“An 8-circle Barrier Mage!? The bodyguard of Count Vermont…?”
“Why would such a talent work for a security company…?”
“Is the Instructor really…?”
The surroundings quickly turned noisy, and all eyes were fixed on Sylvia.
Sylvia felt a lump in her throat from the sudden wave of attention.
Why is everyone so surprised?
I’ve never exactly hidden the fact that I’m an 8-circle mage.
Before she could fully grasp the situation, Sylvia had unwittingly become a mysterious and powerful barrier mage.
“Instructor! The 8th Circle is completely different from an 8th-grade Sword Expert!”
“I know!!!”
“But how can you possibly be an 8-circle Barrier Mage? The only magic we’ve seen you use is… ‘boom’ or ‘zap’ stuff like that.”
“First off, I have no idea where this ‘boom’ or ‘zap’ nonsense even came from. The reason I don’t use barrier magic regularly is simply because it’s not that useful in close combat. It’s not like I’ve never used it—I’ve used it a few times recently…”
“Regardless, you’re amazing, Instructor!”
“…”
At first, they seemed doubtful, but soon enough, the staff were enthusiastically cheering Sylvia on.
This left Sylvia feeling awkward and at a loss for words.
Why does everyone keep forgetting that I’m a skilled mage?
Why do they only think of me as some brutish rhino with raw strength…?
Sylvia could only feel aggrieved.
In the past, she had been a promising barrier mage, even chosen as a hero candidate.
Swordsmanship was something she picked up as a hobby.
Her sword skills improved rapidly, and she surpassed most knights at a young age, but that was it.
It still didn’t compare to her barrier magic, which had unofficially reached the level of an 8-circle mage.
Why unofficial? The reason was simple.
Having spent most of her life on the battlefield, she never had the chance to register as a mage.
She only knew she had 8-circle capabilities because other mages said so.
However, the chaotic nature of the battlefield often required her to destroy rather than protect.
As a result, Sylvia ended up relying more on offensive magic and swordsmanship.
Then, she had suffered a heart injury from that person, rendering her unable to use mana, and her barrier magic had been sealed for a long time.
‘The more I think about it, the angrier I get…’
Suddenly, she thought back to that day, and her annoyance surged.
If her opponent hadn’t been a Sword Master, she wouldn’t have lost.
Of all things, why did Vermont have to hire a Sword Master…?
Still, her anger subsided a little when she thought about how that crushing defeat and the mark engraved on her neck had led to her meeting Aslan.
“It will be a great help! May I rely on you?”
“Yes, of course.”
The Northern Archduke wiped away tears of gratitude as he extended his right hand.
Sylvia shook it firmly.
‘It seems the lives of stranded soldiers depend on me…’
But there was one problem.
She had declared herself an 8th-circle Barrier Mage.
Yet whether she could actually cast barrier magic right now remained uncertain.
With the family head absent, she couldn’t draw her sword and had to rely on bare hands and incantations to cast barriers.
Lately, however, focusing her magic without her sword had been a challenge.
What if she failed to cast the barrier?
It wasn’t as if she’d lied—she did qualify as an 8th-circle Barrier Mage.
She had prefaced it with ‘once upon a time,’ after all…
“Pfew…”
Sylvia took a deep breath in and out, focusing all her nerves on the sensation at her fingertips.
‘Lives are on the line. This isn’t something to take lightly…’
She could do it.
No, she had to do it.
Sylvia repeated this to herself, struggling to awaken the long-forgotten sensation of casting barriers barehanded.
She used to do it just fine without a sword.
She could do it now.
Her skills had improved, not regressed. There was no reason to doubt herself.
Muttering these affirmations, she finally reached the moment.
“The barrier is…!”
“Amazing output, Your Grace!”
“Instructor! You were able to use magic without even chanting those draining incantations?!”
“…Be quiet.”
A barrier began extending from Sylvia’s fingertips.
It worked. While not at her prime, it was more than enough to withstand a mana storm.
The mages of Ester gasped at the sight of the thick, imposing barrier, the likes of which they had never seen before.
“Let’s move out.”
“Indeed.”
The barrier mages of Ester quickly formed ranks, readying themselves.
Clad in protective gear, Sylvia stood at the center of the formation.
The mission plan was straightforward.
The mages would remain grouped, taking turns deploying barriers to protect the team as they advanced toward the cave.
When one barrier reached its limit, the next mage would replace it.
This cycle would repeat for the entire journey to and from the cave.
And among the barrier mages, physically strong men, including the Northern Archduke, accompanied the group to help transport the injured.
However, if too many assistants joined, the area requiring protection would become too large, weakening the barrier’s strength. Three assistants were the practical limit.
Of course, Sylvia was a versatile member capable of handling both roles.
“Let’s move out! Team One! Deploy the barrier!”
“Yes, sir!”
Under the command of the Northern Archduke, the barrier enveloped the formation.
The rescue team, consisting of about ten people, began advancing rapidly.
“I… I can’t hold out much longer because of the mana storm…!”
“Team Two, prepare to take over immediately!”
The moment they stepped beyond the city walls and into the magical abyss, a ferocious mana storm battered them.
The seemingly robust barrier quickly cracked and corroded, teetering on the brink of collapse.
At this rate, the first barrier mage would be completely drained before they even reached their destination.
The second, third, and subsequent mages wouldn’t last long either.
Sylvia instinctively realized that the success of this mission depended heavily on her.
“We’ve arrived!”
“A rescue team…?”
The moment they reached the cave and stepped inside, Sylvia caught the pungent stench of blood, wrinkling her nose.
Whether it was the blood of monsters or humans, one thing was clear—an intense battle had taken place here.
“Your Grace!”
“Commander! Report on the situation!”
“After continuous battles with the monsters, all 30 men have sustained injuries. There are no fatalities yet, but many are in critical condition.”
Illuminating the area with torches revealed blood splatters everywhere.
Everyone had sustained injuries, some of them so severe that they were teetering on the edge of death due to unchecked bleeding.
Without immediate and concentrated medical attention, their survival could not be guaranteed.
“We’ll evacuate the critically wounded first. Hold on! We’ll come back and rescue everyone!”
The rescue operation resumed, starting with the most critical cases.
The formation alternated barriers as they moved back to safety.
But trouble arose mid-operation.
“I… I can’t hold on any longer…!”
“Just a little more! We’re almost there!”
The barrier mages were depleting their mana far faster than expected.
The mana storm was more intense than anticipated, shredding the barriers with alarming speed.
By the time the team reached Ester, the barrier mages were all on the verge of mana exhaustion.
“Huff… Huff…”
“Let’s rest until everyone recovers their mana. How long will that take?”
“Roughly half a day…”
“…”
Setting down the injured he had been carrying, the Northern Archduke wore a look of despair.
Half a day.
Inside the cave, the remaining soldiers were likely locked in a life-or-death struggle against the monsters.
Even an hour’s delay could lead to numerous casualties.
While the barrier mages collapsed onto shaky legs, Sylvia was the only one still standing firm.
Scanning her surroundings, she closed her eyes as though accepting her fate.
“I’ll go.”
“What?! That’s absurd! You can’t possibly go back and forth alone!”
“I’ve done the calculations. If I use a small barrier that covers only myself, it’s manageable.”
“…!?”
Alone?
The Northern Archduke’s eyes widened in shock at her unexpected proposal.
To pierce through the deadly mana storm alone and carry each immobilized soldier back—
it seemed utterly impossible.
Yet, her calm confidence made it difficult to dismiss her outright.
“Have you lost your mind? Why go to such lengths?”
“The reason is simple. The family head would have done the same. As a representative of Vermont, I cannot tarnish his honor.”
“…”
That was the only reason.
If it were Aslan, he wouldn’t hesitate to save them.
Though he might seem calculating and self-serving on the surface, when lives were at stake, he always charged in without a second thought.
Of course, Sylvia couldn’t emulate his habit of later justifying his actions as if they were purely logical.
But throwing herself into danger without hesitation—this, at least, she could replicate.
With the family head absent, it was her duty to act in his stead.
With that resolve, Sylvia stepped forward without hesitation.
“May fortune be with you, warrior of Vermont.”
“…”
Receiving the Northern Archduke’s solemn blessing,
Sylvia deployed her barrier and dashed into the storm.
Unlike the group’s coordinated pace, her speed was significantly faster.
“Two at a time! Prioritize the critically wounded!”
Reaching the cave, Sylvia carried two injured soldiers on her shoulders and returned to safety.
Then she dashed back to the cave, repeating the process over and over.
How many trips had she made?
As her mana reserves neared depletion, Sylvia carried the final two soldiers out of the cave.
‘Please…!’
This was the last trip.
It would all be over soon.
Just a few more steps.
Her mind filled with such thoughts as her legs began to falter.
Her vision blurred.
The barrier buzzed, its mana supply nearly exhausted.
“Ah…”
Just as Sylvia collapsed, barely meters from Ester’s gates, she felt the onset of mana exhaustion.
“Raaaagh!!!”
As the barrier shattered, she instinctively turned her back to the mana storm, shielding the injured.
The storm’s cutting winds lashed at her body, bringing searing pain.
Ah. This is how I die.
Pathetic, failing to manage the barrier’s output…
Just as Sylvia resigned herself to death.
“Once again, throwing yourself into danger so recklessly. Foolish bear.”
“Ah…?”
Suddenly, the excruciating pain disappeared.
The deafening roar of the storm was gone, replaced by an eerie calm.
Sylvia slowly lifted her head.
There stood Aslan, looking annoyed.
Sylvia glanced around, wondering if this was a dream.
How could the lord be here in the mana storm…?
“…!”
The storm couldn’t penetrate the space around Aslan, as if a barrier had been erected.
Ah! Of course, black magic can repel mana storms!
Finally understanding, Sylvia was about to rush toward him in relief.
“You came—huh?!”
“Ugh…”
She froze in shock.
Why was she suddenly so much shorter than him?
And why did her voice sound so childlike?