The Overpowered Cult Leader at the Academy Chapter 51

Chapter 51

Procuring Materials (6)

I had thought it was easy, sohow. Even the ants had felt far more manageable than the rumors describing them as vicious had suggested. Had even that kind of thought now beco a flag?

“Are my eyes acting up? I think I see a monster in front of the lighthouse.”

“That would be normal. It does, in fact, exist.”

I tried to deny reality, but a voice forced back to my senses. Even with the pointless joke, the tension did not ease.

While returning to the lighthouse, we hid in the nearby bushes at Rera’s sudden remark. And then we spotted a massive monster wandering in front of the lighthouse.

An abnormally developed upper body and a long torso. Two enormous horns protruding from its head.

The bastard had its head buried into the ground in front of the lighthouse, sweeping across the yard.

“What the hell is that?”

“……It looks like a monster called a ‘Hellhorn Bull.’”

“That’s a bull? No matter how I look at it, it’s more on the reptile side.”

I instinctively shot back at Rera’s words. It did not resemble the mammals we commonly imagined. What covered its body was a complete exoskeleton.

Its shell looked so solid that ordinary blades would not leave even a scratch. It even had six eyes.

“So what does it look like it’s doing?”

I knew every monster that appeared in the ga. But only the information needed for攻略, like their nas and weaknesses. I didn’t know their behavioral patterns or habits.

I had never even seen that one in the ga. Now that I thought about it, its na had been listed on the monster distribution map the guide had handed over.

A monster that inhabited Zone D, not here in Zone A. I casually asked Rera, who seed to know more than I did.

At my question, Rera gave a cold stare.

“It seems to be…… sniffing.”

“Sniffing? Ah, then is it the sll of blood?”

A swarm of ants had been returning after hunting prey. They had chased , drenched in pheromones, all the way to the lighthouse, and I had slaughtered them in the end.

Before I could even think of collecting their antennae, they were sucked straight into the ground. Naturally, the scent of blood was thick in all directions. It must have followed that.

“What’s its weakness?”

“Water attribute. It’s strong against earth attribute.”

“That’s troubleso.”

Since I didn’t possess abilities like Bereninche, I had no real affinity with water. My resistance was outstanding, but I had no ans to attack with it.

Then I noticed sothing strange.

“You said water is its weakness?”

“Yes.”

“But there’s poisonous mist around. And it’s moving around just fine?”

“Uh…….”

As if she had not considered that, Rera fell silent. There was no point in scolding a first-year.

After all, she was reciting knowledge learned from books, not experience. There were always exceptions.

Just from its appearance, it looked extrely aggressive. If I wanted to rescue the ones trapped inside and claim my spoils, I would have to fight it.

“Is there any way to communicate without being noticed?”

“……I don’t think so.”

“Like twin telepathy or sothing. Wouldn’t that work?”

“……No. Unfortunately.”

Why was she apologizing? Even if not perfectly prepared, I wanted at least to finish the cooldown on the Lightning Spike.

About twenty minutes remained. The best option was to rest a bit, devise a strategy, and deal with it afterward. Until then, the people at the lighthouse must not provoke that thing.

Judging by how it had remained still so far, it seed fine. They must have concluded it was not an opponent they could handle at once and were holding their breath.

Not a bad judgnt.

“A decoy?”

“You want to do it?”

“……Ah. No.”

At my suggestion to think of a strategy, Rera cautiously offered one. I looked at her with a puzzled expression. And who exactly was supposed to lure it?

She hurriedly shook her head. If I ordered her to, she probably could do it, but why would I bother? That thought ca first.

They were not close to anyway, and I had no reason to save them. The antennae were a sha to lose, but once the rescue team arrived, they would naturally secure them.

“Is waiting the only option?”

“Pardon?”

“The rescue team. They said they called one. How long have you been in here?”

“About eight hours, I think.”

“Even allowing for extra ti, about three more hours, then. That’s not bad.”

Rera nodded. In a place where safety was considered the highest priority, no better counterasure ca to mind.

Once Rera agreed, I chose to climb a tree. Every insect here carried poison, so staying in one place for too long was dangerous.

A spot like the top of a tree was comparatively safe, so the plan was to spend those three hours there.

“I’m sorry, but could you lift up?”

I readily granted Rera’s request. Supporting her thigh and back, I tossed her upward. She clung smoothly to the tree with movents like a cat.

I carefully climbed up as well and settled on a branch opposite hers. Using earth magic, Rera pulled up solid soil onto the branch.

Thanks to that, the sitting area widened, making it far more comfortable. In this regard, the earth attribute really was convenient.

“Get so rest. I’ll wake you if sothing happens.”

“……I’m fine.”

“Sure you are.”

I was free from this poisonous mist, so my stamina was still overflowing. But they were not.

Simply wearing a gas mask consud stamina. Performing strenuous activity with one on was practically torture.

In that sense, Rera, a mage with relatively low stamina, was already quite exhausted. When I lifted her, her back had been completely soaked.

“Then excuse for a mont.”

Rera lay down for a mont, leaving behind one last apology. Since she could not remove her gas mask, it probably did not feel like proper rest, but it was still precious downti.

I watched her briefly, then kept my eyes on the Hellhorn Bull.

“How are things with Winter?”

“I’m gradually getting closer to Winter.”

“He’s not exactly easy to get close to.”

That led us into so trivial conversation. The first thing I asked about was what I was most curious about. Winter gave off the feeling of a child left alone by the water, so my attention naturally went to him.

As if she had expected that question, Rera answered without hesitation. Just as I had felt during the Acid Gecko incident, they were fairly useful in their own way.

Of course, I had no intention of drawing them into the Order, but I did consider her soone who could at least help improve Winter’s utterly miserable social life.

“Co to think of it, you said you’d call a rescue team. How do you do that?”

“Didn’t you hear it through the safety guidelines?”

“Yeah.”

“Goodness. How did you even get permission—. Ah, never mind. You use the signal flare that was issued. The rescue request signal.”

“That thing? The green one?”

“Yes. It makes quite a loud noise and can draw a monster’s aggro, so after firing it, you’re supposed to retreat to a safe location—. Why can we see that?”

I pointed to the brilliant green light shooting out from the lighthouse window. Rera, who had glanced over absentmindedly and was affirming my guess while continuing her explanation, stopped mid-sentence.

I understood her reaction. Why was that visible? I could only stare blankly as well. I had not expected them to do sothing so idiotic.

The Hellhorn Bull imdiately began to go berserk. It shifted its gaze toward the lighthouse and started violently scraping at it.

It had been built quite sturdily and did not collapse easily, but since it was such an old structure, it likely would not endure for long.

“I’m joining in. I’ll knock it down, so get inside the lighthouse. Give them a quick rundown of the situation and bring out the close-combat fighters. Have the ranged ones provide fire support from above. Go!”

About ten minutes remained on the Lightning Spike. Judging that I could not just stand by, I left orders to Rera and dashed out.

If it kept rampaging like that, all the antennae I had gathered so far would disappear. I had asked the twin brother to store them inside the lighthouse.

All the hardship of today vanishing? Absolutely not. Even if I had to suffer a little more, I would protect it. Judging by the look of that thing, it seed like it would yield decent spoils as well.

“Over here!”

I shouted loudly as I threw a glass bead. The creature, which had been viciously clawing at the lighthouse, turned its head toward .

At the sa ti, the ground beneath the Hellhorn Bull bulged, and solid earth shot upward at high speed.

Struck square in the face, the beast scread and toppled backward. Thanks to that, I gifted the one who crushed the glass bead beneath it a spicy explosion.

The explosion blasted it back once more, pushing it farther from the lighthouse. Rera imdiately ran inside, and I activated Lightning Armor and charged in.

‘It’s tougher than I thought.’

I drove a heavy punch into the head of the still-dazed creature. The shock transmitted through the gauntlet into my arm made frown.

It was harder than I had expected. Even after being struck by the explosion of the glass bead and my lightning-clad fist, it did not suffer electrocution.

Letting out a ferocious roar, it simply shook its massive body and easily dispersed the current. Despite its savage montum, it was cautious.

“Over here! Over here!”

Judging that bringing it down outright would be difficult, I opted to lure it. I kept shouting as I gradually moved in the opposite direction of the lighthouse.

Its gaze locked onto , and it followed with asured steps before stopping at a certain boundary. Then, without warning, it abruptly changed direction and charged toward the lighthouse.

Before I could even marvel at its cunning behavior, I hurried after it. This was the most reckless charge it had shown so far. Its intention was clear—to completely destroy the lighthouse.

“Where do you think you’re going!”

Right on cue, a third-year male student erged from the lighthouse, spinning his body as he swung his sword. The upward slash, empowered by rotational force, struck the creature squarely on the head.

Next, a third-year female student appeared, launching herself forward and thrusting out both hands. Mana coiled around her palms as she unleashed a formless shockwave.

The impact, amplified through martial arts, slamd into the creature’s lifted head and sent it flying far into the distance.

While admiring the martial techniques I was seeing for the first ti since coming to this world, I ran toward the two of them.

“The decoy won’t work. It’s more cunning than expected.”

“That’s troubleso.”

At my blunt statent, the third-year male student furrowed his brow. The third-year female student steadied her breathing, preparing for the next attack.

“What’s the plan?”

“We just need to punch a hole through it.”

“My hand feels like it’s about to fall off.”

The third-year male student shook his hand. It was the price for being the first to rush in and strike it. The impact had felt like smashing steel with a sword. It was fortunate his wrist had not given out from that single blow.

“I can’t pierce it, but I can open a path.”

The third-year male student adjusted his stance. The enraged Hellhorn Bull approached violently. I stepped back briefly, waiting for an opportunity.

This was a crucial mont to aim for a decisive, single strike. Our side was not exactly brimming with leeway either, so we intended to shatter it from the outset.

As the creature charged forward, stamping its massive forelegs into the ground, the third-year male student stepped up first. He thrust his mana-wrapped sword straight ahead.

A truly sharp thrust. The blade shot forward at high speed, aiming for the Hellhorn Bull’s eye. But with an instinctive motion, the creature twisted its head and avoided the attack.

It failed to evade completely and was grazed along the side of its face, but that was enough. What followed was magic. The ground beneath the Hellhorn Bull’s left foreleg suddenly caved in, and it lost its balance.

“Hyaah!”

Seizing the opportunity, the third-year female student delivered a kick to its right foreleg. The sheer force finally flipped the beast over.

A stream of water surged up from the ground beneath it, pinning it in place. I repeatedly imbued the shovel with the Thunder Horn Mark and charged forward.

Reaching the spot above it where its chest was exposed, I swiftly pulled out the Holy Scripture of the Anaye Faith and drew forth the Lightning Spike.

—Kiiiiing.

Drawing in a breath, I drove the spike downward. It shot forth in the form of a spear, releasing fierce heat as it slamd into the Hellhorn Bull’s chest.

Only after the spike, advancing with its distinctive shriek, triggered an explosion did a gaping hole beco visible. I imdiately threw the shovel into the hole and dropped to the opposite side.

“Ugh.”

The heat of the current made my face burn. I rose at once with a breakfall and detonated the mark. Along with the ensuing violent explosion, fragnts of the shattered shovel tore through the Hellhorn Bull’s insides.

“Ugh. Persistent bastard.”

Only after it thrashed for a long while and finally went limp did I let out a breath. It had not taken long, but it had been an intense exchange.

It was fortunate that the third-years’ skills were better than expected.

“Why did you fire the flare?”

“Our leader showed signs of poisoning. He needs treatnt within two hours.”

“Ah, my legs are killing .”

So that was why I had not seen any arrows. With a rough understanding of the situation, I glanced at the Hellhorn Bull and headed into the lighthouse.

“What do we do now?”

“We need to pick a direction and move. Waiting around won’t solve anything. We’ll periodically fire flares to draw the rescue team’s direction and advance toward them.”

I nodded at the third-year male student’s words. The unconscious leader was carried on the back of the third-year female student, while the twins picked up their luggage. I also took the backpack filled with spoils and Rera’s magic backpack.

“What a waste.”

“Wait a mont!”

I had expected fairly high-grade spoils, so it felt like a loss. As I looked at the Hellhorn Bull with regret, the twin brother stepped forward past .

He poured water ford from mana into the hole. Soon, water began to whirl violently from within, and eventually severed the Hellhorn Bull’s head.

“The horns of a Hellhorn Bull are the most valuable part!”

“Grab them! That’s a signal from the rescue team over there! We’re heading that way!”

“Okay!”

I instantly took a liking to the red-haired ones.