I Got a Fake Job at the Academy

Chapter 767 - Side Story 40: Former Students (1)

Rudger had no significant ties to the southern region. Even Rudger, who prided himself on having traveled every corner of the entire continent with nowhere left unseen, had never stayed long in the south compared to other places.

If pressed to explain, it would be fair to say there was no reason to stay.

Compared to the entire continent, the south had few places worth wandering around. Basically, while the land was incredibly vast, its density was too low.

Rather, one would find more to see in the Fatima Dynasty, where desert regions spread out even further south than the wilderness.

The Fatima Dynasty at least had peculiar magic developed there and many ancient ruins positioned throughout, so treasure hunters seeking relics frequently visited.

Excluding that, there was no reason to go to the south. In other areas, most of it was just empty plains with truly nothing at all.

'An endless plain region without mountains. Even if you enjoy viewing vast nature, that's only good for a day or two at most. Unless there's a special purpose, people don't easily go to the southern lands because the danger level is on a different dimension.'

Among those enormous and vast plains, most were occupied by the beastfolk.

The beastfolk competed for first place among the races that didn't get along well with humans due to the racial war that occurred 100 years ago.

They still hated humans and would immediately try to hunt them on sight without even asking questions.

The number of deaths from the war between beastfolk and humans at that time was even greater than the fighting that occurred in the elf forest—how terrible must it have been.

Naturally, humans didn't view such beastfolk favorably either.

Unlike elves who were noble by nature and had high spirit affinity, the beastfolk lived lives of fierce struggle for survival in barren lands. That's why beastfolk society was rough and harsh. This was also due to the wildness possessed by the beast genes flowing in their blood.

They used violence lightly and regarded life as cheap. From the perspective of modern civilized people, the beastfolk were excessively cruel and barbaric.

That tone has continued unchanged even now.

'So most people, if they're in their right mind, don't set foot in the south.'

If you wander around this vast wilderness, those guys will definitely appear. Since they're natural-born hunters, they keenly detect the presence of intruders who enter their territory.

Excluding the Silk Road leading to the Fatima Dynasty, all other lands were danger zones where you'd encounter beastfolk.

If that happened, you could consider 90% of them as good as dead.

'It's not just dying either. Some ferocious beastfolk tribes skin their prey alive or hang them on poles to be eaten alive by eagles.'

The reason it was 90% was because there were still 10% of beastfolk tribes that were friendly to humans. These were cases where their tribes were close to human territories, inevitably creating many points of contact and accepting that culture.

However, encountering such individuals was extremely rare. And depending on the timing, even tribes friendly to humans could sometimes be hostile to them.

'Perhaps, just like right now.'

Rudger observed the beastfolk circling around him. With cloths wrapped around their mouths and wearing leather clothes, they were riding bikes and surrounding him.

Right. Bikes.

'I heard that beastfolk usually ride horses though.'

Of course, this also differed by tribe. He'd heard that some tribes rode wolves.

But most rode horses. To cross these vast plains, they needed excellent endurance more than fast speed.

'There's nothing more dangerous than beastfolk on horses. Even if you spot them at the edge of the plain and run away, they'll catch up immediately.'

That's why the beastfolk on bikes were even more unexpected.

'Does that mean they're the tribe closest to human civilization?'

Usually in such cases, they were known to not be very hostile toward humans. Since they accepted civilization more openly than anyone else.

Just looking at them riding those bikes now proved it. These were choppers, with front wheels grotesquely large and handlebars so high they were at shoulder height.

Not something manufactured and sold in stores, but the result of modifying existing bikes to their own taste.

Various objects symbolizing the beastfolk were attached all over the bikes. Decorations made by weaving together beast bones and teeth.

Just looking at that, there was no doubt that these beastfolk were the ones who modified the bikes.

So the question was whether they held goodwill toward him.

"Kehehehehe! This human bastard is scared!" 

"Entering our territory without any fear! How should we cook you!" 

"Kihihihi! Since you're a rare toy, we'll play with you as much as possible before killing you!"

......No matter how he looked at it, they didn't seem to hold any goodwill toward him.

Which meant they were the kind that hunted humans.

'Usually such tribes hate humans and have great pride in being beastfolk, don't they?'

But those beastfolk didn't seem like that at all. They appeared extremely violent, like people facing some kind of post-apocalyptic end times.

Well. Three years had passed. It was enough time for the information he'd collected while wandering the south to have changed.

'What's important now is what to do with these guys.'

Well, it didn't seem like they'd accept it even if he quietly surrendered. The immediate proof was one of the circling bikes charging at Rudger from behind.

Quietly, soundlessly. A beastfolk sitting in the back seat of the bike approaching from behind swung a pipe in their hand.

The plan was to strike the back of his head first to knock him unconscious. Of course, Rudger had already noticed that surprise attack.

Thwang!

The pipe bounced off the defensive magic deployed behind him.

"Damn it! He's a mage!" 

"Be careful!"

Rudger's eyes narrowed at the sight of the bikes instantly scattering.

'Their response is faster than expected.'

They should have been surprised that he was a mage, but instead they quickly shared information and moved as if pre-coordinated.

The encirclement widened further than before, but that didn't make it loose. They were maintaining exactly the safe distance where they could respond if magic was fired.

'They've dealt with mages more than once or twice. Just looking at that, they've already hunted several mages.'

Well, mages weren't always invincible. Most mages were only advantageous in battles with organized formations; in surrounded situations like this, they couldn't use their power. Of course, that only applied to most mages—in other words, those whose magical realm was low.

"Capture him!"

Fwoosh!

With the sound of something being shot, a net spread widely through the air.

They increased one by one, becoming a total of five. These weren't ordinary nets. Judging by the wires made of special metal, they were clearly equipment specifically for dealing with mages.

"Annoying."

The moment the nets covered the air trying to capture Rudger.

Crrrrrick!

Metal cubes floated up around Rudger.

The cubes quickly assembled and transformed into the shape of swords. A total of four steel swords shot forward in different directions.

Swish swish swish swish!

As lines were drawn through the air, the nets caught in those trajectories were miserably cut apart. No matter how sturdy the special metal wire was, it was useless. The steel swords Rudger deployed could cut even things several times tougher than that like paper.

The four steel swords that shot up into the air tearing apart the nets turned direction toward the beastfolk.

"You crazy bastard!"

The beastfolk who saw this turned pale and scattered. 

Perhaps because they'd dealt with mages more than once or twice. Though surprised, their response was swift. Even if they acted like small fry on the outside, each one of them was proof they were warriors as beastfolk.

The sight of them realizing the opponent wasn't someone they could handle and quickly retreating. Their ability to swiftly assess the enemy's skill was quite impressive, but. Their luck was bad today.

"Since you tried to kill me, I hope you're prepared for the same. Since you're beastfolk, you won't have any complaints."

Fwssh!

The appearance of the steel swords became blurry and disappeared. A moment later, along with a fwoosh sound, the air burst, creating a sonic boom. The beastfolk driving the motorcycle instinctively jerked the handle. It wasn't dodging after seeing it. It was purely an action taken because their beast instinct sensed danger.

But even so, before the steel sword, it was slower than a turtle running.

Crash!

The giant sword pierced through the motorcycle. The running bike exploded and the beastfolk were thrown off.

The steel sword that eliminated its target turned direction in the air and moved to find new prey. Like marlin swimming swiftly through the sea, the four swords moving at tremendous speed intercepted all the motorcycles of the fleeing beastfolk.

Some just fell over, but in unlucky cases, the bikes exploded along with red flames.

Some beastfolk swung their weapons at the timing when the steel swords came.

That too wasn't reacting after seeing it, but an action close to pure instinct. Sensing when the sword would approach and swinging their weapon there. Naturally, they didn't just swing but also contained the beastfolk's unique power, Spirit.

However,

Crash!

The beastfolk warriors trying to do such things had to have their bodies pierced along with their weapons.

"If you'd focused on evasion instead, at least you wouldn't have died."

It took less than a minute for the group of over twenty bikes that had scattered in all directions to be completely annihilated.

The beastfolk also sustained considerable injuries in the process. Naturally, there were deaths too.

Rudger observed such beastfolk with a cold gaze.

"Mo, monster." 

"Where the hell did such a mage appear from!"

Perhaps sensing they couldn't escape from Rudger, they re-gripped their weapons. There wasn't anyone who gave up in fear here. Rather, because they were cornered, they revealed their wildness without restraint.

The pupils in their eyes tore vertically long, and the fingernails on their weapon-gripping hands grew longer. Their hair bristled as if surging, and their beast ears stiffened.

It wasn't quite to the point of barely losing their reason.

"Grrrrr! Kill!"

There was no one who refused that cry. Probably because they instinctively recognized that if they didn't kill, they would die. The movements charging from all directions simultaneously were like beasts, swift, and each one aimed at this side's lifeline.

Rudger snorted and stomped his foot.

Then, centered on him, the surrounding ground deeply caved in downward. The enormous sand pit created in an instant swallowed up the beastfolk.

Tap!

However, some beastfolk leaped high by stepping on a comrade's head with superhuman reflexes.

The moment he tried to intercept those floating in the air with pure magical power, they displayed another extraordinary movement.

Tap!

Namely, they stepped on the air and leaped again.

'That's.'

He had a memory of seeing it. Pantos had also displayed the same technique before. Creating Spirit in the air and using it as a foothold to move, wasn't it?

Their movements were far too crude compared to Pantos', but they were at a sufficient level to change direction in the air.

Those falling like eagles while changing direction at right angles in an instant. Rudger tried to use magic toward them but soon stopped.

'Why did he suddenly stop?' 

'Whatever the reason, now's our chance!'

There were a total of three beastfolk charging at Rudger. They were the most skilled individuals in that organization.

They each aimed for Rudger's vital points with their elongated claws. At that moment, one shadow dropped down above Rudger's head.

"What?"

The surprised beastfolk tried to react but it was already too late. Having used Spirit once to change direction, there wasn't enough time to change direction again.

More than anything, the skill of the unexpected intruder far exceeded their imagination.

-Crash!

A leg whipped like a whip struck the temple of one beastfolk. He got hit even though he turned his head to evade, because the leg naturally followed the trajectory of the turning head.

The intruder used that rebound to rotate his body and pulled out a wooden stick from his waist. His gaze gleamed sharply from beneath his pressed-down hat. He swung the stick following the trajectory drawn in his eyes.

Thud! Thud!

Two beastfolk were hit by it and fell powerlessly. Movements that even the beastfolk's reaction speed couldn't handle.

Fast and powerful. But more impressive than that was the precision of trying to subdue the opponent in one strike.

The three beastfolk crashed into the sand pit Rudger created.

Rudger took out his staff and thumped the ground once more.

The pit that had been endlessly sinking bulged out and pulled out all the beastfolk it had swallowed.

The beastfolk had only their heads sticking out, their bodies fixed to the ground. It looked like radishes at harvest time. No matter how much they struggled in confusion, they couldn't budge.

Rudger paid no attention to such beastfolk. His gaze was directed toward the man who had interfered in this fight.

"Your skills have improved much more since I last saw you. Rather, you've made such rapid progress that now it's hard to believe you're a mage."

Rudger's and the intruder's gazes met. The man with a sturdy build lifted his hat and adjusted his glasses.

"Teacher?" 

"Yes. It's been a while, Aidan."

Rudger greeted his former student, Aidan.

"Teacher!"

Aidan ran toward Rudger.