Chapter 11
If he saw Ethan's gun, he would have realized that Ethan was hiding something from him.
And with that gun, he defeated the Mazok from the Madowon.
People naturally believe that one Mazok possesses the power of one mage, or more.
They are not something a magic school student can clumsily deal with.
If a magic student is powerful enough to defeat a Mazok in one blow with hidden power, many people would think this:
<'Is it Black Magic?', they would say.>
<If they found out he was a Black Mage, how would the magic school professor react?>
<They would restrain him and prepare a seal. If he resisted, they would kill him.>
<But he didn't.>
Ethan followed behind Rebilton first and asked.
"Professor Rebilton."
Rebilton answered without looking back.
"Why, Ethan."
"Where are we going?"
Rebilton didn't answer and ran, alternating glances between behind and ahead.
It was the first floor of the main building, and the Mazok chasing from behind were no longer visible after turning the corner, and new presences were felt ahead.
Rebilton headed towards the stairs leading up the central corridor of the main building.
After continuously climbing three floors, he headed towards the spire stairs located in the center of the main building.
Getting outside would become difficult, but the Mazok would search each floor first, so for now they could hide.
Rebilton walked, considering the panting Ethan, and spoke.
"Do you know that?"
"Huh?"
Rebilton seemed to remember something and laughed.
"I don't know how much you'll believe it, but I've been watching you with interest ever since you enrolled, Ethan."
"Surely not. There are so many talented students. Or were you worried? That I might intimidate other students like a ruffian?"
"Surely not, that wouldn't be the case."
Rebilton said.
"Because your talent for magic was completely lackluster, you see. Isn't it said that a 'Dora' of the Charasen family is entering, and he's a complete phony."
"So I looked into it, and far from being a mage, he didn't even seem much like a noble."
"If you look closely at knights, they also uphold their dignity, and they have the mannerisms and bearing they learned when they were young."
Ethan often had his behavior pointed out by Arka, so he felt embarrassed even in this situation.
"And?"
"I thought you resembled me when I was young."
Ethan retorted.
"Me, the Professor?"
That was understandable; the position of a magic school professor was not one anyone could hold.
One couldn't secure a professor's position just by being a noble.
Because having honor didn't serve as grounds for being able to teach others.
The position of a magic school professor was decided by the Council of Mages, so both achievements and skills recognized by elder mages had to support it.
"Before I could even speak, the manor was sold due to my grandfather's debt, and after my father hanged himself from the oak tree in front of the manor, a debt that I couldn't repay even if I worked my whole life by working normally was attached to my name."
"My family and I had to work so we wouldn't be sold into slavery."
"There weren't many options."
"I learned sword and magic on the streets while alternating between adventurer work and mercenary work."
"Neither was a proper technique; it was just random tricks and tips learned as I went, so it was a mess."
"At least I had some build, so I consistently got work also serving as a porter, but I was always slow in action, so I was called a 'slowpoke'."
"I can't imagine that."
"Somehow I made a connection and it took a long time even just following a northern hunter to learn the sword."
Ethan forced a wry smile.
No matter how you looked at it, Ethan's hardships seemed incomparable to Rebilton's.
His talent was probably the same.
Rebilton ultimately made a name for himself by stopping the Ainzhong at the Great Wall.
Although the pain he endured could not be considered nonexistent, everything Rebilton went through now merely served as material for heroic tales.
Rebilton slowed his pace further and glanced back.
"Don't tell anyone the story I'm telling now."
"Huh?"
"When things were really tough, I also tried to dabble in Black Magic."
"Really?"
Rebilton nodded his head.
"But I quit halfway because I lacked courage. Ethan is better than I was back then."
"Black Magic is a crime, though."
"A desperate heart is not."
The top of the spire seemed to be used as a warehouse; there was nothing else except dust and wooden boxes.
Rebilton walked around the circular spire, glancing into the opaque glass windows.
Rebilton, who had been looking around, turned towards Ethan.
"If you commit a crime because you can't control Black Magic, yes. That's a sin."
"Since you wielded power you couldn't take responsibility for, you deserve to be punished more severely."
"Do you agree?"
"I agree."
"But that's the same for magic, and the same for swords."
"Not just that, even bare fists, and words spoken to each other, are like that."
"In my opinion, you haven't yet committed an act that you must take responsibility for."
"Therefore, all of this is unfair."
Ethan nodded his head.
"If you think so."
Rebilton placed his hand on Ethan's shoulder.
"There is a Black Mage I know."
"...Huh?"
"Isn't it obvious? Because I know that not all Black Mages are merely evil, I can trust you, Ethan."
"That person has the ability to protect you, Ethan."
Ethan said.
"But is that okay? What about Professor Rebilton? And the school won't allow it either."
Rebilton shook his head.
"For several years now, the Empire's movements have been unusual."
"Bine just stood out, but there are quite a few pro-Empire factions even within Yurmus Magic School."
"So this matter is not simply something that happened because Ethan learned Black Magic."
"It was just an incident that was going to happen someday, and unfortunately, Ethan became the trigger."
"The Empire wants to exert stronger influence over Yurmus using this incident as an opportunity."
"The Council of Mages is opposing that."
"If you escape successfully, the Council of Mages can adequately deny involvement, so you escaping is helping me and the school."
Ethan nodded his head and then said.
"...But how do we escape from here?"
Rebilton shook his head once as if he didn't quite understand those words, then smashed the spire window, sheath and all.
He knocked off the remaining ten or so pieces from the window's edge and then leaped down below it.
"Professor?"
As Ethan looked down immediately, he saw Rebilton who had landed on the roof of the main building.
And further away, he saw other Mazok climbing onto the roof.
"Professor, Mazok are climbing onto the roof over there."
"Come down. They're chasing behind you too."
It was true.
Ethan heard footsteps climbing the stairs and then leaped down behind Rebilton.
As he operated the Magical Power within his body to strengthen his legs, there was no significant impact on his ankles, as if his body weight had become lighter.
"We will advance to the stable without stopping."
"Ethan, just stick close behind me."
"Yes."
"You won't need to use that Black Magic."
Ethan realized that Rebilton never spoke carelessly.
Knowing that the Mazok were aiming for a pincer attack, Rebilton rushed forward first.
As if they certainly didn't underestimate the fact that he was a magic school professor, the Mazok approached while drawing blood from the backs of their hands.
And in one hand they held swords, and with their bleeding hands, they used the magic that Moraiots had used, the magic to turn blood into a single thorn-spear.
The combined attack of the three Mazok didn't seem like something the large-bodied Rebilton could possibly avoid.
-Clang!
But Rebilton seemed to deflect each attack by connecting them into a single line, then hooked one Mazok under his arm, spun him around and threw him at another Mazok, and cut the knee of the remaining Mazok.
Before the Mazok with the cut leg could fall to the ground, Rebilton kicked him off the roof below.
Before Ethan could even admire, Rebilton shouted.
"Duck!"
As Ethan reflexively lowered his body, an arrow made of a stream of blood passed over his head from behind.
Rebilton returned, grabbed Ethan's collar, and pulled him towards himself.
As Ethan rolled a few times and got up, the four Mazok behind him had also been dealt with.
One was falling and sliding off the roof below, one had an arm severed, one was screaming and flying far away, and the remaining one tumbled down below the roof tangled with the Mazok whose arm was cut off by Rebilton's throw.
Demi said.
<Are mages of that caliber common?>
<If so, the Northern Great Wall wouldn't be needed.>
Rebilton casually struck the shin of the remaining standing Mazok, knocking him to the ground, and then extended his hand towards Ethan.
"Let's go quickly."
"Ah, yes."
The two people ran across the main building's roof.
One Mazok aimed at Rebilton from the top of the spire, but was knocked off by a roof tile Rebilton picked up and threw.
As the two people came down towards the stable, about ten remaining Mazok appeared from behind the stable and surrounded them.
One Mazok at the front shouted.
"Stop, Rebilton Fabierre! Hand over that student!"
"If I refuse?"
"How long do you think Yurmus's prestige will protect you?"
"Yurmus isn't protecting me. I am protecting Yurmus."
"...You will regret that choice."
As Rebilton took his swordsman stance, the leading Mazok retreated behind the cordon and shouted.
"→Wivra!"
The surrounding Mazok followed, chanting the spell.
"→Wivra."
"→Casadow!"
"→Casadow."
The magic wasn't aimed at Rebilton or Ethan.
A teal glow surged up from behind the stable, and then a boar as large as a house appeared from behind it.
Its back was covered in thick moss, and its lower tusks were taller than a person's height.
It was Summon Magic.
"A giant boar, is it. A nasty fellow."
As the boar made rough breathing sounds with clear hostility towards Rebilton, the Mazok quickly moved away, seemingly not wanting to get caught up.
Ethan reached for his Glock 45, but Rebilton shook his head.
"From the looks of it, that won't even be a match."
Rebilton squatted on one leg and straightened the other, taking a stance Ethan had never seen before.
"Ethan."
"Huh?"
"I wanted to teach you many sword techniques if possible, but it wasn't feasible."
"At least I'll teach you one crash course."
"You mean..."
Rebilton said.
"I'll show you the Hunter's Sword."