The Rebirth Of The Hero’S Party’S Archmage [EN]: Chapter 37

The overall ranking table appeared in the air, stopping at 63rd place. It was surprising that someone was alone with 0 points while 62nd place had 21 points, but what was even more surprising was the name.

[63. Lillian Karaine: 0pt.]

One of the golden generation of freshmen and a Rivendell *hugiji-su* [a top student or prodigy], she was sitting cross-legged on the cliff of the F district (open field), with her eyes closed, and had been since the very beginning.

“What’s going on, Elin *sunbae* [senior/upperclassman]?”

“Maybe she’s not interested in the score?”

Elin, who said that, wasn’t really interested in Lillian either. Her eyes were fixed on the window reflecting Rain.

[13th place, Rain Ludwig: 198pt.]

13th place with just treasure collection… Monster hunting points are only 2pt. Elin’s brow furrowed.

‘What is he thinking?’

In that respect, the other students’ disappointment was already at its peak. But the professors’ thoughts were different.

“Her stamina is quite good.”

“Besides that, it seems like she’s climbed mountains often? It’s amazing. It’s not just a one- or two-time skill. When did she learn this?”

“But at this pace, she’ll only be able to chase the leading group. Shouldn’t she change her strategy soon?”

At that moment, a branch cut through the air like a sharp comet, piercing the monster’s head.

[Monster Hunting: 1pt acquired.]

Trampling on the monster’s hideous body, Rain, who retrieved the branch, looked up at the leaden sky for a moment.

‘The rain is getting heavier.’

*Splash*, the sound of footsteps echoes eerily in the mountains.

It’s the perfect weather.

For monsters with sensitive hearing to prey, and to use that habit to engage in one-versus-many battles.

‘Ah, that guy, could it be…?’

Marchena, who was sitting alone in a chair with her arms crossed, watching the whole situation, whistled.

‘Has he just been holding back until now? It’s about to start…’

But Rain wasn’t the only one waiting for ‘that moment.’

F district’s cliff.

Lillian, who was sitting quietly cross-legged, had a dozen will-o’-the-wisps flying in from all over the mountains, circling around her face like fireflies.

‘Found them. All the guys in the top 10.’

Lillian’s eyes, slowly opened in the rain, were eerily black.

‘Shall we start?’

The moment Lillian muttered that and stood up, a string of characters was printed on the student’s magic tool for the exam, along with a map.

[Volcanic Eruption]

– Evacuate from the area.

The battle royale exam is designed in a structure where it is simply impossible to hide and survive, because the safe zone continues to narrow due to volcanic eruptions.

It means that you have no choice but to continue competing and surviving in an increasingly narrow area.

The volcanic eruption that started in the mountain peak districts B and C will soon engulf everything except one district.

“As expected, the 1st and 2nd place students in the 2nd group are speeding up as if they have been waiting for this situation.”

“No… wait a minute. Another person is coming up.”

With a professor’s bewildered voice, the screen of a student whose score suddenly started to explode was displayed largely.

“The score is rising at an unbelievable speed?!”

The moment that figure was displayed on the screen, Elin Ludwig, who was holding her breath and concentrating, shuddered with a thrill that made her heart stop.

“She’s overtaking them, ah, she’s overtaking them! She overtakes 12th place, 10th place, and then 9th place… and even 8th place at once?!”

Rain.

It was Rain Ludwig.

In C district, which was directly hit by the volcanic eruption, everyone was rushing to another point, but he was left alone… fighting against dozens of monsters.

“Look at that cheeky bastard?”

Chief Professor Marchena’s eyes slowly widened with admiration.

“What’s going on?”

As if they had ever been close, Logan asked Krista with wide eyes. Krista cautiously guarded him and answered.

“He’s vibrating the earth to lure the monsters.”

“Monsters? Towards himself?”

“Correct.”

“Isn’t he completely crazy?”

She explained in a calm tone, but Krista’s eyes were also narrowed sharply without realizing it.

That’s because the magic circle spread on Rain’s palm against the onrushing monsters was as many as three layers.

That meant it was a 3-star magic. Moreover, it was the Yorgen type, that is, created by magical mental arithmetic.

‘He saved his strength for this one shot? No, has he been running around all this time for this one shot?’

As the vibration-type magic that had been laid throughout C district gathered the monsters as much as he wanted, the ring of light shattered from Rain’s palm.

The shape of the magic circle is three layers of squares.

The runes to be engraved are *Yul* (律) [Law/Rule], *Gwan* (貫) [Penetrate], and *Du* (阧) [Fight/Contend].

*Du* (阧): Soaring,

*Gwan* (貫): Piercing,

*Yul* (律): Granting binding properties.

The next moment, from the earth that was rippling like waves, the roots of giant trees soared up fiercely.

The sight of those brutal roots piercing the heads or chests of the monsters rushing towards Rain, scattering their entrails in the air, or coiling around them like snakes and crushing them into pieces of flesh, was seen through the clairvoyance.

The rate of point acquisition was so fast that the point settlement was done in succession, and even in total points.

[Subjugation Points: +164 points.]

The professors looked at each other in disbelief and let out a hollow laugh.

“High-speed calculation of 3-star magic──?!”

“You need really unbelievable skills to deal with that many monsters.”

“Does Rain Ludwig have a battle mage license?”

“Is that the Genius Disaster?”

Elin Ludwig shook her head as if to say, “What’s all the fuss about?”, but the corners of her lips were about to ascend to the sky.

“There was no need to get such a license. There’s a saying that a needle in a bag will reveal itself, so why would you get a license and brag about something that will be revealed anyway?”

Rain Ludwig’s points are already 362pt. Not to mention Gertrude, who is the first place in Group B, even Krista, who was the first place in Group A, was overtaken by a 1pt difference.

‘I’ve definitely earned the points.’

Rain thought, looking up at the lava flowing down from the mountain peak. Will it take about 3 minutes for the lava to reach here?

‘This score should be enough, so let’s get out of here.’

Caroline stroked her chin as she watched Rain skillfully descend the hillside.

‘At this pace, it’s not just Gertrude’s problem to defend the S grade anymore.’

She was running ahead with her… um? Caroline, who was scanning the ranking table, had to blink her eyes.

“Kyle *sunbae*? Is this a bit strange?”

“What is it?”

“The names of the students who were running in 2nd and 3rd place have disappeared.”

“Haha, that can’t be. They’re right here… um, huh…?”

Kyle also tilted his head momentarily, because the names of the students who were originally in 2nd and 3rd place had disappeared.

‘The gap must have been quite large?’

What’s even more incomprehensible is… that the 2nd and 3rd place students are nowhere to be found. Not pushed back to 4th or 5th place, nor in the top 10 or top 20.

They disappeared.

While they were distracted by Rain Ludwig, those names disappeared like ghosts.

“I will use the clairvoyance ability to find the area where the 2nd and 3rd place students were. 3 minutes ago.”

When that screen was displayed, no one could open their mouths. For a moment, everyone in that place was just blinking their eyes in astonishment.

The first thing they heard was a terrible scream.

And what they saw was… the figure of the 2nd place student, writhing in flames of murderous heat and turning into charcoal in an instant.

“……!”

Then, flames rushed like bees at the 3rd place student who was finding treasure in the forest, and they met the same fate with an eardrum-tearing scream.

It was in the darkness where the rain was pouring.

At that time, lightning flashed eerily, illuminating the face of the being who approached the charred body.

Lillian Karaine.

The girl’s eyes, who had risen from the bottom to 3rd place in one fell swoop by hunting the 2nd and 3rd place students, shone eerily. The points earned by killing a student are half of the points that the student had.

‘Well, three more people? No, if I catch 1st and 2nd place, one person will be enough.’

Even the professors couldn’t continue speaking for a moment.

‘The students who were running in 2nd and 3rd place so easily…’

Marchena, watching the scene, tapped her shins and pondered.

‘She’s definitely strong. She’s like her father, even her personality is atrocious.’

At one time, the Magic Union wanted such talents. Everything was tolerated as long as you had the skills… But now, isn’t it time to reconsider?

1st place: Rain Ludwig, 362pt.

2nd place: Gertrude Panton, 323pt.

3rd place: Lillian Karaine, 312pt.

Gertrude Panton, who checked the situation with her magic tool, also had to blink her eyes in embarrassment.

‘What is it?’

Rain and Lillian’s scores… no, that’s also a problem, but where did the names of the guys who were following behind me go?

Eerie, a sharp needle-like sensation pricked the muscles of her back.

Murderous intent.

The body initiates instinctive evasive action. The force is concentrated on the tips of the toes, and the body is pushed far away by kicking the ground in an instant.

*Kwarururururu────!*

In an instant, flames so dazzling that they burned the retina soared up in the spot where Gertrude had been standing until just now, licking their tongues.

“……?!”

Flame……? She straightened her body immediately, but there was no time to panic.

Because the eagles of fire swooped down from above her head and exploded as they crashed into the ground without giving her a chance to avoid them.

Soon, what was sent to the clairvoyant’s window was a fierce fire explosion soaring so high that it could be seen even from other districts.

“Gertrude!”

Krista shouted urgently, knowing that she couldn’t reach her, while Lillian was frowning.

‘I don’t feel like I burned her.’

Her robe hem, walking through the rain curtain, was soaked with rainwater and dragged on the floor.

‘She’s not as easy as the other guys after all.’

As Lillian took out a talisman from her bosom, *Buuuuung*, the rosary around her neck spread out greatly and revolved around the caster.

The Rivendell School has been famous as the Remidier type, which simplifies the construction time of magic circles, mathematical formulas, and runes by using talismans to maximize practicality.

《Fire Insect Line (火蟲線)》.

As the magic circle engraved on the talisman emitted light, one of the revolving rosary beads turned into a blazing fireball.

“*Ran* (瀾) [Ripple].”

Then, suddenly turning around and throwing the talisman, the fireball divided into countless fire moths and rushed towards the target.

To Gertrude, who had appeared from behind at some point.

But Gertrude was not easy either. As she struck the ground with both hands, the magic circles engraved on both palms─the Panton family engraves their main magic on their palms like this─emitted light.

*Chwaaaaaak……!*

A curtain of water soared up, eliminating all the fireflies that rushed in, and in that gap, Gertrude crouched low and charged.

“Oh, oh, oh!”

“It’s neck and neck!”

“Both are amazing?!”

While the students cheered, Krista bit her lip in worry.

‘I have to stay calm here. There’s still quite a bit of exam time left. If I pour all my strength here…’

Gertrude, who came out through the curtain of water, stretched her legs high in the air and slammed them down on Lillian’s head.

It would have ended like that, if Lillian hadn’t stepped back with a skillful motion.

But then Gertrude smiled. As the magic circle engraved on her soles emitted light and magic was activated, the water veins flowing under the ground gushed out as torrents and covered Lillian.

“Oh, she’s experienced?”

“Yes. The Panton family is a family that seeks harmony between water attribute magic and martial arts. She is definitely making the most of her strengths.”

With this, she can’t use the talisman. Focusing her magic power on the tips of her toes, Gertrude was convinced of her victory.

The weakness of the Rivendell School is water.

Not because of the fire attribute magic, but because the talisman, when wet, becomes easily torn and cannot exert its power.

“You’ve met the wrong opponent. Before you show that arrogant nose to the young lady without knowing your place, this Gertrude will definitely break it for you!”

Gertrude shouted like that and grabbed Lillian, who had come out of the torrent.

She doesn’t give her a chance to respond.

She immediately bent her arm back and threw her awkwardly onto the muddy ground.

“Now, say you surrender if you don’t want your joints to come out!”

“……You’re so naive, really. If it were me, I would have killed you just now.”

“Do you really want to see me in pain?”

She slowly but surely pulled the arm bent back.

*Wooddeuk…….*

Just hearing the sound of bones breaking in the joint, she must be feeling intense pain. But Lillian was calm.

“The reason I use talismans is not because my calculation speed is slow.”

“……?”

“It’s because I can’t control my strength.”

Lillian stuck out her tongue. At that moment, an inexplicable sense of unease chilled Gertrude’s spine.

Branding (烙印) [a mark burned into the skin].

Was it made by burning it with fire? A complex hexagram was drawn in black on her tongue.

‘It’s dangerous, this is really dangerous.’

Gertrude shuddered in primal fear, released her arm, and immediately stepped back. A chilling sense of death was wriggling in her blood vessels.

“Come out, *Yeom Mang* (炎蟒) [Flame Serpent].”

Then, the rosary beads rotating around Lillian increased their speed like crazy and merged… and were created into a huge transcendent creature with a dazzling flash.

A mane made of flames.

Scales glistening with sparks.

*Shhh*, a licking tongue of fire.

Gertrude felt her mind go blank and stepped back.

What overwhelmed the surroundings with a chilling presence and revealed the majesty of ancient times was the serpent of fire, the Imugi [a proto-dragon in Korean mythology].

The person who summoned the Imugi gave a calm and eerie command in an emotionless voice.

“You can eat it.”