Chapter 1251. Blue Guild’s Youth Center (20)

In the eyes of the members of the Blue Guild and adventurers with some fame, Professor Traore was probably some kind of random mob on the streets.

I could confidently say that even low-level adventurers could easily take down Professor Traore.

Ha Yeon-Soo, who was here, Rafael’s hunting dog, Kim Joo-Hyuk, and Cheon Kwan-Wi were obvious examples. They could definitely take down Professor Traore.

Even lesser-known party members would probably see him as nothing more than an Orc Mage. While his magic expertise was high enough for him to become a professor, he was a researcher instead of an adventurer.

His job had never been to use spells on battlefields. It was to stay cooped up in his lab and conduct research. Though his expertise in forbidden magic gave him a certain level of combat prowess and made him a lethal threat, he was still no match for those who'd actually lived and fought on the battlefield.

Still, Professor Traore wasn't like that in the eyes of these kids.

‘The pressure... is unreal...’

Perhaps it was his madness talking, but he felt dangerous right now. The kids managed to build up some confidence against the skeletons, but they were visibly shaken at the sight of him.

They gripped their swords tightly as they stared at the deranged Professor Traore.

“

He... hehehehe! Hehehe!

” Traore giggled.

‘He looks scary even in my eyes.’

“I-I’m... the God of M-Magic... in the new world. I-I...

hehehe... hehehehehehe!

” he said.

‘He’s gone completely insane.’

“H-How dare you... before the God... of Magic...” Professor Traore muttered.

Professor Traore seemed to be modeling himself after Jung Ha-Yan, but all he could imitate was her speech patterns. Still, the way he stuttered made him feel incredibly threatening.

It was a typical reaction anyone would have when faced with someone who had gone completely insane. There was just something off about the sight. It was unsettling and unpleasant to stare at him. It was also frightening.

If he were holding a shotgun, even the most mentally resilient person would find it hard to stay calm.

“A demon has consumed him completely.”

“Mr. Jin Young...”

“Don’t put your guard down. He’s coming,” I warned.

“T-Take the Plague of Destruction...

hehe... hehehehe...

Take the Plague of Destruction!” Traore shouted.

𝑓𝑟ℯ𝘦𝓌𝘦𝘣𝑛𝑜𝓋𝑒𝓁.𝑐ℴ𝓂

‘...’

Clearly, he wasn’t just a fan of Jung Ha-Yan. I could see silver auras swirling around Professor Traore. Unlike me, who drew power from Belial, he hadn’t made a contract with a demon, so imitating it was the best he could do.

Unlike the true Plaguelord capable of spreading a plague across an entire region, all he seemed capable of doing was creating arrows or orbs with that sinister-looking energy.

Even that alone appeared to be terrifying for these children.

It was just one single spell, but it was an AoE spell. Once they landed, the ground would be tainted for a long while.

‘He’s pretty smart.’

It was no wonder he became a professor. I could imagine how much blood, sweat, and tears he had shed to create that from nothing. He had to have visited outbreak zones, gathered samples, and run countless experiments to do that.

Today, the fruit of his efforts had the kids paralyzed in fear.

“Priests... keep casting your purifying spell,” I ordered.

“Jin Young, are you really planning on fighting him?” Felis asked.

“He hasn’t completed this spell yet. We have to do what we can,” I said.

“...”

“...”

“If he completes his spell, the continent will become hell once again,” I said.

The light in their eyes changed upon hearing that. Their families were waiting outside. Despite being afraid, they held their shields high, cast their spells, and ignited their will to fight.

This battle, at least, wasn’t one they needed to fear.

Even the concerned-looking Miss Kim Mi-Young seemed to believe that I had the situation under control.

“Jin Young!”

The young mages synchronized their mana and cast a barrier.

Traore's plague orb slammed into it and exploded, scattering a white powder in all directions.

“Evacuate that area!”

The difference between the infected and the uninfected areas was so clear that the kids easily avoided them while casting offensive spells at Traore.

The vanguard was waiting for the right moment to charge in, but to keep them busy, skeleton warriors emerged from the ground.

“Damn it. Skeleton again!”

“Break through them! We have to stop Professor Traore from completing that spell, no matter what!”

“The one... will descend. The one...

hehehehehe!

” Traore roared.

Naturally, as the main character of this scene, I wasn't idle. In fact, I was the most intense fighter, burning the plague arrow mid-air with my flames and darting around to deal with the skeletons.

I extended my hand, and black flames shot toward Traore, but the flames scattered in the face of his shield. I momentarily forgot about the skeleton soldiers, but of course, I had comrades fighting alongside me.

Kim Myung-Won grabbed a sword and smashed the skeleton soldiers’ heads with it.

“Are you okay?” Kim Myung-Won asked.

“Yeah, I’m fine,” I answered.

Skeletons appeared at the perfect moment, and they surrounded both Kim Myung-Won and me. During moments like this, fighting while protecting each other's backs was the standard protocol.

‘The fact that I still haven't done this with Hyun-Sung breaks my heart.'

There was an unspoken mutual understanding between us, and it made me feel that there was no need for me to worry about my back.

I was watching over Kim Myung-Won’s back, and he was watching over mine.

The skeletons rushing at us were falling like autumn leaves.

Of course, I was a bit more composed while Kim Myung-Won was under more pressure, but he held his ground well, keeping his guard up against the skeletons.

Usually, in moments like this, one would feel a stronger bond toward another without saying a word. It was unnecessary to say things like, “I respect you, Myung-Won,” or “Not bad,” to show trust.

It was easier and more effective to express it through actions. Ignoring the threats behind me or leaving some enemies for him clearly showed that I relied on him.

‘I’m sure he’s having a blast.’

I was sure he still couldn't fully understand the emotions coursing through him, but it was likely some indescribable exhilaration. That was how desperate he was at the moment. Refusing to betray the trust his friend had placed in him, he wielded his sword and cast spells, even though he was already beyond his limits.

“I’ll leave it to you,” I said.

“Okay,” Myung-Won answered.

Not wanting to lose, Felis deliberately unleashed a barrage of spells where we were located.

“Don’t forget about me, Jin Young,” Felis said.

The fact that he made his presence known made it clear that he disliked the idea that Kim Myung-Won and I had settled into a rivalry where we respected each other despite being rivals.

‘Man... he really needs to know when to step in and when to back off.’

“I’m Felis Hanest, the eldest son of the Hanest Family!” he shouted.

‘Is there anyone here who doesn’t know that you’re Felis Hanest? The continent’s in danger right now, and you’re worried about making a name for yourself.’

However, I knew that guys like him needed compliments to feel really hyped up.

“

Hmph

. Not bad for an idiot from the academy,” I said.

“You’re pretty good, considering you’re an idiot from the Republic,” Felis said.

“...”

“Your movements are getting sluggish. Tired already, Jin Young?” Felis questioned.

‘Stop acting like the lead and stop showing off. You’re not my rival.’

He was a mage, but he forced his way to stand with Kim Myung-Won and me. How the hell did he even get here? Before we knew it, the three of us were standing back-to-back.

“Don’t hold us back, loser,” Felis said.

“I’m counting on you, Felis,” Kim Myung-Won said.

“I don’t recall giving you permission to say my name, Kim Myung-Won,” Felis said.

At least he was talking to Kim Myung-Won, and I was thankful for that. However, why on earth was a mage here? Mages were supposed to stand on the rearguard.

“Over there, Jin Young,” Felis said.

“I know. Just watch your back,” I told him.

“As expected from the guys I acknowledged...” he mumbled.

The slightly timid Myung-Won stayed quiet, but this guy just wouldn’t shut up.

He kept saying embarrassing lines as if someone had installed a motor in his mouth.

Every time I get a little closer to Kim Myung-Won, he'd cling to me like a ghost, desperate not to lose his rival position.

He even ditched his mage class and went full martial artist mode.

He reasoned that it was for the sake of saving his mana, but he had already covered himself with enhancement spells. He had to have been training extensively since he was a kid, as his movements didn’t look awkward at all.

However, anyone could see he was pushing himself too hard.

The battle dragged on, and the endless skeletons were wearing us down.

Finally, Kim Myung-Won said, “There’s no end to them.”

“We should sync our mana,” I suggested.

“What?”

“Kim Myung-Won, you and I will sync our mana,” I said.

"Wait, you guys didn't forget about me, did you?" Felis quickly interrupted us, afraid that we would do something without him.

‘Ah, man...’

“I still have some mana left. Actually, I can fight all day,” Felis added.

‘Maybe I should knock him out.'

If he were an adult, I'd knock him out.

“Right, you were here as well, Felis,” I said.

“...”

“What do you mean the three of us are going to sync our mana?” asked Kim Myung-Won.

“Like you said, this is never going to end. If we keep fighting these skeletons, the legion commander will eventually be summoned. We need to cast a spell powerful enough to break through the skeletons and reach Professor Traore.

"That’s all we need to do,” I explained.

“Is that even possible?” Kim Myung-Won asked.

“Whether it’s possible or not doesn’t matter. We have no other choice but to do it. It won’t be easy casting a spell while fighting these skeletons, but...” I paused.

Felis Hanest nodded. “Is that really our only choice? Sounds fun."

“I’ll cast the spell. I’ll tell you the direction of the mana flow, so just follow it. If you can,” I said.

“I’ll... do my best,” Kim Myung-Won said.

“Don’t underestimate a Hanest,” Felis said.

In the end, it was the perfect conclusion—the main characters would combine their strength to end everything. Naturally, Kim Myung-Won, Hanest, and I started syncing our mana.

“Don’t get consumed by it,” I warned.

“

Argh...

”

“Damn it!”

In an instant, a malevolent force began devouring Felis Hanest and Kim Myung-Won's mana. It was as fierce as a dragon, and their faces paled in fear before it.

This wasn’t a good sign, but the kids weren’t dumb.

They knew that if they couldn’t control the rampaging mana, the spell would fall apart right away. Gritting their teeth, they fought back against the pull, refusing to be swept away.

In the end, they chose to work together, not by simply adding one plus one plus one, but by first combining two, and then syncing with the third.

Kim Myung-Won and Felis synchronized first, and I synchronized with them.

“

Argh

”

The three mana, which once seemed impossible to fuse, began to unite as one.

Just then, Waves of skeletons charged at us. In response, Kim Myung-Won and Felis gnashed their teeth, mustering their mana to hold them back.

“What kind of spell is this?”

“It doesn’t matter as long as it reaches him...”

What they summoned looked like a giant. Its outline was so vivid that it felt less like a spell and more like a summoned being. In an instant, the giant drew a massive sword engulfed in black flames and swung it.

Swoosh!

The dark flames landed on where Traore was standing, but...

“D-Did we take him down?”

Unfortunately, this story wasn't going to have a happy ending.

“It’s done...

hee... hehehe!

” Traore said.

“...”

“It’s done!

Hehehehehe! Hehehehe!

Finally, the one is descending! The one!!" Traore roared.

Just like how that veteran warrior was sacrificed for the sake of his comrades’ growth, the moment had come for another major character to make their exit.