Artificial devil's fluid body.The most horrific creation made by Demons.It was far more violent in appearance than how it was described in the texts.

"Wh-Wh-What is that...?"

"Whoo... Whoo... Whoo...!"

"......"

Perhaps thanks to the description, Luca was able to maintain some composure, but the other three seemed to be in a state of great shock.

Even so, maybe because he had been traveling around with Luca, Ottbo showed only signs of being quite flustered; his courage seemed to have grown a bit.

However, Hav and Moula were not in good condition.

Hav could barely breathe, and Moula was so stiff she couldn't do anything at all.

After observing them for a moment, Luca spoke indifferently.

"Bonus points, I suppose."

"... What?"

"Do you think the professors would just leave something like that alone as if they were idiots? It's probably something at a level students can handle. Or at least, it's something that students like us are meant to deal with."

Ottbo had an uncomfortable look on his face, but Luca remained calm.

"Hernan Academy is the continent's top academy, and the professors who teach there are the continent's best. Do you really think they'd just leave a dungeon in this tiny forest undiscovered?"

"Well... Yeah. I guess that wouldn't make sense."

It was a bit forced as an argument, but there was no other choice if he wanted to calm the group.

Luca reassured the party by using their belief: 'If it's a professor from the continent's top academy, Hernan Academy, they wouldn't make a mistake.'

"That monster certainly seems to be on a different level from the ones we've fought so far, but that doesn't matter. What matters is that now it's time for the two who haven't done anything for the past three days to step up."

"Oh? That's true!"

"......"

At Luca's words, Ottbo and Moula, who had come to their senses, took out the Armored Controller and the magic power beam cannon.

'In the original story, the fetus was said to be almost fully grown—but right now, it's not at that level.'

The creature that had absorbed life force for three years was strong enough to even threaten the protagonist, but now it didn't seem so threatening.

Since Luca had already met the devil of dust, he could at least estimate the devil's power.

'Compared to the one that tried to kill Isella, this is just a fledgling. Even those two should be able to handle it. And...'

With a thoughtful expression, Luca looked at Ottbo and Moula.

"Well... Actually! If I push it, I can output even 7th-tier... no, if it's me, I can reach 8th-tier power with my armored soldier! There's nothing to be afraid of!"

"The maximum power of my magic power beam cannon... It's time to check...!"

Seeing Moula, strangely filled with resolve, Hav giggled quietly.

"All right. Then I'll support—"

"Wait."

Luca grabbed Hav's arm.Hav looked at him in puzzlement.

"Why?"

"How many capsules do you have left?"

"I've used up most of them... but I have enough for something like that."

Watching Hav check his pouch, Luca spoke indifferently.

"Then leave this to those two, for now."

"Huh? Why?"

To his question, Luca twisted his lips ever so slightly.

"No reason."

* * *

'It's fine, Ottbo! You can do it! You've done it so many times at home!'

Taking a deep breath, Ottbo summoned the armored giant with his Armored Controller.

Vwoom! Thud!

A huge frame over three meters tall.Special alloy, enchanting, and magical artistry that seemed capable of withstanding any attack.And, with spherical joints, a machine capable of almost humanlike movement.

The Grass family's unreleased lightweight armored giant model, LBM-01, revealed itself.

"W-Wow..."

As Hav's gasp came from behind, Ottbo's shoulders involuntarily squared.Alchemists or students of the arcane could not help but be amazed.It was the very pinnacle of magic, Alchemy, and arcane science—a masterpiece even among masterpieces.

"Let's go, Livik!"

He'd worked with it for so long, he'd even given it a name; with an excited face, Ottbo gave his armored giant an order through the Armored Controller.

Clank, thud!

The armored giant, with a speed unbefitting its size, charged at the artificial devil's fluid body.

Bzzzz!

A crimson ether blade extended from its arm.

It didn't have as much power as ether blades crafted by skilled human hands, but it was similar.

The armored giant swung its blood-red ether blade at the artificial devil's body.

Slash!

With a simple motion, the armored giant sliced off a portion of the artificial devil's fluid body.

Not stopping there, Ottbo commanded it to repeatedly swing its arm.

Shrrk! Shhk!

"Ha!"

The artificial devil's body, cut to pieces in an instant, scattered as Ottbo shouted with spirit.

"Tsk, this is why mages are a hassle."

"?"

At that moment, there was a tongue-clicking sound from behind.

Looking back, Ottbo saw Luca's "You should maybe keep your eyes forward" face, then quickly turned back.

Clang! Clunk! Szzzz!

"L-Livik?!"

Somehow, the scattered parts of the artificial devil's body had stuck themselves to the armored giant.

From the joined area, ominous noises and smells wafted out, as if the thing was corroding it.

Ottbo quickly constructed a drive magic circle.

"Emergency ejection!"

Click! Whoosh!

The armored giant's armor slightly parted, spewing steam as it flung off the artificial devil's body and leapt back.

The hastily reassembled armored giant now had parts of its armor slightly melted.

"Wh-What the hell is...?"

"You should have aimed for the fetus."

"Fetus? What do you—Hiiiek?! Wh-What is that?!"

Only then, seeming to spot the fetus inside the artificial devil's body, Ottbo fell into panic.

At that instant, Moula, who had been quietly aiming at it, pulled the trigger.

Zing! Pew!KABLAM!

The magic power beam cannon struck true, hitting the fetus inside the artificial devil's fluid body—exactly as Luca had directed.

The instant the ray hit, a massive explosion erupted and swallowed the artificial devil's fluid body whole.

"...... Oh."

Ottbo's mouth formed a perfect 'O'.

A clean shot, overwhelming firepower.

'5th-tier? 6th-tier?'

There are many kinds of mages.

Circle mages, who create circles around the heart, core mages, who form a core within their body, and tier mages, who stack knowledge up like a tower.

Currently, tier mages are the mainstream on the continent, due to the great archmage Derra Rodonoa, founder of the Mage Tower.

Usually, lower-year students in the academy finish at third tier. Reaching 4th-tier in the upper years is normal; 5th-tier is considered exceptional.

A few geniuses break through to 6th-tier, and 7th-tier is considered on par with professors.

But for a first-year to make a tool with firepower like a 5th-tier spell?

'Th-That's impossible.'

Magic shouldn't be measured by power alone, but even so, this device's level was absurd.

Collapse.

"Moula!"

Moula, after firing one shot, suddenly collapsed. Panicking, Hav ran over to support her.

Fallen, she wore a satisfied smile.

"This... was my magic power beam cannon's maximum output..."

"Moula! You can't die!"

"I'm j-just tired. I'm not dying..."

It was a shame she collapsed after a single shot, but the power was truly surprising.

While Ottbo stood stunned, feeling the wall between them, Luca spoke.

"Ottbo, it's not over yet."

The second Luca finished speaking, a powerful sound rang out from within the blast.

─Kiiiiiiiiiiiiiii!

"Urgh!"

"Aaaargh!"

An ear-splitting scream, as if their brains—not their eardrums—were being shredded, forced everyone to their knees.

When the explosion cleared, a lone fetus was left floating in midair, still wailing.

─KyaaaaAAA!

"Ottbo! Finish it, now!"

"Ugh...!"

Ottbo flicked the Armored Controller.

Click! Click! Click!

The armored giant's arm transformed, morphing into a cannon.

"I won't lose, either!"

Vwoooom! Pew! Boom!

A single beam shot from the armored giant's cannon.

Its power compared well, even with Moula's magic power beam cannon.

Struck directly, the fetus turned black, petrified like a stone, and fell to the ground.

'Is this an artificial magic stone?'

Picking up the blackened fetus, Luca examined it with a curious expression.

This could become an important card—a variable of enormous consequence if used properly.

'I reaped quite a harvest.'

Luca grinned inwardly, then noticed Ottbo, who looked somewhat disappointed.No doubt he felt let down for not having played a larger role.

Tap, tap.

"?"

Luca gave Ottbo a pat on the shoulder.

"Good work, Ottbo."

"... Hehe."

Ottbo, who had been feeling troubled, burst out in a smile.

Perhaps it was because he felt acknowledged.

"All right, let's hurry and find the dungeon's exit. I'm hungry."

"Yeah!"

Reassured by Luca's usual manner, the party—having slayed the dungeon's master—prepared to search for a newly-formed exit.

Clap, clap, clap.

But before they could, someone's presence was felt.

"Impressive. As expected, students of Hernan Academy are of the highest caliber."

Applause, as if to congratulate them.

Luca turned in the direction of the sound and his eyes widened in shock.

"Why are you here...!"

"That's what I'd like to ask you. I'm not sure why you've come here..."

Silvery long hair, ever-smiling slit eyes behind a monocle—the archetypal scholar.

Even the friendly smile suited him.

"This is perfect. I've been wanting to see you again."

The missing Martin Curves from the Academy was approaching them.

'Why... Actually, come to think of it, it's not impossible he'd be here.'

In the original story, Martin orchestrated most of the incidents occurring at the Academy, and it wouldn't be strange if he had released the artificial devil's body that would later become a major threat to the protagonist.

'I figured there'd be something else, but of all people, it's him.'

It was predictable that there would be someone overseeing the artificial devil's body, but that it would be Martin...

'Good thing I saved my strength.'

It was right to refrain from using the power of lightning, just in case.

The only way to stand against Martin was to counter his demon eye with the power of lightning.

"Luca, who's that? He looks familiar..."

With a puzzled look, Ottbo asked the question. Luca responded lightly.

"The source of my rumor."

"The source? What rumor?"

Ottbo tilted his head, and Luca twisted his lips.

"The truth behind the rumor that I killed three upperclassmen."

"... What?"

Ottbo froze.

He knew Luca's rumors were nonsense, but he'd heard it was true that three second-year students had suddenly gone missing.

If Luca's words were true, was the man in front of them really the criminal who had murdered three students and fled the Academy?

"Nice to meet you, students. Until recently, I was a professor at Hernan Academy—my name is Martin Curves."

"......"

"Oh? Not greeting me just because I'm not a professor anymore? That's a shame."

As Martin shook his head in disappointment, Luca drew his sword.

Shing!

"Martin Curves. What's your business?"

"My business, you ask? I came here to release the very monster you just so splendidly defeated. Though I suppose it turned out to be a wasted effort."

Martin shrugged his shoulders and smiled brightly.

"But it's all right. There's a greater harvest here than that."

"......"

"Luca Traverse, I've been deeply interested in you since my time at the Academy. I'm very pleased to have this new opportunity."

Luca responded coldly to his words.

"The other professors will be here soon. You have no chance of winning."

"Pft, pfft—!"

"?"

Martin burst into laughter at Luca's words.

"Pff-kh! Pwahahaha! Ah, S-sorry. I couldn't help it... That was just too funny."

Martin wiped the tears that formed at the corners of his constantly-smiling eyes.

"Since I was once a professor myself, let me teach you three things you didn't know."

Martin held up three fingers.

"First, no normal organization would simply release a monster like the one you've just defeated. Second, the sun is already setting. The professors have been searching for you for a long time now, but they haven't found you yet. With just their power, they will never find this place. And lastly—third."

With all his fingers folded, Martin smiled brightly.

"Even if the professors arrive, I could still kill all of you."

-------------= Clacky's Corner -------------=【ദ്ദി(⩌ᴗ⩌)】

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