Chapter 22

At night, the students of the academy were resting in a cluster of tents set up by the shore.

Separately, five students were tending a bonfire and loitering around it.

It was for vigilance.

They were taking turns to keep watch in case of a night attack.

Of course, this place was one of the safer spots in the kingdom, so a night attack was unlikely. So, this was purely for training, a task the academy had assigned to the students as part of their fieldwork.

Thus—

The students' morale was low.

Some yawned, some dozed off, and some engaged in idle chatter.

The air was filled with a lack of tension.

Even when she saw the students like this, Fuurin didn't feel particularly uncomfortable.

(This situation can't be helped, I guess.)

She felt sympathetic.

One day, they would have to "get serious." A single moment of carelessness could cost them their lives.

But, that day wasn't now.

They could grow slowly toward that day.

She hoped that day would be far off.

But—it wasn't that far away.

Fuurin, who had been gazing at the moonlit lake, noticed something strange.

"…?"

The calm lake surface was rippling, and the ripples were gradually getting larger.

(What is that…?)

Fuurin squinted her eyes.

Then—

She saw a thick shadow emerging from the lake, breaking the surface.

Fuurin extended her right hand and shouted.

"Lighting!"

At the same time, countless light sources appeared over the lake.

"…!?"

What was illuminated by the light was a beautiful woman, half-human and half-horse. Behind her, countless clay figures were following.

The vanguard had already climbed onto the lake and was walking as if it were solid ground.

"Teacher… that…"

The students behind her, having noticed the abnormal situation, were in a panic.

"I don't know! But assume it's an enemy and get ready!"

Fuurin shouted.

She then instructed the students to contact the main water quality survey team and to wake up the sleeping students.

Once that was done, Fuurin turned back to the approaching half-human, half-horse woman.

"Stop! I will attack if you don't stop!"

"This is different. You called me."

The woman didn't stop.

"You called me—?"

A student behind her answered Fuurin's question.

"…Isn't that the water spirit we summoned during the day…?"

Fuurin turned around reflexively at the unexpected words.

"Huh, what do you mean?"

"Well, um…"

The student, realizing there was no turning back, explained with a guilty expression.

"While you were away, Misnia summoned a water spirit. It didn't go well, though…"

Fuurin looked at the approaching woman.

Indeed, her body was made of water.

Fuurin inwardly cursed. The spirit power of this lake was greatly disturbed. It was unpredictable what would happen if an inexperienced magician summoned a spirit. She should have made it clear that no student was to attempt spirit summoning.

It was the worst-case scenario, but at least she knew the identity of the enemy.

The spirit, already disturbed, had been further affected by the failed summoning.

"Water spirit, this is not your place! Release Spirit!"

She activated the magic of spirit release, the reverse of spirit summoning.

"Kyaa!?"

The water spirit's body trembled but—

That was all.

"Doesn't work! Are you trying to stop me!?"

As the woman waved her hand, water spears appeared and flew toward Fuurin's feet. Fuurin narrowly avoided them.

The army of water spirits was already closing in.

Behind her, the commotion was spreading. Students were waking up from their tents and shouting, "What is that?"

Fuurin shouted.

"Enemy! Fire Magic Arrows!"

As she said this, Fuurin shouted the trigger words.

"Magic Arrow!"

The arrow flew straight at the water spirit, piercing the horse's head of her lower half.

However—

That was all.

The hole quickly closed as if water was flowing in from the surrounding area.

(Regeneration ability…!)

But it wasn't in vain. Some of the faster-acting students were firing Magic Arrows, following her lead.

Most missed, but a few hit the clay figures. The clay figures continued to walk with the holes still open. They apparently didn't heal.

Fuurin gave the students instructions.

"Target the clay figures! Fire Magic Arrows while retreating! Absolutely don't let them get close!"

After saying this, Fuurin turned her gaze back to the frenzied spirit in front of her.

She had told them to retreat—

But Fuurin herself had no intention of retreating. This water spirit was too dangerous to leave to the students.

The clay figures slipped past her and advanced toward the students.

"Get out of the way, or you'll die, human?"

"Don't underestimate me. I may look like this, but I'm a fairly skilled magician."

At that moment—

"Boooom!?"

Countless red flashes exploded on the left side of the water spirit's body. Unable to withstand the power, the water spirit staggered to the right.

"I'm here to help, teacher."

"Brain!?"

The one who appeared—

Brain Milhis.

The top student of the year, hailed as the next genius.

"No, you're a student too! Retreat with the others!"

"Don't push yourself. That water spirit is not normal and not of normal strength. It's dangerous to face it alone."

Fuurin couldn't immediately counter Brain's precise analysis.

His assessment was correct, far beyond what one would expect from a new student.

This boy would definitely be a valuable asset.

But—

"…I'd be happy to have your help. But you're the son of a marquis and the pride of the academy—no, the kingdom. If you get hurt here, I'll lose my job."

Fuurin laughed, trying to make a joke.

But Brain, without changing his expression, said:

"Don't worry. I won't die. I can't die here… I shouldn't be the kind of person who can die so easily!"

As his voice rose, Fuurin felt the magic power within his body surge.

(The tragic Milhis family… A child who still tries to fight despite carrying that past won't be scared by a mere trial like this…)

Fuurin sighed.

"Alright. But if I tell you to run, you run. Got it?"

"Yes, I understand."

Brain continued, stating a fact.

"But that won't happen."