1-Second Invincible Player in the Game

74. Slave Revolution (2)

Emmerich recalled the battlefield he had surveyed so leisurely while fighting Makdal.

Contrary to expectations, the Evil faction was struggling to hold their ground.

Especially the troops led by that wild-haired man moved with the fluidity of a living serpent.

‘None of them are fit to linger in the Shulafe tomb. Especially this one who seems to be the commander; if he had taken the third trial, he would have been on his way to the Adel tomb with that talent.’

Whenever danger loomed, he conjured a temporary shield in the air, and if a weapon fell to the ground, he immediately replenished his sword.

Moreover, he manifested chains to fill in the gaps in his attacks.

“Where is your leader now?”

Emmerich released the grip on Makdal’s hair and looked down at Rix.

Yet, Makdal barely managed to lift his sagging body.

“Ah, it’s not over yet…”

“Still conscious, are we? Your resilience has certainly improved.”

Emmerich once again drew his sword from its sheath, readying himself.

As Makdal swung his staff, snowmen began to emerge once more.

“Eat this!”

Emmerich deftly dodged the icicle hurled by Makdal, simultaneously swinging his sword to shatter the snowman.

Crack!

Even as he fought, he took in the overall situation.

Even if the forces had been disrupted by the barbarians, they should have been subdued by now.

Yet, one by one, it was his allies who were falling.

‘Something is going wrong. That first-year brat is one thing, but why can’t the others easily overpower those slaves…?’

In that moment, a sound like slicing wind reached Emmerich’s ears.

Swoosh—

After the sound faded, a student from the Bürger tomb collapsed.

And there lay a long stick with feathers scattered on the ground.

“An arrow?”

As he dodged Makdal’s attack, he observed closely and realized the tip was blunt.

It was not for killing.

No, even if it had a sharp end, the knight clad in aura and armor would not fall.

“Damn it, he’s distracted again!”

Emeric sliced through the cursed fog with the force of his presence, swiftly grasping an arrow in his hand.

Then, a crackling sound erupted as static electricity sparked.

‘Did he enchant the arrow…?’

Swoosh──

Once more, another fell.

Emeric tracked the trajectory of the arrow with his eyes.

Two indistinct silhouettes.

The b*stard had shot from the roof of the Shulafe dormitory, far off in the distance.

The one beside him must have cast magic on the bow.

Swoosh──

Emeric’s thoughts shifted as he watched his comrades fall one by one.

If only the evil ones could hold out until reinforcements arrived, the tide would soon turn.

But if the ranks continued to dwindle like this, it would be futile.

‘That said, capturing that archer over there is out of the question…’

To reach the roof, he would have to enter the Shulafe building.

Inside, bizarre phenomena awaited, and when would he be able to gather the rule mirrors, moving cautiously to reach them one by one?

The archer was, quite literally, shooting from the safest fortress.

‘It’s impressive that an archer can hit so accurately from that distance, but to think they’d be stationed in such a place… Damn it, if we delay, it’s us who will be at a disadvantage.’

Emeric set aside his distractions, shutting out the snowman.

Thud!

After all, the fists flying toward him were merely clumps of snow.

They would only inflict minimal damage against his aura-clad body.

“I’ll give you this. Your leader is indeed a chilling strategist. Perhaps it was skill that brought down Bidon.”

“Hmph, so you’ve only just realized that?”

“First, I’ll make sure to finish you off, Makdal.”

As Emeric charged, Makdal unleashed a torrent of magic.

Emeric stepped aside, dodging, and closed the distance with a slash of his sword.

The moment he stepped into the close distance, Emeric’s sword swung horizontally.

“Ugh!”

Makdal quickly ducked his head to save himself.

“It’s nothing more than buying a few seconds, Makdal.”

Emeric thrust his foot, striking Makdal in the solar plexus.

With a swift motion, he clenched his empty hand and drove it into Makdal’s jaw, then slashed diagonally with the scabbard.

“Gah!”

Struck by the dull blow to his throat, Makdal fell unconscious.

Simultaneously, the snowmen began to dissolve, one by one, into flurries of snowflakes.

Just then, the reinforcements, previously cut off, arrived.

“I-I’m sorry, seniors! I was a bit late getting out through the window.”

“Ah, I’m going to die! What are you doing? Hurry up and help, you fools!”

“Yes, yes!”

They approached those who had been fighting ahead and took their positions.

As the injured fell back and the ranks were reformed, the once fierce slaves of Shulafe began to falter.

At that moment, an arrow flew from afar, bouncing off the armor of the second-year knight division.

Clang!

Emeric turned his head to gaze at the roof of the Shulafe dormitory.

He could see the man beside the archer exhaling heavily, as if he were gasping for breath.

‘Looks like he’s already spent all his mana.’

If that’s the case, there are no variables.

Emeric raised one hand high and shouted.

“Everyone, stop!!”

At his thunderous voice, the fighting slaves and soldiers lowered their weapons, fixing their gazes upon Emeric.

“The victory is already tilted. Surrender willingly before you get hurt.”

What mattered was the fact that they were slaves.

His goal was to imprint his position and maintain the original order, not to render them useless.

Thus, it was merely an invitation.

However, the man with the tousled hair glanced over and scoffed.

“Victory tilted, you say? Don’t be deluded.”

The throng behind the creature was no different.

Soon, as if by contagion, a relaxed smile began to spread across the lips of the slaves.

An utterly incomprehensible sight.

At this point, it would be normal to raise the white flag, yet why…

“…!!”

In an instant, a single certainty flashed through Emeric’s mind.

‘There is. Hassel van Tenest is surely here.’

If the strongest force on the battlefield had fallen yet morale remained unbroken, it could only mean that the fallen was not truly the strongest.

Moreover, if the leader was cowering in fear, they would not wear such a victorious expression.

Emeric scanned the surroundings, pinpointing where the creature was hiding.

“Now, this is creative.”

A snowman, perfectly intact.

Even with Magdal fainted, this remained unscathed.

Of all places to hide, here…

Emeric tightened his grip on his sword, a smirk curling at the corners of his mouth.

“Let us begin. The true battle of leaders.”

As he struck the snowman’s neck at an angle, a sharp clang echoed.

Snow erupted in a flurry.

What lay hidden was none other than…

“…Atra.”

The representative of the Shulafe Guild, clad in full plate armor, wielding a sword.

“Apologies. It seems I’m not the person you were looking for.”

Atra, perhaps shaken by the impact of the recent blow, shook his wrist vigorously.

With each twist of fate, a chuckle escaped Emeric’s lips.

“Ha. What a delightful trickster you are. Where is Hassel van Tenest now?”

“Before that, I have something to say as a representative.”

Atra spread three fingers, continuing his speech.

“What we demand is three things. First, you will return the equipment you’ve taken. Second, if you have money, do not disregard the students of Shulafe Guild again. The last, and most important…”

As Emeric blinked in silence, Atra grinned slyly.

“That would be an increase in labor costs.”

Emerick replied in a voice laced with frost.

“Seems you’ve lost your wits, Atra, mixing with the slaves like that.”

Atra shot back defiantly.

“Negotiations failed? Then let him take a beating.”

“I’d wish for that, truly. It’s the first time I’ve met someone so difficult to lay eyes on.”

Atra banged her armor, stepping back.

“Damn it, something’s gotten in my eye. Anyway, good news. He’ll show up soon.”

Then she shouted briefly to the slaves.

“Hey, you lot. Fall back.”

Atra dashed away.

The slaves of Shulafe halted their fighting, tending to the wounded as they followed her.

The students of Bürger stood dumbfounded at the absurdity of the situation.

Emerick muttered softly.

“He’ll show up soon?”

In that moment, a chill wind brushed against Emerick’s back, sending shivers down his spine.

* * *

The exclusive floor of Adel was perched high within the fortress.

The terrace offered the finest view, a prime spot to overlook everything below.

Of course, this too barred the likes of Shulafe and Bürger, but with the professors’ permission, I was an exception.

As I watched the clash of the two factions from above, I stepped back until I was about ten meters from the terrace railing.

Then I began to trace runes with my staff.

‘Donathan. Full speed ahead.’

‘…You’re planning something reckless again, aren’t you?’

As we both moved in sync, conjuring the same motions in our minds, we began to surge forward at our maximum speed.

With all my weight behind me, I dashed past the entrance of the terrace and leaped with all my might onto the railing.

Thud!

What I was about to do was drop a bomb.

The target was Emerick and his crew.

They were clustered together tightly enough to be swept away by a self-destruct spell, which was quite fortunate.

Thanks to the strategic positioning of the Shulafe folks, they had fought well.

—

Thanks to the way it caught the eye, the success rate of the ambush would surely rise.

I hurled myself into the distant ground, adjusting my position with psychokinetic magic as the cold air struck against me.

As the earth drew nearer and Emeric’s crown loomed larger, I offered my greeting.

* * *

“Hello? It’s a pleasure to meet you.”

He is here.

Hussel Ben Tenest.

Right behind me.

Emeric glanced back in a panic.

There was no time to react.

The world had already been drenched in blinding light, and a ringing filled my ears.

Biiiiiiiii──

In the midst of the dulled senses, all that remained was the heavy ache coursing through my body.

Even with all my might wrapped in aura, the force was enough to momentarily sever my thoughts.

Emeric steadied himself, gathering strength in his legs to prevent his body from collapsing.

‘Ugh, my head…’

Struggling against the throbbing headache, he swung his sword, dispersing the curling smoke that lingered.

“Are you planning to hide again? Show yourself! Hussel Ben Tenest!!”

After a brief silence, Hussel’s voice echoed back.

“Just a moment, if you please. I need to gather my clothes after using this spell.”

Gradually, the smoke began to clear.

Hussel was fastening the buttons of his coat.

As Emeric regained his stance, Hussel chuckled, pointing around with a finger.

“Yield, Emeric. You’ve lost.”

The soldiers lay scattered on the ground, all unconscious.

From the faint sound of an explosion earlier, it was clear that the man before me had wielded some strange magic.

“Indeed, I concede. You’ve bested me in tactics. But what of this?”

A trickle of blood escaped from the corner of Emeric’s mouth.

…It felt as if his lower abdomen were tearing apart.

The shock from moments ago had caused his aura to surge back violently.

—

‘Until I can wield the aura, I have no choice but to buy time solely with my swordsmanship…’

As I aimed the tip of my blade, Hershel suddenly spun around.

I could almost hear him muttering as if counting some numbers.

His overflowing composure only heightened my wariness.

‘A sudden opening? No, it could be a trap of his design. If so, then striking unexpectedly would be the right course.’

Just as I took a step forward, risking danger, Hershel turned his head and asked in a heavy voice.

“Why go to such lengths?”

His gaze was infinitely serious.

In the face of his noble demeanor, Emeric paused to think.

I don’t know what schemes he harbors, but buying even a little time until I can use my aura isn’t such a bad idea.

“I’ve seen that even beggars have their hierarchies. There’s always a pecking order wherever you go.”

The act of ranking is, after all, an instinct that humanity cannot suppress.

“If the class system were abolished and everyone stood on equal ground, it would be the same. It would only lead to chaos.”

Better to draw a clear line and live within its bounds.

“Those with ability become nobles. Where else can you find a system so straightforward and functional?”

Even if one is born a commoner, the path to rise is not entirely blocked.

Whether through earning wealth or achieving great deeds, anyone with ability can become a noble.

If one fails despite their efforts, it is merely a lack of diligence.

“If you choose to remain stagnant despite the opportunity, then bear the responsibility of the lowest rank. That is the duty that comes with one’s position.”

Hershel nodded.

“Indeed, that resonates well. Those with ability deserve the treatment that befits them. That is only right.”

His words provoked Emeric further.

If this man were to go, he would surely surpass Adel.

“Knowing that, you still went to Shulafe? After passing the third exam, are you now rejecting the natural order?”

Yet, the fact that he chose to go to Shulafe, even while claiming to be a slave, was akin to rebelling against the very discipline he now stood against.

“Enough mockery. Draw your sword! Let’s settle this now!!”

As Emeric let out a fierce roar, Hershel turned to Donathan.

‘Is he really unable to use his aura?’

‘How many times must I tell you that his aura has been disrupted and he cannot use it!’

‘So it’s true that I can win with pure swordsmanship?’

‘······That question is already the third time, you wretched b*stard!!’

Hershel gripped a wooden sword that lay scattered on the floor and ignited the ‘embers of noble blood.’

“Indeed, soon I shall grant you peace.”