The Isekai Police [Books 1 + 2 Complete!]

Of all the trapped hallways Artyom had been through, this had been one of them. And he didn't just think that out of a sense of humor. Traps that messed with one's mind were a sinister variety, one that the man from Earth was most wary of.

He concluded it affected the victim's sense of time, but only when they were actively moving forward through the corridor. It wasn't entirely magical at least since he was able to just cut off his senses to get through without any trouble.

But something about that bugged him; it was too easy to get through. For a magic school that was willing to deploy such an esoteric means of defense, you'd think it wouldn't be beatable by a little kid's go-to strategy in an argument?

"The place is six hundred years old or something, I shouldn't be surprised some of the security spells are starting to fade," said Artyom in a half-whisper as he turned the corner and found himself at a dead end. The hallway opened up into a small octagonal room with three doors laid into the walls.

Each was made of a rich, dark wood similar to that of the headmistress' office door, but looking slightly more worn. As he approached each one in a clockwise order, words lit up on their surfaces at head-height.

"War Mage"

"Student"

"Faculty"

Each of them stated it succinctly at first, but when Artyom stepped closer to inspect them, the words "Present Proof" shined just below the titles.

"Of course it can't be easy. I am a War Mage, but I don't know what kind of proof it wants for that. Maybe an attack to prove my strength? But it's more likely it'll see that as an attack and not take too kindly to such a showing of strength."

Artyom extended his magical senses towards the door and was met with the solid pane of magic that was a ward. One that held strong against prying. What little knowledge he managed to eke out of its structure told him it was incredibly complicated.

"I feel like if I try to break through any of these, which I might actually be able to do in a couple of hours, it would probably detect the intrusion and do something about it. I don't know what's worse though; attacking me in response or destroying whatever's inside in retaliation. But, it can't hurt to knock."

And Artyom did just that; he knocked on each door. But not too hard, lest the wards interpret it as an attack.

The sound was deep, and the wood echoed as if it wasn't protected by an advanced magical barrier. But despite the somewhat forceful fists slamming against the doors hard enough to elicit such a sound, they didn't budge one bit.

"I guess I can come back here with those kids tomorrow to unlock the second door, and maybe I'll be able to get the third once the headmistress officially makes me a substitute teacher. But until then, I might as well get out of here for an early dinner. I don't care if it's 4:44, I'm starving-"

As Artyom turned around, he was met with Daisy and Ecole, glaring at him with imperious expressions.

"W-wh… how the hell did you get through the hallway?"

"We've seen that trick before, we know what to do," replied Ecole with a non-committal shrug.

"More importantly, you should be asking us why we're here," added Daisy with a sneer.

"I already know that," replied Artyom. "You followed our little group so you would know where to look for the treasure."

"It's because-" Daisy snarled. But she quickly regained her composure and let out a dark chuckle. "But since nobody else in the school knows how to get through that trap, we're the only ones who'll probably ever set foot here. And if not, this place is forbidden; who's to say some unknown danger didn't claim another victim?"

Artyom immediately understood what she was getting at, it was bright as day for someone like him.

"We're going to kill you here," said Ecole as she pulled out a poison-tipped knife and threw it.

Artyom's speed spells were still active, and they were the only things that allowed him to dodge the attack aimed at his head.

The blade instead struck the door behind him, not even denting the wood or the ward as it harmlessly bounced off and hit the floor.

"ENEMY DETECTED," a loud voice rang out through the room.

Everyone was caught off guard by the sound and froze for a split second.

Just enough time for the ward to flicker into view and form a semi-translucent spear out of the energies which made it up. The weaponized magic then shot out of the doorway towards Ecole.

Daisy was faster, however, and jumped in its way with both her swords drawn in a parrying stance. Both blades fell onto the spear of magic with enough force to easily ground a stampeding elephant, or rather turn its entire body into paste, but the attack was thrown back.

The spear was still diverted from its original target, and instead cut through Daisy's arm. It left a bloody gash across it that made the blonde cry out in pain as she grabbed at the injury.

Artyom's eyes went wide, but rather than think about what he just saw, he took the opportunity granted to him and ran.

Ran past Daisy and Ecole, who were still processing what just happened, and managed to slip past them into the trapped hallway.

As he entered, Artyom could feel his heart beating fast. Fast enough that the sound of it and his breathing were all he could hear as he ran. Three steps later and his eyes opened wide. Without a second thought, he threw something behind him which hit the back wall and he kept on running.

Not a moment later, Daisy and Ecole came running fast behind him. And unlike Lensa, they were actually fast. Artyom's speed spells weren't enough. They were beginning to catch up to him, and when they did, they would drag him back and kill him.

However, a step before he was in grabbing distance, Artyom's phone rang.

4:45

Daisy and Ecole turned around on instinct to see where the noise was coming from, and when they blinked, it was gone. Artyom was also gone.

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"Did he…" began Ecole.

"Gaah! We fell for it!" shouted Daisy, repeatedly stomping her foot on the ground.

Back in the dining hall, Artyom sat with the three members of the Holdbright Explorers, enjoying an early dinner.

That was a lie, none of them were enjoying themselves.

"Are you alright, what happened?!" the students all clamored to ask.

Artyom held out a hand to get them to slow down while he shoveled food into his mouth. He hadn't eaten since breakfast after all, and he was famished.

The trio held their tongues, but it was obviously with much difficulty.

Eventually Artyom finished chewing and swallowing before replying, "I was able to get through the trap and found a room with three locked doors. I don't have a way through any of them yet, but you three might be able to get through one of them if you have a way to prove to it you're a student."

"But why were you running here? Did whatever danger lurking in the corridor follow you back?" asked Gula.

"No, it's because those two from before ambushed me. I was able to get away, but I didn't want to spend any more time around them alone than I had to and wanted to get somewhere public."

"Okay okay, start from the top," said Cane.

And Artyom did just that, detailing the trap he ran into, the room with the three doors, and his encounter with Daisy and Ecole.

"The faculty and student door I understand," said Cane, tapping her chin with her finger. "But war mage? Are those even a thing?"

"Are you telling me that's not a thing?" asked Artyom. "What's the point of your magical combat classes then?"

"Self defense?" said Cane.

"Tradition?" said Broc.

"Throwing fireballs is what everyone wants to do," said Gula.

"Speak for yourself- no, actually yeah, I want to throw fireballs too," said Cane.

"It sounds like that avenue's lost then," said Artyom, shaking his head. "But we could try the other two when I go back with you all."

"Sure, but what's with those two trying to kill you?" said Gula. "How did you get away when they had you cornered?"

"The door's security system injured and distracted them, which let me run, but they were still gaining on me," replied Artyom. "But as soon as I turned the corner, I realized the trap only affects people facing forwards instead of backwards."

And he only realized that because his phone didn't ring as soon as he took a step. It was already 4:44 when he was ambushed, and just under a minute had passed since then. Ergo, his alarm was about to ring, so he tossed it behind him to the back wall. When Daisy and Ecole gave him chase and the phone inevitably rang, they looked behind them and activated the trap.

"So I was able to get them to turn around while chasing me to look forwards and get caught. By the way, while they were distracted, I was able to nab this!"

He held out the stolen map, and the three students looked at it with sparkling eyes. They made to grab it before Gula stopped them.

"Hold on, what's to stop them from stealing it from us again? Why don't we let Artyom keep it for now?"

The others nodded in agreement, and he pocketed the parchment again.

It wasn't the only thing he was able to get back there. He also grabbed his phone from where he'd thrown it, and tried to see if he could return the favor. A gravity lance straight into an open mouth and eye didn't even scratch them, same as with Lensa.

That didn't stop him from playing a little prank on them with a marker he'd also found on them.

"So they really tried to kill you?" asked Broc in a low whisper.

"How many times does he have to say it?" said Cane, poking Broc on the shoulder. "Yes, they tried to kill him, they even announced it before throwing a knife at his face! Do you want it in writing from them too?"

"Take it easy, Cane," replied Gula. "He just can't believe something crazy like this is actually happening, and neither can I, honestly."

She let out a sigh. "Yeah, sorry. I can't believe it either. The fact members of the hero's party would try to kill someone; their own teammate even, over the treasure… It's horrifying. I think I've just been showing my fear on you."

"It's alright, Cane," said Broc. "I'm scared too. But what about you, Artyom? How are you handling it so well?"

The man from Earth shrugged. "It's not the first time."

"Why don't you tell your other teammates about it? Or even the hero?"

"And break our stalemate? They'd all just team up and kill me on the spot if I tried that," said Artyom.

The others stared at him with wide eyes.

"Oh whoops, I forgot you're not Neitra. Sorry for being the one to clue you in on that little conspiracy. Try not to let it get you down or affect your studies."

"But the war against the Dark Lord, is the hero still going to stop him?" asked Broc as he sat up in his chair. "Will the March's walls finally be able to rest?!"

"Tommy is still committed to the whole armor piece hunt if that's what you mean, and the others too as far as I can tell. It's only Neitra and I they don't like," replied Artyom. " And what do you mean by the March's walls? I could've sworn Fenn said something about that too during our duel."

Broc sunk back into their seat, cheeks beginning to glow red. "It's uh… just a saying from back home."

"And where is home?" asked Artyom curiously.

"You know, the border town between our kingdom and the Dark Lord's?"

"Yeah, Broc here's the kid of one of the big generals," said Gula, butting in. "Practically a lord, even! It's a wonder they still spend time with the two of us."

Broc grabbed their hair and sunk into their seat even further.

"Knock it off, you know Broc gets embarrassed," chided Cane. "But yeah, the two of us aren't from anywhere so glamorous, but that's not why we're friends. It's because we all share the same dream of uncovering this school's secrets."

The other two nodded, and Broc regained some of their composure.

"If it makes you feel better, I'll tell you what I told somebody else," began Artyom. "If the hero's quest is so important to the goddess, she'll find a way for it to be completed, be it by Tommy or anyone else."

That seemed to put them all at ease, especially Artyom.

The conversation began to die down after that, and the students left for their rooms or to enjoy the rest of their weekend before tomorrow's classes.

Artyom was the last one at the table, and as he was finishing up, saw the rest of the party gathering together. They'd also finished eating and looked to be getting ready to start the search for the armor piece.

Tommy was failing to stifle giggles at Daisy and Ecole, who still had remnants of ink on their faces. The other students around them also tried not to laugh, but were more successful after the two began to pull their weapons out from their sheaths.

Neitra looked at Artyom and nodded, while motioning with her hand to her stomach and pretending to hunch over in pain.

Artyom understood what she was trying to say, that she told the others he could join them because of a stomach ache or something.

He pushed his food away and slowly got up, playing up the role chosen for him as he hobbled his way back to his room.

Once inside, he called Gus with their nightly check-in and confirmed he wasn't under the effects of any more anti-memes. There wasn't much else to talk about beyond describing the day's events, and Gus only told him the obvious; ask the headmistress for some kind of official proof that he's a faculty member tomorrow, and that the Holdbright Explorers bring the same when they go into the hallway next time.

He was however receptive to Artyom joining the expedition, especially if the security systems were strong enough to harm someone Artyom's strongest attacks couldn't.

Artyom was in full agreement.

After hanging up, Artyom settled into his bed. He'd check in with Neitra tomorrow morning. If the anti-meme had wanted them dead, Artyom and Neitra would be dead, so he wasn't worried about what would happen if he wasn't with the others.

Right now, he was mostly worried about being a substitute teacher tomorrow.

He fell asleep with those worries drowned out by radio silence.