Sword, Magic and Academic Society
Vol. 1 - Ch. 240 - Ruins (5)

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With my pal—MY BBQ Skewer—in my hand, I pried open the locked door, carefully slipping my wind magic inside to probe around for the presence of a trap.

Once I was sure it was safe, I aired the place out before stepping inside. The room beyond looked like some sort of storage space for minerals.

Chunks of ore were piled haphazardly on the floor, but over on the right wall, there was a much more organized setup—a stone rack, neatly assembled and lined with minerals. Each section was marked with a string of symbols.

"Looks like some kind of mining record… ?"

The room was more spacious than I expected—probably around thirty tatami mats in size—but aside from the raw ore scattered about, nothing immediately useful stood out.

Still, I figured it was worth checking everything, one step at a time. I had taken a step when I suddenly felt an out-of-place feeling in front of a certain ore. 

"Hmm?"

I gathered my mana, sending a gust forward in the direction of ore. And—

"...Oh, it lights up?"

The ore emitted a variety of hues, like—amber, orange, or purple—when my wind magic washed over it. I assumed it was a reaction against the mana. 

On Earth, I recalled there was also some ores that would light up when UV rays fall over them. The general theory, and quoting from my vague memory, was that the ore would absorb the energy from UV rays, and then emit them. 

Speaking of their rarity, a certain super-rare ore made a headline when it was discovered in Japan. 

It was formed from plant matter that had crystallized over countless millennia, and many had speculated it could unravel the clues into how petroleum forms. 

Anyway, I felt this ore possesses the property of similar nature; just, instead of UV rays, it reacted to mana. 

Well, I read that earth attribute mages could only fiddle with inorganic ores, so I wonder what's the case with organic minerals? 

"...Alright, I guess I will bring one as a souvenir..."

With such a big pile, It should be, alright? Right? 

I shot my gaze at the racks, jotting down their numbers mentally, and picked up one of the ore—my brand new discovery. 

I felt an uncanny sensation when I put it inside my bag. In fact, I was all but prepared to hear the noise of the trap being activated or what not, but... none of my expectations came true alas.

◆◆◆

Covert operation. It was one of the curriculum among other lessons in the academy. And it happened that I was quite a prodigy in it.

The gist of the content, as an example, had students infiltrate a target location, hidden from anyone's eyes, and retrieve the objective. My strong grasp over the ability to 'erase leftover mana's traces'—a technique from mana circulation was an MVP in this scenario. 

And of course, wind magic was a main contributor as well. It had never been easier to probe your target location from a distance unnoticed. Apparently, my 'forgettable features'—certified by teachers and classmates alike—made blending among the populace easier. 

Replaying the lessons I had been taught, and the experience I had gained during knight training, I made an attempt for the 4th trial breakthrough of the nest. 

The first attempt was obviously a failure, with the small Steinberg noticing me. In my 2nd and 3rd attempt, I put more emphasis on understanding the layout of the area while making a breakthrough, albeit, I spotted no exit nearby.

Much to my display, the air flow inside the cave had all been circulating straight from behind the group of frogs. To put it concisely; the intake vent was at the tunnel’s far end, and the exhaust vent was beyond the frog's nest. 

So, whenever the wind travelled toward the exit beyond the nest, I had to be extra careful.

I swirled the wind all over me, akin to a coat of wind, making sure to not give off my smell as much as possible while approaching the nest's entrance. 

There were no Steinfrosches to block my path, perhaps because I had sorted out all the Steinfrosches during my earlier attempts.

I walked closer to the wall, almost as if I was hugging it, and took a look inside the frog's nest, illuminated by the glow shedding off from the blue shining wall, and received a surprise. 

To my astonishment, nearly all of the frogs were asleep.

I had lost all sense of time down here, but if I remembered correctly, Canardia Monster Encyclopedia did mention that Steinfrosches were nocturnal beasts. 

If they're sleeping, then it must be noon. *Thump* *Thump.* I could hear my heart rousing noises. I mean, it was the best moment to walk through them. It's just, It would be game over if I slipped down into that nest and  woke up that long-tongued frog.

...I could take my chance later tomorrow. —Pull back, regroup, plan more carefully, come back tomorrow. The words swirled in my mind, almost like a sweet melody, enticing me with the promise of at least another day of survival. 

No. I ceased my thoughts, took a deep breath, and ventured into the nest quietly.

My strategy was as simple as it could go. Make sure the other frogs don't find me, and make an escape. After all, what other options I had? It was obvious the longer I extended, the lesser my body would perform optimally.

I sure had taken quick naps and had grilled frog meat to satisfy my appetite, but the battle against Steinberg and solo exploration was taking a toll on me. I was barely at my peak.

My sense of judgement had become diluted. All I knew in this moment was one simple fact; I must keep forwarding. 

I took a leap of faith, acting on my deepest desire, and surprisingly, the hesitation melted away like sunlight falling over snow as I descended into the nest.

My mind was exceptionally clear of any unnecessary thoughts, and my legs light as feathers. With that conviction, I cautiously moved around the dome-shaped walls in an anti-clockwise direction.

I can do it. I had made it from what would be six o’clock to about three on the dial. I was just halfway to my goal—the exit at twelve. My groundless confidence had me completely at its mercy. 

I slowly crept toward my goal, until... the situation took an unexpected turn.

"Ribbiiiiiiit!!!"

The Steinberg—I am presuming it was the same giant frog I encountered in Area 81—who had been quietly sleeping suddenly wide open its eyes while also emitting a loud grunt.

The loud echo of the giant frog also had the other frogs woke up from their slumber. Instinctively, I erased any traces of my mana, held my breathing, and stuck to the wall so tightly as if I was one with it. 

I could see it. A tint of abhorrence sparked into its eyes once again, and dense mana slowly drifted out of it. 

The uncanny situation had me breaking out in cold sweat. I barely managed to stifle the gasp rising in my throat.

But, much to my surprise, Steinberg's gaze was locked into the direction opposite of me, toward the subterranean lake. 

It continued to intensely stare into that direction, its eyes smouldering with hatred, and then rushed in that direction, disappearing entirely out of my sight. Similarly, the surrounding small frogs followed after it and vanished into the same direction of the subterranean lake. 

The area was now left with the small Steinberg, and presumably half of the original count of small frogs. 

I kept my stealth, and focused on erasing my presence. But I could only hold my breath for that long. 

It was inevitable I must take another breath soon, and that was a problem. Now completely awake, the frogs were showing no sign of returning to their sleep. 

I hit the limit, feeling the suffocation, and did my best to slowly, very slowly inhale the air.

However, I was just doing that when the small Steinberg creaked its neck my way. 

I captured what was the confirmed hostility for an intruder in its eyes, and I abandoned any and all thought, gathering every ounce of my will to bolt toward my goal—the tunnel I was trying to reach. 

I come through small frogs on the way, though they're a beat late to action. In the meanwhile, I zapped through their ranks. 

I analysed their positions and movements, making sure they don't get to surround me during my escape. In between, with its eyes fixated on me, small Steinberg's tongue, as slith as a living snake, extended toward me with terrific speed.

I narrowly dodged by escaping into a nearby frog's shadow. The tongue instead cuffed around the frog, snapping back like a recoiling spring. The frog vanished whole into small Steinberg’s gaping maw.

“Ribbiiiiit.”

A flash of frustration appeared in its eyes, having been made to accidentally swallow one of its kind. 

I was quite in a checkmate. The area had lacked enough dirt and pebbles to make use of Whirlwind, and the distance between us had been great.

Using that fleeting window created at the expanse of the swallowed frog, I bolted forward—just outside what I’d estimated to be the tongue’s twenty-five-meter reach.

In one fluid motion, I yanked two iron arrows from my quiver, spun halfway around, and fired them in quick succession as suppressive shots.

The arrows struck their mark—one piercing its eyelid—but just as I suspected, it didn’t so much as flinch.

I turned and ran again, gauging the remaining distance to the tunnel; about a hundred meters. I’d have to dodge at least two more attacks.

The enemy launched itself upward on a diagonal path, closing the gap between us with frightening speed. This time, it aimed to strike from above, adjusting its angle midair with deadly precision.

It would’ve been easier if it just repeated the same attack pattern. But no such luck. They really had developed significant intelligence for sure.

As the swarm of small frogs surged toward me, I singled out one that wasn’t a mutant, grabbed its extended tongue mid-lash, yanked it toward me, and held it up as a makeshift shield. 

I had barely finished my act when the tongue unfurled into my direction like a bullet. I was this close to being pierced by it, but the small frog took a brunt for me at paper breath margin.

However I was sent flying backward due to the explosive momentum attack carried itself. Well, it was still a better case than being swallowed.

I felt my vision getting shaky due to impact, though I was finally outside the tongue’s reach.

Fighting through the haze, I forced myself to my knees, steadied my breathing, and trusted in the countless hours of training I’d put myself through. With my mind clear and empty, I nocked a McAqate arrow and shot it.

The arrow wedged itself deeply into the left eye of small Steinberg just as it landed, creating a fountain of blood.

Now it must be a question why I kept a trump card this late when I had some financial leverage now, eh? Well, that was the answer; I wanted it to 'remember' the power of the iron arrow. 

Monsters often protected themselves with a layer of mana coating. And as a matter of fact, even the McAqate arrow would've failed piercing it had I used it on my first attack. So, instead I used an iron arrow, giving it the illusion that my attacks were dime a dozen, lowering my threat level so that it would stop putting effort into defending itself using mana coating.

Now, the small Steinberg was in disarray, using its tongue to lick and grope around the wound, freaked out on how the attack it had deemed worthless managed to harm itself.

As for me, counting every second my last, I continued my mad dash toward the exit.

"Riiiiibiiiit!!"

It didn't take long for small Steinberg to comprehend it had been duped, and let out a piercing roar in rage. I kept my gaze straight nevertheless and dived straight into the tunnel.

Alas, Small Steinberg showed the similar tenacity and did a full power jump with terrific speed while unfurling its serpentine tongue once again. 

I was... ten metres apart from the tunnel's distance. —No, I wouldn't be able to made it in time. Acknowledging that fact, I reflexively unfastened my dagger from the leather strap at my belt.

Meanwhile, the small Steinberg finally succeeded, its tongue coming into contact with my back. 

But at the exact moment of impact, I slashed the shoulder strap of my quiver. The tongue caught the quiver instead, yanking it clean off. That split-second decision saved me. 

Though I was flung forward by the force, I’d managed to avoid being dragged back. I tumbled down the tunnel, rolling across the rough stone floor. 

My entire perspective was turning numb, and with a haziness covering it. I somehow held myself together, using the dagger as a stick to get myself back to my feet. 

Albeit, the cloud of peril continued in the shape of an absurdly huge water ball that the small Steinberg was conjuring up, seething in fury at the entrance of the tunnel. 

I dove into a blind curve in the tunnel just in time. 

Ultimately, the unleashed watter ball shot forward like a cannon, and rocked the whole tunnel while rousing a thunderous echo from impact. 

I had been already out of the trajectory of course, and now, it could fire thousands of water ball but that would only be exhausting oneself.

"...H-holy crap, that was so close..."

The words escaped in a breathless murmur as I collapsed where I stood.

But I couldn’t stay here.

Steinberg probably couldn’t follow me in, but the small frogs could, and it was only a matter of time before they flooded in behind me.

I took a deep breath, pulled myself together, and slapped both trembling legs to bring some life back into them. Then, with a long sigh, I pressed on into the depths of the tunnel.

the tunnel.