Chapter 29

EP.29 ■련 (3) - Fictional Hell

In the awkward silence, I quickly made my way out into the corridor.

The students began to murmur about me.

Some didn't understand why, some thought it was a good idea to run, some thought I should have done this from the start, and some called me a coward, among other things.

Even Luce, who usually didn't care about others, was staring at me intently. Was I that noticeable? Of course, from his perspective, I was just an extra, maybe even the fourth extra. He would soon lose interest.

Matteo nodded, looking convinced. He probably thought, "Isaac adjusted to Tristan's level appropriately," or something like that. I didn't want to read his mind.

‘Now is not the time to worry about that.’

As soon as I was out of sight, I started running.

‘Faster...!’

It would take a while to reach the rooftop. Fortunately, my stamina was in top condition. I could reach the rooftop without stopping at full speed.

I suspected that the illusionary Rifa intended to trap the entire Duke Hall in [Fictional Hell]. She must have engraved a magic circle on the rooftop.

I had to stop her before her magic affected the students.

I leaped up the stairs three steps at a time. My stamina wasn't significantly drained. The Hell PT training paid off.

While climbing the stairs, I took out the magic disguise suit from my magic pouch and put it on. I wore a navy blue hooded coat, a mask over my mouth, and pulled the hood over my head.

Magic Disguise Suit - Berserker. From now on, I would look like a monster.

Fortunately, I reached the rooftop entrance earlier than expected.

“...!”

The entrance door was wide open. The first thing I saw was a large, gray eyeball floating in the air.

[Second Eye]. This was a skill used by the illusionary Rifa.

The eyeball was looking down at the lower part of the rooftop, seemingly using [Penetration] magic to observe the indoor arena.

No reaction to my presence. It seemed the stairs leading from the corridor to the rooftop were not in its field of vision. Otherwise, it would have noticed me. That's a relief.

Beyond the eyeball, a strange, dark membrane spread out in a hemispherical shape came into view.

This small [Fictional Hell] covered part of the rooftop.

‘Why is it activated?’

Given its size, it was undoubtedly used against a small number of people. Someone must have come to interfere with Rifa!

‘Could it be...?’

Professor Fernando, who had disappeared somewhere during the sparring evaluation, never returned until I finished.

He sets up a telepathic magic net when conducting tests or practical evaluations inside the building, like a radar. If an intruder gets caught in it, Professor Fernando would immediately notice.

It seemed that the small [Fictional Hell] was where Professor Fernando was fighting Rifa.

“Crazy.”

There must be no more victims. I didn't want any innocent casualties, and it would complicate matters.

Especially since Professor Fernando is a significant supporting character in <Merchen's Magic Knight>.

He plays a role in keeping Alice Carroll in check and is crucial in awakening Ian from his slump later on.

I had to save him.

‘A time attack, perhaps.’

Rifa was toying with Professor Fernando until the mana in the magic circle matured, then she would expand [Fictional Hell] in one go.

I had to stop her before that.

I jumped into [Fictional Hell].

* * *

The sea is like a mirror.

The shallow sea reflected the navy blue sky perfectly, as if the sky had been flipped upside down.

The sky was dotted with countless stars, and the Milky Way flowed gently.

The horizon stretched in all directions. The only other thing was the dilapidated buildings scattered around, so fragile they seemed to crumble at the slightest touch.

“Gasp!”

The beautiful scenery was marred by splashes of fresh blood.

Boom!!

Fernando's body flew through the air like a ball and crashed violently into a building. He let out a scream and slid to the ground, where the shallow water soaked his lower body.

“Haa, gasp...”

Blood gushed from his mouth, but his blue eyes still burned with determination.

When he lifted his head, he saw a group of monsters staring at him. Alien beings. Their black skin was covered with the flow of the Milky Way.

They seemed to be one with the night sky, so Fernando named them Night Sky Monsters.

The Night Sky Monsters came in various forms. From human, animal, and monster shapes to the overwhelmingly large octopus flying in space. The octopus was so unrealistically huge that its size was indeterminable.

Most striking was the full moon, which, though clearly far away, was much larger than the usual moon.

It was a breathtaking sight.

So much so that the absurd thought of using it as a grave crossed his mind.

“What grave?”

Fernando grumbled as he got up. His legs were weak, but he managed to stand by leaning against the building wall.

He remembered what he had told the assistant professor.

If he didn't return within 20 minutes, the assistant professor was to immediately stop the sparring evaluation, evacuate the students, and head to the rooftop with full force.

Currently, the demon was enjoying toying with him.

So he had to buy as much time as possible.

The situation was unfavorable. He had killed quite a few monsters, but their numbers had increased. It seemed the monsters were replicating infinitely.

A meaningless battle. A structure where he was bound to lose.

Then.

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