Surviving as a Mage in a Magic Academy Chapter 940

Chapter 940

The <Illusion of Rampaging Azirmo> that the mad doppelganger had personally taught was truly threatening.

Its appearance, roaring with pitch-black scales bristling, looked so real that even the Death Knights were momentarily flustered.

-Did our master leave this behind?-

-Not, quite!-

Though the Defiler shouted so, it didn't readily reveal itself from within the realm gate.

If the opponent was truly a powerful dragon, it shouldn't rush. Moving recklessly could result in taking a critical hit.

  *

"To think we'd use it like this!"

"...You're not enjoying this, are you?"

Yi-Han threw a dumbfounded look at Alcicle's cheer.

When the high-ranking undead appeared in the empty air, the first mage to notice in the palace was Yi-Han, and the second was Alcicle.

They had realized the situation just from the wave of contaminated mana felt when the realm shook.

-How?! Without any approach?-

-We must stop it for now! If it comes down, it'll hit the ceiling here directly! Don't we have any useful magic?-

-Magic strong enough to stop such a powerful being isn't so easy... Ah! This! Let's use this!-

Fortunately, they had <Illusion of Rampaging Azirmo> and <Manifestation of Anger Duke's Illusion>.

The magic they had prepared to use in the play was still intact.

-That's a good idea!-

Yi-Han nodded and immediately cast <Illusion of Rampaging Azirmo>.

The illusion of the giant dragon let out a roar loud enough to shake the stage and seats, then rose up through the ceiling.

When they went up to check, they saw the Defiler, who had been trying to descend from the realm gate, had switched to a wait-and-see attitude for now.

"O-of course not! Those crazy evil god worshipper bastards! How did they succeed in such a summoning??"

Alcicle changed his words, seemingly embarrassed about cheering in such a situation.

'Indeed... how did they succeed?'

Yi-Han, now a mage in his own right, could understand how nonsensical the summoning that had just occurred was.

There had been no approach and no preparation process.

Approach?

Who could have approached with Death Knights secretly surrounding and guarding the area near the palace?

The preparation process was the same.

Even summoning a trivial sparrow spirit required a preparation process, but for a being of that level to just pop out like this.

"That's not what's important right now. We need to evacuate people!"

"R-right. Let's go!"

Alcicle nodded.

The reason they had tried to buy time in the first place was because of the audience in the palace.

They could see some Death Knights hurriedly flying into the palace in the time they had gained.

"Everyone, please evacua..."

-Waaaaaaaaah!-

Clap clap clap clap clap clap clap!

The two who had come back down were startled by the thunderous applause.

The people sitting in their seats were clapping enthusiastically.

'Is this a curse from the evil god worshippers?!'

"To think they'd reinterpret it so freshly!"

"Isn't this too much of a variation, though? A dragon? It's a childish idea that introducing a large and beautiful creature makes the play more intense!"

"You're the childish one! The Alcaramata family having a connection with dragons is currently the hottest new hypothesis in imperial history! This play boldly adopted that. Isn't this what art is all about?"

Though there were some who opposed, most were very strongly impressed by the dragon that had suddenly appeared.

Of course, the actors on stage were bewildered and flustered.

It was natural for them to react that way when a dragon they hadn't expected at all appeared and soared through the ceiling.

Yi-Han apologized inwardly.

'I'm sorry.'

-Evacuate! Evacuate! Evacuate!-

-Everyone get out! Einroguard students, drive the audience as far away as possible! You may use force if they don't listen!-

The Death Knights who had come down from the ceiling belatedly ordered evacuation.

The audience members who had been enjoying the highlight of an excellent play and were immersed in the afterglow were startled.

"What's going on?"

"Evil god worshippers have attacked! You must evacuate!"

"These damn bastards! Stopping such a masterpiece?!"

Some audience members protested that they needed to see the end of this masterpiece even if danger approached, but the students immediately kicked them out.

When Nillia kicked three people simultaneously, the nobles beside her exclaimed in admiration.

"That's the kick of the northern mountain range patrol..."

"Move!"

"A-alright."

Not everyone was so crazy about the play that they would risk their lives. Among the audience trying to leave the theater, some became frightened by the roars and vibrations heard from above.

"A-are you alright?"

"I-I'm fine. I can't... I can't breathe... I'll be fine if I rest a bit."

"Potions! Go to the bathroom and bring potions!"

"Shh. Speak quietly, idiot! There's no need to specifically mention the bathroom!"

The Einroguard students hurriedly ran to the bathroom and brought all the potions they had secretly made earlier.

They levitated small cauldrons in the air and made collapsed people drink or splashed them on the faces of people who had fallen into panic.

Thanks to this, order was restored to the line of people who had become chaotic while hurriedly evacuating. Asan shouted while scraping the bottom of the empty cauldron with a ladle.

"We've used all the potions!"

"We probably don't need them anymore. Everyone seems fine..."

"No!"

One of the audience members interrupted the students' conversation.

Judging by the mottled scars on his fingers, he was clearly someone involved in alchemy.

"No one can predict how this situation might escalate. We need to make more potions to be prepared for any eventuality!"

Though they didn't know what kind of being had appeared above the palace, its ominous pressure certainly stimulated people.

It would be fortunate if the Death Knights could finish off that enemy above the palace, but if not, they needed to prepare for other situations.

They needed to make as many potions as possible, starting with healing potions and including potions to counter various status effects.

"But... we've run out of ingredients we brought!"

"Don't worry. My name is O'Neil. I supply reagents to the Maykin family's alchemy workshop. I'll give you as many reagents as you need. Follow me!"

"I'll help too! I supply alchemy tools!"

The evacuating audience members spontaneously joined forces and took the Einroguard students outside.

The students of the Potion Escape Party, who were being dragged along in that flow, suddenly realized.

'...Oh, can't we just slip away after making all the potions?'

Could this be what Wardanaz meant?!

  *

-Students, take the audience and get out!-

The students of the Noble Charming Party hurriedly took the audience out.

After opening the carriage doors and calming the mounts, they crammed the audience in, and people pleaded earnestly.

"Come with us!"

"Huh? We need to stay and help the knights now!"

"B-but! There might be enemies waiting outside!"

"The knights (trying to stop our escape) patrolled thoroughly, so don't worry!"

"But... but...!"

The frightened audience wanted the Einroguard students to stay with them.

The Death Knights shouted roughly.

-Escort them!-

"Pardon?"

-Illusion mages go out too! Escort the audience and evacuate them each!-

The Death Knights, distracted by what was happening above the palace, flew away again as if they wouldn't hear any more objections.

With permission granted, the audience members grabbed the students one by one and put them in carriages.

"We'll be in your care!"

"A-alright."

The students slipped out, soothing the frightened audience members and some illusion mages.

As they did so, they thought inwardly.

'Wait. This seems similar to the plan Wardanaz mentioned.'

To think he had planned this far ahead!

  *

Salko's Dwarf Tunnel Party was dealing with the most troublesome audience members.

They were the crazy ones trying to watch even in this situation.

"Ugh! No! I'll see the end of the play!"

"What nonsense are you talking about when even the actors have all left!"

As the ceiling of the palace shook and the sound from above grew louder, the Einroguard students' faces turned grim at those who were being stubborn.

"We have no choice. Handle it the Einroguard way."

"What's that? Will they cast invisibility magic and let us watch?"

The nobles, ignorant of the ways of the world, failed to grasp what threat was coming even as the Einroguard students rolled up their sleeves and approached.

Just then, the ceiling of the palace was torn apart.

-Fool, ish, ness!-

The Defiler, finally realizing it had been deceived, erupted in anger and descended again.

At first, it had wondered if a dragon was really lying in ambush, but even while it hesitated behind the realm gate, the dragon didn't pounce.

It was excessive caution for a real dragon. The Defiler wedged its body out of the realm gate, blowing away the palace ceiling with a mist of corruption. In its giant eyeballs attached to its massive belly, humiliation and anger flashed.

"One more time!"

"But will it fall for it?"

"We have nothing to lose, right?"

"That's right! I'm casting it!"

Alcicle cast <Manifestation of Anger Duke's Illusion>. The floor engraved with magic circles was crushed by the impact of mana, and a giant demon leaped out from inside the palace.

The Defiler was shocked and retreated again.

While other beings might be different, demons were minions often controlled by the empire's top-ranking great mages. It couldn't be underestimated at all.

"De... even a demon!"

"That's not part of the play's content!"

The students shouted, but it didn't reach the ears of the audience members who were already immersed.

Salko exchanged glances with the seniors. Staffs were swung with a thud.

"Take them out!"

"Should we go towards the main gate?"

"No. It's too late! It's difficult to fight while protecting civilians. Let's escape through the tunnel. Can you complete it right away?"

"Yes!"

Seeing the Defiler's army falling all over the palace, the seniors made a quick decision.

Since the audience members left here were the last anyway, it was right to escape through the tunnel.

"First, let's send these guys back to the mansion."

"Understood. After that, should we take as much gold as we need?"

"..."

The seniors looked at Salko with bewildered eyes. Salko quickly made an excuse.

"It was a joke."

"Haha! That was a funny joke!"

  *

"It seems everyone has escaped. Let's join the battle too."

"Yes!"

"...Wait. I think I spoke carelessly in excitement just now. I meant 'I', not 'we'..."

Alcicle immediately came to his senses and spoke to Yi-Han.

He had momentarily been mistaken because Setlad's outward appearance was that of a noble with a cynical and rough impression, but Yi-Han should have evacuated too.

However, Yi-Han had already moved on to the next task before listening to Alcicle's words.

"Sharakan!"

Above Yi-Han, the shape of an obsidian mirror exhaling smoke appeared, and the realm gate began to split.

From inside, the beast of death and darkness leaped out with a roar.

-Defiler! You dared to mock the beast's downfall last time?!-

-Of, fer, ing!-

The strong beings of the undead realm who recognized each other shot out killing intent.

The beast glared at the Defiler, ignoring Sharakan's whining about being worried.

-Its power is great. You, mage. It will be impossible to maintain the beast for long, so we must end this quickly.-

"It's fine, so fight slowly! Don't rush at all!"

Yi-Han said so while preparing the next summoning.

At this attitude, the beast of death and darkness could only blink its huge eyes in bewilderment.