All-Master Player Of The Academy [EN]: Chapter 205

◈ Chapter 205

103. The Potential of Monsters – 1

“What kind of nonsense is that?”

Libilshia hesitated, flustered by Ian’s question.

Information about the World Tree was treated as top secret even within the Elven Forest.

As such, it wasn’t hard to understand why she, a High Elf, couldn’t answer.

“Ummm…….”

“Just tell him. He’s a Guardian.”

“But, Overlord.”

“I’ll explain to the council.”

“Even so, I can’t mention the World Tree to someone who hasn’t received the council’s permission yet. You don’t have access to the World Tree either.”

“Didn’t you just say it? And we’ll do anything to protect the world. Ian is too valuable as a Guardian to let go. How many demons has he eliminated so far that he can’t even get that much information?”

Gust forcefully stated, and Libilshia eventually nodded.

If Gust, as a Guardian, shared information with Ian, Libilshia couldn’t stop it.

If the information was going to be shared anyway, she thought it would be better if she said it herself.

“There is a graveyard in the World Tree. We call it Dragon Rock.”

“I guess it’s a rock that looks like a dragon?”

“No. It’s the corpse of a dragon turned into a rock. Literally, Dragon Rock. The pattern that Count Ian showed us is engraved on that Dragon Rock.”

Ian recalled Primbel’s story.

Gehern, who was once a dragon, killed all the remaining dragons on the continent, stole their power, and even devoured demons to become a Demonic Dragon.

And he received power from Rubellin and became one of the Seven Deadly Sins [powerful demons representing fundamental vices].

As such, the fact that Rubellin’s pattern was on the corpse of a dragon killed by Gehern could only mean that their deaths were somehow related.

‘Is there any data?’

The fact that it was passed down orally without records meant that it was a very secretive story.

Ian nodded and stood up.

“Is it possible to see the World Tree directly?”

“Impossible.”

“Hmm. There’s a good way to handle this.”

As Ian fiddled with his sword hilt, Libilshia flinched.

“Well, I’ll try to make a request first.”

“Yes, please. And I’d like you to do it quickly since we don’t have much time… Would that be alright?”

“It only takes a day to go to the council. However…….”

Libilshia looked around the village.

Monster invasions had been frequent lately, and someone was needed to protect this place.

That’s why she came out herself, but if she went to the council, who would protect it here?

Ian, noticing her concern, smiled and said.

“I’ll protect it until then.”

“Thank you! Then I’ll be back.”

Libilshia immediately gathered her subordinates.

As she led the elves into the forest, Gust sighed.

“Things are really happening. It’s a headache.”

“If they really evolve, it’ll be even more of a headache.”

“That’s true. Then I’ll go on patrol. I’m not going to leave the village’s protection entirely to you.”

“There’s no need for that.”

He had already maximized Circe’s search range.

If anyone approached this area, she would immediately identify and report it.

So, there was no need for patrol, but Gust shook her head and left.

Alone, Ian stroked Myane, who was rolling around on his lap.

Feeling his touch, Myane purred.

From one side, an elven boy and girl cautiously approached him, glancing at him.

“Why aren’t you sleeping? It’s late.”

“Uh… um. Excuse me.”

“What?”

“That cat. It’s a Light Spirit, right?”

As the elven girl asked hesitantly, Ian nodded.

Since it was a rare spirit to see, they probably wanted to touch it.

When Ian lifted Myane, they ran over and stroked Myane.

Seeing her just yawning and wagging her tail even with their slightly rough touches, they rejoiced and petted her even more.

“It’s so soft!”

“Wow. Cute!”

The elven children began to play with Myane.

Ian, glancing at them, took out jerky and chewed on it while an elven woman came out.

“Lucy. Luen!”

“Mom!”

“Oh, come on in!”

“Cat!”

“Yes! Yes! Come on in! It’s time to sleep!”

She sent the sulking children home.

And she glanced at Ian with wary eyes.

“I’m sorry. It’s a bit dangerous these days…….”

“I understand.”

It was hard to let the children out because monsters often appeared.

Especially since some monsters, like Yagas [a type of monster], targeted children.

In addition, Libilshia, a strong person she knew, had left with the warriors, increasing her anxiety.

As Ian nodded to her, who was anxious, she hesitated and went into her house.

And she came out immediately and placed the fruits she had brought in front of him.

“Well… it’s late, but I hope you can at least have this to fill your stomach.”

“Thank you.”

“Myaah~.”

While Myane was playing with the large apple in the basket with her front paws, Ian sat cross-legged.

He was about to enter a state of meditation, thinking of waiting while meditating in his remaining time.

‘How many are coming?’

‘That’s a lot.’

Ian said nonchalantly and stood up.

A group to divert the guards’ attention with the first attack.

A group to flank the guards.

The third and fourth are for looting.

It is a basic strategy for monsters that can create large-scale groups such as goblins, kobolds, and Yagas.

Of course, it was basic, but it was quite effective.

Especially when there were not many soldiers to protect, like now.

Opening his eyes, he reached out into the air.

At the same time, a crack appeared, and two boys dangling from his hand appeared from there.

“Yo. Long time no see.”

“Did you have a good trip?”

Ailfettin and Norn, now used to coming out like this, greeted Ian lightly.

Accepting their greetings, he said calmly.

“You probably know what I’m going to say, right?”

“Hmm… this is the Elven Forest?”

“Are we going to fight elves? I wouldn’t recommend it.”

“That’s not it. Yagas will attack the village.”

“Huh. Really? So?”

“Put up some walls. And you, cover the walls with fire.”

Ailfettin, the highest-ranking Fire Spirit, and Norn, the highest-ranking Earth Spirit.

With these two, it would not be difficult to protect the village.

At his words, they were puzzled.

“What are you going to do?”

“I have something to investigate.”

“What’s the price?”

“Let’s talk about it after the work is done.”

After a brief negotiation, he took them to the village guards.

Having already been told the story by Libilshia, they admired Ian’s power to manifest two of the highest-ranking spirits and accepted his proposal.

As the village defense preparations were completed, Ian asked Circe.

‘Where is Gust?’

Circe, who had identified the location of Gust, one of the tracking targets, reported.

Ian held Myane and moved straight there.

“Hey.”

“What? When did you get here?”

“Yagas are approaching the forest right now.”

“Oh? Really? Then I should go prepare.”

“I’ve left the protection to two of the highest-ranking spirits, so it’s okay. What’s important now is that the Yagas suddenly attacked this place. As soon as Libilshia and the strong elves left.”

“Hmm… what. Are you saying that the Yaga’s attack is artificial?”

“Just in case. So I’m going to chase them and see if there’s anything around… what are you going to do?”

Will he stay to protect the elves?

Or will he go with him?

At Ian’s question, Gust answered without hesitation.

“Can Yagas break through a village protected by two of the highest-ranking spirits?”

“No.”

There are not one, but two of the highest-ranking spirits.

Even if they are manifested, it would be impossible even if ogres came, not Yagas.

As Ian said firmly, Gust nodded.

“Okay. Let’s go together.”

As the moon rose higher in the sky, the Yagas approached the village.

Was it because there were no guards?

Even the Yagas who were trying to attack the guards participated in the looting.

The moment they surrounded the village and approached.

-Puh-uh-uh!!

A wall made of stone sprang up from the ground.

The Yagas, flustered by this, tried to climb up the wall with their sharp claws.

-Whirrrrr!!

But a huge flame burned the Yagas clinging to the wall.

The Yagas panicked as their companions turned to ashes in an instant.

They approached again and again.

As more than half of the Yagas were burned, they eventually gave up the attack.

Ian and Gust watched them turn around and leave with cold eyes from the tree.

“Is there anything behind those guys?”

“It’s good if there is, and it’s okay if there isn’t.”

Thus, Ian and Gust chased the Yagas, running through the trees.

The Yagas, who had passed through the forest and reached the meadow outside the forest, moved quickly.

Ian and Gust admired and chased after their faster movements than ordinary Yagas, and when they arrived at a hill quite far from the forest, they saw them entering under it.

‘Is there a ruin there too?’

It is the story that a situation similar to the ruins in the Forest of the Unspoken is being created.

Ian glanced at Gust.

“Elves don’t explore underground well?”

“That’s right. Maybe the elves who live outside, but the guys who live in the forest are a bit old-fashioned.”

So they don’t do things like exploring or investigating ruins.

Of course, they step in immediately if there is a problem in the forest, but this place is far from the forest.

And on the surface, it just looks like a small hill, so it seems they didn’t pay much attention to it and passed it over.

“If the railroad is laid later, we’ll have to investigate here again. There’s a lot to do.”

“That’s something the elves will take care of.”

Gust said nonchalantly, as if it had nothing to do with her.

Ian smiled at her and headed to where all the Yagas had entered.

“Hmm?”

When he arrived near the hill, he couldn’t see anything.

Puzzled, she frowned.

“……Is this a barrier? No, what crazy bastard made a barrier that monsters can enter?!”

It is a barrier that completely hides the interior.

Ian raised his sword and struck the empty air hard.

-Changling!!

The barrier collapses with the sound of glass breaking.

Gust bit her lip tightly as she saw the scene that appeared.

In front of the large cave, the corpses of monsters, humans, elves, and beastmen were discarded.

And.

A strong aura of black magic was felt from their corpses.