The Vampire Is an Academy Honor Student

Episode 050. Before the Storm (1)

Late night on the royal road.

The black-haired man exhaled heavily and was desperately running away.

“Heh, heh… !”

It was so hard that the sound of his thumping heart rang in his ears from running non-stop for almost several hours, but he couldn’t stop.

‘sh*t!’

Ian, leader of the Mine Extermination Unit.

Because the monster was chasing it from afar.

Although it is so far away that you can’t even see it, you can see that the encirclement has not yet been lifted through the uneasiness encroaching on all sides.

‘How far are they chasing me!’

More than dozens of comrades who had already fled together died.

I thought that if I had a criminal record up to this point, I would be satisfied and go back, but Ian didn’t do that, perhaps because he was thinking of rooting it out.

They ask for support not only from the Demon Reconnaissance Unit, but also from the Central Knights and the National Guard, who are not on good terms, and pursue them terribly.

This was possible because Karziel had wide feet throughout the military.

‘Damn it, Karziel!’

Now, just hearing that surname makes me sick to my stomach.

‘… Still, it’s not long!’

If they could escape from the royal capital and safely enter the Goul Mountains, the pursuit would lose their power.

Even though most of the demons, including Hwaran, died a while ago, they couldn’t get help, because the caves they had dug in advance would still be there.

‘We must escape!’

Mine ran away desperately, holding on to the secret documents of the military.

* * *

“Tsk. It’s bothering me.”

Caliburn murmured as she looked down at Mine, who died instantly after being pierced through the back.

Didn’t you almost miss it?

It was fortunate that he realized that it was suspicious that other demons were desperately trying to attract attention until they entered the mountain range.

“Is that him?”

To Ian’s question, which arrived late, he answered while retrieving a confidential document that was tightly held in Mine’s hand.

“yes. This guy is right.”

“The document.”

“Fortunately, he’s fine except for some blood.”

Since it was a document on the deployment of troops in the capital, it would have been quite a hassle if it had been stolen, but it was fortunate.

Ian let out a sigh of relief and looked around the messy street.

“Let’s clean up the surroundings and come back.”

“yes. I will take control.”

“Please.”

Ian, who left the cleaning up to his adjutant, turned his head alone to return to the unit.

way back like that.

Ian murmured in a subdued voice.

“I’m only 17 in the military… .”

A huge number.

Adding to that, the number of mines found in other departments, except for the military, exceeds one hundred.

And all these mines were discovered in the last month.

‘Why all of a sudden?’

I got goosebumps at the fact that there were more demons hiding than I thought, but at the same time, I was puzzled.

It was because the movements of the demons were very strange recently.

After hiding well without anyone knowing, they make a hasty attempt to escape like the demons caught today.

It’s embarrassing to say, but if they hadn’t moved first, no one in the military would have noticed Mine’s existence.

I thought about it several times, but each time I could only come up with one plausible reason.

‘also. Is it because Hwaran is dead?’

Hwaran is suddenly found dead at the same time as Müller’s escape from prison.

It is not known who killed him, but his death certainly caused a definite change in the organization of the demons hiding in the Kingdom of Teria.

The change was that the demons began to self-destruct as the center point disappeared.

‘It’s a good thing for now, but… .’

I can’t guarantee that the future will be good.

Their owner must have confirmed that the number of demons in the kingdom has clearly decreased, so he will prepare for the next move.

It’s not too late even after you’ve blocked that thing you like.

‘I need to prepare.’

And this was a common thought not only for Ian but also for other general managers.

* * *

“Ymir will move.”

day after the case was settled.

These were the words the 1st team leader said at a meeting where only the captains gathered.

“Is Ymir?”

“Because we have to increase the number of mines that are lacking again.”

All the leaders nodded to this.

Everyone here knew that the number of demons had greatly decreased recently.

After looking around the crowd and confirming that there was no noise, he continued.

“I have to be sure until the end. We have confirmed that the number of demons has been sufficiently reduced, so from now on, the defense of the royal capital will be handed over to the central knights, and we will do other things.”

That job was to exterminate the monsters inhabiting the kingdom.

“They?”

One of the captains asked curiously.

Of course, monsters need to be defeated, but unlike those living outside the kingdom, they do not pose a serious threat because they do not have a clear central point.

Because it is a low-level monster, it cannot make mines, and at most it plunders nearby villages throughout the winter.

Their subjugation is not prioritized in the current situation where Mine’s influence is extremely low.

“Wouldn’t it be better to support the border instead?”

For this reason, the leader raised questions and suggested strengthening the border defense to prevent outside invasion.

“I don’t think it will have much effect. Because the opponent is a Dark Elf.”

It meant that if they were determined and wanted to cross the border, they could cross it.

“I can’t help but do nothing.”

“It’s not doing anything. Rather, from Ymir’s point of view, this could be more difficult.”

“Um… ?”

While pondering, Ian realized the leader’s true intentions and let out a small exclamation.

‘Right.’

Until we have enough mines, Ymir will do something to buy us time.

And at this time, the easiest thing to use would be the monsters that exist inside.

In other words, eradicating monsters is not about looking at the moment, but about eliminating resources that Ymir can use for later.

“It is winter. Now is not the right time to launch a subjugation operation.”

“… Hmm.”

“Is there a leader who opposes it?”

I was given some time to think about it, but as a result, no one expressed objection.

The captain nodded his head with a satisfied expression and continued.

“Then, I will allocate areas for each unit.”

* * *

Every winter, Eden’s guild organizes a scouting party centered on veteran adventurers.

This was in order to prepare in advance by knowing how much the monsters would react, and this year was no different.

Podeudeuk.

6th grade adventurer Hans muttered as he stepped on the snow that had accumulated so much that his feet were submerged overnight.

“It’s a bit warm this winter.”

“Iknow, right.”

The other adventurer who was following him exhaled white breath and chimed in.

It was nothing to say while stepping on snow, but it was definitely warm weather for Eden, which is famous for its harsh winters.

“Are you going to get through this winter safely?”

Considering that the more the winter wind blows, the more monsters come down to plunder the village, the possibility is high.

Of course, there is a possibility that the next winter will be difficult for that much, but Hans thought it was okay.

It’s a problem that can be overcome enough if the population is steadily reduced until the next winter as long as it has safely spent this winter.

“It’s definitely really small.”

“… … .”

As expected thanks to the warm weather, the number of monsters was very small.

It’s been almost a week since I went out to scout, but the number of monsters I encountered was only about tens.

‘It’s good.’

With a pleasant smile, Hans continued his reconnaissance.

While thinking that maybe I could really pass this year safely.

It was around the end of the day that he felt a sense of incongruity.

* * *

“… Pause.”

“yes?”

late evening.

While reconnaissance was proceeding smoothly, Hans suddenly stopped the personnel.

“Why are you like that?”

“… Something is wrong.”

I still haven’t found a single monster, but my hands and feet keep getting cold sweats even in winter because of the strange feeling of fighting.

The reason why the body reacts this way when nothing has happened is obvious.

The veteran adventurer’s unconscious is sending a warning.

‘I’m missing something.’

something dangerous

I’ve missed something, so pay attention.

‘what?’

I desperately shook my head to find out the identity of the sense of incongruity.

how long has it been like that

Hans, who looked around with a feverish head, exclaimed abruptly.

Because I realized what was strange.

identity of discomfort.

‘… Too many.’

Compared to the number of monsters I found, the number of footprints of the monsters caught my eye was too many.

“Well, since it hasn’t been erased, doesn’t it look like a lot?”

A young adventurer said lightly, but it’s not that simple.

“It snowed from yesterday.”

“… ah?”

“Exactly from last night.”

Besides, the monsters that live in this mountain range are all about playing with orcs.

And these two are not nocturnal.

In other words, it means that all the footprints you see now were made during the day.

“then… .”

The other adventurers who had listened with the expression of what was wrong with it now realized the seriousness of the situation and their expressions turned pale.

“omg.”

From noble mtl dot com

It was because there were countless footprints of monsters around.

Even though he entered the domain of monsters a long time ago, he was unaware of the fact because there was nothing to see.

“Very well, chief. What should I do?”

“… … .”

It was slow to realize that the sun was already setting.

Hans made a decision right away, thinking that a delay in judgment could be really dangerous.

“I’m going back to town right now.”

After returning, it is correct to report that the monsters are showing abnormal behavior, increase the number of people, and start scouting again.

I thought as I went down the mountain range as fast as I could.

‘To avoid those orcs and play humans.’

Considering that they are a very warlike species, you can see that more than instinct was at work.

And when monsters overcome their instincts, it is typical when they are commanded by an overwhelmingly strong individual.

in other words.

‘… It is very likely that a named object was born!’

If this prediction is correct, it is an individual strong enough to affect the monsters throughout the mountain range.

It may be impossible to cope with Eden’s capacity.

‘Then think about support… .’

When I was going down the dark mountain range thinking about this and that.

Kwajik… !

The sound of breaking tree branches could be heard in the distance.

I turned my head with an ominous foreboding.

“… !”

I could see the orcs running this way with their red eyes shining.

‘under.’

Realizing something at this, Hans let out a blank laugh.

‘Have you been observing us from before?’

You can tell by looking at the things that haven’t even been shown until now, when the opponent tries to run away as if they noticed something, they immediately chase after them.

“Wait, Captain?!”

“It’s a monster!”

In an urgent situation, Hans’ judgment was very quick.

‘I can’t live all of them anyway.’

It was because the distance was already too close and the number of opponents was large.

A situation where you may have to prepare for annihilation.

The immediate goal, then, is to send at least one person alive to spread the word.

It was a situation that I was prepared for when I started working as an adventurer, but I couldn’t help but feel bitter when it came to a close.

‘sh*t. I retired this year… !’

After cursing inwardly, he summoned the fastest-footed personnel and gave them instructions.

“You immediately drop all your things and run to the village.”

“… !”

“The rest fight moderately, and when this guy thinks he has run away to some extent, he scatters in all directions.”

This is to increase the survival rate of the messenger by dispersing the gaze as much as possible.

“… after.”

Hans let out a nervous sigh and raised his bow.

late night.

The pure white snowy mountain was covered with the blood of the adventurers.