Chapter 44

EP.44 Brain Deity Suppression Battle (2)

Brain Deity-Galia emitted a red glow from her eyes and wrapped her massive wings with purple lightning mana.

She was about to cast a barrier. It was undoubtedly right after Brain Deity had exchanged spells with Dorothy once. Dorothy must have retreated with the students as part of the strategy.

In an instant, thunder and lightning began to condense around Galia.

Then, when a large amount of lightning mana condensed into a small form at a very high density,

──────── [───!!!!!]

The lightning mana erupted with Brain Deity's roar, sweeping across the old Merhen Academy grounds in the blink of an eye.

────────────「Lightning Barrier (Lightning Attribute, ★7)」

Kwaahaaaaang──────!!!

Zzzzzzzzzz──────!!!

“Whoa!”

Gale. I was blown away and rolled down the hill. A tingling sensation enveloped my entire body and passed by.

Several buildings were destroyed, and trees were uprooted and fell over.

Countless lightning discharges. The lightning mana spread by Brain Deity had transformed into a vast barrier.

Zzzzz, a powerful purple barrier formed by a large amount of lightning mana, generating high-voltage currents, was created.

[Lightning Barrier].

In the final part of the first semester of the first year of <Merhen's Magic Knight>, the stage for 「Act 3, Chapter 4, Brain Deity Suppression Battle」 was set.

Kwaag────!!

Kwaag────!!

Kwaag────!!

Countless lightning bolts struck various parts of the old Merhen Academy grounds simultaneously.

At that spot, the minions of Brain Deity, ‘Lightning Harpies,’ appeared.

The Isaac Hall, in particular, was hit by intense lightning. This was where the Lightning Harpies were concentrated, as Vela, the Servant, had marked it.

“Ahh…!”

How many times am I going to roll today, really?

I grumbled, quickly got up, and started running up the hill again.

The [Lightning Barrier] cannot be penetrated. This is because of Brain Deity-Galia's unique characteristic, [Nest], which forms the barrier with a dense and sturdy structure of a large amount of lightning mana.

If we were to rate the magic itself, it would be around level 190.

Therefore, even if all the academic staff, including Dorothy, cast spells together, it would be difficult to achieve meaningful results. They plan to test it out among themselves later.

───[Kiaaaaaaaak─────!!]

At the Isaac Hall, the palace-like building, the lightning harpies burst out, breaking the entrance doors.

The Lightning Harpies were human-like creatures with wings, their entire bodies composed of lightning mana that emitted electric currents.

[ Lightning Harpy ]

Lv: 85

Race: (Demon)

Attribute: Lightning

Danger Level: Medium

Psychology: [Wants to harm humans.]

I had just arrived at the Isaac Hall.

'Thanks for opening the door, experience points!'

[Detected a nearby demon.]

[The unique characteristic [Demon Slayer] has been activated!]

[Your level and stats have temporarily increased significantly!]

[Your skill tree has temporarily increased by +10!]

─────── 「Frost Flame (Ice Attribute, ★4)」

Hwaaaaaaah───────!!

My body felt as light as a feather. My exhausted body not only recovered stamina but surged with energy. I felt so powerful that I could destroy this building with a single punch. The flow of mana in my mana circuits accelerated, and the quality of the mana itself changed.

The unique characteristic [Demon Slayer] had been activated.

I dispatched the Lightning Harpies with powerful blue cold flames, [Frost Flame], while my feet continued to move briskly.

I had reached the top floor of the Isaac Hall. Rows of statues of mages and knights. Despite the signs of age, the design was still luxurious.

At the end of the space with a red carpet, a large altar was installed.

The ceiling was so high that the top floor of the Isaac Hall looked like a magnificent cathedral.

I wiped the sweat that was streaming down my forehead.

I turned my head and looked out the window.

Brain Deity was still flying in the sky, flapping her wings and displaying an overwhelming presence. She would soon bring Luce and Vela, the Servant, over here.

They would immediately break through the roof of the top floor, so they wouldn't check the traces of the Lightning Harpies I had dispatched.

Well, I also fought carefully, making sure not to leave any signs of using magic outside the Isaac Hall.

“Ian.”

Light blue mana gathered around me, forming the shape of a small golem familiar, Ian.

[Kuwoong!]

“Run away.”

[Kuu…?]

A Servant can arbitrarily take another's familiar. However, if I had taken Ian away in advance, I could prevent the disaster of Ian being taken.

Ian, who seemed puzzled, tilted his head. I hurriedly urged him to go, and he nodded, looking flustered, and slipped out of the Isaac Hall.

Such a simple act could prevent Vela from taking my familiar. People didn't know this, which is why they had been suffering at Vela's hands.

Now, I had to hide according to the plan.

Knock, knock─.

I knew a perfect place to hide here.

I knocked on the wall behind the altar, in various spots.

After the Brain Deity Suppression Battle part of <Merhen's Magic Knight> ends, you can enter a secret place when you come to the Isaac Hall. My plan was to hide in that secret place.

The game describes the place so that you can distinguish it by knocking.

It should be around here…

Knock, knock─.

Tap, tap.

‘Here it is.’

The sound of an empty interior. I confirmed the wall pattern and found the handle.

I placed my right hand near the handle and sent a weak flow of mana.

Then, it began to be absorbed into the wall from my hand, like sinking into a calm lake.

That's how I entered the inside of the wall.

Inside the space, glowing stones lined the walls, emitting a faint light.

The scene of an old, dilapidated study room appeared before my eyes. Bookshelves were packed with books. It was a narrow and stuffy space.

At the end, there was a small desk, and on it, a dusty book was placed.

It's nothing special, just a book recording a setting from <Merhen's Magic Knight>. It contains a plot point related to the Grand Mages of each element. There was nothing to see, and I didn't have the time to look anyway.

[Detected a nearby demon.]

Whiiii─.

The [Demon Detection] had been activated. Vela, the Servant, was approaching.

A strong aura could be felt from beyond the wall.

[ Vela, the Servant ]

Lv: 125

Race: Demon

Attribute: Darkness, Lightning

Danger Level: High

Psychology: [Delighted to have obtained the strongest familiar.]

I pressed my ear against the wall to assess the situation.

─────Kwaahaaaaang──!!

The sound of the ceiling collapsing. Brain Deity had broken through the outer walls and ceiling to accommodate her massive body.

By now, the Brain Deity Suppression Team, with Ian Fairytail, who can deal effective damage to Brain Deity with light attribute magic, and Dorothy Heartnova, the strongest force of Merhen Academy, as the core members, must have been formed.

Incidentally, the Brain Deity Suppression Team is not easily formed. There is a conflict between the stance of 'waiting for academic support' and the stance of 'we should attack too.'

Ultimately, the team is formed after the first-year students volunteer to fight, creating a scene reminiscent of a classic shonen manga. I remember feeling my heart race when I saw that scene.

‘If there's a variable, it’s the top students.’

Normally, before the Brain Deity Suppression Battle, the top students should have passed the final evaluation of the semester.

For example, in <Merhen's Magic Knight>, Kaya finds the third Pel Card and then easily locates the remaining two by sensing mana.

Because she had passed the test, she didn't play a significant role in the Brain Deity Suppression Battle. The same goes for other A-class students and top B-class students.

But this time, it's different.

Due to Luce's massacre and my involvement in the intense battle, the A-class students and top B-class students couldn't leave the test site until Brain Deity appeared.

This was a fact I could infer from the score board while climbing the hill.

Ultimately, they were likely to be included in the suppression team. Injured students would be healed by healing mages at the shelter and then join the suppression team. Of course, only those who wished to join would do so.

At least Kaya and Rizetta would definitely participate. Kaya out of a sense of justice to protect people, and Rizetta out of a competitive spirit to fight the Lightning Harpies and Brain Deity.

‘This is a favorable variable for me.’

The stability of the suppression team would undoubtedly increase. The support from the assistants would be even more robust than in the original scenario.

The plan of the Brain Deity Suppression Team is simple. Dispatch the Lightning Harpies while advancing to the Isaac Hall.

When Brain Deity appears, Dorothy focuses on protecting the people.

Ian focuses on striking Brain Deity with sword attacks wrapped in light attribute magic.

Finally, go to the Isaac Hall and dispatch Vela, the Servant. The operation ends there.

They argue about the absurdity of the plan, but then Matéo says, 'There's no other way…' and the students deliver their iconic lines, solidifying their resolve. This was another scene that made my heart race.

Of course, it's easy to know the broad outline of the plan, but the suppression team would have pre-determined formations and routes, moving systematically to minimize casualties and concretize the plan in a short time.

‘Don’t faint, Ian, while recklessly charging in. Dorothy is here, after all.’

I will quickly dispatch the crazy woman and end the situation.

…It's time to prepare.

I took out the ‘Magic Stealth Costume-Berserker’ from my magic bag and started to put it on. It was to prevent my identity from being revealed in case of an emergency.

* * *

Kyaahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh