Chapter 244 : Walpurgis Night (2)
Chapter 244: Walpurgis Night (2)
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The team leaders gathered in front of the gate.
The teleport gate had stopped functioning, as if the connection had been completely severed after the move.
Seeing that, Eriksen, the second-year representative team leader, frowned and asked.
“Shouldn’t there be a mage stationed at both ends of the teleport gate? I don’t think anyone was there when we came out earlier. Who was the first to arrive?”
“Me. But I didn’t see anyone either when I came out.”
Jennier, the third-year leader, also tilted her head, finding it strange.
As Eriksen had said, a teleport would only work properly if a mage activated the gate from the other side.
But why was there no one on this side?
Darius touched the frame of the teleport gate, which seemed newly installed, and gave his assessment.
“It’s safe to say this was intentional. I think it’s to host a new type of competition.”
“Nothing like this has happened before?”
“At least as far as I remember, this method is a first.”
Darius shook his head in response to Carl’s question.
“Maybe they’re throwing us into this situation to give different scores depending on how we respond.”
“I think that’s the most likely scenario too.”
Eriksen and Jennier shared the opinion that even this was part of the competition.
‘I don’t sense any demonic energy.’
Carl narrowed his eyes and scanned the area.
He couldn’t feel any remnants of demonic energy—neither in the teleport gate nor in the forest that spread around them.
He already knew that powers from the Demon Realm were targeting the Walpurgis Night event, but if their true goal was the competition itself, they wouldn’t have intervened from the start like this.
In that case, it was likely that the others were right, and this was part of the event.
“Then let’s assume this situation is part of the competition and act accordingly. First, we should start by searching the surroundings.”
“It’d be better to form search teams. Shall we have one team per year?”
“Let’s do that. Pick two people from each year to form a search team and send them out. The rest will set up a temporary base camp.”
Once the opinions aligned, a direction was quickly decided.
They concluded this situation was part of the Walpurgis Night event and began making preparations.
Returning to the first-year representative team, Carl relayed what had been discussed at the team leaders’ meeting.
“Indeed. If it had been terrorism, it wouldn’t have been easy to control the teleport gate.”
“Other academies might be in the same situation as us.”
“They said they’d select a search team, right?”
All eyes turned to Carl.
Being selected for the first search mission almost guaranteed extra points.
Naturally, everyone started subtly coughing, trying to draw attention to themselves with determined eyes.
“I’m really good at sensing things, you know.”
“Didn’t I tell you? Hunting is my hobby. Forests like this are basically my backyard.”
“When it comes to searching, it’s magic, obviously. I won’t get in the way and can follow smoothly…”
As everyone started making quiet appeals, Carl let out a small laugh and called two cadets.
“Lewis, Laysis.”
“Oh!”
“Hehe.”
Lewis gave a big grin, surprised to be chosen, while Laysis straightened her shoulders as if it were only natural.
“Ugh, favoritism.”
“Always siding with Laysis.”
“So the rest of us should work on building the base camp, right?”
At Maximilian’s question, Carl nodded.
“The rest, please set up the camp. We don’t know how long we’ll be here.”
“Alright, then let’s get to it.”
“I came planning to take a nap, but I guess we’re pulling an all-nighter.”
“You’re the one who bragged about training all night. It’s your karma, so don’t blame anyone.”
While the remaining cadets bantered and set up camp, Carl gathered with the search team members.
“Alright then, Laysis is obvious, but tell me why you picked me. Is it because of the Wolfsburg bloodline inheritance?”
“Of course.”
Carl nodded.
The Hopfenheim family’s bloodline inheritance was the Power of Wind.
It was a top-tier ability when it came to searching and detection.
If used properly, it could cover a much wider area than even Carl’s sensing.
“Laysis, you’ll guard Lewis. Can you do that?”
“Of course. But what about you, Carl?”
“I’ll split off midway. There’s something I need to check.”
“Hmm. Got it. Shall we head out then?”
The search teams from the other years had already departed.
Only the first-year sector remained, so they immediately headed deeper into the forest.
“No signs of magical beasts or monsters.”
“This reminds me of old times. Remember during the practical exam? I nearly died back then.”
“That was already months ago.”
Carl chuckled as he recalled the past.
During the academy’s early days, they had wandered through a forest much like this during training.
Due to a mana surge in the forest, the coordinates had been scrambled, and they had ended up in a forbidden area.
He also remembered the trouble caused by the monsters unleashed by Demon Realm forces.
“…Don’t tell me it’s those guys again?”
“Hard to say. Can’t rule it out.”
Even if the Demon Humans didn’t show up themselves, someone collaborating with them might have made a move.
No matter how strictly Crown Prince Yulian managed the situation, there were bound to be gaps.
“That should be enough. Lewis.”
“Alright. Let’s do this.”
At Carl’s call, Lewis closed his eyes and pressed his hands together, activating his power.
They had gone deep enough to start the actual search.
Winds spread from Lewis’s position and began scanning the inner forest.
“Laysis. I’m counting on you.”
“Understood. Take care.”
Laysis smiled lightly and tapped her sword.
Carl nodded in response and kicked off the ground, diving deeper into the woods.
‘I can’t sense any demonic energy. None at all.’
No matter where he looked, it was just an ordinary forest.
However, what was catching Carl’s nerves was something else.
‘This power… I’m certain I’ve felt it before.’
He wasn’t sure yet.
With a sense of déjà vu rising within him, he spread his senses in all directions and raced ahead at full speed.
He had confirmed that no one was watching, so there was no need to hold back.
At this point, even if someone discovered his movements, it wouldn’t matter much.
Thanks to the aftermath of divine power and Kylos’s help, having entered the Realm of Transcendence, few beings would be able to stand before him.
Swiik!
That was why he raced forward without hesitation and soon arrived at the source that had been prickling at his senses all this time.
Thud.
As he landed from the tree to the ground, a small hut came into view.
Seeing that it had been built in the middle of the forest, it seemed to be a temporary shelter used by hunters or herbalists.
“If you knew I was coming, you might as well come out. Isn’t it basic courtesy to speak face to face?”
…Creeeaak.
At Carl’s words, the door opened as if on cue, and someone walked out from within.
It was a woman with a pure white veil covering her face.
She walked out with reverent posture, as if performing a ritual, and slowly stood before Carl and spoke.
“Carlos Leipzig.”
“You know me?”
“I’ve long been aware of your presence. No, you didn’t seem to be trying to hide it in the first place.”
Whoosh.
The woman threw something.
Carl snatched it midair, slightly widening his eyes as he looked up.
“This is…”
It was a small medal.
On the front were unreadable characters, and on the back was an image of a snake coiling up a woman’s face.
It was a form he vaguely remembered seeing somewhere…
Soon recalling the memory, Carl let out a scoff.
“Damian. That was the form of the medal found in his heart. So, that was your organization?”
“Damian was an excellent warrior. He was born with the potential to become the next Great Warrior, but it ended in tragedy. That you met him on Beatrice Street was a twist of fate. You were never meant to cross paths there.”
“You speak as though you can see the future.”
“……”
In response, the woman lifted the veil slightly, revealing one of her eyes.
‘Her eye.’
A violet glow shimmered in it.
Though the color was different, Carl could clearly sense where that power originated.
‘Divine power. And incredibly strong at that. But not from the Cult. If I had to say…’
It was a divine power similar to that of Kylos.
If so, could she be from one of the cults that worship a demigod who failed to ascend as a Chief God, like Kylos?
“……”
With his thoughts reaching that point, Carl narrowed his eyes.
It didn’t matter that she had recognized his existence.
There was no longer any need to hide it anyway.
But could she possibly also know that he possessed Kylos’s power?
“Carlos Leipzig. You are an unusual person. You were never meant to exist in this timeline, and yet here you are, living brazenly. What did you do to twist a fate that even the gods cannot defy?”
The woman seemed to have quite a few questions of her own.
Carl could guess why.
If Mu-ak’s soul hadn’t dwelled within Carlos, he would’ve already died during the plague outbreak.
“Well. Even if I did know, I don’t see why I should tell someone who hasn’t introduced themselves or said where they’re from. Should I really share such trivial things with a stranger?”
“……”
The woman gave no reply.
She merely gazed at Carl through the veil, as if measuring something.
“The time is drawing near.”
“If you’re going to start speaking in riddles, forget it. I already know what Ragnarok means.”
The war where demigods descend upon the earth once more to determine the next Chief God.
The powers of the Demon Realm running wild surely had something to do with Ragnarok.
Perhaps they were trying to participate in the war as one of the factions.
It wasn’t hard to infer, as Carl had long suspected this.
“So, why did you call me here?”
“Your arrival before me was a coincidence bordering on fate. Even I didn’t foresee it.”
The woman looked off somewhere, then nodded before continuing.
“It seems neither of us is ready. Let’s end our meeting here for today.”
“……”
Carl narrowed his eyes.
It was a clear dismissal.
In other words, she wanted him to leave this place.
‘There’s something that must be done. That hut likely holds something important.’
Instantly seeing through the situation, Carl lifted his hand slowly, a smirk on his lips.
“After provoking me like this, you want me to leave quietly?”
“…Please reconsider. Even if we fight here, it won’t benefit either of us.”
“Forget it. I’m not interested in your face. What I want to see is what’s inside.”
As Carl’s gaze shifted toward the inside of the hut, the woman closed her mouth and clasped her hands.
“Or are you waiting for someone else to step in?”
At the same moment Carl’s gaze turned upward toward the roof of the hut, two shadows dropped to the ground.
“It’s fine, Saint. From here on, we’ll take over. Please step back.”
“Continue praying. It was never reasonable to negotiate with an unbeliever in the first place.”
They were strong enough to rival those at the level of the Transcendent Peak or higher.
Two superhuman figures who had appeared suddenly stood in Carl’s path.