#3. On the way to the Academy (2)
A terrorist attack that occurred 20 years ago.
That was the work of the anti-magic group ‘Red Hammer’.
They have been enemies of magicians since ancient times, and Ars Magna Academy was also a target of their attacks.
However, committing an act of terrorism against the Academy, where powerful magicians reside, can be considered suicidal.
That’s why they committed acts of terror targeting freshmen trying to enter the academy.
It targets boats entering the island.
‘Yes, back then too… … there was an explosion on the ship just like now.’
The ship shook violently with a series of explosions.
At the same time, it was also possible to see that the ship’s speed was gradually decreasing.
The magical engine that moves the ship has stopped.
“Whoa!”
“What, what?!”
The passengers screamed in panic.
It seemed as if the sailors were moving busily to assess the situation, but soon grumbling could be heard here and there.
“Everyone be quiet!”
Soon the masterminds appeared before the passengers.
They appeared to have boarded the ship disguised as sailors and passengers.
“We are the Red Wedge, an anti-magic group that succeeded the Red Hammer! We have taken over this ship!”
A grim-looking man who seemed to be the leader stepped forward and raised his voice.
“Don’t even think about resisting! If you mess with me recklessly….”
The moment the man manipulated the device in his hand, the ship shook violently with an explosive noise.
“Eww!”
“Whoa!”
The man smiled with satisfaction as he watched the passengers cowering and screaming.
“I’m going to detonate the explosives installed on this ship one by one. If you don’t want to become fish food, stay still!”
They were all wearing life jackets.
Even if this ship sinks, they will be safe.
“Don’t make a fuss! Be quiet and I won’t harm you!”
Even though they said that, they were each armed with weapons such as daggers and were threatening people.
Some of them were stained with blood, indicating that they had already harmed the sailors.
“Our goal is to use you as hostages to negotiate with Ars Magna Academy! So, please remain quiet and do not resist unnecessarily! Do you understand?!”
“yes yes……!”
“Oh, I see!”
Frightened replies were heard here and there.
Almost all of the people here are boys and girls who have come to take the academy entrance exam.
Everyone seemed scared in front of the terrorist group.
‘You’ve been through a lot.’
He put the book on his lap and sighed.
It’s so unfortunate that this happened on the day I was supposed to take the entrance exam… I’m really unlucky.
“I’m really unlucky.”
Right then.
I heard a voice in my ear.
“Just stay still. You don’t have to answer.”
An incredibly small voice.
But I could understand exactly what was being said.
I moved my eyes slightly to check the seat next to me, and saw Cain Trigger, who had been chatting away just a moment ago, licking his lips with a serious expression.
“I’m talking so only you can hear me. They can’t hear me.”
He was a guy with amazing talents.
“Anyway, the situation is serious.”
“…….”
“These guys will negotiate with the Academy and get what they want, and then they’ll sink this ship completely. There’s no reason to keep us alive.”
I was thinking the same thing.
“I have to do something. Can you help me?”
“…….”
What do you want me to do?
As I looked at him with those eyes that said that, an answer came right away.
“Make some noise to get their attention. You can make a fuss about having a stomachache or something. I’ll leave the method up to you.”
“…….”
“If you get their attention like that… I’ll do something about it.”
What on earth does this guy do?
Everyone is scared and cowering.
‘Oh, come to think of it… … .
This guy said his name was Cain Trigger.
Could it be that he is from the Trigger family?
‘If he’s from the Trigger family… … I guess I can trust him.’
The Trigger family is the most famous ‘assassin family’ on the continent.
This is a family that has produced excellent assassination specialists since ancient times, and has also left a great mark on the history of the development of magic.
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If this man, Cain Trigger, is from the Trigger family, it makes sense that he would speak so confidently.
‘They look about the same age as me, but they must have received professional training since they were young. Even if they were armed… … I might be able to subdue them.’
The problem is that there are a lot of them.
While Kane is knocking down the ones nearby, other guys can take the passengers hostage and threaten them.
It’s difficult for Kane alone.
“I’m not alone.”
Kane spoke as if he had seen right through me.
“Do you see the girl with long hair in front? She’s also waiting for her chance.”
“……?”
I glanced up and, surprisingly, it was the girl who had spoken to me earlier.
As Kane said, he was looking around as if he was waiting for an opportunity.
“I saw him in passing earlier. He’s a guy who’s trained in martial arts. He’s probably no ordinary skill.”
“…….”
I had no idea.
But it must be true, since this guy is from the Trigger family.
“If I move, that girl will definitely move too. Then……”
Is this an opportunity to steal the explosive detonator?
“So please, distract them so that we can move more easily.”
“…….”
After hearing Kane’s request, I didn’t nod.
Instead, she looked at Kane and licked her lips.
If you really are from the Trigger family, you must have mastered the art of lip-reading.
‘Why are you asking me?’
When I asked him that question by moving my lips, he answered with a small smile.
“When the explosion occurred, you were the one with the most calm expression on this ship.”
“…….”
“I thought I could trust you.”
It was an answer that made me sigh.
If it were for any other reason, I would have refused to cooperate.
For example, if I had heard something like, ‘The one who solved the last terrorist attack was Kaisel Valencia! You’re also Kaisel Valencia’s relative, so you can definitely do it!’… … I would have immediately closed my eyes and never reacted to what he said again.
But you are trusting me and asking me for a favor, even though you are meeting me for the first time in your life, so I cannot betray that trust.
‘I’m really unlucky.’
As I grumbled inwardly, I raised my hand and tapped Kane on the shoulder.
With the mindset of, ‘I’ll figure it out myself.’
“……?”
The moment Kane looked at me.
I stood up from my seat.
“What is it!”
“I have a question.”
The terrorists opened their eyes wide when they saw me suddenly standing up from my seat.
“I understand that you are advocating anti-magic. Since I am interested in anti-magic, may I ask you a question?”
“…….”
They exchanged glances.
Then the man who appeared to be the leader opened his mouth.
“What are you curious about?”
“I understand that the ideological origin of anti-Madness is egalitarianism. Is that correct?”
“Hmm, you know a lot.”
The leader nodded after hearing what I said.
“Yes, we pursue equality for humanity.”
“As the influence of magic grows stronger, only the elite who have mastered magic will benefit, and the common people who cannot use magic will be deprived of all rights… Is that what you think?”
“Yes, we are working to prevent some magical elite from taking over the world and ruling over humanity.”
Everyone looked puzzled as they watched me talking to the terrorist.
It was the same for Kane, who was sitting next to me, and the girl in front of me.
“It is certainly true that as magic developed, a new class society emerged.”
“Well, yeah.”
“In the past, bloodline determined all social classes. However, now, magical ability is more important. Some people say that we have become a merit-based society, but ultimately, a new class system is being created based on magical ability. This phenomenon will only get worse as time goes by.”
“That’s right. That’s why magic must be eradicated from this world.”
“You have been working with noble ideals.”
“Thank you for understanding. I guess you’re still young.”
“That’s because I usually read a lot of books. I also read Oleus’s book.”
“Have you read Oleus’s book? It’s great.”
Oleus is the first representative of the ‘Red Hammer’ and can be said to be the founder of anti-magicism.
“But you know.”
“what?”
“You hate magic so much…….”
I said, tilting my head deliberately.
“Why on earth do you use magic?”
At that moment.
Their expressions stiffened.
“What are you… talking about?”
“The explosion that just happened, wasn’t it done using magic?”
“That’s funny.”
The leader snorted.
“It wasn’t magic, it was explosives. Surely you don’t know what explosives are?”
“I know, but the explosion just now wasn’t caused by explosives.”
“Stop talking nonsense.”
“Since the terrorist attack 20 years ago, the Academy has been thoroughly inspecting all ships that pass through the island. Planting explosives in advance is nearly impossible.”
“Police, you boarded the ship with explosives.”
“Didn’t they check your luggage thoroughly when you boarded the ship earlier?”
“I came in well hidden! Don’t find fault with me!”
He shouted with a scary expression, but I paid no attention.
“Just a moment ago, you pretended to manipulate the device in your hand, right?”
“what?”
“That’s when the magic definitely started. They pretended to operate the device while actually using magic.”
“Wh, what kind of nonsense are you talking about!”
The leader’s face was distorted.
“The ritual unfolds? How do you know that?”
“I can see that.”
“How?!”
Actually, I don’t know either.
Because I’ve never formally studied magic.
But it was clear that he had used magic back then.
Because… … .
“I felt a similar sensation to the last time my uncle used magic in front of me.”
“Uncle?”
“This is Professor Kaisel Valencia.”
“……!”
There was a commotion all around.
The terrorists were also looking at my face with trepidation.
“You are not rejecting magic to protect the equality of mankind.”
“……!”
“They are only doing this for political reasons. No, should we say that their purpose is to fulfill their selfish desires while engaging in political activities?”
During that time, I read various books and came to a conclusion.
The current anti-magic groups have already degenerated to the point where they can no longer be degenerated, and are nothing more than lawbreakers who seek their own gain while advocating opposition to magic.
“You are probably receiving financial support from forces hostile to Ars Magna Academy. So there must be someone behind this terrorist attack?”
“Ugh…….”
They shout against magic and commit acts of terrorism using magic.
There is no reason to respect such a contradictory group.
“Am I wrong?”
“Hey, shut that kid up!”
As the leader raised his voice, the terrorists responded hastily.
As the guys who had been keeping an eye on the passengers from their respective positions started moving individually… … a hole was created.
“……!”
Kane, who was sitting next to me, moved like lightning.
It wasn’t just Kane. The girl sitting in front also started moving almost at the same time.
“uh?!”
Terrorists momentarily confused.
Through them, Kane and the girl rushed towards the wizard acting as leader.
“What the heck are those kids… ugh!”
One of the terrorists fell down screaming.
Because he was stupidly turning his back to me, I hit him on the back of the head with the 『Southern Jungle Creature Encyclopedia』 that I had been holding.
The thick, 700-page hardcover volume was a blunt weapon of sufficient destructive power.
“What is everyone doing?”
The terrorists flinched at the sight of the heavy creature guide dripping with blood.
I looked around and said, ignoring them.
“Are you just going to sit there all the time?”
The freshmen who had been sitting in their seats in fear belatedly stood up in a hurry.
It was time to counterattack.
