Chapter 247: Chaos (13)
Something was strange.
Was it because of everything I had experienced until now, or was it something called intuition?
Whatever the case, Windy May instinctively sensed that something was wrong.
As if reacting to that realization, her heart began to pound like mad.
Soon, she quietly steadied her breathing and closed her eyes for a brief moment, as though trying to focus her mind.
For a mage, there was no worse situation than losing one’s composure.
“……Hoo.”
When she finally opened her eyes again, she gave a small nod.
“Yes.”
First, the large matter that had stepped right up before her eyes.
With that resolve, she slowly swung her hand.
Whoosh.
At her gesture, blue flames surged up around Edas’s body, which had been tightly restrained.
“…….”
As with all people, there were things Windy May cherished and wished to protect.
One of them was the Academy. Others were her disciples and her fellow apprentices.
But if she had to choose the one thing most precious to her—something she absolutely had to protect—then without a doubt, it would be her Mentor, Edas.
That was why Windy May swore once more that she would never forgive the one who had trampled over and tried to take all three of those things from her.
“…Master.”
She whispered quietly.
No answer came in return.
Edas, whose entire body had begun to catch fire, merely thrashed meaninglessly as though trying to break free from his restraints.
But his resistance was futile.
Windy May’s magical power had already pierced through his body without a single gap and bound him fast.
Moreover, the thin iron needles spread throughout his body had long since been completely shattered by her.
“Farewell.”
Windy May nodded faintly as she spoke.
Her unwavering gaze fixed upon the burning Edas was not merely sorrowful—it was almost reverent.
“Ah.”
At that moment, Edas’s head moved.
Their eyes met, and Mentor and disciple briefly exchanged a look.
“…….”
Was this, too, merely her imagination?
For an instant, Windy May thought Edas had given her a faint smile—just as he had when he still remembered who she was.
But there was no way to confirm whether that was true.
Soon, the blue flames completely devoured Edas’s body.
With her own hands, Windy May cremated her Mentor and simply watched until the very end.
It did not take long for the belated cremation to finish.
When the flames finally died down, nothing remained in that place.
Nothing at all.
“…….”
It was over.
But it was not truly over yet.
Thinking so, Windy May began to recall what had just happened.
‘…It was only for a moment, but his movements became awkward.’
Strictly speaking, the battle with Edas had been flowing in an unfavorable direction for her.
In some ways, that was only natural.
They each knew the other’s secret arts and ultimate techniques inside and out—even down to trivial habits and small quirks.
The problem was that Windy May still possessed a living body, while Edas was already dead.
As time passed, she would inevitably grow exhausted and worn down.
‘And yet….’
For a brief instant, Edas’s reactions had turned awkward, as though he were a puppet with its strings cut.
Windy May did not miss that fleeting opening.
Thanks to it, she now found herself witnessing her Mentor’s belated funeral.
‘It must be that something happened on the other side.’
In cases like this, the caster must have suffered either direct or indirect damage—or encountered some serious problem.
She could not know the exact circumstances, but at the very least, it had been a favorable development for her side.
“Good.”
She had dealt with the matter right before her eyes. Now it was time to eliminate the threats scattered elsewhere.
“…Hup!”
After focusing for a moment, Windy May split from one into two.
It had been a technique she could not use while fighting Edas—she had needed to pour in all her strength, and besides, he had known full well how to counter it….
But at least for now, there was no more useful magic than this.
“Room of Memories.”
“Urkubar.”
The two Windy Mays each spoke a different name.
Then they looked at one another and nodded.
“…It seems something has happened in the Room of Memories.”
“…Yes, I felt it too. But Urkubar should still be intact.”
The two Windy Mays deliberately muttered aloud, as if reminding themselves of what needed to be done next and the current situation.
It was one of her long-standing habits.
“Then.”
The one who had spoken of the Room of Memories moved first.
‘The other areas are unchanged.’
Through her security magic, she had a clear grasp of the Academy’s condition.
To her, there were no issues anywhere else—but in one single place, the Room of Memories, she sensed something that could not be ignored.
‘But….’
There was no intruder, nor had any visible impact been inflicted.
Since she could not determine what had happened, Windy May concluded she would have to go and see it with her own eyes.
“Hoo.”
Watching the back of her other self depart, the Windy May who had spoken Urkubar’s name also began to rise into the air.
Soon, she too sped off toward a certain direction.
Toward where Urkubar’s presence could be felt.
‘…He is still inside.’
The barrier and security magic spread throughout the Academy had not yet been destroyed or damaged.
That meant Urkubar was still within the vicinity.
But in other words, that also meant Behad and Menoruka were trapped within the barrier along with him.
“…….”
In the battle just now, she had consumed far more time than she had expected.
I had to hurry.
“……Hm?”
Flying at full speed, Windy May suddenly came to an abrupt halt without even realizing it herself.
It was not because Behad’s presence had grown so faint that it seemed it might vanish at any moment.
Nor was it because that faint presence had suddenly swelled as though exploding in size.
“This is……?”
Windy May suddenly lowered her gaze to her own hand.
Her hand was trembling faintly.
“No way.”
Her eyes then turned toward a certain direction.
The skies above the Capital.
A place where there should have been nothing but a vast expanse of sky and drifting clouds.
Yet there was something there—something different from usual.
There, in that place……
Something—something had gone wrong.
Standing in the very center of a scene no different from pandemonium, Gernot thought blankly to himself.
“Aaaargh!”
“Oh God, merciful Ilionel! Please, save us!”
“Push, push them back! Don’t let them inside the formation!”
“You idiots, don’t come this way! Get back!”
“Help, please help!”
“Aaaah!!!”
What was this?
Gernot stared ahead and muttered again in a daze.
“This is…….”
How in the world had things ended up like this?
He blinked repeatedly as he thought.
…Though there had been creaking here and there, the situation had generally been flowing according to his plans.
The First Imperial Princess, who had picked fights with him at every turn, had been politically cornered and effectively driven down to the provinces.
The twins, who possessed virtually no political power, were not even worth discussing.
The other members of the Imperial Family were likewise nothing but small fry compared to him.
The only thorn in his side had been the Second Imperial Princess, Velita—but……
Having come this far, even she would have no decisive move left.
Recently, she had begun subtly raising opposition against him, as though some change of heart had occurred—but if he successfully concluded this matter, his position would be solidified perfectly. So he had not paid it much attention.
In the end, he would ascend the Imperial Throne anyway.
“Yes…….”
Yes, that was right.
That was precisely why he had pushed this matter forward—even going so far as to overreach and accept bloodshed.
Historically and practically speaking, there was hardly a festival more legitimate than the Departure Festival.
That was why he had poured most of his strength into this event, even forcing the matter when necessary.
To show the people of the Capital—and indeed the entire Empire—who the true next Emperor was.
This festival symbolized peace and the Empire itself.
It was a celebration demonstrating the Empire’s firm strength.
Which meant that the one who presided over this festival stood closest to becoming the next Emperor.
So who else but him could possibly preside over it?
“That’s how it was…….”
And yet……
“…Why has it turned out like this?”
Gernot muttered as he watched soldiers and Knights desperately holding back the mire-like creatures advancing toward him.
“L-let us in! Let us inside!”
“Y-Your Highness! Crown Prince! Please save us!”
“Mercy, please have mercy!”
Civilians trapped between the soldiers and the mire, unable to evacuate, began shouting desperately.
But the soldiers held their formation firmly with shields and spears, allowing no one to pass.
Some areas had already begun clashing with the enemy; they could not recklessly break formation just to open a path.
One wrong move could place everyone in danger.
“…Do not break formation.”
A middle-aged Knight who clearly understood that fact shouted in a solemn voice.
At his command, the civilians’ cries grew even more desperate—before gradually fading.
It was because the mire continued to approach from behind them, without pause.
“Your Highness!”
“…….”
“Your Highness!”
“……Ah. Ah. What is it?”
Startled by the urgent voice calling him from beside, Gernot turned his head.
A Knight clad in the armor of the Imperial Knights looked at him and shouted urgently.
“Please withdraw to a safe location first. We will hold this place.”
“A safe location?”
“For now, it would be best if you head to the Academy.”
The Knight in golden armor spoke.
“It should already be fortified there…….”
“…Then what about the festival? What will happen to the Departure Festival?”
When Gernot asked blankly, the Knight answered in a calm voice.
“…I beg your pardon for saying so.”
“No.”
Gernot shook his head.
“No, no, absolutely not! The Departure Festival cannot be stopped—absolutely not!”
“Your Highness, Crown Prince.”
“The Departure Festival represents the Empire! Not only dignitaries from foreign nations, but the entire continent is watching this place……! Do you not understand that any disruption would signify the Empire’s decline?”
“…….”
The Knight did not respond.
He had seen through the true intent hidden within Gernot’s words.
His eyes were filled with the particular fear and anxiety commonly shown by those who sensed failure.
“Stop them! No, drive them all back! Hurry and go…!”
Gernot began pressing and berating those around him, calling it encouragement in his own mind.
That was when it happened.
“…Huh?”
A wind suddenly blew.
A massive wind.
And along the currents of that wind, it seemed as though an ominous sound could be heard.
“W-what in the world is that……?”
Gernot looked up at the sky and muttered blankly.
In the heavens, something enormous was approaching this way.
Not one.
But many.