Episode 40

Outer Gods are repelled by areas dense with Ether.

The ‘Ether Belt,’ humanity’s sanctuary, remained untouched by the Outer Gods due to its rich Ether concentration.

However, an anomaly emerged—a small yet consequential breach.

An Outer God observed the galaxy with a hint of amusement.

At the heart of this anomaly was a nascent black hole.

Surrounding this black hole, the laws of physics unraveled: entropy reversed, time flowed backward, and particles danced in a ceaseless ballet of creation and destruction.

In this realm, akin to a frigid metallic sphere, the Outer God made a decision.

After enduring several attacks from Renanial, the inspectors were utterly exhausted.

“Ugh…!”

At that moment, my responsibility shifted to ensuring their safety.

As soon as its prey disappeared, the creature headed further north.

The most skilled among them, both B and A-grade inspectors, were either gravely injured or had met their demise. None possessed the strength to move. The students, however, remained unharmed.

All except for two.

Silence.

Rustila was nowhere to be found.

Zelnya, too, had disappeared.

“Damn it.”

I looked northward, not merely because the beast had vanished. It was pursuing two individuals, dragging them deeper into the mountainous terrain.

Ignoring this would mean failing Ceti. I had to guarantee Rustila’s safe return, at the very least.

At that moment, additional inspectors and a medical team arrived to provide support.

Yet, not a single S-grade inspector was among them.

Facing Renanial would spell disaster for them.

I sprinted in the direction the monster had gone, evading the inspectors’ concerned looks.

Ten minutes before Aidel and Ceti’s arrival, Rustila made her entrance with breathtaking agility.

She unsheathed her sword; its blade superheated to produce condensed plasma, and with a swift thrust,

“Kwang!”

She saved an inspector from the clutches of the monster’s gaping jaws.

Shortly after, Rustila’s hand began to tingle.

“Who the hell are you?”

Before her stood a girl adorned with a white scarf, landing with the grace of an acrobat.

Zelnya von Adelwein.

She poised herself, rapier at the ready.

Rustila, mirroring her stance, braced for the ensuing confrontation.

“Rustila Kersil.”

“Kersil? That name doesn’t ring a bell.”

Zelnya, aware of the Kersil lineage, pretended ignorance, her penchant for provocation evident.

Yet, Rustila was undeterred, her gaze fixed on the looming threat.

“…How tedious.”

“Focus. We’re dealing with a creature that’s on the cusp of S-grade.”

“Hmm.”

Zelnya’s reply came as a dismissive hum, signaling the end of their brief exchange.

Indeed, Zelnya had plunged into the fray, utterly convinced of her victory within mere minutes.

Yet, her adversary proved surprisingly tenacious, far surpassing the expectations for a B-class opponent.

It appeared Rustila’s warnings were not without merit.

“We must halt this before further harm ensues.”

“Why haven’t the academy’s forces intervened? Are they incapable of handling one miscreant?”

Despite the arrival of eight A-grade inspectors three minutes into the conflict, their efforts were futile, contributing nothing significant before being overwhelmed.

“An S-grade inspector is expected shortly.”

“I’ll reserve my optimism.”

Amid their exchange, the creature swiftly subdued the remaining combatants. The air was thick with the sounds of screams and groans, a testament to the chaos.

Without voicing it, Rustila and Zelnya found themselves united by a common resolve.

‘There must be no further victims.’

‘We cannot allow this menace to triumph by a fluke.’

With strategic cunning, they lured the beast towards them.

Taking the bait, it lumbered eastward.

Rustila executed a broad sweep with her sword, prompting the monster to veer west.

This time, Zelnya’s thrust only managed to create a shallow indentation.

Provoked, the creature pivoted, its grotesquely twisted limbs carrying it with surprising agility.

‘The monster navigates more freely in open spaces.’

‘Use the terrain to our advantage.’

With frenzied velocity, the beast charged. Seemingly in tacit agreement, they darted into the dense forest.

Despite its immense size, which allowed it to crush most underbrush effortlessly, the terrain played to their advantage. They exploited the intact foliage and the cover of towering trees for ambushes.

‘Strike…’

‘…and fall back.’

This hit-and-run tactic was their most potent strategy, allowing the underdogs to challenge a formidable adversary.

Rustila harbored a visceral thirst for the fight, whereas Zelnya was gripped by a deep sense of frustration.

Yet, their strategy effectively kept the monster at a distance from the clearing.

However, they soon found themselves cornered, with no further ground to concede.

‘It’s a cliff. What do we do now?’

‘It seems too clever to simply tumble off the edge for our convenience.’

Rustila turned to Zelnya with a speculative glance.

“Perhaps we could try to push it over the cliff…?”

“You’re really stupid.”

“What?”

“Just observe its actions.”

Rustila’s expression tightened as she noticed the creature’s deliberate approach, methodically removing trees to clear its path toward them.

“It appears to possess more intelligence than you.”

“Still, shouldn’t we attempt something…?”

“Do you honestly believe a fall will finish it? My sword barely scratched it, leaving only superficial marks.”

“It might work. If I channel all my Ether into a single strike…!”

Zelnya clicked her tongue, interrupting with a critique.

“I’ve been observing your swordplay, and it’s remarkably sloppy. Hasn’t anyone instructed you? Or are you self-taught?”

“Yes.”

“Given your affluent background, I assumed you’d have received formal training. But perhaps it’s a sheer lack of talent that’s your issue… Wait, what did you say?”

“I’m self-taught.”

Rumble!

As Rustila and Zelnya were deep in conversation, the monster picked up speed. They split, darting to the left and right to evade.

Suddenly, a cliff loomed ahead…

Yet, the monster, displaying astonishing maneuverability, veered off course once more.

‘Now’s the time.’

Rustila thought, her decision swift. Moving with agility, she intuitively found an opening and thrust her plasma blade into it.

She pushed the blade deeper, then discharged its energy.

“Kiiik!”

The monster let out a feeble groan.

“Enough!” Rustila shouted.

“You idiot! If you’ve landed a hit, you should’ve pulled back!”

“…No!” Rustila countered, her tone defiant.

It ends here.

Determined to ensure his downfall, Rustila had paid the majority of her remaining coins to her constellation.

What remained was to receive a skill as payment.

Thud!

The first thing that happened was a monster’s hand, lying in wait, snatching Rustila’s torso.

“Kyaak…!”

“That idiot!”

Zelnya clicked her tongue and stomped on the ground. Her amethyst eyes reflected the sight of Rustila’s sword, embedded by her own hands.

‘Now that it’s come to this, I’ll put an end to it.’

She made her decision, keenly aware that the monster was preoccupied with Rustila and wouldn’t be able to pay attention to her for approximately 2-3 seconds.

However, it was a miscalculation.

Like a cicada shedding its skin, a dark belly was torn open, revealing a net-like structure from which hundreds of pairs of eyeballs erupted.

‘Did it have visual organs… on its flanks, too…?’

Zelnya instantly covered her mouth, repulsed by the sight.

Nevertheless, she thrust her rapier forward without hesitation. But due to her unsteady stance, the blade failed to penetrate fully.

“Damn it…!”

Thwack!

A hand shot out from the other side, grasping Zelnya’s torso.

“Why must I struggle with such vermin?!”

The regret of having rushed in, like a moth to a flame, on a whim of rash courage, came too late. Wasn’t this just like what Rustila had done?

As soon as the monster seized the two of them, it widely opened the maw on its torso. Through the mechanical lips, sticky tar and undulating mercury could be seen.

The monster’s maw twisted into a grin, emitting an incomprehensible language.

It was the unmistakable form of a monster from the Maxwell Legion.

Trying to move proved futile.

A trapped body, frail strength—it was a miracle they hadn’t been crushed already.

Soon, they felt themselves being gradually dragged downward. The monster, with its long and brutish arms, was pulling them toward hell.

Both Zelnya and Rustila tightly closed their eyes, each harboring a desperate wish.

‘At a time like this, if only someone would come to our aid…’

‘…I would be eternally grateful to that person.’

And that’s when it happened.

A force akin to a bullet tore through the monster’s lower abdomen.

The sharp sensation quickly spread to the two girls, causing Zelnya’s vision to black out.

A salty taste swirled in Rustila’s mouth—the smell of blood. Her lungs felt constricted as though she had run at full speed.

Nevertheless, it was the presence of her Constellation that allowed her to maintain her composure.

The next moment, what Rustila saw with her emerald eyes was…

“…Aidel!”

It was the figure of a friend…wielding a Caliper.

Editor’s Notes:

• Changing Transformation to Conversion, as it reflects better the act of converting energy into an attack.
• Multiple Mental Failure is the literal skill name given in the raws. The author included the English translation.