Chapter 68

Chaos reigned in the coliseum.

Everyone was scrambling, shoving, and trampling others in a desperate race for survival. Some sacrificed their own safety to protect children, parents, or loved ones, while others fainted or babbled incoherently under the aura of dread emitted by the monster.

It was a horrifying sight.

This was what the appearance of an unimaginable, unassailable monster looked like. Panic was everywhere, and just maintaining sanity required an overwhelming effort.

Amid this catastrophic scene—

“This is… a failure.”

“This isn’t nearly as ‘peaceful’ as it should be… such a shame.”

Two figures sat in calm conversation, undisturbed by the pandemonium. They were priests, one clad in the robes of a high priest, yet no one seemed to notice them or seek their help.

Listening to the screams as if they were music, the high priest spoke up.

“It’s not going as planned.”

While it was a tragic sight for others, the high priest’s “plan” required much more chaos than this.

There had to be death—sacrifice!

The scene needed to be filled with blood, despair, and faces contorted in hopelessness. But as it was now?

“There’s no proper sacrifice.”

Though chaotic, this lukewarm confusion would be quelled eventually.

The high priest shook his head in disappointment.

“It seems the plan has deviated significantly.”

“Yes, I apologize, Commander. I did my best, but somehow, things didn’t go as expected.”

The younger priest, typically mischievous, couldn’t hide his regret this time. Yet the high priest shook his head.

“It’s hardly your fault. I was arrogant to assume everything would go perfectly.”

“……”

“So, don’t be too hard on yourself.”

“…Thank you, Commander.”

“No need for thanks. The fact remains that the ‘offerings’ are escaping. So, there’s only one option left.”

“…What?”

“Activate the second summoning circle.”

“But… that would consume a considerable amount…”

The effort to summon the colossal monster had already drained resources equivalent to half a year’s budget of the kingdom—possibly even more.

And now, they would risk even greater losses?

But the high priest only gave a firm order.

“Do it. Now.”

“……”

Taking full responsibility, he left no room for debate.

“Well, I wash my hands of this.”

The younger priest obediently drew a staff from his robes.

Woooong.

Dark, muddy mana surged, and the high priest simply nodded in acknowledgment before turning his gaze back to the center of the coliseum.

“A vile knight dares to interfere with the grand endeavor?”

Disgust and hatred filled his eyes.

If he could, he’d tear the knight to shreds himself. But he restrained himself.

This stage wasn’t meant for them.

Even so, he swore to his god:

“I will kill him, no matter the cost.”

—In the darkness, the creature roared.

[[Grrrrr…!]]

Its sheer size was unfathomable.

Its voice alone resonated like a menacing drumbeat throughout the entire coliseum. But more terrifying than its size—

Fwoosh!

Squirm… squirm…

—was the fact that it continued to regenerate despite still burning.

Its regenerative power was astonishing.

What a monster! That was a strike beyond reckoning…!

Oddwal, the arrogant mage, sneered at knights, but he wasn’t foolish enough to underestimate their abilities.

He understood what had happened.

That barbaric knight’s ballista strike was a feat even a high-level mage would struggle to replicate.

In theory, it was enough to kill any large creature outright.

So the fact that this monster wasn’t just unharmed but was regenerating quickly was terrifying.

Who could have summoned such a creature?!

A creature that had likely lived for centuries, growing larger and more formidable with each passing year. It was certain that this beast had survived the brutal laws of nature for at least a hundred years.

But creatures like this were thought to be wiped out in the reign of the previous king!

The thought was unbearable. A creature of this caliber was presumed extinct.

“Hey, slave, let me ask you something. That thing looks like it’s magic—can’t you dispel it?”

“…That’s a ridiculously naive question. Summoning magic operates under ‘absolute contracts.’ So, that creature…”

“Enough. If you can’t, just say so without wasting breath, useless man.”

“!!?”

Oddwal felt a surge of indignation.

It wasn’t a matter of skill; no mage alive could disrupt that summoning magic. Why was he being blamed?

“It’s not a matter of skill!” he shouted, practically pleading.

This summoning spell must have been activated through a massive sacrifice, making it an absolute spell.

Once a creature like this was summoned, it would appear no matter what—there was no way to undo the “contract.”

The creature was bound to manifest fully. Its enormous size was merely preventing it from emerging completely for now, but eventually, it would come through.

“W-we have to flee! Or call for reinforcements from the kingdom! That monster isn’t something you can handle alone!”

“……”

“Don’t be foolish! Do you want to play hero?”

Oddwal desperately tried to reason with the knight.

He wanted to survive, to flee, but he couldn’t refuse the knight’s orders due to the blasted “contract.”

So he begged.

But—

“Looks like the spectators have mostly fled. Maybe we should go too.”

“That’s the first sensible thing you’ve said!”

“But it seems our friend up there has no intention of letting us go.”

“W-what nonsense…!”

“It’s not nonsense. Look.”

“What are you… ugh!?”

Oddwal, feeling like his neck might snap from the rough grip on his collar, found himself gazing skyward in horror.

Above him…

“This is insane…!”

A new summoning circle had appeared.

Thud!

At first, it looked like hail.

Dark, greenish hail falling from the sky—a disturbing sight. As more of it fell—

“M-monsters… monsters are falling from the sky…!”

It became clear what it was.

Creatures, curled into balls as they plummeted. Predators, natural-born flesh-eaters, a scourge upon humanity.

The dark clouds weren’t only spewing forth a colossal monster; smaller creatures were also pouring out.

Thud!

Monsters rained down.

There were so many that the numbers were dizzying.

Hundreds, at least.

Thud!

The creatures crashed into the ground from dozens of meters up, creating massive clouds of dust.

One could only hope they’d perished from the fall, but such hope was futile when dealing with summoned creatures. Only the strongest of monsters were ever called forth.

In other words—

[Kiaaa!!]

[KRR-!]

—none of these creatures were weak enough to die from a simple fall.

“G-Gnolls!”

Gnolls.

Creatures resembling a blend of dogs and hyenas, covered in filth and carrying venom that spread disease. Their thick hides made them tough to kill, even with arrows.

And their favorite prey…

“Hide the children and the women! Quickly—!!”

…were human infants and young women.

Gnolls, the very embodiment of everything humans loathed and feared.

And now, a mass of gnolls.

[KiaAA!!]

More than a hundred gnolls howled in unison.

[Kieee…!]

Clad in stolen armor and wielding looted axes, they drooled, their bloodshot eyes glazed with excitement at the scent of their favorite prey.

It was like an all-you-can-eat buffet had appeared before them, each meal more tempting than the last.

And yet—

Swish!

Thud.

[……?]

One gnoll didn’t fully register what happened as the head of its companion suddenly rolled off beside it.

In slow motion, it turned to see one last sight in its life:

“Quiet. You stink.”

Shhhk!

The axe-wielding warrior’s blade cleaved through another gnoll, decapitating it with the precision of someone cutting a scarecrow.

Thud!

More bodies fell as his axe carved effortlessly through gnolls, normally high-ranking monsters, as if they were straw.

“Rohan.”

“Roen Drimit de Lionel, present, Instructor.”

“Given that we’re in a battle, address me as ‘Sir.’”

“As you command, Sir Ihan.”

There stood Ihan, face etched with unprecedented fury.

Having dispatched a gnoll, Roen stood by him, awaiting orders.

“Do you know who’s responsible for this?”

“…I don’t.”

“You wouldn’t lie, would you?”

“I swear on my life.”

His expression was calm as ever, but there was a slight tremor in his eyes. Even he didn’t know what was happening.

It was something outside the knowledge of a regressor.

But for Ihan, the identity of the summoner wasn’t the immediate concern.

“Then I’ll trust you.”

“……”

All he needed was a skilled fighter.

“Here are your orders: I’ll appoint you as my lieutenant and assign Levy Fort as your adjutant. Lead whoever’s able and exterminate these filthy bastards.”

“……”

Before Roen could respond, ten gnolls stealthily crept toward Ihan.

[KiaAA!!]

They were twice the size of an average adult, a truly threatening sight, yet—

Splat!

“I asked if you understood.”

“Well, sir, you seem more than capable of killing them all yourself.”

Ihan’s axe sliced through nine gnolls in an instant, leaving one remaining, which he promptly grabbed by the skull.

Crunch!

With a sickening sound, his fingers crushed into the creature’s skull, killing it instantly as it struggled in his grip.

Ihan shook the gnoll off his hand like dirt, then gave Roen a firm look.

“I’ve got my own target to deal with.”

He pointed to the ominous figure in the sky, a grim determination filling his gaze.

Roen’s expression darkened. “…Will you be alright on your own?”

“I may not be able to kill it, but I’ll hold my ground.” Ihan responded resolutely. “So, your answer?”

Roen looked into his commander’s eyes—an unwavering man who was trusting him with the battlefield’s chaos below. To refuse this task would betray his own pride as a Northern warrior.

Finally, Roen struck his chest with his fist, a warrior’s salute of absolute commitment.

“I will obey, Sir.”

“That’s the spirit.”

Satisfied, Ihan took a deep breath, gathering his energy.

Hoooop!

[[Hear me, One Hundred and Eight Arhats!]]

His mighty voice thundered across the coliseum, momentarily paralyzing the gnolls with the killing intent laced in his command.

The knight’s disciples, who had been staring wide-eyed, snapped to attention, roused by his powerful call.

[[From this moment, Roen Drimit de Lionel and Levy Fort are acting as my deputies. Those of you who can still fight, follow their command and exterminate every last one of these vile creatures!]]

A heavy silence hung, then—

[[Not one left alive! Wipe them all out!]]

A chorus of fierce shouts erupted as every Swordsmanship freshman saluted, swords at the ready.

Of the eighty students present, not one tried to flee.

“…Are you sure you need any of us?” Roen muttered as he watched Ihan’s commanding presence, his voice alone enough to cow hundreds of gnolls.

The fight was about to begin.