How to Survive at the Academy - Ch. 240

TL: TangSanFan

ED/PR: Tanthus

***Bellbrook Subjugation Battle (8)***

The magical circle that had spread out from the Ophelius Hall Rose Garden had grown enormous, now enveloping the entirety of the Ophelius Hall. While most of the demonic creatures couldn’t penetrate the defensive magic circle and failed to enter Ophelius Hall, a few with strong anti-magic powers were able to break through Ophelius Hall’s defenses.

The creatures capable of breaching the defensive magic of Ophelius Hall were quite rare. However, given the immense scale of the invading demon horde, the number of such special creatures was not negligible.

– Clang! Clang!

– Whoosh!

The sounds of clashing swords and exploding magic filled the entrance of Ophelius Hall.

The maids of Ophelius Hall were famously versatile. Naturally, some were skilled in combat, and those at senior levels could even wield intermediate magic.

Backed by their combined strength and the hall’s specialized defense circle, they continued to hold the frontline with relative ease.

– Boom! Booom!

Furthermore, the students housed in Ophelius Hall were mostly top performers. It wasn’t just the maids who had excellent combat capabilities; even the dormitory residents were formidable. And due to its awkward location set somewhat apart from the main living quarters, the creatures mainly focused on those central areas, sparing little thought to invade Ophelius Hall.

All these factors intertwined, ensuring that Ophelius Hall maintained a solid defensive stance even when royal residences had fallen into peril.

“Demonic creatures are flooding through a breach in the southern defense circle!” a voice reported.

“We have no senior maids to spare right now! Deploy all available personnel to the breach and hold it off!”

In the central command of Ophelius Hall, head maid Belle Mayar was issuing orders in the impromptu command center set up in the work space of the maids.

Not just the maids, but also the residing students were united in their effort to repel the demonic creatures.

Yet, that was the extent of their capacity. There was no room to lend assistance elsewhere; reaching another survivor encampment through the demonic horde was a near impossibility, let alone escorting any found survivors back to Ophelius Hall in one piece. All they could do was to hold out and hope for a situation change.

“Has there been any contact with Lortelle Hall or Dex Hall?”

“We have heard from Lortelle Hall. They’ve suffered heavy damages but are somehow managing to protect the students. But… Dex Hall… we’ve lost contact…”

Belle Myria tightly shut her eyes upon receiving the report, signaling no room for panic. The situation at Dex Hall, given its large scale and numerous residents, must be dire by now. It wouldn’t be surprising if it had been completely overwhelmed.

“We can do nothing but ensure the students we are protecting are safe while enduring for as long as we can…”

Just then, Bellbrook roared once again.

With each sharp roar slicing through the skies above Acken Island, the magical aura intertwined with the sound grew increasingly powerful—an unwelcome indicator that Bellbrook’s seal was weakening.

If Lucy Mayrill could no longer stall the monster, no one could, for she was already pushing her limits.

“Ahhhhhh!”

“Ughhh!”

The maids cried out as they fell to the floor, felled by the magical backlash.

Belle Myria frowned and looked outside. Bellbrook, once again, opened its massive maw wide, gathering magical power.

Bellbrook was locked on its target – Lucy Mayrill, who was obstructing its freedom, along with the chains of the seal attempting to drag it back into the sea’s depths. But even just its side effects were beginning to destabilize Ophelius Hall’s defense circle, for Bellbrook’s magic inherently possessed the power to neutralize protective and counter-magic circles.

Though they could hold up several times, if Bellbrook fully revived and unleashed its power, ophelis Hall could no longer maintain a defensive posture.

Praying was their only strategy left.

– Boom!

Taking advantage of the moment, a huge bat-like creature forced its way through the cracked defense circle and clung to the outer wall of Ophelius Hall.

“AAAAAAAH!”

“Don’t panic! Draw out all your magic!”

Students screamed in terror, and amidst the chaos, some maintained their composure.

Belle Myria pushed herself up off the table, looking out the window. The bat creature’s eye filled the glass, peeking menacingly inside.

Without a second’s hesitation, Belle pulled out her rapier and thrust it into the bat’s eye.

– Crash!

– Screech!

The window glass shattered, and the pained creature flailed and fell backward off the wall, crashing down into the Rose Garden.

Belle Mayar caught her breath, facing the cold realization that even their protective magic was reaching its limit. Although the situation was dire, inaction was not an option.

“Evacuate the students to the underground facilities! The threat from the creatures will only intensify! To minimize casualties, we must hide the students immediately!”

She gave her orders while grabbing another rapier from the wall and striding towards the command center’s door.

“Remember, our duty is to protect the students’ safety at all costs. We must do everything we can to save as many students as possible.”

“Yes, understood…”

“We’ll communicate this to the maids positioned along the perimeter as well.”

Belle Mayar nodded and dashed down the corridor.

Taking the lead as chief maid was not the most sensible choice, for the loss of a commander could collapse their chain of command. But as the situation grew increasingly desperate, even one additional combatant was critical. And thus, Belle Mayar herself could not merely stand by.

She gripped the rapier tighter as she entered the hallway, where now two more monstrous bats hung from the window panes.

– Bang! Bang!

– Crash!

The corridor windows shattered as the creatures’ arms reached through, destroying various artifacts and decor, aiming to kill any human within reach with their frightening screeches.

Belle Mayar was gathering her magic for a spell when suddenly,

– Swish!

One of the bats lunged for her—its head was abruptly severed.

Confused by the rapid shift in situation, Belle Mayar soon caught sight of a boy rolling in through the window, quickly deducing what had happened.

The boy, having swiftly climbed the wall with magical agility, cleanly sliced off the monstrous bat’s head with a series of fluid movements, indicative of his seasoned combat experience.

After rolling on the glass-covered floor and standing up, shaking off the blood from his sword, the boy revealed himself to be Zix Effelstein.

“I’m relieved to see you’re safe, Belle.”

“Master Zix. When did you…?”

“I’ve just arrived. Taely and Aila are with me as well. The situation at Ophelius Hall doesn’t look very promising.”

The defense circle, previously thought to be stable, was growing more unstable by the moment.

“Given the circumstances, there’s no time to explain the whole situation, right?”

“Yes, that’s correct. It’s wise of you to have reached Ophelius Hall. Now, we should head to the underground facilities right away…!”

“I’m not here to seek refuge but to fetch someone. Elvira must be here, in her room gathering her alchemical tools and reagents, I’d bet.”

It was all too clear how his peers would behave after spending so much time together.

Zix climbed over the remaining bat’s arm, twisting his body and severing it with a clean strike of his sword.

The bat’s left arm fell off, and it screeched as it plummeted to the yard behind the hall.

“To defeat Bellbrook, Elvira’s knowledge of alchemy is essential. With the professors of the Alchemy Department inaccessible, she is the only high-ranking alchemist willing to accompany us.”

“You plan to… defeat Bellbrook?”

Belle asked in disbelief.

“If anyone can do it, Taely can. We are not sitting by idly.”

Zix dusted the blood off his blade before turning back to the shattered window, resolving,

“As much as I would like to join the defense at Ophelius Hall… we have more pressing matters to attend to.”

“No jest in your words, then.”

“Many have already sacrificed themselves. Senior Ed has intentionally stayed in the most dangerous location to save Taely. I left the survivor group in the student plaza, even with Elka still there, all for this reason.”

Zix was adamant that they had a single responsibility: to deal with the greatest threat.

“We must take down Bellbrook.”

It wasn’t just Ophelius Hall in peril.

The same went for the survivors at the student plaza, led by the Student Council President Tanya. Despite making their way to the residential blocks, they were enduring significant losses, especially since Zix, one of their most important combat assets, had departed.

Despite the casualties, Tanya advanced toward the residential block, determined to save as many as possible.

The Sanctuary at the Academic Cathedral, with Saint Clarice at the helm, was on the verge of being overrun by the demonic throngs, and the survival group at the Student Training Ground, centered around combat students, was facing heavy losses as well.

Elte Commerce, having lost a third of its direct merchants to the collapse of the Mekses Bridge, was desperately defending its premises from the demonic creatures. And rumors had it that the royal residence had been nearly breached.

“Yet, we must fight back,” Zix asserted.

“We have no intention of accepting death passively. So, regrettably, we must take Elvira with us.”

Elvira had dashed off to Ophelius Hall, intent on securing her alchemical research, prioritizing it even in this crisis—a testament to her life’s focus on alchemy. Perhaps she didn’t anticipate the severity of the situation.

After parting with Elvira at the student plaza, Zix had barely managed to join the nearest garrison, which was the end of it.

At the Student Training Grounds, a group of combat division students had formed a garrison around Tyke.

There, Zix sat on his knees, pondering over the increasingly dire situation.

The man trembling on his knees with his head bowed down is Clevius Nortondale.

Despite being a scion of the distinguished martial family, the Nortendales, and even holding the title of top of his second year… Clevius was shivering in terror.

The number of those dying was far too many, and the sky was overwhelmed by the sheer numbers of the demonic beasts, to an extent that seemed beyond any hope of handling.

If he stayed still, it was certain death. Yet, listening to the roar of the celestial dragon covering the sky filled one with a squeezing terror in the heart.

With the arrival of this colossal disaster that his own hands could do nothing against, he was reminded once again of how frail his existence truly was.

“Why did that guy… why did he have to join this garrison…?”

“He can wield a sword… but the moment a fight breaks out, he’s the first to run away!”

“While everyone else is fighting with their lives on the line, the pathetic coward… why won’t Senior Tyke expel him?”

“Leave it, senior Tyke must have his reasons. For now… focus on defending the outskirts of the garrison!”

“Do you think… shit… that I want to be… like this… ugh… sob…”

At first glance, it was a pitiable sight. A man, supposedly strong, was gripping his trembling hands, trying desperately not to cry.

But what could he do about his fear? Human emotions aren’t something one can simply control at will.

Just because everyone else fought bravely, it didn’t mean that he had to be brave, too. Like a flame that blazed for a fleeting moment, the memory of him striking his sword against Lucy seemed from a far-gone past.

A pathetic man remains pathetic until the end. No burst of courage could fundamentally change a rotten core.

Now, he didn’t mind the students around him mocking behind his back. He had lived his whole life being scorned; being affected by every remark would make normal life impossible.

Only fear layered on top of fear.

“Really… shit… why do I have to go through this… why…!”

Each student passing by clucked their tongues in disdain at the sight of him clutching his knees and rattling his teeth in fear, tucked away in the corner of a supposedly safe garrison.

Even juniors blatantly called Clevius a coward, not just the seniors.

They proposed to Tyke, the leader of the garrison, to expel Clevius, who stubbornly stayed back while everyone else with a sword rushed to the front lines. They said his presence was only detrimental to the morale of the garrison.

However, Tyke kept Clevius within the garrison, trying to save as many people as possible, refusing to expel him just for being a coward.

Clevius knew he was a coward, a selfish egoist, a scaredy-cat, and just human trash.

Tyke, who had somewhat taken care of such a person, was a true leader, a good person, deserving everyone’s respect.

Feeling the chasm of difference, Clevius had no intention of trying to be like Tyke.

He knew better than anyone that he was a rat living in the sewers. A rat drenched in the stink of the sewers cannot attain purity, no matter how hard it tries.

The students’ cool gazes didn’t bother him. He was used to such disdain.

All he was doing was floundering to stay alive.

And that was how Clevius survived.

He wasn’t as desperate as Ed Rothtaylor nor as noble as Tyke Elfellan, and he was surely not utterly vile. He just lived an indecisive coward’s life.

Clevius looked down at his hands. Those empty hands were merely trembling in fear.

“Ophelius Hall is about to be breached! Your garrison might not be safe much longer either!”

Then, a student rushed in and reported loudly to Tyke. The urgency in his voice resonated through the garrison.

“What? I thought Ophelius Hall was safe with its protective barrier spells.”

“It seems the magics of Bellbrook have affected it…”

“So, those students will have to seek refuge. If any are heading this way, we need to prepare to take them in.”

“No, senior Tyke. Most of them will likely retreat into the underground facilities. Still… once Ophelius Hall is breached, there’s no guarantee of safety.”

Honestly, which garrison would hold or fall was completely up to chance.

Those fortunate to attract fewer of the high-level demonic creatures would endure longer, while those unluckily swarmed by them would fall quickly. That’s all it boiled down to.

The royal residence had been unlucky, while this training ground had fared better. Such slight differences in fate were all that split the living from the dead.

Tyke frowned and sighed deeply, but there was no way to assist Ophelius Hall at this time. His own garrison was barely keeping its nose above water.

“We can only hope they stay safe. For now, we must gather any survivors from within the combat buildings!”

Tyke made his decision swiftly and spoke. It was not a wrong judgment.

In the worst case, the students of Ophelius Hall could be completely exposed to the threat of the demonic creatures, but all Tyke could do was hope and hope more.

“We rest for thirty minutes more, then we move out to search for survivors in the northern training district! Whoever’s coming, get your gear ready!”

Tyke shouted, then grabbed his knuckles. He had to move quickly if he was to gather more survivors to the garrison.

It was a harsh forced march, but there were no complaints from anyone about the tight schedule.

At that moment, Tyke’s eyes caught sight of Clevius.

Clevius, as if in a trance, rose from his spot, hefted a sword in its sheath, and began to move toward the exit of the garrison.

Startled, Tyke leaped out and grabbed Clevius by the shoulder.

“Clevius! Where are you going? The outside is hell!”

Tyke understood the pressure Clevius was under from the other garrison students.

That’s why Tyke was somewhat conscious of Clevius. But he never thought that Clevius, plagued by fright, would suddenly head outside the garrison.

No matter how you looked at it, Clevius was a severe coward. Tyke did not expect him to turn toward the outside in a disaster like this.

Clevius, with terrifying calm in his eyes, gripped Tyke’s wrist tightly and let go of his shoulder.

With such a sudden change in demeanor, Tyke scrutinized Clevius’s eyes. But instead of trembling in fear, Clevius’s gaze was infinitely calm.

“Where on earth are you going? In times like this?”

Elvira had gone to Ophelius Hall—that trivial fact weighed heavily on Clevius’s mind, perhaps because, in the end, he’s just a coward.

Living a life dominated by worry, it’s swift how needless concerns multiply.

He might think this too is undue worry, but another fear grips at Clevius’s heart with as much urgency as the terror of death.

It’s the possibility… that Elvira might die.

That hot-tempered alchemy fanatic who always annoys Clevius, pesters him, raises her voice needlessly, and gets angry over trivial things.

“…”

Clevius, gripping Tyke’s wrist, looked up at him for a moment. Being such a good person to even care for someone as pathetic as himself, Clevius didn’t want to worry or expect something unneeded.

“Just taking a walk.”

That’s what he said while heading into the heart of the academy, a place otherwise akin to hell.

However, Tyke, chilled to the bone, couldn’t bring himself to stop Clevius and merely watched as he left the garrison.

Exiting the combat training ground’s garrison, Clevius felt a knife dig deep into his shoulder.

A terrible agony surged, prompting an involuntary groan, but after a while, the pain subsided.

He bent forward, gasping for breath, and with eyes reddened with blood, Clevius surveyed the horde of demonic creatures encircling the garrison.

His sword, tinted with blood magic, was drawn out like a streak of light. The blood-wrapped blade set out on its walk.

When he came to, the path was drenched red with the blood spilled by the demon tribe.

* * *

Taely McLoir was sitting in Ophelius Hall’s Rose Garden, laboriously tending to his wounds.

Aila Triss, who had arrived at Ophelius Hall with Taely, was running around searching for Elvira.

Zix Effelstein was cutting down a giant bat threatening Belle Mayar and explaining the situation.

Lortelle Keheln was in front of the commercial building, directly firing ice magic to protect it.

Pheonia Elias Clorel was leading Emperor Clorel down the royal residence corridor to escape from the demonic creatures.

Elvira Eniston was… gathering all the reagent materials in her room,

And Clevius Nortondale was single-handedly sweeping up the demonic creatures within the academy as he headed towards Ophelius Hall.

Collecting all members of the Bellbrook subjugation team seemed to require more time, but… the fact that they were all alive was encouraging.

However, the Sylvania subjugation team, centered around Ed Rossteiler, was… making almost no progress.

They had been spun off from the main story of Sylvania’s Failed Swordsaint, pulled into completely different currents. There were those who could still aid Ed without affecting the main subjugation force’s strength…

Ed Rothtaylor, Yenika Faelover, Sella Aenir Clorel had gathered,

But Lucy Mayrill was exhausted, barely hanging on as she confronted Bellbrook alone.

Saint Claire was not even thinking of leaving the cathedral garrison,

And Tanya Rothtaylor was at her limits, just managing the survivors of her garrison.

Even as the situation unfolded in that way, the end of the world quietly approached.

The Grand Sage Sylvania watched the world collapse with a sour smile.

Among the many variables trying to stop Bellbrook, the one that needed to be removed first was etched in her eyes.

It was… the presence of Lucy Mayrill, nearly on par with the sealed Bellbrook in combat.

– Bang!!

Amidst the debris of the partially collapsed academy spire, Lucy Mayrill was smashed.

Rising from the dust, Lucy shook off her head and looked up at the disintegrating sky.

With Bellbrook, and the figure floating with a staff before her.

Grand Sage Sylvania… was looking down at Lucy with a dreadful smile. Behind her, Bellbrook struggled visibly.

“No matter what… it’s too much to handle both at once…”

Lucy threw off her school coat and stood up again, despite the injury. It was the first time she faced such damage. Her school blouse was spreading red with blood.

Yet, Lucy Mayrill did not retreat. As always, with a vacant expression, she looked up to the sky.

She wasn’t sure how long she could hold on.