Academy’s Genius Mage

“Why did he suddenly come here?”

Castro mumbled as he watched Marquis Hunka inspecting the interior.

Marquis Hunka was being guided by knights as he looked around the surroundings.

“Do you know anything?”

Castro asked Ian, a hint of annoyance in his voice.

Ian promptly replied, “He was concerned about the situation and came out for a while. It’s because a dungeon with dense demonic energy appeared so close to the capital.”

“Then he should have given us notice beforehand. It’s bothersome.”

“Are you unhappy that His Excellency personally took the time to come here?”

When Ian gently pointed this out, Castro waved his hand dismissively with a slightly embarrassed smile.

“Hahaha. Of course not. Someone as grand as His Excellency should be handling more important matters. We alone are more than capable of handling a dungeon of this magnitude.”

It was understandable why he felt that way.

After all, when a Marquis of the kingdom and someone regarded as high nobility comes for an on-site inspection, it would be a significant burden on those in the field.

At that moment, a man wearing heavy armor approached. From his sword and cape, it seemed he was an academy student.

He gave a light salute towards Castro.

“Senior Castro. Preparations are complete.”

“Ah, good job.”

The man looked much younger than Ian. Since he wasn’t wearing a helmet, his face was clearly visible; he was a young man with soft, light brown hair.

However, his expression wasn’t very favorable.

Not that he had a bad personality, but for a different reason.

His face bore signs of someone who hadn’t led an easy life.

His expression was dark and weary, and in many ways, he didn’t appear aristocratic.

Castro patted the man’s shoulder and introduced him.

“Meet Roche. He’s joining us for this exploration. He’s still a first-year rookie but has quite the talent.”

“Ian Oracle.”

“Isera Hebraim.”

Ian spoke formally, while Isera used informal speech.

Considering the recent relationship between the Department of Magic and the Department of Martial Arts, it was quite unusual.

Although all academy students are treated equally, there is a tendency to respect each other more if they belong to different departments, especially if they are in the same year.

The academy authorities also do not interfere with this aspect.

It is meant to convey respect for different fields.

If there was no flexibility here, it would lead to complete disorderly competition.

“I’ve heard a lot about you two. I look forward to working with you.”

Roche also greeted the two respectfully.

‘This isn’t a bad start.’

If it had been someone like Helios or Rahel, they would have tried to assert dominance by speaking informally to Ian, who was in the same year.

But Roche seemed very polite and careful.

Having observed him closely, Ian felt he understood why Roche behaved in such a manner.

『I have a feeling from his expression, don’t you think he’s the type to stab you in the back? Isn’t he suspicious?』

Ian flatly refuted the deductions of Goyang, who recently prided itself on knowing things.

‘No. It’s because he’s from a commoner background.’

『How can you tell?』

Ian grinned.

‘If he were of noble birth, even with senior Isera present, he wouldn’t be this polite. You’ve seen many kids from the Deparment of Martial Arts, haven’t you?’

『Hmm, that’s true.』

‘Moreover, looking at his skin and complexion, you can tell his nutritional status wasn’t great until recently. Training under such conditions would quickly wear out the body. The calluses on his hands are also consistent with using farm tools for a long time. He’s probably a commoner from the countryside.’

『You sure have a keen eye.』

Goyang shook its head in disbelief.

When Ian stared at him, Roche cautiously asked.

“Is there a problem?”

“No, nothing at all. May I ask which family you come from?”

“I’m a commoner. I got in through special admission, so there’s no particular family to introduce.”

When it turned out to be true, Goyang was surprised, although Isera paid it no mind.

Ian smiled and praised Roche.

“Special admission means your skills must be excellent. I’m looking forward to seeing them.”

“I still have a long way to go.”

“I have a roommate, Edel. He also got in by special admission. So I know well how great people from that background are.”

The special admission for the Department of Martial Arts is somewhat different from other faculties.

It looks solely at skill.

Therefore, if a commoner can prove their abilities, they can sometimes receive a recommendation from a local official or lord to enter the academy.

Roche was such a case.

Roche’s stiff expression relaxed a bit.

Ian extended a handshake to imprint his presence more clearly.

“Hahaha. The atmosphere is warm and good! Now, shall we get going? Let’s meet at the dungeon entrance in 10 minutes.”

“Understood.”

At that moment, as the four of them were about to turn back together, a commotion erupted at the dungeon entrance.

Boom!

It was more akin to a loud roar than a mere commotion.

Then screams followed.

“Argh!”

“Everyone, get back!”

The four turned simultaneously.

Dust billowed at the entrance of the dungeon. Part of the barricade had been destroyed.

Soldiers clutched their spears and assumed battle stances.

“Has something else emerged?”

Srring!

Roche was the first to draw his sword.

Castro followed suit and drew his sword next.

“If it’s one with horns, the damage will be significant. We’ll go stop it! Move quickly!”

Castro gave the order, and the other three quickly followed behind him.

Ding! Ding! Ding! Ding!

Bells rang madly, and knights and soldiers who had been waiting began to gather one by one.

“Everyone, fall back!”

When Castro ordered, the soldiers in the standoff retreated backward.

Judging by the blood pooled on the ground, casualties had already occurred.

A humanoid monster with dirty gray fur lay on the ground, licking the blood.

It was a chilling scene.

It was like a demonic creature from the underworld, killing and coveting life forms with grotesque cruelty.

“A lycanthrope?”

Lycanthropes were monsters commonly found in dungeons.

However, the lycanthrope before them was not an ordinary monster.

“Horns… it has horns.”

Ian clearly saw the sharp horns protruding from the lycanthrope’s back.

There weren’t just one, but two.

The horns, having absorbed the blood, began to twitch and spread out like wings.

“Damn it! A 2-star monster crawled out to the entrance?”

Castro frowned deeply.

It was a rather unusual occurrence.

Monsters with horns generally served as bosses within a dungeon.

When this dungeon was discovered and a 1-degree goblin appeared, it was already an exceptional situation, but now a 2-degree monster came out on its own.

Ian responded to that statement.

“If that’s the case, the dungeon boss is at least a 3-star monster.”

“Ugh… It might even be higher.”

Fear began to spread rapidly like a contagious disease.

The soldiers who spotted the horns didn’t even attempt to approach.

Then the growing horn ceased its expansion.

It spread wide like enormous wings, and the lycanthrope rose to face the party.

“Let us handle this first.”

“Before that, we support!”

“Too late.”

Ian and Isera stepped forward.

When close combat ensued, using magic became difficult.

There were often situations where friendly casualties had to be tolerated to some extent.

When a strong monster like this appeared, the rule was to concentrate firepower to weaken the enemy’s strength before attempting close combat.

“I’ll leave the first attack to you, senior.”

Ian refrained from specifying which spell he would use, believing Isera would understand.

The two quickly completed their runes.

The blue light that shimmered in Ian’s hand vanished in an instant.

Buzz!

The change occurred not on their side but on the other side.

“Growl…?”

The lycanthrope’s entire body flickered with a crimson hue.

It was an Increase Weight spell.

“You fool! A debuff won’t work on a 2-star monster!”

Castro shouted while watching, but there was no change in Ian’s expression.

If it were an ordinary Increase Weight, Castro’s criticism would be correct.

However, Ian was confident.

The spell he had just activated was not a standard spell but an ancient-level magic with a new formula applied.

‘There’s no way it won’t affect it!’

Shhh!

“Ugh…?”

The lycanthrope staggered as if feeling the weight of a colossal metal mass pressing down.

Boom!

“Growl!”

Soon, the lycanthrope collapsed onto one knee.

It desperately tried to stand up, but it was impossible.

Veins popped out all over its body, and it struggled just to stay upright.

‘A debuff in one hit… and on a 2-degree monster?’

Castro stared in disbelief, unable to tear his eyes away from the scene, his mouth slightly open.

On the other hand, Isera did not miss this opportunity.

She swung her staff with all her might.

Whoosh!

A fireball, swollen to its maximum size, soared through the air.

“Roar!”

The lycanthrope tried to evade, but its body wouldn’t move.

The fiery orb, unobstructed by anything, exploded against the lycanthrope’s chest.

Boom!

An enormous explosion sent flames and dust flying in all directions.

Soon, the smoke cleared, and its form became visible.

Its fur was charred black.

“Is it successful…?”

Castro and Roche watched the lycanthrope closely, swords at the ready.

It hung its head and remained motionless.

It was truly an impressive spell.

Castro, the leader of the mission, secretly underestimated Isera, thinking that, as a theorist, her magic might not be powerful.

He had not anticipated her magic to be this strong.

He was similarly surprised with Ian.

He had heard Ian was skilled, but didn’t expect him to successfully debuff a 2-degree monster in a single move.

Variables kept compounding in unexpected ways.

“It’s still breathing. Let’s finish it off.”

Ian waved his hand.

A new spell began.

A dazzling blue light shimmered, and suddenly, a massive spear formed in Ian’s hand.

『Lightning Spear.』

The spear of lightning streaked across the air.

Swish!

The spear shot like a laser, in a perfect line, and with incredible speed, it drove into the lycanthrope’s chest.

Thump!

The lycanthrope flinched.

“Grrrr!”

It sprang to its feet and charged at Ian.

But before it could take more than a couple of steps, the true attack started from the spear embedded in it.

Crackle!

Zap, zap, zap!

Unable to withstand the current, the lycanthrope fell to its knees.

“Arrgh… Arrrrgggh!”

It shrieked without being able to move.

The lycanthrope was out of luck.

If it had been an ordinary 4th circle wizard’s lightning spear, it could have shaken it off and stood again.

But the lightning spear Ian used had a new formula applied.

So it had no chance to rise.

“If you just stand there watching, it’ll attack again.”

“Oh, oh! Roche, let’s go!”

Castro and Roche sprang forward simultaneously.

Ian dissipated the lightning spear just before they swung their swords.

Swoosh!

Slice!

Two clean strikes incapacitated the lycanthrope’s body.

The head rolled cleanly on the ground.

The lycanthrope’s body collapsed in the direction of the wind.

“Phew, damn! That was close.”

Castro flicked the blood off his sword and surveyed the surroundings.

Soldiers rushed to manage the scene.

However, even though the situation had concluded, his expression remained complex.

‘This is completely different from what I was told!’

He had been informed by his superior that the mission was simple.

Just explore the dungeon and complete a special mission.

The reward was a special commendation.

Receiving this commendation would almost guarantee his entry into the Royal Knights.

But what appeared was a 2-degree lycanthrope with two horns.

Inside, even more formidable monsters awaited.

‘At this rate, I’ll be devoured before I even complete the special mission!’

Castro felt a strong sense of fear.

Something had gone terribly wrong.