The Return of the Iron-blood Sword Hound
chapter-214

Chapter 214 The Night of the Festival (9)

Vikir. The OG night hound stood before its prey.

Moments ago, Vikir had abandoned his cooking in the kitchen, propelled by a familiar sensation, and leaped out of the tavern. The pulsating malevolence of the demonic Baalzepub, hidden within his veins, suggested that this was no time to be frying potatoes.

“What is this energy…?”

The scent of a demon. How could one forget this loathsome blood fragrance?

Judging by the presence, the intruder into the Academy seemed to be the Corpse Queen, whom Vikir had confronted once before in the ruins of the fallen Indulgentia orphanage.

Why she was inside the Academy, and what purpose drove her to disrupt the chaotic interior during the festival, remained unknown.

However, this situation was both a crisis and undoubtedly an opportunity.

“I’ll make sure to eliminate her this time.”

But it was crucial to minimize the involvement of innocent bystanders, especially those he valued.

“Step back. If you don’t want to get involved and die.”

Night Hound masked its warning with a low growl.

“…!”

“…!”

Bianca and Sinclaire slightly trembled at his words. Seeing Night Hound in the flesh was a first for them. Naturally, they had never heard its voice before. To Bianca and Sinclair, who had only encountered Night Hound through stories in the newspapers, it was nothing more than a gruesome villain. Hence, Vikir intentionally infused his cold, lifeless voice with even more menace, causing Bianca and Sinclaire to be terrified with just the warning.

“Is that the real Night Hound? I’ve never heard such a dreadful voice in my life.”

“Surely, the face beneath that mask is as terrifying as that voice!”

However, Dolores’ reaction was different.

“Hey, everyone, let’s step back for now.”

She understood Night Hound. His inner nobility and sanctity, and the fact that he was the only current opponent capable of standing against the demons.

Simultaneously, Dolores sent some of her subordinates to inform the professors of the current situation.

“We can’t summon too many professors. Calling too many could even endanger Night Hound.”

A rescue force capable of calming the situation was needed. Having a couple of professors arrive seemed appropriate. Dolores simultaneously exerted her sacred power, controlling the undead around her to prevent them from behaving erratically.

Soon after, Night Hound and the Corpse Queen faced each other once again.

Vikir muttered lowly, “I won’t let you slip away this time.”

However, the Corpse Queen’s response was slightly different.

[Take it off.]

…?

Vikir raised an eyebrow, and the Corpse Queen reiterated her demand.

[Take off the mask. Reveal your face.]

The Corpse Queen was making an unexpectedly strange request, but Vikir had no reason to comply.

“Die.”

Vikir summoned Anubis.

Boom!

The archery of the Ballak tore through the air, tearing apart the atmosphere into countless fragments. Seeing this, the Corpse Queen exploded her aura.

Thud!

Skeleton soldiers rose, forming a barrier to block the arrows. Soon after, the hellfire rained down like a topping on a pizza.

…Boom!

Vikir quickly retreated. The spot where he had stood moments ago was engulfed in a rain of fire, consuming everything in its path.

Meanwhile, Tudor, Sancho, Figgy, Bianca, and Sinclaire, witnessing the clash between Night Hound and the Corpse Queen, each had a comment.

“Is this a showdown between villains?”

“I don’t know why evildoers are fighting each other, but it’d be perfect if they both end up dead.”

“We need to call the professors quickly!”

“This is the perfect moment for ‘fight poison with poison’ and ‘mutual destruction.'”

“Let’s get out of here too! There’s a chance we might get caught in the crossfire!”

Night Hound was a designated entity of evil that needed to be eradicated by the Empire. Similarly, a rogue sorcerer outside the Empire’s control was also a dangerous entity, with power and malevolence not inferior to Night Hound. Therefore, everyone capable of understanding the situation wished for Night Hound and the Corpse Queen to annihilate each other.

Except for one person—Dolores—who knew the underlying circumstances.

‘Please, don’t get hurt.’

She was cheering for Night Hound with a tender expression. A pilgrim on the path of sacrifice and suffering, a great being who bore all the pain and wounds for the sake of others without revealing a hint of bitterness. Watching him endure all the blood, wounds, and suffering alone at this very moment, it was impossible not to send him an affectionate gaze.

[…….]

And the Corpse Queen, who noticed Dolores’s sympathetic gaze, became even more uncomfortable.

——————

[…Soulmate? How amusing!]

A curtain of pitch-black flames enveloped her, and sharp iron spikes began to protrude.

[Take off the mask and reveal your identity, Night Hound!]

The Corpse Queen, who had been fixated on the face behind the mask from the beginning, continued her demand.

But.

“To the demons, only death awaits.”

Vikir responded only by sending arrows flying.

No matter how much she demanded, the Corpse Queen’s flames grew even hotter as there was no response.

[…Is that so? You have no intention of speaking at all?]

She momentarily redirected the trajectory of the advancing skeletal warriors.

[Then let me make you speak.]

Soon, countless skeletons spread out in various directions, intending to cause widespread damage to the unspecified crowd. The primary targets were the spectators near the tavern, especially Tudor, Sancho, Figgy, Bianca, and Sinclaire.

“Ah!? They’re coming this way! Let’s block them!”

“We can’t let civilians get hurt!”

“Can we hold our ground here?”

“Let’s give it a try!”

“We have to endure it!”

The experience of the midterm exams at the Academy was a significant help in such situations. Defense exams involved blocking incoming demons, and Tudor, Sancho, Figgy, Bianca, and Sinclaire had already experienced it once. Therefore, they were able to fend off the approaching skeleton soldiers.

However, practice and real combat were different.

Faced with the momentum of demons with exposed teeth and claws, the students were momentarily overwhelmed.

“Ah!? They broke through!”

“We’re in danger too!”

“Is there anyone who can help!? I’ve been breached!”

“We’re breached here too!”

“Wrong! We’re not strong enough to handle this!”

Even if they were carried away by the party atmosphere, by now, they couldn’t be oblivious to the situation turning against them. The audience at the rear of the concert gradually began to notice a change.

Undead creatures driven by an unconditional hatred for the living overwhelmed the students.

The crisis was unfolding as expected.

…At that moment.

Boom! Boom! Boom! Crash!

A fierce storm swept through, instantly sweeping away the skeletons that were attacking from all sides.

In front of the bewildered students, an old man appeared.

“Professor!”

Tudor, Sancho, Piki, Bianca, and Sinclair shouted with flushed faces.

The man who had turned the countless skeleton soldiers into dust with a single blow.

It was Professor Banshee Morg..

“What on earth is going on? Why are there undead creatures on campus…?”

He quickly grasped the situation.

This was a level 1 emergency.

Kkagak- Kigigik-

Skeleton soldiers moved, targeting the students and audience of the academy. However, not a single one of them could penetrate the defense line of Professor Banshee, not even a hair’s breadth.

“I won’t allow even a strand of hair’s worth of harm to my students.”

With his usual stern and picky attitude, he blocked the way for the students.

Whoosh!

Hellfire and iron whips flew, but the Banshee Professor erected walls of wind and ice, blocking them all.

Uzzizzizzik!

However, the storm spears and ice walls of the Banshee Professor couldn’t completely block the attacks of the Corpse Queen.

Taking advantage of the Professor’s momentary distraction, the legion of undead deviated from their formation and attempted to cross over to the concert area on the other side of the tavern.

“…Professor Sadi!”

As the Professor Banshee spoke, laughter echoed from the opposite side.

“Hohoho- Calling me by my name so casually? You disrespectful old man.”

A whip-like strand flew, crushing all the skeleton soldiers on the opposite side.

Pheok!

It pierced the skull of a skeleton that was rolling its back heel on the ground.

Soon after, a slender, well-built female professor, Sadi, wearing high-heeled boots, revealed herself.

Puff puff puff puff!

The whip she wielded pulverized all the approaching undead, clearing them away like trash.

Professor Banshee glared at Professor Sadi with an annoyed tone.

“Of all times, you happen to be on duty during the festival. You truly have the worst luck.”

“I made the duty roster myself. Don’t blame me. It’s ridiculous.”

However, regardless of her work attitude, Professor Sadi’s skills were genuine. She quickly suppressed all the undead approaching the audience.

While the Banshee Professor had been casting several large-scale spells of fire, ice, and earth, he had been targeting the back of the tavern.

“The other professors who received the message should be arriving soon. It’s time to hunt down the villains.”

Banshee was confident of victory.

When Night Hound and the Corpse Queen were baring their fangs at each other, he planned to launch a surprise attack.

But Professor Sadi next to him remained silent.

“…”

She merely scanned the surroundings with an unknown gaze, checking if the professor reinforcements were coming.

And then.

…Kururuk!

An unusual phenomenon was detected.

Suddenly, a black curtain descended around them.

A curtain made of mana, eerie and alien, composed of powerful and unfamiliar magical energy. It unfurled like the final curtain of a stage.

The curtain was so potent and strange that even the magically adept Professor Banshee had never seen its kind before.

“…A barrier?”

Banshee hastily tried to dispel the magic that had been forming.

“Hohoho- What’s this? A barrier? Who cast it?”

Even Professor Sadi, despite wielding her whip, couldn’t break through the black curtain.

Eventually, the barrier disappeared as quickly as it had appeared, concealing Night Hound and the Corpse Queen in the void.

“…They didn’t escape. They’re still in this space. We just can’t see them.”

Professor Banshee scanned the surroundings with a sharp gaze.

Neither Professor Banshee nor Professor Sadi knew that within the invisible barrier, Night Hound and the Corpse Queen were about to resume their exclusive battle.

…But they didn’t know.

Ring of Invincibility / Ring

Barrier – On

The realm of gods ends here.

This ring is the result of the power of Andromalius, one of the Ten Corpses, and it is the most powerful ring of all, so powerful that no one can look into it except another demon or a child under the age of eight.

…And then.

“You will die here.”

Inside the space of the barrier.

Night Hound and the Corpse Queen were finally about to start their battle once again.