I Got a Fake Job at the Academy

Chapter 811 - Side Story 84: Ancient Ruins (1)

"Damn it."

Arius Balder, a former paladin of the Lumensis Order, couldn't help but let out a curse.

The sweat flowing on his skin was sticky. The air was humid and the surroundings were full of insects, an environment difficult for a person to endure easily.

'Even so, to think there's such a hot forest at the edge of the north.'

It didn't make sense logically, but he decided to accept it positively since this was a place with ancient ruins. For the glory that was to come, he could endure this much hardship.

However, what was truly unbearable was the danger this forest possessed. It was the same now.

"It's coming!" 

"Everyone maintain defensive formation!"

A massive presence could be felt moving beyond the forest. An agility that didn't match its huge bulk circled around them.

Just as everyone wore tense expressions, it moved.

Kuhuhung!

It was a saber-toothed tiger whose front teeth had grown eerily long. It had dark gray fur and two tails. At the end of each tail were sharp blade-like daggers.

"It's a spirit beast!"

One of the Bretus Holy Kingdom's remnants shouted. It was a cry to warn allies, but unfortunately, it caught the saber-toothed tiger spirit beast's attention.

Kurrrung!

"Uh, uhhh?"

No matter how brave a paladin was, there was nothing they could do when a beast the size of a house stared at them. The paladin instinctively hesitated and stepped back.

That was a mistake. The moment you showed weakness to a wild beast, it was no different from admitting you were prey.

Kwaang!

The saber-toothed tiger opened its mouth wide and charged. It was surprisingly fast and agile. The startled paladin lifted a white shield as large as his torso. It was almost a reflexive action.

Paaaaat!

A brilliant golden light dwelled in the shield. The shield made by mixing holystone amplified divine power, making his holy technique even stronger. For a hasty response, it was excellent.

The paladin thought. After blocking the creature's bite like this, he would strike its face with the mace in his hand.

However, an excellent method didn't necessarily produce good results.

Kwajik!

"Huh?"

The paladin watched in real-time as his shield was crushed pathetically easily. The shield imbued with holy power, a shield that could easily block even 3rd circle magic, was too easily pierced by the saber-toothed tiger's massive teeth.

Puuk!

The teeth didn't stop and pierced through the paladin hiding behind the shield.

"Sir Balter!"

The surrounding comrades shouted the dead paladin's name. They rushed at the saber-toothed tiger. Seeing weapons imbued with holy techniques approaching from all directions, the saber-toothed tiger snorted.

'It's mocking us?'

Arius was surprised by the fact that the beast had mocked them. What was even more surprising happened next.

Chiiiik!

Hazy fog poured out from the saber-toothed tiger's body. Like evaporating water instantly to spray steam, the fog from the saber-toothed tiger's body rose densely and engulfed the surroundings.

When the paladins swung their weapons, what they cut was nothing but empty air.

"Fog? What the hell is this......" 

"I can't see anything!" 

"Kyaaaak!"

A comrade's scream was heard from beyond the fog. Soon after, even a massive whitish shadow could be seen passing by.

Arius' expression hardened.

"Everyone gather! Maintain battle formation! This is the creature's ability!"

The paladins rushed together toward where the voice was heard. A formation was instantly established with priests in the center and paladins guarding the outside.

"Come! You cunning beast! I, I'll show you what the justice of light is!"

When Arius used his holy power, a sword glowing golden rose above his head.

The vertically raised sword split like a fan unfolding and increased to five swords.

When the five swords emitted light like the sun, the hazy fog was washed away.

The fog didn't completely clear, but it definitely became fainter compared to when they couldn't see an inch ahead. The saber-toothed tiger's form hiding in the fog was also revealed. The creature growled and spewed fog, but the holy power didn't allow it.

"Die!" 

-Kwaang!!

A fierce battle between the Bretus remnants and the spirit beast continued. The bloody battle continued several times, and the fight ended with the spirit beast's defeat.

The blood-soaked saber-toothed tiger collapsed. Countless golden weapons were embedded all over its body.

When the massive bulk fell, the ground shook greatly once. Even seeing this, the Bretus remnants couldn't rejoice.

"How many died?" 

"......Five."

The priests were relatively unharmed, but five paladins who had to guard the front lines died. The paladins boasted tremendous defense and vitality through holy techniques, but the saber-toothed tiger spirit beast's teeth didn't allow such recovery and cut off their breath in one strike.

"Damn it."

Arius ground his teeth. He hadn't anticipated any loss of forces in a place like this at all.

Not knowing what dangers might exist inside the most important ruins, who would have thought such a thing would happen from the very entrance.

'This isn't good. It was fine up to cutting off the traces of those empire lackeys, but to get held up in a place like this.'

It was impressive that there was a tropical rainforest in a glacial zone, but he hadn't anticipated that the beasts living here would all be so powerful.

Of all things, a spirit beast.

'Spirit beasts that are usually hard to see are teeming in this forest to the point where it's hard to know how many there are. It's truly an otherworldly demonic realm.'

Coming here, thanks to good luck, they hadn't frequently encountered spirit beasts, and even when they did, they avoided combat as much as possible. Spirit beasts also had intelligence, so they knew they would be seriously injured if they attacked recklessly.

'Rather, I thought we somehow came without damage thanks to thorough preparation.'

But that became more difficult the closer they got to the forest's center, and eventually reached impossibility.

The spirit beasts dwelling deeper in the forest were stronger and larger, and their temperament was also arrogant and ferocious.

Even knowing that the human group posed a considerable threat, they made them pay dearly for invading their territory.

Because of this, the damage to the paladins and priests of Bretus who had gathered all their remaining forces was significant.

'But we're not completely without methods either.'

Arius's gaze turned to one side. In the following unit, those whose attire didn't match Bretus Holy Kingdom natives were gathered in small groups.

Unlike them who should be pure white and holy, people who didn't hide their darkness and gloom.

They were black mages.

Arius' gaze toward the black mages wasn't favorable.

'No matter how much we've fallen, to have to join hands with those lowly black mage bastards.'

The visceral disgust toward black mages lurking deep inside raised its head. Arius suppressed his emotions with cold reason.

'But it's true that those guys are helpful. If not for them, we couldn't have come this far safely.'

Though they suffered damage from the spirit beast, without the black mages, the damage would have been greater. One way or another, it was undeniable that they had shown considerable usefulness in getting here.

'It was also them who noticed those empire lackey bastards.'

Black mages had lived hidden in society's darkness for a long time. They possessed quite excellent abilities in gathering information.

And they played a large role in minimizing friction with spirit beasts until the Bretus remnants reached the forest's center.

'I don't like it, but since they're useful, I have no choice but to keep them around.'

He didn't know how much more damage from spirit beasts there would be ahead, but Arius decided not to worry too much.

Anyway, if they were suffering this much damage, other explorers and companies would be suffering even more.

And in fact, Arius' thinking was spot on.

Most explorers succeeded in reaching the forest, but couldn't even enter from the forest's entrance because of the spirit beasts' presence.

Those who ignorantly stepped into the forest had to suffer great hardship not only from spirit beasts but also from evolved beasts lurking inside, plants containing mana, and poisonous insects.

Even for explorers who could prepare for most situations, this forest was a very difficult demonic realm. Of course, they weren't without justification for feeling wronged.

Of all things, in a location existing at the cold northern continent's edge, who could have predicted there would be such a lush primeval forest?

Most of their luggage consisted of cold-weather gear to prepare for severe cold, but it all became useless.

But to go back and resupply, who knows how much time that would consume. Beyond returning to the forward base, they would have to cross the Celestial Sea again to return to the continent.

Those who didn't want that displayed foolish recklessness, and the price was paid dearly with their own lives.

In such a situation, Arius and the Bretus remnants were overwhelmingly ahead of any other team.

'What's somewhat worrying are the mages from various schools of the New Magic Tower, but even they won't find it easy to break through the spirit beasts.'

Arius was confident. Like this, they could enter the ancient ruins and claim artifacts and relics before anyone else.

'It's certain there are ruins inside. Ruins of an ancient civilization at that. Since it's also the place the great mage and adventurer Lexer headed for, it must be certain.'

Just retrieving artifacts from inside would be a great addition to their forces. Especially if they could just get their hands on relics, the story would change from that point.

'Rebuilding the Bretus Holy Kingdom like this is not a dream.'

Compared to the golden age when they ruled the entire continent it would be lacking, but so what. If they could just rebuild the foundation, after that they just needed to slowly expand their influence like before.

The saint's absence was painful, but if they obtained relics, it didn't matter if there was no saint. If they could do that, even those black mage bastards over there would no longer be needed.

"Move out."

At Arius' command, the paladins moved. The black mages watching exchanged glances among themselves.

The black mage school Cabalum Nova and Rufus Wickers, the school head leading that school, watched the paladins taking the lead with a calm gaze.

'Filthy Lumensis hunting dogs. Do you think we don't know your intentions?'

Rufus knew that Arius and the paladins and priests regarded them unfavorably.

Was that all? Considering their tendencies, they might try to abandon this side the moment they entered the ancient ruins.

No matter how much their divine power had weakened compared to the past, the power of compatibility was unavoidable. Above all, although Arius didn't make it into the three great paladin commanders, there were persistent rumors that his skill was comparable to theirs.

'It was because of his filthy temper and cruel nature that he couldn't rise to the position.'

Would such a person, trying to rebuild after his homeland fell, choose normal methods?

'Those who usually looked down on us must feel like breaking out in hives just working with us. It's the same for us. Those who did filthier things than us while crying out in god's name.'

Just as Arius didn't trust the Cabalum Nova School, they also didn't trust Arius and the paladins and priests.

They joined hands only because this side had fewer numbers and lacked the forces to cross the forest of spirit beasts.

'Once we enter inside, from then on it's our stage.'

Arius probably thinks he holds this side's leash, but that's a big mistake. Their combat power might be higher, but the advantage in materials and information about the ruins lies with this side.

They know this too, which is why they're trying to somehow safely transport them to the ruins.

'Whatever it is, we won't play along with your plans. Rather, it will be the opposite.'

Rufus sent a look to the school members. The school members wearing black hoods pulled low nodded with heavy expressions.

The march continued. The spirit beasts' anger-filled cries and battle sounds echoed everywhere. Occasionally seeing magical fluctuations burst out, it seemed the mage bastards were following closely.

But they were unlucky enough to properly run into spirit beasts. On the other hand, this side was moving as safely as possible by borrowing the power of artifacts used by the black mages.

"This way."

Rufus, who had now taken the lead beside Arius, guided the way.

Beyond the dense trees, a massive building standing tall began to appear.

"Ooh! There!" 

"We can finally see it!" 

"Everyone, don't act rashly! Until we reach inside there, we don't know when or where danger might approach!"

After warning the priests making a fuss, Arius asked Rufus.

"Any nearby spirit beasts?"

An openly condescending tone. Rufus found it unpleasant, but answered without showing it.

"Not anymore. I don't sense the reaction of a massive life form like a spirit beast." 

"Hmm. So you say." 

"I'll say this out of caution, but only we know the method of entering the ruins." 

"Who said anything? Of course I'm aware of that."

Rufus inwardly frowned.

'Aware my ass. It's obvious you're trying to devour this side at any opportunity.'

But he couldn't openly display dissatisfaction. For now, since they were under their protection until inside the ruins, Rufus could confidently take the lead.

"Anyway, no one could have reached the ruins first. Moreover, since the entrance is hidden, unless they know the structure......"

It was the moment when Rufus was continuing his explanation as they approached the ruins.

Arius raised his hand and stopped the march. Rufus looked at Arius asking what was wrong. Instead of answering, Arius pointed at the fully revealed ruins with a stiffened face.

Rufus followed the gesture with his gaze. His expression twisted upon seeing something strange.

'What the hell is that?'

A man was loitering around standing at the ruins entrance.

"Huh?"

Perhaps sensing the presence of many people, the man also turned around.

The man, Hans, became blank-faced at the dozens of gazes staring at him, then waved with an awkward smile.

"Oh, nice to meet you?"

Arius commanded in a cold voice.

"Catch him."