Was there ever such a strong creature outside the tower? This creature certainly wasn't one of Philip's modified lifeforms.
Boom!
The massive monkey's fist punched through the wall, sending me flying.
Thud.
"Ugh!"
I tried to envelop myself with aura, but the unexpected impact was too much to completely withstand. The pain surged from my insides, and bile spewed from my mouth.
Thud.
I collided with the wall at the end of the corridor and quickly readied my stance, drawing my sword.
'…Is it that thing?'
Thud, thud, thud—
The giant monkey charged at me. It was slightly smaller than an ogre but far larger than any human. Its muscular body reminded me of the northern monster, the Minotaur.
"Grrrr!"
It let out a strange noise and swung its fist at me. The trajectory was unusual, making it hard to predict and even harder to dodge due to its speed.
Clang! Clang! Clang!
I deflected its punches with my sword, the sound like metal clashing. Its physique was comparable to that of the "Pirate King," one of the five strongest opponents I faced in my past life.
Clang!
'This isn't an unbeatable opponent.'
But if this is a trap set by a hidden force, dealing with it later could be problematic.
'I must avoid causing trouble within the academy.'
Instead of receiving its punches, I dodged and ran between its legs, sprinting into the room.
Swoosh!
"Johnny."
Johnny lay bloodied under a broken desk in the corner of the room.
"V-Verdin."
I aimed my mana upwards, causing the ceiling to collapse.
Crash.
As the debris blocked the door, I quickly asked Johnny.
"Where is Brother Tony?"
"The monkey… ate him…."
"The monkey ate him?"
"Yes… its mouth suddenly grew huge…."
He's saying the same thing as Ronnie. Since Philip didn't have such abilities, it's likely a modified lifeform I'm unaware of.
"Understood. Rest here for now."
"You're… fighting it alone…?"
"No. Ronnie went to fetch Instructor Berathir. Others will come to help us soon."
Even if not Berathir, someone will come when they hear the commotion. There are plenty of people here strong enough to handle the monkey.
Boom!
The monkey broke through the debris. I quickly hid Johnny behind a bookshelf and attracted the monkey's attention.
"Hey, your opponent is me."
I gathered aura in my palm. The monkey, enraged, charged at me.
"Grrrr!"
I combined mana with the aura in my palm, creating a flash bomb.
Boom!
The light exploded in front of its eyes, blinding it.
"Graaagh!"
The monkey clutched its eyes and staggered.
'If Brother Tony is inside its stomach,'
I have a justifiable reason to cut it open. There would be no issues if I killed it to save him.
'However,'
If Tony isn't inside, I would face immense trouble. Not only would I turn all of Ruines Academy against me, but I'd also be branded as someone who tried to kill his brother.
Rumors would spread across the continent through the academy students.
'I need to act more cautiously.'
I decided to hold out until Berathir arrived. With this plan, I tried to lure the monkey out of Philip's laboratory.
"Is that the monkey you were talking about?"
A familiar voice came from behind.
* * *
Thud, thud, thud, thud—
The bloodied Ronnie found Instructor Berathir's office. Entering the seemingly ordinary wooden door, he saw an ancient, dilapidated desk, four chairs, and a torn sofa against the wall. An elderly, muscular man with brown hair lay drunk on the sofa.
"Berathir!"
Ronnie's voice echoed through the room.
"Hngh!"
The elderly man jolted awake, staring at Ronnie.
"Who the hell dares to call my name so recklessly?!"
He glanced at Ronnie by the door and tidied his disheveled curly hair.
"What? Isn't this Lois's stupid son? How dare you call the instructor's name so casually!"
Ignoring Ronnie's bloodied state, Berathir ran over and headbutted him.
Thud!
The sound was heavy, like a hammer striking. Ronnie let out a short groan and stepped back, clutching his head.
"Aagh!"
"Shut up! My ears are ringing, you fool!"
"You really are a mad dog."
"What did you say?"
"Using violence just because someone called your name?"
"Haha, you people who stab each other claim violence is bad?"
Ronnie, fuming, seemed ready to argue back but then shook his head, remembering his mission.
"This isn't the time. Your friend Philip has gone mad."
"…Philip?"
Berathir, now observing Ronnie's condition, asked,
"But why are you covered in blood?"
"Philip turned into a monkey and went berserk. I got slashed by its claws."
"What are you talking about?"
"There's no time to explain! We need to get to Philip's office, or everyone will die!"
An incomprehensible barrage of words.
"Then let them die."
"…What did you say?"
"I wish all disrespectful students like you would die. Now get out and go die."
He's impossible to communicate with.
I should never have come here! Ronnie blamed Verdin, realizing Berathir was hopeless after just a few words.
As Veratir pushed Ronny out of his office and attempted to close the door:
"Now, why don't you go? Sir Strange's son who abhors violence."
"Wa-wa-wait a minute! Verdin told me to bring you."
"…Verdin?"
"Yes, my younger brother Verdin."
Veratir's gaze changed.
His eyes, previously glazed over from alcohol, suddenly sharpened like a hawk's.
"Is he here now?"
"Yes! And he said it's an urgent situation and told me to fetch you quickly. I suggested calling someone else, but he insisted it had to be you!"
"...."
"So, I came all this way. And you tell us to get lost? Is that something an instructor should say?"
To an outsider, it might look like a meeting between a disrespectful student and a delinquent instructor, but their connection ran deeper than anyone else's at the academy.
"Then let's go."
Veratir began to move at the mention of Verdin.
"You're… going?"
"You called me, didn't you?"
"No, when I said it was dangerous, you told me to get lost?"
"You, idiot, acted disrespectfully even when I was at your father's estate, so I didn't want to help you."
"...."
"Verdin always called me 'Master' and came to learn martial arts from me. He said he wanted to learn the unarmed combat skills he didn't have."
Ronny frowned and turned his head away.
"Alright, just help us quickly."
"You should say, 'Please help us,' you disrespectful brat. You really take after your father in speaking without thinking!"
Who could dare to speak like this to a member of the Strange family? Ronny felt his anger boiling, but he had no choice but to lower his head.
"Please help us."
"No."
"…What?"
Veratir laughed heartily and patted Ronny's back.
"I was kidding, you fool! Now, let's go. Let's see what that bastard Philip has done."
* * *
It took only one hit.
The number of strikes it took Veratir, who appeared with heavy breathing, to subdue the monkey, which I thought was as strong as a hatchling.
Bam!
With a single punch imbued with Aura, the monkey's iron-like abdomen crumpled. Of course, I could have subdued it with a single strike as well, but my strength and speed wouldn't have been as overwhelming as his.
'As expected, he's impressive.'
As expected of my father's peer, known as the continent's strongest swordsman, his Aura level was unmatched by ordinary martial artists.
"Hey, Verdin, long time no see?"
I greeted him with a pleasant smile.
"Have you been well?"
He walked up to me, paying no attention to the monkey he had subdued.
"Yeah, how's your father? Still alive?"
"Still alive."
"Damn, I wanted to kill him."
It was the kind of conversation only close friends could have. Ronny, uncomfortable with this exchange, coughed as he entered the room.
"Din, what are you doing? Quickly cut open the monkey's belly and get our brother out!"
I shook my head.
"Sorry, but I can't do that."
According to academy rules, outsiders are not allowed to interfere with internal matters.
Only a few people knew this fact, and since Ronny hadn't yet caused trouble within the academy, he wouldn't know.
'Breaking the rule would result in severe punishment.'
"Why not?"
Veratir answered on my behalf.
"If you cut open the monkey's belly and Tony isn't inside, Verdin will also have to be cut open."
"...?! What, what do you mean?"
"You idiot. You've been here long enough, but you still haven't memorized all the academy's rules?"
Unable to endure the scolding, Ronny clamped his mouth shut. When he hung his head, Johnny, who had been crouching under the desk, crawled out.
"H-hello."
Unlike Ronny, Johnny at least greeted him properly.
"Oh, Johnny. How have you been?"
"Yes, I saw you yesterday in the dining hall. I greeted you briefly as you were drinking…."
"Did you?"
"You asked me how I was doing, and I said I was well."
"Oh, right, right. I vaguely remember."
Ignoring their conversation, I examined the monkey.
'As I thought.'
This thing was not a living creature.
It wasn't Philip who had transformed, nor was it one of his modified lifeforms.
'Someone with powers I don't know.'
Sssss-
The monkey's body began to emit smoke as it contracted. To be precise, its skin decomposed and dispersed like steam.
'Whose power is this?'
Who could be working with Katarina to wield such power?
When all the smoke cleared, Tony, who was supposed to have been swallowed by the monkey, appeared. He was in much better shape compared to Johnny and Ronny, as he hadn't engaged in battle.
'So that's it.'
I was wondering who was so powerful, but it turned out that the enemy I fought was not an enemy but Tony's own power.
Someone had forcibly awakened the Aura core hidden within his body.
So, he had an unexpected strength.
'Well, it doesn't matter.'
Now, I had rescued someone who could prove that someone within the academy had targeted Tony.
"Johnny, Ronny. Please move Tony to the infirmary."
They answered in unison.
"Okay!"
"Sure!"
With the incident proving the existence of hostile forces, the event was coming to an end.
"Instructor Veratir, may I have a word with you?"
In the remaining time at the academy, I had essentially secured an opportunity to counterattack.
"Alright, let's meet with Philip first and settle things."