Chapter 249 : Walpurgis Night (7)
Chapter 249: Walpurgis Night (7)
♠ ◆ ♥ ♣
"......The Demon Realm?"
The cadets, who had looked relieved to have finally met the event organizers, stiffened.
Along with what had just happened, the magician had introduced this place as the Demon Realm.
Who could easily brush that off in this situation?
"I’m Darius Leipzig, leader of the Bayern Academy representative team. I’d like a more detailed explanation."
Darius stepped forward slowly, gripping his greatsword.
His eyes, fixed on the magician, were filled with an unusual intensity.
Likewise, the other cadets exuded clear hostility, causing the magician to flinch and wave both hands frantically.
"Wh-why are you acting like this?"
"What do you mean this place is the Demon Realm?"
"Weren’t you told the Walpurgis Night event field was themed after the Demon Realm?"
"……?"
Darius looked back.
But if even the team leader didn’t know, how could the other cadets be aware of it?
"Does the organizing committee not know what’s happened?"
"Huh? What are you talking about……."
The magician’s eyes turned to the cadets behind them.
Even after resting for a few hours, traces of injuries were still visible in places.
The magician’s eyes widened as he continued.
"Injured! Was there no treatment on your side?"
"……."
Darius furrowed his brow.
It seemed too natural to be acting, but it was still not something he could trust easily.
Srrrk.
The cadets also assumed battle stances, preparing to fight at any moment.
Sensing the tension in the air, the magician stepped back and looked at Darius.
Darius, narrowing his eyes, answered the unspoken question in the magician’s gaze.
"We were ambushed. Right after teleporting through the gate, we fell into a strange forest."
"That was indeed the first test. You were supposed to find a mana book with spatial coordinates. But an ambush……."
"A mysterious group we couldn’t identify attacked us. Did the other academies complete their trials without issue?"
"Uh."
The magician shook his head after a brief pause.
"Only about 30% have arrived at the venue so far. The first stage was to determine event priority, but things were progressing slower than planned, so we were already puzzled……."
"……."
Darius furrowed his brows.
It meant this wasn’t a trap targeting only Bayern—but that a large-scale trap had been set without the organizers’ knowledge.
‘Which means.’
The organizing side was either colluding with those who set the trap, or their connection was deeper than anticipated.
"I want to contact Bayern."
That was when Carl, who had been quiet, stepped forward.
Ever since arriving through the teleport gate, something unseen had been irritating his senses.
It wasn’t just the previous forest—something else was here as well.
First, he needed to contact their point of contact in Bayern and relay the situation to Crown Prince Yulian von Ribera.
"Understood. Please follow me. We need to treat the injured as well."
Only then did the magician seem to grasp the gravity of the situation.
He beckoned them urgently and walked deeper inside.
It wasn’t a lie that this was the Walpurgis Night venue; large buildings lined the entrance area.
Other cadets and staff from different academies wandered about in peace, oblivious to everything.
The Bayern cadets simply walked forward with tight-lipped expressions.
"What do you think?"
That was when Yuria quietly sidled up and poked Carl in the side.
"About what?"
"This place. You can tell the entire venue is wrapped in a barrier. That red sky looking like the Demon Realm is probably due to it too."
"Hmm."
It didn’t seem to be a simple barrier.
Carl nodded, agreeing with her logical deduction.
"If the Demon Realm’s forces are involved in the event, they probably tampered with the barrier as well."
"Then shouldn’t we get out of here right away?"
"If we act too suddenly, they might react. Let’s first try contacting the outside."
Carl scanned the area around them.
He had arranged for several NOX members to infiltrate the Walpurgis Night event.
Yet despite showing himself, no one had approached him.
Had something happened internally as well?
‘Queen should be handling things well on that side….’
NOX’s strength was now beyond the point of being ignored.
Even if the Demon Realm’s forces made a move, they could handle them.
So for now, figuring out the situation took precedence over acting rashly.
"Stick close to Laysis just in case."
"Don’t worry. I’ll keep her safe."
"Who’s protecting who here."
Yuria scoffed in disbelief just as Carl locked eyes with a passing cadet.
"……."
There were no signs of brainwashing or demonic energy.
The other cadet simply tilted his head and passed by.
"Here we are."
The building the magician led them to was a large, semi-circular dormitory.
"The dorms are arranged two to a room, separated by academy. Write your name and year on the nameplate to register your room."
"Everyone, pair up strictly in twos. Those who need medical attention should head straight to the infirmary, and the rest can rest for now."
After issuing instructions to the team, Darius gave Carl a signal and followed the magician outside.
"……Can you elaborate a bit more on what you said earlier?"
The magician, who had maintained composure in front of the cadets, now looked sharply focused.
"Ah, I’m Delphir, a mage of the Blue Magic Tower collaborating with Hoakin Academy for the Walpurgis Night event."
He presented a badge proving his affiliation with the Magic Tower.
After Carl examined and nodded at it, Darius spoke.
"I believe the other academies faced similar situations. The trial’s difficulty skyrocketed without reason, and like I said earlier, we were attacked by an unknown group."
"……Hmm. We, too, had intel suggesting that a certain faction was plotting something during the event. But to think they’d move so openly like this."
It seemed he had already found the absence of the other academies suspicious.
"This way. Due to security concerns, the event grounds have been sealed with a barrier, so communication with the outside is only possible in designated zones. While you're contacting the Bayern side, I’ll summon the people from the Magic Tower and Hoakin."
If another academy suffered damages before the event even began, the entire Walpurgis Night could fall into chaos.
In the worst case, the event could be suspended, and the disgrace would fall on Hoakin Academy and the Blue Magic Tower.
‘That must be avoided at all costs.’
He couldn’t even begin to imagine how troublesome it would be to go against the academies.
Especially since, according to what he’d heard, the Imperial Palace was closely watching this event.
If he, the first to notice the anomaly, failed to act, rumors could spread later.
Creak.
"Ah, Senior. There you are. I believe we must immediately summon the Magic Tower and Hoakin personnel……."
Inside the office.
As Delphir spotted the senior mage handling paperwork, he began to stride forward.
But Carl reached out quickly and stopped him by placing a hand on his shoulder.
"Huh? Why……."
"Look over there."
"……?"
What was he supposed to see?
With a puzzled expression, Delphir followed Carl’s gaze and saw a dark red puddle pooling beneath the chair.
"Uh."
Only then did the nauseating stench of blood sting his nose.
Come to think of it, it was strange that the people sitting inside hadn’t greeted them when he entered.
He looked up, just to be sure, and saw the body of the senior mage who had been sitting with his back turned slowly rotate toward them.
Creeeeak.
With the creaking of the chair, the mage’s corpse was revealed.
His chest had been crushed, and his face was frozen in terror as if he had seen something horrifying.
"U-ugh……."
Delphir’s mind went blank at the sudden scene.
Darius hardened his expression, and Carl furrowed his brow.
"……Carl, return to the dorms and alert the other cadets—"
"It’s already too late."
Bang!
The door to the office they had just entered slammed shut.
At the same time, the scenery around them transformed, and the office turned into a massive labyrinth.
Shiiik, clang!
Darius immediately drew and swung his greatsword, striking where the office wall had been.
Normally, a building wall would have shattered with ease.
But the greatsword, imbued with magic, bounced off lightly, producing a recoil.
"Damn it."
"W-what is going on?"
"This wasn’t like this earlier, was it?"
"I felt the teleportation activate and came here right away! What in the world……!"
Delphir looked around, his eyes spinning with confusion.
A barrier that could change the surroundings and create a unique space—this was a high-level spell.
When had something like this been set up in the office?
"A trap was set from the beginning. Were we the targets?"
"Unlikely. It would be impossible to predict who would arrive first. Most likely, Bayern’s arrival via teleportation triggered some kind of catalyst."
"Goddamn it."
Bzzzzmm!
Darius grimaced and swung his greatsword more violently.
Thick crimson aura surged as he slashed at the maze’s walls, but they remained unscathed and sturdy.
Since it wasn’t a physical space, the damage seemed to be nullified by magical means.
Clicking his tongue lightly, Darius withdrew his greatsword and turned to his younger brother, who was deep in thought.
"Is there a way out?"
"Only the standard methods. Either head toward the center of the maze or find a way through to the opposite side."
"Then the dorms……."
"Something’s probably started there too."
"We don’t have much time."
"It shouldn’t be a huge problem. Laysis and the others are there."
Carl nodded lightly.
Hadn’t he pushed them harshly over the past half year precisely for moments like this?
Even if demons appeared, they should be able to hold out until he arrived.
Especially if things got dangerous, the artifact would activate, so there was little to worry about.
Srrrk.
"Still, let’s hurry and break through. We need to find out what their objective is."
"W-wait……."
"There’s no time to hesitate. I’ll take care of the mage."
Hoisting Delphir over his shoulder, Carl kicked off the ground and dashed forward.