Chapter 116

Illusion Field.

A spell that created a type of false world.

Since it also included a barrier to prevent normal civilians approaching it, no one could know what happened inside it.

But its size couldn't be infinite, no matter how strong the magician was.

Even when eight 6th-class magicians came together, it only covered 30-odd meters.

Also, it couldn't be perfectly hidden.

An outstanding magician would be able to detect the unnatural flow of mana in the middle of the capital.

This meant that they could find the Illusion Field and enter it, just like what the Director of the Academy, Tirion Ignit, just did.

The most fatal weakness of this spell was that, when up against a higher-level spell than the caster, it was easily dispersed and broken.

So, just like this…

"Josh Galehiiiiill!!!"

Crrrrrrrack!

At the Director's thundering roar, the Illusion Field started to break down and disperse into nothingness.

Simultaneously, a huge hurricane started to whirl around. Against the merciless magic force clearing up everything in the surroundings, Josh Galehill muttered in panic,

"U-Uwah...! Tirion! Are you trying to blow away the entire capital in an attempt to catch me?!"

It was as he said.

BABABABABABABANG!

The Illusion Field crumbled, and a hurricane reaching far above the clouds was rampaging in the middle of the capital.

However, unfortunately for him…

"Only you shall face its wrath, Josh Galehill."

The destruction Josh Galehill spoke of was nowhere to be seen.

Before Tirion brought forth the hurricane, he had set up a Protection Field, and this field protected the entirety of the capital.

Unless one was a 7th-class magician, they couldn't even try to do something like this.

Shoooowoooo!

The might of this storm focussed only on one thing.

"...Not only did you dabble in that despicable black magic, but you even touched my student."

Josh Galehill.

Enraged, Tirion reached his hand into the air and started to control the movement of the hurricane.

And in an instant, Josh Galehill had been consumed by it.

BABABABANG!

The hurricane that appeared from nowhere in the middle of the capital blew about with incredible power, threatening to destroy every living thing in the area.

"Kyaaaaaaa!"

"R-run away!"

And because of this, civilians were running out of their homes, screaming.

The capital became filled with people trying to escape, and the streets fell into chaos.

But something was wrong.

"...Wait, why is nothing happening?"

Nothing had happened.

There were certain expectations for hurricanes.

They were things that would blow away homes and raise the water in the river that goes through the capital into a flood.

A great monster of nature that would eat up and destroy every living thing.

But this hurricane felt like an illusion with how little damage it was doing.

The people understood a step later.

"A barrier? This is a barrier!"

"I-it's magic! Magic is protecting us!"

A thick protective layer created by a 7th-class magician was protecting the entire capital.

After the confirmation that they were safe, the civilians that had ran out stood in a daze as they witnessed the incredible spell.

The hurricane, larger than one could possibly comprehend, was something the spectators could not take their eyes off of.

"But what are the guards doing right now?"

"Eh? Oh yeah. Where did they all go?"

The guards that were supposed to be protecting the capital…

The guards that were supposed to be protecting them…

Not a single one of those guards were to be found.

***

Where would be the best place to see the hurricane that had appeared in the middle of the capital?

Even if someone didn't know the answer, they might've said the palace, as it was one of the tallest buildings in the capital.

At that time, while the civilians were running away screaming, the First Prince Croster Radian shouted with frustration,

"You can't confirm what is going on out there? Just what do you mean by that?"

"Th-that's... There isn't a single soldier outside the palace…"

"There isn't a soldier in the streets of the capital? What nonsense is that?"

"I-I don't know the specifics of it either. We're currently checking up on them right now… but the only thing found was that the guards assigned today were all part of Galehill's—"

"Galehill?"

Slam!

The First Prince slammed his fist into the table.

"So, the Galehills are scheming something again."

The reason he was this angry wasn't because of something like a sense of justice or his responsibility as a prince.

In his situation, where he was fighting against the Second Prince, Foster Radian, he needed the strength of the Galehills more than anyone else.

However…

"They are acting like they own this nation."

This was related to his honor as the prince.

They had created a scene visible to all in the middle of the capital, a place where the princes and the king himself could see it.

And he was able to guess to a certain sense what they were up to.

Croster, who was able to at least get an eye for things after his long political war, was able to work out the situation as soon as he heard the name of 'Galehill'.

"Ruin Ardell is in danger."

"...Wh-who?"

"Send our most elite soldiers to that location at once! No! I'll go there myself."

"Y-your highness will go there himself? That won't do! It's too dangerous! We must check what the situation is first before we—"

The reason 1st prince Croster was moving himself was simple.

They say that danger is often the road to opportunity.

It was obvious that the person the Galehills were aiming for was Ruin Ardell, who had definitely come on a tour to the capital today.

In this situation, by protecting Ruin who was in danger, he would be able to gain some points from him.

And also…

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"The citizens of my kingdom are there. I, as the next king, must save them myself. If I don't, then who will?"

"Aah! I couldn't see your grand picture, your highness!"

As the prince of this kingdom, gaining the respect and love of the terrified citizens by saving them was a bonus.

And one more thing.

'Using this opportunity, I'll weaken the power of House Galehill and strengthen the royal family.'

What seemed like just two birds with one stone became three with how incredible of a plan it was.

"I need to arrive before my younger brother. Hurry up."

"Yes sir!"

Of course, these were all completely 'calculated' in a political sense,

No matter what he was thinking on the inside, it couldn't be denied that this was a tremendous responsibility that, as a prince, he must carry out.

While the First Prince was preparing to go out while looking proud of himself…

"Hmm?"

"...No."

The Second Prince, Foster Radian, ran out while wearing a fancy looking armor, and the two faced each other in the corridor.

The First Prince asked with a look of discomfort,

"Where are you running out so late in the night?"

"Naturally, I am going to fulfill my duty as a prince of this kingdom. But where are you going?"

"I am the same."

The two were twins.

Their thoughts were also pretty similar.

"It looks like you'll be going to the same place as me. But don't bother, go and rest. I alone am enough."

"That's what I should be saying to you. I, Croster Radian, as the First Prince, must go and punish the Galehill scum that has sullied the honor of the royal family and endangered the capital."

"Do not try to send me back. I know you just want to look good in front of Ruin."

"Are you not going? Then, I'll be going first."

The two glared at each other as they got on their horses.

But, of course, they were headed the same way.

A fake cannot defeat the real thing.

A fake 7th-class magician, Josh Galehill, didn't even stand a chance against a real 7th-class archmage, Director Tirion Ignit.

"D-Director?"

The students of the academy who had rushed out of the inn due to the commotion couldn't help but stare in awe at the Director's real skill.

I wasn't all that different.

'It's different.'

The feeling I got when I faced those 6th-class magicians before as a 5th-class.

The feeling that, maybe, just maybe, I could even face a 7th-class magician.

It shattered.

The shock I felt was similar to the one when I first experienced Sir Bolvar Patten's skills.

I thought I was strong.

I thought I had even become decently powerful.

But I was still far off.

The Director had such a terrifying skill behind that face that always thought of the students first and treated us warmly.

"That person… That's our Director, right? The Director that I know?"

"I-I also want to know. Am I seeing this right…?"

"I don't know why the Director is fighting against Guardian Josh Galehill… but how is he so overpowering? Weren't they both 7th-class?"

The Director had perfectly suppressed Josh Galehill before restraining the now-fainted Josh with Mana Bind.

Mana Bind restricts the flow of mana from the target's mana heart.

This was practically the same as removing that heart.

Seemingly not satisfied with this, the Director also used a high-ranking binding spell, Solid Rope, something impossible to dispel.

This was because Josh Galehill had used black magic.

After tying him up like that, he walked toward me and asked,

"Ruin, are you ok?"

"Ah, yes… Thanks to you, Director."

"Didn't I warn you that it would be dangerous?"

The Director kept his promise to not just watch me fall into danger.

He did so even knowing that his direct intervention was dangerous for him, too.

He put his hand on my shoulder.

"Something horrifying may have happened if I arrived any later."

Using cleansing magic, he removed the poison inside my body.

It was then.

"The First Prince has arrived!"

"The Second Price has arrived!"

Hundreds of soldiers approached us from the direction of the palace.

Leading this group were two faces I was quite familiar with.

"S-Sir Ruin!"

It was the twin princes.

As soon as they arrived, they leapt off of their horses and ran up to me.

They were in such a hurry that…

"Ah! Ouch!"

…the First Prince tripped on a rock and fell over.

Using this opportunity, the Second Prince, Foster Radian, ran up to me and asked,

"Sir Ruin Ardell, are you alright?"

"...Yes, I'm fine."

"My eyes started to darken on my way here, worried that something may have happened to you. Touch here. Do you feel it? My heavily beating heart?"

The Second Prince snatched up my hand and put it on his heart.

Not wanting to lose, the First Prince got up and ran next to my side before going to his knees and loudly reciting a prayer.

"Our Lord Frelia, thank you for protecting my most precious servant."

The prayer seemed quite off.

In any case, the commotion that happened in the early morning ended with that.

The twin princes both went up to the bound and unconscious Josh Galehill and started to curse him out.

"You dare touch my precious Sir Ruin? And even cause an uproar in the middle of the capital...? You rotten bastard. This is a challenge to the royal family, and treason. I will go to my father right now to round up every last Galehill."

"This is the first time we agree in a while, Brother. This is treason. And since it has been confirmed that he has learnt forbidden black magics, we must detain every Galehill in the continent."

But there was one thing that hadn't been solved yet.

I got up from where I sat with a dazed look.

"Sir Ruin, where are you going?"

"...I need to find out what happened in Ardell."