All-Master Player Of The Academy [EN]: Chapter 57

57. Let’s Go Alone – 1

Even in areas where skilled adventurers risked their lives, Ian was thriving.

He effortlessly located hidden traps and dimensional monsters, and he never hesitated to engage enemies.

Exceptional observation skills, decisive action, and sound judgment.

And the power to back it all up.

He was like a perfectly executed work of art, and I couldn’t even begin to think about how to improve him.

“Sigh. A fortunate problem.”

“Is something wrong?”

Aranse shook his head as Ian approached.

“No, it’s nothing. The Deadly Claw’s claws are excellent materials. Make sure you collect them. They can also be submitted as proof for your intermediate permit application.”

“Yes.”

Ian severed the Deadly Claw’s claws and stowed them in his bag.

As Ian finished packing, Aranse gestured to the side.

“The Second Barrier is just a bit further. Let’s take a look while we’re here.”

“Can’t we go inside?”

“You can, but obtaining permission will take time, especially with the wave potentially hitting at any moment.”

“Can’t Instructor Aranse use his influence?”

“I can speak to them, but…”

What influence could Aranse, from a fallen noble family, really wield?

As his voice trailed off, Ian nodded.

“Then it’s fine. There’s nothing else to see here, right?”

“Right.”

With a nod, Ian hoisted the full bag and said.

“Let’s head back for now.”

The four-day exploration of the Forgotten City had concluded.

As soon as they returned, Aranse escorted Ian to the Biden County office.

“He single-handedly caught a Deadly Claw. With this, he can be promoted to intermediate, no, advanced level, right? He’s a master.”

“Is that so? However, due to the wave preparations, new permits will take a month to be processed.”

As she spoke, the office was noticeably lacking in combat personnel.

It was clear they were short-staffed.

But there was no time or reason to wait that long.

Ian nodded, feigning disinterest.

Misa understood his reaction and said apologetically.

“Other families are likely in a similar situation.”

“I see. Here.”

She accepted the Deadly Claw’s claws and promptly handed over the gold coins.

When Ian presented the pass and exchange ticket, she exchanged them for vouchers.

“Did you happen to find any artifacts or relics?”

The only artifact he’d found was a mana sphere.

The mana contained within was considerable, so he had no intention of exchanging it.

When Ian shook his head, Misa immediately understood.

“Then I hope you’ll come again nex…”

-Kugugugung!!

A massive tremor shook the ground.

Sensing it, they rushed outside.

“Oh, dear.”

“It has begun.”

‘I felt it too.’

It wasn’t the first time he had encountered a connection to another dimension in his many lives.

The unpleasant energy from that time permeated his entire being.

The tower, piercing the sky, emitted a black light.

It settled in the sky like a dark cloud and gradually expanded.

People moved with urgency, and all the barrier gates were opened.

“I should go inside too. The start was faster than expected, so there seems to be a shortage of rescue personnel. Then.”

Misa spoke urgently and hurried off.

Aranse, watching her, felt a pang of bitterness.

“Ian, let’s head back too. Your next schedule was exploring the ruins with Grazen, right?”

“Yes.”

“It ended earlier than expected, so let’s continue with the remaining training. I’ll supervise.”

“Ah. I have some personal business elsewhere.”

“Really?”

Aranse nodded casually, then narrowed his eyes.

“You’re not planning to go back in there, are you?”

“I just have some personal business.”

Could he be planning to return to the Forgotten City?

Aranse looked at Ian with a hint of unease.

But he quickly dismissed the thought.

Although he had only known Ian for a few months, Ian had never disappointed or worried him.

Therefore, Aranse trusted that this time would be no different.

“Okay. Then we’ll have to part ways here.”

Aranse patted Ian on the shoulder.

People were crowding near the gate, eager to escape the wave.

After waiting for a while, it was Aranse’s turn.

“See you after the reopening.”

“Okay. See you after the reopening. Take care of your business.”

As he returned to the academy, the magician asked Ian.

“Where are you going?”

“I’m not going.”

Ian knew that Aranse cared about him and was concerned for his safety.

There was no need to cause him unnecessary worry.

Ian turned and headed towards the Forgotten City.

Unlike the people fleeing, he moved towards the Forgotten City with a smile.

“If I told him, he would worry, so it’s best to go secretly.”

Myaene also meowed softly, agreeing with his words.

Against the tide of people rushing out, Ian arrived at the barrier gate.

The soldiers managing the flow of people stopped Ian as he tried to enter.

“The wave is in progress.”

“I know.”

“Rescue may not be possible during the wave. Do you still wish to enter?”

Everyone is responsible for their own life.

When Ian nodded, the soldier opened the way.

Passing through the crowded gate, the atmosphere had undeniably changed.

“Then I should go to the First Barrier for now.”

There, he could at least get a sense of how the dimensional gate would manifest.

And where it might lead.

“Connecting to other worldviews is annoying, but if it connects, I hope it’s the Universal Century [a popular science fiction anime franchise].”

“First, let’s survey the surroundings. Look for any Guardians.”

Ian walked as Kirke guided him.

After traversing the ruins and reaching the plains.

-Kuaaaaaaa!!

A terrifying scream echoed.

Simultaneously, flames erupted in the distance.

It was the fiery explosion of a Guardian’s attack.

“Looks like they’re in a fight?”

Crossing the hill, Ian confirmed the situation.

As he suspected, the Guardians and dimensional monsters were locked in a fierce battle.

-Kwaddeudeuk!!

A Guardian, severing a Mantis’s foreleg with a saw blade, emitted a burst of light.

As the Mantis’s body ignited, one of the Deadly Claws climbed onto the Guardian.

-Kwadeuk! Kwadeuk!!

The arm, possessing the terrifying power to tear people apart, targeted the Guardian’s armor.

However, the Guardian’s thick armor seemed largely unaffected by the assault.

Instead, a long arm with sharp blades emerged through an opening and impaled the Deadly Claw’s body.

-Wiiiiiiing!!

The rapidly spinning saw blade sliced through the Deadly Claw’s body.

Watching the Guardians and dimensional monsters clash, Ian simply sat down.

“Myaene, let’s eat.”

He had no interest in the dimensional monsters.

If the Guardians were strong enough, they would handle them on their own, so he only needed to wait.

Ian gave Myaene some jerky from his bag, then took a piece for himself.

“Watching a fight is the best. Kirke, continue searching for Guardians.”

The Guardians emerged victorious from the battle.

However, they were not unscathed.

One Guardian had its legs broken and was unable to move.

But the dimensional monsters had been completely annihilated.

“Kirke, support. I’ll collect samples, so please analyze them quickly.”

“If it’s the Polteid method, the Mystic Eyes won’t work, right?”

“Myaaaa~.”

With Myaene’s cry, Ian descended the hill.

The Guardians, detecting life, activated their weapons and flashed their red eyes.

Instantly, Ian’s eye color shifted to yellow.

-Peok!!

-Kwadeuk!!

The Guardians, driven into a frenzy by his Mystic Eyes and unable to distinguish friend from foe, attacked each other instead of Ian.

The Guardians, once figures of terror in the Forgotten City, were now merely junk for testing or mana-filled nutrient sources for Ian.

-Kkigik! Kkigigik!

Before long, the Guardians, having brutally destroyed each other, collapsed.

The damaged Guardians struggled to move and escape.

Ian approached one of them, tore off its armor, and reached for its core.

“Myaaaaa~.”

Mana is absorbed and settled.

As before, Myaene cried softly and reversed the mana, allowing Ian to easily expand his circle.

“Done.”

He absorbed the mana of the Guardians and became a 2-circle magician.

Ian smiled and stroked Myaene.

“Is the analysis complete? Can I dominate them?”

At Kirke’s request, Ian smashed the remaining Guardians, disassembled them, and examined their insides.

Now, when he encounters a Guardian, he can simply interfere and gain control without a fight.

Satisfied, Ian picked up Myaene and headed towards the Second Barrier, his initial destination.

And a long time after he passed.

Those returning with rescued people were horrified to see the brutally destroyed Guardians.

The Guardians were completely smashed, as if swept away by a storm.

As far as they knew, only one person could smash Guardians like this.

“The Forest Keeper has emerged from the Third Barrier!”

“Get everything ready!! Today is the day we catch him!!”