First of All, I’m Drinking - Chapter 85

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Episode 85

Whoooong-

A beautiful magic circle shining in purple light was carved into the white snow.

Soon, golden lines extended from the magic circle, stretching long beyond the horizon.

“It’s a search magic that guides you to the place with the most people gathered nearby. It’s magic they taught us to use when we get lost during major classes, but I never thought I’d use it this quickly.”

Hiscliffe looked at the thin path of light stretching out.

“Anyway, if we follow this path, we can meet other people?”

“Yes.”

“Good.”

Hiscliffe was the first to step forward and began walking along the path of light.

“Everyone follow me. To increase our survival rate, it would be better if we all move together.”

The group hesitantly followed behind Hiscliffe.

“Tch, naturally taking the leader position, I see.”

Lessor also grumbled as he tagged along at the back.

Soon, only Fail and Artie remained at the starting point.

“Aren’t you going to start, Artie?”

Fail tilted his head and asked worriedly.

Artie placed her hand on the ground and spoke with a tense expression.

“…There’s something nearby.”

That was the moment.

Shwaaaaak-!

“Kieeeeeek!”

A spider monster that had been hiding under the snow suddenly burst out.

The monster swung its front legs toward Fail and Artie.

“Watch out!”

Crack!

Fail quickly raised his aura to block the monster’s attack.

“Kugh, uuugh!”

Although his grades were only mid-to-lower tier within the Swordsmanship Department, Fail was also a Sword Runner who handled 3-star aura.

He naturally knew the technique of wrapping aura around his body to protect himself.

Bzzzzt-!

Purple lightning pierced through the monster’s head.

Thud-

The monster died without even being able to scream.

Its heavy body collapsed helplessly into the snow.

“Are you okay?”

Artie immediately checked on Fail’s condition.

“Uh… I think I’m fine.”

Though he said he was fine, the forearm that had been struck by the monster’s front leg was bruised deep blue.

Lessor, Hiscliffe, and the other students who had been walking ahead also checked the situation and widened their eyes.

“There was a monster hiding.”

“This is the worst.”

The harsh environment of the snowy plains was already threatening enough, and now it was confirmed that monsters inhabited the area too.

Several students even shed tears at the desperate outlook.

“Sob, what is this.”

“Just a few minutes ago I was sleeping in the dormitory…”

Among the students in the dejected atmosphere.

One female student strode up to Fail and chanted a spell.

Whooooosh-

Along with white light, the bruised forearm was completely healed.

“Ah… thank you.”

Fail waved his arm around with a dazed expression and offered his thanks.

“You’re the one who had it rough. I’m aspiring to be a priest.”

The female student responded with a kind smile.

Interested by her mention of being an aspiring priest, Fail asked.

“Then you must be from the Department of Theology. Which deity do you serve?”

“Celestial Raphael.”

“I heard that among priests, only a chosen few can use the power of healing. That’s amazing.”

“Hehe, it’s nothing.”

The female student scratched her cheek as if embarrassed.

“We need to hurry our steps.”

Artie looked at the monster’s corpse.

“We don’t know how many more monsters like this there might be. We need to join up with other people as quickly as possible.”

“I agree.”

The group began walking along the path of light that Artie had created.

It seemed like it would be a long march.

* * *

“Kieeeeeek!”

“I don’t know how many this makes.”

Slash-!

The aura blade cut through the spider monster’s neck all too easily.

The monster’s body fell into the snow.

Almost simultaneously, I also landed on the snow.

Hiss-

I raised my aura to evaporate the green blood on my sword.

“This is disgustingly dirty.”

It had been several hours since we started searching for the scattered students.

The strategy we had initially decided on was for Ragnor and me to take the front, while the mage and spirit user provided support and cover from behind.

But there was no need to divide positions.

Because Ragnor and I annihilated all the monsters that appeared.

“Whew.”

Ragnor placed his hand on his waist and let out a deep breath.

“Does the Void Tundra originally have this many monsters? Or are they just appearing a lot on our side?”

“What does it matter. We just kill them all as they come out.”

“That’s true.”

Seeing us calmly slaughter the monsters, the other students were looking at us with awe-mixed gazes.

“Amazing…”

“He’s not called the Next Generation World’s Best Swordsman for nothing.”

“Is the black-haired guy next to him the one who transferred in this time? Two Sword Experts.”

“I heard the existing 1st place was amazing too. This year’s first-year Swordsmanship Department is a legendary golden generation.”

Our group, which had been only 6 people, had now swelled to dozens.

This was because we had taken in many students wandering nearby through the search magic cast by Frida from the Magic Department.

At this rate, surpassing a hundred people would be quick.

‘We’ve gathered this many people and they’re all first-years. So only the first-years got caught up in the magic after all.’

I heard that from second year onwards, they’re supplied with artifacts that block black magic.

Maybe that’s the reason.

The school probably never thought there would actually be someone bold enough to commit crimes targeting Millennium Academy students.

If they had known in advance, they would have made an effort to supply even the first-years.

“Are we going to keep going?”

Frida asked in a worried tone.

“For now.”

Raeseya Welton.

I didn’t know her purpose for transporting the students to the Void Tundra.

But saving as many humans as possible would surely disrupt her plans.

“The magic is reacting. There must be another group nearby.”

Just as Frida said, within seconds, dozens of people could be seen walking toward us from beyond the horizon.

The ones leading the group at the front were people I knew well.

Ocean-blue eyes.

Twin royals with brown hair swept in different directions.

It was Max and Carno.

“!”

As the distance closed, they seemed to recognize our faces too.

“Asel!”

Max waved his hand and ran over.

“I’m glad you’re safe.”

“You too, Max.”

Carno glanced at me and asked Max.

“Who is this person?”

“A classmate. He transferred in this semester.”

I smiled as I looked at the many students following behind them.

“As expected, you didn’t escape alone either and were saving people too.”

“The same goes for you, doesn’t it, Asel?”

Max looked at me with what seemed like a proud gaze.

I spoke as if it was nothing.

“Well, there are non-combat departments too, so I just thought we from the Swordsmanship Department should step up. But it seems like this is as far as we go.”

“What do you mean?”

I turned to look at Ragnor and continued.

“Ragnor. From here, join up with Max’s group and head south. Fortunately, we can solve the water problem by eating snow, so if we walk for about a day, we’ll reach the Kingdom of Alps.”

“…”

Ragnor fell into deep thought.

He would know too.

In a situation where we had nothing, let alone food.

The fact that if we acted recklessly trying to find more stranded students, even the people gathered here could die.

Eventually, Ragnor nodded.

“Right. Having saved this many people, we can at least say we’ve done our duty.”

He looked at me with confident eyes.

“But you don’t seem to have any intention of stopping here, do you?”

“…”

“You tell me to head south, but you’re planning to rescue more of the remaining kids by yourself, aren’t you?”

Ragnor immediately saw through my intention to separate from the group.

More precisely, because I needed to be alone to use magic to find Raeseya Welton.

From his gaze, I read what Ragnor truly wanted to say.

‘With Baal’s agent as the opponent, do you think you can handle it alone?’

He had figured out why I was trying to separate from the group.

“I’m coming too.”

Ragnor spoke with determination.

“Did you think I’d let you walk into danger alone? At least I won’t be a hindrance.”

“Me too.”

Max also quietly raised one hand.

“As the class representative of Class B, as royalty, I can’t turn my back on the people in this situation. I’ll help too.”

“That goes for me too, *sniff*.”

Carno also stepped forward and expressed his opinion.

I was grateful, but honestly, they would only get in the way.

Moving alone and using all my power without hiding anything would be much more advantageous.

‘How do I shake them off.’

Buzz!

Just then, the communication stone in my pocket vibrated.

I traced the letters that appeared on the surface of the communication stone with my finger.

‘Prince. We’re currently at the border between the Void Tundra and the Kingdom of Alps, but we can’t enter due to a barrier. It seems like it’ll take some time to break it.’

The message seemed to be from Kise.

Through that message, I learned one more fact.

‘A barrier that would take a long time even with Kise, Diago, and Merry there.’

Was Raeseya Welton’s level that impressive?

No.

Barriers are usually divided into two types.

One that maintains the same strength once created.

And one where the caster continuously inputs mana to reinforce its strength.

In this case, it would be reasonable to assume it’s the second type.

Therefore.

‘Raeseya Welton’s current location is near the barrier. In the south.’

Then there was no need to separate from the group.

“I was being short-sighted.”

I looked at Ragnor, Max, and Carno in turn and said.

“Let’s all just head south together. Saving more people is important, but if you all leave, it’ll be hard to guarantee this group’s safety too.”

The three nodded, seemingly agreeing with my opinion.

Thus, our group and Max’s group combined, and a large force of over 100 people began marching south.

We obtained drinking water by purifying the accumulated snow with magic.

As for food, we wouldn’t die from not eating for a few days anyway.

Of course, there was no way to prevent our strength from draining away.

After walking for a full day, including rest breaks in between.

The group reached the southern edge of the Void Tundra.

“They’re people from our school!”

Frida shouted with delight.

As she said, a large group of about 2,000 people had gathered.

I saw some familiar faces too.

“Fail.”

I called out to the young boy who was crouched in a corner, completely drained and looking half-dead.

When Fail saw me, he smiled brightly and ran over to hug me.

“Asel! I missed you! Where have you been~!”

I was naturally disgusted.

“Sigh, I get that you’re happy to see me, but it’s gross, so get away from me.”

“Hehe! Okay.”

Fail said he understood but hugged me for another 30 seconds before finally letting go.

I brushed off Fail’s scent from my clothes and asked.

“What’s going on? Why aren’t you going further down and gathered here instead?”

“Ah, well…”

Fail answered with an anxious expression.

“We can’t go further south because of a barrier.”

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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