Chapter 65

◈ Chapter 65: The Witch's Trap (1)

I have actually seen relics before, and I possess a fragment of one.

While I can't say that all relics are exactly the same, I understand why they are called 'artifacts.'

Therefore, I can be certain.

This 'Universal Stone' is definitely not a relic.

'The principal told me that the Universal Stone was stolen from me.'

And she said it was a relic.

But the Universal Stone I saw is not the relic I know. It's just a stone imbued with immense magical power.

At that moment, I couldn't help but assume the worst.

Chill!

A spine-chilling sensation ran down my back.

The Forest of Silence, despite its name, is filled with countless spirits and thoughts wandering and emitting cries.

Occasionally, mutated beasts, known as monsters, also roam around.

But from some point onward.

All sounds had abruptly ceased.

Fitting its name, the Forest of Silence.

'The surroundings have become quiet.'

I looked up at the sky.

Above the dense, ash-colored coniferous forest, the sky was obscured by clouds and couldn't be seen clearly.

Something was floating there.

Though it was far away, I saw it clearly.

And I saw it gradually gathering strength and light.

“……!”

I hastily summoned my magic.

I quickly summoned the 「Aether Nocturnus」 magic seal I had previously dispelled and wrapped it around my body.

Swish!

A shadow like a black cloth enveloped me like a mummy, and my physical body sank into the ground like a swamp.

At the same time.

A star fell from the sky.

* * *

Boom───!!!

A white and blinding explosion occurred at the center of the Forest of Silence.

The pure white light that burned through the darkness spread in a massive dome, engulfing a corner of the forest.

A huge storm raged, and fragments of branches and rocks flew in all directions.

The white dome that seemed to engulf the entire Forest of Silence eventually stopped its explosive expansion and gradually disappeared.

Sssss.

Nothing remained where the light had vanished.

The trees that formed the Forest of Silence, the thoughts that floated in the air, and the monsters whose aura had been eroded by the forest.

They all retreated, filled with fear and reverence for a single presence.

"This is the end."

The clouds parted, and moonlight fell from the sky.

Her snow-white hair, illuminated by the moonlight, glowed faintly.

Principal Elisa Willow.

She descended from the sky and landed at the center of the ruins she had created.

A terrifying scene, as if a meteor had fallen from the sky.

The only thing that remained in the place where everything had vanished was one thing.

"I've taken the fake Universal Stone."

The principal muttered this while looking around. She faintly released her magic, but nothing caught her attention.

The cockroach-like creatures that had infiltrated Seolron were all dealt with by the single blow a moment ago.

It was all thanks to the 'bait' named Universal Stone.

'I hoped for a bigger catch, but I can't expect too much.'

The principal lightly shook her head.

She didn't want to stay here long. The high-level magic she used just now had made the surroundings quiet for the moment, but the Forest of Silence would soon fill this ruin with its own space.

'I wish I could erase this forest entirely.'

Even though she was a high-level mage, she couldn't destroy this forest alone.

And if someone with mediocre skills entered the Forest of Silence, they would go mad from the forest's magic.

Annoying, but there's nothing to be done.

'I can just tell the others that I dealt with it appropriately.'

Elisa had intentionally asked for help from other teachers to handle this matter secretly.

Rudger Chellis was a prime example.

She asked for his help not only because he seemed competent but also because there were still suspicions about him that she hadn't erased.

Perhaps he was here.

'Indeed, how did it turn out?'

The magic she used is not something even a mage of the same level could easily block.

Moreover, it was an ambush, making it even harder to avoid.

Even a mage would not survive if caught in it.

If Rudger had been here, he would have died too.

'I hope that didn't happen.'

A personal sentiment.

At least, I hope a man of his caliber is not a traitor of Seolron.

Elisa thought this as she picked up the 'bait' and flew back into the sky.

* * *

'Honestly, I'm amazed.'

Rudger, who had confirmed the principal leaving from a distant location, wiped the cold sweat from his forehead.

'To think the principal would take action herself. If my reaction had been just a bit slower, it would have been a disaster.'

The magic the principal used. A light explosion as if a meteor had fallen.

The scene where a corner of the forest was blown away, like a missile had exploded, was enough to make my skin crawl even from a distance.

Is this what a 6th-tier mage can do?

Rudger couldn't believe he had been in that spot just moments ago.

The only reason he managed to escape was because of the 「Aether Nocturnus」 he used.

'I'm glad I set the coordinates in advance.'

In this world, there is no such thing as a spatial teleportation spell.

Or rather, it does exist, but it's not a spell that is 'publicly' known.

The reason students were surprised by the coordinate designation ritual he showed during the lecture was because of this.

For them, a spell that transcends space is a shocking thing.

Even more so, for a mage to teleport through space is an impossible feat by common sense.

In fantasy novels from a past life, spells like 'Blink' and 'Teleport' exist, but not in this world.

However, Rudger used it.

The method is simple, due to the unique nature of the magic seal he uses.

The magic seal is both a summoning and a spell in itself.

Unlike most summoning forms, Rudger's is clothing and maintains a form that wraps around his body.

By moving this 「Aether Nocturnus」 with the coordinate designation ritual, Rudger himself is also moved.

You need to know how to use the coordinate designation ritual, and it's possible thanks to the unique nature of Aether Nocturnus.

In other words, this is a unique spatial teleportation that only Rudger can use.

'It's dizzying.'

Rudger took a pill from his inner pocket with a slightly trembling hand and swallowed it.

As the clear magic power supplied to his brain, the trembling in his body subsided.

The downside of this spell is that its usage is extremely limited.

Not only does it consume a tremendous amount of magic power, but the body, drawn by the magic, transcends space, causing severe dizziness and pain.

Even a knight who has trained his body would faint.

The only reason the aftereffects were minimal was because of the shadow medium.

If it were a different attribute magic, it would have been a disaster.

'At least I left a trace.'

The Universal Stone stolen by Demires was a fake, carefully crafted by the principal.

But that alone didn't prove that the Universal Stone didn't exist.

When the principal told him about it, Rudger didn't find anything unusual.

'Demires and the other members of the Black Dawn wouldn't have been fooled by just a fake. There must have been a real one that they were drawn to.'

The principal must have revealed the fake to eliminate them all when the real one was about to be discovered.

That means the real one is still out there.

'I left my trace on the fake, so the principal will surely go to verify the real one. I just need to remember the trace I left on the fake.'

Thus, just before the principal's attack fell.

He left a trace on the fake that even she didn't notice.

The fake itself emitted such strong magic power that even the principal didn't notice.

'I'll move when the time is right.'

Just as he thought this and was about to leave the Forest of Silence.

Rustle.

The sound of someone stepping on a branch echoed behind him.

"Teacher, sir?"

"……."

Rudger slowly turned around.

There stood Flora Lumos, staring at him with trembling eyes.

'Did she see?'

Rudger didn't question why Flora was here.

The fact that she met him in the Forest of Silence was the only important thing.

Rudger clenched and unclenched his fist to hide it from her.

What should he do here?

He thought about erasing the evidence but decided it was too extreme.

"Flora Lumos. Why are you here?"

"Me, me? No, well, it's just that……."

Flora Lumos couldn't easily answer why she had entered the Forest of Silence.

After all.

'How can I say I followed a nice smell I had never encountered before?'

Especially since the source of the smell turned out to be Rudger Chellis.

Wouldn't that make her sound like a pervert?

"Are you not going to answer?"

"Well, why are you here, teacher?"

In the end, this was all Flora could say.

Rudger sighed slightly at her flustered reaction.

It seemed she hadn't seen him shrouded in darkness.

Even if there were people guarding outside, she must have entered through another path by chance.

"Flora Lumos. This forest is dangerous for students like you. Go back quickly."

"……I'm not that weak, you know?"

The Forest of Silence is a dangerous place, especially for students.

But a student like Flora could withstand the forest.

Especially since she had a unique constitution called 'magical synesthesia,' allowing her to avoid the forest's magic when it became dangerous.

Flora wanted to ask.

Was it you who used magic to hide and come here?

What kind of magic was it?

Just as she was about to ask, she noticed that Rudger was holding a medicine bottle in one hand.

"Teacher, what's that?"

"……Nothing."

Rudger said this and put the medicine bottle back in his pocket.

Flora looked at him suspiciously.

She had followed the smell into the forest, and suddenly a bright light had flashed from a distance.

She followed the smell to this spot, and there was Rudger.

"I……"

"Flora! Where are you? Sniff!"

At that moment, Cheryl Wagner's tearful voice echoed from a distance.

Flora and Rudger both shut their mouths at the same time.

"Flora~! I'm scared! Where did you go~!"

"……Sigh."

Rudger sighed and started walking.

"Follow me. I'll help you and your lost friend safely leave this forest."

"……."

Flora, who had given up on asking questions in this broken atmosphere, obediently followed Rudger.

Rudger easily rescued Cheryl, who was being tormented by spirits, and led both of them out of the forest.

Just as they emerged, the guards patrolling the forest's perimeter approached and asked what had happened.

"The students entered the forest and got lost. I'm bringing them out."

Rudger answered them, saying it was nothing serious.

The tracking teams near the forest were dispersing on the principal's orders.

Cheryl sobbed repeatedly, saying 'I'm sorry~,' but Flora didn't.

'Why was Teacher Rudger in that forest?'

And what kind of magic did he use?

Flora couldn't erase her suspicious gaze as she watched Rudger's back.