The Villains I Taught Became Heroes - Chapter 99



98 – Not Much Time Left – 3

The state of my students was concerning.

It wasn’t that they were particularly sick or anything.

It was just that their gazes were strange when they looked at me.

So-wol kept trying to take me somewhere, and Lena seemed to be deep in thought about something serious.

And then there was Arisha…

“Could you back off a bit?”

“Do you dislike me, teacher…?”

A tear attack, huh.

Had she noticed that I was weak against tears? Arisha clung to me like a koala.

But she was always like that, so I decided to just let it be.

“I’m thinking of launching an attack on the main base of the Demon Empire.”

I spoke to my class while ignoring Arisha, who was hanging onto me.

Everyone was making an effort to ignore Arisha clinging to me.

Such good kids.

“Isn’t it dangerous?”

“Of course, it will be dangerous. If you think it’s scary, it’s okay to back out of this operation.”

Naturally, no one said they would back out.

They just looked at me with tense expressions.

I felt a sense of fulfillment from all the hard work I had put into teaching them.

“The main base of the Demon Empire is located in the Romiar Gorge. As you all know, the Romiar Gorge is a very dangerous place.”

Not only are there powerful monsters, but the terrain is perilous as well.

There are sheer cliffs everywhere, and countless rocks that could fall at any moment.

The main base of the Demon Empire lay beneath that ground.

“You might not come back. I won’t call you cowards if you decide to retreat.”

“…Actually, that makes me feel stronger. But are we attacking it just the four of us?”

“Not quite. I’ve requested support from the Academy.”

The moment we step into the Romiar Gorge, the forces and monsters that the Demon Empire has gathered will move.

We didn’t need to face all of them.

What we had to do was enter and destroy the core of magical power, the most powerful treasure of the Demon Empire.

I explained what we needed to do, and the students listened with serious expressions, nodding their heads.

As I was wrapping up the briefing and accepting any further questions, So-wol raised her hand.

“What is it?”

“What will your role be, Master?”

“Me? I’ll be moving alongside you.”

“You’re not planning to separate from us, are you?”

So-wol’s eyes were filled with suspicion.

Ever since our encounter with the Shadow of Asura, she had been determined not to leave me alone.

“I need some time alone, don’t you think? Since we’re on the topic, I’d appreciate it if you didn’t follow me to the bathroom.”

You really should have some backbone.

I pried Arisha off me, and she pouted her lips.

“I don’t understand what you all are so afraid of. I’m not going anywhere.”

“Well, that’s a relief.”

“Y-you’re not lying, are you?”

Such a sharp one.

I lightly moistened my lips.

“Do I look like someone who would lie to you?”

“Yes.”

“Of course.”

“You’re cowardly, after all!”

To think there’s such a lack of trust in your teacher.

I’ve wasted my time.

“You must have told so many lies.”

“Y-your teacher would do whatever it takes to achieve a goal…”

“But don’t worry! I’ll always be by your side!”

I smiled at the three of them, who were showering me with excessive affection.

Even if they cling to me like this, it won’t be long now.

The day to execute the plan had arrived.

There was no dimensional magic circle leading to the Romiar Gorge, so we moved to the nearest location.

From there, we rode for about two days and arrived at a place where formations had already been set up.

“Instructor Lee Hyun! You’ve arrived?!”

It seemed the dean had even joined this battle, as if he had made a point to be here.

In the game, the dean hadn’t shown up.

Could it be that this change was due to my involvement?

“Everyone on the continent is pouring their efforts into this operation, so how could I, the dean, sit this one out? Hahaha!!”

So he’s just looking to get in on the action.

It’s not a bad thing.

The dean is an excellent magician, after all.

“What’s the situation?”

“It seems they know we’ve arrived. It’s like being in a powder keg.”

Just a single spark could set off an explosion.

I nodded with a smile at the dean’s words.

“I’ve heard that battles have already begun in other areas.”

“Then we must move as well. Make sure you’re all prepared.”

Hearing the dean’s words, I headed toward where my students were.

The ones who had changed into their combat uniforms were waiting, tense.

“What are you so afraid of?”

“Teacher!”

“Now we’re going to move. Um… Vice-captain.”

“Yeah!”

“Do you have something to say?”

“Yeah! Once this fight is over, I’m going to propose to him!”

“…Not that.”

Why is she sounding so anxious?

“Will the Master be at the front?”

“That’s how it should be.”

“That’s a relief. Then let’s take the lead together, Master and I. For now, I can say I’m your partner.”

Sowol clasped my hand tightly.

In the meantime, Lena approached me, looking up cautiously.

“M-Master. I’m, I’m scared…”

“Oh dear. What are you saying, coming all this way and being scared?”

“S-So, please give me your, your token.”

“Token, huh? What should I give you?”

“U-Um, even the underwear you wore would be… fine…”

“…That’s a bit much. How about something else? Like a praise sticker?”

“…Not that… I’d like a piece of your hair, Master.”

Trying hard to ignore the strange longing in her eyes, I plucked a strand of hair and placed it in her hand.

She looked at the hair with a hint of disappointment, then tucked it into a small pouch and smiled shyly.

I don’t know what her intentions are, but I suppose this will do.

“Is everyone ready?”

The students, who had been watching us with excited eyes, now showed signs of tension.

It’s about to begin.

The battle of the final chapter.

“The people of the academy will clear the way for us. Remember, we must enter the gorge while preserving our combat strength as much as possible. Sowol and I will take the lead. Arisha, stay close to Ren. Make sure no one falls behind from the rear.”

“Got it!”

“Ludwig. Control the kids from the center.”

“Haha!! With my charisma, that’s nothing at all!”

“The rest… just do as you’ve learned so far.”

“Yes!”

Good.

The morale isn’t bad either.

Then let’s get started.

“Let’s go.”

As the real battle began, enemies surged out of the gorge.

Seeing this, the academy students immediately joined the fight.

Though they were students, they were all elite when it came to combat.

Thus, despite being outnumbered, they were able to fend off the enemies without much difficulty.

“Go!! Hurry!!”

“Here, we will take care of it! Go! Juniors!!”

Just like in the game, the second and third years were shouting.

Hearing their cheers, we stepped into the gorge through the path they had created for us.

As we entered the gorge, the atmosphere shifted.

It felt as if this place and the world outside the gorge were two different realms.

I wasn’t the only one who sensed it; everyone was tense.

“Welcome.”

As we stepped inside, the first boss of the final battle awaited us.

The Infinite Mage was there, ready.

The Infinite Mage.

A sorcerer who draws magical power from another dimension using a special device of the Magic Empire.

Literally possessing infinite magical power, the only way to confront that creature, which could sweep away enemies, was one.

We had to smash the device behind him to cut off the infinitely supplied magical power and then fight.

Of course, it was only natural that he was aware of his own weakness.

Protecting the device with his special magic, he raised his staff with a sinister grin.

“I will send you to hell!!”

With his shout, high-level spells began to rain down one after another.

As our side’s mages unfolded their defensive spells, I shouted to Sowol and Arisha.

From noble mtl dot com

“Just treat it like fighting a giant monster, so don’t worry too much!”

“Got it!”

“I trust you!”

“Rena!! Keep that guy’s magic at bay!”

“Yes, yes!!”

Rena was successfully blocking the spells that seemed capable of wiping us out with just a small mistake.

While she held off the attacks, the other mages were also defending, and the monsters began to move to attack us.

While the rest dealt with the monsters, I moved towards the device with Sowol and Arisha.

To break through the thick magical barrier, we had to keep attacking.

Without hesitation, Sowol, Arisha, and I continued to strike at the magical power, and soon enough, the barrier shattered, revealing the device inside.

“Teacher! What do we do now?”

“What do you mean, what do we do? Break it!!”

“Yahhh!!”

There was no thought of how to touch it.

We simply had to break it.

“No way!!”

“Yes way!!”

As we began to smash the device, the Infinite Mage tried to attack us.

But Rena didn’t miss the opportunity, and ultimately, the Infinite Mage, unable to focus on us while blocking her attack, collapsed to the ground.

It was because the device had broken, cutting off his magical supply.

“O Magic Empire…”

As he cried out his last words, Rena slowly approached us, looking down at him, who had withered away like a mummy.

And then, Lena, who had been staring at the device, sent me a glance.

“Why?”

“Um, just because. But it’s, it’s fascinating.”

“What is?”

“The fact that we can draw on the power of another dimension. Ah, and Asura too… the ability to interfere in another dimension.”

She swallowed hard. Looking at me seriously, she continued.

“I was just thinking that you might be able to cross over to another dimension.”