140: Unexpected

My prediction had been correct.

But even so, this was way beyond what I’d expected. A Teleportation Magic circle so massive it swallowed the entire country was currently blanketing the sky.

...What the hell is that?

My body locked up at the sheer, unimaginable scale of it. Common sense told me to haul ass out of there immediately, but I couldn't tear my eyes away. The mana radiating from that spell was absolutely absurd.

In terms of quality, it felt like a larger version of Carta’s Mana Cannon. Suddenly, the sky flared with a light so blinding it felt like high noon.

I realized then that the teleportation circle wasn't just for transport; it was a deployment device for a massive mana blast. It was big enough to wipe out the whole city. Even if the heavy hitters with high mana resistance managed to survive, every single commoner would be vaporized.

This can't be happening.

"W-What is that...?" Sophia stammered.

I lunged toward the princess and pulled her into my arms. Just to be safe, I threw a [Shield] around us.

There was no way I could cover the whole country with my magic. Hell, even if I somehow could, I doubted my formulas would be enough to block a hit like that. Then, right on cue, the Mana Cannon made its appearance in the sky. It descended slowly—as if it wanted to give us plenty of time to soak in the despair.

Then, a monstrously huge beam of mana roared down toward the city—

Z-BOOOOOM!

To my absolute shock, the entire blast was repelled by a [Barrier]. I hurriedly activated [Time Lapse] to get a better look. It was a Defense Formula woven into a stunningly intricate mesh pattern without a single gap.

It was more than just effective; it was beautiful. It shrugged off the Mana Cannon with ease, redirecting the energy in all directions. It even seemed to have [Formula Destruction] woven into it to prevent secondary disasters. It was a level of foresight I couldn't even fathom.

This was a defense that completely outclassed an "impossible" attack—the ultimate barrier. There was only one person in the world capable of pulling this off.

The Noblesse Teacher, the Guardian Angel in a White Coat—Coco.

I slung the princess over my shoulder and rushed closer to the city so I could get in range of Cecil’s telepathy. Suddenly, her voice echoed inside my [Internal Announcement].

【"The second Calamity is coming. Everyone, proceed with the operation while preparing for enemy contact."】

I quickly fired a mental message back to Cecil, demanding to know what was going on. This operation was one wrong step away from being high treason, so I’d only told the absolute minimum number of people I could trust. But Cecil’s response caught me off guard.

【"It was Allen. After hearing Fansent’s plan, he decided we needed more help if the worst-case scenario happened. It seems he reached out to someone he trusts implicitly. He even declared that since he’s a commoner—unlike the rest of you nobles—he’d take the fall for everything if the plan failed."】

What the... that total moron. But damn—he’s the best kind of moron.

My moment of relief was short-lived. Holes for Teleportation Magic began tearing open in the sky, one after another. There were even more than during the tournament—the sheer number was staggering. The operation was a success, but the real nightmare was just beginning.

I would protect the princess with my life. That part of the plan remained the same. However, the creatures crawling out of those holes were top-tier monsters that weren't supposed to show up until the end of the story. They weren't particularly huge, but every single one of them was terrifyingly strong. They were probably even tougher than Michael was.

My resolve wavered for a second. If I didn't go help, people were going to die in droves. But my absolute priority was keeping Sophia safe.

"The city! Everyone is in danger!" Sophia cried out.

"I can't," I muttered, my heart sinking.

【"—It’s okay."】

Cecil’s voice was the one that finally put my mind at ease. The second I realized what she meant, a smirk played across my lips despite the crisis.

Streaking up into the sky were the two [Strongest] girls: Eva Avery and Milk Abitus.

Hah! How the hell did Allen manage to convince them? And the bastard kept me in the dark about it, too.

Still, I couldn't ask for two more reliable allies. Feeling much better, I touched back down on the ground. I could have just fled the country entirely, but now that my prediction had come true, there was a chance we'd be hunted down individually. It was better to prioritize meeting up with the others as planned.

Or so I thought, right until a teleportation window opened directly above our heads. It was probably honing in on Sophia’s mana. Grotesque monsters began spilling out—lizardmen, [Undead Monsters], you name it.

But my mind was made up.

"Sophia, don't you dare leave my side. I'm going to protect you, no matter what."

I wasn't worried anymore. Even if they weren't right in front of me, I knew I had people I could count on. I just had to do my job.

—Blessing of Healing and Impulse of Destruction.

"You pieces of trash... don't think you can take me down just because you brought friends."

The Calamity has arrived! It was a bit short, but I think the content was pretty dense!

I'll be updating tomorrow, the day after, and throughout the three-day weekend! Stay tuned! (^^)/

Additionally, I've posted a special 3,445-character SS for my supporters: "30,000 Bookmark Commemorative SS: Shopping with Weiss and Sierra."

I've also posted an "if" story for Chapter 1: "What if the coin Weiss tossed landed on tails?" Check it out if you're interested!

Finally, I’ve posted the fifth chapter of my new isekai fantasy work! Title: "I was exiled for being a failure with zero mana, but it turns out I have SSS-rank cursed energy, so I'll take back my status and honor all by myself." https://kakuyomu.jp/works/16817330666071591448

I think it's quite fun, so please take a look! Don't forget to follow the work and support me with a [☆☆☆] rating! It really helps my motivation!

Thank you!