Chapter 102: Isis Carbelt and the Silver Flash
“Hah… Hah…!”
“Damn it… How did it come to this…?”
“I-I don’t want to die…!”
With ragged breaths and desperate cries, a group of people sprinted across the Subnock Plain. Their destination was the Plain Entrance—their only escape from this hell.
“Move faster! Don’t stop!”
“But… Senpai…”
“If you stop, you’ll die!? Run if you don’t want to become fodder for the Monsters!”
Leading the charge was a woman dressed in a male uniform, rallying her companions. They had enhanced their physical abilities with magic, yet fatigue weighed heavily upon them as they fought to keep their legs moving. This group of about ten were all students of the Royal Academy, desperately fleeing from the depths of the Subnock Plain.
(Why… Why did the Monsters suddenly appear…!)
The woman at the front grimaced. Despite being a girl, she wore a boy’s uniform. Her name was Isis Carbelt, a third-year student and the leader of the Student Council Executive Committee. As a member of the rescue team, she had been caught off guard by a sudden onslaught of Monsters pouring from the depths of the plain, forcing her to lead her fellow students in a frantic escape.
The cause was unknown. From the depths of the plain, which had been declared off-limits, a horde of Monsters had emerged—no mere one or two, but dozens, even hundreds. While she had anticipated various accidents as part of her duties on the rescue team, this was an unforeseen calamity.
Isis had managed to escape with as many students as possible from the depths of the plain. Many had been left behind, including members of the rescue team who had stayed to hold off the Monsters. Yet, she had made the difficult decision to abandon them, focusing on saving those she could.
(I’m sorry… I’m sorry… If only I had more power…!)
Isis was a top-tier magician in her third year of the Magic Department. Her path to becoming a court magician was already secured, marking her as one of the most promising young talents. However, even with her abilities, all she could do in this dire situation was run. She continued to protect the ten or so students she had managed to rescue as they made their way back toward the entrance.
“Get out of the way!”
“Gah!?”
“Faster! Move quicker!”
Using magic to strike down the Monsters that appeared ahead, she urged the others forward. The expressions of the fleeing students were filled with exhaustion; they were in no condition to fight. Without Isis to protect them, they would likely never break through the plain.
“Kyshaaaaaa!”
“Wha…!”
At that moment, a shriek like that of a strange bird echoed from above. Descending upon them was a Monster from the depths of the plain—a giant snake with wings sprouting from its back.
“Ah…”
Just then, one of the female students running behind them stumbled and fell. A second-year student from the Magic Department, she was a familiar face to Isis.
“Yuria!”
In that instant, Isis made a grave mistake. To shield the fallen student, she halted and turned back.
(What am I doing…!)
Logically, she should have left her behind. Isis had a responsibility to lead the students to safety. She shouldn’t have endangered everyone for the sake of one person.
“Damn it…!”
“Senpai…!”
“Sharaaaaaaa!”
The student she had helped up clung to her. With one arm wrapped around her junior, Isis prepared to confront the giant snake.
“Wha…!?”
But just then, a silver flash streaked through the air. An arrow of light shot from somewhere and struck the snake squarely in the face.
“What the…!?”
Isis recognized it as a magical attack. Where had it come from? She turned her gaze toward the direction of the light, spotting a tiny figure far in the distance.
(No way… Did they snipe from that distance!?)
Even with her enhanced magical vision, she couldn’t discern who the distant figure was. All she knew was that this person was a magician—no, a sorcerer—far beyond her own level.
“Sharaaa!”
The giant snake was still alive. However, two or three more silver flashes pierced its wings, sending them crashing to the ground.
“Let’s run! Hurry!”
“Y-Yes…!”
Isis grabbed Yuria’s hand and took off, chasing after the backs of those who had escaped ahead of them.
(I’m sorry… No, thank you… I will repay this debt with all my strength someday…!)
Isis directed her heartfelt gratitude toward the unseen savior. Perhaps the silver flash had blown away her fear and anxiety, for her heart felt lighter.
“Senpai… Are you okay?”
“I-I’m fine…”
Instead, Isis’s heart raced for reasons beyond mere fatigue. It would be some time before she realized the true nature of that feeling.