Thud.

"Ouch... it hurts... it hurts."

Among the four arms that used to be there, none remained intact.

After realizing that the eyes were the source of magic, Vivianne attacked the monster's eyes, leaving it in a state where it had lost even its eyes.

"You've suffered enough. Rest now."

Adrias, with a bitter expression, pierced the heart of the student transformed into a monster.

He carefully placed the monster, which had caused several convulsions, down and raised his head, looking in the direction of the Knight Academy.

'Vivianne. I hope she's okay.'

He couldn't determine whose hands the potion had fallen into.

That's why, while asking Vivianne for a favor, he advised her not to overexert herself and to call the professors if she discovered any monsters.

'If something happens, Vivianne should be able to handle it to some extent.'

Adrias looked down at the dead body.

In the first place, it was nearly impossible to deal with a student who had consumed a potion alone.

The game itself encouraged party play with NPCs, so most of the enemies they would encounter from now on couldn't be dealt with alone.

'I've become abnormally strong.'

Unlike players in the game, due to overwhelming growth, he could defeat enemies on his own.

Of course, if it had been a knight who consumed the potion instead of a mage, even Adrias wouldn't have been able to win alone.

'Even if I can't face a Knight Academy student who has consumed the potion alone, ultimately, the progression of the scenario is impossible without the help of other characters.'

That's why he had been paying more attention to the growth of playable characters, but Lucia almost died. That's why Adrias's footsteps toward Lucia, leaving the dead body behind, felt strangely heavy.

'Was it because I was worried about the progression of the scenario?'

He felt dizzy at the thought that Lucia had almost died.

Was it because she was merely a playable character who would help progress the scenario?

No, it wasn't that anymore.

This world was not just a game.

She was now his junior and someone he had to protect.

"Lucia, are you injured?"

Adrias asked with a concerned tone, his body covered in the enemy's blood. The contradictory atmosphere made Lucia look sorrowful. She sat down, staring at him as if entranced.

"This is the first time I've seen Adrias-senpai like this. Is it because of me?"

What am I saying?

I'm already on borrowed time.

However, deep inside, she was overjoyed.

The fact that he had come to find her and the way he looked at her with concern.

Adrias sheathed his sword and approached Lucia.

Then, he reached out to lift her up but quickly withdrew his hand upon seeing his bloodstained hand.

"Senpai."

"Why? Where does it hurt?"

"Please help me up."

Adrias chuckled vaguely at Lucia, who spread her arms wide.

"I'm covered in blood. Your clothes will get dirty."

"It doesn't matter. Please help me up quickly."

Adrias wore a perplexed expression but couldn't help but grab Lucia, who was still waiting with her arms open, and lifted her up.

Even though her clothes were stained with blood, Lucia flashed a grateful smile.

"Thank you, Senpai."

"Don't smile. It's endearing."

"Hehe."

Adrias felt his heart ache at her foolish laughter.

He knew that she was on borrowed time, so her appearance felt fleeting.

'She pretends not to, but it must be so difficult for her. She realizes that she can't find or create a cure, and she's aware that she's slowly dying day by day.'

Once this issue was resolved, he resolved to create a cure for Lucia above all else.

He couldn't leave her suffering any longer.

'Neither Vivianne nor Lucia are just characters in a game anymore.'

Perhaps it was because he had almost lost Lucia.

Adrias keenly felt the preciousness of every existence connected to him.

Now, they were not merely game pieces on a chessboard but his friends and juniors.

It was different from the past when he had replaced them for the sake of clearing the game.

"I will never let you die."

Lucia looked at Adrias in surprise as she heard his murmured words, unaware of his true intentions.

But Adrias continued to gaze at one place, lost in thought.

'Never let you die? Is he talking about me?'

Suddenly, her heart raced as if she had sensed Adrias's hidden sincerity.

Lucia couldn't confirm her own expression as she clenched her chest, feeling as if she could hear her own heartbeat.

.

.

. .

Crack!

Crash! Bang!

Serena was nursing the injured Chris in a corner of the training ground, her mind torn between wanting to escape and seek help, but being unable to move due to the intense battle blocking her path.

Bang!

With a tremendous explosion, the agile new monster retreated.

"Huff, haa."

Half-blinded, Vivianne leaped forward once again.

Using her swordsmanship as if she were torturing her opponent, she slashed at Todlon.

Crack! Thud!

Pushing her physical abilities to the limit, Vivianne's relentless attacks were like a demon rising from hell.

Unfortunately, her opponent was no pushover either.

Despite the countless torturous strikes, Todlon, his body covered in wounds, continued to mindlessly swing his sword with overflowing mana and an uncoordinated body, completely forgetting his swordsmanship.

Even such simple movements appeared lightning-fast in Serena's eyes.

Swish!

The gust of the sword, aimed at Vivianne, sent her flying.

The sound was dull, as if struck by a blunt object.

"Kuh."

Vivianne's lips were tinged with blood.

But she still didn't yield and pressed forward.

"Vivianne senpai."

Seeing her in that state, Serena could no longer contain herself and stood up.

If they continued like this, everyone would die, so they had to break through the storm, whether they lived or died.

Struggling to move her injured body, when she was about to stand up, she heard voices.

Soon, as she entered the training ground, Serena felt an overwhelming joy upon seeing the crowd.

"Headmaster Surahan!"

.

.

.

.

The danger was not over yet, so I carried Lucia and rushed towards the Knight Academy.

As soon as I disembarked from the train, the sound of intense battles reached their ears, and Adrias immediately carried Lucia on his back and sprinted forward.

'Please, Vivian!'

While rushing towards the source of the noise, they unexpectedly encountered a group.

"It's Headmaster Surahan."

Lucia muttered from Adrias' back.

The group consisted of professors and the Headmaster of the Knight Academy, Surahan.

They noticed us running towards them in a hurry but pretended not to recognize us and quickly headed towards the direction where the explosions were occurring.

'As long as Surahan is involved, it will be over. Just hold on until then.'

Chasing after them, we arrived at the training ground we had visited before.

Inside the training ground, Vivianne covered in blood was locked in battle with the transformed Knight Academy student, now turned into a monster.

'That person is...'

He was Todlon, the student who should have won the tournament if things had gone according to plan.

It seemed that the changed future had affected him as well.

Bang!

Swish!

Crash!

"Vivianne!"

I immediately put Lucia down and drew my sword to save Vivianne.

But someone stood in my way.

He had neatly tied back black hair and numerous scars on his face, as if proving that he had overcome countless hardships.

"Headmaster Surahan."

"I'll take care of it."

If the Magical Arts Master, Berial, held the title of the youngest Warlock, then he was the prodigy who became an Aura Master at the youngest age.

He became an Aura Master at the age of thirty-seven.

Later, Ivy Claire would break his record, and after that, the playable characters would vie for the title of the youngest, but at present, he was known for being the youngest Aura Master.

He slowly approached the midst of the battle, then suddenly disappeared.

'He's gone.'

The noise suddenly stopped, and Surahan, who had concealed his presence, was now standing between Vivianne and Todlon, effortlessly holding back their attacks with one hand each.

"Todlon, huh? It's a pity. How did things come to this?"

"Uaaaah!"

It seemed Todlon had lost his sanity.

Driven purely by instinct, the remnants of his flesh, overflowing with mana, spread out to the surroundings.

"Vivianne Velocan, well done. Now step back and stay there. Your friends seem to have arrived as well." Surahan's words made Vivianne's gaze shift towards me.

Her eyes, tinged with a faint madness, suddenly cleared up as she looked directly at my face.

"Adrias."

She stumbled towards me, dropping her sword.

I pushed aside the protesting professors and caught her as she collapsed.

"Vivianne, I told you not to push yourself..."

"Adrias, I protected them. I did well, right?"

With a face covered in blood, Vivianne faintly smiled, displaying a blurry smile.

I couldn't say anything to her.

I simply held her in my arms and administered a spare potion I carried with me.

"You did well. And you were amazing."

"Then... I'll get a reward, right?"

"Yes. I promise you a reward."

Seeing her smile at my response, I quickly checked her pulse.

"She's alive."

Thank goodness.

I felt a sudden relief, as if I had narrowly escaped despair and a fall into the abyss.

'How did I end up giving my heart away like this?'

Emotions that I had rarely experienced in my past life were now engraved in my heart through Lucia and Vivianne. And once again, I realized.

'I'm more susceptible to emotions than I thought.'

Even the trauma from my past life.

And the events that occurred this time.

Despite my efforts to deny it, I realized that as a human, I was actually quite vulnerable in relationships.

Swoosh.

At that moment, a mournful melody filled the air from right beside us.

When I turned my gaze, I saw Surahan wielding his cherished sword, Niraya, facing off against Todlon.

'Surahan's Aura Secret Technique, Muryang Guigok Banyaga (Infinite Demon's Lamenting Chant).'

As soon as I recalled the name of his Aura Secret Technique, a chilling sound resonated from Surahan's sword, creating friction.

Kiiiaaah!

An eerie noise, resembling a human scream, filled the air, and blood suddenly gushed out from Todoron's body.

Phuhwaahk!

Muryang Guigok Banyaga.

It was a vibrant song created by the harmonization of the sword and the Aura.

Surahan stood still, holding only his sword, but every time the mournful melody resounded, Todlon's body accumulated more wounds.

Todlon was a prodigious talent, surpassing even some of the professors in the Knight Department and considered the top student of the graduating class.

His skill in swordsmanship was exceptional.

Yet, Todlon had consumed a potion.

Though his current physical endurance and abilities were at an astonishing level, it was still no match for Surajan.

'As expected of an Aura Master.'

Todlon couldn't even use his hands and was slowly nearing his end.

I couldn't even imagine how to face such a situation if I were the enemy.

Just hearing the sound was enough, but to continuously endure attacks that couldn't be seen with the naked eye was beyond comprehension.

Moreover, if Surahan were to fight with all his might, the mournful melody would be constant, and most importantly, Surahan himself could wield his sword while using Muryang Guigok Banyaga.

"Pity. I had high hopes for you. Hopefully, in our next life, we'll be connected as good companions."

With Surahan's final words, a massive mournful melody erupted.

Kieeeeeak!

Thud. Thud.

Todlon's towering figure, severed at the waist, slowly fell backward.

Todlon, despite his impending death, tried to approach Surahan throughout the ordeal. However, he was blocked by the mournful melody and could do nothing but endure the relentless assault until his body was riddled with wounds.

'Overwhelming power. This is what it means to be a true Aura Master, the so-called superhuman.'

As I witnessed that surreal strength, a sudden curiosity arose within me.

What would I be like?

'If I were to become an Aura Master...'

I glanced at the sleeping face of Vivianne, nestled in my arms.

Looking at her peaceful breathing, a strong desire surged within me.

'I want to protect the people who are precious to me.'

There is only one way to become an Aura Master.

That is to create an Aura Secret Technique.

'It's similar to being a mage.'

Just as mages must create original magic to obtain the title of Warlock, the title of Aura Master is granted only to those who create Aura Secret Techniques.

However, while creating original magic as a Warlock requires a certain level of research, creating an Aura Secret Technique falls into the realm of pure talent and enlightenment.

To achieve mastery, overwhelming talent is required, even if one's swordsmanship skills are lower than their magical abilities.

'I aim for both.'

I have accumulated dozens, even hundreds, of game-playing experiences.

Using that as a foundation, I will aim for both Warlock and Aura Master.

Until now, I had been chasing the somewhat whimsical goal of saving the world from its impending doom. But today, my perspective has shifted slightly.

Now, I grow stronger for myself and to protect the people who are precious to me.