Chapter 40

The figure was dressed like an ordinary traveler, but was certainly no ordinary traveler. Ordinary travelers do not block the road on a dim evening on the deserted imperial highway. Despite being covered by a cloak and coat, a fierce gaze could be seen from the exposed face. The workers' voices grew even more intense and rough.

"Last warning! Reveal your identity immediately!"

When no response came, the workers immediately fired their crossbows. With a resounding sound, the bolts were launched.

Thud!

Instead of the sound of piercing through a person, a solid blocking sound was heard. The workers, undeterred, immediately reloaded their crossbows.

The workers carrying luggage to the magic school were not ordinary workers. They had to be verified and, if necessary, know how to fight to protect the luggage.

Composed of former imperial adventurers, mercenaries, and soldiers, these workers did not panic even in such a situation. They skillfully jumped out of the carriage, drew their crossbows, and aimed at the enemy.

"Fire!"

"Fools. Do you know who you are siding with?"

"…!"

The opponent began to speak in a coarse and rough voice, which sounded even more sinister in the darkness.

"You are siding with the mages who are corrupting the empire. Break free before you fall under the spell of evil magic!"

"By the beards of our ancestors! They are anti-mage zealots!"

A dwarf worker shouted in alarm.

The imperial anti-mage zealots were among the most notorious villains in the vast empire.

As their name suggests, they hated all magic.

-Magic disrupts order, destroys nature, and corrupts humanity!

Naturally, their hatred of magic did not end there.

They often attacked mages and magic schools.

The only reason such violent individuals were waiting here was one.

"In the name of the Twilight Dawn!"

"In the name of the Twilight Dawn!"

After the warning, the opponents began to charge. The workers swallowed hard as the weapons, reflecting the moonlight, emitted a sharp glow.

"Veil of Order!"

With a powerful surge of magic, a massive magical barrier was erected around the carriages.

The charging enemies were immediately repelled, spitting blood.

Professor Garcia's magic had been cast.

"Ohh...!"

"Indeed, it is Professor!"

The armed workers marveled at the power of the magic.

However, Professor Garcia's expression was not bright.

Although people often mistakenly assumed that Professor Garcia was a master of combat due to his appearance, he had no talent for it.

There was a misconception that high-level mages were also skilled in combat, but this was a delusion.

Magic and combat were entirely separate domains.

It was not easy for a mage who had spent their life studying magic at a desk to maintain composure and use magic in the chaos of a battlefield.

If they lost focus or made a mistake, the magic could produce entirely different results.

A dangerous double-edged sword!

It was not for nothing that mages who received specialized combat training were called "combat mages."

'Time to stall.'

Professor Garcia waved his staff, and birds made of light soared into the sky.

These birds would inform the other professors at the magic school of the current situation.

"Shrinking bones, withering muscles!"

The attackers near the barrier screamed in agony.

Corrupted magic power enveloped their bodies, weakening their flesh.

"Activate it!"

However, the opponents were not to be underestimated.

Professor Garcia's face darkened.

The mages of the empire were not easy opponents.

The anti-mage zealots, who had been attacking mages for a long time, knew very well how to deal with them.

Rumble—

A deep, ear-splitting vibration began to shake the surrounding magic power, which started to be violently disrupted.

Then, it was as if it was being sucked into a single point.

"!!!"

The <Veil of Order> that Professor Garcia had cast melted away like snow in midsummer.

The immense power left Professor Garcia in shock.

'Ancient artifact!'

There were ways to counter magic.

The empire had metals that could absorb or repel magic power, and there were spells to remove magic.

However, there was no method that could absorb such a vast amount of magic power at once.

There was only one such miraculous artifact in the empire.

Ancient artifact.

Treasures containing forgotten mysteries and knowledge from long ago, often found in ruins or dungeons!

It was unfortunate that such an artifact had been discovered by these people.

"Professor! Retreat to the back!"

As the barrier disappeared and the enemies began to approach again, the workers tried to get Professor Garcia to retreat.

Professor Garcia tried to wave his staff to cast another spell, but before he could, the magic was dispelled, and the magic power was sucked toward the artifact.

"You, evil mage, will receive divine punishment!"

An approaching attacker drew his sword and aimed to strike Professor Garcia.

Crack!!!!

At that moment, the attacker's head turned to the side.

"…?!"

"???!"

Both Professor Garcia and the workers were shocked.

What happened?

* * *

'This is definitely not a trap set by the principal.'

Hearing the name of the Twilight Dawn from the carriage behind, Yi Han could no longer deny reality.

If the principal had set such a trap, Yi Han would have no dreams or hopes left. It might have been better to stay as a graduate student under the principal forever.

Twilight Dawn.

The name of the largest and most violent group among the empire's anti-mage zealots.

Naturally, as a member of a prestigious magic family, Yi Han had heard their name a few times.

He never thought he would meet them here...

"Uh, what do you plan to do?"

"Ratford, hide."

"You can't be serious...?"

While Ratford was shocked, Yi Han began to chant a spell.

"I hide in the night."

With the spell, Yi Han's form became transparent. Before Ratford could marvel at the artifact's effect, he urgently said,

"It's dangerous! Those guys are not ordinary!"

"I know. That's why I'm being careful."

It was better to prepare in advance rather than miss an opportunity by hiding and getting caught.

Yi Han was always prepared for the worst.

-<Veil of Order>!

'Maybe the professor can block it?'

When the massive barrier was erected and Garcia's curse brought down the attackers, Yi Han was elated.

However, the attackers pulled out a strange artifact and dispelled all the surrounding magic, including Professor Garcia's.

The power to dispel even Professor Garcia's magic!

'!!!'

Yi Han was also shocked, but there was one fortunate thing.

His belt had held up.

Even as the surrounding magic collapsed and the magic power was sucked into one place, the transparency spell did not dispel.

Is this the grace of Phrasinga?

'...No, it's due to my magic power.'

Yi Han could read the flow of magic power around him.

As all the nearby magic power was being sucked into the artifact, his magic power was also being drained.

The problem was that no matter how much magic power was drained, it was continuously replenished in his belt without any gap.

Thus, no matter how much magic power was drained, the spell would not dispel.

It's like having a giant battery right next to you.

'They're coming!'

Yi Han had no more time to think.

The enemies had started to attack Professor Garcia.

Crack!!!!

As recognized by the old knight of the family, Alarlong, and the elf swordsmanship professor, Ingeld, Yi Han had a talent for swordsmanship.

Even with the transparency spell, successfully pulling off such an ambush was expected.

"Professor, it's me! Yi Han!"

Yi Han immediately called out to Professor Garcia.

If he were attacked by his own side due to a misunderstanding, he would have no one to complain to.

"Yi Han student?! Why are you...?!"

"There's a long story! Professor, tell me what I need to do!"

Yi Han shouted while taking the sword from the fallen opponent.

The professor regained his composure at the student's call.

"I've sent a message to the school, so reinforcements will arrive soon. Hold on until then without getting hurt!"

Thud, thud—

The sound of the workers' crossbows split the night sky.

At first glance, it seemed they had the upper hand, but Yi Han could sense the ferocity of the opponents' movements.

'They are all masters of swordsmanship!'

The crossbows were powerful but required time to reload after each shot.

The attackers were approaching by reading the gaps.

"The workers may not hold out! Can you use magic, Professor?"

"The surrounding magic power is... wait."

Professor Garcia was puzzled by Yi Han's transparent state.

How could he maintain a transparency spell?

"How... Ah!"

Professor Garcia realized how Yi Han was maintaining the transparency spell.

Bottomless well of magic power!

"Yi Han student, lend me your magic power!"

Yi Han grabbed the professor's outstretched hand, feeling the magic power move.

Since Professor Vlad had done this once before, it was not surprising.

"Petra's Adamantine Spear!"

Without hesitation, Professor Garcia chanted a spell towards the artifact.

He had intended to stall by focusing on defense, worried about the backlash, but with such a rule-breaking artifact, the situation was different.

He would destroy the artifact, even at the cost of sacrifices!

"!"

Yi Han was shocked by the giant adamantine spear that appeared in the air.

To summon such a spear from nothing!

"Get out of the way!!"

"Get out!"

The attackers, aware of its power, quickly moved out of its path.

Even though the ancient artifact continued to absorb magic power and reduce its effectiveness, the adamantine spear did not disappear once it was formed.

Crash!

With a loud noise, the adamantine spear struck the ancient artifact, and the surrounding magic flow returned to normal.

"Lightning wolves that tear flesh!"

With a crackling sound, a massive chunk of lightning appeared in the air, transforming into a wolf and scattering in all directions.

It tore apart all the enemies within its radius.

"..."

Yi Han shuddered at the sight of the lightning wolves cutting off the enemies' breath and burning them.

It was a brutal scene that instilled respect for the professor.

Rumble—

"!?"

Yi Han looked up at the ominous sound he had heard earlier.

The partially destroyed ancient artifact was reactivating.

"Kill that mage... at all costs!"

Dozens had fallen, but the remaining few attackers, with a fierce determination, charged at Professor Garcia.

Yi Han met them with the sword he had taken.

Thud!

"There's someone using a transparency spell! There's someone using a transparency spell! This damn mage!"

The anti-mage zealot, pierced by the sword, spat out a mouthful of blood and sprayed it in Yi Han's direction.

Yi Han felt a chill down his spine.

'They are not ordinary in combat!'

To respond so quickly to an invisible enemy was impressive.

It felt like fighting Alarlong.

Moreover, the leader of the attackers, who had given the order earlier, was approaching. His posture alone indicated he was a master.

Could he protect Professor Garcia while dealing with all of them?

"I reveal myself in the morning."

"!"

With the spell, Yi Han's form became visible.

The enemies stared at him in shock, not expecting a young acolyte.

"I don't know what your nerve is, but I'll send you to join your mage friend."

"Whatever."

"I'm going to destroy the artifact!"

Yi Han, saying this, began to charge forward towards the ancient artifact.

The attackers were shocked by the sight of the artifact, unguarded and empty.

"No! Stop that guy!!"