Chương 85: Chapter 54:"Defend Sacris! The Gathering of Forces"

The Gathering of Forces" Led by Alice, I headed to the outdoor training grounds of the Magic Academy. Entering the main gate and seeing the training grounds—I was surprised by the sheer vibrancy. People were filling the spacious grounds almost to the brim. Starting with the Sacris Magic Corps lined up neatly in the center of the ground, there were also school teachers and students forming ranks beside them. That wasn't all.

In the corner closer to us, volunteers from the general citizens showed faces full of motivation.

And in the corner on the opposite side, there were people who seemed to be former members of the masked group. Alice turned to me and said excitedly.

"Isn't it amazing!? Argus did this. As the temporary head of the Ozbein family, he called out the crisis to the whole town. And look, so many people gathered!" I see. So Argus did it. Of course, it wasn't just his achievement.

"Many of the students and former masked group members are thanks to Karla-san's power! There are quite a few from the Swordsmanship School too! Inea-san is organizing them!" I was very moved by this sight. I had often heard that Sacris is a "Town of Swords and Sorcery." I finally understood what that meant. It's not just that swordsmanship and magic are popular. Despite the fact that it will be a life-threatening battle, so many brave people gathered to protect the town.

In times of emergency, they can unite their strength like this. With swords and magic, they can become one. That is the true charm and strength of this town. In the most prominent place at the front, Argus is busily managing the whole thing. I stared at him with a feeling that made my chest hot. That guy. Is that why he left the learning of [Arllivine] to me? If the new magic can reach Clam. He is Argus's enemy. Given his personality, normally he would try to master it himself even if it took some time.

But he was the only one who could use his family name to make the crisis of Sacris persuasive. So again, he prioritized the job, killing his own convenience. Even though using his family name should be one of the things he hates most. I respect him from the bottom of my heart. Let's definitely fight Clam together. I'll lend you my strength so you can take revenge. As we entered the training grounds, my classmates welcomed me warmly along with Milia.

I was happy, but realizing that the number had clearly decreased, my heart ached. Still, many people thanked me, saying they were saved thanks to me during the forest exercise. I know it's asking for too much, but if possible, I wanted to save everyone. After all, Karla-senpai did something unforgivable to everyone. While feeling heartache, I headed to her in the masked group area with Alice and Milia. Next to her was Ketty-senpai, who had a solemn look on her face the whole time.

As soon as Ketty-senpai noticed us, she pulled Karla-senpai's arm and ran over. And pushing her head down forcefully from behind, forcing her to bow. She also bowed deeply herself.

"Thank you so much. For bringing this big idiot back to her senses."

"No. I didn't do anything."

"I failed to persuade her too. She's stubborn as a stone."

"I just picked a fight with her." To our humility, Ketty-senpai relaxed her lips slightly and shook her head.

"It's thanks to you three. Everyone's feelings combined and resonated with her. Right?" Loosening the strength of her arm, she asks Karla-senpai. Karla-senpai raised her head, looked at us, and nodded slightly. She must have been scolded thoroughly by Ketty-senpai. Her face was sunken enough to cry at any moment, and she was quiet like a cat that had been borrowed.

"During the forest exercise, she stubbornly left only me behind, so I thought it was strange. I never thought she was doing something like this..." Ketty-senpai dropped her shoulders. In fact, if she had been taken along, she would have been on the supervisor side. There is a high possibility she would have been killed by the Flame Dragon's attack. Karla-senpai probably didn't want to do just that.

"I had a part of me thinking that if she was energetic, that was fine. But I should have stopped her even if I had to slap her. Researching Lost Magic!" To Ketty-senpai showing intense anger, Karla-senpai was just looking dejected. This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.

"I'm really sorry... Ketty." Ketty-senpai grabbed Karla-senpai's shoulders and said with an unusually serious face.

"You were too scared to say anything only to me, right? Good grief. Listen." She raised her voice. As if to throw all the feelings she had been holding onto Karla-senpai.

"We're best friends, aren't we!? I know veeeery well how painful it was for you to lose Eik!"

"...!"

"Cry to me more! If you wanted to die, I would have stayed with you until you got sick of it! So...!" Due to the heightened emotions, Ketty-senpai choked on her words. It was a figure unimaginable from her usual aloof self. With a sorrowful expression, tears were falling down her cheeks.

"Rely on me more! Why didn't you do that!? Why...! Idiot... Big idiot! You are...!" Ketty-senpai, unable to say anything more, hugged Karla-senpai and sobbed with her face crumpled. Karla-senpai, hugged, also immediately had tears welling up from her eyes and began to cry loudly. Saying "I'm sorry" over and over again. It was an unsightly but heartwarming communication that could only be done because the opponent was an equal best friend. My eyes also became hot, and I ended up crying with them.

Looking sideways, Alice and Milia were also crying. —I was really worried. Karla-senpai, who learned that she had been deceived by Tor and that even her boyfriend had been killed, clearly looked like she had lost hope of living. Still, it was obvious that she was moving by forcing herself only with a sense of responsibility and guilt. But it's okay now. Not just us, she has a best friend who cares about her so much.

I think Karla-senpai, who engraved that in her heart again, will surely recover and atone for her sins. We decided to leave the seniors alone for a while. They must have a lot to talk about. Next, we talked a little with the teachers of Sacris Magic Academy, Eric Barton and Bella Moll. One is an elite who became a battalion commander of the Magic Corps at the young age of twenties. The other is a woman who reached her thirties without finding a good marriage partner and has no luck.

But both have certain personalities and abilities as teachers. Barton-sensei seems to have entrusted the general command to Argus while he is away. He seemed quite fired up. Moll-sensei jokingly said, "If we don't protect the town, marriage is out of the question," but I felt her words surprisingly hit the truth. Everyone has their own reasons for being here. Argus was busy preparing anyway, flying instructions to carry supplies out of the school. So we couldn't talk, but when he recognized us, he winked lightly.

The Argus Fan Club members raised yellow cheers thinking it was directed at them. I was slightly exasperated. You guys are carefree at a time like this. No, well, maybe it's better to be like that. In fact, they seem to be hard workers. Driven by their love for Argus, they were taking the initiative in working under his instructions. After finishing the greetings, the three of us headed to the outdoor training hall of the neighboring Swordsmanship School. As Alice said, many people were gathered there too.

In the middle, the Swordsman Corps lined up neatly. Although the number is much smaller than the Magic Corps because it was half-destroyed once, they are brave people who took action first against the crisis. On the side, there are also citizen volunteers and people who seem to be veterans. Inea-sensei stood with her arms crossed firmly in front of the lined-up Swordsman Corps. She stood imposingly with a grim face like when she was training "Ore." Beside her, there was a person being friendly with Sensei.

An old man with white hair and a magnificent beard. His dignified appearance was no less than Sensei's. He has sharp eyes like a hawk. While consulting with Sensei occasionally, he seemed to be flying practical instructions and proceeding with preparations. I heard about him, but could he be Dreet, the senior disciple much older than me? When I went to greet him leaving Alice and Milia, the two relaxed their expressions and welcomed me pleasantly. It seemed Inea-sensei had already introduced me to him.

"This child is the new disciple I mentioned earlier. As I said, she has no Qi at all in her current form." He looked at me firmly with those sharp eyes and then bowed lightly.

"I once received teachings from Inea-sensei. My name is Dreet Klein."

"Nice to meet you. I am Yu Hoshimi." I returned the bow firmly and exchanged a finger-shake... or rather, Simming. His fingers were wrinkled and rugged. Traces of many battles can be seen. He peered into my eyes and laughed in a calm tone.

"Fuffu. A child with straight eyes. Inea-sensei's training must be tough." There was strong sympathy and empathy in his eyes when he said that. Surely he was also trained hard by Sensei in the past.

"Yes. I don't know how many times I almost died." Really. When I agreed with plenty of feelings from the bottom of my heart, Inea-sensei placed her hand on my head pon. She smirked at Dreet-san and stung back in retaliation.

"Unlike you, she is a pathetic fellow who whines immediately. But well, she learns fast." Dreet-san looked at me and Sensei with distant eyes as if nostalgic for something.

"It somehow reminds me of the old days." Sensei also nodded deeply.

"Indeed. You have become quite magnificent too. That mischievous boy." Dreet-san smiled faintly while stroking his magnificent beard that suggests the accumulation of years.

"A human life is short. So I lived in a hurry. I will probably go ahead of you."

"Fuh. Don't say such lonely things. No matter how old you get, you are my cute disciple."

"Fuffu. Cute to this old senile man. Sensei hasn't changed either."

"You too. That way of laughing hasn't changed."

"Indeed." There was something between the two laughing from their bellies that only they could understand. But even if I didn't understand it, the bond between master and disciple that could certainly be felt made me, the junior disciple, feel warm. Eventually, when it seemed everyone was gathered, Dreet-san lined everyone up. And Inea-sensei stepped forward and stood on the makeshift platform. Saying it wasn't her character, she accepted the heavy responsibility of General Commander of the Swordsman Group.

Sensei raised her voice strongly and began a rousing speech.

"We are now in an unprecedented crisis. You can see it. The figure of the revived Great Magic Empire Edel. The threat recorded in legends is about to swallow us." Like a wave, the tension in the place rose. Sensei continues.

"The rebellion of the Hero Clam Selenberg. The fact that he, who was supposed to be the blade to save everyone in this emergency, was the best swordsman of the masked group. Many must have been disappointed, lamented, angry, and despaired." Looking around, many people were looking down. Frustrated, or angry, crying. Each showed various expressions.

"But. Even without a Hero, we must stand up." With powerful words, Inea-sensei inspires everyone.

"Do not forget. That it is your individual swords that gather to form a great power. That each one of you is a small hero and a protagonist." It seemed a fire was lit in their hearts. That's right. Even without a Hero, each one of them is a splendid warrior.

"It will be a life-threatening battle. That is why I ask." Sensei asks everyone with a serious face.

"Why did you take up the sword? What is the pride you put on that sword? What are your feelings?" She paused for a beat, gathered strength, and continued.

"For yourself. For your loved ones and family. Everyone has their own reasons. Carve that deeply into your chest once again." Some tightened their expressions, some closed their eyes, some placed their hands on their chests. Each was thinking about their feelings. Judging it was enough, Sensei raised her voice even louder.

"And let me thank you. Well done gathering here. You are brave warriors." Expressing deep gratitude for their help.

"To you, I want to ask again." Sensei brought out her Qi Sword and thrust it high into the sky.

"Please lend me your strength! To protect Sacris, and the people living in this town!""" Ooooooooooooooooh!"" Everyone raised their swords all at once. The atmosphere trembled biribiri, and brave roars echoed from here and there. My chest also became hot, and I made a guts pose in the corner. Alright. I'll do my best. Oh! Then, we marched to the Lasil Great Plains together with the Mixed Swordsman Corps led by Inea-sensei and the Mixed Magic Corps led by Argus.

We stopped a little after leaving Sacris, set up camp there, and prepared for the enemy attack. It was completely night. I had a premonition that the time for the decisive battle was approaching.