A Regressor's Guide to Hunting in the Academy-Chapter 47

Chapter 47
"Father...!"
Oliver gripped Carlo's hand tightly.
"Oliver... I... I'm... sorry..."
Carlo's lips trembled as he forced out the words.
"This is all my fault..."
"Father..."
Oliver helped Carlo sit up against the wall. Carlo looked down at where his right arm used to be and let out a deep sigh.
"When did it all go wrong...? Was it when I was searching through magic books to save Margaret...? Or was it when I touched the forbidden texts and made a contract with Nebiross...?"
As Carlo muttered to himself, Henrik slowly approached and examined his condition. His life force and mana had both been drained by the Black Mana-he had only hours left to live.
The professors who had been watching the battle from behind rushed forward to see Carlo.
"Department Head Carlo!"
Professor Martin from the Knighthood department ran up to him. His expression was deeply conflicted.
Like Bena, he was one of the professors who followed Carlo most closely.
"I'm sorry... Martin..."
"Why did you do this?"
"It was all my greed. My selfish desire to see my wife just one more time brought this disaster."
Carlo then turned to look at Oliver. Oliver stared back at him, struggling to hold back his tears.
"...Father."
"Oliver... be careful of the demons... After I received this arm from Nebiross, I couldn't even control myself... Even though I knew it was wrong, hateful emotions kept boiling up inside me and I made mistakes..."
"No, I miss Mother too..."
"I know. But this method was wrong... Too many sacrifices have been made..."
Carlo looked up at the magic circle floating in the sky.
Even the defensive barrier could no longer hold and was crumbling.
Then a calm voice reached his ears.
"We can still stop it, Carlo."
"Henrik..."
When Carlo turned his head, Henrik stood there with a cold expression.
"You must know where the center of the magic circle is."
"...Yes."
Carlo nodded.
"There's a Gate leading underground..."
"A Gate?"
"Yes, countless magic beasts are scheduled to come through that Gate to this place... Honestly speaking... there's no hope... I've done something unforgivable to you and to everyone."
"..."
Henrik simply looked down at Carlo.
Even if he had been deceived by demons and his hatred and longing for his wife had been amplified, Carlo had cooperated with the demons of his own will to resurrect his dead wife. In a way, it was his own doing-there was nothing to be gained from Henrik scolding him now.
The incident had already occurred.
What needed to be prioritized now was how to stop the current situation.
"We don't have much time."
"...You're going to try to stop it?"
"Of course."
"The opponent is a Sovereign. They're not someone you can handle."
"...I've already caught a Sovereign once."
"What...?"
In truth, it wasn't once but eight times-he had defeated Sovereigns eight times in total, but since the only Sovereign he'd caught after his regression was Velperia, Henrik said once.
But even that was enough to freeze everyone around them. It was already common knowledge that Henrik wasn't the type to lie.
Carlo wanted to ask more about Henrik, but there was no more time.
-Crash!
A sharp sound like shattering glass echoed through the sky, and everything around them turned red.
As the academy's defense system collapsed, a red barrier covered everything.
-Woom... Wooom!
The magic circle floating in the sky also began to glow and activate. At the same time-flash!-a Gate opened on one side of the training yard.
Students screamed and moved away from the Gate.
Magic beasts began pouring out of it.
"What are those things!?"
"Ma-magic beasts? Run! Get away from there!"
"Everyone fall back this way!"
Professor Martin hurriedly moved to the front of the Gate and began controlling the students.
When Martin took the lead, the other professors followed him and began blocking the magic beasts pouring from the Gate.
"Professor River! Set up a barrier to lure the magic beasts into one place!"
"Yes! Oh, Professor Selvin! Help me over here!"
"Understood!"
The professors quickly joined forces and began pushing back the magic beasts emerging from the Gate.
Oliver also stood up to help block the magic beasts, but Carlo grabbed him.
"Oliver."
Carlo struggled to his feet and drew the sword from his waist with a smooth motion. It was the sword bearing the Clan Insignia.
"Oliver, when I die, take this sword. As of this moment, you are the Clan Head of the Mandolin Clan, Oliver..."
"..."
Oliver bit his lip hard.
Then Carlo stroked his head once and said.
"I'm sorry, my son."
It was the first time.
In his entire life, including his childhood, Carlo had never stroked Oliver's head. He had always been kind but strict as a father.
He had often protected him, but he had never expressed his love directly like this-not even once.
His heart swelled.
Oliver quickly wiped away his tears and calmed himself.
Then he accepted the sword and stood beside Carlo.
Though Carlo was gaunt and emaciated, Aura still flowed through his body.
"...Henrik."
Carlo, who had been watching the magic beasts pouring from the Gate, called out to Henrik. Henrik quietly approached his side.
"Take care of my son."
"......."
Henrik nodded lightly.
Carlo glanced at Henrik. He still wore an impassive expression as he gazed at the Gate.
A man who appeared to be the same age as Oliver.
But Carlo could sense the difference in the size of their vessels.
'He has talent astonishing enough to become a Knight. But... he seems to shine even brighter as a Hunter.'
When he first saw Henrik, his judgment hadn't been wrong.
Carlo had regarded Henrik as a talented professor. And true to his assessment, Henrik had even subdued him in his rampage using Black Mana.
He even began to think that Henrik might be the strongest person in this Academy.
Carlo pulled out a small key from his pocket and handed it to Henrik.
"A small gift out of guilt. I've caused you trouble in many ways."
"It's nothing. But..."
Henrik continued speaking while glancing at Carlo from the corner of his eye without turning his head.
"Are you sure about this?"
It was a statement laden with meaning.
Atonement could be achieved through various methods. Even if Carlo didn't step forward now, there were other ways. Since the incident wasn't over yet, once it ended, Carlo would still have to take responsibility for it.
But for Carlo to step forward here meant burning through even his last remaining life to stop the magic beasts.
Understanding Henrik's words, Carlo nodded.
"I'll break through the path. Nebiross is beyond that Gate. I'll use my strength so you can reach the Gate."
"......."
Turning his head silently, Oliver gritted his teeth and nodded.
"I'll join you too. I'll definitely stop the magic beasts. But Henrik... will you be alright alone?"
"No problem. Excluding the Legion, Nebiross is manageable."
"How do you know that?"
"......."
Henrik didn't answer. He simply took his stance and prepared to rush out.
When Carlo raised his sword and charged, Henrik followed behind him.
Oliver, filled with resolve, and William, who had been silent until now, moved together as well.
-Splat!
As the spit from a magic beast hit Carlo's shoulder, it sizzled and burned with smoke. But Carlo bit down hard and silently advanced forward, cutting down the magic beasts.
One step at a time.
Carlo, who led the way cutting through the pouring magic beasts, took their attacks with his entire body.
Even as his mummy-like emaciated body became covered in blood, he didn't stop.
"Uaaaaaaah!!!"
With a thunderous cry, Carlo swung his sword, and his Sword Aura cut down dozens of magic beasts.
-Swooosh!
As he bisected and trampled the charging magic beasts while running forward, more and more magic beasts rushed toward Carlo.
He didn't conserve his energy.
He poured even his Life Force entirely into his Aura.
At that moment, Carlo's sword became wrapped in Aura and began to glow white.
'That's...!'
Henrik was impressed by the sight.
Was it a miracle staked on life itself?
On the verge of death, Carlo seemed to have stepped into the 5th rank, the maximum realm humans could reach.
-Boom!
When Carlo swung his sword, a wide Sword Aura sliced through the tough magic beasts as lightly as cheese.
But conversely, each time he swung his sword, his arms creaked and his bones began to shatter.
'He's reached that level, but... his body can no longer withstand that power...'
Just as Henrik was steeped in regret, Carlo shouted.
"Now's your chance!"
-Buuuuung!
When Carlo swung his sword wide, the Sword Aura that shot out like lightning cut down all the magic beasts packed densely right up to the Gate.
Henrik didn't miss the timing and immediately kicked off and dashed forward. Magic beasts emerging from the Gate rushed at Henrik, but there were only one or two.
Holding the silver warhammer and the Sephirum-embedded hammer handle in both hands, he struck down the attacking magic beasts one by one while running at full speed.
-Pak! Pak! Papak!
As he drew closer to the Gate, Henrik leaped and threw his body into the Gate.
At that moment, his surroundings darkened, and with a floating sensation, he felt himself falling downward with a swoosh.
Unlike the magic beasts swarming out of the Gate, Henrik, entering into the Gate, fell into darkness so deep he couldn't see an inch ahead.
-Thud!
Henrik landed in a place deep in darkness where he couldn't even hear the loud howling of the magic beasts.
Looking around, Henrik lit the lantern at his waist. Then he saw a woman before him.
A young-looking woman with brown hair. But from her lower body sprouted a giant snake. The snake flicked its tongue and looked at Henrik with large yellow eyes.
"Nebiross..."
As Henrik muttered lowly, the woman raised her head to look at Henrik.
"A mere human made it all the way here."
"Yes, I've returned to kill you."
"Returned? Have we met before?"
"......."
"Ah, aah! Could it be you're a survivor from the village where I created the Undead Legion?"
Henrik didn't answer. There was no need to tell the enemy about his Regression. Then Nebiross seemed to arbitrarily assume that Henrik was a survivor from the village offered as sacrifice.
Creak.
Strength entered the hammer handle in his hand.
If he had Sephirum, facing Nebiross alone would have been a light matter. Since Nebiross was a demon who controlled the Legion, her individual combat ability wasn't particularly outstanding.
However.
Henrik glanced at the Sephirum glowing at the end of the handle.
The amount of Sephirum was woefully insufficient to face Nebiross.
'If only I had the hammer-head... Ted, where the hell are you and what are you doing?'