Doggone Academy

The situation was quickly resolved. Although there was no need to receive more troops, additional alchemists were needed to investigate the incident.

Popper opened the front door open with the back of his hand. Inside, the knights carried wooden pillars. The holes the ghouls had dug were unstable, so supports were being put in place to prevent a collapse.

Berelman, his aide-de-camp, was waiting for him at the door.

“I consulted Sylverine.”

“Tell me.”

“The large magic circle on the ceiling of the lab is a barrier designed by high-ranking magic. The barrier prevented the ghouls from leaving, but it seems to have lost its effectiveness because now it is not complete.”

“High-ranking magic…”

Popper’s eyes turned serious.

Alchemists who mastered high-ranked magic were not common.

He couldn’t even understand what the alchemist was trying to do here, so he felt a headache when he knew that the alchemist knew how to use high rank magic.

“The big magic circle wasn’t designed to keep the ghouls from leaving the lab, so they couldn’t climb above its horizontal level. That’s why they only dug sideways.”

“It seems the alchemist didn’t expect the ghouls to break through the wall. Have you checked how far the holes extend?”

“One report says they extend all the way to the cemetery. It seems that ghouls eat the bodies that were buried, which is why some have turned into ghouls.”

That explained how the ghouls did not starve to death locked up in the lab and instead became a herd in numbers.

Popper nodded.

“I didn’t think about the cemetery.”

A more thorough search there might have revealed traces of the holes.

But Berelman was relieved that they hadn’t searched the cemetery. It was a spider web of holes in an open place, which is perfect for ghouls. Posted only on NovelUtopia.com

“If there had been a confrontation in the cemetery, it could have turned into a tragedy in the end. The ghouls could lure the knights into the holes.”

“You’re right… we are indebted to that little guy.”

Suddenly, a wounded knight was brought out of the house. His body was soaked in blood.

Berelman added,

“There are still some ghouls.”

“Haah…”

This was the third person that has been injured.

The knights were trying to kill the remaining ghouls. Still, the subjugation was not complete. The remaining ghouls were hiding in the depths.

This was a behavior they showed when they were frightened.

And the fearsome presence that frightened the ghouls was…

Popper shifted his focus to the boy who was seated in the corner of the yard.

The boy wiped off the blood with the water from the buckets that the townspeople brought.

“I’m increasingly curious about his identity.”

“Me too.”

“Joyce is also very talented. In a few years, he’ll be amazing with the sword, but it looks like he’s way below that boy’s level.”

His great talent allowed him to manifest weak sword qi at the age of 20.

“……”

Berelman was inwardly ashamed because he had previously sympathized with his colleagues who belittled Damien.

“Get some clothes for that boy.”

“I’ve already ordered them.”

“How about a uniform from our knightly order?”

“…That requires Sylverine’s consent.”

It would be unnecessary trouble to give the order stamp to Sylverine’s student.

Popper laughed.

“…Hahaha I know. Just kidding.”

Berelman didn’t believe his words. Popper’s gaze as he watched the boy shone like a miner who had found a vein of gold.

The knights had mocked him a few hours earlier, but now they looked at him in amazement. The boy didn’t mind in the least.

Popper stared at Damien as if he were some mystical creature.

“Hmm…”

Then he approached Damien.

***

Joyce stayed in the lab to investigate the scene.

In his mind there were many questions.

On the floor were sword marks.

There was no magic involved.

How is this possible?

Even the iron bars were cut as if they were a cake.

An impossible feat with only brute strength.

That ordinary sword could do this?

Volk and Felix also examined the battle scene with him.

Felix, who was in the rear because he was less experienced, asked Volk,

“What do you think about this?”