Luna watched as the massive monsters erupted from the rectangular egress.
A chaotic herd—Steel-Fanged Wolves, Iron Horns, Flame Bears, Ice Tigers, and more—avalanches into the arena from the building.
There was no stopping them now.
The students’ screams echoed through the air.
"Aaaaaagh!"
"Hey! What the hell are we supposed to do!?"
The instructors unleashed powerful spells, mowing down the vanguard of the advancing beasts. Even so, the swarm showed no signs of slowing. Since this was only a summer training camp, the number of faculty members present was small; they simply couldn't cover the entire field.
Karia’s voice cut through the chaos.
"We can't hold them back! Everyone, protect yourselves!"
It was a cold, ruthless command—but the students gathered here were the elite. They suppressed their panic and shifted into combat formations.
"Form up in groups!"
"If anyone goes down, prioritize cover!"
The students barked orders to one another in rapid succession.
Thus, the grand melee between man and beast began.
Luna’s body was itching with anticipation.
(I want to test it.)
Knight Klaus had interrupted her earlier, but the desire hadn't faded. If anything, the current situation was far more ideal. She glanced at Albert, who stood beside her. He remained unruffled, a faint, composed smile playing on his lips.
"Luna."
"Yes."
"Do as you please. Wipe them out."
"—I... I may...?"
The mere words sent a wave of ecstasy through her. Her frame trembled with the thrill of being allowed to unleash everything and indulge in violence at her own discretion.
"Yeah. I don't mind. Go wild."
"With pleasure!"
She felt the pitch of her voice rise. Nothing stood in her way anymore. She could wield her power by her own will alone. Luna’s heart overflowed with jubilation.
"Spell: 'Physical Enhancement'."
Of course, the magic was not a simple enhancement. Though she didn't understand the mechanics, it was a disguised spell granted to her by the genius Albert. Its true nature was "Frenzy"—a transcendent magic that even Luna didn't truly comprehend.
Instantly, her heart hammered against her ribs. Her blood surged, and her body flushed with heat. It felt as if every single cell was screaming in delight. Her body felt light, as if liberated from the very shackles of gravity.
Power was overflowing.
This was the overwhelming strength granted to her by Lord Albert.
Caught in a swirl of exaltation, Luna drew the short sword at her waist. The hilt groaned under her grip, a sound like a muffled shriek.
(...Ah... I can't take it anymore!)
A Sword-Fanged Wolf—a massive beast known for fangs as sharp as blades—stood in her path. Sensing her approach, the wolf lunged with a guttural snarl. Even for these talented students, facing such a beast head-on was suicide for anyone who wasn't a vanguard like Klaus.
Luna herself would never have considered such recklessness—until she became Albert’s kin.
(I feel it! This bottomless power!)
A ferocious beast stood before her, yet she didn't feel a shred of fear. There was only the thumping in her chest and the euphoric urge to seek blood through slaughter.
"Gugoooooooo!"
The Sword-Fanged Wolf bared its lethal fangs.
Luna’s blade and the beast’s fangs crossed.
With a single strike, she effortlessly sheared through the fangs and continued the momentum to slice off the top half of the wolf’s head. As she passed, she hammered a flurry of slashes into its flank. The wolf’s thick fur was instantly dyed crimson. The massive predator collapsed, its life extinguished in a heartbeat.
(This... this is—my power!?)
Even she was stunned. Without "Frenzy," her blade would have likely bounced off the fur, let alone the fangs. And yet...!
(Oh, Lord Albert! Lord Albert! It is all because of you! You have given me such magnificent strength!)
Her excitement knew no bounds. Driven by raw emotion, she carved a path into the heart of the monster horde.
One flash, then another.
One by one, the massive bodies of the magic beasts fell. Flesh was rent, blood sprayed, and severed limbs flew through the air.
"Ahahahaha! Ahahahaha!"
Luna laughed manically as she swung her blade, reaping the beasts. She couldn't hold it back. The excitement and joy raced through her entire being. She wanted to fight more—she wanted to feel this power more! She wanted to crush everything!
The other students watched in shock.
"Hey, look at her! What the hell!? She’s insane!"
"Wait, is that Luna!?"
"She’s a mage! How is she doing that!?"
Luna didn't care about their opinions. Her face was a mask of pure ecstasy as she butchered the magic beasts.
(Yes. I am being useful... I am eliminating those who hinder Lord Albert. This is my role. This is the reason for my existence!)
With this power, she could kill everything she hated. Her fervor reached its peak. Then, at the edge of her vision, she felt a dangerous presence move.
"—Hah!"
She reflexively unleashed a slash, but the blow was parried.
"...Ah."
Standing there was Knight Klaus. If it hadn't been for his swordsmanship, she might have accidentally killed her own classmate.
"My apologies, Lord Klaus," she said briefly before sprinting off in search of fresh prey.
Watching her go, Klaus felt a lingering numbness in the hand that held his Shield Tria Petal.
(...The weight of that strike...!)
Furthermore, that power had come from a sword held by Luna—a mage. He couldn't wrap his head around it. Luna, the commoner girl who hung around Albert.
Klaus clenched his fist. It wasn't just Albert anymore. Everyone around him was becoming monstrously strong.
Albert! Albert! Albert!
"Damn it...!"
He gnashed his teeth in frustration. He had to hone his skills. To do that, he needed to slay every beast in sight. But as he tried to lunge forward, his legs buckled.
It was the curse of the Black Sword Venom Edge. The fatigue-doubling effect had finally drained his stamina to the dregs.
"Shit...!"
Klaus pulled a small vial from his coat. It was a forbidden fatigue recovery medicine, a companion to his muscle enhancers. He knew the side effects would be severe, but he didn't hesitate. He downed it in a single gulp.
Immediately, the leaden weight dragging his body down vanished.
"Not yet! Not over yet!"
He spurred himself onward and charged back into the fray.
"Ahahahaha! Ahahahaha!"
Luna was cackling as she laid waste to the monsters.
Man... I really did it now.
She’d looked at me with those "I can't take it anymore" eyes, so I gave her the green light, but she’s gone into full-blown massacre mode. Obviously, the other students have noticed. Everyone knows she's a mage, so this has to look incredibly suspicious.
"Wait, isn't that a bit weird?" Yeah, that's the correct intuition to have, guys!
Dammit, how am I going to explain this away? I haven't a clue!
"Luna-chan seems to be in high spirits... What did you do, Albert-kun?"
"Eh?"
"Oh, come on. It was you, wasn't it?"
Silvia gave me a look of absolute certainty, convinced that if something bizarre was happening, I was the culprit. She wasn't wrong, but still!
I cleared my throat.
"...Silvia. You're an intelligence agent, right?"
"I am. Why?"
"Then help me out. Create a distraction to keep the students from focusing on me."
"Excuse me?"
"Can you do it or not?"
"I mean, I can, but... you want them to look away from you, not Luna-chan?"
"...I feel like I'm about to be dragged into something very annoying."
"Hmm."
She stared at me, looking dissatisfied.
"You know, your way of covering your tracks is a little reckless, don't you think?"
"Wait, you saw through it!?"
"But it's true that you're about to be dragged into trouble, isn't it?"
"...Yeah. That part's the truth."
"Fine. I un-der-stand! Intelligence Agent Silvia will follow the orders of Private First Class Albert!"
"...Thanks."
"Don't worry about it. I've decided to listen to your requests, after all. Good luck!"
With that, Silvia vanished.
Once I was alone, a massive Iron Horn—an elephant with giant tusks—charged toward me.
"Spell: 'Lightning Bolt'."
A flash of lightning caused the beast's massive frame to explode. At the same moment, I didn't miss the black shadow lunging from the smoke.
I caught the two silver flashes aimed at me with my sword.
On the other side of the twin daggers stood a pink-haired girl with a baby face, wearing the grin of a predator.
"Hyahhoi! I finally found you, Lord Albert! It’s Milia-chan-sama! Let's settle this once and for all!"