Demon-Hunting Genius Mage

[Translator - Prøks]

[Proofreader - Prøks]

Chapter 112

I looked at each of the reinforcements and then asked Barundel,

"How did this happen?"

Elbert had mentioned that reinforcements would arrive soon, but he hadn't said they would come this early.

According to the plan, we had to buy at least a couple more hours here.

If their arrival time had been moved up this much, Barundel must have done something.

As expected.

"Huff… Huff… I'm dying. Ah, you're right."

Barundel caught his breath with difficulty and nodded in agreement.

When I asked for a more detailed explanation, he began,

"Right after the third rift opened, I sensed an ominous demonic energy from it. It was an intense demonic energy that sent chills down my spine, but for some reason, it felt familiar."

"Familiar?"

"I don't know why, but I had a feeling that 'that guy' we saw on the top floor of Aldeon would appear again."

"…So you went to find these people yourself?"

"That's right. When I told them the situation, they all rushed over immediately."

Barundel turned his gaze towards Dercion.

"Looking at the situation, it seems I was mistaken. Whew."

Barundel breathed a sigh of relief, as if he was finally at ease.

Hearing his explanation, I understood what he meant.

‘He felt Baal's demonic energy from the rift.’

Currently, Dercion was presumed to be demonized through Baal's new power.

Then, a part of Baal's demonic energy must also reside in Dercion.

It seemed that Barundel felt it and moved quickly.

Of course, originally, Barundel's [Demonic Energy Detection] couldn't detect Baal's demonic energy until it grew once more…

‘But he recognized it because he had felt it once before.’

It seemed the situation was different because it was demonic energy he had already experienced.

Indeed, how could someone with the [Demonic Energy Detection] trait forget that eerie demonic energy?

‘…This is a total win.’

This was something to cheer about for us.

The fact that Barundel sensed Baal's demonic energy meant that there was virtually no need to grow [Demonic Energy Detection] anymore.

It also meant that our party was a little safer from Baal's threat.

‘There's no need to add more scouts. To think that the day at Aldeon would help us like this…’

In addition to the growth of my [Essence of Light], there was also the quasi-growth of Barundel's [Demonic Energy Detection].

I realized that we had gained a lot unexpectedly.

Although we almost died that day, this was a satisfactory result.

And above all…

‘We escaped danger.’

Thanks to Barundel sensing Baal's demonic energy, we escaped the immediate danger.

With so many strong people gathered here, Dercion would have no way out now.

As I thought that…

"…This has become troublesome."

Dercion's attitude, which had been trying to kill me just a moment ago, softened as if nothing had happened.

He must have felt it too.

That the fifteen people standing behind me were not easy opponents.

That the tables had turned.

In the end, Dercion, cornered, chose a despicable method.

"…You're lucky, Yuhan."

With those cringe-worthy words, Dercion turned his back towards the rift.

It was clear that he was trying to escape.

"Are you running away now? Without any shame?"

When I pointed out his cowardly act…

"…Don't get cocky. You've only earned a few days' reprieve. After that, your fate will be sealed."

Dercion scowled and warned me.

He seemed quite offended by my words.

"Oh, really?"

Regardless, Dercion was mistaken about one thing.

Just why did he think he could escape as he pleased?

As I thought that…

"Hahaha."

Someone let out a hearty laugh and strode forward.

A middle-aged man with a sturdy build, unlike most mages.

It was Asion Gale, the head of the Asternon Academy.

He was also the reason why I believed Dercion wouldn't be able to escape.

"To think I'd actually see the old man who's supposedly gone senile. Nice to meet you. I'm Asion Gale."

Woosh!

Asion Gale channeled his mana and smiled.

In contrast, Dercion flinched and his face darkened upon hearing Asion Gale's introduction.

"…Asion Gale?"

It seemed Dercion also knew of Asion Gale's existence.

Well, who among the high-ranking mages of this era wouldn't know him?

"I heard you taught light magic to my academy's student… I'm grateful. Unfortunately, I can't repay that favor."

Fwoosh!

With those words, the mana Asion Gale had been channeling spread out in all directions.

And at the same time…

"…Huh?"

Creak!

Asion Gale's mana forcefully pushed everyone, including me, back.

I reflexively tried to resist, but the power of his magic was so strong that I couldn't withstand it at all.

It was the same for the others.

The elder mages of the academy, Professor Ziren, the Knight Commander, Barundel, Shuharn… everyone on our side was pushed back by Asion Gale's mana without exception.

"…It's been a while since I've felt this."

"My, you haven't changed."

"…What a troublesome power."

Those were the kinds of reactions I heard.

Those who took it in stride as if they were used to it, and those who glared at Asion Gale with wounded pride.

In the case of the latter, they were all people who had made a name for themselves, so it was understandable.

‘What?’

Unable to grasp the situation, I looked around and found Dercion and Asion Gale facing each other at the front.

Their surroundings were enveloped by a semi-transparent barrier formed by the mana that had spread out in a circle.

Everyone else had been pushed back, leaving only Dercion and Asion Gale within that semi-transparent barrier.

Only then did I fully understand the situation.

‘Field magic?’

This was probably Asion Gale's unique field magic.

Of course, apart from grasping the situation, I was amazed.

‘Did he develop this himself too?’

I was already familiar with field magic that incorporated elemental attributes, like [Ice Field] or Kayla's [Blaze Field].

However, what Asion Gale was using now was a completely new form of magic.

As I was observing the magic with a curious expression, Professor Ziren, who had approached me, explained.

"[Asion Field]. It's a magic that the dean developed right after reaching the 8th Circle. You could call it a type of transformation magic."

…[Asion Field]. His naming sense was something else.

"What's its effect?"

"It's simple. Once you're caught in there, you can't get out until one of you dies."n/ô/vel/b//jn dot c//om

"It's like an arena."

"Yes, it's also the magic that earned the dean his nickname 'Lion of Glory.'"

"Lion of Glory?"

Come to think of it, 'Lion of Glory' was mentioned as another name for the dean.

But I had never really thought about it.

"Why Lion of Glory?"

When I asked Professor Ziren for the reason, she replied calmly.

"He has never been defeated against countless strong opponents. The nickname 'Glory' was given to him to honor his achievements. I heard it was bestowed directly by the royal family."

"Hmm."

I could roughly understand the feeling.

It seemed he had made achievements through that magic more than a few times.

But there was still something I didn't understand.

"What about 'Lion'? What's that for?"

The epithet attached to the end.

Asion Gale was as big as a lion, but that alone wouldn't have earned him such an epithet.

"That's…"

Just as Ziren was about to explain…

Crackle!

With a distorting sound, a white light emanated from within the barrier.

The source was Asion Gale's body.

It didn't take long for the light to fade, and from then on, Professor Ziren's explanation was unnecessary.

Because, anyone could see that it was the form of a lion.

"Huh…"

A physique several times larger than his original form, and a white mane covering his neck.

Clearly defined muscles and large fangs visible through his slightly parted jaws.

Even seeing it with my own eyes, it was hard to believe.

‘…Even with the power of magic, can a person really transform to that extent?’

Now I understood why Thompson had been evasive when I asked if I had ever seen the dean's transformation magic.

How could he possibly explain this?

He must have decided it would be much better to see it in person.

And then…

"Wait a minute."

Suddenly, a thought crossed my mind.

If that was the final stage of transformation magic…

The thought, ‘…What will mister look like later?’ came to me.

The grayish leather that had sprouted on Thompson's right arm flickered before my eyes.

Perhaps Thompson would one day transform into a form that would be burdensome to be around.

‘I hope it's not too strange…’

I hated anything burdensome, but well, it wasn't something to worry about now.

For now, I put aside my thoughts and focused on the situation at hand.

Tsssss!

Dercion was channeling demonic energy with a dumbfounded expression.

Suddenly trapped in an unknown semi-transparent barrier, and having witnessed a mage transform into a lion right in front of him, how dumbfounded must he have been?

Indeed, Dercion's face was full of tension.

An expression of someone desperately trying to figure out how to escape this situation.

But for some reason…

"Ah…"

Dercion's anxiety quickly disappeared, and he regained his composure.

As if he had found a way to escape.

‘What could he do?’

It didn't take long for me to realize the reason.

"It was an honor to meet you, Sir Asion Gale. However…"

Crack! Crackle! Crack!

Suddenly, a strange sound started coming from the rift.

It grew louder as Dercion's demonic energy intensified.

Everyone looked at the rift, unable to grasp the situation.

"It seems that now is not the time for us to clash."

The moment Dercion said that…

Whoosh— Crash!

A giant hand suddenly emerged from the rift and struck Asion Gale's barrier.

Shatter!

The field magic that Asion Gale had cast was effortlessly destroyed by a single attack.

At that moment, everyone, including me, was dumbfounded.

"What is this…!"

It was surprising enough that a giant hand emerged from the rift, but it was only natural that everyone would be shocked to see Asion Gale's magic instantly destroyed with a single punch.

"Hey, get down!"

My allies and I crouched down to avoid the magic fragments scattering from the broken barrier, and in the meantime…

Thud!

The giant hand, having broken through the barrier, grabbed Dercion's body.

And then, it retreated back into the rift.

"I'll be back soon."

Leaving only those words behind, Dercion vanished along with the giant hand.

We could only stare blankly at the scene, and an awkward silence hung over the battlefield for a while.

[Translator - Prøks]

[Proofreader - Prøks]