“What? We’re trapped?”
Ariel couldn’t hide her confusion as she shifted her gaze to Bianca.
Bianca, who was fiddling with the barrier blocking the passage, ultimately shook her head.
“Yeah. It seems to be a barrier created by magic. Considering it blocks us from the outside, it looks like we’ve fallen into a trap.”
“If it’s a barrier… can’t we break through it? If it’s too hard, I can cut it with the Holy Sword.”
If it was created by magic, using the Holy Sword, which opposes it, would surely break it.
Even if one attempt wouldn’t suffice, trying multiple times should eventually work.
However, Bianca didn’t look favorably upon that plan.
“If we do that, the building itself will collapse before we can neutralize the barrier. The outer walls are already weakened due to an explosion. Swinging the Holy Sword would be akin to a suicide mission.”
The ones inside might survive by creating a protective shield with mana, but those outside would be completely swept up in the building’s collapse.
If they could at least communicate, they could send signals, but even that was impossible, and creating greater damage by attempting to escape wasn’t an option.
In their predicament, Ariel gnawed on her nails, prompting Celia to cautiously speak up.
“What should we do? It seems we’ve fallen into a trap, and searching seems pointless… Are we supposed to just wait here?”
They still couldn’t ascertain the enemy’s intentions.
Was it merely to imprison them, or were they aiming for their lives?
What was certain was that staying idle wouldn’t provide any answers.
“I don’t think doing nothing is the answer.”
“Are you suggesting a search? We don’t even know if it’s a trap.”
“I know that. So I’m not planning to just check every single place.”
Since they didn’t know how long they’d be stuck here, they should at least be aware of whether the surroundings were safe.
There was nothing more dangerous than setting up camp without ensuring safety first.
“Let’s carefully scout the nearby area and wait for external rescue.”
“Hmm. That doesn’t sound bad? What do you all think?”
Celia nodded in agreement with Ariel’s suggestion and looked to the others for their opinions.
Reina and Bianca also nodded.
“I think it’s fine. But how about splitting into teams? I believe there’s enough merit in trying to neutralize the barrier from within.”
“Ariel? What do you want to do?”
“Let’s follow what Sister Bianca said. Reina and I will check the surroundings while you protect Sister Bianca.”
While the best option would be to break through the barrier from the outside, they couldn’t rely solely on that.
To put it bluntly, there might not be anyone outside with the talent to dismantle the barrier.
‘Among those participating in this search, there’s no one with such talent.’
Given that the resolution seemed delayed, they couldn’t just sit back and do nothing.
A simple search didn’t require a large number of people, so Bianca, who had talent in mana control, was better suited for the task of dispelling the barrier.
To prepare for any unforeseen circumstances, Ariel paired Celia with Bianca and began scouting the area with Reina.
“…”
“…”
The two had become awkwardly distant. In the past, they would have smiled at each other if they could be together, but now things were different.
Reina, having realized Ariel’s true self, had long since buried her feelings for her.
Ariel had also found someone she could depend on, which meant that both Ariel and Reina had erased their fondness for each other.
Not only did they lack any feelings, but they had also grown distant, making conversation almost nonexistent.
If they opened their mouths, it would likely only be in the event of some crisis.
“Ariel? Why did you stop? We need to finish up and head back.”
“Just a moment… Can’t you hear that sound?”
“What sound… Huh? What is this?”
That was how it was now.
How long had they walked?
At some point, the sound of strong magical waves and crying started to echo from ahead.
At first, Ariel wondered if she was mistaken, but soon her suspicion turned into certainty.
Thud! Thud!
“The ground is… shaking.”
“Reina, we need to go back! It’s the enemy.”
The earth began to tremble violently. At the same time, the monsters began to appear.
“Graaa!”
“Boooh!”
The sight of a horde of monsters charging madly towards them!
With hundreds of crimson eyes glaring at her, Ariel gripped the hilt of the Holy Sword tightly.
***
At the moment Ariel was in danger, Ian dashed towards the 1st Platoon.
Even though he had the freedom to act, as a student, openly wandering around was bound to attract attention.
Kyan had been a great help.
“They told us to handle it ourselves. Our platoon commander is pretty good about things like this.”
Having absolute trust in the actions of someone he believed in, just as Kyan had given him another chance to act as the squad leader, Ian was able to move on his own.
But before he could fully relish in the joy of that trust, Ian quickly set his feet in motion.
‘I never expected things to escalate so quickly. If I had waited for communication from the 1st Platoon, it could have ended badly.’
He knew that Ariel was in danger, but he hadn’t anticipated that the situation would unfold so urgently.
Thanks to that, however…
‘Perhaps… this time the enemies are targeting Ariel.’
The enemies’ goal was not him, but rather something he had expected. Of course, that didn’t mean they hadn’t targeted Ariel before.
Back during the incident with Lilith, they had failed to target Ariel and instead focused on him.
‘After that, I became the target after being marked by the beings of the Abyss.’
The demons had often used Ariel as bait to lure him in before eliminating him.
But this time felt different.
‘However… the fact that they’re starting their threats so quickly suggests that they never intended to target me in the first place.’
It was clear that their intent was solely focused on Ariel’s life.
‘In fact, things flowed quite well. They almost succeeded.’
How they knew that Ariel was leading the 1st Platoon, Ian couldn’t say, but they had made their move before the rear squad could even recognize the threat.
If Ian had waited for the 1st Platoon’s communication without a care, the situation could have turned dire.
‘Of course, if I didn’t have the system, that is.’
With a slight smile, Ian glanced at the notification that had just appeared.
[Ariel Volkanov is in a crisis! Prevent her death!]
‘I didn’t expect to receive help in this form.’
Normally, such annoying notifications would only make him anxious, but this time it was different.
Given that the 1st Squad’s judgment was delayed and their communication was lagging, this notification was incredibly timely.
Thanks to that…
Thud, Thud, Thud, Thud.
‘It’s cramped, but… it’s faster this way.’
Using the narrow ventilation shaft to reach where Ariel was located was the best option.
Although it would have been more comfortable to use the open passage below, if he encountered the 1st Platoon, explaining the situation would only delay him, so the ventilation shaft was a better choice.
His back ached from crouching, but it was still faster.
How long had he run? Passing by members of the 1st Platoon, Ian finally reached the gap where Ariel had hidden.
‘Is this it…?’
The gap blocked by a magic-created barrier.
He couldn’t help but check with Rebrion, just in case, and it was confirmed.
Whoooom!
‘Rebrion’s ability only reacts in this spot among all the gaps. The fact that it reacts suggests there are enemies inside.’
In the text he received from the 1st Platoon, it was mentioned that Ariel’s team had lost communication while searching inside the building.
‘So this is the place. With the entrance still intact, there’s no reason for communication to have been cut off. The problem is getting through this barrier.’
Ian frowned as he examined the barrier.
He wondered how much preparation had gone into this.
‘This isn’t just a basic magical barrier; they seem to have incorporated formulas as well. Whoever it is, they’re dead set on killing Ariel.’
Watching this, Ian could somewhat understand why communication from the 1st Platoon had been delayed.
‘If they thought a barrier could be easily breached… if they encountered something like this, their plans would change. They must have struggled with how to proceed, which likely caused the delay.’
Though Ian was no expert in barrier techniques, one thing was clear.
‘This was either crafted by someone who knows how to manipulate magic while also being well-versed in barrier techniques… or a person with deep knowledge of barrier techniques is involved. Otherwise, breaching it wouldn’t be easy.’
It was evident that the personnel deployed for this operation couldn’t break through the barrier.
Even if they managed to force their way in, the building itself would likely be destroyed before they could achieve that.
‘Right… a conventional approach won’t work.’
Sticking to the standard method wouldn’t yield results. That meant it was time to use an unconventional tactic.
‘A bug… might as well use it.’
With a smirk, Ian brought Rebrion up to the barrier.
Normally, he would have been forcefully repelled with strong resistance.
Swoosh!
‘That’s it.’
The barrier, which was supposed to be meticulously calculated, was pierced by Rebrion as if it were soft tofu.
A smile spread across Ian’s face at the sight.
‘Rebrion is a magic sword. It was created by the Demon Lord Leviathan, who was jealous of Elysion’s power.’
How could a magical barrier stand against a sword forged by a Demon Lord?
But Rebrion’s advantages didn’t stop there.
“If I wave Rebrion against the barrier like this…”
Crackle! Crackle!
The barrier ripped along the sword’s path, tearing and then attempting to heal itself repeatedly.
It tore apart. That was precisely what Ian wanted.
‘As it swings wide like this and a gap forms, I can throw myself through it.’
If he miscalculated the timing, he might get cut by the barrier, but…
Wasn’t it a challenge worth attempting?
‘Whether I die from being cut apart or Ariel dies, death is the same in the end.’
He had uncovered almost all the hidden truths, but he couldn’t afford to die here.
‘I’m used to taking risks.’
Naturally, there was no fear. With his resolve firm, Ian swung Rebrion forcefully.
Crackle!
‘Now!’
At the moment a gap appeared, he hurled himself through it.
Thud!
“Ouch… I think I rolled wrong…”
After rolling across the floor, a groan escaped him, but fortunately, he was unharmed.
Wasn’t it enough that he had safely crossed the barrier?
It was fine to deal with the pain later. He reminded himself that now was the time to focus.
Ian endured the pain and carefully moved forward.
Thud. Thud. Thud.
‘Where am I… how far have I gone?’
Where had he ended up, and who had he encountered that had put his life in danger?
As he thought about this and glanced down, he spotted something.
“Is that Bianca lying there… and next to her is Celia?”
He saw Celia, bleeding and leaning against the wall, and Bianca, who was rolling on the ground behind her.
For a brief moment, he was shocked, but he quickly shifted his gaze forward.
There, he could see it.
“Boooh!”
“Ha… haah…”
‘I found you.’
In front of him stood his sister, resolutely facing the horde of monsters rushing at her.
While he was relieved that Ariel was alive, he couldn’t let his guard down.
‘I need to prepare.’
He had to eliminate the threats. With that thought in mind, Ian readied Rebrion again.
