Ada banyak hal yang ingin dikatakan, tetapi keduanya merasakan bahwa jika mereka salah menggerakkan mulut sekarang, mereka mungkin benar-benar akan berakhir di peti mati.
Direth pada dasarnya baik hati, tetapi jika diperlukan, dia adalah seseorang yang dengan mudah bisa memasukkan beberapa siswa ke dalam peti mati.
"Bagaimana kalau memasang tanda bahaya dan menyebarkan rumor?"
Ogoldos dengan hati-hati menyarankan sebuah ide.
Kemudian Coholti menggelengkan kepalanya.
"Lemah. Itu tidak bisa menghentikan siswa Einroguard. Mungkin bisa menghentikan siswa tahun ke-2, tapi siswa tahun ke-3 ke atas akan tetap masuk."
"Tidak, kenapa mereka mau masuk kalau ada tanda bahaya?"
"Karena ada kemuliaan di balik bahaya."
'Apa dia gila?'
Ogoldos terkejut, tapi Coholti serius.
Setelah berada di Einroguard untuk waktu yang lama, kata-kata seperti 'bahaya' dan 'dilarang masuk' diinterpretasikan sedikit berbeda.
'Bahaya' menjadi 'hadiah bagus'.
'Dilarang masuk' menjadi 'ada harta karun di sini'.
"Menurutku, bagaimana kalau pergi ke dapur lubang dan membakar semua makanan?"
"Maaf?! Tidak, para siswa akan mati kelaparan!"
"Ogoldos. Orang tidak mati kelaparan semudah itu. Pikirkan saat kau masih tahun pertama."
"Itu... benar, tapi..."
Ogoldos tiba-tiba mengingat tahun pertamanya.
Memang, orang benar-benar tidak mati kelaparan.
Mereka merebus kulit pohon lunak untuk dimakan ketika tidak ada makanan, dan makan bubur yang dikentalkan dengan rumput liar, tapi...
"Benar kan? Mereka datang karena dapur. Membakar semua makanan sudah pasti. Api selalu jawabannya. Aku baru-baru ini mendapat api Baqwantallana dari seorang teman..."
"Tidak. Kurasa itu tidak akan berhasil."
Ketika Direth memotongnya, Ogoldos menghela napas lega.
Setidaknya salah satu senior faksi sihir hitam masih waras.
"Membakar semua makanan tidak akan menghentikan mereka datang. Mereka akan terus mencoba mengecek beberapa kali. Dan makanan mungkin akan diisi ulang."
"Ah, aku melewatkan itu...!"
Coholti menepuk lututnya dan menggertakkan giginya.
Membuat kesalahan amatir seperti itu saat fokus memecahkan masalah.
"Kenapa orang-orang Einroguard begitu gigih? Seperti serangga."
"Apa yang kau katakan seolah-olah kau dari akademi sihir lain?"
Meskipun Direth menegur, Coholti tenggelam dalam pikirannya.
Bagaimana kita bisa mencegah siswa datang ke area ini?
"Hei. Kau juga berpikir. Apa yang kau lakukan? Kalau kau tidak bisa menemukan apa-apa, kau akan turun ke tahun pertama."
"Ah. Jangan bicara hal aneh. Apa maksudmu turun ke tahun pertama? Kau bahkan tidak punya kemampuan untuk mewujudkannya."
"Aku akan keluar dan menyebarkan rumor tentangmu ke para penyihir hitam. Bahwa kau keluar dari alam itu dengan mengandalkan junior."
"..."
Ogoldos bergidik dengan ancaman yang terlalu mungkin terjadi.
Dengan kepribadian Coholti, dia lebih dari mampu melakukan itu.
Seseorang yang lulus tahun ini membuat ancaman vulgar seperti itu?!
"Hmm... Hmm..."
"5. 4. 3."
"Ah. Tunggu!"
"2,46, 2,45, 2,44..."
Di bawah tekanan berkelanjutan dari Coholti, Ogoldos akhirnya mengeluarkan sesuatu yang biasanya tidak akan pernah dia katakan.
"Bagaimana kalau menyemprotkan racun? Tidak. Tidak. Lupakan saja."
"Racun?"
"Kubilang lupakan saja."
"Diam dan pikirkan. Racun..."
Coholti tenggelam dalam pemikiran yang dalam.
Ogoldos mencoba menghentikannya di sampingnya, tapi dalam pandangan Coholti, racun adalah metode yang cukup bagus.
"Bukankah itu bagus?"
"Hmm."
"Senior Direth! Racun benar-benar bukan pilihan!"
"Memang tampaknya ada potensi."
"..."
Ketika bahkan senior yang dipercaya mengatakan itu, Ogoldos hampir terjatuh.
"Tidak, senior. Menyemprotkan racun di dapur agak berlebihan. Dan, yah, orang lain akan menetralkannya dan makan."
Ogoldos tidak mengatakan bahwa 'menyemprotkan racun di dapur bisa memperburuk reputasi faksi sihir hitam dan membuat mereka dicurigai.'
Sepertinya mereka tidak akan mendengarkan.
Sebaliknya, dia mendekatinya secara praktis.
Bahkan jika mereka menyemprotkannya di dapur, semua orang akan menetralkannya dan makan!
"Itu karena kau tidak menyemprotkannya dengan benar."
"Coholti benar. Ogoldos. Kau perlu mempelajari racun lebih banyak."
Sementara Ogoldos kehilangan kata-kata, Coholti menggambar peta koridor dan menusuknya dengan tongkatnya.
"Ogoldos. Lihat. Menyemprotkan racun pada makanan dapur adalah taktik rendah. Seperti yang kau bilang, mereka akan berpikir untuk menetralkannya. Menyemprotkan racun di dapur? Itu taktik menengah. Karena ruangnya terbatas, mereka akan berpikir untuk menerobos. Taktik tinggi adalah menyemprotkan racun di seluruh area ini. Jadi mereka bahkan tidak berani masuk."
Meskipun mereka melakukan percakapan yang menyenangkan dan ceria secara normal, kegilaan yang tidak sehat tersembunyi di hati para siswa senior Einroguard.
Ogoldos merasakan kegilaan itu dan bergidik.
Apakah ini penyihir hitam??
"Di sini, di sini, di sini, di sini. Pertama, racun serangan gunung, racun tidur, racun sesak napas. Karena akan ada orang yang mencoba menetralkan, mari kita campurkan racun campuran. Jadi meledak ketika mereka mencoba menetralkan."
"Buat satu dengan menggabungkan racun pegangan pergelangan kaki dan racun lidah menempel. Mereka akan panik dan lari."
"Itu ide bagus. Direth. Mari kita pasang beberapa kutukan di lantai. Mereka mencoba menetralkan bahkan di sini? Kita perlu menunjukkan pada mereka."
Coholti langsung menyelesaikan rencana untuk mengubah koridor area gudang bawah tanah menjadi labirin sementara penyihir hitam yang tidak bisa diakses.
Pertama, kabut padat racun berwarna cerah dipasang di seluruh area.
Jika seseorang cepat tanggap di sini, mereka akan lari, tapi jika ada seseorang yang mencoba menetralkan racun, racun di dalam racun disembunyikan untuk bereaksi terhadap upaya itu.
Ketika dinetralkan, racun baru akan meledak, menempelkan lidah mage yang kurang ajar dan mencekik napas mereka.
Jika mereka masih tidak lari di sini dan dengan keras kepala mencoba masuk?
Maka lingkaran sihir kutukan yang dipasang di lantai akan aktif, membuat mereka merasakan reaksi berantai yang mengerikan.
"Ini seharusnya cukup, kan?"
"Untuk jaga-jaga, sembunyikan beberapa undead di dinding."
"Harus begitu. Jika mereka masih masuk setelah ini, benar-benar..."
Ogoldos, yang mendengarkan percakapan di samping mereka, tiba-tiba berpikir.
Mungkinkah ada alasan yang valid mengapa orang dari faksi lain merasa jijik dengan orang dari faksi sihir hitam?
Bukan karena orang dari faksi lain dipenuhi prasangka dan rasa superioritas, tapi karena ada alasan yang benar-benar masuk akal...
"Senior Direth. Tolong pikirkan sekali lagi. Jika orang lain mengetahui apa yang kita lakukan, bukankah akan sedikit merepotkan?"
"Ogoldos."
Direth menatap juniornya dengan wajah tenang.
Junior ini disalahpahami sebagai memiliki kepribadian tajam dari luar, tetapi sebenarnya, dia termasuk yang sensitif.
Bahkan saat tahun ke-2 berakhir, dia masih dalam ilusi.
"Kau jatuh dari tangga di lantai 7 minggu lalu, kan?"
"Maaf? Ya."
"Menurutmu kenapa kau jatuh?"
"Bukankah aku terpeleset?"
"Itu karena anak-anak faksi sihir enchantment bereksperimen di tangga dan pergi begitu saja. Tangga berubah sifat setiap menit."
"..."
Ogoldos mengerjapkan matanya.
"Juga. Dua hari lalu, batu roh api yang sudah kau kumpulkan menghilang, kan?"
"Ya..."
"Itu digunakan oleh anak-anak yang mempersiapkan sihir elemen api tingkat lanjut."
"..."
Api kebencian berkedip di mata Ogoldos.
Itu adalah api kebencian.
"Mengerti?"
"Ogoldos. Kau mungkin berpikir kami agak berlebihan. Tapi orang-orang dari sekolah sihir lain yang membuat kami seperti ini."
Coholti meletakkan tangannya di bahu Ogoldos dan berbicara dengan serius.
Mengapa Coholti tidak merasa bersalah bahkan ketika menyemprotkan racun di area gudang bawah tanah?
Itu karena orang-orang dari faksi lain telah melakukan hal-hal seperti membakar, meledakkan, dan memanggil monster untuk membalikkan keadaan berkali-kali.
Dibandingkan dengan itu, menyemprotkan racun untuk sementara memblokir penyusupan benar-benar penuh belas kasihan.
"Pikirkan hanya tentang dirimu dan juniormu. Mengerti? Orang-orang dari sekolah sihir lain tidak memikirkan kita sama sekali."
"...Aku akan menyemprotkan racunnya."
"Bagus."
Coholti senang dengan wajah penuh tekad Ogoldos.
Dia naif dan kurang sebelumnya, tapi sekarang tekad seorang penyihir hitam bisa dilihat di wajahnya.
'Anak itu. Aku bisa lulus dengan tenang sekarang.'
Srit srit-
Coholti menolehkan kepalanya.
Saat rencana diselesaikan, Direth sedang menulis balasan untuk juniornya.
-Kami sudah menyiapkan cara untuk memblokir siswa lain agar tidak masuk. Tapi kami mungkin menggunakan sedikit racun, jadi hati-hati.-
-Racun?! Bukankah itu terlalu berbahaya?!-
-Tentu saja, kami akan mencoba membujuk mereka dengan kata-kata terlebih dahulu. Tapi jika bujukan tidak berhasil, kami mungkin menggunakan sedikit racun. Kami tidak menyemprotkan racun untuk menyakiti orang lain. Jika rumor menyebar bahwa ada racun, itu akan menghentikan orang lain dari masuk. Mengerti? Kami sama sekali tidak menyemprotkan racun untuk menyakiti orang lain.-
"..."
Coholti menggelengkan kepalanya.
'Tetap kuat. Direth.'
Memikirkan bahwa temannya akan menderita sementara dia pergi membuatnya merasa anehnya menyesal.
"Aku merasa menyesal untuk lulus..."
"Kalau begitu kenapa tidak tinggal saja?"
Wush!
Coholti memelototi Ogoldos dengan mata yang bisa membunuh seseorang.
"Jangan bercanda tentang itu."
"...M-maaf."
"Maafkan aku. Kau akan mengerti ketika kau menjadi tahun ke-4 juga."
***
'Apakah benar-benar tidak apa-apa?'
Yi-Han, yang sudah selesai percakapan, tenggelam dalam pikirannya.
Fakta bahwa Direth akan menggunakan racun untuk memblokir masuk ke area sekitar mengganggunya.
Tentu saja, baik Yi-Han maupun para raksasa memiliki ketahanan tinggi terhadap racun, jadi bagian itu tidak masalah.
\
Chapter 573
There were many things to say, but the two sensed that if they moved their mouths wrong now, they might really end up in a coffin.
Direth was basically kind, but if necessary, she was someone who could easily put a few students in coffins.
"How about putting up a danger sign and spreading rumors?"
Ogoldos carefully suggested an idea.
Then Coholti shook his head.
"Weak. That can't stop Einroguard students. It might stop 2nd-years, but 3rd-years and above will just enter."
"No, why would they enter when there's a danger sign?"
"Because there's glory behind danger."
'Is he crazy?'
Ogoldos was shocked, but Coholti was serious.
After being in Einroguard for a long time, words like 'danger' and 'no entry' were interpreted a bit differently.
'Danger' became 'good reward'.
'No entry' became 'there's treasure here'.
"In my opinion, how about going into the hole kitchen and burning all the food?"
"Pardon?! No, the students will starve to death!"
"Ogoldos. People don't starve to death that easily. Think about when you were a 1st-year."
"That's... true, but..."
Ogoldos suddenly recalled his 1st year.
Indeed, people really didn't starve to death.
They boiled soft tree bark to eat when there was nothing to eat, and ate porridge thickened with weeds, but…
"Right? They're coming because of the kitchen. Burning all the food is definite. Fire is always the answer. I recently got Baqwantallana's flame from a friend..."
"No. I don't think that will work."
When Direth cut him off, Ogoldos let out a sigh of relief.
At least one of the dark magic faction seniors was sane.
"Burning all the food won't stop them from coming. They'll keep trying to check a few times. And the food might be replenished."
"Ah, I missed that...!"
Coholti slapped his knee and gritted his teeth.
Making such an amateur mistake while focusing on solving the problem.
"Why are Einroguard guys so persistent? Like bugs."
"What are you saying like you're from another magic academy?"
Despite Direth's reproach, Coholti was deeply immersed.
How can we prevent students from coming to this area?
"Hey. You think too. What are you doing? If you can't come up with anything, you're going down to 1st-year."
"Ah. Don't say weird things. What do you mean going down to 1st-year? You don't even have the ability to make that happen."
"I'll go out and spread rumors about you to the dark mages. That you came out of the realm relying on a junior."
"..."
Ogoldos shuddered at the threat that was too likely to happen.
With Coholti's personality, he was more than capable of doing that.
A person graduating this year making such a vulgar threat?!
"Hmm... Hmm..."
"5. 4. 3." "Ah. Wait!"
"2.46, 2.45, 2.44..."
Under Coholti's continued pressure, Ogoldos eventually blurted out something he would never say normally.
"How about spraying poison? No. No. Forget it."
"Poison?"
"I said forget it."
"Quietly think about it. Poison..."
Coholti was lost in deep thought.
Ogoldos tried to stop him next to him, but in Coholti's view, poison was quite a good method.
"Isn't it good?"
"Hmm."
"Senior Direth! Poison is really not it!"
"It does seem to have potential."
"..."
When even the trusted senior said that, Ogoldos almost fell over.
"No, senior. Spraying poison in the kitchen is a bit much. And, well, other people will detoxify it and eat."
Ogoldos didn't say that 'spraying poison in the kitchen could worsen the dark magic faction's reputation and make them suspicious.'
It didn't seem like they would listen anyway.
Instead, he approached it practically.
Even if they sprayed it in the kitchen, everyone would detoxify it and eat!
"That's because you didn't spray it properly."
"Coholti is right. Ogoldos. You need to study poisons more."
While Ogoldos was at a loss for words, Coholti drew a corridor map and poked it with his staff.
"Ogoldos. Look. Spraying poison on kitchen food is a low tactic. As you said, they'll think of detoxifying it. Spraying poison in the kitchen? It's a medium tactic. Because since the space is limited, they'll think of breaking through. The high tactic is to just spray poison in this entire area. So they won't even dare to enter."
Even if they had pleasant and cheerful conversations normally, a sickly madness was hidden in the hearts of Einroguard's senior students.
Ogoldos felt that madness and shuddered.
Is this what dark mages are??
"Here, here, here, here. First, mountain attack poison, sleeping poison, suffocation poison. Since there will be guys trying to detoxify, let's mix in a compound poison. So it explodes when they try to detoxify."
"Make one by combining ankle-grabbing poison and tongue-sticking poison. They'll panic and run away."
"That's a great idea. Direth. Let's lay some curses on the floor. They're trying to detoxify even here? We need to show them."
Coholti instantly completed a plan to turn the underground warehouse area corridor into a temporary labyrinth of dark mages that was inaccessible.
First, a dense fog of brightly colored poison is laid throughout the entire area.
If someone is quick-witted here, they will run away, but if there is someone who tries to detoxify the poison, a poison within the poison is hidden to react to that attempt.
When detoxified, a new poison will explode, sticking the tongue of the impudent mage and choking their breath.
If they still don't run away here and stubbornly try to enter?
Then the curse magic circle laid on the floor will activate, making them taste a terrible chain reaction.
"This should be enough, right?"
"Just in case, hide some undead in the walls."
"We should. If they still enter after this, really..."
Ogoldos, who was listening to the conversation next to them, suddenly thought.
Could there be a valid reason why people from other factions find people from the dark magic faction repulsive?
Not because people from other factions are steeped in prejudice and a sense of superiority, but because there is a really plausible reason…
"Senior Direth. Please think about it one last time. If other guys find out what we did, won't it be a bit troublesome?"
"Ogoldos."
Direth looked at her junior with a calm face.
This junior was misunderstood as having a sharp personality on the outside, but in fact, he belonged to the sensitive side.
Even as the 2nd year was ending, he was still under the illusion.
"You fell down the stairs on the 7th floor last week, right?"
"Pardon? Yes."
"Why do you think you fell?"
"Didn't I slip?"
"That was because the enchantment magic faction kids were experimenting on the stairs and just left. The stairs changed properties every minute."
"..."
Ogoldos blinked his eyes.
"Also. Two days ago, the fire spirit stones you had collected disappeared, right?"
"Yes..."
"Those were used by the kids preparing for advanced fire element magic."
"..."
A flame of resentment flickered in Ogoldos' eyes.
It was the flame of hatred.
"Got it?"
"Ogoldos. You might think we're a bit too much. But it's the guys from other schools of magic who made us this way."
Coholti put his hand on Ogoldos' shoulder and spoke seriously.
Why does Coholti have no remorse even when spraying poison in the underground warehouse area?
It was because guys from other factions had done things like setting fires, exploding, and summoning monsters to turn things upside down countless times.
Compared to that, spraying poison to temporarily block intrusion was really merciful.
"Think only about yourself and your junior. Got it? The guys from other schools of magic don't think about us at all."
"...I will spray the poison."
"Good."
Coholti was pleased with Ogoldos' determined face.
He was naive and lacking before, but now the resolve of a dark mage could be seen on his face.
'The kid. I can graduate with peace of mind now.'
Swish swish-
Coholti turned his head.
As the plan was finalized, Direth was writing a reply to her junior.
-We've prepared a way to block other students from entering. But we might use a little poison, so be careful.-
-Poison?! Isn't that too dangerous?!-
-Of course, we'll try to persuade them with words first. But if persuasion doesn't work, we might use a little poison. We're not spraying poison to harm other people. If rumors spread that there's poison, it will stop other people from entering. Got it? We're absolutely not spraying poison to harm other people.-
"..."
Coholti shook his head.
'Stay strong. Direth.'
Thinking that his friend would suffer while he left made him feel strangely sorry.
"I feel sorry for graduating..."
"Then why don't you stay?"
Whoosh!
Coholti glared at Ogoldos with eyes that could kill a person.
"Don't even joke about that."
"...S-sorry."
"I'm sorry. You'll understand when you become a 4th-year too."
***
'Is it really okay?'
Yi-Han, who had finished the conversation, was lost in thought.
The fact that Direth would use poison to block entry to the surrounding area bothered him.
Of course, both Yi-Han and the giants had high resistance to poison, so that part was fine.
But…
'Wouldn't it be a nuisance if other people passing by get poisoned?'
Yi-Han, who was pondering, got up from his seat.
There was no time to worry like this now.
'No. I'll trust my senior.'
Seeing her say that hiding giants was a common occurrence, it was truly reassuring.
Seniors who had gone through far more chaos than Yi-Han.
Thinking that the seniors had also accomplished similar things, his confidence rose.
'I can do it too.'
Surely Direth would have done it well so that other people wouldn't get involved.
He didn't know what that method was, but anyway…
"Preparation is complete."
-Really?-
"Yes. The seniors say they will help."
Ikurusha was surprised to see Yi-Han return.
He really did it!
'Is he really a 1st-year?'
-Alright. Then let's depart right away. There's no point in waiting.-
Ikurusha took Yi-Han to the cave.
The giants had already entered the cave and were waiting.
-I gave the giants a week's worth of food. I thought there would be no need to endure for more than a week.-
"That should be enough. If things go wrong, I will bring food."
-Food for the giants? You won't have anything to eat yourself?-
"I have a little stockpiled."
-Hmm. How much... No. That's not important now. Let's worry about that when such a situation arises.-
Ikurusha stood in front of the cliff and suddenly grabbed a rock.
Yi-Han was puzzled, wondering what he was doing.
Rumble rumble rumble-
Surprisingly, the rock rolled to the side and an entrance to the cave appeared.
"What magic is that?"
-I just lifted it with strength?-
"..."
Ikurusha, who had pushed away a rock that was difficult to move even with decent magic, went inside.
Inside, the giants were sitting and whispering.
-It's nice not to have to take care of the goat.-
-Shh. If Ikurusha hears, he'll make us work.-
-I'm going to read books during this vacation.-
"Hello, everyone."
-Mage!-
-The mage is here!-
The giants ran over excitedly.
They got stuck because they bumped into each other in the cave, but their joy could still be felt.
"Because of me... I'm sorry."
-No. We're also happy to rest... No.-
-Actually, we want to play... No.-
Ikurusha looked at the giants pathetically and said.
-You can speak honestly. I was going to let you rest for about a week anyway.-
-Lies! It's a lie!-
Ignoring the giants, Ikurusha spoke to Yi-Han.
-Ah. I checked the passage for a bit, and there's a troublesome race roaming around.-
"What race?"
-Sirens.-
"Sirens, you say? I'm friends with them!"
-Really??-
Ikurusha was puzzled.
How are they friends?
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