I Got a Fake Job at the Academy
Chapter 518

"Is that Hans?"

At Sedina's words, Rudger carefully observed the monster's appearance.

The monster had a form that was a mix of various beasts.

One arm was disproportionately massive, and at the same time, patches of white fur were scattered across its body, which was covered in black fur.

The head was wolf-like in shape, but there was a red horn growing on one side of the head, making it somewhat unbalanced.

When seen from afar, he hadn't noticed, but examining each element one by one, they were all familiar.

"...So it was true."

He immediately understood why Hans had become like that.

From the middle layer of Dreamland, the unconscious within humans has an influence.

For ordinary people, such unconsciousness wouldn't have such a dramatic effect, but Hans was different.

Hans possesses the factors of beasts.

He must have suppressed it with reason until now, but in Dreamland, it was useless.

The instincts of all kinds of beasts were dwelling within him and above all else, the most powerful was the wildness possessed by the Beast of Gevaudan.

If there was any consolation, it was that he hadn't yet gone into serious rampage.

Every time the Beast of Gevaudan beast factor tried to break out, the white fur that had sprouted all over Hans's body seemed to suppress it.

The factor of the deer sovereign that had inhabited the Kasar Basin was stopping the Beast of Gevaudan.

'But even that seems to be a matter of time now.'

Even with the sovereign's power, it couldn't completely suppress the power of the Beast of Gevaudan, a being twisted from birth.

Even now, that was the case.

Perhaps due to anger rising from being hit by Rudger, Hans's body was gradually swelling larger.

"T-Teacher. What should we do?"

If this continues, Hans will no longer be able to return to his former self.

The moment he is completely devoured by wildness, Hans as a being will transform into the Beast of Gevaudan.

Sedina instinctively felt this and sought a solution from Rudger, believing that Rudger, who had known Hans the longest, would know something.

"There is a way."

"Really?!"

"Yes. Moreover, it's simpler than you might think."

Simpler than expected.

As expected, Professor Rudger has a solution for everything.

Feeling both relief and admiration, Sedina asked.

"What exactly is this method?"

"We beat him up."

"...What?"

Sedina's pupils contracted slightly at the word that contrasted with his serious tone.

"The most effective way to subdue a disobedient beast is to show them the difference in power."

Rudger slowly stepped toward Hans.

Hans, who had been suffering as the sovereign's power and the Beast of Gevaudan power clashed, turned his gaze toward Rudger.

-Grrrr.

Hans, who had become a monster, bared his teeth at Rudger and raised his guard.

Normally, he should have rushed in to bite immediately, but strangely, his body wouldn't listen.

-Run away! Run away!

The beast wondered about the shout coming from somewhere within its body.

Run away? Why should I? I am the beast that the whole world fears.

The minimum of reason was entirely filled with confidence that it was the best.

Naturally, escape was not an option.

Moreover, if the opponent was this human who had arrogantly kicked him earlier, even more so.

What about this scrawny human was there to fear?

The beast's instinct mocked reason.

Telling it to shut up and just watch, after rebuking its weak inner self like that, the monster glared at Rudger with gleaming red eyes.

The joy of thinking about crushing that tiny human who didn't even reach its thigh was short-lived.

-Grrr?

The beast couldn't help but wonder.

Rudger's figure approaching him began to grow increasingly larger.

The beast, now having to look up at its opponent, could understand.

It wasn't that Rudger had grown larger. It had mistaken the huge form of something else behind him looking down at them for Rudger growing larger.

A benevolent face made of light with countless golden arms on its back looks down at them.

Eventually, the giant golden statue raised its hand and slowly thrust that one palm toward this direction.

As the view turned completely golden, Rudger's voice rang in the beast's ears.

"Don't worry. I won't kill you."

* * *

The students who had evacuated to a safe place got off the paper bird.

It was an island consisting of vast plains.

The surroundings were wide open, so it seemed unlikely they would suffer any surprise attacks.

The students who had barely survived let out sighs of relief.

Thanks to Julia, no one was injured or killed.

Of course, Rudger's help was the biggest factor in everyone's safety.

"Professor Rudger..."

"He sacrificed himself to save us."

The image of Rudger charging toward the monster wouldn't leave the students' minds.

The sight of Rudger facing the giant monster while containing golden flames was even majestic.

That magic clearly looked extraordinary at a glance, but no matter how skilled Rudger was, there was no way he could face such a monster.

"He's not dead, right?"

"Don't say such worrying things!"

The atmosphere quickly became gloomy as the most reliable person had disappeared.

Seeing this, Selina felt her chest tighten with pain.

She too was considerably shocked by Rudger's disappearance but she didn't show it because she was the only adult the students could lean on in this situation.

'If I show weakness here, the students will have an even harder time. I need to stay strong at least.'

Though she repeated this to herself internally, the worry bubbling up in her heart wouldn't disappear.

It was then that a black cotton ball appeared before Selina's eyes.

"Esmeralda?"

The dark spirit Esmeralda rubbed against her cheek with its fluffy body as if to encourage her.

Selina let out a small laugh at its appearance of trying so hard.

"Thank you for worrying about me. Thanks to you, I feel stronger."

Esmeralda shook its body slightly before disappearing again.

Strangely, it felt like Esmeralda's help was more encouraging than anything anyone else could say.

'How strange. It feels like I'm being healed from the depths of my soul.'

Moreover, while other spirits couldn't be summoned here in Dreamland, Esmeralda appeared so naturally as if it had always been that way.

'Is that how all dark spirits are? I should ask Professor Rudger later.'

Selina didn't think Rudger was dead.

The situation was certainly serious but strangely, she was confident that if it was Rudger, he would survive no matter what situation he was in.

"Everyone, attention! This isn't the time to be like this!"

Selina encouraged the dejected students.

While it would have been difficult alone, surprisingly, it was Julia Plumhart who helped her.

"Student Julia..."

"Since I received help, I should do something too."

Julia spoke as if it was nothing and brought out her secret weapon she had been saving to gather attention.

"Are you all going to just sit there pathetically? Why don't we try adapting to this world instead?"

Adapting to this world?

The students looked back with eyes asking if that was possible.

"Listen well. This is Dreamland. As much as the physical laws of reality don't apply here, magic manifestation is also different from reality. The same goes for the giant paper bird I made to carry you all."

What was important here was one's imagination.

If you could handle that properly, you could use magic that couldn't be performed in reality.

Dreamland was a place where even a three-year-old child could become a great magician depending on their mindset.

At those words, a spark lit up in the students' empty eyes.

Even if the situation was hopeless, they were ultimately those who walked the path of magic.

The topic of new magic in a new environment was too tempting for the Theon students to resist.

"Oh, then me too?"

"Is it really possible?"

The students were intrigued by Julia's explanation.

Nothing is more fascinating than being told you can do things that are impossible in reality.

Since it seemed difficult to understand just through words, Julia showed a simple example.

"For instance, to fly in the sky, you need to use flight magic. Or you discharge magical power or use telekinetic magic to lift your body. But here, there's no need for that."

-Whoosh.

Snow-white wings spread behind Julia's back.

-Wow.

The students let out exclamations at the beautiful sight.

Julia, who already had a mysterious atmosphere, became twice as beautiful with white wings.

"See?"

Julia said while stroking her wings.

She didn't stop there but even rose into the air while flapping her wings.

"Like this. In Dreamland, you can create wings and fly without levitation magic."

"I want to try too!"

One curious student boldly exclaimed.

"It won't be easy though?"

"Still have to try!"

The male student closed his eyes tightly as if imagining something in his mind and exercised his imagination.

I am a bird. I have wings.

Then surprisingly, a change occurred.

"W-What is this!"

The student's mouth changed into a yellow beak.

Despite his efforts to create wings, the change went in a strange direction.

Some students burst into laughter at the comical sight.

The heavy atmosphere was lightened considerably.

Julia shook her head.

"It doesn't work just by imagining it. You unconsciously thought of a bird, right? That's why the bird's characteristics are transferred to your body."

"H-How do I change back?"

"If you look in the mirror often, you should remember your original appearance well?"

Though quite harsh, it was helpful advice.

The male student with the bird's beak happily touched his lips that had returned to normal.

"That's too bad. I thought I could do it."

"If it was as easy as they say, everyone would be free in Dreamland. Rather, Professor Rudger's case is the one that doesn't make sense."

Just that golden statue alone.

Didn't it far exceed what could be created with mere imagination?

No matter how many times she thought about it, it didn't make sense, but Julia decided to accept it instead.

And at the same time, she came to believe that since Rudger showed such abilities, he must be alive and not dead.

Even though he fell down with the island swallower, strangely, it felt like Rudger would be fine.

'But we can't hold out in this situation for long.'

Julia looked up.

Having come quite far down now, at this rate, they might reach the middle part of the middle layer.

They might think they'll be fine if they just stay still, but reality wasn't so simple.

'The island swallower rushed at us as soon as that old man's voice ended. That's definitely strange.'

Island swallowers eat islands as their main food.

Moreover, they're known not to even show themselves in most of the upper middle layer.

Such a creature not only suddenly appeared but deliberately targeted them.

She couldn't shake off the artificial feeling.

Julia vaguely sensed what the opponent's purpose was.

'They're trying to send us down.'

No, rather than sending, are they inviting us to come?

Even now, while others couldn't sense it, Julia could tell.

The islands floating at the highest place of the upper middle layer were breaking one by one.

What that meant was one thing.

People flowing in from the upper layer to the middle layer afterwards would immediately fall down there.

They wouldn't die, but if they went down to the middle part without going through the upper middle layer.

What difference would that be from dying?

'If we're to overcome this.'

As Rudger said, they needed to be prepared.

Prepared to face and fight against the massive malice crouching down there.

* * *

"Looks like we're in big trouble, huh?"

Aidan said while sitting on a rocky mountaintop.

Coming up to quite a high place and looking around, the scenery was quite a sight.

Countless islands were floating in the sky.

What in the world was going on here?

"You just realized that now?"

"Well, you never know."

"After an earthquake and falling down, did you think we'd end up somewhere better?"

As Leo made a sharp remark beside him, Aidan scratched his head embarrassedly.

Aidan wasn't the only one here.

Tracy, Iona and several students with dejected expressions were together.

If there was one person who caught attention among them, it was Flora Lumos, one of the seniors who attended Rudger's class.

"F-Flora. What should we do now?!"

"Calm down, Sheryl. There's no use making a fuss here."

Flora, who instantly subdued her close friend Sheryl's commotion, observed the islands with sharp eyes.

"Senior Flora."

"You..."

Flora narrowed her eyes as she looked at Aidan who approached her.

Flora knew about Aidan too.

Not only were they in the same class, but he had left a deep impression by showing very unusual behavior.

"What is it?"

"I think we need to talk."

"With me? There are plenty of other kids here, why specifically?"

"The other friends don't seem to have the composure for it."

Flora glanced at the students who looked like their souls had left their bodies and sighed.

"...You're right."

"Besides, you're the most reliable one here, senior."

"So, what do you want to say?"

"Well, it seems we're stranded in a strange place, right? So I think we need to work together and move."

At the suggestion to move, Sheryl who was nearby asked.

"Why? Isn't it better to just stay here quietly? The teachers will come to rescue us."

"Ah, about that..."

Aidan pointed to one direction with his finger.

"Something keeps watching us from over there."

"What?"

Flora and Sheryl's gazes turned to where Aidan's finger was pointing.

However, only small rocks could be seen on the rocky ridge.

Sheryl asked suspiciously.

"What exactly is there? Do you want to play pranks in this situation?"

"No, Sheryl. That kid is right."

Flora glared intently at the rocks.

"Something is there."