**Chapter 103: The Knight Commander and the Chief Court Magician’s Dismay**
“What is happening?!”
“Distress signals are coming from all directions… It’s a monster stampede!”
At the entrance of the Subnock Plains, chaos erupted within the tent of the Magic Hunt Festival’s organizers. Suddenly, distress signals rang out from various points across the plains. Reports from evacuated students, rescue teams, and supervising faculty members provided fragmented information that monsters were surging from the depths of the plains.
While the Subnock Plains were known as a ‘Magic Territory’ teeming with monsters, it was not necessarily a place where one had to risk their life if they were adequately trained in martial arts or magic. As long as one did not venture into the territory of the Magic Territory’s master—the Subnock—they should be able to hunt safely. This was precisely why the plains had been chosen as the venue for the Magic Hunt Festival, yet now it was on the brink of becoming a hellish nightmare.
“A stampede from the Magic Territory… It reminds me of twenty years ago.”
The bitter murmur came from a middle-aged man seated in the organizing tent. He was a large man with a physique as solid as a rock, someone who could easily be mistaken for a gorilla or an orangutan in the darkness. He was the Knight Commander of the Aiwood Kingdom… Marquis Iljas Cattleya.
“Could it be that the master of the Magic Territory has emerged? Just like back then…”
Twenty years ago, during the reign of the tyrant king, a massive pioneering expedition was formed to eradicate the monsters from the Subnock Plains, a den of beasts. The soil of this ‘Magic Territory’ was rich in magical energy, allowing for the growth of crops while also spawning powerful monsters. If the expedition succeeded, they would secure a granary capable of feeding the entire kingdom.
However, the tyrant’s true goal was not to enrich the people but to gain fame by achieving what no previous king had managed: the development of the plains.
The outcome was a disastrous defeat. The soldiers who ventured into the depths of the plains were slaughtered by the monster known as Subnock and its minions. Subnock, having ravaged the pioneering soldiers, chased after the fleeing people, threatening to bring irreparable damage to the royal capital.
Young Iljas had participated in that battle as well, one of the few survivors. As a fresh recruit, he lost many comrades in that fight, and those bitter memories propelled him to rise to the position of Knight Commander.
“…Someone must have ventured into the depths of the plains and provoked Subnock. I can hardly believe there would be such foolish students.”
“…………”
“What’s wrong, Albert? You’ve been silent for a while.”
Iljas turned to the other guest seated beside him—the Chief Court Magician, Albert Rosemary. Though the Court Magician and the Knight Commander represented opposing forces of magic and martial prowess, Iljas and Albert shared a personal friendship. They had been friends since their school days and both had once been members of the Student Council Executive Committee.
“No… it seems there’s been a bit of a problem.”
Responding to Iljas’s inquiry, Albert spoke with a grave expression.
“I’ve lost contact with the Court Magician assigned to His Highness, Third Prince Rodel. That reckless prince, under the orders of His Majesty, was being monitored to prevent him from going on a rampage…”
“What?!”
Iljas furrowed his brow at Albert’s response. Though Rodel was a prince, he had been spoiled by the Queen Dowager, growing into an arrogant and foolish character. Recently, Albert had assigned a subordinate to keep an eye on Rodel after he caused trouble within the academy. During the Magic Hunt Festival, he had been receiving regular reports via the communication spell, but now those reports had ceased.
“Even when I use the Sending spell, there’s no response… Something must have happened.”
“I can hardly believe it, but…”
“Mmm…”
Iljas and Albert seemed to be thinking the same thing, their expressions darkening as they fell silent. Could it be that Rodel had stepped into the depths of the plains and provoked Subnock?
“If Subnock has emerged… the royal capital could be in grave danger. It would be a repeat of twenty years ago.”
Iljas stood up from his chair.
“I can no longer leave this to the academy staff. I will lead the knights and prepare to confront them.”
“I will focus on gathering information and evacuating the students. Honestly, I can’t believe my daughter is here as well…”
Exchanging glances and sighing, the Knight Commander and the Chief Court Magician sprang into action. Meanwhile, injured students continued to flee from the plains, pursued by monsters that were emerging from within, with faculty and Student Council members engaging in defense.
The commotion grew louder and louder. Like a wildfire, panic spread among the people.