze, her hands twisting awkwardly together as she whispered, “It's just...”
“Thank you...”
Imeve hadn't stopped Ain's actions earlier. Ultimately, those two swordsmen had brought it upon themselves.
But what Imeve couldn't understand the most was why Ain was so angry.
“Did you figure something out?”
Hearing Imeve's question, Ain chuckled. “Yeah.”
“But it's not just figuring something out...”
“I already know the answer.”
“All the answers to Act Three.”
Imeve looked at him in surprise.
He had been frowning and brooding all this way, yet after asking just a few questions, he had already found the answer?
Ain looked at the girl beside him.
“It's all thanks to Vanessa.”
Ain stepped closer and gratefully took Vanessa's hands in his, his eyes filled with sincerity.
“If it weren't for you, I wouldn't have known what to do...”
“Eh? M-me?”
Vanessa's face instantly flushed a deep red.
Ain's handsome image was magnifying in her mind.
W-What is this guy saying!
Why is he so close!
And, and saying something like that at a time like this!
Isn't this just like the plot of that picture book Lillian showed her before...
But he already has Lillian and Erylin...
And even Miss Imeve is right here beside us...
But, but if Ain really wants to...
“You couldn't possibly l-like...”
Just as Vanessa was in the middle of her mental storm, Ain interrupted, “Exactly!”
“The questions you just answered are extremely important!”
“...Eh?”
Vanessa turned to stone.
Ain said solemnly, “Vanessa, you were added to this mission midway through, right?”
“Right...”
“And Lance, that Grand Chief Arbiter from the Titan Prosecution Office—did he also call out your name this morning using the list in his hand?”
Vanessa nodded blankly, asking, “Is there something strange about that?”
Ain looked at Vanessa with a half-smile, speaking mysteriously, “Where do you think he got that list?”
“Or rather, don't you think that list is very strange?”
Vanessa asked suspiciously, “The Academy shouldn't expose our information to others on its own. So, are you saying he investigated Typhon Chain's mission roster beforehand?”
Ain laughed in exasperation. “Even a fool would know that.”
“A-A fool?!”
Vanessa was incredulous.
Thanking me like that first, then calling me an idiot?
What is this guy's deal!
Seeing Ain's "I put the answer right in front of your face and you still don't get it" look, Vanessa felt, for the first time, the sheer frustration of being insulted without being able to talk back.
The girl's eyes welled with tears as she looked at Ain with a deeply aggrieved expression.
Ain rubbed his forehead, let out a sigh, and spoke, “Don't you get it yet, Vanessa?”
“Your name shouldn't have been on that list in the first place!”
Rate on N.U.
