I Became the Only Non-mage in the Academy

TL/Editor: looloo

Schedule: 5/Week Wed-Sun

Illustrations: Here

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The Korea Hero Academy monitors its fields with drones and cameras. These are products of magical engineering, a blend of magic and science.

Yet, even with meticulous surveillance, the vast expanse of the Korea Hero Academy has some overlooked spots.

One such neglected spot in a prairie field harbors a monster too challenging for the students.

'When the Mines eventually attack here, they'll use that monster for their assault.'

Catching it now is the best course of action.

So, I guided Ersil and Kim Ara to the place where the creature hid.

"Hmm, there are oddly no prey in this hunting ground?"

Whoosh.

With a slight adjustment to her magic power, Ersil took down a small monster and brought back its body.

Ersil's laughter grew.

The remark about the lack of prey meant a predator was near.

"But what kind of monster are we hunting?"

"I'm curious too."

"A snake."

At my words, they looked at me, curious.

"It's not a typical snake."

Naturally, I wouldn't have brought Ersil and Kim Ara for an ordinary snake.

I could handle an ordinary snake myself.

"It's a snake on the verge of becoming a weapon."

"......Hmm."

"Can we really capture that?"

Kim Ara went silent, while Ersil looked at me with curiosity.

"It's doable. Ersil will supervise the situation, Ara will counter the attack from the front, and I will take it down with one strike."

"......"

Kim Ara and Ersil gave me an odd look.

They seemed skeptical that I could defeat the weaponized creature in one hit. But since I had no reason to lie, they likely felt it might be true.

"Defeating a weaponized creature in one strike... that's outrageous. If it was someone else, I'd surely think it was a lie."

"Indeed."

I noticed a change in their expressions.

With a look close to expectation, they were finally going to witness my true potential.

And yes, I intended to give my all.

“And even if I fail, everyone else can still survive, right?”

I said, looking at Ersil.

Ersil's smile vanished. Just for an instant.

"Ah, don't tell me you're ready to sacrifice your life to protect us, Mr. Seo-ha? That's too touching~."

"What nonsense."

I'm not worried about Ersil and Kim Ara.

If her life were in danger, the 'Soul of the Transcendent' inside her would awaken.

Of course, there's a non-zero risk, and she might suffer for a bit... but when you consider the value of a life, it's not risky.

Kim Ara also possesses a source power, so she's not easy to kill.

"Hold on."

I signaled my group to stop. My gaze fell on something resembling a black scale on the ground. It was about the size of a palm.

-Black scale. It looks like a snake's scale.

That's the information you'd come across when encountering a snake in the game.

Examine.

──────────────────

【Scale of Shadow Serpent(D-)】

A scale dropped by a serpent that has awakened the shadow attribute. It has various uses.

──────────────────

“Could it be... Is the Shadow Serpent our target?”

“Yes.”

"A Shadow Serpent?"

Kim Ara looked confused.

“Shadow Serpents are tricky. To begin with, all monsters that have awakened the shadow attribute leave no traces, are skilled at ambushes, and can easily hide. So, they're hard to handle....”

Ersil offered the explanation in my place.

"And you mentioned it's close to becoming a weapon?"

"Yes."

If things proceed this way, within a year, it will turn into a weapon.

In the second year, the Mines will launch a large-scale attack on Korea Hero Academy to conquer the Tower of Trials. A writer known as Beast Lord will control this snake, resulting in substantial losses.

Ideally, students shouldn't intervene. With this scale as proof, not only the instructor of the West Universe but several assistants should be dispatched. Moreover, two professors equivalent to the intermediate stage should be deployed.

──────────────────

Main Quest Chapter 1.5 : Subjugation of the Shadow Serpent

-Kill the Shadow Serpent.

◈Reward: 5,000P, additional rewards based on performance.

──────────────────

A quest window popped up before me. The situation seemed too ideal to be mere chance.

‘Not bad.’

With the multidimensional paid store available, points are always beneficial. However, it's slightly unsettling that whoever sent me here might be observing my actions.

Tick-.

I chuckled lightly. Worrying about such matters is a luxury at the moment.

I led my group towards the lair of the creature.

I have no concerns. Both Kim Ara and Ersil are exceptionally talented individuals.

They form the most formidable force I can assemble at the moment.

And I'm supremely confident about this mission.

‘Around the 1,375th time?’

I remembered the number of times I had defeated that creature while completing tasks in 《Epic World》.

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Raei Translations

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Ersil squinted, watching the young man leading the way.

Lee Seoha.

He was the topic of the moment.

His real strength remained a mystery.

He was the first to navigate through the Tower of Trials, and from the 'playful' probes of those who had explored the dungeon with him, it seemed he behaved as if he knew every corner of the dungeon.

‘I can’t figure him out.’

Ersil observed him with her 'eyes'.

Yet she saw nothing.

-It's not good to look at him like that.

In her inner self, her mentor spoke.

-He is indeed an enigma. Even up close and under observation, it's impossible to discern anything. Something seems to be obscuring our view of his information.

‘Even you, mentor?’

Ersil was astounded.

In the world, she was known as a master of illusion magic, but in reality, she was just learning a more refined system of illusion magic.

Melanie Merhen.

A transcendent being who entered this world only as a 'soul' and was earnestly assisting her.

Her mentor’s eyes were unlike hers.

Unlike the commonplace 'magic eye', the eyes that see 'levels' developed by a transcendent being can penetrate all things in the universe.

“We've arrived.”

At Lee Seoha's words, Ersil surveyed the area.

There was a small space below ground, but it didn't seem likely to be there.

However, Lee Seoha stopped and examined that spot.

“...You don't mean here?”

“Yes, this is the serpent's lair.”

Lee Seoha furrowed his brow slightly, utilizing his Black Heavenly Demon Sword to prod the ground and widen the entrance. An opening just big enough for Lee Seoha to pass through appeared.

“It's like a dungeon. The deeper you go, the larger it becomes.”

“Exactly. Now, follow me.”

Lee Seoha headed inside. Ersil crafted a magic barrier to keep the surrounding dirt from sticking and descended.

“Ah, I'll create a path for you too, Ms. Ara.”

“Thank you.”

After walking for about 10 minutes, the passage began to expand.

"Ersil, it's coming…!"

"Everyone, ready for battle."

Before Ersil could alert the group, Lee Seoha spoke upon hearing Melanie's words.

Woo-woong!

Kim Ara summoned a sword that towered over her height. She, too, withdrew her magical tome.

A magical tome half the size of a person floated in mid-air, emitting light.

At the same time.

-Sha-ah-ah-ah-ah!

A chilling sound began to echo.

"Kim Ara, strike the ground with all your might."

"Understood."

"Wait a moment. A monster that has awakened the shadow attribute...physical attacks won't typically work…"

"It doesn't matter."

At Ersil's words, Lee Seoha signaled Kim Ara.

Kim Ara nodded at Lee Seoha's gesture. The energy within her body began to expand. A force distinct from magical power.

A power that vitalizes life and strengthens the body.

Source power.

Remembering the power that Lee Seoha had mentioned, Kim Ara swung her sword.

───────────────!!!!

Waves reverberated as if crushing space itself.

-Ki-eek!

A serpent-shaped entity of shadow started to rise from the ground, writhing in pain.

"Ersil, try to restrain it."

"Oh, seriously!"

Annoyed, Ersil infused mana into her magical tome.

Dozens of threads ensnared the shadow snake.

All the while, her gaze remained fixed on Lee Seoha.

If the opponent was at this level, Lee Seoha would have to use his full strength. She wondered what power he would use. There was much talk about his power. Even her master probably had no idea.

Just in case he failed, Ersil was preparing to use illusion magic and flee with the party, pulling her magic power while observing him.

Suddenly, an overpowering energy began to manifest itself around Lee Seoha. It was a black force that seemed to negate everything around it. Ersil stared in disbelief, 'What... is that?'

-Tianma!

Before she could dwell on the power, her master Melanie screamed in astonishment.

-There was a descendant of the Tianma? But how? She was sure she had died without finding a successor!

Regardless of the outburst from Melanie, Lee Seoha extended his hand. He was still learning to control this force, Spirit Against Heaven, and using the Black Heavenly Demon Sword made the transmission of Demonic Qi uneven.

Yet, Demonic Qi was forming in his hand, and it coalesced into a perfect sphere. The sphere radiated an eerie energy, one that seemed to negate everything around it. With a swift motion, Lee Seoha leaped towards the shadow snake.

Black Abyss.

With an impactful strike, the black sphere collided with the shadow snake.

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