SRS 22

“First we have to fight the bird at close range, so help us fly. Yohan, can you ask the divine power group and the healer group to put shields on the close range fighters.”

“I can do it. Priests, gather. Let’s give the hunters a blessing.”

“We will cast every buff we can.”

“Ah, whatever it is, hurry. Our power resources are not infinite. We are going to die.”

The water ability users who were creating a water shield to block the phoenix’s fire until the preparations finished shouted while sweat trickled down their faces.

The mages who contracted with water spirits or knew water magic were helping, but the phoenix’s firepower was so strong that they could barely hold on.

Yohan quickly gave blessings to the hunters who gathered in front of him in small groups.

“May the blessing of the god stay with you.”

“Helio will help you.”

“May the sun god’s blessing follow every step you take.”

Because each of them came from a different dimension, their blessing styles were different, but the effects were similar.

They raised recovery and other physical abilities and planted divine power. The power of the gods that the blessing gave them would willingly help when they wanted to create a miracle.

The students who received many kinds of enhancements from the healer group then received flight magic and weapon strengthening magic and flew up.

They all experienced the hydra battle once, so everyone was better at using their abilities and cooperating than they had been back then.

“Split in every direction and attack from two sides. Long range attackers, watch and shoot when the phoenix changes direction.”

Suhyeok took out the silver steel thread called wire and moved forward with the hunters to begin the first strike.

Kwaaaang!

The phoenix, swooshing under the onslaught of attacks, soared upward. Its flapped it wide spread wings. The phoenix’s feathers, tinged with flame, flew toward the hunters.

“Now, shoot it down!”

The archers who had been watching shot their arrows quickly and knocked the phoenix’s feathers down. Some feathers they failed to knock down aimed at the students, but the shield they prepared in advance blocked the attacks.

Crack.

However, that single attack already cracked the shield.

“No… How is its attack that strong?”

The protective shield, built layer by layer, was filled with blessings and buffs from over forty capable individuals, but it was so hollow it cracked. A look of helplessness appeared o n the students’ faces.

“Don’t break down mentally. We already know it is a strong opponent. We just have to repair it again at the right moment.”

Yohan encouraged them and filled the cracks with divine power. The students came to their senses and assisted him, and the battle raged on.

-Kieeek.

The phoenix screamed when the persistent attacks hit it and kept it from escaping to the sky.

“We landed a valid strike! Don’t be scared! It is much weaker than the hydra!”

“Yes! At least it’s more possible than it was then!”

The students, hardened by an experience more absurd than the phoenix’s attack, united and launched an attack.

“Everyone move back! First water bomb!”

The water ability users recovered their power resources through the blessings given by several priests and mages, and they created a huge water bomb and dropped it over the phoenix’s head.

They could never have done it alone, but the result was enormous when they joined forces.

Splash!

The phoenix shrieked with a scraping sound against the torrent of water. The enraged creature opened its mouth and blasted flames at the earth.

Piiing, ping.

“Move!”

The two or three volleys of fire forced the gathered students to disperse.

“Damn it! There’s not much time left! The sun’s rising! First period’s about to start!”

“Aaah!”

“Ahh! Attack harder! I’ve used so much force that my mana is depleted, and if I’m punished for being late for class, I’ll die of frustration!”

The students, growing impatient, ferociously attacked the phoenix. Yohan sought out his non-combat friends and the injured, evacuating them from their positions and tending to their wounds.

“Th-thanks, Yohan.”

“You do not have to thank me. Everything is the god’s mercy.”

“Yohan…”

“Then let us return to the fight.”

“……”

The student who looked moved suddenly turned serious. Yohan looked at him as if nothing was wrong, returned him to the battlefield, and ran quickly to find the next injured student.

Boom, boom!

“Explosion! It is an explosion. Wahaha!”

“Valkan, you idiot! Stop throwing explosive potions for nothing and check the timing!”

They did their best to coordinate, but the attacks sometimes fell apart because of a few troublemakers. Yohan noticed the chaos and had Kylus knock the troublemakers out by hitting the back of their necks.

Sometimes a student helped more by staying out of the battle.

-Kieeeek.

“Hang on. The phoenix’s firepower weakened.”

“The fire on its tail feathers went out. That means it is weakening. Hold on a little more.”

After they gritted their teeth and fought, the huge and powerful phoenix faltered and backed away. The water ability users added the third water bomb, which became the finishing blow.

Splash!

Maybe because they had squeezed out the last of their strength, the students’ final strike, far stronger than the first or second waves of water bombs, made the enormous firebird lose its fiery power for an instant. For that brief moment, the monster became no different from an ordinary bird, and every student launched an all-out attack.

“Don’t give it any openings!”

Following Suhyeok’s command, over a hundred attacks rained down fiercely.

Boo-Boom!

–Kii…

After the repeated bombardment, the firebird finally lost strength and crashed down from the sky. The students quickly moved away from the point of impact and cheered in delight.

“We did it!”

“We won! We actually did it!”

“Yohan! We won!”

Unable to contain their excitement, the students rushed toward him, and Yohan stumbled backward, landing on his butt. He had pushed himself to run and use divine power even though he was still exhausted from the day before.

“Wahaha! We took down a high grade monster!”

Overwhelmed with emotion, the students hugged each other and rejoiced. Yohan patted the backs of those who were crying from joy and gently pushed them off. He was about to tell them that it was fine to celebrate but they should get to first period when…

[My, my. I thought dinner had escaped, but so this is where it was causing trouble.]

A soft, benevolent voice echoed through their minds. The students frowned at the light flowing above their heads and looked up, only to start doubting their own eyes.

Descending from the sky was an absurd being, appearing so divine that only light could be seen above the neck.

It wasn’t a metaphor. There really was nothing but a glowing sphere where the head should’ve been. Since they couldn’t see a face, everyone looked confused, asking who or what it was. One brave soul finally spoke up.

“Um… excuse me, but who are you?”

The being, wrapped from head to toe in what looked like scraps of cloth—no one could tell if it was wearing them or just covered in them—answered.

[Ah, come to think of it, this must be your first time seeing me. I am the headmaster of this academy, ‘the Nameless One.’]

“……”

The headmaster’s voice remained as kind and holy as before, but the students’ reaction turned icy enough to chill the air.

Dear God…

As soon as the headmaster revealed his identity, Yohan saw the hostility burning in his friends’ eyes and silently prayed.

Please, let them not become murderers…

[Hmm.]

The headmaster landed and drew every gaze. His head shone with light, and even his body radiated a halo, blinding to look at.

The vice headmaster and the headmaster are complete opposites. How can this be?

Yohan stared at the radiant head and fell into thought.

Vice Headmaster Serdik Agor was, by appearance alone, a top grade demon. In contrast, the Nameless One radiated divinity from the moment he appeared. Even without asking, he knew he possessed divine power—no, judging by his presence, he was something far beyond that.

At the very least, a high archangel. Or perhaps, to exaggerate a little, a lower deity.

But why would a being of that level serve as a headmaster here?

Given the prestige one gained after graduating from Fantasiademia, it wasn’t all that surprising that a divine being managed the place, but it was still rather curious.

Yohan gathered his courage and asked,

“Headmaster, is ‘the Nameless One’ your actual name?”

[That’s right.]

“…Why is that?”

A name usually symbolized one’s rank. There was no way a being of that stature would really have no name. Unable to contain his curiosity, Yohan asked, and the headmaster replied in an obvious, gentle tone.

[If I revealed my true name as the headmaster of Fantasiademia, I’d be cursed so much that my divinity would diminish, so I protect my true name with an alias. You should keep that in mind if you ever become headmaster yourselves.]

“……”

“……”

The calm explanation chilled the atmosphere among the students.

“So, he knows he’s running this place terribly, and he’s doing it anyway?”

Hearing his friend mutter coldly beside him, Yohan shuddered even though he wasn’t the one being talked about.